Setting: USS HATHOR, Corridor
Thanks to the autopilot of the HATHOR, Uxtar and Derek had been able to spend more time together, each one learning from the other. The half human had an insight into the world around him that sometimes seemed to match that of the Hirogen, which of course Uxtar liked.
There were other times though when the half Vulcan's logic had been as abrasive as could be to the hunter.
"I still don't get it," Uxtar said. "Why create archive crystals for events that have never taken place unless it is to confuse their real history? That or Lt. Fairborn was inaccurate in his account of his experience with the two crystals that he touched."
Derek rolled his eyes. "Have you heard of a place on EARTH called Atlantis?"
"No why?"
The Human/Vulcan hybrid sighed while he searched for another example to
use to make the Hirogen understand what he meant. "Are there no
stories in Hirogen folklore that speak of places of events that did not really
exist? Like a fabled hunter or a city that was never found or proven
to have been there?"
Uxtar stopped dead in his tracks and glared at the ship's FCO. "Of
course not! The stories told of our legendary hunts are true and speak
of the courage and determination of the first Alpha and those who
followed in his footsteps."
Logic dictated that Derek needed to set the record straight for all of
their sake. Believing in legends was one thing, but believing them to
be absolutely true had been an entirely different matter. That said
though the Human half of the FCO thought it best to let the issue slide
untouched.
"Alright, let me try to explain in a more general way then. Many
cultures use stories and legends to explain why certain things are as
they were at that time or to help teach lessons to their children.
Simply telling a child to not steal for example is not as effective as
telling them a tale about another child who did this and the
consequences of his actions," Ens. Stormwind said. Had someone back on
EARTH or even on NEW ALEXANDRIA told him that he would be trying to
explain the concepts of legends to a Hirogen, Derek would have laughed.
"So this land of Domineria spoken of by Lt. Fairborn did not exist?"
"Not in the physical sense," the FCO said grinning. "The legends are
real even though the events that they speak of may not have actually
happened. It is very possible that the legends the CEO experienced
were meant to teach lessons or to explain some aspect of the world from
which the comet originated from."
###
Uxtar and Derek walked into the room and immediately headed for the
table where the untouched crystals were. Everyone seemed busy with
other matters so no one paid attention to the half Vulcan and Hirogen.
"So how does it work?" Uxtar asked, glaring at the nearest of the crystals.
"You just take hold of one and see what happens," the FCO replied.
Derek could see that Uxtar had been unsure about actually touching any
of the crystals, but admitting this would have injured the hunter's
reputation.
Stardate: 60333.1300
Setting: USS HATHOR, Storage Bay
Stardate: 60333.1310
{I am light. I am dark. I must give my life to serve; not even death can release me.}
--==(@)==--
Selenia had served Serra for more years than anyone could remember and the winged warrior had never failed to complete a quest given to her by her mistress. Many dark and evil creatures had fallen beneath the might of the warrior's guided strike, and even more souls had been saved from the infernal abyss by the guardian's simple appearance.
Having served Serra as she had always done had not prepared Selenia for the choice that she would have to one day make, a choice born of love a man instead of duty for her mistress.
Gerrard had seen countless beasts during his travels of the realms, but he stood in amazement at the sight of the winged warrior when she had appeared on the deck of his ship. Even the members of his crew had not known whether to strike against the invader or welcome the angel as a friend.
She had come to warn the shipmaster of the danger that he would soon find but instead Selenia found something that she had not expected, love. Suddenly the demands of her mistress seemed unimportant, her heart not dictating her actions. Selenia could not tell if Gerrard felt the same way that she had but it mattered not for she had found where she truly belonged.
Her emotions had been so strong that Selenia had forgotten the reason for her coming to the man's ship until it was too late and the crew found themselves in a battle for their very lives. Unholy beasts of all shapes and sizes stormed the ship with the goal of leaving none standing.
As great as their courage had been the crew had no hopes of winning against such powerful and numerous opponents and Selenia found herself seconds away from losing the love that she had discovered only hours before. As a warrior of Serra and guardian of the light, the winged woman knew that she had to fight, but her love for Gerrard made her consider an option that none would have ever expected.
Calling for an end to the battle, Selenia called forth the master of the dark beasts and offered him a deal that he could not refuse. She would serve him instead of Serra if he allowed for the ship and its crew to continue unharmed.
How could anyone refuse to have one of Serra's winger warriors willingly offer themselves to the forces of darkness? The deal was struck and the black army vanished leaving Selenia to bid her farewell to her true love. Gerrard looked upon the warrior who had already begun to show the markings of her new master, his eyes wordlessly asking as to why she had done what she had. Selenia felt what little part of her heart that had remained intact break as she saw in the man's eyes the absence of emotion she had so longed to see. The ship's master had been grateful for her sacrifice but he would only mourn her departure as a friend.
Heartbroken, Selenia abandoned herself to her new master doing the best she could to find solace in the knowledge that her love would go on, even if he shared not in her feelings. To give up her life for him would have been easier than to see him go on and eventually forget what she had done for him and his crew, yet the warrior angel felt no sorrow other than having disappointed her mistress.
###
"So?" Derek asked of the Hirogen as he began to blink once again.
"I am not sure," Uxtar said looking at the crystal in his hand. "If
this was meant to be a lesson, I am not certain as to the point that it
was trying to make."
Derek just looked at the hunter unsure as to what to say or do, now
even more curious then ever as to what strange legends and stories these
crystals held.
###
And
Chief Security Officer 2005 post #593
Setting: USS HATHOR, Storage Bay
Stardate: 60333.1315
Mark Hutchings {h172mark16@fastmail.us}
Ensign Uxtar
VIPER Pilot
USS ANUBIS
USS HATHOR