[MARCH 18]
After another day and evening of dodging her report and of trying to be the best mother she could be under the circumstances, Katianna found herself standing in front of the Moulin Bleu with its big blue windmill out front. As she entered, she was greeted by a hostess, but she hardly took noticed. She didn't even look to the cabaret. She just ignored most of the music and headed to the bar. She quickly ordered the strongest drink she could think of, downed it and asked for another. That one she sipped a bit slower. She just stared into her drink for awhile thinking. Maybe her life should have been different. Maybe she should have died on Tanzaria during the attack by the Eriarti. Then none of this would have happened, she though. With that, she downed her drink quickly and asked for one more. She had to deaden the feelings . . . The pain. She took a deep breath, as she felt the alcohol work into her system, making her emotions ease up some. She wasn't feeling as bad now. She even turned to look at the cabaret performers.
Paul Deveraux sat at the end of the bar, only halfway paying attention to the show and his drink, when he saw Katianna enter. Now dere's a woman who looks een need of some companionship, he thought to himself as he went over. "Good evening, Ms. Nadira! Can I buy you a drink?" he asked.
"I'm already on my third, but I could always use another," she replied with a bittersweet smile. "Have a seat, Mr. Deveraux."
Deveraux frowned but took the seat across from her. "Waiter--absinthe for two!" he ordered. "So, what 'as such a lovely lady so sad tonight?"
She sighed and looked into her drink for a moment and then into his eyes. "Love, hate, death . . . good verses evil . . ." Tears suddenly misted her eyes as her voice cracked. "Evil winning," she finished. Quickly she recomposed herself and shook her head. "I'm sorry." She smiled again bittersweetly.
"Ah don' know what you are talking about, but as far as Ah can see it, evil 'asn't won. We are still 'ere, after all!"
She nodded. "Yeah . . ." she replied. But suddenly a vision of Kalimar killing the last of the Order of Light crashed into her mind. Piatt, Samin, Tunim, Reva, Boam . . . Levi . . . and Coran . . . She shuddered and then took a large pull from her drink almost finishing it off. "Have you faced a demon before? I mean, a real demon? Before this whole orb thing, I didn't even believe in demons . . ."
"Not all evil is the product of demons," Deveraux said seriously as their drinks arrived. "The demons would 'ave us believe otherwise, but zhere eez much more to evil zhan demons."
"I know there are evil people out there, with evil intent. I have run into several over my lifetime . . . " she said as she finished her one drink and started the absinthe.
"As 'ave I, mon cherie. As 'ave I." Memories of the desperate struggle against the Proktolans came to mind. Deveraux fought to contain them on his own but finally succumbed to the urge to drink.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up any personal demons for you," she replied as she looked at him with seriousness in her face.
"Quite all right," Paul said as he gazed at the stage. "Look, 'ere we are in zhis happy place, with good drinks and good music. Let's put aside ze problems we face for a while an' jes' enjoy, shall we?"
"It's actually what I was trying to do," Katianna laughed to herself. "But memories seem to haunt me. However, maybe since I have someone to keep me distracted, it might work," she smiled. "We can distract each other for the evening?"
"You 'ave found yourself a more zhan willing ally!" Paul said as he finished the absinthe. "An' zhis stuff will definitely keep you distracted! Waiter! Champagne for me an' ze lady!" Deveraux said, bellowing at the end.
"Champagne!" Kat smiled. "I like the sound of that!" she replied.
The waiter brought a magnum of champagne in an ice bucket. "Put zhis on mah tab," Paul instructed as the wine steward popped the cork and decanted the champagne into two flutes.
"Mmmmm," she said as she was handed a flute. "I haven't had champagne in awhile. This is a very nice treat. Thank you!" Her green eyes actually began to twinkle as the sadness began to abate a bit.
"You are quite welcome!" Paul said as he ordered hors d'oerves. "You shall enjoy zhis greatly, Ah am sure!"
"After this, we should hit Holo Pursuits or another club," Kat said. "We should really make tonight a night to remember!"
"Absolutely!" Paul said. "Ah could use a good hologram!"
"Terrific!" she replied. "Maybe I'll even let you chose the program." She smirked, teasing as if this was a big concession on her part.
"Sounds like a plan!" he said as he toasted her with the champagne.
Paul paid the tab, and grabbed the bottle of champagne as they left the club. The attendant at Holo Pursuits barely kept them from barging in on another suite, interrupting a squash game. Paul and Katianna simply waited in the lobby, drinking and laughing, until the two squash players left their suite, giving them sidewise glances as they entered. "Computer, run Program Deveraux-562," Paul ordered.
The program displayed a redwood forest on Old Earth. In the middle of the forest was a gazebo containing a small wet-bar and a jacuzzi.
"Ah! This is fantastic!" Kat replied as she walked over to the hot tub. "I think a dip would be perfect about now," she replied. Immediately she shifted her uniform into a white bikini, but it was a bit small. It barely covered her. "Hmmm . . . I didn't mean for it to be so small . . . Must be the alcohol. Always messes with my shifting abilities!" she said as she laughed.
Paul grinned. "Remind me to get you a few extra drinks next time!" he said as he got ready to enter the jacuzzi.
She laughed further as she slipped into the water easily. "Oh, this feels so nice!" she sighed. "So . . ." she said as she looked at him. "What shall we talk about? We definitely don't want to talk shop . . ." She smirked.
"Of course not!" Paul said seriously. "Why should we talk at all?" he asked as he looked into her eyes.
"And just what are you suggesting, Mr. Deveraux?" Katianna asked in a playful voice. She was having fun and it was keeping her mind far away from the demons that were haunting her mind.
"I suggest nothing," Paul said as he put his arm around her.
The air was electric. "You are a man of action, then?" she asked with a devilish smirk. Her eyes glittering as she gazed at him.
"But of course, mon cherie!" Paul said with a smile. "A man of action, a man for all seasons!" With that, he turned to her and kissed her full on the lips.
Immediately she responded, being swept away by the passion of the moment. She could forget everything else around her, except Paul and his sensual, passionate kiss.
Paul kept the kiss going as his hands explored Katianna. How he'd waited for this chance! He felt her muscles relax beneath his touch as the two of them became thoroughly engrossed in one another. The champagne sat on the redwood deck, forgotten and getting warm.
She was lost in the moment as she allowed her senses to take over. She couldn't believe how good she felt. It was something she hadn't felt in so long it seemed. Not since . . . But she didn't finish the thought. She wouldn't allow herself to.
After a long while, they finally drew apart. Katianna bit her lower lip as she looked at Paul and smiled. Part kitten, part tigress. "Is there more in the program than a Jacuzzi?" she asked, though the redwood deck would do, she thought.
"Mmmm...Ah've never gotten zhat far," Deveraux said slyly. "But maybe zhis might help," he said as he ordered up the control arch. A few commands, and another gazebo appeared, this one containing a magnificent four-poster bed.
At that, Katianna got up and out of the hot tub. She reached for his hand, guiding him out to be with her. For a moment, while behind her, his arms were around her waist again and she closed her eyes with a sigh as he nibbled her neck. Finally, she guided him over to the bed and had him in front of her. She gazed at him playfully. "What's it to be, Paul? What do you like? Kitten or Tigress?" She smirked. "Or both?"
Paul chuckled. "Bring it on!" he said. "Ah'll take whatever you've got!"
Immediately Katianna pushed Paul onto the bed and straddled his body. She playfully nibbled at his shoulders and ears and then she kissed her way to his lips. She then kissed him passionately.
Paul smiled as he allowed Katianna to slowly dominate him. So often he tried to pretend to be the conqueror, but in reality he enjoyed being dominated so much more!
She allowed her hands to caress his arms down to his hands. She held them in hers allowing their fingers to intertwine. "So, here we are . . ." Sensually, she bent down again and kissed him, allowing every ounce of her passion to penetrate him through it. All her wants, her desires, her needs . . . She shifted and the bikini was gone. "I'm yours for tonight, Paul. What will you do about it?" She then guided his hands toward her chest.
Paul didn't need any further urging. With a ferocity and determination that surprised even him, he turned the tables on Katianna and pinned her down, subduing her and taming her wild side with his passion.
Kat sighed as she let Paul take over. She forgot about everything. She just enjoyed this time. This moment of encompassing desire. In this moment in time, she wasn't Katianna Nadira, fighter for the Light. The deaths, the demons . . . None of it existed in this moment. She was just a woman and only a woman. Nothing more.
Paul emptied all of his frustration, his darker fears, his private demons into the moment. He hadn't the slightest interest in making love since his release from Swarva...until now. Something about her compelled him, made him want her. For the first time since he couldn't remember when, Paul Deveraux felt like a complete man as he made Katianna his own.
Tunim and Levi attacked Kalimar. Kalimar backhanded Levi, throwing her off. Kalimar then kicked Tunim's sword, knocking it out of his hand. He completed his attack by side-kicking Tunim's head, swiping it clean off the rest of his body.
Katianna angrily attacked Kalimar again. She kicked him twice on both sides. Kalimar grabbed her leg on the fourth kick and slammed her on the ground. Katianna jumped back up, Tunim's sword in hand. She slashed twice at Kalimar. The third time, she managed to embed the sword in his side.
Kalimar growled. "Ow! You bitch!" He pulled out the sword, twisted it around, and slashed at Katianna's neck, but instead of going through, it was repelled by a powerful blue shield. "What is that?!" That's when he saw the shimmering thing on her neck. Kalimar lunged forward and yanked off her necklace. He quickly dropped it on the floor and stepped on it.
Katianna looked at Kalimar, bewildered.
Kalimar smirked, "Tough luck," then he uppercut her, causing her to fall on Coran.
Levi attacked Kalimar. She slashed at him once. Kalimar quickly twirled her around and held her in an armlock. Kalimar sniffed her. "She smells like you, Coran. I'm gonna borrow her for a bit if you don't mind."
Levi tried to fight away. "You'll never win, you demonic--"
Kalimar cut her off by snapping her neck. Then he grabbed her with one hand and tossed her into the pillar of fire that had been created by the jet stone.
"NOOOO!!!" yelled Coran as he got up and ran at Kalimar.
Kalimar simply turned around and punched right through Coran's side. "I thought I killed you once before." He used his leg to pull his arm out of Coran and to push him back to where Katianna lay. Katianna crawled to Coran as Coran gasped for air.
Amojen looked at Katianna again. "So, do you have plans for this one?"
Kalimar thought for a moment. "Not particularly."
"Then, I may have a kill?"
"Take pleasure in it. It will be the first of many."
Amojen smiled and lifted her arm. "I will set the universe aflame, and I shall start with you."
Katianna sat up soaked in cold sweat. It had just been a dream. It was just a dream. Slowly she tried to steady her heartbeat as she took a deep breath. But she felt a shudder go through her body as if there was a shaking she just couldn't control. She was trying to stop the visions as they kept pounding her mind like the waves of an ocean.
Katianna's reaction woke Paul up as well. He turned to her immediately, lines of concern on his face. "What iz wrong?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Nightmare," she replied, taking another breath. "It was just a nightmare."
"Are you sure?" he asked. "You look absolutely terrified!"
She held her shoulders tightly to herself and closed her eyes. But the visions assaulted her again and her eyes flew open. "I guess I'm all right . . . As all right as I can be . . ." she replied.
"Zhis was no nightmare!" Paul said. "Ah've seen zhat look before. Tell me whass going on!"
She looked at him, tears in her eyes. "I just went up against two demons, literally . . . and saw nine people killed in front of me," she said. "They almost killed me too . . . If it hadn't of been for Kassia and Tara, I'd be dead, just like the rest . . . " A tear trickled down her cheek though she tried hard to reign in her emotions.
Paul held her close to him. "Eet's all right," he said as she sobbed against him. "Let it all out. You don' need to hide from it with me."
"But it won't stop. The visions won't stop!" she replied. She tried to get up from the bed, but Paul grabbed her wrist tenderly to stop her.
"Ah don' pretend to understand what you mean by zhis talk of demons and spirits," Paul said, "but running away will not 'elp. Zhey want you to isolate yourself so zhey can torment you unimpeded!"
"You weren't in the loop with Kalimar then?" she asked. "So you don't know . . . " She smiled bittersweetly. "I just want the visions to stop, Paul." She took a deep breath trying to steady herself. "There is so much pain and fear there . . . sometimes disgust with myself . . . But I can't stop it." Again the tears came and she hid her face in her hands. "I can't even go home . . . I . . . I can't sleep in my own bed."
"Ah don' know who zhis Kalimar person eez, but 'e 'as no power over you, Katianna! Ze only person who 'as power over you eez you! Maybe you should go to Kassia--she might be able to help you weeth zhis."
Katianna shook her head. "I just want to try to forget for awhile . . ." she looked at him with a gently smile and tenderly caressed his face. "But thank you for caring." Another vision of Coran dying in her arms flashed through her mind and she pulled her hand back as her pulse picked up for a minute.
"Sometimes forgetting eez ze best answer," Paul said. "Ah canna claim to have fought demons, but we've all 'ad our battles. Eez best not to dwell on zhem too much."
"So do you know how to make the visions stop?" she asked, her green eyes gazing at him seriously.
"Ze only answer Ah know eez to live, an' live well. Only life can defeat death."
She leaned toward Paul and kissed him sweetly. "I'm trying," she smiled softly. "But for some reason, it doesn't seem to be working . . ."
"No one said it would be easy!" Paul laughed gently in return. "Eet will take time. But you are strong. Eef you are strong enough to face demons, you are strong enough to face life!"
At the mention of demons her mind flashed to Kalimar and the Kosst Amojen, the Kosst Amojen ready to destroy her. She pulled from the vision and looked at him. "You know, I have gone through a lot in my 132 years of life. I've gone through the destruction of at least one ship. The death of my husband. The death of two lovers . . . Before that, I lost my parents to the Eriarti when they attacked Tanzaria," she sighed. "And now this . . . It seems as if its a cycle that has no end. How do you deal with it? I know you've gone through a lot. I felt it at the bar . . . I just," she stopped for a moment as she collected her thoughts. "I just want to feel as if I'm back together again. I feel as if I have this war to fight and I can't because I am a mess and I can't pull myself together. And I have always been able to pull myself together!"
"You'll be able to pull yourself again zhis time, mon cherie," Paul said gently as he tenderly touched her chin and turned her face toward him. "People een our position are een our position because we can. But don' make ze same mistake I made--don' try to do zhis on your own! Zhis Kalimar will eat you alive eef you try to face 'im on your own. You've got a whole station of people who'll stand wizh you." Paul took a deep breath. "Ze only force in zhis universe zhat can defeat evil is love. Evil canna abide where love exists. Don' shut us out--bring us in, and we can give you zhat strength you desire."
She finally laid back down. "It's not that I want to keep anyone out," she said quietly. "It's just, right now, I'm not sure how to let anyone in . . . And I don't think anyone can or should fight Kalimar or the Kosst Amojen with me, except maybe Kassia. She's managed to protect the station well enough. But any regular mortal goes up against them, and they'll die," she replied matter-of-factly. Then a vision of Reva's sword being impaled in her face by Kalimar shot through her mind and she took a deep breath. "How do I let people in to die?"
"You'll 'ave to figure zhat out for yourself. But wizhout the support of others you will die as surely as if Kalimar 'imself does it," Paul said resolutely. "Don' shut out ze world or you will forget what you are fighting for!"
She understood what he said, but she didn't know just what she was capable of. Since her arrival back on the station, she hadn't even wanted to see Kassia or Tara at all. It was too painful. Plus, they knew how disturbed she was, so she had avoided them. She didn't know if she had the strength to see them. She would, however, think about it. As she looked up at him, she felt vulnerable yet again. A feeling she very much didn't like, but was definitely more tolerable with Paul. "Would you mind if I spent the night? I have to leave early to get back to my kids, but . . . I can't go home," she said.
"Zhat eez a very good start," Paul said. "An' if you ever need to talk or need 'elp for anyzhing, jes' let me know an' Ah'll be zhere," Paul replied.
"Thank you," she replied, as he tenderly caressed her face, running a hand through her auburn hair. "Of course, I don't know if I can get back to sleep. That flashba-nightmare was pretty intense," she said.
"Zhen we can jes' talk," Paul said. "Whatever eet takes." He took her hand and held it firmly, trying somehow to transfer strength to someone he could tell was weary of the universe.
She brought his hand up to her lips and kissed it with a gentle smile. "Just be near me," she replied. "Maybe that will be enough."
"Of course," Paul said. "Any way Ah can help."
As she moved his hand between them, she closed her eyes, willing herself to try and relax. To seek peace and sleep, but it wouldn't come. Paul then let go of her hand and pulled her to him in an embrace. FInally there, gathered in his warmth, she let go of the world and she drifted into dreamless sleep.
Paul continued to hold her until he finally drifted into sleep himself. If he'd dreamed that night, he did not remember them. Or perhaps chose not.
[MARCH 19]
Katianna was again jarred awake by visions of the Kosst Amojen ready to kill her with Kalimar watching for fun. As she woke up fully she felt an arm around her waist and remembered the night before. As she turned around, she saw Paul and gently caressed his face. As his eyes opened she kissed him gently.
"I have to go," she said. "I have to get home before the kids wake up."
"Must you?" he asked as he took one of her hands and kissed it.
She nodded. "Yeah, I have to. But I'll tell you what, why don't you meet me at Soma tonight and we'll see what trouble we can get into," she smirked.
"Ah'll be zhere," he replied.
With a final kiss and a bright smile, she got up from the bed and shifted into some casual clothes. "I'll see you there, then," she smiled and winked.
Before he had the chance to say anything else, she was gone. He laid on his back thinking about their time together. What a woman! he thought with a smile.
Katianna arrived back home just before everyone began to wake up. She fixed breakfast for Laurissa as her daughter woke up walking out of her room in her pink nightgown rubbing her eyes.
"I fixed you some eggs and sausage," Katianna smiled. "What kind of juice do you want?"
"Grape-cranberry," she replied as she took a seat at the table. Laurissa was very quiet for a moment. "Momma, why did you leave last night?"
"Because mom's just having a hard time staying home right now. I just need to work a few things out. Remember? We talked about this? It has nothing to do with you," she said as she gently kissed the little girl's cheek.
Kara suddenly joined them and was surprised by a plate of eggs and sausage. "There was no need to cook for me, Katianna. I could have managed my own breakfast," she smiled gently.
"Well, I thought I'd be nice this morning," she smirked. "Besides, you do enough cooking. I thought I'd give you a break, and I was up," she added.
As she got herself a plate, she actually ate very little of it. The flashbacks hadn't abated, and they caused her stomach to turn over, making her appetite vanish.
"Are you all right?" Kara asked.
"Well, as all right as I can be," Katianna replied with a smile. "I'm fine, don't worry about it."
"But, Momma, you don't act the same," Laurissa piped in. "Like something is really, really wrong, only you don't want to tell. And you always tell us that it's not good to keep secrets . . . Well, some secrets, but-"
"Honey, this isn't a secret. It's just something Mom doesn't want to talk about and it's something that someone as young as you shouldn't have to worry about . . . If it makes you feel better the Captain is making me see Kassia for an appointment," she explained to her daughter.
"Don't you want to see her?" Laurissa asked with confusion. She knew Kassia was a friend of her mother's and so she didn't understand her mother's reluctance.
"It's a little more complicated than that. But just know that I am going to go see her, okay?"
Laurissa nodded and continued to eat.
"After you eat, I'll help you get ready for school," she said.
Laurissa's eyes lit up. "Will you walk me to school too?"
Katianna paused for a moment. "All right," she said.
"Yea!" Laurissa replied as she almost jumped out of her chair to go hug her mother.
Suddenly they felt her son stir. "I'll go get Daniel," Katianna said.
"I'll prepare his bottle," Kara added.
"I'm going to finish eating!" Laurissa smiled happily as she took a big bite of her breakfast.
Katianna made it through dropping off Laurissa at school. She spoke to the teacher about skipping Laurissa from her current pre-grade into regular grades. As the teacher put it, she needed an education suited to her capabilities. Katianna, of course, agreed. As they made arrangements for that, Laurissa felt proud, but a little apprehensive too. But as she entered her new classroom, she was immediately befriended by another little girl and she began to relax. As Katianna left the school, she took Daniel for a stroll around the promenade before heading back home, where she would then need to head to her office and make another attempt at that report, which she had until tomorrow to finish.
Holding Daniel close for a moment, she kissed him and could almost sense concern from him.
"Don't worry, Boo. Mom's going to be all right," she said. She wasn't sure of that, of course, but she certainly didn't want to burden her children with that. With a final kiss, she handed Daniel over to Kara. "Be good for Kara!" Daniel gurgled and smiled and waved his arms up and down. Katianna smiled briefly as she left for work.
Captain Mallory walked into Kassia's office just as Kassia was placing some notes into a file of her last patient. As she saw Kitty she smiled.
"Hello there, Captain. What can I do for you today?" she asked, her green eyes twinkling.
"Well, thought I would stop by since I was over this way," she smiled. "I also wanted to find out if Katianna made an appointment with you. I told her to do it by the end of the week."
"Yes, as a matter-of-fact, she did," Kassia replied with a glance at her schedule. "I have an appointment with her for tomorrow."
"Good," Kitty replied and was silent for a moment as she gathered her thoughts. "What's your assessment of her?" she asked.
"Captain, I haven't seen her yet," Kassia replied, a bit mystified. "I can't give you what I don't have."
"I mean, off the record," Kitty replied, "Based on what you already know and what you've already seen."
Kassia sighed and nodded. "Well . . . I think she is probably having some PTSD issues about now. And I think she's going to try to escape the symptoms any way she can."
Kitty nodded. It fit perfectly with what Troy had told her of Katianna's behavior at Soma earlier in the week. "Okay, and is there anything we can do for her?"
"That's a bit tricky," Kassia replied. "First, she has to want to be helped, and you know what that can be like."
Kitty nodded as she remembered her own dark days. "Kassia, if at any time you think she's going to be a danger to herself or to anyone else, do what you have to and inform me immediately. She'll get any medical leave she needs."
"Of course, Captain," Kassia replied. "But I don't think it's going to come to anything like that. Like you, she has a very strong personality," Kassia smiled. "And when it comes right down to it, her work, and her family, are probably going to be what sees her through. Not unlike someone you know?"
Kitty smiled gently and shook her head. Though she had not had her famil - in fact, that had been the cause of her dark days - her job had seen her through. She understood exactly what Kassia was saying.
"Well, keep me informed as much as you can. I understand you can't tell me certain things, but tell me what you can. I do want to know, because I care," Kitty said.
"I know," Kassia smiled. "And I will. I promise."
As they looked into each other's eyes an unspoken understanding hung in the air. Kitty then took her leave as Kassia finished some paperwork. Her mind again turned to what she might be able to do for Katianna to ease her pain and some thoughts crossed her mind. She had given Jayme a calming stone and that was an idea for Katianna. She was also going to go through the books in her shop tonight and see what else she could find. There was always the possibility she could find something in there useful. As she finished up the last of her reports and files, she felt good that she was going to do something for Katianna. That she had a plan of action to at least try to help her friend.
Katianna still had been unable to finish that report for Captain Mallory, but she still had part of tomorrow, so she decided to place it out of her mind since she had her evening plans with Paul. She came home early and helped fix a light meal, which was what she wanted. Even Laurissa enjoyed it. Daniel was having his first taste of rice cereal and loving it, since the doctor had assured her earlier in the day at a Well-Check that his digestive system was ready to handle it.
"I'm going out tonight, so after I get your brother to bed, I'll help you get ready for bed, but then Kara is going to read you your night time stories," Katianna said to Laurissa. "Okay?"
Laurissa's spot-framed face looked at her with such sadness. "But I want to go with you!" she said.
Katianna smiled. "I'm sorry, honey, you can't. I'm going to be out very late, and you have school tomorrow," she explained , tenderly caressing her daughter's face after she put Daniel's spoon down.
"But I'll miss you! I want to be with you!" she cried.
"Don't worry, little one, I'll be home before you get up in the morning," Katianna reassured her. "I promise. Then maybe tomorrow, just you and I can do something. How about that?"
Laurissa sighed heavily. "Okay . . ." she replied with a hint of a smile.
"Good!" Katianna replied. "You have from now until then to decide just what you want to do."
"And we can do anything?" Laurissa asked again, suddenly perking up.
"Well, within reason!" Katianna laughed.
Laurissa giggled. "Okay, Momma," she replied. It did make her feel good that her mother was happy at the moment. She had been worried that her mother had been so sad lately. "Can we also get a big ice cream sundae and share it on the Promenade?"
"I think that can be arrange!" Katianna replied with a smile.
"Yea!" Laurissa smiled, almost jumping out of her seat. Not that she couldn't get a sundae there out of the replicator, but there was something special about getting it on the Promenade.
As soon as dinner was done, Katianna took Daniel and bathed him. No sooner had she rocked him a few minutes than he had fallen asleep. She tenderly kissed his cheek before placing him in his crib. She then went to Laurissa and helped her get ready for bed. As she tucked her in, Kat kissed her cheek.
"I love you, baby," she said.
"I love you, too, Momma," Laurissa replied. "One more kiss and hug?" she asked.
Katianna gave her another kiss and hug. As she got up to go she said, "Goodnight, and remember, I'll be back before morning, so don't worry. Just sleep."
"Okay, Momma," Laurissa's little voice replied.
With a final look, Katianna left Kara to take her place beside her daughter and read her some books. Quickly, she left her quarters. She felt odd not finishing her little ritual with Laurissa, and yet, she also wanted to leave. On her way out the door, she shifted her clothes from her Starfleet uniform into the clothes she planned to wear for the evening and made her way to Soma.
"So, why the fancy clothes?" Troy asked Paul as he wiped down the counter. It was the beginning of the evening rush at Soma and he liked to have the bar well-prepped before business picked up too much. Paul had forsaken his Starfleet uniform for his best civilian suit. In his lapel was a small Vulcan sunflower boutinir.
"Ah've got a date tonight! Weeth a very special lady!" Paul said with a smile on his face.
"Oh? Anyone I know?" Troy asked with a laugh. "Not that cute redhead at MacDonnell's again!"
"Ah! Sacre bleu! Ah wish people would forget about zhat!" Paul groaned. "No, I doubt you know zhis person directly. She's een Starfleet but she 'asn't been on ze station very much lately."
"Well, good luck! Need something to get started with?"
"Hmmmm...zometing light," Paul said. "Ah'll start weeth a mimosa!"
"I never figured you for the mimosa type!" Troy replied as he began mixing the orange juice and champagne.
"Ah like ze mimosa and ze Bloody Mary. You get eemportant vitamins and nutrients while you are getting plastered!"
Both men laughed as Katianna entered.
She immediately drew their attention. She wore tight, black suede pants that laced up the sides, and a black suede shirt that felt off one shoulder, but still left her midriff bare. Her auburn hair was pulled back, but teased into a fiery mane, accented by black onyx hair pins. As she walked to them she smirked.
"Miss me?" she asked to both of them, with a gleam in her green eyes.
"How could I possibly miss someone as lovely as you?" Paul said as he turned to her. Troy rolled his eyes and continued to set up the bar.
Her eyebrows raises up for a moment as she smiled. With that, she leaned in and kissed him tenderly as she sat down on the stool beside him.
"Troy, I'll have one of what he's having," she said. "I'll build from there." She gave him a wink.
Troy nodded and prepared the drink. "Zo 'ow was your day?" Paul asked.
"One I would rather not think about," she replied. Though she smiled, a troubled shadow passed over her eyes for a moment. "How was yours?" she asked.
Paul looked crestfallen. "Ztill no word from ze Cuvier. Zhe las' word Ah 'ad from zhem was that zhey were going eento silent running to investigate a Mulluran force concentration near ze Nausicaan border. Ah have friends aboard zhat ship. Mah only hope rests een ze fact zhat dey 'aven't been paraded before ze cameras by Francona for a show trial. Troy, bring me someting a little harder. Saurian Brandy!" Troy finished another order then put the bottle down on the bar in front of Paul. "That's your only one, Paul. Don't make me have to call Security like the last time!"
"Don't worry, Troy, you won't have to," Katianna replied with a gentle smile as she took one of Paul's hands.
Paul poured a drink from the bottle. "Care for some?" he asked her.
"I'd love some," she replied. "I'm really sorry though, about your friends."
"Ah'm sure zhey'll be all right," Paul said as he poured her some brandy. "Commander Esperanza eez too sharp to let ze Cuvier fall into enemy hands."
"I"m glad to hear that," she replied. As he handed her the brandy, she drank half of it down quickly. "Ah, that is so good! I love this stuff."
"Zo what were we planning on doing tonight?"
"Well . . ." she replied with a playful smile, "I was thinking of maybe a little drinking, a little dancing, maybe a trip to Holo Pursuits again. Though I am willing to take any suggestion you might have," she added.
"Anyteeng involving drinking eez fine by me!" he said with enthusiasm as he filled his glass again.
She downed the rest of her glass and had him fill hers up again. "Great! We have so many things in common!" she laughed.
The two continued to drink as the night's band, a Nausicaan act that had come over with the recent influx of refugees, started to play their first few songs. The lights dimmed, and the strange techno beat of Nausicaan music filled the room. Katianna and Paul, suddenly inspired, got up to dance as another individual sat down. His date had gone to the bathroom and as he waited for her to return, he took her drink and dumped a small vial into it. He was quite unaware that he'd accidentally sat one stool too far over.
Katianna lost herself to the beat, but never lost Paul, and unlike her adventure earlier in the week, she didn't mind the hands on her this time as he pulled her close. She just allowed herself to enjoy the moment and to forget everything else. To just forget all the other outside forces going on. It was just this moment and that was it. But finally as the band took a break, Paul lead her back to their seats at the bar.
"They're actually pretty good, I think!" she said.
"Maybe ze Nausicaans 'ave some redeeming qualities after all!" Paul said as he toasted the band with his drink. The musicians nodded in response as they checked the tuning on their instruments.
Kat laughed and picked up her drink, completely unaware of the surprised look of the young man behind her, just as his girlfriend returned asking him what he was doing in her spot.
As she drank the rest of her brandy, she noticed a strange aftertaste, only she couldn't place it. It was unlike anything she could remember having been in the drink before.
"Paul, does your drink taste okay?" she asked.
"Mine tastes jes' fine. Why do you ask?" he said.
She thought for a moment, but then just shrugged her shoulders. "It's probably just me. How about filling this glass again!" she smiled.
Paul filled Katianna's glass, not noticing in the dim light the grainy residue on the side of the glass. He filled his own again as the band started up once more.
Within 10 minutes Katianna was feeling flushed, though she didn't know why, and the slight buzz she had felt from the alcohol was gone. However, she did feel different. She still felt good, but in a different way. She also felt wound up and very energetic. "Care to do some more dancing?" she asked.
"Absolutely!" Paul said as they got up once again.
As they danced, Katianna still felt as if she was wound up. She had more energy than she was expending and her mind was not being utilized for anything. The music and the dancing began leaving her feeling bored and unfulfilled. Suddenly, she leaned into Paul so he could hear her over the pounding beat. "Let's get out of here and get to Holo Pursuits. It's getting a bit dull in here."
He was surprised by this turn of events, but didn't question her. He was happy to follow her, though bewildered by her sudden change in attitude. Earlier she had expressed a definite desire to stay until the end of the performance. But she did seem a bit more restless than usual, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what was different.
As they reached Holo Pursuits, she smiled. "I have a program I haven't run in ages. I created it a long time ago and I think you'd enjoy it. All we have to do is replicate some Celtic warrior clothes and weapons from Earth's 5th Century A.D. and we'll be set!" she smiled. "Is that all right with you?" she asked.
"Aah am always ready for an adventure!" he replied, but he noticed her eyes seemed off in a way.
"Great!" she replied excitedly.
She immediately set up her program. Paul replicated his wardrobe as Katianna shifted into her chieftainess outfit, only replicating her swords. As they entered the Holosuite, there was a battle scene frozen in time. They found themselves in the Dumbarton countryside, backs to the Clyde River. Hundreds of half-naked warriors carrying crude axes and swords, their faces and bodies painted with blue ochre, faced another army arrayed in rusty chainmail.
"Jest what battle eez zis?" he asked curiously.
"The battle for Mount Badon. King Arthur's first great victory!" she smiled. "I use to run this program very often. Then when Laurissa came along, I just couldn't anymore." There was a sadness in her eyes.
"Why?" Paul asked.
She motioned to the man that was King Arthur, a handsome and sturdy gentleman with a gold torc about his neck. "That's King Arthur. He looks just like my dead husband, Arturus . . . minus the spots, of course. But I thought, that maybe tonight it was time to put that to rest and start playing this game again!"
Or perhaps King Arthur was made to look like Arturus, Deveraux thought as he recalled that there were no accurate pictures of the legendary king. "Are you sure, mon cherie?" he asked with a bit of concern.
She nodded. "I'm ready!" she replied. "Find a place and get ready for the mayhem!"
Her smile was almost wicked as she took a spot near Arthur. Both her swords were drawn and ready. Paul picked a spot not too far away. Once he was settled and ready, Katianna started the program. Suddenly, there was a blur of motion as the attack was let loose. A loud roar issued forth from the horde as drums beat and horns blasted. The din and clamor of sword and axe on armor and shield filled the air as arrows rained down upon them. As Katianna was faced with two opponents, she easily gutted the first as he ran at her almost at a charge. The other, she had enough time to swing her sword and took off his head. As she saw Paul, he was in the thick of it as well. He gutted two at lightening speed as a third tried getting him from behind with a lance. Paul turned and cut the man's arm clean off. As the man came at him again with a dagger in his other hand wildly, Paul beheaded him as well.
The fight continued and Katianna kept getting warmer. Her breath became shorter. Suddenly, the fighting seemed to stop and slow around her as if it weren't happening anymore. Then, King Arthur approached her, only it wasn't King Arthur. It was Arturus! Katianna dropped her swords to the ground as her green eyes grew wide.
"I don't understand . . ." she said to what could only be an apparition.
"What are you doing, Katianna?" he asked. "Is this how you want to live your life? Running away from what hurts you?"
She felt him touch her and her breathing became even more labored. "But you're dead! Arturus, you're dead!"
"And this is how you would honor my memory?" he asked. "You're a fighter, Katianna. You have never run from anything in your life. Don't start now! I asked you once to live for our child. I'm asking you now to fight for our child."
"Katianna, who are you talking to?" Paul asked suddenly very concerned, for as soon as he had seen her fogged up state he stopped the program with a crazed Saxon warrior poised in midair, his axe about to cleave Katianna's head clean through, only to see her start talking to the air.
"What can I do?" she asked.
"Protect her and protect your son . . . Fight for the Light . . . You have to fight for the Light or the Darkness will win and there will be nothing."
Suddenly, Paul's hands grabbed her shoulders. "Katianna?!" he said trying to snap her out of it.
"Fight for the light," was all she said.
Suddenly, her face went deathly pale as her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Paul grabbed her hard as she went limp. Immediately knowing something was wrong, he checked her vitals finding no pulse.
"Lt. Deveraux to Sickbay. Emergency Transport for myself and Commander Nadira! Her heart has stopped!"
Immediately their images shimmered out. The battle for Mount Badon remained frozen in time until an attendant checked the suite and ended the program.
Dr. Cherrin came out to see Paul, making a point not to notice that Deveraux was still clad in splint mail and furs and wore a silver torc around his neck. "It seems like you've had an interesting evening, Lieutenant."
"Tell me about eet!"
"I need you to tell me about the evening. Other than the holosuite, what else did you and Katianna do?"
Paul thought for a moment. "Well, we met tonight at Soma...she 'ad a mimosa and a few glasses of Saurian brandy..."
"A few glasses?" Cherrin asked. Deveraux nodded. "Tanzarans vary wildly in their alcohol tolerance. That could be a factor. Tell me more. Did she start behaving erratically at any point?"
"After ze last glass of Saurian brandy, she suddenly wanted to dance, an' zhen she wanted to leave ze bar. Before she wanted to stay until ze band 'ad finished. Then we went to ze holosuite, an' she began to get a little too hot in ze program. I stopped ze program an' she began talking to thin air!"
"You mean a holographic character?"
"No, Doctor--to thin air!" Paul said exasperatedly. "Zometing about 'Fight for the light', and zhen she collapsed."
Cherrin made a few notes on his PADD containing Katianna's chart, then showed Paul a display of a molecular structure. "In the underworld, this substance is known as dust. I don't think I need to explain to you how it interacts with the neurological pathways of sentient species; you can see that for yourself here."
"Eet looks almost like an old-fashioned wiring buss!" Paul said. "Eet rewires ze mind!"
"And with a telepath that's especially dangerous. Someone at Soma must have slipped this into her drink, either deliberately or by accident."
"Doctor, Commander Nadira has regained consciousness," a medic came in, interrupting them briefly.
The two of them entered the exam room. Katianna lay on a biobed, stirring restlessly. Her vitals were very low but she was conscious. "Are you okay?" Paul asked. "Can I do anything for you?"
"Just tell me what the hell happened," she said softly, her green eyes still confused. The evening was still a bit of a blur in her head. "I feel like I was just dropped off a cliff and survived."
"That might have actually have been an improvement," Dr. Cherrin told her. "It appears as though someone dosed you with a rather large quantity of dust!"
"What?!" she replied with surprise. "Dust? But that would have . . . killed . . . Paul, how did I end up here? " She looked into his eyes, wanting to know.
"Ah 'ad you beamed out of ze holosuite," Paul said. "And Ah'd like to get mah hands on zhat bastard who did zhis ting!"
"Is it out of my system now?" she asked Dr. Cherrin. "Will I be all right?" She felt Paul take one of her hands as her voice wavered. She was all too aware what drugs could do to her system.
"We're working on it. We'd like to keep you here for a day or so to monitor you. I'm afraid for your safety we can't let you leave sickbay until the dust is out of your system. People who've taken this much dust generally remain delusional and have impaired judgment for at least that long," Cherrin replied.
She visibly wilted and moaned. "Delusional?" she echoed. "I don't believe this . . ." She shook her head. "Some week I'm having, huh?" she said, turning to Paul.
"Cheer up--tings could be worse!" Paul said, laughing. "Ze demons could 'ave killed you first, an' zhen 'ow would you feel with the dust in your system?"
"Yeah, well . . . There's a thought," she replied with a gentle smile. Tenderly she felt him caress her hair. "Paul, would you contact Kara and let her know what's happened. The kids will be worried when I'm not home . . . But . . . would you come back?" she asked, feeling even more vulnerable than she did before.
"Of course!" Paul said. "Ah could even look in on ze kids eef you desire. Eez zhere anyone else Ah should contact?"
"Kassia . . . I was suppose to have an appointment with her. I suppose Captain Mallory will find out about this soon enough," she replied.
"Ah'll talk to 'er," Paul said. "We should probably talk to Security as well."
"Probably a good idea," she replied. Katianna looked into Paul's eyes once again. "I was dead, wasn't I? Just for a couple minutes?"
"Not quite, but very close," Cherrin replied. "Had Paul not intervened you may well have died."
"Well, it's not the first time it's happened," she said, almost devoid of emotion. "And it probably won't be the last . . ." She took a breath and had such depth in her eyes that it went beyond any emotion. She had seen too much, done too much, felt too much.
"Try an' get zome rest now," Paul said. "Ah'll make sure everyone zhat needs to know knows."
"I'll try," she replied, but as soon as she closed her eyes, she was assaulted by a flashback in the fire caves and her eyes flew open. "Looks like even after this, sleep might be a bit elusive . . ."
"Maybe ze doctor can give you someting for zhis," Paul said. "Ze dust eez probably affecting your REM cycle."
"I think there's something I can safely give you," he replied. He quickly left and returned moments later with a hypospray. "This should help you sleep, and it will affect you rather quickly," he explained.
"Okay," Katianna replied.
He placed the hypospray at the common artery in her neck. They heard a hiss as the medication was released into her system.
"That should do it. Sleep should find you shortly," he said.
"Dreamless sleep, I hope," she added, already feeling the affects.
Paul stayed with her until she finally dropped off to sleep, then went to take care of business.