The Path Not Taken: Closing Time (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on 13 Jun 2024 @ 3:42pm by Lieutenant JG Montgomery Vala & Ensign S'Ers-a M'Lyr'Zor

4,185 words; about a 21 minute read

Mission: Episode 19 - Tomorrow's Galileo
Location: Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, Earth
Timeline: Early 2396

Previously on Closing Time...

“Perhaps we should not tempt the universe with such questions, adun–” The last word was cut off as Sera felt a very subtle vibration course through her. Although having not been on a ship in over a year, one simply did not cease being an engineer. That came with being very in tune with the senses, for often the first sign of something wrong was a change in sound or a sensation felt ‘off.’

She studied the surface of the kali-fal in Imin’s glass as it vibrated and then slowly started to settle out. “Something just happened.”

Vala's eyes widened a fraction. Terra firma typically did not vibrate, and those times it did were never good. "Ehfai?" Earthquake? "It is not very strong though? I was told we should seek high ground though whenever such events happen - large waves can come from the sea."

He stood and beckoned the others to follow him outside.

It didn’t feel like an earthquake to her, but she erred on the side of caution and stood, following Montgomery and Imin outside. She had read about the large waves he was referring to, “tsunamis,” and inwardly shuddered at such a thought. For a desert born creature, the thought of a ‘great wave’ was utterly incomprehensible to her.

Upon leaving the house the true origin of the vibration became clear - a column of smoke was rising from the horizon to the south. Vala turned around to Imin and his mate, "Daystrom…"

And Now the Conclusion...

[ON]

Sera studied the rising smoke with a sense of dawning recognition. “It was an explosion that I felt…quite strong indeed, given the distance. We should find a holovid…there are some down at the transport station.”

Her mind raced at possibilities, picking them up and discarding them each in turn all except for one. She kept going back to one thought - regardless of the lack of concrete evidence in front of them. The war had come to them.

“Well…if we want to learn anything else then S’Ers-a’s idea is, dare I say it? Logical.” Imin replied, looking at Rh’vaurekorn for his thoughts on the matter.

Vala gave a single firm nod then swept around, leading the way to the transporters.

As they met the main road of Bise, many locals were outside staring at the same column of smoke. Whispers of concern were in the air, and though the sense of fear was palpable, no one wished to make a scene.

The trio made their way to the municipal transporter and began meeting small groups of humans apparently of the same mind. There was a small crowd forming in front of the main holovid, detailing what was known at Daystom.

“Horror in Okinawa, Japan. A large explosion rocked The Daystrom Institute, one of the most prestigious scientific centers of the Federation today, in what law enforcement is saying is a ‘terrorist attack.’ Daystrom among 5 other thus far confirmed blasts around the planet. San Francisco, Paris, New York, Beijing, Manilla - all of these cities have also experienced some sort of synchronized attack.”

“Here is what we know so far. The first sets of explosions, in Paris, France occurred at the Federation Headquarters and the Vulcan Embassy in particular. Hundreds have been confirmed dead but officials are expecting for the death toll to rise. The next confirmed explosion in San Francisco occurred...”

Sera said nothing. She revealed nothing. However, inwardly her thoughts were a maelstrom. She had recently visited ALL of those places recently on various ‘errands.’ The only place she had not gone to was Daystrom. The urge to run back home and contact her family was a tangible thing, and she managed to take a single step backwards before halting her actions.

“They really know how to screw up a good time.” Imin huffed annoyedly.

"Screw up indeed," Vala said morosely, "This will only make things worse for us…" He trailed off, staring at the screen but feeling the prickle in his neck that he was being watched. He glanced around for just a moment - glares were pointed in their direction.

"They blame us," he said quietly to his two companions, "They know this is from the Rihannsu playbook. Klingons do not deal in bombings…"

“We should return home. Imin, we have–” Sera’s offer for him to stay the evening went unsaid as a number of black collared Starfleet personnel stepped into visibility from their places hidden within the small crowd. Her shoulders dropped.

“Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Vala, S’Ers-a M’Lyr’Zor, Lieutenant Commander Imin Volskiar…if you will come with us.”

There was no please, for it was not a request. The three were quickly shuffled through the crowd to the transporter pads and they were transported to wherever the Starfleet personnel had the mind to take them.

Sera did not care for propriety at the moment. She reached out and took Montgomery’s hand in hers.

He gave it a squeeze, grateful at the reassurance of her touch. It was little surprise, really, that they'd get picked up yet again. He had not expected this level of… efficiency, but who else were Starfleet Intelligence going to turn their attention to if not the 'other', the 'enemy'. Such was the state of 'citizenship' in the Federation. Vala gave the agents a derisive look. He could understand him and Imin, but S'Ers-a - a representative of the humans greatest allies… At least in the Star Empire if you were a citizen then you bore those rights and obligations to your grave.

The shimmer of the transporter field dissipated and they found themselves in a standard Starfleet transporter room. It was impossible to know where. Vala stood still for a moment, trying to sense the tell tale vibration of a starship but it was difficult to know. Too much adrenaline clouded his senses.

The officers beckoned them forth, but he stood his ground, baring his teeth, "You will tell us where we are, and why we have been brought here," his tone was icy and bitter, "We have done nothing."

Sera glanced at Montgomery, but didn't speak. His demands, no doubt, would fall on deaf ears. It was…unfortunate. He really had come to believe in the ideals of the Federation, and to see the other side of it…the side that had been metamorphosed by a war they were so soundly that now the eyes of mistrust had turned inwards? It felt like some sort of a betrayal.

Imin meanwhile worse his disgust on his very demeanor. “Now all of this seems familiar to me…now where have I witnessed citizens being taken from broad daylight and brought to an undisclosed location for questioning?’ Ah, yes…where indeed.”

He lifted his chin and stepped off the transporter pad.

“Your ‘friend’ here gets it. Step down. You all are being taken for questioning. Where you are exactly, is irrelevant.” One of the officers said as they gestured for them to step down. The courtesy was not going to be extended a second time.

Vala bared his teeth, but remained silent. His patience for these ridiculous procedures was at its limit. Perhaps now, at least, the mask would come off and they would be able to stop living the farce that had been their lives on Okinawa.

It was with a sense of loss that Sera released Montgomery’s hand and proceeded down the steps to the officers waiting for them. They were all then taken out of the room and their paths diverged to different interview rooms.

He watched his mate being taken down a different corridor, eyes upon her till the very last possible moment. Vala wondered what they could want to ask that they had not already asked. He had never been associated with the intelligence community in the Star Empire, besides being on the receiving end of their machinations, but even he could tell that Starfleet Intelligence were grasping at straws. These bombings constituted an abject failure on their part, and surely heads would roll.

Sera was ushered into the room after being separated from her mate. What she experienced was less of an interrogation and more of a form of processing. Name, date of birth…demographics that they already had from her former service in Starfleet. Nonetheless, Sera answered all of the questions posed with honesty.

“Why have you brought us here?”

“For your safety, ma’am.” Was the succinct reply. Sera was uncertain of what to make of that to be honest.

“May I inquire why these questions are being asked of me, as this data is already in Starfleet’s database.”

“It’s just part of the processing, ma’am.”

“How are we going to be kept…safe?”

“Relocation.”

Sera blinked. They were going to be relocated? To…to where? Questions begged to be asked, but Sera held back as she didn’t want to be seen as disruptive to whatever this process was. Nonetheless, there was one more that was important to her.

“If we are to be relocated, will we be allowed to obtain our personal effects?”

The security officer sitting across from her looked up from the commscreen. “What a peculiar question. You will be allowed to return, under escort, to your home to retrieve your belongings. Then you will be directly transferred to the area that has been designated.”

Sera tilted her head in a gesture of acceptance…of the answer, anyway.

–

Vala was led through the building for some time, eventually reaching a modestly appointed office. At the desk sat an elderly human with the golden thread of a flag officer tracing his uniform. He was hunched over, his thin grey hair hanging limply from his head as he fumbled with a PADD, not seeming to notice the new arrivals in the room.

"I have Lieutenant Commander Vala here for you, sir," the Vala's escort said, standing to attention.

"Vala?" The older officer spoke with a voice like dry parchment, "Oh yes. Yes. You were quicker than I had been led to expect…" He trailed off, tapping the PADD a few times before looking up.

This was a man close to retirement, Vala thought as he met the human's watery brown eyes. He was a Commodore, and not one in much of a desirable part of Starfleet. The office did not even have a window.

"Lieutenant Commander Vala you will stand to attention," the escort said tersely. Vala blinked, but acquiesced. He felt defiant - the authority here had not served him well for a long time, but he was still an officer and should behave as such.

The elderly humans watched him in silence for a few moments, and then nodded, "Very good… yes… It's a requirement of the formalities I'm afraid. I don't usually stand on such ceremony…" He trailed off again, looking a little uncomfortable.

"I am Commodore Armiger, from the Office of Personnel Management…" He blinked, his eyes flashing a glance to the intelligence officer standing to attention by the door, "I am here to hand you your papers. That is to say you are being…" He cleared his throat, "... Discharged from the fleet." He picked up the PADD and proffered it to Vala.

Vala grit his teeth and waited for several beats before taking it. His eyes flicked over the first page - a general discharge. An unsurprising insult that should not have stung as much as it should have, "Permission to speak, Commodore," he said with a cold inflection.

"Uhm… yes of course, of course," Armiger replied, looking increasingly ill at ease.

"My conduct has been of an exceptional standard throughout my tenure," Vala attempted to quell the indignation he felt within, "I believe regulation demands an explanation whenever anything less than an honourable discharge is issued." He clenched his jaw.

Armiger's eyes flicked to the officer behind Vala once again, "Indeed you are correct. Yes," he cleared his throat, "Unfortunately in the wake of the… unpleasant events of today…" He would not meet Vala's eyes, "The Federation Council has decided that… for your own protection…" He looked down, then recited, "Citizens who have originated from belligerent polities, amongst others, should be relocated for their own safety, and their association with Starfleet… ah… terminated."

Vala blinked, his lip curling in fury. Petty, small minded cowards all. This human clearly did not agree with the policy, but had done nothing to defy it. He reached up and pulled the pips from his collar and threw them onto the desk. "So much for your Federation ideals. Where must I sign?"

The Commodore nervously pointed to the PADD, before setting his eyes on the discarded pips.

Vala scrolled down the document, and promptly affixed his signature to it before throwing the PADD down. "You will not win this war by debasing those that chose to join you, hevam," he snarled, "Cowards," he spat.
The escorting officer roughly grabbed his shoulder, "Right. Enough of that," and shoved Vala out of the office to be processed.

–

The processing carried on for far longer than Sera considered an efficient use of their time, but at least this wasn’t a repeat of the first time they had been picked up. These officers, at least, didn’t appear to outwardly dislike or distrust her. They appeared rather…bored. Nonetheless, Sera wanted nothing more than to be returned to Montgomery.

“Alright. I think we have covered everything.”

Sera raised a brow. They thought? They either did or they did not. What a quintessentially irrational statement. She was wise enough to keep that little commentary to herself.

“Follow us. We will directly beam you and your spouse back to the home you were occupying in Bise. You will be allowed two hours to collect any goods or belongings you would like to be transported with you.”

Sera stood and followed the pair and was brought back to the transporter room. It was a relief to see her mate standing there looking unscathed.

Vala felt a sense of relief course through him at the sight of his mate. He had been struggling to contain his anger throughout the period of processing. Seeing her walk into the room gave him something else to focus on. "Jolan'tru, ailhun ," he said softly as she joined him on the PADD, "They intend to imprison us."

“Jolan’tru, e’lev..” Sera responded in Rihannsu. She wasn’t feeling much like speaking in Federation Standard at the moment. “So I have gathered. I have been informed that we are to be allowed 2 hours to pack whatever belongings we can carry. Our…keepers are quite considerate.” There was no attempt at maintaining the aloof, cool mien that her kind were known for. No. Between her own ire and the feeling of his…turmoil, Sera was feeling downright spicy. Why, her very words dripped overt sarcasm.

"Considerate indeed," Vala gave an insolent grunt, before continuing in his native tongue, "They have discharged me." Anger flared as he said it. After all he had done for this empire… He bit the inside of his mouth. Loyalty clearly meant little here. At least in the Star Empire they'd have the gall to kill you. "Discharged to rot in whatever ethical environment they have construed for us."

Sera’s expression softened. ”It is a most unfortunate outcome, adun. The news is not surprising, however.” She reached up and cupped his cheek in the palm of her hand, uncaring what others thought of the physical contact. Her touch was an attempt at soothing his growing rage.

They were motioned up onto the transporter pad, and Sera complied, continuing to focus her attention on her mate. ”Have you been told where we are going to be sent? I was not given such courtesy.

"Only that we return to Bise," Vala said as he took his spot, "Then who knows. Somewhere unpleasant no doubt. Dull, Federation prison or a camp somewhere…" He speculated as the telltale sparkle of the transporter beam took hold.

They found themselves outside of their home, in their little garden, rather than at the municipal transporter hub. It was much as they had left it earlier on, the doors to within were open and their now cold stew sat on the table.

Vala looked at S'Ers-a, his shoulders sagging a little, "I suppose we should collect some things. And Fvillhu of course."

Sera nodded her response and strode into the house. Their Starfleet minders rushed in after them. “The comms have been disabled in the house. You can bring what you can carry. No more.”

One of the other officers walked over to Sera and said softly, and not without some sympathy. “I would dress warm, ma’am.”

Sera barely refrained from turning to the officer and staring, as that would alert the other one that she had been spoken to.

It wasn’t much information to have, but it was valuable. The pair walked into their bedroom and were greeted by a rather concerned sounding Fvillhu.

Sera ran her fingers over the cat’s silken fur and looked to Montgomery. “Warm clothing, blankets, non-perishable food. What medicines we have.” It was a running list of sorts.

"Oh of course, all the warm clothing I have for the terrible winters of Okinawa," Vala said, flashing a small sardonic smile at S'Ers-a. "I believe I have a few things but I will likely need to replicate something unflattering when we get there. Assuming they intend to give us access to such, aha, luxuries."

Sera looked down, averting her eyes from his after what he said. This was completely out of her scope of experience…stopping that line of internal reasoning, Sera returned to the task at hand. There would be time to lament later.

They moved from room to room, gathering what might be needed. Sera moved into the office, and looked longingly to the comm screen but made no move towards it. The worktable however was a different story. She quickly retrieved the items she had hidden underneath it and secreted them away. Although dangerous to have the technology on her, the devices might prove useful where they were going.

Items retrieved, Sera pulled open the large wardrobe and began pulling out her Vulcan robes. The material was designed for temperature regulation…to keep cool during the day…and to prevent hypothermia in the cold desert nights. In the moment she was satisfied to have procured Montgomery one for his birthday on a whim. With the clothing gathered she walked back to the bedroom where two large bags were open and filling up quickly.

“These may prove useful.” Sera said as she pulled her robe over the body suit she was currently wearing.

"Indeed," Vala remained in a grim mood. He was glad S'Ers-a was not one to indulge in self pity - her efficiency provided something for him to grasp onto.

He took the robes and changed into it, discarding his Starfleet uniform for what was likely the final time in his life. It was melancholic and infuriating in equal measure. There was no time to dwell on it but he couldn't help but wonder what he had done to deserve such a life. He looked over to his ailhun - truly the one light left in his universe.

Once he was dressed he grabbed his small case and quickly put the dregs of his past inside - pips from commissions in happier times aboard the Antares and the Asgard, his medals, his praetorian commendation, and a few bits of parchment. Crucial notes from his time at the Variance Lab, and mementos from Celia. Such things were his only real personal effects.

Where the boxes of handwritten research notes from his career in the Federation would end up, he did not know. Hopefully provided to Daystrom or some other organisation for the sake of posterity, though knowing Starfleet Intelligence they would go on some kind of book bonfire with the rest of the "enemy's" works.

He grabbed a few items of clothing and rammed them into the case. His feathered ceremonial robe would be warm, but was too bulky to take. A few pieces of authentic Rihannsu clothing that he'd managed to obtain via Imin's replicator progams would fit, and some of the garb of his homeworld would be useful should they have to really rough it. And that was it. The case would take no more. The beautiful Japanese silks and embroidery would have to remain.

"I've left a place with less," Vala mustered a small smile as he sealed the case, thinking back to the armful of papers and trinkets Dr. Ar'Vul had shoved into his chest before the shuttle doors closed decades prior, "And so the path winds onwards."

Looking down at the piles of accumulated items, Sera was suddenly filled with a measure of rage that was quite rare for her. The normal response would be to regulate the motion, to confront the situation logically, but…

Her resignation. His reassignment. The continuing erosion of their rights, their privacy violated…being taken from their home! Montgomery having his commission TAKEN FROM HIM!

“We are not even allowed to inform anyone. We are being imprisoned!”

”Imirrhlhhse lloannen'galae! Sera hissed in Rihannsu, unconsciously clenching her hands in a most un-Vulcan-like display of emotion.

Vala raised an eyebrow, "Imirrhlhhse lloannen'galae," he repeated in a softer tone, walking over to his mate and lightly caressing her shoulder for a moment, "We have each other, yet." He stooped over and picked up their cat, who had begun winding through their legs, "and our noble Fvillhu."

Sera was silent and still after his agreement. The tone of his words were a balm on the incandescence of her anger. The cat too, chimed in his displeasure at the disruption of the harmony within his house, and she tentatively reached out to scritched the cat in Montgomery’s arms. The cat satisfied, Sera benched her emotions and returned to the final bits of packing.

“I have procured something for you, adun. I was going to wait until the Christ-mas holiday, but it is logical to give it to you now.”

Sera pulled out a small sheathed weapon–a dagger–and extended it to him

“It is an honor blade. It is made of tamahagane steel, but its design is Rihannsu, although I must admit that the ley'matya coiling up the hilt is representative of the blending of our respective cultures?”

Vala looked at the dagger, his eyes panes of glass, "E'lev…" His voice was soft and shook a little. This object was so desired, the symbolism immense. It meant… belonging.

He reached forward and took the weapon, holding it up in front of him and pulling it from its sheath. The glossy steel glinted in the light, casting a pale light on his face, "Khnai'ra, you honour me," he averted his eyes respectfully and slide the sheath back on, "Words are… insufficient." He raised his hand and brushed his fingers over her temple - he knew she would understand.

“Time’s up.” The human voice carried into their bedroom and the moment ended. Sera reached down and closed the traveling case that was filled to the brim with–hopefully–useful items for wherever they were being sent to.

Vala slid the blade into his robe, then hefted his case in one hand, squeezing Fvillhu in the other. He gave his mate a glance of deep admiration, then the transporter signal took hold.

–

The sparkles always seemed to linger behind her eyes after teleportation and this instance wasn’t any different. The wind gusted and set the hem of her robes aflutter. It brought a chill that was rather alarming to the desert-born Sera. She looked around and saw they were in a rocky, hilly environment and off in the distance there appeared to be a small settlement. The buildings were blocky and industrial in their coloration.

The officer serving as guard/escort offered up an answer to their unspoken question. “It’s your new home. I think the town was called Ophir…it was an old mining town in the south island of New Zealand.”

"New Zealand?" Vala felt anger once again inflaming him, "So we are common criminals now? Sent to where the dregs of your society are brushed under the carpet."

"It is for your own safety," the guard responded, nodding their head towards the structures in the distance, "Now walk."

[OFF]

--

LMCMDR Montgomery Vala
Chair of Xenogeology
Department of Xenogeology, Daystrom Institute

&

S'Ers-a M'Lyr'Zor
Untrustworthy Citizen of the Federation

&

LTCMDR Imin Volskiar
Senior Botanist
Department of Botany, Daystrom Institute
[PNPC Vala and S'Ers-a]

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