Chapter 12 – Questions and Answers
"Welcome, all of you," she spread her hands to the side in a simple gesture, and she stepped down from beside the King, "I am the Oracle Akantha."
The King stood and bowed respectively to them, to which they bowed back politely, "I'm sure you must be thirsty from the day's heat." He clapped his hands and three servants came from the sides, carrying two cups each. I'm pleased to meet all of you, I am King Baal. Captain...Kirk, was it? Who are your companions?"
Kirk took a cup and let it hover by his face a moment, but waiting until Raiden received one as well. It was now he did wish he brought Ayano instead of Bones because she was a poison expert and could detect even the faintest traces, even alien types of poisons. But, he hoped Raiden would be just as good with that feline nose of his. He motioned to them, "You guys are perfectly capable of introducing yourselves."
Raiden took the drink cautiously bring it to his nose to whiff at it subtly. Ayano had crash coursed him on some common poisons that could possibly made from the material composition of the planet. However, when he sniffed the water, none of those scents reached him so he took a drink...nothing. He took a bigger drink to let the Captain know it was safe and to wet his throat as well. Much like bangle tigers on Earth, Raiden preferred a humid environment rather than this hot one. "I'm Raiden Arashi," the Toran male decided to speak up first.
"I am Commander Spock," the Vulcan male introduced himself next, accepting the water, but not drinking it as he had no need for it. It would have seemed rude for him to reject the offering which was the only reason he had the substance.
"Leonard McCoy," Bones nodded, sipping lightly at the water when Raiden gave the all clear. He didn't feel obliged to say any more under the dark eyes of the Oracle.
Sarah made a little face, kicking- more like a soft jab- at Kirk's foot, she made it clear to her boyfriend she detested having to introduce herself. Her voice always got really soft and airy, really bringing out her tepidness. But, whatever, she'll just get a payback later. "Sarah. Just Sarah." she murmured, doing her best to look the King and Oracle in the eyes...not really working out, but she tried.
Bria watched them the whole time the others gave introductions, and when her turn came she slugged down half the glass of water, and then said, "Bria Knight."
"You have been expected," Akantha said, glancing between Sarah and Bria. She crossed the room over to them, and stopped in front of the eldest, ""You...you are special."
"And why is that?" Bria drawled.
Akantha glanced her over, "You appear to have the Sight."
She and the Oracle had a stare down, Bria arching her brow. The room went dead silent for a moment, before Bria finally said, "Perhaps."
"Ah, so you don't deny it. That's good," Akantha nodded, "you are a very spiritual person as well."
Bria folded her arms, "Indeed."
A dark smirk crossed the older woman's face, "A defiant one. Refreshing compared to those who usually bow before me."
Spock hovered directly behind his beloved in case he needed to step in. Not that he did not trust Bria's control, but he did not...enjoy the thoughtful look in the Oracle's eyes As Jim would say, he 'saw the cogs turning, and it wasn't in the right direction'. The Vulcan simply monitored expressionlessly, his free hand pressing lightly against her back. "Perhaps you could enlighten the rest of us as to what you mean." Spock stated firmly, receiving several raised brows from the company. His goal was to draw the Oracle's attention onto him and away from his Bria.
"That, or Bria can explain herself," Akantha chirped and she spun back around, heading back to her original place beside the King.
"I have lucid dreams, but whether or not they're visions I never know. I very rarely remember them," Bria leaned back into Spock, not liking where this was going.
Kirk spoke up, to take the focus, stepping out in front of all of them, "Forgive me, but we came here to learn about you and your culture. On the way here you two were mentioned several times, but our escorts could not inform us because of orders. Why did you do that?"
Baal smiled in response, "Ah, because what would there be to talk about if they told you everything?"
"If you pardon my saying, but I'm sure that there is plenty to talk about." Bones commented as he took another swig. He was watching his words, but he hardly found it amusing since this all could have been a trap.
"I have to agree...it was a bit nerve wrecking being invited somewhere by people that we could not learn about." Sarah agreed with a slight shrug and shuddering slightly when Akantha's eyes turned onto her. "Besides...you said something about expecting us."
"You are correct," Akantha smiled, "You could say we wanted the pleasure of telling you all you wished to know. Forgive us, there was no intension of making you feel uncomfortable."
"We want you to feel welcomed and enjoy your stay here," Baal said kindly, "We'll answer all your questions, I promise."
"As for expecting you...I see the future. That is what an Oracle and a Seer like myself does. I knew you were coming for quite some time. I just did not know when you would arrive or make contact with us. As you have no doubt noticed, we have communication devices, which we created over many years so we /could/ be contacted," Akantha nodded to the common workers coming and going with a clunky looking box in their hands, some black, others a silver color.
Baal stood up, "Shall we move to the gardens? There are seating arrangements there that would be more comfortable for lengthy conversations."
Bria perked at the prospect of flowers and a /garden/ in general, "That sounds like a great idea." Besides, she could slip away and hide away from Akantha's gaze. She moved away from Spock only to go to his side instead of be in front of him, and took his hand, using the touch-telepathy to send a message, /'Don't follow me when we get there. I'll stay close by to listen; I just don't want to be seen.'/
Spock acknowledged that she wished not to have their conversation out loud by gently squeezing her hand. /'I understand...but please do not stray far out of my hearing range so that I can listen for you.'/ He did not exactly approve of this, but he would not hold her back...merely watch over her.
Sarah moved to Kirk's side again since he had moved away from her, elbowing his side lightly enough to make a point but not hurt him at all. "Thanks for leaving me hanging, /Captain/." she murmured as she crossed her arms. It wasn't that she was upset, it just was...that woman, Akantha, unnerved her and it seemed like she was being left out in the opening for her to pick at. Sure she was easily forgotten, but when someone picks you out like that, it does you little good.
"Let's move to the gardens, then," Kirk agreed with Baal and as he turned around, Akantha following after him. He looked at Sarah, "You misunderstand, Sarah," he reached out and wrapped his arm around her shoulders protectively, but didn't explain himself out loud. He had jumped in front of the entire group to take the focus, well aware of how uncomfortable Bria and Sarah became, "Though I didn't know you'd get so anxious over introducing yourself. I'm sorry."
Bria nodded in agreement to Spock and smiled at him, and they followed after their Captain. The hallways along the way told yet another story, and it looked like it either branched off the first set or...was the /beginning/ of it. It was even more skewed than before. Shrugging they kept going, and when they reached the garden Bria's eyes widened and she gasped, "Oh my god it's so beautiful! Sarah! We have to go explore!" She grinned hugely, though she planned on hiding her sister from Akantha as well.
"I'll think about forgiving you." she sighed, though in all honesty, she knew she could forgive him. Actually she could forgive him quite easily. "For now, I'm heading off with Bria." Sarah stuck her tongue out at the Captain, a childish display, but she really didn't care. Ducking out under his arm, the brunette hurried to her sister's side. "Well it's no Kurama's Garden, but it's lovely nonetheless!"
Spock raised a brow at the metaphor, but guessed that it was something from the women's time that he would not understand. His grip on Bria's hand tightened a fraction more, not willing to let her go in a strange world now that the time had presented itself. His emotions were acting up due to other circumstances, yet an odd one stood out: worry. /'Are you certain that you do not wish for me to join you?'/
/'Stay with your Captain,'/ Bria's expression softened at the concern that she felt from him, /'I'm more than capable of handling myself. The fact I'm still alive is a testament to that. Grill them...that's a metaphor for question them a lot. I'll be okay...ashaya.'/ She'd been able to find the meaning of it last night but the day had been so busy she hadn't had a chance to use it.
Spock's surprise was evident as he turned his head down towards her with a raised brow. She understood the word without him explaining it to her. Bria had gone out of her way to understand it, in fact... /'You know of that word?'/ he questioned lightly. This...was rather serene to 'hear' her say that to him. Nodding his head a bit, he reluctantly released her hand, "Be careful then, ashaya..."
Sarah awed at the sight, holding back her giggles. Seeing her sis all lovey-dovey like this again was heartwarming. After all the hardships that they went through and the burdens that Bria slugged on for the both of them, she deserved this, "Don't worry, Mr. Spock. I'll keep her out of trouble for you."
"That does not assure me, Sarah." Spock stated with a his non-pointed look.
"It's not supposed to," the brunette laughed, hooking her arm with Bria's. "Come on, love-bird. I want to explore. That's what we are now right? Explorers!"
"Yup!" Bria laughed and she waved behind herself at Spock before they darted into the foliage.
Kirk chuckled and he patted Spock's shoulder, jerking him from the longing expression he had, "Let's go sit down, Mr. Spock. She survived in a world opposite of this, I think she can handle a pretty little garden and whatever comes with it," he smiled and followed the King to a quaint little patio. He plopped down in a bench with Bones while Spock took a single. Baal and Akantha sat on a bench, Eri sat on another, Achaz who had gone quiet after Elene had left, dragged the only empty chair left off to the side, leaving the remaining open spot for Raiden as the one next to the ginger. Jim arched a brow at how Raiden's face went from shocked to embarrassed, before he sucked it up and went back to normal. Well damn, that kind of control was Spock-worthy and the Captain was rather impressed.
Raiden glanced over at his Captain in an attempt to keep from ogling over the beauty beside him. The smirk was met on with narrowed eyes from the tiger. Oh god he wasn't going to here the end of it from Kirk later. Rolling his eyes, Raiden looked at the lady Eri, swallowing slightly at her friendly smile she offered him. /'She's only being polite, meat head,'/ the Toran scolded himself as he returned the smile with a half one. Since it would be rude otherwise, Raiden quietly greeted her, "Hey, how's it going?" '/Smooth./' "Uh, that's an Earth phrase for 'how are you?' I'm sure you could have understand that, I just saying in case you didn't." /'Even better. Why not call her stupid next time dumbass.'/
Spock raised a brow at Raiden's curious behavior before glancing at Eri's mother. She did not seem exactly...pleased by this, but that was not his concern. His only care of the moment was to question the King and the Oracle thoroughly. "Lady Akantha, may I inquire as to what you mean by having seen two of the crew members in a vision. What was this vision exactly about?"
Ducking her head, her cheeks tinting pink, she brought the hand covered by her drape to her face, hiding the grin, "I am well. I appreciate the inquiry. Please...sit. I do not know how long this will take. Perhaps we can talk while they have their own conversation?"
Akantha straightened out her black dress and drape, lacing her fingers together in her lap as she finished getting comfortable, "It has been predicted long before me, that those two women would arrive back to this planet. Ever since the First Oracle Legend Experience, our culture has been shaped and conditioned, to speak English, to understand space and time...there have been many philosophers and astrologists. Blacksmiths and scientists create technology, though it has proven much more difficult than first expected, and with the war, much that we learned and recorded was lost and destroyed. You mentioned how Humans may have been visited by others and therefore influenced their culture? It is in fact switched. The First Oracle saw the Greeks, and therefore we grew off of their culture and language and way of life."
Clearing his throat, Raiden took the seat with his back ramrod straight. Maybe he could save some of his pride... "Talk sure, um...so...Your mother is an Oracle, so I guess that means you are one, too? Or a future one?"
"It is most curious that you should know of my conversation." Spock stated with a pointed tone. He did not enjoy being 'seen' as this gave him a disadvantage...and she appeared somewhat smug about all of this. "It is also curious that you were able to see something so tedious as that, and yet were unable to predict the war, thereby stopping it."
Bones raised a brow at the Vulcan from where he sat. Well, that was Spock for you. He may not get angry and rip into you, but he such as heck could cut you down. Still, they were guests here. "What he's trying to ask is, why not stop the war?" Leonard spoke up, ignoring the look from the Commander.
Eri was uncomfortable with this particular topic and she shifted, "Yes. It's harder for me than it is for my mother, but I do have the Sight. It has always been an inherited thing. We are direct descendants from the First." She swallowed thickly, and quickly changed the subject, "What is it you do? Why are you here?"
Akantha sighed, "There are things that even I have no control over. I also cannot choose what I see. There are things I can do to help produce a vision, but what I see is subjective. Also, there are those who cannot be Seen. As in…they are blurry, or not there at all. Bria and Sarah for example. They are blocked from me...though I have a sneaking suspicion that that is the Eldest's doing. Eri, as well, because she is of my blood, I cannot predict her future. I cannot predict my own, either."
"You keep mentioning the First, the First...does she have a /name/? Or has it been forgotten?" Kirk decided to point out.
Baal perked at this one, "Her name was Sibyl, the Prophetess. She is simply now referred to as Sibyl, the First Oracle."
"Then how is it that you are so certain that it is Bria and Sarah that you saw in your visions, or rather those from Sibyl?" The Vulcan continued on. Until Kirk or Bria stopped him, Spock would keep this up. Perhaps he could find a crack in her sophisticated resolve.
Tilting his head slightly, Raiden respectively veered away the topic to the new one, "I am what is called a recon officer. I do a lot of field work, uh, I do thing like this, coming to planets and exploring them in person. I came along as...a precaution. Not everyone in the universe is friendly, or charming as yourself..." 'Oh. My. God.' He did not just let that slip out. Great, great...he was hitting on the Oracle's daughter.
"Because it was not my own vision that I speak of," Akantha answered smoothly, "It was Sibyl's. Being the first and most powerful of all the Oracles after her, she saw them, and wrote it down. She wrote an entire Prophecy, and everyone has been prepared for this moment in history. The book was lost in the war, but it has long since been carved, painted, and written in many other forms. Manteis, means Seers in Greek. While there is only One Oracle, the Direct Descendants of Sibyl given this privilege, every single person has some sort of gift. Spiritual or otherwise. That is why this city is so elaborate with life and crafts and such. Some see ghosts, others have different forms of the Sight, such as Dream, Fire, or Water Sight. The Blacksmiths make blades for decoration and then ones for personal use, that bind with the one he makes it for and no one else can wield it. Merchants who make jewelry often do it by request rather than by demand. Everyone has a specialty. Eri, actually, is quite the cook. When she makes if for select people she is able to customize it to their tastes without having to ask them. She's got some practice though when it comes to big banquets, however," she chuckled.
Eri blushed darkly, both at Raiden's comment and her mothers, "I do my best, but the more people I need to cook for, the quality diminishes." She shook her head, "So you are like a bodyguard? That is good. You protect people. I understand how there is evil in the world. Though, good and evil cannot exist without each other. It's not how it works."
Behind the bushes, at first going off to make it seem as if they were exploring, Bria had eventually made their way back quietly with Sarah, using their sneaking skills. Bria, however, had managed to get them right behind Spock, the hedge the only thing between them. She sat down and leaned against the bush, before looking at Sarah. "Why the hell would Sibyl have a vision about us? What makes us so special?" she whispered.
"Perhaps then you may elaborate on the vision. As Bria and Sarah are crew members on the Enterprise, it is rather...important to know." The Vulcan had heard, with his superior hearing, the rustle behind him and the whispering. "What could be important about them that your people go to such lengths as to make sure that you were able to communicate with us?"
"Well...you'll get your answer. Pointy-Ears can hear us," Sarah smiled, taking her place beside Bria. They were close enough that if she was careful about it, she could reach through the hedge and poke Jim right in the back. If it wouldn't give away their position, Sarah would do it just to mess with the Captain.
"That maybe true, but it doesn't hurt if the good a little better than the bad." Raiden smirked, despite his embarrassment over his previous comment. "So you can cook...maybe I could be a taste tester for you sometime? I've had nothing but regenerated food for the past month. Some /actual/ food would be great."
"Of the Last, time will bend and history tend…" Akantha took a breath, "That is how the Prophecy begins…the book /was/ destroyed, by fire, but the beginning was spared. Let me relay it to you…" She closed her eyes and began…
"Mother pained in labor
Father chained as protector
One last stop to make
History of one to take
No time
Mother fine
Cast asunder the parents woe
For the blunder was caused by foe
To save the Eldest father must alter
To save the Youngest the mother will falter
One world, two lives
Shaped and told by lies
Bound by blood and science
Reunited again by defiance
Foe returns for controversy
Woe knows no mercy
War worn
Time torn
Life to save
Choices pave
Time will tell
All is well
Planet found
Planet bound
The Last Return
To…"
Akantha let out a breath and opened her eyes, "That is where the flames stopped. I know nothing else."
"Perhaps I'll make a dinner tonight and you can taste test," Eri offered with a smile, "What do you mean by regenerated food?"
"He means on our ship we have a device that replicates foods, but they usually taste different than the originals," Kirk explained tightly, and his completion was paler than normal after hearing the prophecy.
While Spock's face remained emotionless as per usual, his emotions raged just under the surface. That...truly fit his Bria and her sister, or at least the part about 'bound by blood and science'. Those devices each had connected them together; the tests the Doctor and himself had run proved as much. Did this mean that their parents had come to this planet before with both of them? They were separated to protect the women? What about this foe? Who was after them? Did it have something to do with the Cube Bria hides away in her room? "Are you certain that there is no other recording of this prophecy? A rumored book or hidden scroll?" Spock asked, his voice and tone steady with years upon years of experience.
Sarah shrank back away from the hedge after hearing all of this. After all that Bria and herself had gone through with different dimensions, portals, spaceships...that poem-prophecy thing...it felt like it fit. It.../would/ explain some things such as why they were separated. "This is too freaky," Sarah whispered, looking over to her sister with a slightly fearing look. She wasn't scared...much, more liked creeped out.
Raiden frowned deeply upon hearing the change in his Captain's voice. As much of a strong man he was, this prophecy clearly bother him. All the signs that he should be alert. Slipping into his 'soldier' mood, the Toran tried to continue being polite to the beauty, but his eyes were focused on the Oracle. "Yeah...that sounds great. I would love to try it."
"None that I know of," Akantha shook her head.
Bria had her hands over her mouth, and she swallowed thickly, "Oh god...that's us..." What were they going to do? "So...our parents...Sibyl must've known them. Who were they? What does this mean for us?" She had no idea what to think about this. First she was accused of being a Seer which was a bunch of bullshit. Now this? What was next?
Eri bit her lip as she glanced between everybody, noticing the tension. Now she no longer had Raiden's attention, which considering he was a bodyguard, that was a bad thing. She hoped nothing was going to happen... "Um...how are you enjoying our world so far, Raiden?" she asked, playing with her necklace nervously.
"Spock..." Kirk said the Vulcan's name gently though with a bit of warning. He reached out, placing his hand on the man's fist, and tried to give him a calm feeling. He hadn't learned all the tips and tricks yet, but he knew was getting somewhere when the hand relaxed. His attention turned back to Akantha, "Please, continue." He withdrew, settling back on the bench.
"There have been depictions of the parents Sibyl was visited by, that she made herself and they've been carefully preserved in the museum, which thankfully remained untouched in the war. The father had spiked blond hair and sharp blue eyes, a tight, almost military expression as he observes the land, a protective arm around the mother who has lovely dark brown hair and green eyes with a gentle expression as she holds her swollen belly. A beautiful couple, really."
Eri smiled at Raiden, "It's okay, I'm not offended by you being distracted. You are doing your duty, and that is respectable." She reached out and touched his leg, meaning to be reassuring, but was startled when he jerked and scooted away. This /did/ hurt her a little and she frowned, returning her hand to her lap, "Forgive me if I did something wrong..." Maybe he didn't like being touched?
"Calm down, ashaya..." Bria murmured after hearing the growling undertone in her boyfriend's voice. She listened to the others and she glanced at Sarah, "I like Eri, though it seems poor Raiden's having a bit of trouble, if you know what I mean," she winked and she and her sister tried holding back the giggles. The tense atmosphere needed to go away...she didn't like it. If a change of subject helped, then so be it.
For safety's sake and no one would be ousted, Bones had put in an ear piece so only he would hear Ayano should she contact him about their vitals. Now, of all times, she did, "Leon? Um..." She stumbled over her mistake, "McCoy, the crew's stress levels are fluctuating oddly...is everything alright? Whatever's happening down there, it'd be a good idea to throw a sarcastic comment or something."
Spock took a deeper breath than normal as he forced his body to relax while his emotions continued to nip at his mind. He needed his Bria with him, yet at the same time he wanted to continue to hide her away from these people. If they upset her, they upset him... Jim...he aided in his calming, more than he thought he should. He would suffice for Bria at the moment.
"No...No you're fine." Raiden swallowed thickly as he crossed his legs so that a certain /reaction/ was hidden. The moment she had touched his leg...it was like a jolt ran straight to his…Of all bloody times this would happen where he had no hope of hiding his predicament. And why the heck did it happen anyway!? He'd never had this happen to him by /one touch/.
Bones' lips tugged into a small smile at how nice his name rolled off his assistant's tongue. Glancing over at the little commotion of a rather nervous tiger, the doctor found the material he needed to break this tension. Raiden would kill him later, though...Oh what the heck, he'll just threaten him with some terrible disease or something. "Jim, I think you should have our security officer rein himself in." Leonard stated with a slightly raised voice so that all attention turned to the tiger male.
Raiden's head snapped up at the medical officer with a slightly panicked look, "/Really/, Bones?!"
Bria clamped her hand over her mouth and she reached over, taking Sarah's hand and they got into a crouch going to the nearest tree in order to stand up, and then she walked down the path, "What's goin' on?" she asked, and she let herself giggle at Raiden's reddened face, even through his orange and black markings, "/Problems/, Raiden? I knew you weren't attracted to brunettes, but I didn't peg you for liking redheads."
Kirk was highly amused by this, "Do you need to find a different spot to sit at, Lieutenant?" he drawled with a cheeky smirk, his lips tugging further at how the tiger drew his legs even closer together.
"I don't think that'll be necessary," Eri giggled, standing instead, "I need to go get ready for the gladiator show."
Baal who had simply sat back while Akantha took care of everything, perked up at this, "Oh, that's right. I had completely forgotten about it. You are all my guests, and I invite you to join us. I suggest a change of clothes, however. Brings less attention to the crowd and leaves the focus to the ring."
Kirk stood, "What exactly is the gladiator show?"
"It's not like the ones in your Ancient Greek times," Akantha explained, joining everyone in standing, "It's more of a...fight to prove yourself worthy of a lady's heart. It's meant mainly to settle conflicts in relationships. Women can also fight for a man, but that's less common. Death is illegal, though injuries happen. Some join just for fun and to prove themselves in general for future lovers."
Kirk turned to Spock, "Hey! That sounds awesome! What would you say if I told you I wanted to join?" Then he looked at Baal, "I could do that, right?"
"It would certainly be last minute, but I'm sure there would be someone for you to fight," Baal nodded, a curious and thoughtful expression on his face.
"I would say that would be against regulations, but it has proven to be pointless to state thus far." Spock commented, immediately going to Bria's side. He looked at Sarah who politely wiggled her hand free from Bria's so that the Vulcan could slide his arm around his beloved's back. The calm came at once, allowing his mind to return to it's logical state.
Sarah crossed her arms after going to Kirk since a certain first officer had practically shooed her off. Her brow raised and her lips fought to keep a smile down, "Trying to win someone else's heart, Jim? Tired of me already? Or is this going to be some macho-man thing?"
Bones snickered as he too stood, noting that the Tiger remained planted with a scowl on his face. Reaching up, he pressed the tiny button on the ear piece that allowed him to speak to Ayano. "How was that for a sarcastic comment, my dear?" Hey if she was allowed to slip up on names, he should be allowed to do so on purpose.
"By the time I'm going to be done with you, Bones, you'll /really/ fit your nickname." Raiden growled, his tail thrashing in irritation, and he tried to gather the will to look at the lovely Eri. Not only was he now a pervert, but the laughing stock of the group. He couldn't help it that his body reacted like that from Eri's touch. Why don't /they/ trade positions? Then we'll see who would be laughing.