One Moment in Time (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on 21 Jun 2024 @ 10:45am by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lamar Darius & Ensign S'Ers-a M'Lyr'Zor

3,086 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Episode 19 - Tomorrow's Galileo
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 4, Sera's Quarters
Timeline: MD 05, 0839 hrs

Previously, on One Moment in Time (Part 1)...

She gracefully rose from her position on her knees. "I am willing to explain the memories...for context, however it is late in the night. Your sleep cycle has been interrupted."

He took her lightly-scarred in one of his own then pulled her to sit next to him on the side of the bed. "I'm awake now. Not sure if it's a good idea for me to go back to sleep, all things considered," was Lamar's honest reply to her subtle caution. A twinge of anxiety filled his stomach at the prospect of re-living the nightmare he'd just escaped from. "You don't have to explain if you don't want to...but I'm curious. I want to know more about you."

"Very well..." It wasn't preferable to bear herself like this, but as he already experienced the distressing memories it was only logical to give context.

And Now, the Conclusion...

[ON]

"The first memory...it was my kahs'wan...a traditional survival test all Vulcan adolescents go through as a rite of transition into adulthood. I had gone out very deep into The Forge and managed to stumble upon a group of nomads...I would see them occasionally in the city as they made their seasonal migrations. I thought, irrationally I suppose, that a life with them would be better than the future I was being groomed for. That male's response was disappointing, yes, but he was right about needing to be strong and collected to survive."

"The other was at the academy, as you correctly surmised. It was one of many such interactions...it was difficult to cultivate connections with others. Viruk had no such challenges. We had never been close but in our final year he had become even more aloof. I discovered why at graduation...and the last memory..." Sera pushed herself off the bed and walked over to the viewport.

"Vulcans do not dream for the most part, Lamar...but I dreamed that the night Viruk died. That was the dream. I believe that is why is...feels the way it does?" She made a small gesture conveying she did not know the answer. It is a faded echo, but also the worst thing that has ever occurred to me. I never had any intention of sharing that with anyone."

He listened while she spoke and explained the details behind each of his/her revocations. One by one they were given much-needed context which helped him fill the gaps between the disjointed fragments and provide even more insight into her. The story of the desert survival test first, followed by the Academy experience, and then her husband's - Viruk - marriage betrayal. And so very cold manner in which he'd lost his life and that insight she apparently shouldn't have been able to attain...he realized she was probably suffering from those same memories just as he was.

Lamar slipped an arm around her waist then rested his head against her shoulder from lingering mental fatigue. "I think I understand it now," he softly said. "Your husband," he paused to carefully consider his words, "didn't deserve to die. Even if he cheated on you. I'm sorry."

His touch was meant to offer support perhaps, but Sera stiffened anyway from the contact even between the layers of warm clothing. She was unused to such demonstrative behavior, and that he would be using such in an attempt to bring comfort? It was quite a turn of events given that she had hurt him physically and now knew that through an ill-advised meld know held knew some of her worst memories. What an unfair exchange.

"Kaiidth." Sera responded with a one word answer, and then realized it was a Vulcan sentiment. "What is, is."

She was silent for a long moment as they both looked out on the stars before hesitantly continuing. "The exchange of information was reciprocated, Lamar, I am simply having challenges trying to understand what I experienced."

A curious cock of his head followed as he turned to look at her. "Reciprocated?" he repeated, wondering if that meant what he assumed it did. The possibility that the temporary joining of minds hadn't simply been a one way street hadn't occurred to him before. "You're saying you have some of my memories too? From the past?"

Sera did not turn to look at Lamar; rather she kept her eyes focused out upon The Pleiades. "That is correct. It is...disconcerting. Human minds are quite chaotic. I did not expect it." She turned her head, finally facing him. "I do not mean that with any censure. I have observed that when I am...honest, oftentimes it is mistaken for insult."

Returning his attention to his cup of water, he continued to drink until he emptied the second offering. He was starting to feel better, both mentally and physically. He was still cold, of course, but the mental anguish he'd experienced was indeed beginning to fade just as Sera'd predicted. "It's better to be honest than tell a lie," he remarked in reference to her personal reflection. There was a long pause of silence which ensued while the two of them sat together side by side. "...Do you want to tell me what memories of mine you have?"

Again her eyes darted away, telegraphing uncertainty. The slow dip of her head was also somewhat hesitant. It was logical to reciprocate, but that she even knew such personal details made her feel somewhat subconscious. It was one thing to share bodies...to share minds?

"Reciprocation is only logical..." Taking a deep, cleansing breath, Sera began to outline the details of the memories that she had been considering over the last few hours while Lamar had slept.

~~

The large analog clock within the living room suddenly clicked to 1pm Eastern Standard Time and was accompanied by thirteen loud and consecutive computer chirps from its speaker. Those audible indications, however, were drowned out by the raucous voices within the room.

"Lamar, no! You are not leaving. I forbid it! Are you insane, boy? Starleet?!" exclaimed an older woman's voice.

Another elderly yet male voice chimed in from the senior Darius. "Son, listen to me..." His father, Anton Banks - a well-built and rugged man equal to Lamar's stature - pulled the oldest Darius child aside. "I've been there...in the Corps. That's not a life for you. Your place is with us," he gestured to Lamar's mother and two younger brothers who very much all resembled each other. "We have our own family business, our own bar and restaurant here. That'll be yours soon and we need you. Your brothers need you... Your mother and I need you," he firmly chastised.

The volume in the room increased while both of Lamar's younger brothers began to cry out and attempted to pull him back from the front door and take his duffel bag from him. Marcus and Jeffrey were mere children but their protests weighed on him. His eyes closed and he shook them both away from him with moisture forming within his eyelids.

"It's not your choice!" The verbal declaration cut through the room like a knife. A statement of pure truth yet also personal conviction and family betrayal which he knew there was no coming back from. His thoughts swirled in his head as he turned his back on them.

"Lamar..please!!" his mother begged. He'd never heard that inflection in her voice before and in that moment, it broke him. Heavy breaths exuded from his lungs and his mouth became dry as he turned back to the door and opened it onto the busy streets of Philadelphia. He'd made his choice. Now he had to live with the emotional consequences which consumed him and made him nauseous. He took several steps outside on his own - to become his own person - and the door slammed shut behind him. Then he kneeled over and vomited along the side of the building.

~~

Classroom instruction was terrible. The epitome of boring and useless, or so though a young Lamar who sat in an A-school lecture for Starfleet Marine Corps infantry.

"Darius! Wake the f--k up!" yelled his instructor from the head of the room.

Lamar's eyes snapped open and focused forward with a cloudy gaze. "Sir," he acknowledged.

"I just asked a question and you're sleeping like a Bolian who just consumed a bunch a ribeye. Do better! Now tell me, in a standard flanking maneuver against three separate elements, which one do you engage first?"

A combination of sleep deprivation, intense physical fatigue and mental drain weighed on young Lamar. he'd never experienced this form of vigorous training before in his life, nor the constant demands required of him. Maybe his father had been right.

"You don't flank three combined elements, sir, they have enough manpower to reposition and eliminate you. But you can," he used his holographic laser pointer to train it on the large LCARS display, "split the platoon and convert to a pincer by leaving one heavy weapon squad behind in the middle to conceal and suppress the rest while we maneuver."

Murmurs between other young Corps members ensued while the instructor turned to review the proposed plan. "And when they break through your formation's exposed center and push through, Darius? Then what?"

"Sir...then we're at the rear and reposition to establish a kill box. They'll all be dead in 10 minutes. Can't outrun a phaser rifle pulse."

~~

Red alert pulses flooded the interior of the compartment in which Lamar sat alongside 41 of his fellow marines. All of them were in full combat gear which by itself weighed no less than 70lbs each, and the atmospheric shaking and trembling resulting from orbital insertion was taking a toll on everyone's bodies. The 185th was dropping directly into Jem'Hadar lines and there was no turning back now.

The young lieutenant who stood next to the shuttle's exit ramp steadied himself with a hand on one of the top rails then spoke loudly over the thunderous roar of external cacophony. "..Dominion lines are as briefed and we're dropping two kilometers behind them!" he shouted. "Two of our Vulcan regiments have been pinned down for over a week so it's up to us to break the lines! We're first wave and the rest of the battalion is following behind us! Remember your training, and you will make it back alive!"

Darius tilted his neck from side to side which produced a soft crack in his upper musculature, then he bit down on his mouth guard. He performed a final check of his phaser rifle then looked to his left and right before slapping his best friend, Kobas, on his chest armor. "Good to go?!" he yelled to the Andorian.

"I've waited for this payback my whole life..." the blue-skinned soldier smirked back to Darius.

The large transport shuttle descended then landed atop the rocky terrain of a barren world. The interior lights turned green and rear hatch quickly descended, then all of platoon rose from their seats and sprinted out of the vulnerable craft into the dark, rocky and barren wasteland.

"First Squad, with me; Darius, Second Squad to the left! Third Squad, cover our right flank!" called out the lieutenant.

Lamar nodded then gave several hand signals to his men before raising his rifle and entering the battlefield. All squads proceeded to move forward at a rapid pace while intermittently taking cover, but when they approached the pre-briefed point of contact with the enemy, none were to be found. It was quiet and the alien moon's air was still. Too still.

From 50 meters away, the lieutenant ordered a scout to move forward, which the young Vulcan did. Slowly and methodically with his torso leaned forward, the man advanced for several meters until his body suddenly exploded in a mixture of bright sparks, green blood, and limbs.

"Houdini!!" yelled the LT. But it was too late. A large response force of Jem'Hadar de-cloaked within 30 feet of the entire line and began to fire upon their position with accurate and intense polaron weaponry. Kobas' head was instantly disintegrated from a direct shot and Lamar ducked down behind a small rock as ensuing rounds screamed over his head.

"Maneuver right! Get out of the kill box!" he screamed to his fellow squad mates. An artillery explosion detonated just in front of him and the shockwave blew his concealed body backward and knocked the air out of his lungs. He gingerly wiped his eyes while his ears rang, then saw a shimmering Jem'Hadar figure above him materialize with his rifle pointed to his head and a satisfied smirk on his disgusting alien face.

~~

That they had shared such unfortunate memories, given the enumerable positive ones they both possessed, was quite unfortunate...and yet.

"They appear to be quite lamentable events, Lamar. I grieve with thee." It was the only acceptable way that was allowed in her culture to convey empathy in a socially acceptable manner. However she could feel that her response wasn't enough. It wasn't...human enough.

Sera stepped forward and raised her hand and slowly ran the backs of her fingers lightly down the side of his face. Through the fleeting touch she expressed through the connection what she did not know how to convey with words.

"I have no right to know these details about you."

It was a most strange sensation for Lamar - the form of touch-telepathy Sera utilized was capable of transmitting not necessarily words or images into his thoughts, but the essence of these memories she held. There was no conflation present for he remembered each distinct one of them far too well in his own head. A light sigh escaped his lips and he slowly shook his head to himself. Yeah, those were some of the bad ones.

"I guess that makes two of us," he tried to reconcile. What was done was done, and he couldn't think of any path forward other than acknowledging and accepting this impromptu joining. "Just do me a favor? Let's keep this between ourselves?"

"My people have a...saying?" Sera paused considering. "Yes, I believe that is the correct word." Stopping again, Sera translated the High Vulcan proverb in her mind to Federation Standard. The UT would 'butcher' it.

"In the family, all is silence. No more will be said of it."

He nodded twice to her within the dimly-lit room to convey his understanding of her secrecy. It wouldn't be long, he hoped, until Galileo could go back through time and fix this future; and then maybe after - if they still remembered everything from this time - she and he could both figure out what to do about their new cerebral interconnection. If anything could be done.

Lamar glanced to the nearby chronometer which read 0842 hrs. The few hours of sleep he'd managed to get in her bed had helped but there was no chance he would be able to do so again anytime soon with his thoughts still dancing around. "It's still early but I should probably get back to my quarters and..." his voice trailed off with uncertainty about how to occupy the next couple hours of his time.

Sera tilted her head and looked at Lamar quizzically as he failed to finish his statement. Regardless, he was stating his preference to return to his quarters, that much was clear.

"I understand." Did she understand? Did it matter? It was just as well he was leaving. Time and distance would be necessary for the threads between the two of them to fade. Which also meant that any additional sex was most definitely out of the question. Unfortunate. It had been quite a pleasant diversion against the backdrop of the end of everything.

"You are an interesting human, Lamar."

He smiled to himself and chuffed through his nose at her remark. "You're very interesting yourself," he returned what he assumed was a form of Vulcan compliment while slowly rising to his feet and procuring his socks, briefs and pants from the carpet. "Did you manage to get some sleep while I was out? Or have you been up this whole time?" he wondered.

Sera watched him as he went about picking up his discarded clothing. It was an intriguing act to watch.

"I did not. I...observed the nebula, instead. There was a sense of tranquility in the act. It is a rather aesthetically pleasing backdrop."

The distant twinkling stars and colorful nebulae were certainly a beautiful sight within the greater cosmos. As much as he thought she should probably be resting, he couldn't fault her desire to find some semblance of peace within this appalling future. "I just wish we were back in our time. It'd make all this a lot more charming," he said while pulling on his undershirt then Starfleet sweatshirt.

Fully clothed, Lamar walked close to Sera then rested a large hand atop her shoulder before giving her a weak smile. "I hope when we get back...we'll still remember this. I don't want to forget you."

She slowly bent her elbow, bringing her hand up to where Lamar's rested on her shoulder, and ran her fingertips feather-light over his skin.

"You honor me, Lamar. In the spirit of a positive outcome, where what you 'hope' for comes to pass, I will try not to hurt you next time."

He leaned down just slightly enough to give her a firm, parting kiss - likely the final one they would ever share again. The thought panged his beating heart yet his past experiences serving in Starfleet had taught him these sacrifices were occasionally demanded from all within their profession. He reluctantly pulled back then slipped his hand off her shoulder before turning to walk to her quarters' exit. "I'll see you on the other side."

Sera watched him go without another word. The doors hissed shut leaving her alone, and her normally placid expression crumpled. The interlude was over...and the patiently waiting whispers were more than happy to fill the void that Lamar's presence had occupied. Well, at least it would all be over soon.

[OFF]

--

Ensign S'Ers-a M'Lyr'Zor
Acting Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galileo-A

&

CWO3 Lamar Darius
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Tarin]

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