Beyond my Reflection

 Episode Name:  Beyond my Reflection

   Written By:  Grey and Artemisia

         Cast:  Belos Narun, Dakin, Elkan Ziyal, Emlyn, Grey, Haven, Kan Tanen, Niel, Rivers, Taimol and Thant.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Grey

     Aired On:  Sun Aug 21 05:13:28 2005

     Stardate:  55204.8

Time: Sat Aug 20 20:35:31 2005

Stardate: 55204.0

After having spent the last few hours on Dulcais with the freedom to explore, the small group that traveled from Station 419 is assembling again. Their chance to meet with Vedek Juntt Immo and see the Orb of Contemplation draws close. Of course, throngs of others fill the area, the Orb having brought out all sorts of people to see it and whisper about it.

Taimol smooths his robes as he waits, his gaze travelling around the area. "It is encouraging to see so many interested in the Prophets," he notes softly to Emlyn.

Dakin and Haven have been spending a large fraction of their time seeing the sights of Dulcais Prime, mainly due to the Bajoran security chief's lack of time spent here on non-business reasons. Still, Dakin doesn't appear outwardly to be anything but business, in uniform and strapped with a Type II and tricorder. The two have apparently gotten their time well spent here, but the primary reason they've come is upon them and their arrival is prompt if nothing else.

Thant is silent amongst the group, hands lightly clasped together over his stomach; his presence, if anything, has been unassuming - and isolate. As it is now, for, although he stands near the rest from the station, he is certainly not truly -amongst- them. His calm features show little sign of excitement, beyond a curious little twinkle in his dark eyes.

Emlyn gives a nod to Taimol. "It is, especially this far away from Bajor. You expect crowds at home, but not so much here. Even if it's only curiosity that brings them, it's good to see their faces." He straightens his posture a bit as he speaks quietly to the vedek.

Rivers has been exploring, evidently very close to the lake if the grass still stuck to her trouser legs is any indication. At least she got /most/ of it off! She approaches, taking note of the gathering group, and hurries her pace a bit. Mustn't be the lag-a-lot and be last.

Haven is, like wise, in her uniform of choice, namely her leathers. The harsh lines of her features are smoothed perhaps indicating that she's relaxed as the pair arrive. She spends a moment checking out the crowd around them before settling in beside Rann to wait. A smile tugs at her lips as she leans into Dakin to gesture to a small child riding eagerly on the shoulders of his father.

. o O Thant thinks, "I really ought to have socialized a bit more. I've been so awfully dull. But I don't know any of these people... a stranger amongst strangers on a strange world, about to do who knows what. A strange day indeed. There's a poem in this."

Taimol's eyes continue to trace the crowd. "Curiousity is a good beginning," he replies softly. "It opens doors -- especially here, where our people are numbered in the hundreds, or the thousands at most."

Dakin smiles and nods to Haven in note of the child riding atop his father. "It's a shame I couldn't bring the twins for this. Still, I'd like to think they'd appreciate the experience more when they're older."

Presently a young man makes his way to the group, giving them a collective nod. "Welcome. Doctor Lalanie Haven, I believe?" he directs to Haven. He is dressed in simple robes, with his hands clasped behind his back, and can't be more than twelve or thirteen years old.

"Well, it will be good for our people to see something that brings a bit of home to them and gives them a chance to reaffirm their faith." Emlyn adds with a smile. "People speak of faith as if it is a neverending well that one can draw on at any time, but it isn't bottomless and like any vessel, sometimes it needs to be refilled." He looks around at the people gathered. "I can only hope that the people here today, even those who aren't expecting such, find that they receive that renewal today."

Haven nods in agreement. "I agree. Right now it would be, perhaps, too overwhelming for them and... " she's about to say more when a young man calls out a welcome to her. She turns and inclines her head lightly in acknowledgment of the youth. "That is correct and thank you for your welcome" she replies with a smile.

. o O Haven thinks, "Hmmm."

Rivers reaches the group, drawing up on the other side of her CO, whom she looks to with a small grin. Not the usual mischievious one, but she's game, either way. "Evening, Sir," she adds in a quiet voice, before turning her gaze to watch others gather.

"A very astute observation," Taimol replies softly to Emlyn. "You will find that it is especially true for a great number of people from the station where we serve -- faith is in short supply there rather regularly, it would seem."

Thant glances from one face to another, curiously. But he remains silent - seemingly withdrawn.

Dakin nods in polite greeting to the unfamiliar individual greeting Loni, then turns to regard the arriving Rivers. "'Evening, Dana. Been enjoying yourself since we landed, I hope?"

"Very good," says the young man, before unclasping his hands and gesturing to the doorway of the nearby building. "If you would and your companions would like to follow me Vedek Juntt will see you now," he adds, before clasping his hands again and heading for the door.

Rivers flashes another smile, a little more of the usual, in response. "Of course, Commander. The lake is lovely. Very..relaxing." Absently she brushes at her trouser leg, too. "And you?"

The prylar continues to observe the crowd for a few moments before looking to Taimol. "Well, let's also hope that we receive what we need today that will aid us in taking that renewal back to the station with us." As the name of Vedek Juntt is mentioned, Emlyn quiets, listening to see what's said.

Haven dips her head in a respectful bow, "Thank you." Then she shifts a glance at Rann and Dana. "Ready?" she asks before falls into step behind the youth, following him towards the door.

. o O Haven thinks, "Deep breath and relax. This can not possibly be as bad as the last Orb you visited with."

Dakin smiles and nods to Haven. "I'm doing... better, I suppose. Still, after what..." He pauses as Haven speaks in their direction. Looking back to Dana, "Looks as though it's time. Shall we?" he asks, nodding towards the door.

Rivers sets her mouth into a grim sort of smile and nods, then falls into step behind Haven and Dakin.

Taimol nods in agreement. "You will also find that there are those who abuse the name of the Prophets for their own selfish gain," he remarks. "Hopefully, they too will find their renewal -- and be moved to repent -- this day."

. o O Taimol thinks, "Of course, blessed Prophets, I refer to Doctor Haven. May you open her eyes."

The young man passes through the door and into the building. He doesn't look back, either expecting the the others to follow, or not caring if they do.

Thant follows, at a respectful pace. That is, no faster than anyone else. Finally, he says something, in his precisely-pronounced British accent, to anyone who's listening: "Lovely day for it."

Haven does, indeed follow along, hands pushing into her pockets as she moves along through the door and into the building beyond.

Dakin heads into the building alongside Dana and Loni, adjusting his eyes in case of changing light levels, preapred to give the room a full sizing-up upon entrance.

Taimol smiles at Emlyn, then turns to fade into the general crowd and speak with people there. He is a Vedek, after all; speaking to the curious and the faithful is his job.

Vadek Taimol remains outside along with Prylar Emlyn, the two choosing apparently not to meet with Vedek Juntt just yet. Inside the room is empty save for the boy who led them in and a very old Vedek, and it is plainly decorated. The Vedek rises from his chair slowly, using a cane to help himself up. The smile though is bright and alive. "It is good to see so many Bajorans and non-Bajorans interested in seeking out the Orb. Please, come in." He takes a moment to look over the group before approaching Haven and lifting a hand to clasp her ear lobe.

There's a nod to Taimol. "Hopefully they will indeed." Emlyn has a brief look of discomfort. As the vedek moves amongst the people, he follows his example and begins to do what a priest does, minister to the people.

Haven's immediate reaction to having her ear lobe grabbed is /not/ the reaction needed in this setting but she can't help that her brows shoot up in surprise even as her gaze finds that of the Vedek. "Greetings," she offers, clearly caught off guard by the actions taken by the Vedek.

. o O Haven thinks, "Ooooew.. and I five again? I think my mom was the last one to do this to me before I left home."

Dakin stands off to the side, staying unobtrusive for the moment.

Thant sighs, very quietly, watching in silence - although his lips -do- quirk as if to say something more... but it doesn't quite arrive. At least not yet.

Rivers shoots up an eyebrow, watching Haven and the elder Vedek. Slightly amazed, might be describe her expression. She doesnt do much more that watch though.

. o O Rivers thinks, "Wow, she didn't rip his head off!"

Juntt holds Haven's ear for a moment before letting go. "Your pagh is strong, but confused. I understand you wish to speak with me, but first I urge you to see if the Prophets will speak with you." A hand raises to a door at the side of the room. "The Orb of Contemplation awaits you, if you are willing."

. o O Thant feels ever so faintly sad - an emotion rapidly slain by logic and rationality, and duly repressed.

Haven offers a suddenly stiff nod of her head. "Yes, thank you" she tells the Vedek as she straightens up and turns her attentions to the door. She hesitates only a moment before she squares her shoulders and heads for the door.

Juntt smiles and leads the way, cane clicking a little as he walks to the door first and opens it for Haven. Once she passes through the door he follows and closes it behind them.

The new room is small, with a low table. On the low table sits an Orb case. Juntt makes his way to the table, standing to the side to wait on on Haven to kneel. He does grasp the case, ready to open it once Haven is ready.

Once the door is closed behind them, Haven's hesitation increases for a long moment. This is no small thing and well does she know it. But with a deeply taken breath she approaches the small table and slowly drops to a kneeling position. This isn't the first Orb she's knelt before and her feelings are just as churned up now as they were before. She nods her head to the Vedek as her palms rub over her thighs.

As the orb case opens a bright white light bursts forth, surrounding Haven. For a moment there is nothing else, but then a washed out image of Kogh appears, walking along the empty corridor of Station 419's Upper Mall. "What do you seek?" Off to the other side of her another voice can be heard, this from the image of Aaron Park. "You are of two minds. You chose the life of anger and the life of the Prophets." Back to the first side, though Kogh has been replaced by a woman who could be Haven's reflection. The woman's Bajoran features are stronger then Haven's. "Is your need for control so strong you would shut out our will?" A flash and Haven is now on Bak'TUR and Taimol stands before her. "You fear being cast out yet you are casting yourself out and looking for another life. Why?"

Haven's head rocks backward a touch as the light pours forward from the case, the Orb casting forth its messages. Confusion washes through her at the choices the Orb brings to her mind. It's not just the people, it's the places and the things said. Her fingers curls into her thighs as she sits there, trying to follow the shifting images.

Taimol is replaced by Kogh again. "Have you nothing to say?"

Dakin clasps his hands over one another, tightening just a bit. Having been the rare Bajoran who hasn't had an Orb experience, he can't fathom what Loni must be experiencing.

Haven's frowns deepens as she stares at the reflection of the Kogh. "I am not sure what to say" she answers honestly. "You ask questions of me that have no quick answers but had I shut out your will, I would not be here. I would not hold to my faith so strongly."

"You are angry about the Bane of Jeraddo?" asks another Prophet, clad in the form of Beraq.

Haven's eyes snap. "His actions anger me, yes" she answers without hesitation. "His presence on the station is an outrage to all Bajorans."

"There are two sides to every story," says the Beraq-clad Prophet. Another bright white envelops Haven. In fact Dakin, Rivers, Taimol, Emlyn, Thant and Niel are all over come with the bright light.

After a moment the light fades and the darkened interior of a room appears. The seven are sitting side by side along two of the walls. Immediately noticeable is the fact all seven are dressed in typical Bajoran shirts and pants. Along the other two walls and in the middle of the room other are many other male and female Bajorans. One of the middle ones directs in a firm and hushed tone, "Get Nai, Li, Mirit, Ro, Antos, Edon and Dalos armed Narun. Be quick about it." Another man turns to the first and says, "Tanen, the laborers are about to revolt. We need to be ready in a few minutes."

Belos Narun uncrosses her arms and leans away from her wall support, glancing briefly to count heads again. "Right, boss." Moving toward a crate and bending over its edge, she turns just a bit to toss phasers one by one toward the party. Each is identical to the one at her own hip, a Bajoran equivalent of a Type II pistol.

Astonishing. Dana Rivers blinks rapidly, and her first impulse is to scramble to her feet. That impulse ends with an Bajoran phaser is tossed her way. "What the..?"

Niel shakes his head and blinks in response to the white light. He only has a few seconds himself until a phaser is chucked to him (which he does catch). He looks around at the others he knows, even if their clothes don't match what he recalled just moments before

Thant hikes up both eyebrows sharply. "Thanks," he mutters, when a phaser is tossed his way. Then he's glancing around - probably to make sure he's not the -only- one here. And seeing this. Confusion does not show itself on his face, as such; rather, he simply looks rather tense, frowning deeply.

Taimol blinks as the weapon is tossed at him. Frowning, he lifts it in a fashion that says he's not certain which end is the business end of the weapon.

Upon being tossed a phaser, Emlyn looks absolutely surprised. He holds the thing like it's some new, bizarre, and alien creature that might attack at any moment. He then manages to hold onto it with the right part pointing away, though it is purely through luck. It is absolutely obvious that this is the first time he has ever held a phaser.

. o O Thant thinks, "Strange. But how terribly, terribly intriguing."

Dakin blinks as reality gets turned inside out. While he manages to catch the phaser, a weapon he has obvious familiarity with, he looks around in astonishment equal to Rivers. Dakin remembers experiencing something like this ocne before, but since it involved something a) classified and b) non-existent now, he chooses not to share. For the moment, he remains silent aside from giving an assuring nod to Rivers.

Haven also blinks as she finds herself flashed into something else. Like Dakin, she's done this before only it was at the hands of another Orb. She catches the weapon tossed her way almost instinctively then shifts a quick glance around her, locking on her brother just a few people down from herself.

Kan Tanen frowns a little watching Taimol. "Narun, show those two how to handle weapons," he growls. "I see I need to skin Larn when I see him next." He lifts his own weapon, checking it before turning to the seven newcomers. "I'll say this once and only once. You had best follow orders or I'll shoot you myself, spoonheads be damned. We're hitting any targets we can as part of the uprising. A couple of our number posing as collaborators have snuck in under cover and will be freeing most of the labourers as part of the uprising. Follow my lead and kill any spoonhead you see. Understood?"

. o O Thant thinks, "Kill? Even in fantasy, surely I cannot?"

. o O Rivers thinks, "Spoonheads? Bloody Cardassians! And these are Bajorans..we're on Bajor! Oh, you bet I'll shoot!"

Belos Narun turns around fully, her gaze finding those who look less than knowledgeable about weaponry. "Oh, lovely." Shaking her head, she moves forward, pulling her own phaser from its holster to demonstrate how to hold it, and points out parts. "Triiiiigger. Stun setting. Kill. Safety. You can probably leave that off." She glances over the confused ones. "Or maybe not. See the pointy end? That's where the pretty light comes out and makes a hole in the bad guys. Got it?"

. o O Rivers feels some of her old, battened down hatred of Cardassians come loose. Bitter feelings, bitter losses.

. o O Belos Narun is disgusted. "I am -not- standing in front of these people when the shooting starts. Not that a spot behind them would be much safer, I'm guessing."

Taimol pushes to his feet, brows furrowing. "I'm afraid that I must object," he replies, putting the weapon on the ground. "I will not be killing anyone today -- not even a Cardassian. You may shoot me if you wish, but I will not join you."

Rivers doesn't have a problem figureing out which is the business end of the weapon. It may be shaped different, but energy still comes out of the barrel. She grips the weapon in her right hand and stands, and something changes in her expression. The face of a cheerful security officer hardens, and a battle-ridden survivor takes her place. She slides a glance over to Dakin, for a moment remembering who her superior officer is, still. Even here. Good ol Starfleet conditioning.

Emlyn watches Belos and nods a bit as he adjusts to the weapon. Unlike the vedek, he does not put the weapon down. He doesn't look sure about using it, the uncertainty is written plainly on his face, especially as Taimol speaks, but he holds on to the weapon all the same and nods to his impromptu instructor. "Thank you."

Thant does react, now. With a deepset scowl. He does not speak at first, however; he is quite clearly rather withdrawn into himself, brow furrowed, eyes narrowed with thoughtful consideration. When Taimol stands and speaks, he looks up sharply. He turns the phaser over in his hand, silently. He does not stand, however, remaining where he is. With sad brown eyes, he gazes up at the Bajoran who appears to be in charge. Softly, sadly, he asks, "We -must- do this?"

GAME: Taimol has the flaw of Pacifism at -2.

Niel glances back over to his sister. Ironically enough, he too has experienced something like this before. He holds his phaser, knowing how it works, and just keeps his eyes locked on said sister for the moment.

. o O Thant thinks, "If it is a vision, none shall come to harm by my hand. And what shall be gained by not allowing the vision to flow?"

. o O Niel thinks, "this proves nothing. The prophets were wrong before."

Dakin glances sidelong at the weapon. First, he adjusts the sights. He then checks the beam setting. And, seeming to show off a bit, he spins the weapon upside down by spinning it forward on his index finger by the trigger guard. After he inspects the recharge coupling for any dust or debris, he spins it back into its previous grip. After an approving look to Rivers, he looks towards his two "superiors" then to the rest of the displaced Four-One-Nine citizenry, giving them something of a reassuring look.

Haven eyes the woman giving the weapon instructions before she takes a few steps towards her brother as she checks out her own weapon though she's more subtle then Dakin. Once she reaches her brother, she simply stands there, the weapon pushed into the waist band of her pants, arms crossed over her chest, and glowers at the others not of their group.

Kan Tanen turns to Taimol, raising his phaser. "You are either with us, Mirit, or a collaborator. I don't like collaborators. What did I do to the last collaborator, Narun? I've killed so many I forget now." The others in the room, ready their weapons as well, watching on the confrontation. "I won't put my neck in a noose because you're squeamish. "

There's an eye towards Taimol and Emlyn speaks up, "He has other skills he can use to help us. He has a calling from the Prophets. He'll aid us any way he can save killing." He adds quickly, "I'll keep him from getting killed and if he can offer other aid? He's still useful to us and working for our cause."

Belos Narun pauses to watch Dakin, and grins approvingly. "Not bad." Glancing over her shoulder toward Thant, her eyes turn cold abruptly. "Yes." The Bajoran woman yawns a bit and makes her way to sit on the edge of a table. "If I remember correctly, boss, you burned that one. We had to move cause we couldn't get rid of the smell."

Taimol simply sinks to his knees, lifting his hands to either side of his head and cupping his palms upward. "I will not kill," he repeats. "I will not take anyone's life, even if that means I will follow the Prophets to my grave. You may shoot now, if you wish -- I am not afraid of what lies for me beyond this life." As if to make the point, he closes his eyes and starts to pray.

. o O Taimol bubbles with defiance.

Thant does not hesitate for a moment. Without consideration, he raises his phaser and points it at Kan Tanen. Tilting his head to one side. "He's no collaborator, you idiot," he accuses bluntly, hissing the words quietly, calmly. Ice calm, actually. "We'd be dead already, if he was, now wouldn't we?"

Niel seems to ignore the trouble that Taimol is giving the leaders of this rebellion as he leans towards Loni slightly. Niel whispers to Haven, "What are you thinking?"

Haven's thumb flicks over the settings on the weapon and she shrugs in answer to her brother. Haven whispers to Niel, "I think we are dead either way we go. By the Cardassians, or by them."

. o O Thant thinks, "By all that's holy, he had better not realise I won't shoot."

GAME: Emlyn contests his Persuasion vs Challenging and Succeeds.

. o O Thant feels calm. Centred. At least, on the surface, and for quite a ways down into the depths of his heart; but there, deep down, where fears and terrors do not always find their way to the surface, lurks a tightly controlled and mounting fear.

Rivers nods at Dakin, duley impressed, evidently. An eyebrow lifts with a quizical look. The unvoiced question. But then there's the argument with their group and the leaders. And a small bit of puzzlement over the name they called him. Merit? Something. A shoulder rolls as if to shrug it off. "Tell me you know what we're doing," she finally whispers, to Dakin.

Kan Tanen glances to Thant, then to Emlyn, frowning. "You'd better be telling the truth," he says, before looking to Taimol. "If it's not too much to ask set your weapon to stun so you don't need to kill and you can protect our backs." He turns to Thant. "You had better lower the weapon and never point it at me or my men again." Finally he nods to Narun. "Led us us out to the strike point," he says, while tossing a bag to Taimol. "Carry that for us, if you would."

And *SNAP* Narun's phaser is pointed steadily at Thant's head. "Don't do anything stupid," she hisses. "In case you haven't noticed, you're badly outnumbered. You may take a few of us, but you won't live to enjoy it." She holds that pose a moment longer to make sure her point is made, then turns with a short nod to Kan as she moves to leave the room.

"I swear I am telling you the truth." Emlyn looks to Taimol then and kind of pats him on the back. "Come on. No one's making you kill anyone. Just do as he says. Carry the bag, set your phaser to stun. You only have to shoot at all if you must."

Taimol lowers his hands to his sides, standing and picking up the bag. "This may be a vision from the Prophets," he mutters to Emlyn, "But I will not abandon my principles to be part of it. The pah-wraiths have the ability to create visions as well." Finally, the phaser is lifted, and for lack of anything to do with it, he shoves it in his belt after activating the safety.

Dakin glances at the exchange with some concern. Surely the Prophets wouldn't seriously put them in serious harm, he thinks. Here's where the faith gets tested. In response to Rivers, he whispers back, "We're part of the vision. I think the best we can do is go along with it." As the resistance fighters file out, he says as a hushed aside to Dana, "Keep our non-combatants covered."

Rivers frowns deeply when the phaser is pointed at Thant. And that frown is turned on Narun's back when she turns. "So much for everyone being on the same side," she mutters quietly, as she secures her weapon at her belt.

Niel nods to his sister. "Yeah," is all he says, adjusting the phaser. He finally looks to the people pointing phasers at eachother. "You know, it doesn't help our case that we fight with eachother. What chance do we have against others if we're pointing phasers at eachother." He shakes his head once more, looking back to his sister.

Thant lowers the phaser slowly - and takes that time to think, remaining very still while the phaser is pointed at him. Wordlessly, he shrugs - casting a quick glance towards Taimol. His chest heaves slightly. Only once that deep breath is out does he answer, coldly, but with simple deference: "Of course."

Haven rolls a shoulder as she blows out a heavy sigh. She too turns to the others and shakes her head at how they snipe at each other. Two sides to every story, huh?

. o O Thant thinks, "Would I have died, if they had killed me in this place?"

Kan Tanen moves after Belos Narun, heading out of the room and down a hallway. The door at the end obviously opens out onto the street. At the door he pauses to glance out, about the same time as an explosion can heard in the distance.

GAME: Taimol contests his Intellect/Perception+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Rivers contests her Intellect/Perception+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Emlyn contests his Intellect/Perception+A vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Thant contests his Intellect/Perception+A vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Haven contests her Intellect/Perception+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Niel contests his Intellect/Perception+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Dakin contests his Intellect/Perception+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

Belos Narun settles herself behind the opposite door jamb from Kan, crouching slightly to look out. Her gaze sweeps the street, keen and sharp.

Niel just falls in line, and heads down the hall following, making sure his sister is behind him. He passes a mirror along the way and glances at it and stops for a moment. He looks at the clothes and the face in the mirror, not recognizing either of them. He smirks slightly before continuing.

The prylar heads down the hall, phaser readied. Emlyn doesn't notice any mirrors. He just kind of follows on, oblivious. The only thing he does other than follow is to take a moment to make sure that Taimol is following as well.

Taimol frowns, touching his face as he catches sight of his reflection in the mirror. With a grunt, he hefts the bag higher on his shoulder and follows Emlyn.

Dakin also passes the mirror and pauses just a bit but falls in step with the rest of the platoon. The fact he's not wearing his own face is something of a surprise, but not one entirely unexpected given the situation. He looks to Rivers, checking to see if she's noticed she's, well, not Dana Rivers right now.

Rivers also falls in line, behind Niel and Haven and the others. Typical bringing up the rear. As she passes the hallway mirror, she glances sideways to it, and jumps back, startled. It takes a moment for the realization to sink in that it wasnt someone rubbing shoulders with her. It was her! Another second of lagging behind, so that she can peer at it closer for a moment, and her right index finger reaches up to touch the bridge of her nose. How..odd.

Thant stands, and falls into line. He doesn't notice the mirror - what mirror? - and strides past it. His stride lacks confidence, and he clutches the phaser too tightly. But his face remains grimly calm.

Haven reaches behind her poke at Dana's elbow and nudge her along. Her own reflection is very different then her own face but at this point, nothing surprises her, really.

Kan Tanen nods to Narun and kicks open the door. "Head north, towards the labor camp," he orders Belos Narun. He glances back to the others. "Its time to free Jeraddo and kick out the spoonheads. Look alive!"

Belos Narun doesn't hesitate, her own expression hard and set. She moves, swiftly, northward.

. o O Rivers thinks, "Who the Sam Hell is Jeraddo? Who cares? I'm going to get a spoonhead, even if it is make-believe. For Jeremy!"

GAME: Taimol contests his Intellect/Logic+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Emlyn contests his Intellect/Logic+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Dakin contests his Intellect/Logic+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

Taimol's frown deepens even further. "Jeraddo," he mutters, his head drooping slightly. "Merciful Prophets, why here?"

Thant stays with Taimol - like metaphorical glue. Well, actually, pretty much like real glue - but with distance. The hand around the phaser subtly relaxes, assuming a more careful, proper grip, now that fewer people are probably paying attention to him. To Taimol, he says in a low voice, "We have to get moving. Whether being shot kills in a vision or not I don't know - but I'd rather not find out firsthand. And I don't move until you do."

Niel glances back towards Taimol curiously for a quick moment. He starts to follow behind though, glancing back occassionally at his sister.

Emlyn's reaction is no more positive than Taimol's. "I'm sure there's some lesson here. We just have to follow it through. We wouldn't be seeing it if there wasn't a reason." His face sets terse. "The Prophets are simply lighting our path. But I don't expect what we learn to be a lesson we'll enjoy. But those are usually the best lessons."

Dakin frowns deeply upon hearing the word Jeraddo. He looks over to Rivers and Haven with an expression that should say that they've all just been dropped into a deep-fryer and that they'd better look alive.

Haven's jaw sets at the mans words. She flashes a look at her brother before she comes up behind Taimol. Her hand settles at his elbow as she hisses softly in his ear. "Steady on" she tells him, her weapon coming into her free hand. "You can not stop what is about to happen but vision or not, there is good that only you can do here." A beat. "/Do/ it, Mirit" she demands, even remembering to use his 'name' here. Only then does she pull back to offer a nod to Rann, Dana, and Niel.

Rivers pulls her weapon free of her belt again, now that she's on the move. Now suitable armed, she readies herself to follow through the door. There again, is the quizical look at Dakin, but she's been in hot places before. And lived. Her grip tightens on the phaser and her expression firms. Whatever this is, its about to get real...real.

Ahead over the buildings smoke is rising from a fire. Of course, Belos Narun is leading them right towards the smoke, though its still a few blocks away. It would seem to be a matter of out of the deep-fryer, which Dakin thought they were in, and into the fire. Tanen's communication device chirps for a moment. "There is a Cardassian vehicle convoy moving to the southern block. Tanen, if you can intercept it and destroy it." Tanen confirms it and looks to the others. "Narun, Nai, Li, Ro, Dalos, take the lead with me. On your guard."

Belos Narun continues to hurry through the streets, pausing only to peek around a building's corner now and then before rounding it. As the journey continues, her expression, already hard, turns to flint, her head turning slightly to note the surroundings. Abandoned vehicles. Panicked Bajorans fleeing every which way. The sounds of screams and weapons fire in the distance. A toddler sitting in the street crying before being yanked along by a frightened adult. But at Tanen's call, Narun switches direction to move with him. She is, quite obviously, out for blood.

. o O Thant thinks, "I am seperate from my body. I am mind, that which is logic, that which is peace. I feel no pain, I see no fury, I shall find no terror. I am seperate from my body. I am mind..."

Dakin falls in step alongside Tanen, then looks to Rivers and Haven once again. He gives hand signals close to his body so as to not seem strange, but they should read clear to Dana and Loni: "flanking positions."

Who? Dana assumes someone in that list was supposed to be her. But, whatever she was prepared for, it wasn't this. Not civilians. Not children being dragged along in terror. So intent is she on that scene, she almost misses Dakin's signal, and still she has to shake herself back to business. Flanking positions, aye, with the nod of a head.

Thant stays close to Taimol - although not -too- close. His grim expression has a vacant look to it - cold, almost deathly calm. But lurking there in the depths of his eyes is baleful sadness - eyes which take in the Bajorans fleeing, the panic, and the toddler crying in the street. The eyes see, and mourn - but the rest of him remains strictly calm.

Emlyn continues to bring up the rear with Thant and Taimol. His phaser is drawn and he checks to make sure that this safety is off and it's set to kill like Narun showed him. He looks absolutely horrified at the things going on around him. He keeps moving but he isn't really attentive to the mission, he's looking at the horror around them.

Niel is many things, but at heart he's not a soldier. He could have been, but isn't, so he looks to his sister at this point, and Dakin, attempting to figure out exactly what he should be doing now.

"You're going to find out," Taimol replies to Thant, moving forward again. "At least, I'm fairly certain you will. There's going to be a rather sizeable massacre on this moon shortly, courtesy of Legate Melec, and there's nothing we can do to stop it." He looks away from the scene of terror, his eyes closing. "We can only observe and learn from the horrors of the past."

GAME: Thant spends a courage point.

When Haven is ignored by Taimol, she just shakes her head and moves along, leaving the man to his own destiny. She nods to Dakin, falling back into position, a hand held down by her thigh to gesture to her brother where he should be standing; just back behind herself. Her gaze sweeps forward, a frown in place.

GAME: Thant contests his History+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

. o O Taimol thinks, "Blessed Prophets, filled with mercy and grace, please bring protection upon these people. Show us your wisdom and your light; open our hearts and minds to recieve your knowledge." The inner prayer pauses for a moment, and then adds, "Let us not forget what we see here today."

It would seem Narun and Tanen are right on target. Ahead the streets clear out except for one single, dead Cardassian soldier. He's face down beside the road, head bloody, and belt and hand weaponless. Tanen doesn't even pause in passing him as a pair of Cardassian ground vehicles appear ahead. He gestures to Narun, Dakin, Thant and Niel to move to the far side of the street, along with several his own men. He leads the others to the close side and settles in at a corner to lift his weapon in readiness.

Crouching low, weapon in hand, Narun runs across the street to shove her shoulder against a building. She takes a knee, her own phaser rising to aim.

Rivers follows with Tanen to the corner, dropping quickly into a crouch behind some slim shadow of a barrier, and readies her phaser, checking the setting while she's at it. She thumbs it to the highest setting it will go to. Then frowns, and backs it down just a notch.

. o O Rivers thinks, "Just my luck I'd hit a friendly. No, better go for heavy stun."

Dakin heads over to the side of the street indicated by Tanen, crouching alongside Narun, phaser held at the ready. Even as his warrior instincts take hold, the prayers to the Prophets start flying, wondering when we will learn what is to be taught by engulfing them all in this time of tragedy and bloodshed.

Niel follows behind Dakin now, glances to his sister, raising his eyebrows for a moment. He crouches down low, waiting to see what's going to happen now.

Thant blinks rapidly, eyes widening for a moment. But there is no time for an answer to Taimol, it turns out; with a slight nod as he catches the gesture from Tanen, he follows Narun, moving up against the wall swiftly. His breathing rate increases sharply... and then seems to calm considerably. Strangely, now, he smiles, very, very faintly. He sets his phaser to the highest setting, apparently without hesitation. Not -that- calm, then.

When they get close, Emlyn just imitates Tanen. He stays back and lifts his weapon, preparing for whatever is to come. The prylar looks very uncomfortable with this situation, but he doesn't balk at doing it. He looks back to Thant and Taimol briefly to offer what is probably meant to be encouragement, though it falls short of the mark. He turns back towards the coming action, and like Dakin he prays, the words whispered to himself.

Taimol takes a deep breath, watching the vehicles approach. "I had hoped I would never see anything like this again," he murmurs before looking for a place to hide and running for it as soon as he finds a spot.

. o O Thant thinks, "My word - this is going to be horrific... Wait. Wait a moment. If all the prisoners were executed - and most of their families too... then we're either -supposed- to die, or almost certain to escape, somehow. Which means - which means - we're not going to -really- die. Logical."

. o O Thant feels decidedly uncertain.

The vehicles continue to close, unaware of the danger ahead it would seem. As they draw close Tanen calls out, "Fire!" As he does he depresses his trigger, sending a bolt of energy at the vehicles.

Belos Narun fires as well, her weapon almost an extension of herself and her hatred as it sends hot bolts of death forth.

Rivers takes aim at the vehicle in front, and with a concentrated effort born of her own bitter hatred, lets loose a bolt of energy to join the others.

Emlyn says a quick prayer before he takes a shot with the phaser. The phaser is pointed at the transports. The priest however seems far from sure as he fires.

Taimol makes himself as small a target as possible, crouching around the corner of a building from the main battle as it erupts.

Thant picks out one of the vehicles, and opens fire, scowling fiercely as he does. He's clearly deeply unhappy. Which is probably a good thing; being utterly cheerful in a situation such as this one would probably be a bit... insane.

. o O Thant thinks, "I'm going to be fine, see? How can you learn something if you're dead. Eh? Exactly. Point proven. - But what if..."

Niel just shrugs for a moment then fires his phaser at the first vehicle. Nothing fancy, but then again, not enough experience to make a fancy shot.

Dakin squeezes the trigger on his own weapon, also aiming for the lead vehicle. He stays fixated on the goal at hand, while still wondering when the lesson to be learned will be learned.

Haven falls into position with the other woman, back to the wall. As the car come around the corner, her weapon comes up and she's steady on. She offers Dakin a questioning shrug before she fires her weapon.

GAME: Kan Tanen spends a courage point.

GAME: Kan Tanen contests his Energy Weapon/Phaser vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Rivers contests her Energy Weapon/Phaser vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Emlyn contests his Energy Weapon vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Belos Narun contests her Energy Weapon/Phaser vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Haven contests her Energy Weapon/Phaser vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Thant spends a courage point.

GAME: Thant contests his Energy Weapon/Phaser+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Dakin contests his Energy Weapon/Phaser vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Niel spends a courage point.

GAME: Niel contests his Energy Weapon/Phaser+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Narun, Dakin, Emlyn, Thant and Niel's shots all tear into the vehicles, the high powered blasts vaporizing windows and Cardassians alike. The first vehicle turns to the side and then rolls over onto its roof. The second plows into it and the two come to rest tangled together. "Narun, look for survivors and take them prisoner."

Belos Narun sends a sour look in Kan's direction, but she nods and moves forward to search, her weapon at the ready.

Niel just smirks, "Doesn't that contradict your original order of killing any spoonhead we see?" He glances over to Loni for a second before looking forward again.

Taimol stands when the sound stops, peeking from around the corner of his shelter before he emerges and heads for the group.

Rivers curses softly to herself as her shot misses. "Back to the target range go I." She pulls the weapon back to ready but safe position, and waits.

. o O Belos Narun thinks, "Prisoners indeed. Oh well, gives us time to make 'em hurt longer."

. o O Haven thinks, "I get the point."

As his shot actually hits, Emlyn looks shocked for just a moment. He doesn't do a celebratory dance or anything to his credit. Instead he readies to fire again if necessary. Still, he has that 'Wow! I actually hit something that wasn't me or one of my team members!' look on his face.

Thant sighs quietly at either the pyrotechnics or Narun moving forwards - but either way, he moves forwards behind Narun, staying low - and striving for watchfulness. "I'll cover you," he murmours, not sure if she will hear or not. Again, there's very little hesitation, there.

Dakin looks to Rivers, "I won't hold it against you." He tries to sound reassuring as one of the faithful, but his faith and his patience are truly being tested at this point.

. o O Thant thinks, "Vision or no - I cannot believe that the real Nava Edon would not have had courage enough to support this woman. Even if she did point a phaser at my head earlier..."

Haven frowns as her shot goes wide. Odd that. She shakes a look with her brother and shakes her head again. "There is no point in this continuing" she hisses to Niel.

Tanen continues to watch the road while Narun and Thant move to check the vehicles. He does glance to Niel. "Yes. However these are civilian vehicles, not military. Whoever was in them might be worth more as hostages then dead."

. o O Thant feels afraid, but resolute. And not quite so calm... but calm, nonetheless. The fear remains held low, but it is not so deeply held, by now. It creeps upwards, the spread of fear constant.

Belos Narun checks a couple of Cardassian corpses- though perhaps not especially carefully- but the third takes her by surprise. She shrugs and drags it by its hair from the transport, shoving it toward Thant. 'It', actually, is a he. A male Cardassian in his mid to late teens. "Alive," she says shortly, and continues to check the rest.

Niel just nods as he looks back to Loni. "I know." He points his finger at the Cardassian alive on the ground now, as if this is some time of surreal holodeck simulation.

Haven kneels beside the living Cardassian at her feet, her fingers looking for a pulse as she does a /visual/ scan of his body to assess injuries.

Thant -was- pretty calm, all told. But the boy apparently unsettles him - greatly. He shudders - but the phaser is brought up, with slender hesitation, and pointed at at the child. "Keep silent, or her evaluation will cease to be accurate," he orders with utterly false calm, obviously striving to remain in character. He fails, as his hand shakes, ever so slightly, and his eyes are wide with shock.

Taimol gives Haven a disgusted look as he passes by. "No point? Nothing that the Prophets do, Doctor, is pointless, and to assume that you know better than they is the ultimate in hubris and verges on the blasphemous." He gestures around. "We are here for a reason. It is their will that this be carried through to its conclusion, whatever that may be, so that we may walk closer to them and, perhaps, learn more about ourselves in the process." That said, he carries on toward the twisted wreckage with his sack still firmly in hand.

. o O Thant thinks, "Please, by all the powers that may be, please child, please-please-please do not make a noise. I will die if need be, for I cannot kill you, even if you are nothing but shadows and dust, a portent of the mind, a hallucination - but I desire to see where this leads. I must know - What is the point to this horror? Why force these Bajorans to relive this dreadful day, even if they first saw it only at distance?"

. o O Taimol thinks, "Seeing as how the people we've found ourselves in league with are hardly shining examples of Bajoran civilization."

Dakin eyes the hostage with the eyes of someone whose hatred has, though not totally, been tempered with time. He looks around to the rest of the group and then surveys the surroundings for incoming hostiles.

. o O Thant feels utterly horrified. That calm, logical surface? Well, it's gone now. Now... now there's fury, simple raging fury, surging beneath a surface of unabridged horror and fright.

Kan Tanen glances to the child and sighs. "Bring him along," he says before moving to take the sack from Taimol and digging in it. Out comes demolitions charges, which he tosses to Narun. "Set 'em. Everyone else, lets move," he says, tossing the sack back to Taimol and moving to lead the team off.

Rivers still looks dissapointed at having missed her shot. To the hostage, she just..stares.

GAME: Belos Narun spends a courage point.

GAME: Belos Narun contests her Demolitions+A vs Moderate and Fails.

. o O Rivers thinks, "A child? Here? A Cardassian kid?"

. o O Rivers feels like something is very out of place here.

The boy surprises Emlyn. He hadn't expected the 'hostage' to be so young maybe. Still he doesn't say anything, he doesn't move to stop any of it. He seems almost to be in shock, numb.

Belos Narun looks rather satisfied when she finally withdraws from the transport. "The rest are dead. Sorry, Tanen." Not that she -sounds- sorry. The woman snatches the explosives from the air and sets to work with quick, efficient movements.

Niel frowns as well and lowers his phaser. Something about it being a child that he can't really keep it there, even if he is just playing along...

. o O Niel thinks, "What if this was reversed and that was Nelle...?"

Thant shivers. It's not visible unless someone is really looking; the sort of shiver that turns into a shake. Gruffly, he motions with the phaser at the youth. "You will do exactly as I say. Understood?" There's a faint, ever so faint, note of pleading in his voice. -Please- do exactly as I say - those are his real words. It's written there, on his face, pinched and pale.

. o O Thant thinks, "And if I were to somehow ensure your escape - would they shoot you as you ran? Yes, they would. Because then you'd reveal - O mercy, no wonder they killed each other with such ease."

Taimol takes the sack back, taking a deep breath before he looks away from the child.

With the resistance fighters leading the child up the street the flash of white from the Orb comes again, and lasts for for a moment before it fades. Now Haven as Tala Nai, Dakin as Niros Li, Taimol as Sharr Mirit, Emlyn as Kirit Antos, Thant as Nava Edon, Niel as Shada Dalos are all laying in a dark building. The sounds of battle in the distance are gone. Tanen sits by the door, weapon in hand. The Cardassian boy is tied in the middle of the room. In fact everyone's clothes have changed, so it would seem to be sometime later.

Taimol tosses aside his blanket, rolling to a seated position as he looks around, trying to gain his bearings.

Niel is apparently awake as the white light finishes enveloping them again. He looks around as well, trying to figure what he can out. A slight frown comes to his face at the tied up child. He looks down and sees that he still has his phaser from earlier.

Thant sits bolt-upright, blinking quickly. The first thing from his lips, unfortunately, is terribly undignified: "Wha..." Not, however, the cliche. He peers around, somewht sleepily... and peers down at his hand. In which he still grasps the phaser.

Seemingly awaking from a nap, Emlyn looks around the dark room, eyes adjusting to the lack of light. He immediately begins to look around, seeking out those of his companions that came from 419. He's laying near Taimol and seeking him sit up, he does the same. He doesn't say anything, just follows the vedek's lead and tries to get his bearings. His phaser from earlier is nearby, but not in hand.

. o O Thant thinks, "At least there's no fear of being bored."

Haven seems to be hovering near the child, on hand on her weapon as the other lightly probes around the injured area. Her jaw is set and from the looks of her, she hasn't slept much.

Kan Tanen turns to the room. "Ah, awake now are you? For guards you've slept half of today and most of yesterday. Apparently not all the cells know how to fight," he says, chuckling a little. "Still, our time is almost done here. One way or another."

Taimol turns his gaze to the boy, then back to Tanen. "What do you mean?" he asks.

Thant grunts, shoving the blankets aside. He looks down at himself, then sighs with relief. Dressed. Then he snorts softly, and begins to chuckle quietly. "As if it matters," he mumbles to himself. A frown, and the mirth vanishes. Cool eyes turn to Kan Tanen - but perhaps the question that was forming on his lips is already asked, for his mouth closes again, sharply.

GAME: Niel spends a courage point.

GAME: Niel contests his History+A vs Challenging and Fails.

. o O Thant feels decidedly unstable, for a moment. Bubbling mirth filters up through his consciousness - a sense of detachment follows swifly - and then a clamping down. Uneasy calm settles.

. o O Thant thinks, "Dressed, at least. But then again - considering the circumstances - that's hardly a logical thought to be having..."

GAME: Haven contests her History/Bajoran vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Taimol spends a courage point.

GAME: Taimol contests his History/Bajoran+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Niel looks up and says, "It's about to happen... I think" He just kinda assumes that everyone knows what he's talking about.

GAME: Emlyn spends a courage point.

Thant nods, sorrowfully. "Yes," he agrees with Niel, simply. Apparently, -he- knows. "The question is - what are we to do about it?"

GAME: Emlyn contests his History/Bajoran+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Emlyn looks to Taimol and raises a brow. He whispers low, "I think...does the name seem familiar to you at all?" He shakes his head. "Wasn't he the one who held..." He looks over very purposefully at the young Cardassian.

Haven frowns as she looks at her brother then to the kid and then back to Tanen. She doesn't hesitate as she brings up her weapon, thumbs the setting to its highest, and brings it up to bare on Kan Tanen. It no longer seems to matter that this is a vision. Her reaction isn't thought out. It just is. There seems to be no question, given her expression, that she will pull the trigger if Tanen comes near the kid.

Faint running footsteps can be detected, and they're obviously getting closer. They pause only to give way to an odd rhythm of tapping on the door, before a middle-aged Bajoran woman opens it and thrusts herself in, slamming the door shut behind her. Wild eyes search the room frantically.

Kan Tanen glances to Haven and the phaser leveled at him. "That's not a toy, girl. Best choose somewhere else to point it or my men will get very anxious," he says slowly to her. "Ziyal, what in the name of the Prophets are you doing here?"

Taimol nods to Emlyn. "He was," he replies softly.

The prylar was calm, but he shakes his head. "I don't know what lessons we're set to learn here, but..." Emlyn shakes his head again and takes a deep breath, exhaling in a heavy sigh. "This..."

Haven's weapon remains in place, "I would suggest an anti-anxiety medication then." She shakes her head, "What strategic advantage do you think you will gain from murdering a child?" she asks him. If she's worried about his men, she doesn't show it at all.

Niel nods in response to what his sister says. Though after that, most of his attention is focused on the new woman entering their location.

Elkan Ziyal locates the cell's leader and takes a few steps forward, gasping for breath. "Tanen, they're coming." She's practically babbling in her haste. "The governor's sending his troops. Here. /Now/. I don't think he liked your... suggestion." Around then, she picks up on the tension going on, and turns her gaze toward the lady with a pointed phaser. "What the...?"

Kan Tanen laughs to Harven. "None. I have no idea what makes you think that. He is the ticket to us getting what we need," says Kan, before looking to Ziyal. "Here? How would he know to come here Ziyal? You must be mistaken."

Taimol looks down at his feet. "It must be important," he murmurs.

Thant, having spent some time hesitating uncertainly after Haven raised her weapon, and looking from person to person in bemusement, suddenly finds himself in the position of raising his own phaser, once again. At Kan Tanen. Twice, now, in... however long it's been. He looks quite bemused at the fact he's even doing it, in fact - but it's done, therefore... the weapon remains steady. "The child will not be harmed," he states, grimly.

"I'm not sure, but we're getting close to finding out I think." Emlyn stands up. "I'm not sure if we should change what happens or not, or if we can change what happens. Or if we can have any effect at all on what happens here." He pauses. "But don't we at least have to try?" He stands up, not waiting on Taimol's word. Instead he moves towards Thant. He doesn't raise his weapon though.

Niel just rolls his eyes. He looks to the other Haven in the room and taps the side of his head with one finger three times.

. o O Thant thinks, "Why am I doing this? Why? It makes no sense. But... how could I not? No. Violence, even the threat of violence, is wrong. It is illogical. Yet I must - I -must-. May whatever deities forgive me - for all these years I have not been true to myself. I am a coward, after all."

. o O Thant feels a wave of determination - curiously mingled with depression, and a sense of defeat. Yet the determination is no less strong for it.

Haven's stance doesn't weaver at all as she remains between Tanen and the child. "If you believe that he will give you what you want, then you are a fool. He will wipe you all out and not lose any sleep over it." At least Haven thinks this is a fair bet. "At this point, I would not be surprised if he kills us all, regardless of whether the child is alive or dead. Either way, you are not touching this child." She catches Niels taps from the corner of her eye and offers a small nod that the pair seem to be on the same page.

Elkan Ziyal's attention is wrenched back to Kan, and she lifts her hands in a helpless 'dang if I know' gesture in response to the question. Then she shakes her head hard. "I heard him give the orders myself, Tanen. We have to get out of here," she insists, fright twisting her pale face. Inevitably, her eyes return to Haven, then move to the bound child. Ooh, neat, lotta hate in them eyes. "Is that /him/?"

Kan Tanen shrugs to Haven, smirking. "Good, then you stay here and protect him," replies the man, standing with weapon tucked into his belt and moving for the back door. "Of course, I suggest that you bring him along and don't wait. If Ziyal is right then you'll be dead in a few minutes," he says, picking up his sack.

Taimol stands, smoothing his hands over his clothes. "What has happened here happened twelve years in the past," he replies softly. "There is no point in changing the outcome of these events because it has already happened." He glances toward the child, then back toward Tanen and Ziyal. "No matter how dispicable they are."

. o O Taimol's heart sinks.

. o O Niel thinks, "I wonder if Melec used the child as bait."

. o O Taimol thinks, "Look at the hatred in her eyes. Look at what she's become."

Thant's eyes remain fixed on Kan Tanen, but he speaks softly. "No, nothing can truly be changed, I suppose. But that does not prevent us from doing what is right, friend," he says softly, to Taimol - eyes flickering that way for a moment, but remaining steadfastly on Tanen.

Niel looks to the child after a moment. "What were you doing in that vehicle?" He's put his phaser away as he's paying very close attention to the child.

Emlyn nods to Thant's statement. "He's right. We have to act our conscience. And think of it...three thousand." He takes a deep breath and looks to Tanen. "Have you even thought to find out who this boy is?" He looks to Niel and Haven quickly, perhaps hoping they'll catch on. "What if he is the son of someone important? Can you imagine what price that the Cardassians will exact if he were?"

Haven notes to Niel and to the others as well. "Perhaps the child was truly taken as a bargaining chip, or perhaps set up as bait by his father to weed out the heart of the resistance. Either way, Melec comes and the price will be high for us all." She remains where she is, weapon held up, eyes firmly on Tanen.

Elkan Ziyal starts to glance toward Taimol in confusion, but her gaze, incredulous, is quickly pulled toward Emlyn. She lets out a bark of humorless laughter. Shaking her head, the woman hurries to follow Kan, ignoring the others.

. o O Elkan Ziyal thinks, "Where do you /get/ these people, Tanen?"

Kan Tanen turns back to laugh at Emlyn. "Someone important? Only the most important person on the moon. Why do you think we're trying to ransom him?" Right as he finishes his hand flicks to his belt to pull out the phaser and raise it towards Haven.

Taimol closes his eyes. "You must do what you feel is right, of course," he replies quietly before he turns away. "May the Prophets protect and guide you all."

. o O Taimol thinks, "I do not need to see what's going to occur."

Niel shakes his head. "And this infighting is what leads to downfall. Oh well, if you're not willing to consider that having this kid isn't just luck on our part and is intentional..." Though he does pull his phaser and aims at Ziyal.

As Tanen raises his phaser and speaks, there is a look of defeat on Emlyn's face. "Are you insane? Do you honestly think that he's going to bargain with you? He isn't. He's going to take his son back and you'll get nothing except an even angrier governor. Did you ever think that the retribution he takes for this isn't going to be taken out of your back but perhaps someone else's? Someone who is innocent of any wrong doing?" He adds, "Or do you not care about Bajoran lives at all anymore? Are you so blinded by hatred that you're willing to sacrifice innocent lives to have it sated?" All the same, he does draw his phaser, but he doesn't fire. His attention is on Tanen.

Haven was just waiting for Tanen to do what he's done, pull a weapon on her. She nods at something, perhaps Taimol's words, perhaps something else. "I can only hope that the Prophets will forgive you for the deaths you will caused to be rained down upon their people with this course of action. If you wish to kill a child for the sake of hatred, you will need to kill me first." To back up her words, she fires, her hand steady.

Thant hesitates - after all, the phaser is still on the maximum setting. Thus he is slow, as needs must his thumb has to move, and- He does lower the setting. But he doesn't fire. He begins to lower the phaser, in fact - and then Haven speaks. The phaser whips up again, and, apparently picking one of Tanen's men at random, he fires. Since another one of them is bound to shoot him imminently - which one hardly seems to matter anyway. "Loyalty," he mutters.

. o O Thant thinks, "...and service. It is no doubt her vision more than mine - so she should choose the path."

. o O Taimol thinks, "Don't they see? They're being just as bad as them. Bajoran killing Bajoran. Human killing Bajoran. Cardassian killing Bajoran. Bajoran killing Cardassian. All they're doing is perpetuating the cycle of violence. The Bajorans would say that they are fighting for the freedom of their people. The Cardassians would say they are fighting to protect a child. They're -both- noble causes."

. o O Thant feels calm. So calm that he actually feels a brief burst of surprise at how calm he feels. Unfortunately, that calm is promptly shattered - and resolute, sad determination springs up in its place. And grief.

As Haven, Emlyn and Niel talk in the face on the oncoming fight Tanen and his men raise their weapon and bolts of energy cut across the dark room, lighting it up in a moment. The colored blasts from the phasers turn to bright white and the room blinks out in another flash. It is replaced again by the washed out image of the Upper Mall on the station. All of them stand there now, together. A Prophet in the image of Ghorev is walking towards them. "Not all who claim to follow us are pure. Many use our name, or our suffering, to cover their own deeds. Kan Tanen said he followed us, but his pagh was dark and his mind broken." A quick flash and the image changes to the bridge of the Thomas Paine. A prophet in th image of Balin is there, sitting in the Captain's Chair. "You were pure of faith and heart, and follow that faith. Would that more of our followers did that then their pagh's would not have become tainted." Another flash and now they stand in the turbolift with a mirror Taimol present. "Kan Tanen is still alive, even after all that happened. He is happy and his children are alive and protected." Another flash and they're back on the Thomas Paine with Prophets looking like Niel Haven and Thant sitting at Conn and Operations. "The Bane of Jeraddo could not silence his anger in blood, no matter how much flowed. Yet he lost something that can never be replaced, his innocent child." The Prophet-as-Niel trails off and the the Prophet-as-Thant speaks. "You were willing to stand, even for your enemy, and follow your faith," says the Prophet to Thant. "And yours," to each of the others present. "There are enemies disguised as enemies and enemies disguised as friends, but the worst enemy is one inside of yourself if you don't follow your faith." Again the white light flashes and now Haven stands alone in the Observation Garden. Three prophets walk among the trees. "What is your biggest question?" Another asks, "What is the one thing we can answer?" The last remains quiet, standing again in the image of Haven's mother.

When the final image shimmers before her and Haven stands in the Garden, her expression is caught some where between relief and shock. She faces the Prophets now, more then a little shaky. Her mouth opens to say something then closes. She's silent for a long moment before she tries again to speak. "Many of my hearts questions have been answered this night. The one that remains, I fear, is one that only I can answer for myself with time."

Haven takes a deep breath and slowly blows it out before she asks, her voice seeming small to her ears. "How do I reconcile my Faith with who and what I am without diminishing one or the other?"

"You can not," comes the answers from the Prophet who is her mother. "You have chosen two paths which can not meet and while you travel both you must follow both. You faith can guide you, and your life can be yours. The two are not the same and do not have to meet." The answer given the white light slowly fades in, then winks out in a second. All of the group are lying on beds arranged in a small room. Several men and woman move between the beds, including a doctor and nurse, checking the patients. This is the scene as they begin to wake.

Taimol slowly sits up, putting his hand on his chest as if to make sure he's all in one piece.

Thant, as before when waking up unexpectedly, sits bolt upright. "Wha..." Well. Bang goes originality. He coughs, clearing his throat. Said clearly, although with a hint of a shudder in his tone, he asks anyone and everyone - "Are we really back?"

Haven all but leaps from the bed and stands there a moment, her breathing harsh as she looks around, taking in where she is and what condition she's in as well. Once she realizes that all is well, she grins, an actual happy grin. "I hope so!" she answers Thant before she reaches out to kiss his cheek. "Thank you" she tells him before she moves to check her brother and the others.

Emlyn doesn't sit up immediately, but instead seems to absorb his surroundings. Once he gets an idea of location, he sits up and looks around the room. Just as he did in the vision, he looks for his companions to make sure everyone returned safely.

Taimol slides off the bed, smoothing his robes. "The Prophets are not jailers," he replies to Thant. "They are teachers and guides. I will, however, caution you to not speak of this with anyone beyond this room. What you have seen and learned are for you and you alone, only meant to be reflected upon in meditation and prayer. They do not give these gifts lightly."

The prylar nods in agreement with Taimol, then looks to the vedek. "Interesting, Vedek that just before this we were discussing those who deserve a different sort of justice from the prophets." Emlyn adds, "A rougher justice. I won't say it's coincidence of course, simply interesting. I don't believe in coincidences."

Thant rather blushes, eyes wide with surprise - which rather wipes out the melancholy sadness which had been resting there, before. He splutters a bit, clears his throat. "Uhm. Well. You're, ah, very welcome, indeed." He shakes his head, a brief, rueful grin lifting his lips for an instant. Softly, he speaks - again, it's not to anyone in particular. He's just -saying- it. "I feel like a man blessed with great answers," another shake of his head, "yet I do not know yet what the questions may be."

. o O Thant feels a first shock of surprise - surprise at contact - and then, a slow rush of confusion, and grief, and all that comes between. Then comes the second shock of confusion, sharper and greater than the first.

Haven seems almost at peace as she sits beside her brothers bed, one hand pushing the hair back off his forehead. "We have been blessed" she says in agreement with Thant.