Tear of the Prophet

Posted on Wed Dec 4th, 2019 @ 12:05am by Commodore Loatha Targaryen & President Gruzy of New Xindus & Councilor Jahra Naron of Bajor
Edited on on Thu Jan 2nd, 2020 @ 5:08pm

1,176 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Atlantis
Location: Federation Embassy, Cardassia Prime
Timeline: 2429-12-03, 22:30

Fleet Admiral Lynz crossed through the large isolation door into the secured innermost compartment of the Federation Embassy on Cardassia Prime. The Cardassians had relinquished the Orb that they had recovered and it had been brought to the Embassy in preparation for its return to Bajor to its rightful place amongst the Bajoran people. It was an important moment, and it was one that she was sure they would never forget. She was sure that the Bajoran Ambassador would never let them.

Entering the room she was surprised by someone she saw standing nearby, "Mister President?"

The tall Xindi Reptilian nodded, "Sorry to surprise you, Admiral, but I couldn't miss this. I'm joining you by secured hologram from Earth. I couldn't let the Bajorans feel as if we didn't care for them and their beliefs."

Lynz nodded, "Of course, Mister President. Have you seen the Orb?"

"I have been waiting. They are bringing it now," he answered. "Where is Ambassador Jahra?"

"I am here," Naron said as he entered the chambers. He gave a smile, but his face was drawn and pinched. "Admiral," he said by way of greeting. "I appreciate the two of you being here. Is there any particular ceremony the Cardassians wish?"

"Not at this time," the President answered holding a ghostly diplomatic PADD in his hand. "The Cardassians know that they're in the wrong this time. They want to get this back into your custody as quickly as possible. That's one of the reasons Admiral Lynz and her personal flagship escorted you here."

Lynz nodded, remembering her earlier conversation with the Bajoran Ambassador, "Bajor is an important part of the Federation, Ambassador. We wouldn't be anywhere else."

"Yes," Naron said, "and there are many on Bajor who would do well to consider that more." He folded his hands into the sleeves of his robes. "And some in this room."

Rather than engage, the President looked toward the diplomatic aide. "Envoy? The Orb?"

A moment later the door opposite them slid open with an imposing Cardassian wheeling in the Orb atop a hover trolley. Gruzy smiled as he saw it, hoping that it would provide a strong future for the relationship between the Bajorans and Cardassians. He was about to speak when something strange caught his eye. All the Orbs he'd ever seen had glowed blue, this one was different. It was... crimson?

"What is the meaning of this?" Naron asked, his contrition turning to anger as he glared at the Cardassian. "You dare blaspheme?"

"Why is it red?" Gruzy asked genuinely confused.

The Cardassian answered, "The Orb is exactly as it was retrieved by our military from the Nyberrite Alliance. We have done nothing to it except bring it here."

Working to master the dread that filled him, and the fear that fueled it, he went to the cart and closed away the crimson orb lest it activate. He wasn't sure what would happen then, the Prophets gave many different types of orbs - those of prophecy and memory being the most well known.

He had to contact the Vedek Assembly quickly but first. "Mister President, I'm afraid to have to tell you that the galaxy is in grave danger. I do not exaggerate when I say that this may be the biggest threat we've yet faced."

He turned his back to the now covered orb. "I'm afraid the Pah Wraiths have escaped their prison and..." he shook his head, afraid to even speak the words. He swallowed hard. "If they've gained a foothold in the Celestial Temple, as this Orb suggest they may have, then they are close to their goal."

"What can we do to help?" Lynz questioned quickly. She looked at the Orb taking in the sight of the crimson red artifact, gently being pulled toward it. She brushed it off, shaking it away mentally as she watched the inner energy radiate. It wasn't too different from the energy she felt when she was on the Gettysburg in the center of the galaxy when the Preserver escaped confinement there.

"Ambassador," Gruzy interrupted as the hologram shimmered from the interference being caused. "What are your thoughts on this?"

"I need..." Naron said swallowing hard against ramifications of what was happening. "I need to speak with the Vedek Assembly." He stared at the cabinet where even now the seams of the edges glowed a baleful crimson. "We may need to make a journey to the Temple."

He sighed deeply. "I don't mean through the wormhole passage but to the Temple itself and try to contact the Prophets. Or," he turned to the others, fear evident in his eyes and set of lips, "save them."

Gruzy looked at Admiral Lynz, "Will you arrange for the Ambassador's transport to Bajor?"

"I will, Mister President," the Fleet Admiral answered. "We'll return to the ship and proceed there immediately. Ambassador, if you please we can continue to the ship. I will arrange heavy guard for the Orb. No one will have access to it."

"Thank you, Mister President," Naron said, turning away from the hologram. "Admiral, we'll need to also make sure to monitor anyone guarding the Orb. The Pah Wraiths are manipulative and insidious. It may be possible for the effects of the Orb to escape its confinement and affect others."

He was already preparing to contact Bajor and order an immediate congress of the Vedek Assembly, while preparing for the onslaught of orders, requests, cajoling and outright demands for the Orb to be brought immediately to Bajor.

All of which he must refuse. Not until he knew if the Pah Wraiths were still in the Fire Caves, trapped away as they had been for the last hundred years, the final desperate act of Kai Wynn and the Emissary. If they were, it could be save to bring the Orb to Bajor where the Vedeks could destroy it and it's influence on the galaxy.

If not, if even one Wraith managed to escape, bringing the Orb close to them could be their plan, the key to the escape of all of them.

He sighed. Maybe being just a soldier in the militia wasn't so bad. He'd never have to deal with issues like this as such. "When you are ready, Admiral," he said, wanting to keep himself between the Orb and anyone not fully cognizant of the danger it presented. Which meant anyone that considered the Prophets to be nothing more than 'wormhole aliens'.

"Move the Orb to the shuttle," the Admiral ordered. "I will personally pilot the Orb back to the ship under quarantine protocol. Ambassador, I will have you transported back up for your safety. If something goes wrong I will have the shuttle self-destructed from remote. Let's get moving. We haven't much time."

"Yes," Naron said, taking a last look at the Orb cabinet for the moment. He then waited for the transport but, unbidden and most suredly a product of his exposure to the Wraith Orb, he thought now he would determine if his faith in the Federation was justified.

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