Tapping his commbadge, he asks the computer where Doctor Calahan is right now. The computer informs him that she is in her quarters. Perfect, Savar thinks. Hopefully she’ll still be there when I get there.
Savar walks out of the Captain’s Ready Room. He knows the best possibility right now is to take Keely to Vulcan to see the High Masters. It’s best for her right now.
Tapping his commbadge, he asks the computer where Doctor Calahan is right now. The computer informs him that she is in her quarters. Perfect, Savar thinks. Hopefully she’ll still be there when I get there.
Keely Calahan is indeed in her quarters packing. She thinks to herself, Just a little trip. First to the Klingon Homeworld to... take care of things, then to Vulcan. Just to get Christian and his mother off my back.
A sudden chiming at Keely’s door startles her and she jumps. Who could that be, she wonders? Opening her mind slightly, she senses the presence of the Vulcan Counselor. Great, just what I need right now, she tells herself. “Come in.”
The door opens, and Savar steps through. Not seeing her immediately, Savar calls out to find her. “Good day, Doctor. Did I startle you?”
From the back room, Keely calls out, “No, not really. I figured I’d be seeing you soon enough. Did you bring Security to throw me in the Brig?” she asks, slightly sarcastically, but also depressingly.
“No, no Security. I had another idea. Have you ever been to Vulcan?” the Counselor asks.
The Doctor sighs and looks up from her packing. Her face is depressed as she answers “Yes I have, Counselor. Horribly dull planet. Awfully dry, too.” She goes back to her packing.
The Counselor presses on. “I think it might be best for you to take another trip there. I think talking to the Vulcan masters again could be helpful to you right now. It will help you regain control. Besides, the Captain and I believe it would be best if I accompanied you.”
The Doctor spins around from her dresser, her eyes wide. “I was going to go anyway! I don’t need a babysitter to go with me! Why are you going? Think I might kill someone?” The Doctor’s expression changes suddenly, as she begins to feel sick. She really is going to kill someone...
Savar doesn’t know, that’s for sure, as is evident is his response. “I don’t know what you’re going to do. But I think it would be best if you had company. I should also point out that Doctor Utoo and myself are aware of your medical condition.”
Keely sighs slightly, knowing that she doesn’t feel like arguing. “I have a runabout standing by, with clearance to leave,” Savar points out.
Keely seems not to hear, as the dam bursts. She whirls around, looking the Counselor directly in the eye as she begins walking towards him. “You think I don’t care? I have been living like this for nearly five years now. It’s my lifestyle. If I eat I get sick. So I don’t see any reason to try, okay? You may as well just get used to it.” Her voice drops as she adds, “Everyone else in my past has.”
Calmly, Savar replies, “If you hadn’t noticed, I’m not much like those in your past.”
Keely nods once, and her eyes take on a sad far away look as she breaks eye contact. “Yes, you are... but he’s dead now. He knew about Jepoth, and he tried to protect me. And he was killed for it.” She lowers her head and walks past the Counselor to her bed.
“Doctor Utoo and I are going to help you...” Savar begins, but Keely doesn’t hear him as she begins digging under her pillow. “We’re not going to give up just because you tell us to.”
Absentmindedly, Keely replies, “If you say so, but you’ll get frustrated.” She pulls out a dagger from under her pillow. “It’s happened.” She runs her fingers along the blade out of habit.
“Frustration is... Keely?” he stops short, raising his eyebrow.
Keely looks up from the blade, attempting to avoid the topic. “You’ve never called me Keely before...” as she takes on a concerned look.
Falling for the bait, Savar launches off on the tangent. “I believe you’re mistaken. I have called you Keely before.” Savar brings the conversation back to topic. “I was simply going to ask you about the dagger you’re holding, and to get your assurances that you would still be here when I finish packing and return here for you.”
Keely raises an eyebrow and glances down at the dagger. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it bothered you.” She smirks and tips her head forward. She reaches back with her left hand to move her hair out of the way, the reaches back with the dagger in the right hand. Raising it slowly, she points the blade downward. She then slides the blade down her neck.
“It always bothers me when you have weapons. Why do you have it?”
The blade locks into place in the neck of her dress, and she brings her hands forward again as she answers, “I always have at least one on me.” She rolls her neck, checking that the blade will stay in place.
“Because of your status of being hunted?” Savar half asks and half states.
“My status. You make it sound like a condition.”
“It is similar to a medical condition in several ways. For one, it does weaken you. Now, I must pack. Will you still be here fifteen minutes from now?”
Keely rolls her eyes impatiently. “You have ten. And I’m being nice, so you’d better not argue.”
“And then you will go with me without incident?”
“Perhaps.” Keely sighs. “If you trust me a little more... I may have to save your butt if you’re going with me.”
Savar nods to her statement. “I do trust you. I will return.”
Keely watches as he leaves, saying to herself, “I have no doubt you will.”
Savar walks out of Keely’s room and returns to his own quarters. Stepping towards the communications panel, he requests a link to a Vulcan monastery he knows well. Savar packs quickly until a Vulcan’s face appears several minutes later.
“Savar. I did not expect to hear from the Starfleet Counselor.”
“Doran. I see you are well. I must ask a favor of you. I know that within your monastery, two Masters are serving. A male, Sorot, and a female, T’Lynn. They once served as counselors themselves in a way. You see, they helped a patient by the name of Keely Calahan. They will know the name. Doctor Calahan now serves aboard my station, and I feel she must return to the watchful eye of the Masters, at least for a while.”
“I see. I will alert them. How soon will you be leaving your station?”
“I am going to Doctor Calahan’s room to meet her, then we are departing.”
“I will be waiting for you. Doran out.”
Savar picks up his duffel, and walks through the station back to Doctor Calahan’s quarters. A medkit knocks against the Counselor’s thigh as he walks. As he approaches the quarters, the door chimes, alerting the doctor.
“Come in,” is the answer from inside.
The doors open, and Savar sees Keely standing up, looking defensive. She notes the medium-sized duffel he carries, and the phaser and tricorder on his belt. He speaks first. “I have secured us the runabout Nexia. You are listed as pilot. Clearances are taken care of as well.”
Keely visibly relaxes and answers, “Great. I’m ecstatic.” She walks into the other room to retrieve her duffel then looks at the Counselor. “After you.”
The two walk through the station. Thankfully, they avoid the main areas of the station, as the sight of the Counselor and the Doctor walking together apparently leaving together on a trip would start rumors. They approach the runabout, and Savar motions for Keely to enter first. She does, and moves into the pilot’s seat after dropping her duffel. She begins preflight checks.
Savar follows, dropping his duffel off before sitting in the copilot’s chair. A red button in the lower right corner of his console glows. Definitely not standard, Savar has the button programmed. If the need arises, Savar can press the button. The computer will shut out the pilot’s console, and transfer command to the copilot’s console. The computer will also ignore any voice commands from anyone except the Counselor. Looking up, he informed the Doctor, “When you have completed the checks, we may lift off.”
Apparently not hearing him, Keely looked up, asking, “Ready?”
Savar nods. “Lift off. Heading, Vulcan. Speed at your will.”
Keely contacts Arcadia Station, asking for clearance to leave. Acknowledging and clearing the way for the runabout, Station Operations responds. Keely engages the runabout’s engines, telling Savar as she goes. “Setting course. Speed is Warp 3.” And she settles back in the pilot’s chair.
Leaving Keely to fly, Savar walks into the rear section to meditate and eat during the small trip. After what seems like no time at all, Savar walks back out of the back room as Vulcan contacts the runabout asking for identification and destination. Keely responds, in Vulcan. Port Authorities respond, directing them towards a landing place close to their destination.
Keely turns towards the Counselor, making sure he’s secure. “I’m ready to land, care to sit?” Savar nods back and sits down peacefully in his chair. With a bored expression, Keely returns to her board, landing the runabout. These are two easy to fly, she thinks. And no fun.
As the runabout settles, Savar grabs his duffel. Keely locks down the Nexia and grabs her duffel, noting for the first time that the Vulcan has changed clothes. He now wears a Vulcan robe, more suitable for the planetary weather. He still wears his commbadge, belt, phaser, and tricorder underneath. Keely opens the door to the runabout, and a wind enters the runabout. A dry heat surrounds Savar and Keely.
Savar walks forward out of the runabout, pointing. “It is only a short walk from here.” Keely raises an eyebrow, thinking the Counselor is a little anxious. Savar ignores the look and begins walking.
It is a mere few hundred meters to the destination. As they come closer, the building comes into focus. A stone monastery, a Vulcan High Master retreat. When they come to its base, they see four figures waiting in the archway. The man in front is a High Master by the name of Doran, Savar’s contact. The figure to his left is a male, Sorot, one of the two High Masters who worked with Keely before. Across the diamond is T’Lynn, the female who worked with Keely. An aide is in the back, finishing the quad.
To be continued...