The USS Avalon, Stardate: the present

Kamiana sat up in bed, suddenly wide awake. This was the third straight night she was having the dreams again...why??

She thought she'd dealt with all those old memories months ago, that time after Mak had broken things off and she'd fallen to pieces for a while there. But now they were back again. And while she wasn't going to start crying all over the place or pull any more stunts like that mad dash to the shuttle bay, it still bothered her. Why now? There'd been nothing happening lately that could've reawakened those old memories yet again.

She was going to have to talk to Paulos again. She'd really thought being on a new ship, a new job, would help her put the past even more behind her. But it wasn't staying dead.

And there was still that pale man...Commander Goth...what *was* it about him that both repulsed and attracted her? Not in the way she'd felt about Mak or even Michael, definitely not, but there was something that haunted her about him...she sighed. Another thing to worry about...but for now.

She shook her head and moved to her comm terminal. Maybe talking out her feelings to Renee would help, it had before. But now Renee wasn't on the same ship like she'd been then. However, that wasn't a problem.

She typed out a message and ordered the computer to send it at the next available communications window.

To: Midshipman Shellian Renee, Toshi Station

From: Lt Kamiana Tyrrel, USS Avalon

Renee...

It's been a while since I've heard from you and I was wondering how things were going there. We haven't heard much aside from the official stuff, and you know how that goes.

Most everything here's been pretty routine, at least mission wise. That is, to the extent that anything in Starfleet could be called routine.

I just wish I had better news to report on the personal end. I don't even know why this is happening now. You remember how it was after Mak broke things off, I sort of fell apart for a while there?

You also remember part of the reason was it brought back the things that happened to me during my first year at Academy, with Michael?

Well, there's been no major upsets, nothing that I can put my finger on as to why, but for the last three nights I've been having the dreams again. The whole sequence. My parents showing up, the big fight, then my giving in and Michael leaving--and then when I got word his mission had been lost.

Why is this happening again now? I don't understand it. I thought all this was finally behind me. Of course, I thought that once before, when I came back to Academy from medical leave, so I don't know. I'm going to talk to Paulos, see what he says.

Kamiana

She tapped her commbadge. "Kamiana to Paulos."

"Paulos here," came his reply.

"I hate to be a bother, but can I come talk with you? It's starting again. The dreams."

Paulos sighed softly to himself and set down his stylus. It was late in the night, but he hadn't been able to sleep at all. "I can meet you in about twenty minutes in the counseling office...unless you want to go to Ten-Forward or somewhere else that is a little more comfortable? I just just need a little time to get ready."

He heard and Felt a little hesitation in her reply. "I'm sorry if I woke you."

"I wasn't sleeping...wehre would you like to meet?" He looked around the common room restlessly and let her make the decision.

"Ten Forward would be all right. I'll be there when you get there--take whatever time you need," she said quietly, not wanting to inconvenience him any more than she already had.

* * *

Paulos walked into Ten Forward a bit later, brushing his hair from his forehead before looking for Kamiana. She was sitting at a small table near a view port...seeming very small and insecure. He hesitated for a moment before walking over, pausing first at the bar to get a mug of hot chocolate.

The Deltan smiled down at the young officer, "The ship is very peaceful at this hour...so different from the Defiant. How has this new assignment been for you?" Paulos tried to draw her out a little, to make the situation a little less tense.

"It seems to be working out," Kamiana replied. "The change did help dealing with things, especially after everything with the Brotherhood and Mak and Catrin..." she shook her head. "Though to this day I can't think of him as being, dead. Maybe I'm just being silly....but I have to believe that he's somewhere else, maybe on Novachron, or just in some other universe, doing what he did here, trying to make things right. And even if I never see him again, I have to believe he's happy wherever he is."

She shook her head. "That's what makes this, what's happening now, all so strange. I'm not falling all to pieces again, or spending all night crying, or about to go off and do something crazy like try to steal a shuttle. There is simply nothing I can put my finger on to explain what's happening now..." she sighed.

"You remember when Mak broke things off with me," she continued. "And then barely a couple hours later I got confirmation that my parents had died in the nanite invasion." she shook her head again. "There's been nothing like that recently. Nothing--and yet I'm having the dreams again. Everything that happened at Academy that time...Michael, my parents, all of it, I'm reliving it all again and I don't know why...this is the third straight night and it's starting to worry me. It was hell the first time, when it all actually happened--and reliving it a few months ago wasn't much better as you know. Why is my mind doing this to me--why am I going through it all again?" she pleaded.

"It isn't unusual to have dreams and remembrances oif such stressful times in your life...even if it is months or years after they occur." He paused and looked at her intently. "If you think there is something else though...an outside cause or reason for the dreams and memories...we could do a few things to check. It wouldn't be difficult or anything."

Kamiana shook her head. "I don't know *what* to think. It's just that like I said, the only other time it all came crashing back down on me again, there was something that set it off. Something that we all could look at and know it was the, so to speak, trigger. This time there's nothing like that that I can tell...your guess on that would be as good as mine. If there is something, shouldn't we find out what that is?"

"Then let's check...Dr. Serrin can do some tests and we can try a few things with telepathy. If you want to...it's all up to you Kamiana." Paulos paused for a small instant. "It still may only be natural memories and dreams, but we can check to make sure."

Kamiana nodded. "I have to know, Paulos. I certainly can't go on like this. And the sooner the better, don't you think? That is if it's all right, could we go see Dr Serrin now?"

"Sure, he should be there by now." They stood together and left the lounge quietly. Paulos searched for something to say, wondered briefly if he should touch her to reassure her, but failed to think of what was best. He was too tired to think much anymore and so the walk to sickbay was a quiet one.

Serrin was just entering the Medical rooms when they approached; taking over from the night shift doctors. He was a young, but very competent doctor and Starfleet officer and in the short time they had served together Paulos had developed a strong liking for the young officer.

"Doctor, could we have a moment of your time?"

Serrin nodded sharply, "Certainly counselor. What can I do for you?"

Paulos glanced at Kamiana for a moment before answering. "Could you check the levels of neurotransmitters in Lt. Tyrrel's brain, and also on the telepathic centers?" If there was any sort of imbalance in the neurological chemicals it might indicate that the memories were internal, if they were normal the memories might be cause by an outside force. Of course balanced or not there was no way to know for certain. There were so many possibilities.

Serrin began setting up for the tests he would need, as Paulos and Kamiana waited a bit apprehensively.

A few minutes later, he led Kamiana over to a biobed where the testing equipment had been set up. Even now he could sense the stress she was under--he had, after all, seen the medical and psychological files on Tyrrel, not only from the Defiant but from the Academy as well.

Though to give her credit, she was keeping herself under control far more now than she had on the previous occasions, there was none of the hysterical behavior previously demonstrated. Though if this continued that could change, and he hoped they could solve it before it came to that.

He activated the test run and stood back to wait for the results.

A few minutes passed, then the computer beeped signaling the test was completed. Serrin paused, studied the readout for a long moment, then turned back to Kamiana and Paulos, who looked at him with expectant faces.

"Lt., Counsellor, I am not certain what to tell you. The readings indicate there is an imbalance in those areas. *However*..." he raised a hand at the stricken look on Kamiana's face at that. "there are none of the other indicators that would be present if this were entirely an internal problem. That is, the memories themselves are your own, Kamiana, but there is some force that is stimulating them." He shook his head. "I am unable at present to determine just what that force is, other than it is obviously telepathic in nature, and a strong one if it is able to bypass your natural defenses so easily. Which makes it unlikely it is anyone on board ship."

"What can we do, then?" Kamiana asked.

"I am not sure," Serrin said trying to be as reassuring as he could. "I will continue to work on analyzing these readings. If we can identify what type of telepathic transmission is being used we might be able to determine what sort of being is causing this and why."

Kamiana looked from Serrin to Paulos.

"I will, of course, help you all I can," Paulos said gently.

Kamiana sighed. She had to trust them.

* * *

A short while later, back in her quarters, Kamiana still sat restlessly. She didn't feel like sleeping, that would bring the dreams again most likely, but it wouldn't be time to go back on shift for a while and she had managed to sleep a while earlier, so she wasn't tired.

Then she remembered she'd promised to let Renee know what was happening. She went back to her commpanel and typed out another message.

To: Midshipman Shellian Renee, Toshi Station From: Lt Kamiana Tyrrel, USS Avalon

Well, things are finally starting to get back to normal around here, at least as far as the ship and crew goes.

I just wish I could say the same for myself. There's something out there. Or someone. I can't say for sure, I don't *know*. But the dreams about Michael, well after I talked to Paulos he had Serrin do some tests and the only thing we could find out for sure is that some outside force is tapping into those memories and stirring them up again.

Who or what? and why?? we've no idea.

I wish Mak were here. He was always so good at cracking puzzles and solving mysteries.

Kamiana

A touch of a key sent that message hurtling off into subspace.

* * *

The next day passed uneventfully, the usual round of routine Bridge duty. For once, there was no major crisis underway. Kamiana finished her shift at the helm, then when the time came turned the station over to her relief and hurried to her quarters.

Checking her messages she found Renee had replied.

To: Lt Kamiana Tyrrel, USS Avalon From: Midshipman Shellian Renee, Toshi Station

Things are moving along here on Toshi Station. A lot of cargo in and out of here. I am still having my weird dreams about that shadow man. Sometimes late at night in the cargo bay I almost can see out of the corner of my eye someone or something. Makes you think this Station is haunted by night stalkers or something.

You really need to go to all your sessions with Paulos and try to figure out why these memories are surfacing and making you feel as you do. That happened a long time ago, and you had counselling then to deal with it. You should have been able to come to terms by now.

Renee

Of course she'd dealt with it. But then Renee didn't know about the test results yet...what would she make of *that*, Kamiana wondered. Serrin had still not been able to determine just who or what was triggering her old memories, only to confirm that it *was* some outside force.

Kamiana typed out her reply...

To: Midshipman Shellian Renee, Toshi Station

From: Lt Kamiana Tyrrel, USS Avalon

Renee,

If it were just me falling apart again, like it was that time on Defiant, then I'd say yes, I need counselling. I do need some sort of help, I'll admit that, the question is what kind.

As near as Paulos and Serrin and I can figure out, there is someone or something out there that is tapping into my old memories. Who or what, we don't know. Nor do we have any idea why.

The thing is, if someone was forcing themselves into my mind, I'd think I'd know it. I've been through that before--I think I told you, way back, about the time I was kidnapped by people from another universe? and how their Paulos...questioned...me. I still shudder when I think of that.

But all I have now are the dreams, reliving the old memories. Why?? I don't understand it.

Don't worry, though, I'm not going to go all to pieces and try to steal a shuttle again. *embarrassed blush*

I just wish I knew who was doing this and why.

Kamiana

* * *

The next day, too, passed uneventfully, though Kamiana was still having the dreams and neither Serrin nor Paulos were any closer to discovering why. Talking to Paulos, as she did each night now, helped some but it wasn't getting to the cause, just helping her deal with it.

She finished her talk with Paulos then went to dinner and then to her quarters. When she did, another message from Renee was waiting for her.

From: Midshipman Shellian Renee, Toshi Station To: Lt Kamiana Tyrrel, USS Avalon

Kamiana, just hang in there and do what the doctors say and I will be praying for you and keep me advised of how you are progressing.

Renee

She smiled--she missed their face to face talks, but she'd see Renee the next time the Avalon put in at Toshi, she only hoped that'd be soon.

From: Lt Kamiana Tyrrel, USS Avalon To: Midshipman Shellian Renee, Toshi Station

Renee,

It is getting easier to face the dreams each night since I've been talking to Paulos, though neither he nor Serrin are any closer to finding out why this is happening.

The strange thing is, that even when the dream is going on, I don't feel the pain I used to. Which is a good thing, it means I'm not likely to fall apart again...but makes it even more of a mystery.

I will keep talking to Paulos, and Serrin is running every test he can think of and inventing a few new ones too. When something comes out I'll let you know, if we haven't come into Toshi before then--I haven't heard we're planning to head in any time in the next week or so, but when we do I'll let you know.

Hugs and thanks, and hoping to see you soon,

Kamiana

With that message sent, she undressed and went to bed.

* * *

The USS Avalon continued its journey through the starry void of deep space, the beings within going about their normal routine, there being no urgent missions or emergencies to upset that at the moment.

* * *

Meanwhile, Somewhere Else in space, not far away (astronomically speaking)

From space it was a small, blue white orb, veiled in clouds...not all that different from far off Terra itself, in terms of the type of planet it was.

But unlike Earth, this world stood empty, or nearly so. The surface supported life, miles of vegetation of every variety. Forests there, seas there, deserts there...but no intelligent life.

Except in one spot. A city that stood in the midst of a rather lush valley, surrounded by grasslands and trees on all sides.

And in that city, in a plaza at its center, a group was gathering. Only a few at first, then a dozen, then more and more came until there was a crowd.

To even a casual observer (had there been such present) one thing would have been immediately noticeable about the assemblage...that being, that though they looked much like Terrans, there was not one among them who appeared to be out of their teens. Most, in fact, were younger.

There was none of the rambunctiousness or horseplay one might expect from a large group of the young, either. These seemed subdued, expectant.

More and more of them were looking towards the massive white building at the head of the plaza, the one with the long flight of broad stone steps leading up to the entrance.

The aura of expectation grew stronger, so thick it was almost palpable.

Then, a flash of white light appeared at the top of the steps...and when it faded, a man stood there.

He was tall, with gray hair and pale blue eyes, eyes that seemed to radiate a deep knowledge. He was clad in the same simple white robe as the children, but with one difference...at his neck hung a massive silver pendant with a pure white crystal at its center.

The murmur of their conversations died as he appeared.

He raised his hands.

(Hear me) his voice sounded in all their minds. (The time is almost upon you, when you will leave this place, when you must carry what I have taught you to worlds beyond worlds, so that others may find the path to Peace, the path which comes from the Light.)

Several of the children looked at each other. They had been told of this before, but had not known when it would come.

(The means of your leaving this world is approaching, the Light has shown me.) the man went on. (Some of you must go before, to prepare it for the rest.)

At this he paused and looked over the crowd, eyeing each child in turn, or so it seemed.

One of the oldest ones, a slender girl with long dark brown hair and deep brown, almost black, eyes, stepped forward as the man's eyes met hers.

(Yes, Tamianth. You will lead those who must go before. It will be your task to bring the vessel here, that all of us may go forth to spread the message of the Light)

Tamianth nodded. "But who will go with me?"

(Choose whom you will,) the man smiled at her.

She nodded and turned to survey the group. After a few minutes, she pointed at one, then another. Each she beckoned to made his or her way forward to stand before her. This continued until nine others besides Tamianth herself stood at the base of the steps.

Tamianth turned back to the man, who smiled again, and again raised his hands as if in benediction.

(You who she chose, come with me that I may prepare you for your task. The rest of you, return to your homes, but be ready when I call again, for it will then be time to depart.)

Tamianth and the nine others made their way up the steps to join the man, who gestured again and all eleven vanished in a flash of white light.

The others still in the plaza began slowly to disperse, some whispering to one another, wondering about what lay ahead for them now that they were about to begin the work the Light had set for them.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

But wait, there's

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