March 13, 2385
Location: New Canada
"Over here!" yelled a miner as he saw an arm protruding from the rubble of a cave that had collapsed upon itself just a few weeks before.
Two other miners ran over to the hand. One of the miners checked for a pulse. "Just as expected. He's dead."
"Let's dig him out."
March 14, 2385
Location: Starbase 901
Katianna sat at the table trying to enjoy a cup of Raktajino, but her heart was still heavy. Kara has taken Laurissa to school as Kat kept an eye on Daniel. For the time being, she didn't have any pressing matters to take care of, except perhaps work with the new Intel officer. Though the thought of it just seemed to dig in the dagger a little deeper as she remembered first being introduced to Jovan... Though he had been Lt. Reni James then... And to think, it was because she had been assigned to watch him that had lead them here... She had chosen not to watch from afar, but to make herself known. She sniffed softly as she tried to reign in her emotions. She took a sip of her coffee and tried to distract herself with a PADD filled with all the recent news. There were regular reports of misdoings that happened and current events. She noticed something about the death of some miners, but she didn't pay it any mind as she took another sip of her Raktajino and felt Daniel stir. He always reached out to her mentally. She set the PADD down and went to
Daniel's crib. He looked at her and gave her a gentle smile. For a moment, she forgot about everything else and smiled back as she tenderly lifted him into her arms.
"And how's Momma's boy today?" she asked as she kissed his cheeks. He gurgled and his eyes grew bright. She felt happy and sensed his joy too.
Quickly, she changed his diaper and put him in some clothes. He was very content to just stay in her arms and she was perfectly happy to hold him. She got him a bottle and began to feed him. As she did so, Kara came back.
"Laurissa is off to school with her friends," she announced. "The teacher would like to speak to you at your earliest convenience though... She feels Laurissa might do well if you moved her forward in her education."
Katianna nodded. "I'll make sure to stop by and talk with her. Thanks..."
"Its good to see you with Daniel... He... He seems to make you happy," Kara ventured.
"As sweet as he is, of course he does... He's his momma's angel, right?" she said as she gazed at him in her arms.
His eyes just grew bright.
As the morning wore on, and Kara took over care of Daniel, Katianna returned to her paper just so she could finish her cold coffee and head out the door to her office. She again found herself with that article about the miners. She almost past it over again until she saw the words New Canada and where the location was that they had died. As she read on, her stomach turned. She felt sick... Suddenly doubts started filling her mind. What if Kalimar was still alive? What if she hadn't managed to kill him? Maybe then she was wrong about other things as well... She was overwhelmed by emotion.
Kara saw the color drain from Kat's face and stopped playing with Daniel on the floor.
"Katianna, are you all right?"
Kat stood up. "I'm find... I... There's something I need to take care of."
Kara looked at her curiously. "Of course..."
Katianna went and kissed Daniel on the cheek. "I love you, little one," she said before she quickly got up and left.
Kara wasn't sure what to make of anything, but she could tell that Katianna was very disturbed. Since the whole incident with Jovan Kalimar trying to kill them, she had not been herself... She wasn't privy to everything that went on in Kat's life, but she did know when the woman suffered and she wished there was a way to ease it. With a heavy sigh, she returned her attention to Daniel.
Katianna walked through the Starbase as if she were talking through a dark tunnel. She had to talk to Kassia. She was the only one who could answer these questions, if at all.
~Kassia, I need to meet with you. It's important,~ she said as she reached out telepathically.
~What's going on?~ came Kassia's concerned reply. She could sense the urgency of her friend.
~Something else has happened and I need some answers...~
~Okay, I don't have anyone on my schedule for about three hours. Meet me at my shop. I'll be there shortly,~ Kassia replied.
~I'm already on my way.~
Katianna reached Kassia's shop before Kassia did. Danni smiled at her.
"Back again so soon?" Danni smiled.
"What can I say?" Kat smiled back, "You and Kassia have the best items on the station."
Danni's dark eyes twinkled. "Can I help you maybe find something?"
"Actually, I'm waiting for Kassia. She's meeting me here."
"I sensed that," Danni smiled. "But I thought maybe while you were waiting you might be interested in something in particular."
Katianna shook her head. "Not really... "
Suddenly Danni stepped from behind the counter and walked over to a special glass cabinet. Inside she pulled out a necklace that looked like it was gold. On it was a charm of Iridescent purple crystal. It was in its natural state and yet, something was very unique about it. The gold connected at the top and attached to the necklace.
"Here..." Danni said as she began handing the necklace to Katianna.
"Oh, no... really, thank you, but no..." Katianna began.
But Danni was adamant and placed it in Kat's hands. "This is a talisman of protection," she explained. "It's very ancient. It found on Timinarus II. From what they know of the ruins and old text they have managed to find, is that these people believed in good and evil spirits. It was a big part of their every day life, not just rituals from time to time... There for, if they thought someone was in particular danger they created them a talisman for protection. It was written that those who wore this stone were protected from death by evil..."
Katianna's heart raced. "Very interesting, but still, I'm not in the market for a necklace-"
"No, I'm giving it to you," Danni smiled. "It's a gift."
Katianna was astounded and confused. "Thank you... But why would you want to give this to me?"
Danni just shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know... I just had a feeling it was meant for you." She laughed softly. "That sometimes happens in this shop! I guess Kassia's gifts rub off!"
Katianna began to respond as Danni closed Kat's fingers over the necklace , just as Kassia entered. She smiled as she saw Danni giving Katianna the necklace.
"Ah, good! The Talisman of Protection! Good choice, Danni," Kassia replied, her green eyes sparkling.
"Thanks," Danni replied. "I didn't think you'd mind."
"When it's for a good cause? Never!" She replied.
Before Danni could respond with a question to that, Kassia quickly lead Kat to the room in the back of the store. Kat slipped the necklace into a pocket so she wouldn't lose it as she followed Kassia. As Katianna sat at the little table, Kassia lit the candles to set the mood. As she finally took a seat, one look into Katianna's eyes and she knew something was wrong.
"What happened?" Kassia asked. "I know something has seriously unnerved you. I can sense it."
"I just read a new report," Katianna replied. "It was about some miners they found dead on New Canada... Guess where..."
Kassia nodded. She knew... And she could feel the questions looming in the air without them being spoken.
"IS Kalimar alive?" Kassia asked. "That's what you want to know, right?"
Katianna nodded.
Kassia shut her eyes and concentrated. Trying to probe into the future, but she was being blocked by an incredible force. Suddenly, before her, she saw what seemed to be a large and black triangle. It glowed and pulsed as if it were coming alive before her. Suddenly, she was overcome with fear and anxiety which was quickly building to terror, as if she was frightened about being seen in this place. As if she could be squashed like a bug. Just as she felt a dark presence reach out for her, she opened her eyes and pulled away. Her heart was racing and she had to try to steady her breath.
Katianna had never seen Kassia react that way to a vision before as was genuinely concerned. She wanted to know what her friend had to say...
What was going on? Was Kalimar still alive?
As Kassia looked to Katianna she shook her head. "I'm sorry... I don't know if Kalimar is alive. What I can tell you, it that some incredible evil is out there... This is like something that happens only once every millennium or so... This evil is beyond anything I have ever experienced before..."
"But what about Kalimar? Could that be him?" Kat asked.
Kassia got her own emotions in check. "Anything is possible," she replied.
"Then what's going to happen?"
"Maybe that I can at least give you an idea on... I may not be able to see your future, but I can still read my Tarot cards... Lets just do a very simple spread. Three cards. Past, Present and Future... That might give us an idea of what's going on."
Kat nodded.
Kassia quickly retrieved her cards and began to shuffle them until her inner sense told her to stop. As she began to lay them down she and Katianna looked on with rapt attention... But the news wasn't good...
"Your Past: The Moon - It means deception around you. Lies..."
"Kalimar lied to me..." she said as she thought about her time with him. Wanting to believe he was Jovo. Tears almost sprang to her eyes, but she held them at bay. "He wanted me to believe he was Jovo... I would say that's one hell of a deception."
Kassia nodded. She laid down the next Card. "Your Present: The Hanged Man - It means you are stationary. You cannot move backwards, or forwards... Emotionally, physically or otherwise."
She nodded. She was stuck and she knew it. And now if Kalimar was alive, she would have no idea what to do next to stop him, or even where to go... The Hanged Man indeed she was.
Kassia laid down the last card and took a breath in. "Your future: The Tower- It means destruction. Loss... It's... It's one of the worst cards in the deck, if not thee worst card..."
Katianna looked at the image of the tower being struck by lighting and the kind being knocked off it. He was plummeting to the ground. His crown flying away from him.
"He's alive..." Kat said, under her breath. "And he's going to try to destroy me and everyone around me..."
Kassia looked at her and touched her arm. "Kat, if you know what to expect, you can change it... I don't know what's really happening and
I don't know what to do to help, but I'll keep digging and doing what I can... "
"Thank you," she replied almost feeling numb. She wasn't sure how to feel. She was angry, hurt, frightened... She wanted Kalimar to be dead because of the evil he represented. Everything he had done to her... But the anger was taking over as well... What was she going to do? How could she stop him if she had to confront him again. She just didn't know.
Kassia sensing Katianna's unsettled emotions went to her. "It's all right to be angry," she assured her friend.
"Yeah... Well, if Kalimar is not really dead then I need to come up with a way to kill him..." There was a hardening in her spirit as she spoke.
"Kat... Maybe you should just wait and see what hap-"
"Until he comes onto the station and kills us all??" Katianna asked, feeling the anger welling up. She wanted to strike out at him.
"We don't even know if he's alive for certain," Kassia replied.
"I know..." Katianna replied. "Those dead miners know too..."
Kassia nodded her head. "There must be something in the Book of Light that can help us out. I've found what appear to be several incantations already.
"Thank you," she replied. Just as she got up to leave, she touched the necklace. "Thanks for the charm... I guess we'll see if it works."
Before Kassia could say anything else, Katianna was gone. Kassia shook her head as she looked beyond the open door. She was worried. Katianna was ready for a fight, but was it what they needed right now?
"Ma'am," said an operations officer to Captain Mallory. "A courier ship is approaching the station."
Kitara barely looked up from her PADD. "Okay? Thank you, ensign."
"Ma'am. It's not responding to hails. It's just drifting."
"What?" Kitara looked up at the viewer to see the small courier vessel slowly moving toward the screen. "Shields! Brace for impact!"
Everyone dropped as the ship hit the station, reverberating throughout the station.
"Report!"
"We've got one breach, sealed. No injuries reported."
Kitara sat down again. "Scan that ship."
The security officer on duty scanned the courier ship. "Every system is working perfectly. No life signs, though."
Kitara looked at the viewscreen. "Get a team up there. I want to know what's going on."
Katianna walked into her quarters and accessed her computer. "Computer, set Level 13 force field around these quarters. Mask power use and redirection. Authorization code S31 Zeta 33517. Carry out command in five minutes."
Kara walked out of her room. "What is going on?"
"Kalimar is returning. I need you to care for the kids." Katianna threw her a weapon. "Please use this if necessary."
Kara caught the gun and shook her head. "I abhor using this form of violence."
Katianna walked to a rug and searched under it for a latch. She pulled it and opened a small compartment. Katianna pulled out the dark matter weapon held inside. "Unfortunately, we're in danger Kassia, and I need your help. You helped once before. Will you abandon me now?"
Kara grabbed the weapon, clenching her teeth. "I will not."
Katianna smiled. "Thanks." She walked out the door.
Location: Derelict Courier Ship
Three security officers beamed onto the ship. Ensign Hebertor looked at the other two. "Lamb, that way. Koriin, that way. I'll check the Mess Hall."
The three men separated. Lamb walked down a hall into engineering. As soon as he entered, he saw five bodies hanging from the ceiling with their throats slit. He went to hail his friends, but his neck was quickly twisted by an unseen force. He fell lifeless to the floor.
Ten minutes later, the three men reconvened. Hebertor looked at Lamb. "You're late. We got worried."
Lamb shook his head. "I'm good. I didn't see anything."
Hebertor hailed the station. "Nothing out of the ordinary here. Recommend tractoring ship into a docking bay. Three to beam out."
Meanwhile, Lamb's body had joined the other hanged bodies in engineering.
Location: Starbase 901
Jayson Sandoval made a check of all the security officers on duty. "Where's Ensign Carl Lamb?"
Ensign Hebertor answered, "We went on an away mission. He came back all right. He may have run off to the holodeck or something."
Jayson shook his head. "Someone get that guy out of the holodeck, and set up a team. We need to find out what happened to that ship."
Carl Lamb walked into the officers' quarters section of the ship. He walked just outside of Katianna Nadira's quarters. He typed a code into the side panel, and the doors swished open.
Laurissa was playing on the floor. "Hi!"
"Hi," answered Lamb. "Where's your mommy?"
"She went out."
"Really? What about Danny?"
"He's sleeping."
"And Kara?"
"She has a gun pointed at you from across the room."
"What?" Lamb looked up and noticed Kara hidden in the shadows. "Ma'am, I'm just doing a check--"
"Quiet, Kalimar. I know who you are. We're ready for you."
Lamb morphed into Kalimar. "Really?" He walked forward, right into the force field, and was thrown back against the wall.
Kassia took one of her Bajoran books, and Danni began to look through an Assyrian text. "I need something that will at least prevent Kalimar from using his powers on the station."
Danni began to search. "Found it!"
Kassia looked up. "That was quick."
Danni shrugged her shoulders. "It was indexed."
Kassia took the translation. "Okay. 'Magickal Barrier.' Good. This should do." Kassia lit a candle. "Danni, help me set up the incense." Danni and Kassia walked around to the four corners of the room and set up patchouli incense sticks. Then, they returned to the center. "All right, now hold my hands and concentrate."
Together they began to recite:
"Ban! Ban! Barrier That None Can Pass,
"Barrier Of The Gods, That None May Break,
"Barrier Of Heaven and Earth That None Can Change,
"Which No God May Annul,
"Nor God Nor Man Can Loose,
"A Snare Without Escape, Set for Evil,
"A Net Whence None Can Issue Forth, Spread for Evil,
"Whether It Be evil Spirit, or evil Fiend, or Hag-Demon, or Ghoul, or Robber-Sprite,
"Or Phantom, or Night-Wraith, or Handmaid of the Phantom,
"Or Evil Plague, or Fever-Sickness, or Unclean Disease,
"Or That Which May Do Harm in Any Form or Fashion
"Which Hath Attacked the Shining Waters of Ea,
"May the Snare of Ea Catch It;"
Kalimar stood up and cleaned himself off. "Hmm. Powerful technology. You mortals have really made strides forward in the past five thousand years."
He walked forward. "Still, technology cannot hold back a god." He put his hand on the force field and began to dissipate it.
A strong wind began to blow within the back room of the shop as Kassia and Danni continued.
"Or Which Hath Assailed the Meal of Nisaba,
"May the Net of Nisaba Entrap It;
"Or Which Hath Broken The Barrier
"Let Not the Barrier of the Gods,
"The Barrier of Heaven and Earth, Let It Go Free;
"Or Which Reverenceth Not the Great Gods,
"May the Great Gods Entrap It,
"May the Great Gods Curse It;"
Suddenly, the hole Kalimar made began to close. Again, Kalimar was thrown back.
"What the...?!" he questioned as he got back up.
Kara smiled. "Your power is being removed. You will be shown that you are no god, but a worthless demon."
Kalimar smirked. "Not if I can help it." He shimmered and disappeared.
"Or Which Attacketh the House,
"Into a Closed Dwelling May They Cause It To Enter;
"Or Which Circleth Round About,
"Into a Place Without Escape May They Bring It;
"Or Which is Shut In By the House Door,
"Into a House Without Exit May They Cause It To Enter;
"With Door and Bolt, a Bar Immovable,
"May They Withhold It;
"Or Which Bloweth In at the--"
Danni suddenly stopped as she saw Kalimar appear behind Kassia. "Kassia! Look!"
Kalimar backhanded Kassia as she turned around, and she was cast against the wall. Then, Kalimar grabbed Danni by the throat. "Now, who is the mastermind behind all this magick? This is not the work of amateurs." Kalimar smelt Danni. "You are nothing."
Kassia stood up. "Let Danni go!"
Kalimar smiled as he let Danni go and pat her on the head. "So you're the witch here. You've been my enemy for a long time, and I've never even introduced myself." He threw the table with the candle on it as he made his way toward Kassia. "I'm Kalimar. Nightmare to many. A very real hell is what I can provide for you."
Kassia wished she could do something. She wanted to throw something. Then she noticed what she wanted to throw began to shake. Kassia smiled.
"I'm Kassia, and you're not welcome here." Kassia raised her arm, and a small letter opener made its way into Kalimar's eye.
Kalimar screamed loudly as the tip came out of the other side of his head. "That hurts! AAAH!"
Kassia yelled to Danni, "RUN!"
"Lamb is dead! There's an intruder on the ship!" screamed a marine after running out of the courier ship to inform his superiors that the crew has all been brutally murdered as well.
A klaxon began to sound as Kassia and Danni exited the shop. Kalimar pulled out the letter opener and healed his eye before exiting the shop.
As soon as he walked out the door, Toren Len came out of the side and hit Kalimar across the face with a metal club. Kalimar fell back.
Toren Len smiled. "Hi, I'm Toren Len. Nice to meet ya. Heard a lot about you." He, then, began to run.
The Promenade began to fill with security and marines. They opened fire on Kalimar as Kalimar protected himself with a shield. He pushed the shield forward, and all the security went flying back.
Kassia and Danni ran a bit more, then held hands and continued:
"Or Which Bloweth In at the Threshhold and Hinge,
"Or Which Forceth a Way Through Bar and Latch,
"Like Water May They Pour It Out,
"Like a Goblet May They Dash It to Pieces,
"Like a Tile May They Break It;
"Or Which Passeth Over The Wall,
"Its Wing May They Cut Off;
"Or Which Lieth in a Chamber,
"Its Throat May They Cut;
"Or Which Looketh In at a Side Chamber,"
Kalimar walked forward and began to fire up an energy blast in his hand.
Suddenly, Tara Carmichael ran in between Kalimar and the two ladies. She fired her skrill causing the energy blast to dissipate. Kalimar shook his head. "Is that the best you can do?!"
Tara fired Chiron yet again, this time throwing Kalimar back through a shop window. "I'm Tara, and I haven't even started."
Kalimar floated out of the shop, blasting open the shop's doors, eyes glowing red. "Where is Katianna?!" he demanded in a demonic voice.
"She's safe! You can't get to her!"
Kassia and Danni continued:
"Its Face May They Smite;
"Or Which Muttereth In a Chamber,
"Its Mouth May They Shut;
"Or Which Roameth Loose In an Upper Chamber,
"With a Basin Without Opening May They Cover It;
"Or Which at Dawn is Darkened,
"At Dawn To a Place of Sunrise May They Take It."
Kalimar raised his arm, and Tara went flying up. Kalimar pushed his arm forward, and Tara went flying back, landing against a wall, then hitting the floor.
Kassia stopped the spell for a moment, raising her arm, causing a piece of glass from the broken shop window to ram through Kalimar and embed him to the wall. Then, she returned to Danni:
"Out With You! Spirits of Fear, Spirits of Death!
"Give Way to the Sun and the Moon!
"For This is a Place Made Safe!
"Bright Blessings and Peace Upon Us!
"And All Who Reside Here,
"Let None Enter Here Unbidden,
"Keep Harm and Fear Far from This Place,
"May God and Goddess Bless Us!"
Kalimar released himself from the glass, dropping to the floor. He healed himself again and turned to Kassia and Danni. He began to charge an energy blast.
"So Mote It So!" yelled Kassia and Danni.
Kalimar screamed, "AAAH!!!" as he fired the blast.
"So Mote It Be!"
A violent wind shot through the station. Both Kassia and Danni looked at the energy blast with their eyes glowing white. They raised their arms and the energy blast exploded.
Kalimar shook his head. "No!" He tried to fire again, but he was unable to. He tried to float, but he only succeeded in jumping and coming back down. "Damn!" He used his grabbed one of the unconscious security's combadges. "Seth, one to beam up." He looked at Kassia. "Tell Katianna
I'm going to Bajor, and I'm borrowing her ship!" He shimmered out.
Kassia smiled at her newfound ability. "She knows."
Tara limped toward Kassia. Toren Len joined them. Tara commented. "I hope Katianna will be okay."
Kassia nodded. "She's got the amulet Danni gave her. At least now Tyianna's vision won't come true. The station is protected, and so is Daniel. Our job is done. Now it's up to Katianna to stop Kalimar from going after his bride."