Betrayer

 Episode Name:  Betrayer

   Written By:  Starfleet

         Cast:  Nabrun, Starfleet and Tyler.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Tyler

     Aired On:  Sun Jan 16 01:11:40 2005

     Stardate:  54683.7

Time: Sat Jan 15 23:26:44 2005

Stardate: 54683.6

Nabrun is spending tonight on board the USS Aegis, as she sometimes does. Tonight, she is in Krylow's quarters, preparing for bed. He has yet to return from duty, but that, too, isn't unusual for a Timefleet officer. They often work strange hours and into the night. Flashing its blue-white light, the anomaly can be seen outside the viewports.

Nabrun finishes changing into a simple white t-shirt and straightens the covers on the bed before she scoops up a small black ball of fur and slides into what has become "her" side. Trouble in her arms, the Betazoid turns to face the viewport, expression distant.

<CONTEST> Nabrun contests her Psi (Focus) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Jolan'Trouble squirms out of Nabrun's grasp and bounds across the bedside table. As she does, she bumps into one of the picture frames and starts it teetering precariously - it will fall if Nabrun does nothing. The ball of fur is already long gone, the black streak is in the living area already.

Nabrun squeaks and reaches out to catch the frame, stretching her hand out. "Trouble!" she grumbles. "You know better than that. No Nightstand! Naughty kitten..."

<CONTEST> Nabrun contests her Coordination (Reaction) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

As Nabrun reaches out for the picture frame, a blinding white light floods her field of vision. As it fades, Nabrun is no longer in the Aegis crew quarters.

Under the velvet blackness of a midnight sky full of sparkling stars, a lush tropical forest spreads out from around jagged cliffs of a mountainside. Water pours down from one such cliff, tumbling down the falls gently to crash into the deep pool below with a soft roar. Behind the falls, a small watery cave opening can be glimpsed through the curtain of clear water. The waters gather here, the pool extending into an oval pond just beyond the reach of the torrent, and then extending on in a shallow stream that cuts a path through the forest canopy.

In the darkness of night, the pool and forest beyond are bathed in the gentle glow of all three Betazed moons, casting a myriad of shadows across the stony edge of the pool and the forest. Amid the gentle background roar of the falls, the occasional skittering and calling of night creatures is heard echoing off the cliffs. A soft breeze wafts across the pool, bringing with it the scent of fresh water, the musty smell of the forest, and a slight hint of the perfume of wild flowers.

Nabrun remains exactly where she is for a long moment, slowly looking around her. First one direction, then the other. Then, she slowly starts to sit up, drawing herself to her knees. She is, at one time, both curious and wary. Her head lifts, the thought of "home?" easily visible in her eyes.

<CONTEST> Nabrun contests her Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> Nabrun contests her Psi (Focus) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

There is a powerful consciousness here, larger than Nabrun, larger than all of the minds of the station and Aegis combined - but it is singular, and all consuming. There are no thoughts, only a presence - like a blanket that hovers above her ready to smother her mind.

Nabrun slowly pulls into herself, sitting back on her heels. Eyes close for a moment and a mental image forms: A large tree, branches overarching like an umbrella. The trunk is immense, one that would take six Klingons, hand in hand, to fully surround it. Deep roots. Ground. Center. There's a slight pause before, mentally, she thinks of one word: "Greetings." Humble, yet touched with a hint of fear. Curiosity mingles with caution.

A feminine hand reaches out from the pool and clasps the rock before Nabrun. Another. Blonde hair, slicked back and dark from the wet, and the rest of the woman comes out of the water. It is Wendy Tyler, in a black one-piece bathing suit. Her ice-blue eyes have far more depth than she has ever exhibited to Nabrun in the past, as if they have seen a million years go by and could see a million more. She tilts her head to the side and examines Nabrun up and down as if cataloguing her for a science experiment.

Nabrun opens her eyes at the sound of the water and turns to look at the emerging figure. She doesn't move, save for her head. Hands remain on her knees, fingers curled toward her kneecaps. For a time, she simply returns the regard, studying Wendy as if making note of everything about her. "Good evening, Wendy?" she says quietly, mentally. It's certainly a question, and still tinged with that humility. There was a brief burst of relief as she recognized the other woman, but the eyes...the eyes gave her pause. Is it? Isn't it?

"Why are you here?" the young woman asks Nabrun. It is assuredly Tyler's voice, but it is measured, as if doled out in doses. She leans forward, getting quite close to Nabrun, and stares into the Betazoid's eyes.

<CONTEST> Nabrun contests her Psi (Focus) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Nabrun tilts her head to the side as she studies Wendy, brow furrowing a little as if she were just mentally poked, clinically, like a dead rat on the other end of a scientifically-minded child's stick. Whatever the poke was, apparently, retreats without malevolence. There's a moment's silence before she replies, mentally, "Because you called to me. Or so I thought. And yourself?"

The Tyler-thing's eyebrows pinch together in brief thought, though Nabrun can hear none of it. There is only the sense of anticipation. "You called to us," it finally says. Its expression shifts again to its neutral expression. "You know this place."

Nabrun turns her head slightly to one side, briefly glancing at the waterfall, then back to the Wendy-think. "I do," she replies simply, again in thought. Pictures fill her mind, overlaying this one. Barana diving from the top of the waterfall, flying through the air like a bird. Swimming in the pool below, drifting in tranquility. Sitting on the shore, feet dangling in the water, meditating. "I know this place," she repeats quietly, again without issuing a sound.

GAME: Nabrun spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Nabrun (claiming advantage) contests her Intellect skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

The Tyler-thing looks to the water as if watching Nabrun perform the memories, then looks back to the Betazoid and locks eyes with her. Her head tilts to the side again, ever so slightly, and there is suddenly the feeling of a million fingers walking across Barana's mind, sifting, digging, peeking into the recesses of her psyche. "We know who you are," Tyler says. "You are the counselor Barana Nabrun. Mother likes you. And you are not what you are pretending to be." The voice is still measured, there is no anger. Cold hard fact is laid out before them like cards on a table.

Nabrun's head snaps back slightly and there's a brief, almost angry buzz, as if she's trying to force her mind into white-noise. Then she stops, eyes widening, darkening a touch. "What am I?" she asks, still using her telepathy. There's a sense of defiance, very brief. They know who and what she is, so why fight it?

"Betrayer," it says. The Tyler-thing stands up. She could be reporting the weather as she says, "Heed our warning to you, counselor Barana Nabrun, and tell others like you: Do not incur our wrath. Kindness reciprocated with betrayal equals void. You are loved by Mother and will be loved by us. Until."

Nabrun's head tilts back slightly as she looks up at the Wendy-thing. "And what are you?" she asks quietly, mentally. "Who are you?"

Tyler-thing replies, "We are everywhere and everywhen. We are the river of time, the ocean of destiny, the Mobius, the unending, the guardian, protector of Our Creator." The capital letters can clearly be heard. "Do not incur our wrath. Warn them, counselor Barana Nabrun. We give this task to you. Do not fail us." It turns toward the pool, its back to Barana.

Nabrun slowly rolls to her feet, movements deliberate, hands visible, unthreatening. "And when they ask questions?" she projects to the other. "What then? How will I tell them of you? They demand tangiblity, evidence. I cannot give them my thoughts of you.

Tyler looks back over her shoulder briefly at Nabrun, then back at the pool. She dives in. As the last of her slips into the water, the white light floods over her again and Nabrun is catching the picture in her hand.

<CONTEST> Nabrun contests her Coordination (Reaction) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Nabrun remains draped over the bed, staring at the picture in her hand, just blinking for several long moments. "Jolan'Trouble," she says quietly, "We're going to have to discuss you and nightstands. Warn me next time, please?" She slowly sits up, pulling the picture to her lap.