Paul had been hearing a lot recently about a mysterious psychic woman who owned a shop on the promenade. Paul wasn't one of those people who believed in supernatural forces or extra-censory perception, etc... He preferred to believe in things he could see, prove and explain. Things that could be backed up by facts. He wasn't in the best of states at present. He'd had a few drinks, again, but was nowhere near as bad as the night before. He decided it was time he paid her a visit... see what all the fuss was about.
Paul found the shop pretty easily and walked in. The shelves were stacked full of rare and curious items from around the quadrant. A lot he recognised from different cultures.
"Can I help you?" came a voice near the back of the store. It was a woman, with dark hair, green eyes and spots framing her face.
"Are you Kassia?"
"I am indeed," she said smiling and stepping toward him. "And you are...?"
"Paul Deveraux."
"Ahh yes... the Chief Science Officer..."
"Zats right! Ow did you know?"
She shrugged innocently. "I know a lot of things, Paul. I also know why you're here."
"Well zat isn't ze most difficult thing to work out. I mean, why do most people com ere?"
"That is a fair point," she conceeded. "Many come here for the things I sell, but many others come here to see me . . . To see if what I am is real. Of course, I don't need to be psychic to see that you are a non-believer."
"Well, enough of zis pointless chatter.. lets get down to it! Tell me ma future"
"If you really want to know then follow me," she said, leading him into a room toward the back of the store. There was a table and two chairs. She motioned to one of them. "Take a seat over here . . ."
Paul walked over and sat down at the table with Kassia.
"Now, give me your hand."
Paul placed his hand inside Kassia's. She closed her eyes for a moment. Something in her mood changed. It could be felt in the air. As she opened her eyes, she gazed at Paul with a worried look on her face.
"What iz it?" he asked
"Your future.. it.. it isn't the brightest one I've seen," she replied, hedging.
"What? Whatz wrong?"
She shrugged casually, trying to play off the concern in her eyes. "I don't know . . .the visions . . . they're a little blurred."
"Ey look, I don need to be psychic to know your coverin somesing up. Tell me what it iz ahh?"
She sighed. This is what she hated . . . "If you really want to know..."
"I do"
"Ok then," she replied, "I hate to be the giver of bad news . . . but I am afraid there is some for you, unless you change it . . . At some point in the future you are going to find yourself on a distant planet, covered in ice. I saw you there in the vision amidst a huge glacier, with your clothes tattered and torn . . ." she stopped for a moment, trying to contain a shudder. The image was still very fresh in her mind. "You were bruised and bleeding and running from . . .something . . . I can't tell from what."
"What appens next?"
Again she began to hedge. He wasn't going to believe her anyway, she knew. Not right now . . . "It . . . it becomes unclear at that point."
"You are lying to me, woman! Lemme know what ma future iz!"
She sighed, resigning herself to the fact that she would have to tell him. After all, there was always a chance she could change the path, just by her words. But it was painful to watch the vision again as she closed her eyes to strengthen it clarity. "I see explosions . . . all around. A large detachment of men are chasing you... I still can't see their faces . . . But some are tall, some are not so tall. You suddenly stop running because you come to the edge of a cliff . . . and these people . . . they . . . they catch up with you . . . cornering you . . . You're afraid of them capturing you . . . so you . . you . . ." she trailed off, not knowing how to say it.
"I...?"
She opened her eyes and gazed right into his. "You jump," she said studying his face, tears misting her eyes. She absolutely hated giving bad news . . .
Paul looked back at her, emotionlessly and as cold as when he came in.
"I jump? Bull! I would never do zat!"
"Thats what the vision showed me. Nothing more, nothing less . . ."
"Your visions are screwed up, woman! There iz no such sing as a predefined future! We are masters of our own destinies. We control our futurez by what we say and do in ze present!"
"You're right, Paul, and this is the path your life is taking right now due to whatever your current actions are!" she stressed, "If you don't take heed of this vision, you are going to die! How can I make you believe me?"
"You cannot!"
She nodded and smiled sadly. "It's late, I'd better be closing shop."
"And I ad better go too to leave you with your lies" He got up and headed toward the front of the shop.
Again she nodded, understanding his feelings and following him out. "Ok," she said with a smirk, "But before you go, let me just say, watch out for Lieutenant Carter"
Paul looked back as he was exiting the shop, but decided not to pursue the issue and left.
Paul was walking down the corridor toward his quarters thinking about what had been foretold about his future. Nah! No way can she be right! Ow can someone know what iz going to appen to someone by touching zeir and? It iz impossible!
"Good Evening, Lieutenant" said a young officer walking by.
Paul glanced back after him. "Good evenin to you too"
He turned back around and colided with a woman. They both fell to the ground face to face with Paul landing on top of her.
"Get the hell off me!" she said coldly
"Lieutenant Carter... I... I.."
Carter gave him another jab to the face, giving him a black eye to match the one he was given the night before.
"Leave me alone you drunken pervert!"
"I... am no pervert mon amis! I am not even drunk!"
"Rubbish, I could smell alcohol on your breath."
"It was an accident.. I swear!"
Carter wouldn't hear any of it, grabbed him by the shoulders and brought her knee up to his chest. Paul fell to the deck as Carter walked off satisfied once again with herself. Paul groaned and made his way to his quarters.
Watch out for Lieutenant Carter...
"My god!" said Paul standing up. He left his quarters and headed back to Kassia's shop. He got there and it was closed. He banged on the door, and a figure came forward from the back of the shop. It was Kassia. She immediately opened the door.
"Paul! I've been expecting you," she said, holding up an ice pack she already had in her hand. Gently she placed it to his head as she took him inside.