Welcome to the Nightmare - Part 4

Posted on 03 Mar 2025 @ 10:18pm by Ensign S'Ers-a M'Lyr'Zor & Lieutenant JG Sofie Ullswater

2,719 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 21 - Helix
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 7, Arboretum and Main Engineering
Timeline: MD02, 0526 hrs

[ON]

Previously on...Welcome to the Nightmare

Disappointment. However, that did not stop Sera from reaching out and taking the requested replies from Sofie's hands. She resisted--barely--the urge to caress her skin the tips of her fingers. Logical. It would be a biohazard to do so.

"Such minor inconveniences are common in my occupation, Sofie. Your concern has been noted, but if I were to stop for every injury, it would negatively impact my efficiency." The explanation occupied her mind as she cleansed the cuts, ignoring the stinging from the antiseptic before turning on the dermal regenerator to seal the wounds.

And now the continuation...


"Why do you...care for the ducks? I do not mean the tending of them...you hold affection for them." It was a non-sequitur, yes, but Sera required a distraction.

"Why do any of us care for any other living things?" Sofie shrugged, as if all the answers were obvious: how could someone not have affection for these beautiful little birds. "I've looked after them nearly every day for the last nine months. I know them better than I know most of the crew. I have helped them when they are in distress and they have been there for me when I needed somewhere to escape to. It's funny I feel they even played a pretty big role in me getting promoted by Captain Tarin."

And they were also cute, adorable, and other synonyms that Sofie was not entirely sure how to quantify and explain. She looked out at them, in the little groups they had formed around the room, they called to each other and followed each other around. She imagined them discussing the state of repairs, the quality of the water and the turmoil of the two women. Sera was right, she felt a deep affection for these animals. "It's like I said before, they are the most vulnerable members of our crew, they don't have a voice with which to be heard. But they've got me and I've got them, it's a little bit like family at this point."

"I observed a flock of ducks while at the academy. Mallards, I believe is their common name. I fed them frozen peas...for the niacin is important to muscle and bone strength. They were fearless creatures. I found their company to be quite agreeable." The words just fell out of her with the intensity of a confession.

Meanwhile, the non-functioning parts had been identified and removed from the casing - now to replicate replacements. "I would like to assist you in the care of the ducks."

Sofie hesitated in her response. This morning ritual of looking after the plants and animals had been something of a sanctuary for her. Amidst all the horrors and uncertainties of life on Galileo the ducks still needed her every day. No matter how bad things were outside of it this room felt like a home. To give up some control of this one space where she felt safe struck a little fear into her. But as today had shown, she wasn't good enough to solve every problem the ducks might have.

"I am here every morning. Given the engineering issues we have faced today maybe it would make sense to have you join me once a week for regular checks to maintain the arboretum equipment. While you were here I could show you the things that I do, the health checks of the birds and the trees, so eventually you'd be able to do it all on days where I couldn't. I think that could be agreeable. I would love to spend more time with you." If it were anyone else she wouldn't have offered this, but this was Sera, her love. They were as good as married. They should share everything. This was almost exciting.

That thought was wrong. Sofie caught it. She shivered. It had been so wrong. A wave of nausea crashed against her once again. Her bearing and tone of voice instantly changed to obvious discomfort "Maybe we should sort out our personal issues first. I'm not thinking as I should."

For a moment everything felt…right. As it should be. Sofie thought her suggestion was acceptable. She could come once a week, to tend to the ducks and perform maintenance checks on the equipment to ensure an optimal habitat for the rather endearing—if messy—creatures. And be with her…with Sofie…

Yes, an ideal outcome to spend time with one’s mate—

And suddenly everything slipped out of alignment.

The words Sofie said were indecipherable in the moment. Personal problems? This was well beyond inter-personal conflict. It was physical...psychological...

Imbalance. Distress. Sera’s stomach lurched and her throat burned from the rising bile. From stability to feeling utterly out of control, as if she were falling with no end in sight.
It was instinctual. To reach out for assistance, for the calm that the other half could provide in the moment of turmoil. Sera’s hand reached out, seeking connection to Sofie’s – so one could bolster the other.

Sofie didn't know what was going to happen. She didn't know if they were going to be catapulted into a torturous nightmare or passionate dream. It was possible that nothing would happen at all, she just didn't know. There was only one thing that she knew for sure: Sera needed her.

She grabbed on to Sera's outstretched hand, holding it between her own two. "Don't worry, I've got you."

The world was plunged into darkness.

-----

It was hard to tell how much time passed in that perfect darkness. There was nothing to see or hear. It could have been seconds or infinities. There were smells though, you could even say pleasant ones: a waxy wood being burned in a fireplace, old paper and motheaten clothes. Comfortable and nostalgic smells of old and combustible buildings.

In the darkness a hand still held tightly to Sera's. "Sera, focus on me." It was Sofie's voice.

A faint orange light began to illuminate the person in front of Sera, the light was soft and danced around so it was hard to get a full picture. It definitely looked like Sofie though, a younger version, dressed in an extravagant operatic costume, but still through all the stage makeup you could make out her unmistakable smile. "You're dreaming." She said.

"Vulcans should not dream..." She responded while trying to take in the rather unconventional surroundings, however eventually the voice's directive made headway in her consciousness. Focus. Yes. She looked down to the young woman who favored Sofie Ullswater, although she was wearing clothing that was...unusual. "I touched you. You told me not to..." Sera's placid expression dropped showing all of sorts of emotions that the Vulcan woman would never express. Sorrow, apology...regret? Not yet...but perhaps. It is too early to tell.

"I am so very sorry, Sofie Ullswater."

Again there was a moment of silence. The flickering of the orange glow caught little wisps of smoke, illuminating them against the inky black canvas as they hurried upwards. They danced on the dark background as if in terrible anticipation of what was to come, forming shapes, portents and then spinning off into the darkness once again.

"Sof told you not to because she was worried you'd end up here. She was worried that I'd hurt the two of you. And she was right, I will." The singsong voice of the woman had a motherly, caring, quality to it that did not match all that well with the content of what she was saying. One hand stayed on Sera's, simultaneously with vice like grip yet also gentle. The other reached out to lightly caress Sera's braided hair in a gesture that had, again, a distinctly motherly quality to it. "But I'm glad you took her hand, I'm glad you're here and I'm glad that I finally get to meet you."

Trust the threat; everything else is fabrication. Sera was, for once, completely in synch with her Inner Chorus’ warning. She began to reach out subtly with her mind, looking for a way to determine what exactly this was. “And whom am I engaging with?”

"It's me, Sera, you're engaging with me: the one that Lamar warned you about. You know who I am. Sof calls me the Voice of the Fire, the August Lady of an Unending Gyre..." Her voice was as eider down. Her hand moved down from the hair in a loving exploration of the contours of Sera's face. It came to rest cradling her cheek, relishing in the touch of skin with a tender stroking. It was then that she whispered the third name "The Flayed Man."

Sera was a Vulcan female, evolved from the prehistoric apex predators of her planet. All of the conditioning and training and ‘Logic,’ could not undo her origins or her instincts. She knew she was in the presence of a predator stronger–and far more ruthless. The gentle grip on her hand was a soft ‘foot-trap’ ready to snap shut at any moment. The caress along her cheek sent unbidden shudders of revulsion through her core.

In this dreamscape, Sera’s mouth ran dry. The Flayed Man…Lamar’s tortured form came to mind, a skinned mass of agony, dripping blood and ichor…the fleshy appendages tearing bites from her arms and legs as she tried to run down an unending maintenance corridor. The skittering sounds, like screams of torment being spun backwards on a record player.

It’s in me…and now it’s in you too…

She forced more of her focus on trying to find escape, using what she once thought were formidable mental controls to maintain her composure. The urge to wrench her hand away and run was rising…resist. One who acts like prey becomes prey.

“Why do you want to meet me?” Sera asked softly.

"It's a good idea." The Voice of the Fire chose not to answer her question immediately. Her words came with a respectful nod, "Stay focused on me, it will make this easier for you. You're a logical creature Sera, you know you can't run away from a nightmare and you know that no matter how real it feels the pain will be an illusion. Don't run, focus on me."

The flickering orange light had been gradually getting brighter, at this point it illuminated them both clearly. The sounds of crackling flames were beginning to seep into the background. The air was getting hot and dry.

"And how could I not want to meet you? You're all Sof has been thinking about recently. I feel like I know you so well!" She laughed. It was a childlike innocent laugh. "This whole thing with you and Lamar has been such an ordeal. You've caused her so much upset, you know?"

The steadily rising temperature and precipitous drop in humidity was agreeable. Even though she denoted satisfaction from the moment, she knew that this wasn't being done for her benefit. Heat, dryness, next the crackle of flame?...a blaze? Yes. It would be fire. Sera's fingers trembled involuntarily as if in muscle memory of her personal experience with such an element. The subtle plasma burns scorched a fern-like path across the backs her hands and her forearms and were a reminder of the power behind 'flame.' It was a most disagreeable sensation, and not one that she was in any particular hurry to re-experience.

"I did not know!" Sera's voice came out strident in the rising heat. "I...I could not help myself..." The words rushed out. "I was...drawn to Lamar in a fiercely compelling manner that defied my 'Logic.' I had no idea he was already...bound to her. He pursued me--I did not sense her; I should have sensed her!"

The air was beginning to fill with smoke. It dimmed the flickering light yet the figure of the younger Sofie remained resplendent, her visage cutting through the gathering gloom. When she spoke, her voice was clear and commanding "Stay calm and focus on me. You are dreaming, remember that."

"And don't worry, I am not angry at you, Sera. How could I be? Upsetting Sof is most of what I spend my time doing. No," With her free hand the Flayed Man pulled Sera closer to her, close enough that their noses were almost touching, and she could whisper and be heard even over the building sounds of the fire "I admire you. I feel honoured to have you join us in the nightmare. We are going to weave a beautiful tapestry of pain. I'm excited for you to share in that."

Sera did not reply. Vulcans did not dream; meditation allowed for the mental 'unpacking' that made dreaming superfluous, essentially. However, she had not been able to enter into a beneficial meditative state since bonding with Lamar...was this the Flayed Man's doing?

Regardless of the Flayed Man's directive to focus, Sera continued to reach out. The more the entity talked, regardless of the increasing discomfort, the more time she had to search...for Sofie...for a way out.

The stench of burning things assaulted her senses and she began to feel the prickling tightness of too high of a temperature against her exposed skin as she was forced to look into Sofie's face that was not Sofie, currently. Logical control or not, it was becoming difficult to remain 'calm' when her instincts were all but screaming at her to flee.

Unable to resist, she tried to pull away her hand from the vice-like grip, and the trap was sprung. Fiery trails of agony lanced up her arm to the base of her skull when an explosion of pain all but obliterated her ability to perceive anything else in this dreamscape. She fell to her knees from the intensity of it and began to experience the licks of blistering heat burning against her legs.

A strangled cry escaped from between teeth clenched so hard they felt as if they would crack. "It...It is not logical to seek to damage that which you inhabit."

Please! Her mind called out in supplication.

Disappointment was plastered over the Flayed Man's face as she looked down on Sera. She had expected better: more focus, more logic. She shook her head and let go of her hand. It took a few moments of letting Sera stew in the fire before she started speaking again.

"You said it yourself, little mouse, sometimes the overall benefit of the fire can outweigh the immolation you will endure along its path." Flames, now clambering up through the floor, wove themselves into the fabric of the ostentatious dress. It framed her as some ancient goddess of conflagrations now casting judgement on her supplicants simply with a look of dissatisfaction. "I love Sof, and it's all for her own good. The fire tempers and strengthens, you see? She needs me."

The fire deity squatted down beside Sera so she could be close to her face once again, a distance where she was able to be heard without having to raise her voice over the now roaring flames. "I don't know where I came from or what I am. I don't know why the divine spark of the temporal event imbued me with the capacity for reason and speech. There's so much I don't understand about my existence, so much of it that seems illogical. But from that first moment when I knew I could know things, I knew that I need to hurt Sof and that I also need to look after her."

It looked for a moment like she was about to carry on, launch into a further discussion about her existence but she stopped herself to look at the other woman more closely, to take in the pain she was suffering. "Sorry, I'm rambling, how are you doing?" She held out a hand to Sera through the flames.


To Be Continued...



[OFF]


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

&

Lieutenant JG Sofie Ullswater
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

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