Member :
Commander Sylva Dax
Ship : B.S.M. Light Bearer
Ship preference : Gorn Light
Cruiser
Squad : Delta II
Joined in Blood
V. Sylvain © July
2000
"Where is she?" the Klingon cyborg bellowed as he stomped off the transporter platform of the Lightbearer.
"Major," Commander H'ok struck his right fist to his chest, saluting one of the Klingon Empire's best battle masters, Major Avenger of the House of Montroq and captain of the Vengeance. "She's still in her quarters."
Barely pausing to acknowledge the salute, Avenger stormed out of the transporter room. Without hesitation he stalked through the corridors he'd walked many times with Captain Sevren Dax, the Trill with a Klingon heart. The ship's doctor greeted him at the closed door to the captain's quarters.
"Major," Doctor Bartow nodded. He never used the Klingon salute and no one expected him to. The robust, gray-haired human physician had accompanied Sevren Dax to Qo'noS twenty-five years ago when the young lieutenant was sent by the Federation Council to deliver the decommissioned Defiant as a gift to the newly appointed governor of the capital city of Qo'noS, former-Starfleet officer Worf. After falling for Worf's great-granddaughter during his visit, Dax decided to stay. Once the aging Worf got over the shock of a male Dax, he used his influence with Starfleet to have Sevren Dax reassigned as Federation liaison to the Empire. Once his duty with Starfleet was over, Worf made Dax captain of the Lightbearer, formerly the Defiant. Having no obligations left in the Federation, Doctor Julian Bartow decided to stay with his friend Dax in the Klingon Empire. He stood beside Sevren Dax as Dax once again entered the House of Martok by marrying J'hler. He delivered Dax and J'hler's daughter, Sylva.
Avenger punched the door chime as Bartow explained, "She needs time to adjust. She's been through a lot these past few days. Her father's death." Bartow paused to swallow his own grief. "It hit her hard. And now the joining . . . We had no choice. Dax would have died along with Sevren if we'd waited. Repairs to the ship were taking too long. The symbiont couldn't survive without a new host. Sylva was the only possible host available."
Avenger punched the chime again when there was no answer. He looked at Bartow, his cybernetic eye gleaming. He pounded on the portal. "Order these doors switched to manual override. Now."
Now someone was pounding on her door. Sylva huddled in a corner. All she wanted was to be left alone. Alone? With the memory of ten seperate lifetimes, including her father's! By Kahless! She might as well sail the Barge to Gre`thor.
The doors slowly parted. One cybernetic hand appeared through the crack. Avenger! Who else would dare invade the captain's quarters? She did not thrill to his battle-scarred presence as she'd done so often in the past. But then, she was no longer the same. Sylva ceased to be four days ago.
She stood up and faced the invader. "How dare you disturb me?" she spat at Avenger as he squeezed through the barely opened doors. The doors closed behind him, locking the doctor out.
"Look at you, cowering in his room," Avenger challenged as he advanced on her. To her credit, she did not retreat. "You are a disgrace to his memory."
"What do you know about it?" She glared up at her judge. "I am his memory! I am now Sylva Dax. Do you have any idea what that means? My father's memories are now my memories. And don't forget the nine others before him, including Great Grand's dead wife."
"Then you dishonor them all," Avenger declared. "His murderers roam free while you lick your wounds.Your ship is repaired and your crew awaits orders." He grabbed her by her shoulders. "Your orders. Captain!" Disgusted by a desire to ease the pain in her eyes, Avenger pushed Sylva away. "Coward."
She attacked. Avenger met her assault, countering her every move with his own. He had been her teacher. He caught her arms and pinned them behind her back as she struggled. Fury and pain unleashed, Sylva slammed her spotted ridges into his chin. Avenger's head snapped back and he lost hold of her arms. While he was still off-balance, she plowed into his chest, sending them both crashing to the floor. Before she could get to her feet, Avenger was on her. Pink blood dripped from his chin as he pinned Sylva's hands above her head. Seeing blood on her face, Avenger leaned closer to examine the spot. Sylva Dax stopped struggling. Her hearts pounding and her breath ragged, she bit him.
Suddenly free, Sylva got to her feet. Avenger
regarded her warily. This was not the Sylva he had trained or
supped with at her father's table while Dax told stories about
the exploits of Kang or Kor when the Klingon Empire and the
Federation were enemies. That Sylva would never have done what
this one had done. He had always regarded her in the light of a
little sister, his friend and mentor's daughter. He touched the
place where she'd bitten him.
Sylva Dax smoothed down her shift. She normally wore it beneath her warrior's armor, but she hadn't worn armor since the ambush. For the first time in four days, she smiled. "You always know the right thing to say."
Avenger nearly stepped back when she approached him. She touched the mark her teeth left on his cheek. "Return to the Vengeance. The Lightbearer will be ready to leave within the hour."
Avenger caught Dax's hand before she lowered it. "Anathema1 and Ice Dragon have their ships ready. Those pirate dogs will pay for what they did to your father."
"I can think of nothing better than to have members of the Ba'tlh Squad Militia by my side. Thank you, my friend." She walked away from him. "Before you go, tell H'ok to get the crew ready. I've got some pirates to kill."
jagh'meH'ma bIj 'je Hegh
