Chapter 16

Beneath the surface of

Ngech Venghlom

Time had no relevance for the male warrior that huddled against the mine wall. His brothers were dead and he was alive, that did not say much for him. His air was running out and his resolve had been to prepare for death. Looking around he saw the dead bodies of his six companions that had worked this end of the mine. Closing his eyes he thought of his life so far and how he had not been an exemplary example for his smaller ones. He had worked hard and felt he had a right to drink and womanize when he got home. He ignored the requests of his mother and did not know where his father was or did he care. She had chosen a life mate that would take him off world to the farthest reaches of space.

Baynar, son of Choloth was ending his life so much differently than he thought. Closing his eyes he took one long lasting breath and wondered would it be his last. It was a soft scent that filled his senses. A soft touch on his shoulder and he opened his eyes and saw what surely must be an Duy standing over him. The soft light from the mining lights surrounded her hair giving her a halo affect; she stooped down and touched his forehead. "I know you can hear me in your mind. I am here to save you." He smiled and a part of him felt a revelation had been given to him to survive this horror. "Come with me." She spoke and her voice was filled wih the heavenly promise of Kahless' ever lasting light and world.

She helped guide him up, and that was when he realized that others had come with her and they were collecting the dead bodies of his brother miners. She had held his arm and watched as a floating bed was brought over and his to lie on. For that he was glad, his legs did not wish to support his body. She stepped back and he noticed she was in a hazard suit. Her small body was encased in the white material that protected against the gas from the mines. Her encouraging voice and smile gave him hope that he would live today. He had whispered to her "Today is a good day to die."

She had smiled and shook her head. "Today isa good day to fight and die tomorrow." Giving him one more pat before sending him off. M'lar turned from the male she had found and motioned for Bi'Anka to follow her, she had walked past the main tunnel and was now walking further into the area that had collapsed when the eruption had occurred. Pausing she closed her eyes and stretched her palm forward using her senses in her palm. There it began to form in her mind she then heard shallow breathing and moans coming from beyond the wall that had collapsed. "There are more behind the wall. She turned and accepted the tricorder Bi'Anka handed her. Locating the coordinates she touched them into the device. "Transmit those coordinates to the rescue team and have them lock on to me and transport us to that location."

M'lar was once again traveling through metric tons of rock and debris to find herself in the center of a dimly lit area. There were at least ten that were alive and six that were already traveling to the dark fleet. "We need help here now Bi'Anka, we need to either have them come or we can have them transported out." M'lar was checking each member of this crew that was alive. "Help is here." Closing her eyes she pushed out her gift to the chaotic minds of those that still lived. The moaning had stopped and there was now a feeling of hope that swelled around the cave.

Just the sensation of hope filling the cave was enough to renew M'lar and to push her self on to try and locate others. So far, since their arrival they had rescued a paltry one hundred fifty souls. She felt there were more out of the ten thousand that was thought to have perished. She looked around and saw another collapsed part of the cave; walking forward she tried to sense others that were alive.

A part of her knew she needed to push forward but another part of her was feeling the exhaustion from so much death that overwhelmed the area. She needed a blocker to filter the residual pain that permeated the area. She knew to take that blocker would allow other senses to be impeded and then there could possibly be others that would not be save. Turning she saw Bi'Anka's face and knew she was filled with disapproval. Not only was she putting them at risk with the reckless pursuit she was exhausting her mind and body and that could prove dangerous for them all.

"Mistress, I only suggest that you take a couple of hours to rest. I promise to awaken you, perhaps in sleep you will feel them more and be able to . . . " There it was that stubborn streak that etched itself across her face. The look of exhausted determination and a look that told Bi'Anka her mistress was going to push herself to find every last Klingon soul that still lived at the determent of her own health and well-being. So resigned to stand by her side regardless of what would happen, Bi'Anka waited. Her own senses told her that the area reeked of death and the coming of decay.

For a Volkarian it was hard to be around so much death and the heat from the lava was over whelming. Her natural senses were being overwhelmed and if they were she could only imagine what someone with M'lar's talents was feeling, smelling or experiencing. If her Mistress could stand this so could she.

Aboard the Tori

Janae sat watching the ship search the area by sections. Then as suddenly the ship was gone, it had turned tail and was no longer in the area. Not only that but there had been a flurry of activity from the outer regions of all ships that were now destined away from this area. With the disappearance of Marstoq's ship, Janae ordered the ship back on line and set heading to Boreth. With the systems off stealth mode the channels was now flooded with incoming urgent messages from Boreth and from T'L'th.

Mara turned to Janae, "Sir, there is a priority message being directed to our ship from T'L'th." Janae assumed his position in his command chair and nodded. "Put it on screen." What flooded the screen caused all crewmembers to stand in shock. The looks that spread across the crew's faces told the story of what they felt seeing the destruction being transmitted from Qo'noS. Mara whispered "By all that is sacred and sure, what has happened?" The broadcast was in Klingon. Mara hit the translate sensor and waited as the voice over was translated.

"So, reports have been coming in that they fear no survivors, the Planet is on a worldwide state of emergency protocols and all ships are being recalled to the planet. Again, all ships are to return to Qo'noS we are affecting an evacuation of the areas and will need assistance in transporting families to Boreth." Janae waited and continued to watch as T'L'th's image came on the viewer.

"Captain Janae, I have already dispatched Captain K'Ter'r and M'lar to Qo'noS, I would ask you follow them and report to Captain K'Ter'r, you will transport safely as many as possible to Boreth's induction center so we may disperse these newly displaced families to location that will be able to support them during this time of their need. Your standard fee is waived and I have placed a considerable amount of funds in your account to see to this mission."

T'L'th looked down and there was a long protracted silence. Looking up he said every so softly, "I know you have enemies on Qo'noS and this is not what you would accept as an assignment but I am asking this on behalf of my daughter and my station as the Supreme Cleric to do this and see those families safely brought back to a home where they will not have to worry about being covered in lava." T'L'th nodded to the camera the screen went blank.

"Well you heard him, we have new set of orders and an assignment, heading to Qo'noS warp two, don't want to get there at the same time as Marstoq." The crew scrambled to make ready to take on boarders heading at warp speed for the Klingon Home World.

Ngech Venghlom

The lava cooled to the night air, teams in protective gear walked over the area avoiding the hot spots and searching for pockets and hoping to find more survivors. So far with the help of the Cleric they had located over two hundred. It was a small amount for a village that had housed many. The frozen animals in form of ash stood where they had died and jus a slight breeze the ash would crumble and fall to the ground nothing remaining to say this life existed.

The occasional shout as someone was discovered alive would react around the area and the searchers were filled with hope perhaps more would be found. As the hours passed and less and less were discovered, hopes were beginning to fail, when another announcement came that a whole family had been discovered under ground sheltered. They were in poor condition but that family had found a way past this hot hell that was consuming the area.

The crews pressed forward shifting through debris and looking for holes that might indicate someone was alive and trying to send out a call for help. The odds of that happening were growing dimmer. The fact the area was not safe from the intense heat and the gas that was belching from the volcano, which had slowed with its flow there were the occasional tremors that shook the ground, sending some searchers unable to hold their balance tumbling to the ground.

M'lar finally was too exhausted to go on any further, she had been up for nearly three days and her body was starting to show the stress of her exertions. Bi'Anka had taken her mistress back to the ship and placed her in bed. "Stay and sleep, once you have rested we will resume our search."

M'lar was too tired to argue. She nodded slowly and that effort as enough for her eyes to flutter shut and her chin to tip forward and she was asleep sitting up. Bi'Anka pushed her back and covered her. Taking up her position by the door, she slipped to the floor and closed her eyes. She would rest for a short time and then check on her mistress again. The area around them had grown more than silent; it was as if the two that now occupied this room were in a void.

Orders had been given that they were not to be disturb and any work that would be required in the area would need to cease until the Cleric was awake. So the crew had tiptoed quietly around her quarters. They had heard how she was responsible for finding those alive that the sensor could not pick up due to radiation over the area. That with the last count over the past three days their mistress had been responsible for finding and rescuing approximately two hundred thirty people adding to the two hundred found by ground crews.

M'lar's own sleep was still filled with the cries of thousands as the volcano erupted and those below were caught in the shower of debris and lava that flowed down the ash covered mountain. She knew in her subconscious that there were more to be found and they had little time left. Filled with their anguish she awoke and stood, walking to the door, she was prepared to go below to the surface, in her mind she could see them and there was little or no time left.

Bi'Anka hearing her mistress stand jumped up grabbing her arm. "My Lady M'lar you must rest, if you collapse you will be of no use to any one." M'lar tugged against her hold turned to look into the hallway and noticed it was empty.

"Where are the beq?" M'lar stepped into the corridor and looked around. "Bi'Anka, get me to transporter terminal, I know where fifteen are and they are running out of air!" Bi'Anka knew better than to argue with her mistress when she is in this possessed mood, guiding her down the hallway, M'lar walked into the transporter room, and pushed the chief out of the way. Running her fingers over the panel, she programed in the coordinates and ordered the chief to transport those in that area.

The chief looked with concern to Bi'Anka who only nodded for him to do as she said. Once again figures began to appear in the transporter room. Lying stunned and barely breathing on the floor. M'lar counted and turned anger burning in her heart. "Continue to transport we have only ten there are fifteen down there, do it!"

The chief saw that there were no life signs left and sighed softly and transported, what stunned him were there were five more transported in rough shape but alive. A scramble was made by the medical personnel as they collected the injured and hurried them off to the make shift medic bay that had been set up in the shuttle hanger. "My Lady we are at capacity, we simply cannot bring more on board." The chief had taken his life in his hands to tell this to the cleric.

M'lar spun around on him and growled, "Then transport me to another ship so I can bring on those that are still alive!" She was angry not at the chief but at their inability to save more.

The chief nodded, stepped back and waited for her to assume a position on the pedestal. Noting the arrival of three more ships he selected the nearest ship and transported M'lar before Bi'Anka could stop him to that ship's transporter room. Bi'Anka rushed forward and jumped into the transporter beam locking her arms around M'lar before she shimmered from view. Both female Klingons appeared on a Federation ship, the Intrepid had not expected to see two female Klingons appear on their ship and when they did the klaxon for intruder alerted the captain on the deck.

"Mr. Simmons explanation?" Captain Reynolds stood prepared for battle if they were being invaded. He snapped his shirt down over his hips turned to his number one officer Commander Triard. "Take the con Triard, Samuels and Colton with me." He headed for the turbo lift.

M'lar walked to the transporter chief Simmons who looked at her with suspicion and concern. The female behind her was growling at the back of her throat and had narrowed her eyes giving her a very feral look. "Stand aside, I need to rescue some more Klingons trapped below." She shoved him out of the way and began to run her fingers expertly over the panel, then activated the transporter.

Just as ten more wounded Klingons appeared in the transporter room, Captain Reynolds barged in with an explosive exclamation, "What the blazes is going on?" Bi'Anka had taken up a protective stance with her mistress as she programmed in more locations and began to transport more injured Klingons.

Without looking up and moving her fingers rapidly over the panel she spoke softly, "Are you or are you not a part of the rescue operations sent by Star Fleet to help?" She watched as five more wounded and nearly dead Klingons were beamed on the ship.

Reynolds knew he was in the company of someone more important than a tiny female Klingon that had obviously taken over his controls for his transporter and from they way she worked the panel knew what she was doing and where there were injured they had not found on the ground. The last he had heard they had all but given up hope of finding any more alive. However this female was finding them and it appeared they were a small pocket of safety for those she had rescued so far and if he was right there were more of those and her hands were still working.

"Captain Reynolds I have Admiral Jensen wishing a word with you." Triard had contacted the Captain over his communicator pin.

Tapping his pin he Reynolds commanded, "Send him through to the transporter room and dispatch medics to this location and shut off the klaxon." Reynolds stepped to the panel near the door and hit the receive sensor. It took only seconds for a distinguished looking grey haired man with soft wrinkles around his eyes to appear on screen.

The Admiral glanced to the control panel for the transporter and sighed. "Good she is there, that Captain is High Cleric M'lar she has some kind of ability to locate Klingons, allow her the use of your ship to continue her rescue efforts. I understand she had already recovered thirty-five more than we were able to do from our location. Give her whatever she needs and think of her as an Ambassador while on your ship."

Captain Reynolds had heard of the infamous Klingon cleric and now he had a chance to watch her in action. She was running her fingers over the panel, her eyes fixed and distant seeing things that they could only imagine. She would pause for a moment then she would begin again running her fingers over the panel. When it was all said and done, their ship had held over seventy-five more rescued souls from that horror below.

With the last beamed on board and taken to a triage area in their hanger bay, Reynolds watched the cleric turn then collapse in exhaustion to the floor. Bi'Anka stood guard over her and growled at any that approached. Captain Reynolds sighed deeply stepped forward, "My dear nobody wishes to harm your charge, we merely wish to see her comfortably situated in our Ambassador's suite and if you wish to join or even carry her to that location it is up to you. However if you are not going to carry her please step aside so we can see to her and your comfort."

Reynolds bent to the floor and easily lifted M'lar. "Follow me please." He was surprised, she was well muscled and not that heavy. Lying limply in his arms he could see the vulnerable side to her and was touched by how dedicated she had been to this rescue mission. Walking quickly to the exterior hallway he carried her to the turbo lift and ordered "Deck six" Bi'Anka no matter how tired she felt there was no way she was going to let her mistress out of her sight while on this federation ship.

Reynolds carried her into the room, over to another door and waited for it to open then he walked into the bedchambers and placed her on the bed. Stepping back he turned to Bi'Anka "Will you need your own quarters or share these?"

"I stay where my mistress stays." Her words were low and near guttural. She did not trust these federation people and she sure as hell was not going to leave her mistress alone in a sea of strangers that she did not trust. Assuming a defensive pose she watched the Captain leave the room and listened for him to leave their quarters. Going to the door, she slumped to the floor and put herself into a meditative pose. Closing her eyes she allowed her body to relax. Sitting like that she did appear to be asleep but all her senses were attuned to what was going on around her.

From the scents to the sounds she could pick them all out. The federation contingent on this ship favored scents to disguise body odors anything from the soft woodsy smell to floral scents and something else, she was not sure but she thought it was a beauty concoction that the females favored. She wrinkled her nose she never understood the need to smear coloring on your face and color on your eyelids. That was not practical. Shifting her body to take the tension off her hips she leaned against the door and resettled and once again sought a higher order of her mind.

The communicator pin on M'lar's top chirped, Bi'Anka sat up alert listening for the one trying to contact her mistress. It was an insistent alert on her pin. M'lar was totally gone, she was so gone there were no dreams, nothing that would allow her consciousness to respond to any stimuli. Bi'Anka stood walking to her Mistress' bed she hit the pin with her fingertips. "Nuq?"

"Lovely to talk to you too Bi'Anka where is she?" A voice she could have gone a century not hearing. "Bi'Anka, you answered her communications pin so she is nearby where is she?'

"Captain, she has collapsed and is in ja eghqalghech and cannot be awakened. She has exhausted herself to the point of death Captain, so what do you want?"

She waited and then saw a form beginning to form in her chambers, Bi'Anka took up a defensive stance at the end of her bed as the Bajoran appeared in her quarters and with the appearance of an unauthorized transported individual the klaxon of the ship sent off a red alert for an intruder.

Reynolds had been sitting on the bridge when the alert went off and the computer started announcing a breech and the appearance of unauthorized transported individual. Security was being dispatched to the Ambassador's quarters, Reynolds stood, "Mr. Panquin, take the con Triard with me to Ambassador's quarters. It would seem she has a visitor and we should find out whom it was that did not follow protocols and how they got past our defenses."

Janae looked around the quarters and saw M'lar completely out of it on the bed. "Oh she is going to hate that. The bed is way too soft. Come on wolf-bitch, time for us to go back to my ship where you will be a lot safer than here of goody two shoes land."

Bi'anka had her weapon drawn and at his throat before he knew what had happened. "No one calls me a wolf bitch; toad. If you think I am going to allow my mistress on your ship when she is not able to make that decision for yourself, you can just take your scrawny butt out of here and go back to your ship and disappear into an abyss as far as I am concerned."

Security breeched the front entrance to the Ambassador's quarters and the Captain was close behind. "Madam Ambassador? It is Captain Reynolds are you all right?"

Janae smiled and winked, "NO Jake I am in here molesting her and will cut her throat if you don't throw down your weapons and come in here with your hands up!"

Jake Reynolds immediately recognized that voice, raised his hand to his security team and dismissed them. "Put your weapons down gentlemen, I happen to know who is in there and he would not harm one hair on her head because . . . "He had raised his voice. "It would hit his pocketbook too hard. Come out Janae. And tell me how you breached my security?"

Janae popped his head through the door and then felt a foot on his ass as he was kicked through the door. Bi'Anka shoved him into the main common room of the Ambassador's quarters. She stood barring the entrance to her mistress' quarters. "Take that one and shoot him out of an airlock. Whatever you do, do not allow him near her again while she is in her death like sleep."

Stepping back she locked the door securely and took up her position of guarding her mistress. She growled low about vermin and the likes in a Bajoran skin suit. Settling down she heard the soft voices of Captain Reynolds and Janae as they got reacquainted. She smiled because she knew Reynolds had to pick him up from the floor. "Forceful isn't she?" Reynolds laughed softly.

Janae moaned. "More like the ultimate bitch. She is Volkarian and a wolf at heart, she can rip you apart in a matter of seconds if she is forced to do so. She is protecting her mistress and had been with M'lar for twenty plus years"

Reynolds had only read of the legend of the Volkarian born on Boreth the originals that were a part of that planet from the beginning. "Really they do exist?"

Janae nodded, "Yep, you just met one."