"Darkest Confessions"
[Previous Post: "Amour or Armor"]
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Stardate: 60342.0600
Derek Stormwind sat in silence as his mind began to place the many
happenings of the last few hours into a neat order from the chaos. Being
half human often made this an exercise in futility as emotions tended to
block even the simplest of logic.
Logic told him that his recent time spent with the ships Cns would come
back to haunt him. He was totally unclear as to why he had "opened" up to
the diminuative Ensign. If he had been a full blooded Vulcan it would never
have been possible. Yet he was half human and had many of the pesky, petty
emotions of that race, including couriousity, and anger. It still not answer
the question of why he told her so much…
-----
Stormwind led Ensign Mei into his sparsly decorated quarters. Leaving her
standing in the middle of the room he went to his desk and brought back the
large bowl candle placing it carefully on the floor. Sitting to one side of
it Derek indicated to her to sit on the other.
"Susan as I explained during our meal. This may be the only way for you to
really understand many of the things that I have told you. It is a way to
allow you to see what I see and who I am. As I told you there is no danger
you cannot be physically hurt, yet the impact of what you learn may not
be…shall we say very pleasant." Stated Derek.
"Ensign…Derek, part of my job is to learn about my fellow crewmembers
so that I maybe in a position to help them should anything happen. I also
told you I wanted to be a friend and in my world friends tend to share many
things even secrets."
Derek eyed the young woman in front of him. These actions of hers were
totally logical… it was his that were not, for deep in his human half he
could feel a strange stirring.
"Very well Susan, once again let me explain…this is a lot like
self-hypnosis however you will find yourself in a representation that your
mind will allow. So you will not be tossed into any unfamiliar places. The
first time we do this you may need help, which I will give you…no it is not
a mind meld but a gentle empathic touch which will allow you to reach the
proper level."
Ensign Mei looked as if she was about to speak, but Derek cut in quickly…
"No Susan I will not be able to join your mind, aside from the fact that
it would take actual contact…of which there will be none. It is forbidden by
both Vulcan and Starfleet laws and regulations. It is also against my moral
code to touch without permission. Shall we begin?"
The young ships Cns drew in a heavy sigh and nodded. Stormwind lit the
candle.
At first she tried very hard to relax as Derek had told her, by watching
the flames colors.
But to Susan it did not appear to be working. Than all of a sudden she felt
a warm softness envelope her and the room seemed to melt away.
Susan found herself sitting in an old well worn overstuffed chair. In a
room that was obviously a library. Looking around she saw the half Vulcan
FCO standing next to a large burning fireplace. The room was large but it
was well ordered and neat and clean.
Looking at Derek she asked… "Where am I?"
"This is a representation of the Vulcan half of my mind, at least to you.
The books you see around you are my memories both good and bad."
Getting up Susan walked to a nearby shelf and pulled down a book. Looking
at its title she read… "Stormwind's First Wedding Challenge." Opening it up
the room seemed to phase and she was on Vulcan watching as two Vulcans
fought in an arena. She quickly closed the book, and the room returned to
normal. Turning to the HATHOR's FCO…
"You were married…?"
Derek walked toward her and answered, "The first marriage of most Vulcans
is arranged at birth. Upon my first Blood Fever I returned to deal with she
who had been chosen. But this is not why I brought you here. Come with me."
As they walked toward the door it hit her. "Ensign this seems an awful
small room for a Vulcan of your age."
Stormwind opened the massive 14 foot oak doors and they stepped out onto
a wide walkway. "This is but one room Susan."
Susan stared they had entered a massive area of doors just like the ones
they had just cone through. In front of them was a park like atrium around
which there were floors and floors of doors. She could neither see to the
far end or to the uppermost of them. Yet it was obvious that they were all
just as well maintained as the room they had just come from. There just were
no words to describe what she was seeing.
"This way Cns." Derek said as he led her past many more doors.
She read the brass nameplates as she passed and it was obvious that
Ensign Stormwinds mind was well very well ordered. They stopped before
another set of massive doors, only these were not oak but Titanium and they
were locked by a series of biometric locks.
"Susan… you must be sure that you want to do this. Behind this door is my
human self. It is a part I must live with, yet it is not necessary for you
to go further."
Looking up at the tall Ensign, Mei was struck by the sound of his voice
an almost unnoticeable hope lay behind his words. But was it hope she
wouldn’t go on or hope she would. Derek was hard to read, but her love for
people and the need to learn all she could, well her mind was set.
"Friends Derek keep few secrets from one another, and I thought we had
become friends?"
Derek raised an eyebrow but began to unlock the door. As it slowly swung
open there was a blast of noise, voices and screams and much more. Susan
squared her shoulders and followed him in…into total chaos and blackness,
she was assailed by feelings and emotions so strong she would have collapsed
had he not steadied her. She tried to separate the voices and emotions but
could only feel rage, frustration and anger. She was being pounded down, her
own feelings being submerged she felt a need to scream.
But suddenly there was a light a soft glow that surrounded her as Derek led
her back to safety…but she knew that glow…it was the glow of love…and then
she shut down.
------
Derek knew he had let her in to far. Looking across from him over the
candle he could see the sweat beads upon Susan's face. Reaching out he
softly brushed his fingers along her cheek, but only for a moment. This soft
touch allowed him to do two things. First it allowed him to bring her from
the chaos of his human half allowing for her mind to accept what she had
seen. The other was a little more intrusive and not something he would
normally do. The touch allowed him to put a shield on her memories so that
only by concentrating and wanting to remember would she be able to, but of
course this broke an unsaid promise between them. But he could not allow her
to be ravaged by the dreams he knew she would have.
=^= All senior staff members are to report to the bridge in half an hour for
final mission briefing, =^= the distorted comm. voice of the Captain stated.
------
As Derek and Susan walked onto the bridge he noticed that many of the
staff were watching them. Walking to his station he noticed out of the
corner of his eye his friend Ensign Uxtar lean down and say something to the
ship’s CMO. Lea’s eyes grew wide and a look of almost shock crossed her face
before she controlled it. But the FCO noticed her eyes scan to Susan with a
question in them.
Derek sat at his station and turned to look at his friend. The smile that
Uxtar had on his face was enough to frighten anyone. Derek raised an eyebrow
and turned back to his station, wondering what kind of trouble the big
Hirogen had got him into now.
------- 2006 post #100
Setting: VPT DRAGONSEYE, pilots chair
Stardate: 60341.2315
Setting: Stormwinds quarters
Stardate: 60342.0420
Setting: Stormwinds quarters
Stardate: 60342.0450
Setting: USS HATHOR's bridge
Brian Matthews (dragonsslayer@excite.com)
AS
Ensign Derek Stormwind
FCO
USS HATHOR
