*Why were you sent to assassinate Colonel Kira?*
*Like I'd tell you anything Jedi*
*Oh trust me, you don't want to mess with the Federation, due to the fact that you attacked a Starfleet officer you're in a lot of trouble. I could make things easier on you if you just...talk*
Ashland suddenly coughs up blood but everyone knew she hadn't been hit any where's vital as far as they could tell, even though she got hit in the side as far as they knew the area that the knife was at there weren't any major organs
*Having trouble Jedi? I guess I should tell you before you die from my poison, we were trying to break the alliance between the Federation and the Republic, we felt that a Republic poison would do the trick. Oh and don't think I'll tell you who my masters are, I do believe you're too smart for that seeing as how I'm sure you recognize the emblem I'm wearing*
*Yes...I...recognize...it...but...guess...what...we have...the means...to cure...me...on...the...ship*
She then switches back to Basic but everyone was concerned at how often she was coughing up blood
"Take him...away Constable...he...won't...talk"
"We need to get you to Bashir"
"NO!...I need...my crew...mission...to...Republic...vital...now"
"But Portland..."
"Don't...worry...Colonel...I...know...what...I...am...doing"
"Fine but I'm ordering an escort to make sure you get to your ships sickbay safely"
All Ashland does is nod in acceptance because she knew that she needed it but she also connected to Soketh mentally to inform him of the situation and what was needed to be passed on to the doctors because she could tell she wasn't that far from a Healing trance
*Soketh, get to medical, tell them I've been poisoned with a poison that will kill an ordinary person within a week but because of a Healing trance Jedi have two. I will appear dead once in the Trance because my vitals will not really show up and I can't calibrate them so that they do so I am not to be declared dead without definite proof from you. The Jedi Temple will have the directions for the cure and I've already tested and the ingredients are safe to be synthesized, don't ask me why for now just tell them that it's okay*
*Understood, how will I tell them you're still alive if you're in the Healing trance?*
*You'll be able to feel my Force signature, which will be easy for you because we've already connected before*
*Got it, get well soon*
Ashland doesn't make it to sickbay on the New Hope but she does manage to make it to the ship so the security officer simply called to sickbay that he had someone who needed to be there but needed a stretcher or a site to site transport. Once Ashland was in sickbay the doctor almost called Ashland dead and would have too if not for Soketh telling him that Ashland was alive but in a Healing trance
"But she's showing no vitals, even if she was in a Healing trance all we would get would be different readings"
"That's because of the poison currently coursing through her system, we need to contact the Jedi Council and let them know about the poisoning of Portland and the fact that we need the treatment plan, don't worry the ingredients will work even synthesized"
"How do you know that?"
"Because Ashland did some tests when she was still in the Academy and discovered that for herself and I could tell she wasn't lying"
"How did she tell you that when she was basically out of it?"
"Mental contact via the Force"
"Oh makes sense then"
The doctor quickly contacts the Jedi Council and explains the situation to them and they provide the treatment plan that Ashland needed
"Now then are you absolutely sure Sentinel Portland is in the Healing trance even if there are no vital signs?"
That's when Soketh speaks up
"I'm Entry Sentinel Soketh and I can sense her through the Force, it's easier for me due to the fact that we made mental contact so that she understood what she had missed in her three years as a prisoner, which actually wasn't much"
"Very well Sentinel Soketh, you'll need to stay in the...sickbay I believe it's called until treatment is over due to the fact that the treatment will take care of the poison however due to the fact that the treatment itself can kill the person and the fact that there are basically no vital signs when a Jedi is in the Healing trance the medics will need someone who can sense the truth there for them"
"Okay, I'll inform the Captain then, and just so you know if this happens again the ingredients can be synthesized safely"
"Sentinel Portland actually told us that when she returned home"
"Oh didn't know that"
"We're sending the information you need now, good luck"
The Jedi Council signs off and the doctor is relieved that it looks like the treatment was simple, but it also took several doses for the treatment to be effective
"Okay, looks like I have to give her five doses a day for five days and it also looks like it's a good thing she's in a Healing trance"
"What for?"
"Because it looks like the treatment is normally painful, and you can't take any pain medications while undergoing treatment"
"Okay, I'll call the Captain and let him know the situation at the moment"
"With the fact that she'll be unconscious we should be able to start our mission because of the fact that it still takes two weeks to get to the Republic and that's only to Coruscant, once there we'll slow down and it will take a few days to get to the planet that I believe is called Ilum"
"Yes the planet is called Ilum"
"I have a question, just how did you make your lightsabers being stuck in the Federation?"
"Oh that's something we're not allowed to talk about"
"Understood, but then why is she making hers in the Republic?"
"Multiple reasons"
"Okay, now to start the treatment Portland needs, let me know if there's any change in her condition because I won't be able to know"
"Will do"
Over the next five days Soketh and the doctor did everything in their power to keep Ashland alive, though they actually almost lost her once during the treatment process but luckily they succeeded in bringing her back but it was a close call according to Soketh. The only reason they didn't lose her was because of T'vran though they didn't know that yet, that and the fact that Soketh also did whatever he could to keep Ashland connected to the Force even though she was dying
"Well treatment's over and the poison's gone, she should wake up within the next three days according to what I've read...and we have her vitals once more so you're no longer needed to monitor Sentinel Portland"
"It's good to hear that she'll be fine, and should be up soon enough"
"Soketh get some sleep you need it, and Portland should be able to move as soon as she's up because for some reason a temporary Healing trance doesn't do anything to muscles"
"Yeah even the Jedi healers doesn't understand why that is"
"Well, all we can and need to do now is monitor Portland and answer any questions she has when she wakes up. Now then this is doctor's orders, get some sleep Soketh, I know you used Vulcan techniques to not only keep yourself awake but also get what appeared to be sleep but wasn't"
"The Captain knows that I need sleep, but he does ask for regular updates on Portland now that treatment is over with"
"Don't worry I'm about to give him an update and then let the others know when to update the Captain because I'm going to be taking some time off as well"
The next three days were a little tense because they weren't sure if the poison or even the treatment had done any brain damage, according to the files the Jedi Healers had sent neither had ever done that but the thing was Ashland had been given some inoculations shortly before she went to Quarks as a means to get her updated on whatever she had missed. Ashland had actually been the one to initiate too because of the fact that she had been missing for three years and knew she needed to get herself updated just in case. The thing was no one had ever had the poison or treatment after Federation inoculations so no one was quite sure what would happen
"How is she?"
"All we know is that she's stable, we won't know if her mind is affected until she wakes up"
Just then Ashland groaned and opened her eyes and immediately closed them due to the brightness which was instantly turned down
"Portland? I know you're going to hate me but what's the last thing you remember?"
"Getting caught up via Soketh"
"Okay, that means you've only missed a day which is a good thing and not all that surprising"
"What happened?"
"Later Portland, you still need some sleep, but I also need to do a few more tests"
The few tests told them that all she had was a slight case of amnesia
"How is she?"
"She's forgotten the day of the attack but other than that she's fine...so far, we're going to have to continue this until she truly wakes up just in case"
For the next several times Ashland woke up she was asked the same questions as the first time and she answered them the same each and every time. Finally she was truly and honestly awake a full twenty-four hours after her treatment was completed
"So how did my neurological checks come out while I was out of it?"
"You did great, but you've forgotten the day of the attack that caused you to be poisoned in the first place"
"What poison was it?"
"A poison that doesn't typically affect the memory and you appear dead even when in the Healing trance and it kills an ordinary person within a week"
"Oh that poison, the memory loss is a first"
"Yes, but it's never been exposed to Federation inoculations before has it?"
"Oh, that's why I have slight memory loss"
"Exactly"
"Um two things doctor. First has there been any activity in regards to a file I sealed that is President eyes only? And two I'm about to go into deep meditation so you're going to be getting some interesting readings, however you have to understand that it is dangerous to bring a Jedi out of their meditation by force because that is how we not only maintain our connection to the Force but also what allows us to think about events in ways we wouldn't have been able to during said events, finding maybe another path, even helping us cope with our emotions. However if you detect my heart racing out of control, my breathing rapid and shallow, or even my heart rate and breathing too slow you are to bring me out of the meditation via drugs, either drugs that slow down my heart rate and breathing or drugs to bring both my heart rate and breathing back up. Once you do that you do not let me sleep until I answer any of your questions satisfactorily is that understood?"
"Completely understood Sentinel Portland. As for your question as the CMO I was briefed on that file just in case and so far nothing has come to fruition but the Federation is keeping a close eye. Meanwhile we're about...six days from Coruscant"
"Which means we're another three days at least from Ilum because we'll be slowing down drastically once we reach Republic space"
"Exactly, now then I'll let my nurses know not to disturb your meditation unless your vital signs indicate you're in danger"
"Do you know my danger signs in regards to my vitals? I know for a fact that Sentinel's have different vitals from the beginning and when you add in meditation there's a major difference between danger and normal"
"Don't worry I've learned and will alert the nurses to what's right and wrong when it comes to Sentinel meditations. That's especially important when it comes to the fact that there are several different races that can become Jedi or Sentinel's"
"Exactly, and it takes time to learn all of them especially when races look similar but are vastly different, which means there are either major or slight differences in meditation danger zones"
Ashland went into deep meditation and things were okay for the first hour, but then she was attacked by the dark side of the Force while she was meditating and a nurse noticed that her vitals were way too fast for her so the nurse gave Ashland a hypo which brought Ashland out of the meditation state but also brought her vitals back to normal fast
"Nurse, thank you"
"What happened?"
Ashland shakes her head though
"I need to talk to Entry Sentinel Soketh immediately, and the Captain and since I don't know when I'll be let out of sickbay I'll just have to explain things here"
"You almost died from meditation I think a doctor at the very least should know what happened so that this can be prevented from happening again"
"Sorry, but I can't have you interrupting meditations unless my life is truly at risk, if I go deep into the Force I might have Force visions and while it's mostly things that might happen there are times when I see things that are intense and have this...feeling that what I see is supposed to happen and if it doesn't bad things could result"
"So basically you have to go through intense visions unless they're killing you"
"Exactly, I know you don't like it but it's the way it has to be, for everyone's safety"
"Well the Captain and Sentinel Soketh should be down here in a few minutes"
"Good, can this area be soundproofed?"
"Security issue?"
"Possibly but I'm not sure"
"Yes, it can be soundproofed"
"Good"
A few minutes later people who needed medical attention saw the Captain and two Sentinel's talking but didn't hear what was being said, though from body language they could tell the conversation was intense. Meanwhile inside the soundproof area Portland was explaining the effects the vision could have on their mission in the Republic
"But what if we need regular non trained Jedi with us during whatever trouble you sensed?"
"If that happens they'll be where they're needed, but most likely hidden, either that or...or we might be hidden for reasons I can't discuss right now"
"Don't tell me, Force vision?"
"Exactly, Soketh I'm pretty sure you've detected something since I've been on board and if not anything long term but feeling immediate, either that or you feel like there's something that's going to happen but you're not sure what or why"
"Actually yeah I could sense things are happening and it involves the crew, in fact the doctor didn't have to wake me up from my sleep I suddenly woke up and was washing my face just as she was calling my room because I sensed something wrong with you"
"Yeah that would be the dark Force vision that caused this conversation to happen in the first place"
"What about the Jedi Council?"
(Shakes her head) "I can't talk to the Council about what I saw just yet because not only is the vision way to vague for them but I get the feeling that they're not meant to know yet, maybe after I make my lightsabers but I don't know that for sure"
"Look, maybe we should alert the Jedi Council about the potential trouble and let them decide what's needed"
"No that can't happen right now Captain, you don't understand what you're talking about so don't you dare contact them and that's a direct order as the Senior ranking Starfleet Sentinel"
"Okay, but Portland, shouldn't we at least let them know we're going to be here for a while, and doesn't the Republic Senate need to know about our mission too?"
(Sighs) "I hate to break it to you but the Senate won't be hearing about this until at least my lightsaber mission is done"
"What for?"
"They're currently in recess, it's a short recess but most if not all went to their home planets for a small break and wont' reconvene until after the estimated time I finish my lightsabers"
"Fine, but Portland why do you abbreviate the Jedi Council and Republic Senate to just the Council and Senate?"
"Much easier on everyone, especially Sentinel's who have to keep things straight between the Federation and the Republic. Trust me it's not something one can get used to quickly and to be honest a lot of people don't understand the need to differentiate but for those of us who do know and understand we do our best to make adjustments quickly. The Admiralty understood pretty fast because they too have to keep things straight between themselves in regards to things I am either not privy to or know better than to talk about"
Not long after the doctor releases Ashland who is informed that they've reached Coruscant, as such they leave warp and simply inform the people they could that they were there while Ashland sets in new coordinates and speed into the computer. Another three days passed during which Ashland and Soketh did specialized training and also their routine duties, though Ashland was a bit more...rounded according to her records so she moved about a bit more in the ship while Soketh wasn't quite so rounded but did have some command experience just in case. One day Ashland was just in their version of ten-forward when she thought of when the Admiralty talked to her about getting command track training even though they weren't quite sure where to put her