Savar walks towards the Masters, raising his hand, spreading his fingers. “Peace and long life.”Savar walks towards the Masters, raising his hand, spreading his fingers. “Peace and long life.”
Doran lifts his hand in the same style, returning the gesture. “Live long and prosper, Savar.” He turns to look at the Doctor. “I take it this is Doctor Calahan. Doctor, may I introduce you to two you may already know - Sorot and T’Lynn.” As he says their names, they nod to the Doctor.
Keely nods back to each of them, smiling slightly. This should be interesting, she thinks. A sudden tickle at the back her mind makes her shudder. Someone brushed her mind... and not a Vulcan. A Betazoid?
Doran turns back to Savar. “I hear these are not good circumstances. You were brief when we spoke. Explain why you are here and why these two have been called.” Keely rolls her eyes at the comment before looking over at Savar.
“I have called these two together because they are to resume what they started before - the treatment of Doctor Calahan. She might be better to explain.”
All four Vulcans turn towards Keely. T’Lynn adds, “Please, tell us what has been bothering you.”
Keely throws a quick glance at Savar, smiles again, and looks towards the Masters. “Well, I’ve lost control over my mind and my violent streaks. I require your assistance to regain them.” She turns to T’Lynn. “I have had run-ins with the people you helped K’Tlath train me to fight against. I lost control, and I need your help now.”
Sorot speaks up. “Keely, you tell us that Jepoth still hunts you?”
Keely nods, her expression grave. “Yes, that is correct. He has attempted to use another man to kill me, but, he failed... miserably.” She lowers her eyes.
Sorot wants more information. “Explain.”
“The man came after me, but I overpowered him in a final battle. The Counselor here and the Romulan Exchange Officer followed us, when I was being forced to the docking ring, and the Counselor called Security, as well.”
T’Lynn asks another question. “Was he apprehended, or did you kill him in defense?”
“I was stunned by Security, from what I’ve been told, and my attacker killed himself.” She lowers her eyes, breathing deeply, her body struggling to control her rage.
Savar nods to the Masters, adding, “Her lack of self control became such that I had to order her stunned. I was making sure she did not hurt innocents, or herself. She could not tell who her enemy was, and who her allies were.” Keely rolls her eyes, not remembering how close she came to attacking the Romulan officer. Had she threatened him, Keely would most definately be dead now.
T’Lynn asks, “I thought Jepoth sent assassins in trios. What of the other two?” Savar raises his eyebrow, not knowing this detail and turns towards Keely with a more interested look.
Keely bites her lip and lifts her head to make eye contact with T’Lynn. “I have yet to encounter them. Though, I know they were there. I could sense them. That was another reason why it was urgent for me to leave the station.”
Sorot turns to Doran. “Is it possible they are here?”
Keely knows they most likely are. “I think you should be warned, I sensed something just a few minutes ago. I believe at least one of them has followed me... us here. If that is so, we are all in danger.” She looks at T’Lynn especially.
Savar, always the voice of doubt and reason, speaks up. “Doctor, I highly doubt that they could have followed us. Sensors detected no other ships, and Arcadia Station would have informed us had another ship departed on the same course. Besides, these monasteries are secure.”
Not everyone agrees with Savar, as Keely looks at Savar in disbelief. What a fool I was, thinks Keely. He didn't believe you...
“Savar, you know no place is perfectly secure,” Doran points out. “We are dealing with trained assassins.” He turns to the aide. “Alert planetary security to the situation.”
“No!” Keely exclaims. “Please, don’t. I don’t want them alarmed.”
The aide stops is his tracks. T’Lynn pleads with Keely’s rational part. “Keely, your safety is important.”
Keely turns to Doran. “They will only wait until later. If they think no one knows of them, they will only come after me. You have to believe me. I know these people, and I know how they work.” She turns to T’Lynn. “You nearly died once, and I don't want anything like that to happen again, okay?” She looks pained and angered as she pleads her case.
T’Lynn submits. “You may be correct. However, that does not mean that we will not be on the lookout.”
Keely frowns and covers her face for a second, then looks back at T’Lynn. “Just don’t alert anyone. Then only I will be hunted.” If I can kill the assassin, she adds silently.
T’Lynn nods in agreement, and the aide returns to the group. Keely thanks T’Lynn, breathing a sigh of relief.
Doran speaks up, ready to move the conversation on. “Keely, Savar, I know your stay here will be long, as I see you bring provisions. Please, allow me and my aide to show you to the temporary quarters that have been assigned to you. Savar, you follow me, and the aide will lead the Doctor.”
Keely picks up her duffel. “Keely, T’Lynn and I will be discussing possible treatments for you. We will meet in one standard Terran hour.” Keely nods agreement, and follows the aide down the hallway. T’Lynn and Sorot set off in the other direction.
As soon as they are out of earshot, Savar turns to Doran. “Doran, I am troubled for her. She... she proves to be a most difficult patient.”
“Savar, I can see that. Sorot, T’Lynn, and I picked up easily on her anorexia, no doubt related to her mental state. As for her being diffiult, we never told you being a Counselor would be easy. You should have stayed with us to develop your potential. You could be one of the strongest telepaths ever.”
Savar nods at what Doran is saying. “I know I could have stayed. But I left, and now I must deal with the duties placed on me. I had assumed you three would easily see her medical condition.”
“Savar, I talked to Sorot and T’Lynn. They tell me she suffered for more than three years.”
“I am aware of that, as it was noted in her psychological and medical logs. Or, more specifically, her unedited logs.”
“Oh? Sounds like there is much for us to discuss. Come. I will show you to your quarters, then we will join the others.”
As Savar is led off, Keely and the aide arrive in her room. It is sparce... Vulcan. He motions in and tells Keely how to contact anyone should she need anything, asking if she needs anything now. She says no, the the aide bows and leaves the room. Keely drops her duffel and looks around the room. It is sparce, even by Vulcan standards. Four stone walls, a stone floor, and a stone ceiling. A stone slab comes out of the wall, apparently a bed, since it now holds a mattress. A Federation issue desk and chair are also in the room, and a terminal is in the desk. A window is in one of the walls, and it shows a scene of Vulcan. Mount Seleya can be seen far in the background.
Keely plops herself down in the chair, and props her feet up on the desk. She covers her eyes with her hand and rubs her eyes.
Savar and Doran have dropped off his duffel and now meet the other two in a meeting room several hundred yards down the hall.
Keely feels another mind brush... and the words, “I’m here. It’s time to play.” She jumps to her feet and looks around. She backs into a wall, alertly searching. She wonders if she should call out with her mind, or if it would give her position away. Not like they don't know where you are already, Keely, she thinks. She draws her dagger from her boot just in case.
The aide walks by and happens to glance in the room. Seeing the blade, the aide comes in and asks, “Is everything fine?” His eyes dart from her eyes to the knife and back again.
Keely jumps at the aide's voice, almost attacking him. “Um, yes. I was...” She glances at the dagger, stumbling for words. “Polishing an old gift.” She turns towards the window sill. “This room is... relaxing, I suppose.”
“Indeed. Many people have commented as to the calming effects of this monastery and the surrounding area.” Keely’s back is turned, but he can still see her nod. He walks over to the window. “If you look over there, those are the...”
His sentence is cut off as a gurgling noise accompanies a soft squish. Keely spins around, and comes face to face with a woman, presumably the Betazoid. She startles herself and the woman. The woman has a knife lodged in the back of the aide, and since she is caught off-guard, Keely is able to respond quicker. She spins away from the wall, realizing the dagger, and kicks the woman in the side of the head. The woman gives a startled jump and drops the aide, with the knife still in his back. She comes after Keely, but she is able to defend herself.
Keely kicks the woman in the face, then hits her jaw squarly. The woman gets a panicked look and begins backing up. Keely advances towards her, pulling a knife from her waistband, raising it to stab. “You are foolish... you should have never became involved in all this...”
As Keely moves to stab the woman, she feels the sharp bite of steel in her mid back. She grimaces in pain and turns to the side, staggering forward. She glimpses a man... a Trill, but when she looks again, he has fled.
The female assassin still is in the room. “It helps to have counterparts, doesn’t it? It's too bad you are alone in this world now. We've killed all the others.” She grins evily.
To be continued...