"Uncle Malak"
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-=/\=-
Stardate: 60333.1240
It had not taken much effort for the young child to slip out of the bedroom while her mother slept after having touched the beautiful crystal. Absently, she wondered why her mother had made such a show of touching the stone, and then to have sent it back… well, it just seemed odd. Often, she had watched as people delivered items of interest to her Nan'ha, fine silk dresses, custom jewellery, decorative daggers, disruptor pistols. Always, her Nan'ha would examine the item as Bina had, and often she would purchase the offerings. Talia felt sad that Bina had not bought the crystal, it did not seem flawed and it sent pretty rainbows around the room when the light hit it. She thought maybe Bina didn't have the money to buy such a beautiful stone, Bina didn't have as much money as Nan'ha and had always refused to spend Nan'ha's money too. Happily, the girl bounded off in search of the merchant who was selling these stones, that she herself might buy one for her Bina.
-=-=-=-
The Admiral stood with his hands grasped tightly behind his back. James sat across the desk from him, and a rather eccentric old man sat in the chair beside him.
"Commodore Simmons, I'd like you to meet Malak. He was an integral part of the Draxx project and fancies himself an Uncle to the girls," Koneki grumbled before pausing slightly, "Especially Enaii."
James frowned, "I'm so sorry for your loss," he offered sadly, he too felt the pang of losing someone he had cared about in the Intel Operative. "I rather think Sabrina and Talia would like to meet you upon their return to the station, if you will be staying that long, Captain Rikar could really use someone who knew and loved Enaii to share her loss with."
Malak turned to face the Commodore and scrutinized him at length through his clearly sightless eyes. It became clear to James that this man was not human, and that there was something terribly profound about his existence at all. "I have met Sabrina, though she does not know it was me. In a place without time and a time without form, we have spoken at length about nothing and everything."
Charles sighed, he really hated dealing with this man and his kin, speaking with Malak gave him a headache of the worst kind.
Simmons, on the other hand, seemed intrigued. "I don't understand," he whispered, leaning in toward the robed man as though the fate of the universe rested in his hands. In some ways, James knew it was true.
"Understanding is not required," Malak replied, "What you need to know, you do. If you look deep within yourself you will know I speak the truth. Enaii is dead, but not departed."
Koneki's head snapped up, now completely hanging on the man's words. "What do you mean old man? Do you mean to say that she can still be saved?"
The blind man seemed slightly irritated. "I say what I mean. It is not yet her time, but it may well be soon. She exists without form, entertained by illusion, in a land of faith she finds herself lacking, in a time of graduation, she finds herself failing. She is stuck."
James could feel it, he did not know how, perhaps somehow this man was helping him to see the truth, perhaps he had always known, Enaii was dead, but she was not gone. "What do we do?" he asked desperately.
Malak turned and looked straight forward, black flames filled his blank white eyes. When he spoke, his voice echoed as if possessed by unknown forces. "Two vessels in a sea of stars. One family, divided, brings forth salvation."
Koneki and Simmons locked eyes, they knew what must be done, but not how to proceed beyond that. Charles watched as the man's eyes returned to their normal state. "Tell me Malak, how do we bring her back?"
The old man shrugged and stood. "I am a man of fate, not of science. Family," he offered cryptically, "Is often life's only constant."
James watched as the man continued to walk through the room, toward the door, blind, but moving as though he saw with the clearest vision. "The sisters will figure it out?" he offered questioningly.
"Mmm," the man grunted in acknowledgment.
Simmons wasn't certain if the man was purposely vague, or if it was a necessary part of his obvious gift. "I'll organize everything with them, we'll work round the clock until the HATHOR returns."
Koneki nodded. "Where can we find you if we need you old man?"
Malak waved a hand backwards in a dismissive manner. "I must return to her, she is stronger than Sabrina, but called more loudly home. It is not her time, but death is greedy and wants her badly. You may find me at the centre of her madness."
With that, the old man left the room, leaving the two men to begin arrangements for what looked to be a long few nights ahead.
-=/\=-
For one split second she almost turned around 2005 post #599
Setting: USS HATHOR - Corridor Outside Rikar Quarters
Stardate: 60333.1300
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA - Koneki's Office
Lisa Mac Isaac {lisa_mac_isaac@hotmail.com}
But that would be like pouring raindrops back into a cloud
So she took another step, said I see the way out
And I'm gonna take it
~ Wasted Lyrics, Carrie Underwood
