Home Pt 5
Posted on Wed Mar 31st, 2021 @ 11:24pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Chief Petty Officer Remal Kajun
Mission:
*CD*
Location: Bajor
Breakfast was shared more mid to late morning than breakfast time, accompanied by another pot of coffee and easy conversation. Remal had taken over the kitchen, cooking up a simple but hearty meal which would replenish them both with energy.
“Now… what are your plans for today?” She asked, not particularly caring what day it was only that she wasn’t required to do anything Captainlike.
As he opened the ice box he realized it was seriously lacking, “Apparently I’m heading into the village for supplies. Out of creamer.” Then realization dawned. “Oh, that reminds me.” He rapidly closed the door and disappeared into their bedroom for a moment before returning to the kitchen.
Upon his return he held out a small trinket in the shape of a box. Made of metal, probably pewter, inlaid with ornate engravings and designs, the square box held a red glow and a strange aura about it. “I saw this yesterday on my way through the village and I thought you could put your betrothal bracelet inside it.” He held it out to her, showing her the shiny red gem glowing like a beating heart upon the metal lid.
She accepted the box and looked curiously at the construction “It’s beautiful Remal, thank you” The gemstone was unlike anything she had ever seen “The colour is surreal” She murmured as though drawn to it.
It’s weird isn’t it, almost like it’s warm to the touch. And there’s more, the bottom has writing engraved on it, but not like any I’ve seen before. It’s Bajoran, but ancient, familiar, yet not.” He was amused at the look upon her face. He knew she would like it.
“It’s stunning” She murmured, turning it over to look at the engraving. It was definitely in one of the ancient scripts - but not one she could actually read. It would require interpreting from one of the local Vedeks but that could wait.
“I think before I head into town, I should probably have a shower.” He sniffed his pits, twice, then the surrounding air once. “Smells like two Hornrays had a mating session in here.” He commented half heartedly about a Bajoran bird from one of the Southern provinces that was known for a rapid mating cycle, rarely mating with the same bird twice. Their populations were hunted aggressively yet they always seemed to bounce back.
“ Gee I have no idea why” She swatted at him playfully, noting to open the windows as soon as the day warmed enough for it. “Go, shower!” She gently pushed him towards their bathroom and set about cleaning the kitchen, making her mind to spend the day in their cabin, reading or writing, she hadn’t decided which.
Pushed unceremoniously from the kitchen he jovially carried himself into the bathroom and showered. Running colder water than normal to temper the warmth he was feeling, a sensation he couldn’t quite understand where it was coming from, like some fever he had once as a child. He took a few moments to shave his stubble, before putting a new set of clothes on. A thorough brushing of the teeth later, he exited and approached Rhen from behind.
He wrapped his arms around her, placed a kiss upon her head and said, “Don’t get into any trouble while I’m out. Shouldn’t take long.” And then he let go, turned and headed out of the cabin and down the path he had toiled so hard to create.
“ Trouble? Me? Never” She scoffed as he headed up the path, leaving the door open to let the breeze wash through the cabin.
At the end of the path was a road, barely traveled. It wound its way around the hillside and into the mountain which eventually led to another village one way. At the base of the hill though, there was another, smaller village, his destination.
Rhenora spent the next few minutes opening the windows and doors, letting the ocean breeze sweep through the cabin and cast the musty smell from it being closed up for some time out. She pottered in the kitchen, making another cup of coffee and finishing the tidy up before heading over to the couch by the now quiet fire and curling up with one of her books. She set some soothing music playing, a combination of traditional Bajoran instruments with a slightly modern twist creating a uniquely pleasing ensemble. Sighing in contentment she felt the stress slowly leaving her body.
Dressed in charcoal and ash colored robes adorned with a deep red stripe running from foot to shoulder, the trio stepped up onto the wooden porch, their sandaled feet making little to no sound. Two of them hung back, while the third, a book of scripture in hand, reached up and rapped upon the open door. He was aware of whom owned the property, and of whom were currently inhabiting and they had traveled far to seek their audience. It was time to size up the future.
Looking up Rhenora heard the door knock and paused. She wasn’t expecting any visitors but then again the distant neighbours had a habit of dropping by when they knew the couple were in town.
Rising she straightened the dress she had put on earlier and headed for the door.
“Ahhhh can I help you?” She asked the man with the book at the door.
He not only nodded, but bowed slightly as a sign of respect. “Perhaps. We are travelers from the mountain village of Mekka, come to seek counsel from the one known to the scriptures as Marnah and Fa of the Varo.” (Bajoran for Mother and Father of the Future) “Would you know of whom I speak?” Forking his tongue and tempering his words, he held back on revealing what he knew and how much he was willing to share.
“ I have no idea what you’re talking about, I’m just a traveller stopping to rest awhile” Rhenora said carefully. Only few knew of her connection with the Prophets, had the Brotherhood spilled the beans?
His grin, fake, for he knew she was lying but he would play along, “Ah. Then perhaps you would not mind if we too rested a bit before continuing on, for the road is long and our feet are tired.”
She hesitated, part of her knowing that caution should be advised. She was a starfleet Captain, and if prophecy were to be believed, the next Emissary of Bajor - should she be letting strangers into her home when she was on her own? Remal would be far more gracious and she knew he would have acquiesced to the request.
“Sure, I’ll brew some tea” She finally stepped aside, letting them proceed before her into the lounge room “ Please make yourselves comfortable” She headed in the kitchen and found the teapot and some leaves. Leaving her guests to their own devices temporarily.
The lead male sat down upon the couch, but only took up the edge of the seat, while his companions stood behind the couch. It was a mistake for them to show their lie with such a telling sign, however once in the door, deception was no longer their game.
Rhenora emerged a few minutes later with a tray containing tea and some savoury moursels she had discovered in the pantry. Bless Remal for leaving things relatively well stocked.
“Tea?” She asked as she set the tray on the coffee table, taking the seat opposite the men so the table was in between them. Something was just….off.
The leader was looking about the room for signs of a personal nature, but when she walked back in he snapped back to her attention. “Tea would be lovely, thank you.” He reached out and took the cup, his cold fingers brushing against hers slightly. His eyes reflected a darkness from within. A darkness the likes she had only seen in her recent vision.
“We were just admiring your little cabin here. Built by a former member of the Brotherhood of Bajor, I believe?” He pointed to the framing, a false idle conversation. “Great framework. Such a shame.”
” How do you know who built it?” She said cautiously, pouring the tea for the rest of the trio. “You can tell the builder by the framework?” His eyes were unsettling, she felt her guard rise, keenly aware that she had neither weapon nor any kind of communications equipment.
“Oh, we are big fans of Mr. Remal Kajun, formerly of Bajor. He was a soldier in the resistance I believe. Good man, fought hard to free us from the oppressive rule of the Cardassian overlords. See, we travel this road often and we know of Mr. Kajun’s triumph here.” Without looking away he added, “Very beautiful prize it is. Wouldn’t you agree?” He asked as his tone shifted and he brought the tea to his lips but did not drink.
“ You know my husband” She echoed, watching their body language carefully “ He builds well, this cabin will stand against whatever nature throws at it”
“So, not a mere traveler as we were led to believe, but the wife of the builder. So, you would be the Marnah.” He grew resoundingly happier in tone. “At last. Pray tell, where is the Fa, the Builder now?” He asked as he leaned forward.
“ I am no such mother” Rhenora replied with a hint of venom in her voice. The glimmer of fear started to race through her veins, her pulse starting to quicken. “Remal is in town, he should be returning shortly”
“Is that so. Well, that is to say, disappointing.” He stood, sat the undrank tea upon the table and bowed slightly. “Perhaps we will return later this evening when he has returned to answer for his desertion.”
“He deserted no-one” Rhenora replied hotly “He chose to leave a faith that was no longer serving him”
“He deserted Bajor!” the man snapped loudly, before breathing out, reigning himself in and composing himself once more. “I apologize. I promised to be polite while in the residence of another Bajoran, and I shall keep that promise.”
“ You are not welcome here if you wish him to ‘answer’ for ‘deserting’ a ‘cause’. I will ask you politely to leave, Rhenora stood, placing her tea on the table and gesturing towards the door.
“Yes. Yes, you are right after all. Come gentlemen, the Marnah has requested we leave the palace of the Builder and so we must. Afterall, children who misbehave must be punished accordingly.” He snapped his fingers, “Banishment it is.” His followers each bowed and shuffled out from behind the couch.
She watched as they gathered their robes around themselves and headed for the door, sandaled feet making no sound as they moved. She felt terribly uncomfortable with the whole encounter and wished for Remal to be home. Something seemed very wrong. She tried to commit their faces to memory, fighting with the fear that welled inside her at the words ‘banishment and punishment’. Religious fanatics seemed to be on the rise.
Rhenora watched the trio walk along the path Remal had created with his bare hands, stones placed carefully in their positions to ensure no raised or rough patches. Only once they were out of sight did she let the breath she hadn’t realised she was holding out, feeling on edge and jittery. She tried to tell herself that these things will continue to happen, religious orders from both sides will continue to hassle them as they saw fit. Another reason she enjoyed spending time in space. There were no nut jobs disturbing her leave.
With a sigh she headed back inside, closing the door behind her and taking the tray back into the kitchen and doing the dishes, trying to rid herself of the strangeness of the trio.
