Tyran groaned and rolled over. He
opened his eyes and squinted at the sun that was beaming down on him through
the window. Neither Kira nor Benton were in sight. He sat up and rubbed his
eyes. *I wonder how long I was out,* he thought, as he stood and took a walk
over to a mirror on the wall. *A few days,* he answered, as he rubbed the stubble
on his chin.
He took a look at his surroundings; he was in a large luxurious room, a very
white room. In fact, there was nothing in the room apart from himself that wasn't
white. He walked over to the window and looked out. He had never seen anything
quite as beautiful, there was a large lake with trees the likes of which Tyran
had never seen before. He was so intoxicated by the view that he didn't notice
anyone entering the room.
"You're awake!" came a smooth calming voice from behind Tyran. He turned to see who it was. The first thing that caught his attention were the eyes. He remembered seeing them before now. It all came back to him, the journey into the past and what had happened after they arrived. The figure before him now was as elegant a person as you could ever meet. Her skin was fair and perfectly smooth, and her hair flowed down the sides of her face in long blonde strands. The only discernible feature making her different from him were a pointed ears, different however to ears of Vulcans or Romulans.
"Who... what are you?" asked Tyran.
"My name is Kerrin, I am an Iconian."
"An Iconian? Wow, I never thought we'd find Iconians!"
"Well, nobody can ever see what the future holds for them. But as you have come to us, I think we should know a little about you before we go any further."
"My name is Tyran, I'm a Bajoran."
"Bajor... Where is that?"
"It's in the Milky Way Galaxy."
"I have visited that Galaxy many times, yet I know of no Bajor."
"No... Bajor as I know it, probably doesn't exist right now."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, you may find this just a little hard to believe, but I am from the future. About 150,000 years into the future."
"Not as hard as you may expect," smiled Kerrin. She took Tyran by the hand. "Come," she said as she took him outside. Tyran and Kerrin stepped out into the lush field that Tyran had observed from his window. "Here is your friend Kira. Talk, for I fear your time here will be brief."
"But wait... I have much more I want to ask you...!" called Tyran, but Kerrin had already gone back inside.
"Nige, I was beginning to think you'd never wake up," joked Kira.
"How long have I been out? And where's Benton?" asked Tyran, suddenly noticing the absence of their emotionless friend.
"Two days, and with the Kelvans."
"Already?"
"Yes. The Iconians gave him a ship and he insisted on setting off straight away. I've been spending time with the Iconians while you've been sleeping. Do you know how technologically advanced these people were?"
"I have some idea from the gates I suppose."
"They are more advanced than you could ever imagine. Most of their technology uses theories and concepts that I can't even begin to understand."
"Sounds like you've had fun."
"It's been great, yeah, but the Iconians seem to keep themselves at arms length from me. I've mostly been left to my own devices. Come and look at this," said Kira heading for the lake. Tyran followed him and crouched alongside him when they reached the lake. "Look at this," he said, putting his hand in the water. "I don't know what it is, but it's not water as we know it." Kira pulled his hand out, and the water ran over his hand like a jelly. Tyran dipped in his hand and observed a similar effect.
"This planet is amazing," said Tyran looking about him at the trees.
"Yes, it's unlike any life I know," replied Kira. "It's pretty clear that the Iconians aren't native to this planet."
"We really ought to try and speak to the Iconians more," suggested Tyran. "See what information we can find out from them. See if their willing to share any technology. I mean... this is a big chance we'd be passing up otherwise."
"Excuse me," called the already familiar voice of Kerrin from behind the two. "We have just had a message from Benton. He wishes to speak with you," she said. "You may speak to him through our communications equipment in the gate facility. Come."
Tyran and Kira stood and followed her back to the gate facility.