If Juliette had run many more diagnostics, she would bludgeon Pylkau to death with her PADD. Not only would she get the satisfaction of beating that insufferable Vulcan, Danek and T'Mar would also have to suffer watching the PADD they oh-so-politely fought over shattered to bits. It would almost be worth it. Almost. But at least T'Mar and Danek were only being characteristically, if excruciatingly, exacting with their tests of the holo-projector. Pylkau seemed to thrive on delaying any attempt to contact Betazed. He who had pointedly ignored all but the last stages of the project, was "We should run the light intensity matrix test again, Novice Sri" and "To prevent a visual cascade, we should run a level one diagnostic on the subspace communications buffer, Novice Sri." Gods preserve them if they made even the tiniest change to the photon distribution chamber; the entire diagnostics suite would need to be run again.
Juliette, you are glaring. T'Mar sent with a nudge.
I am not. I am as calm as the windless sky.
Look at me.
Juliette glanced toward her. For a moment, T'Mar's eyes were wide, her jaw set furious, her frown scrunched tight. Juliette stepped back in startlement. T'Mar's face slacked to its neutral countenance. That is how you look.
Juliette took a breath and willed the muscles in her face to unclench. So close to being done!
Finally, even Pylkau could not think of more tests to torture them with, and Danek let Juliette had the honor of initiating the connection that began with a flicker, and solidified with a surprising clarity on the raised platform on Betazed.
"No one is there," T'Mar said, "just your plant."
Just her plant in a crisp clarity. Juliette let herself be mesmerized by the gray veins of the marble of the platform. "We were supposed to be done three hours ago. I'm sure they got tired of waiting."
Danek ignored the dig. "The resolution is impressive."
"The upgrades affect the entire communications system. We will not get this kind of reception during an electrical storm, but we should be able to at least not lose communications entirely."
"With a fifteen percent greater load on the monastery's computers," Pylkau muttered. "The resolution is hardly worth the computational return, and the heavier feeds could overload the transmission relays."
"Amazingly, the lights are still on," Danek said and absorbed Pylkau's stare with all innocence.
Juliette hid her smile as she stepped into the ring, pleased that the image didn't flicker; that was a good sign. But the atmospherics! While it still didn't smell like the ocean - there were limits to what upgrades could do - the cool breeze prickled her skin and the distant evening tides shushed against her ears. She thrilled at the feel of the satiny hairs as she brushed a leaf on the velvet creeper with her thumb. For this moment, she was home.
"Daughter, it is a relief to see you in a form that actually resembles a Betazoid."
Mother seemed so odd, free of the glitches and smears that she'd unconsciously accepted. An oddly perfect stranger, masquerading as Matron of House Sri. Juliette rushed forward, and embraced her mother with a fierce grip, savoring her warmth, the feather softness of her gown, the way her nails dug into her shoulders as she returned the hug. Everything felt so real, so perfect, it was only natural to reach, and grasp at nothing, and for a moment, not even that mattered as Matron wiped the tears from Juliette's cheeks.
Lars was never far behind, then Kanara and Lara. It was so good to actually feel them again. She found herself laughing and wiping at her own cheeks.
"I guess we can call the test a success?"
"A complete success," Lars said. "We couldn't have asked for more." And he smiled that smile that used to be comforting and reassuring. Had his smile always been so conspiratorial, a code that the Vulcans, who would have found such a display a sign of lunacy, wouldn't recognize? Did that mean the transporter system was working as well, that whatever they had set in motion within the network of relationships within the Pentahectad was nearing a destination? There was no way to ask, there was only to have faith.
#
Juliette felt T'Sana's patience for all her wandering wearing thin. They had started in the common area. Both she and T'Mar needed Danek's help with system cores and power coupling patterns. All through Danek's explanations, Juliette watched T'Sana struggled with her PADD - multi-matrix molecular bonds really needed the power of a console to solve. But, T'Sana was resigned to ensure Juliette was not up to ill-intent. Thankfully, the Initiate was not suspicious of how remedial Danek's tutelage was, especially since the analysis of the Romulans' search pattern, delivered in nightly dribs and drabs, made power coupling patterns seem trivial. But power coupling patterns could be assessed with a simple diagnostic; there was only one way to test the search pattern.
After tea, the infirmary. Juliette needed more gloves. P'mera accused her of eating them, but the surgical skin was so thin, and tore so easily on rough surfaces, and the gloves were so very helpful, please thankyou. All in proper Vulcan, even if she wasn't a proper Vulcan, no, not at all.
And then - oh, she wanted to return her old PADD. It was still serviceable, another novice, one with a PADD in worse condition, would be better off. From the infirmary, the stacks on four were closer.
"The stacks on eleven are closer to your cell, to which you should be returning."
Only a fool would argue with that tone. Juliette instead replied with a duteous nod and brought out her PADD for the first time that evening. "Very well, let me synchronize with the lower memory stacks." T'Sana's mood shifted to one of interest in the unblemished screen and its immediate response. "There."
"It has already synched to the monastery stacks?" T'Sana asked as she watched over Juliette's shoulder.
"It has," Juliette said, switching to the holographic display. She nudged the diagram and let it spin. "I have found this quite helpful with molecular models."
T'Sana's eyes reflected the spinning matrix. "I can see how it would be."
"It would be very helpful for your protein simulations. Even with your console, how long do they take?"
"Six point three seven hours."
"Forgive me Initiate, but that seems terribly slow. Why again does the monastery use such equipment?"
"Because for a monastery, the PADDs we have our sufficient."
Even a drunk Klingon would have felt that sarcasm. Juliette offered the PADD to T'Sana. "Are we not a school as well?"
"To central command, we are a monastery, and therefore we use what we are given."
"I would imagine this PADD would help you complete your assignment faster."
T'Sana gave off a flicker of suspicion, and her gaze flicked toward Juliette. "In exchange for what?"
"I really wanted to get up to level four to get the weather data from the direct feed from the summit - it takes a while for the upper stacks and lower stacks to synchronize, and I was hoping to use real weather data from my analysis of the electrical storms. I could let you use the PADD this evening if we could-"
"Very well."
"Very well?"
"Do your small ears affect your hearing, Novice?"
"As you wish, Initiate."
So, of course, they were at the memory stacks when Danek called.
"Initiate T'Sana, my console is reading a power fault in 1114A-77. Since you are in the area, would you please verify?"
"I am escorting Novice Sri, and she must be back before evening chimes. You will have to come up yourself." T'Sana's gaze remained on the PADD as she responded to the console.
"I am trying to fix a serious fault down on twelve, the failure I am detecting may just be a glitch. The novice will still be escorted, if only a little late."
"Very well, but I will look at it, but any advanced diagnostics will have to be run by yourself."
"I am most appreciative."
Juliette wanted to cheer. If their models were right, the Romulans, or whoever they were, would soon be searching room 1114A-97, just two doors down from where T'Sana would be inspecting a non-faulty console.
"Supposedly, the PADD can run basic power transfer diagnostics. I have not tried that feature yet."
T'Sana was already walking toward 1114A-77. "It sounds like you're stalling to find out how late you can stay out. But, I suppose we are up here already, and it would be unwise to abandon such an opportunity."
Juliette dutifully followed to a dead-end hallway the doors to several small vestibules. She lingered at the entryway while T'Sana gathered readings. With luck, both T'Mar and Danek were likewise positioning themselves at the two other predicted locations. Juliette's was the most remote, but she couldn't be out late without T'Sana anyway, which, if worst came to worst, there were two of them.
"Quite impressive," T'Mar said, "This PADD is scanning in the M and Q wavelengths simultaneously."
"Yes Initiate, it is." Juliette tried to sound interested as stared at the closed door of 1114A-97 and expanded her awareness. Someone was behind that door, someone waiting. Juliette closed her eyes and opened herself to all the sensations around her, flowing outward passed T'Sana, curiosity, toward the mysterious presence. Was the anticipation hers? She filtered out her own emotions, trying to feel everything around her.
Another presence at the end of the hallway flared.
Who?
Their surprise hit like a thunderbolt. Did she cry out, or was it just in her mind? Surprise turned to a blistering wave of shock. Recognition. Fireworks exploded in the vision of her clenched eyes. Juliette tried to push it away, to stop listening so well, but it was as if she was listening for a whisper when someone screamed in her ear. The hallway twisted when she tried to look - to get even a glimpse of this new person, but the junction was already empty.
No seizures, please, not now.
The echoes of their receding presence contorted into nausea. Juliette felt the doorframe at her back as she barely held herself upright. T'Sana's sudden attention - controlled as it was, made it worse.
"Juliette, are you unwell?"
The door to 1114A-79 hissed open and in the doorway stood Pylkau. His mood drifted from tense to surprised to suspicious. Was he looking for the same intruder? He'd been expecting someone, but certainly not Juliette Sri, unless- She felt herself stammering out an explanation and forced a stop. But then he noticed T'Sana, and he wasn't so sure. If Juliette had been alone...
Juliette felt T'Sana's alarm as she faced Pylkau - out after chimes with Novice Sri, holding Juliette's new PADD - hardly a proper situation.
"I was just taking her back to her cell," T'Sana said before Pylkau could ask.
Pylkau changed his question. "Why are you up here in the first place?"
"Danek detected a power failure. We were in the area."
"You were?" Pylkau asked.
"Initiate T'Sana," Juliette said when she could finally stop shaking, "I really am not feeling well and would very much appreciate returning to my cell. It is late, and I am overtired."
Juliette felt the entirety of Pylkau's attention as she followed T'Sana down the hall and back to the lifts.
#
Back in her room, there were no messages on her console. Something was wrong, T'Mar was only three floor up. She should have been back first. If she found someone like Juliette had-
She would have run to the common area, had T'Sana's voice stopped her cold.
"Novice, It is well past chimes. Go to your cell. Now."
"Initiate, T'Mar is not in her cell, and it is after hours. I am concerned-"
"She will return and be reprimanded. I will not have you distract me again."
Juliette paced in her cell until that series of raspy voices caused her to jump. She stared as the translation appeared.
B dash seven dash one, one, four clear.
There were others in my sector. I will check there tomorrow.
We are out of time. I will go with Beta team to P'nem. If the key is in the house, we shall find it-
Juliette glanced at the badge. Could that be what they are looking for?
-but she may have hidden it elsewhere.
Her husband is in ShiKahr City.
Gamma, acquire her son in the monastery, in case she is not willing to tell us where she has hidden the key.
Danek? Where was he? She checked her console. His dot showed him in the upper operations room with the translator module. She pressed communications on the console. "Danek! Danek, it's-"
Letters flickered across the screen.
Untranslatable
Untranslatable
The voices followed, animated and alert.
What was that?
Follow the signal. I heard the son's name. Someone is calling him.
On our channel?
Trace it!
Juliette closed the connection. She couldn't call Danek. They'd find him- they'd. What was that trick that had fooled T'Sana? Appearing in your cell when you weren't? Just focus on the commands, press, command, press. Where to put him? Everywhere. The console lit up with dots. Hundreds of Daneks, in every room.
She heard her door open. She spun, too dizzy from before to feel- thank all the gods it was T'Mar that shut the door after she hurried in.
"Juliette, I saw them. He was dressed as those on the Way of Kolinahr, but he was not. He was possibly a Romulan, and he was looking for -"
"I think they are looking for the badge. They were talking, just now. I heard them on the console. They said they were at P'nem's, and they would get Danek to make her talk. I don't think-"
"We have to warn Danek." T'Mar reached for the console.
Juliette seized her wrist, then let go the moment her worry stabbed between them. "They heard me when I used the console."
"Juliette, your eyes, how-"
"Someone showed up. I was not prepared." Juliette fought the wave of panic. It wouldn't help, and worse it could hurt T'Mar. "We have to warn Danek - "
T'Mar's eyes scanned the console. "He should be near his assigned location." Her voice trailed off as she looked at the console screen adorned with hundreds of locator dots for Danek. "You have put him everywhere. Very clever. But only initiates are out after chimes. They will find him."
"Not if he hides. You are right. We have to warn him, and I cannot switch to another channel."
T'Mar prodded at the console. "Something has locked us to this channel. It is as if someone - Juliette, they are tracing your console. We must go to my cell immediately."
Juliette grabbed the badge before they slipped down the hallway to T'Mar's cell. Thankfully, T'Sana was focused on her studies, explaining to her about Romulans and translators - the Initiate would have no patience for belief.
They knelt close in the middle T'Mar's cell.
I must not panic.
"I can go to the upper levels and look for Danek," T'Mar said.
Juliette sat upright as she took deep breaths. "Anyone outside after chimes will be suspicious. If you are to go out, you must go straight to Master Surot." But what could Master Surot do about at least three Tal Shiar in the monastery? They most certainly had weapons, and the will to use them.
"But Danek-"
"We will warn him."
"But -"
Juliette focused on her breathing. In. Out. There is no anger. No fear. No love.
"Juliette-"
"Give me a moment. My fear will hurt you."
After a moment, Juliette nodded and put her fingers against T'Mar's face. The connection was immediate. Her emotion lanced against them both, a stabbing pain. She borrowed T'Mar's calm and eased her anxiety, their thoughts blending. The bind to Danek was easy to find; it felt familiar and comfortable. She followed the bind's path. Sensations blurred and thought turned into strong, warm hands on her back, the face under her fingers changing, becoming longer, and more angled. She let her hands drift down his neck and shoulders. His breath was warm as she felt nestled against him. The breath caught when he realized, but his arms continued to encircle her.
Juliette indulged in a warm chuckle. You were expecting someone else.
The sensation of his hands remained. I was.
I regret to disappoint.
His hands tightened around her waist. You do not.
Juliette rested her cheek against his chest. I know. His finger brushed the curve of her ear; she leaned away from the ticklish, yet intimate, sensation. The bind enhanced the physical, but his presence - that incredible presence. So vibrant, so alive, to blend and share with it and oh, how deliciously complicated -
But couldn't give into enjoyment. There was a message, and they were in danger. She extricated herself from the tangle, each pull a regret.
Danek, there are Romulans. They are looking for you to coerce P'Nem to give up some kind of key.
My mother is in danger?
Not if you hide. You must hide. Stay safe. Stay.
You stay. Here I'll protect you.
That's the bind talking. You cannot protect me. Protect yourself. Hide.
Danek was holding the contact, the bind making everything close and desireable. Wonderful and eager. Fire and light.
Stop. Just stop. Telling herself more than Danek, She retreated even as he held on, sliding away, the friction setting her nerves alight. She could stay forever. This is not mine. I must let go. Please, just a little longer.
Juliette opened her eyes. She didn't remember falling forward, their heads resting together. T'Mar's hair soft on her forehead. Her breath warm against Juliette's cheek. Her face was flushed as she traced Juliette's brows with her fingers. Juliette smoothed back T'Mar's hair, letting her fingers brush T'Mar's ear just as Danek had touched hers.
T'Mar gasped as her lips parted slightly. Her flush turned to a crimson glow as she leaned her head into Juliette's caress. Through their connection, Juliette felt the intimate rush that went from her ear to everywhere.
Juliette brought - no forced - her hand to her own lap. Something was wrong with climate control. T'Mar's room was far too warm.
No. Not the room.
Juliette caught her breath. "I regret-"
"Do not," T'Mar said, then added, "We saved Danek."
They both sat back, proper. The echoes of the connection lingered between them. Were T'Mar's eyes always so? "I-I must go. They could find me here and then you'd be-"
I will stay. I will protect you. Why are a mother's curses the strongest?
"-I'll go to the holo-projector and use the transporter. It should get me somewhere safe. I'll contact as soon as I can."
"Be safe, Juliette."
"And you. I-"
"I know."
She paused at the door. "T'Mar, have you and Danek been sharing through the bind to-"
"No."
Juliette let the lie stand and left.
There was no time to even get the helmet from her room. She'd have to take her chances in ShiKahr city. She reached out, listening with her mind, relieved the hallways were empty. The lift rattled as she closed the door. Every sound a conspiracy to give her away.
Halfway up, she pressed the stop and took the badge out of her robe. There was a service hatch, just large enough to maintain the lift works at the top. She could secret the badge there, and retrieve it when everything had settled. If everything settled.
The grating pinched her fingers as she climbed the wall and across the ceiling. Her grip faltered as she swung out, but she jammed her hand upward, through the hatch, releasing the badge. It skittered across the top and rattled -
down the side, clattering down the wall, a bright flash of metal through the grating and-
down.
No.
Juliette dropped to the floor, crouched low to hear it land at the bottom of the shaft, but everything was lost in the hum of the monastery. She stared into the dark below her, looking for a flicker, a glint, anything, but the shaft remained an abyss.
No one would have the badge. Fine. The lift screeched into motion, upward.
At the top, the lights flickered, twice before the corridor was as black as the lift fumbled for her light. Were the Tal Shiar attacking? No. The dark only helped the novices and initiates. They had lights. The Romulans would be blind. Clever, T'Mar. How I wish I could stay with you in your room-
No, that's just the bind talking.
The emergency lighting turned the roughhewn projector room into an ancient cavern. She didn't sense Pylkau as one of the shadows until his light flickered into her face.
"Novice Sri, What are you doing out after chimes?"
Juliet ran. Just a couple quick slaps on the console and a hop into the ring and she'd be outside ShiKahr city. He caught her mid-hop, his hand high on her shoulder. She lunged with her own panic and fear and felt her head erupt. Pylkau cried out in pain. His hand squeezed at her collarbone and her body exploding in pain, her muscles limp and useless. She screamed, her concentration shattered. She reached again, and he squeezed before she could connect. She writhed weakly.
"You will. Not. Do that again, Novice Sri. You have been most difficult for those trying to help you."
"No, you-"
He pinched at her neck, and her words twisted into a sob.
"Despite your best efforts to get yourself killed by the Romulans, I will see to your safety. Since you are so eager to try out this transporter-" He shoved her toward the ring and the tripped over the edge, her gloves shred against the rocky floor.
"But-"
"I didn't need to disassemble the components to find the transporter modules within - one could just look at the power matrix and know it was doing far more than shaping light. Did you have a plan other than transporting away? In an electrical storm? Did you even consider that?
A storm? Outside? She'd have been transported outside ShiKahr City with no means of communication. No mask, no protective padding and rods. Not even her helmet.
"At least, your House gave me the means to transport you to safety. The simplicity of the design - easy enough for a novice - made re-configuring the assembly quite simple. You might hope P'nem has more patience than I dealing with you while we deal with the Romulans."
P'Nem? The words on the translation floated back. She will not talk. "No, wait-"
"Goodbye, Juliette Sri."
The projector rings glowed like sunshine, gathering energy with the sound of a chorus. Juliette was surrounded by golden light.