Forgotten Past (Pt. 3)

Posted on Mon Oct 5th, 2020 @ 1:01am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant Commander S'hib

Mission: Season 3: Episode 5: Shoreleave
Location: Ashalla; Bajor
1490 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

Naxea materialized, along with S'hib in Bajor's capitol. The sun shined brightly in the blue sky that wasn't blocked by tall circular buildings. Lush trees and bushes lined several spots in the city. She was still amazed at the beauty of Bajor with all that it had been through. The thought filled her with pride as she looked to S'hib. "Well, thankfully we're here, finally. We should meet with Vedek Toral at his monestary."

"You know, I don't think any of my kind have ever been to Bajor before," S'hib replied as he looked around, trying to take in the scenery before following Naxea. "It's not what I expected..." he said with a coy smile.

"Oh?" she asked as they walked towards the eastern part of the city. "What were you expecting?"

"I don't know, but the air is nice... and the architecture is beautiful," He smiled, gently nudging his head over to lean atop hers. "Even after all its been through..." S'hib said softly while pulling her close, somewhat implying the parallels between her and Bajor.

"It hasn't been an easy road," she commented as they neared the monastery that Vedek Toral was located in. She could remember vividly the scorched planetside left in the Cardassian's wake as they withdrew--the burning and collapsing buildings, destroyed dams, and burned crops.

"The most important roads tend to be the ones that need building before you can walk on them..." S'hib replied, gently squeezing her hand as they carried on, content in the silence as they approached a large structure.

"Well, here we are," she said, coming to a well sized circular building with a red hue and symbols of Bajoran prophets in it's walls. Near the entrance was a fountain. Near it stood an elder figure in Vedek Robes, staring into the fountain. Naxea recognized the man from her communications with him. "Vedek Toral?" she asked, approaching him.

The man turned to Naxea and smiled. "Naxea. It is good that you could come. Who is your friend?" he asked, looking at S'hib.

"This is Lieutenant S'hib. He insisted on coming and knows the reason I am here."

"Well somebody has to look after her..." He grinned as his hooves clicked to a stop, his large hand extended awkwardly... unsure if the human customary greeting would be better or worse than the one his people used.

Vedek Toral looked at the Sequus' hand. He had personally never met them but had heard stories about them from travelers. He shook the hand with a slight bow. "Follow my to my chambers, please."

Naxea motioned for S'hib to follow her as they entered the monastery. Inside, there was a smell on incense with religious tapestries hanging from the walls. Lighting was dimmed and the floors polished. Several people were inside the Nave section, praying as the trio made their way past and up the stairs. Soon, they entered a medium-sized room with a window overlooking the court yard that was located behind a desk and chair. Toral moved to the desk and produced a small isolinear chip and inserted it into his desk monitor. "Please, have a seat."

S'hib had up until now, been on the verge of sneezing from all the incense, this room was thankfully full of much fresher air.

"Think my nose is burning..." He muttered quietly to himself as he lagged behind, eventually taking a seat with Naxea.

Naxea sat down in one of two chairs opposite of the desk as Toral activated the monitor with the press of a button. On screen was the image of a complex of dark grey buildings, surrounded by thick walls near the base of a mountain.

"This is where we believe the lost Bajorans are being held," Toral said.

"That doesn't exactly look like a holiday home..." S'hib said before finally sneezing loudly. "Sorry." he said as he sunk into the seat, leaning somewhat away from Naxea.

"Do you have any pictures of Bajorans there?" Naxea asked, studying the picture.

Toral shook his head. "No. This photo was taken from a long range probe in the area. But the location and design of the base matches what little data I do have on the Sarva Three Outpost."

Naxea sighed. "How did you come by this information, Vedek?"

"By an unknown Agent in the Cardassian Union. He refused to give his identity," Toral explained.

"This could all be a ploy to stir up bad blood between the Union and Bajor... if they catch a Bajoran," He said, inclining his head to Naxea. "Sneaking around a military complex... well..."

"What would that accomplish?" Naxea questioned. "Bajor is a member of the Federation. If this became public, it would cause a backlash against Cardassia that could include war, which I don't believe the Cardassian Union is prepared for." It was true this didn't sit right with her but if there was any truth to it, she had to find out--even to just know what happened to those people.

Vedek Toral nodded his head. "I trust in this source as he has given me valuable information in the past."

This was a shock to Naxea. A Bajoran Vedek in regular communication with an unknown agent within the Cardassian Union? "Are you working for the Cardassians, Vedek?"

Toral shook his head sharply. "No...no...this agent reached out to me and we...exchange information about the on goings of our people."

Naxea boiled with anger. Toral, a well known and respected Vedek freely admitted that he exchanges information with this unknown agent! "You collaborate with the Cardassians?!"

Vedek held up his hands. "No! Nothing classified. He is simply interested in the every day life of the Bajorans on the planet. I never share anything military related."

"Any specific Bajorans, by any chance?" S'hib interjected, turning his head somewhat to the side to get a better look with one eye on Toral. "Because I fear that, just because you don't find the information particularly important... doesn't mean someone else won't, perhaps relatives of those they still have... that they wish to silence for example." He finished, watching the man carefully for subtle body language.

"He is interested about everyone. From me, to the monastery, to the on goings of Deep Space Nine, to the politics of the day. He mentioned that he does miss Quark's Bar on Deep Space Nine, however," Toral said with a shrug.

"Likely a Cardassian Officer or former officer," Naxea noted.

"Naxea, maybe we should let Starfleet know what's going on..." He added naively.

"And what?" she asked. "So they can debate it for months or years? For the Cardassian Union to deny it while they kill them and erase any existence of them? No, we need concrete proof."

"I agree. I have already tried with Starfleet and have been ignored by them due to lack of evidence. They care more about maintaining peace with the Cardassians than investigating," Toral stated bitterly.

This all felt wrong he thought, conflicted between his uniform and what his gut was telling him. "How do we get this proof then?" He said cautiously.

Naxea knew that tone. "We go and get it," she said simply. "If you're not in this one-hundred percent, then leave. These are my people and they have suffered and endured too much at the hands of the Cardassians and the Dominion. Nobody else is willing to help because it's inconvenient for them."

"Naxea, I could have very well stopped you back on the Elysium... I didn't." He said sternly, turning to face her. "And I'm not going to now, but that doesn't mean I'm not concerned..."

Toral watched the exchange with interest. "I have booked a Ferengi freighter that will be traveling through the Sarva System and purchased a shuttle, loaded with weapons. Getting to Sarva Three undetected however will be up to you."

"How were you able to pay for that Vedek? That couldn't have been cheap," Naxea asked, turning to face the man.

Toral shrugged. "Monastery donations have been good this year. The Ferengi Freighter latinum will be departing soon."

Naxea shook her head as she looked over at S'hib. She was hoping to get some rest but rest would have to wait for a bit longer. "Let's go."

S'hib stood and bowed his long neck toward Toral, an ear following Naxea as he did. "Thank you," He said quietly as Naxea walked away. "As dangerous as this might be I think shes going to enjoy this more than the holiday I had planned..." He said with an awkward smile before hurrying around to catch up.

Stepping briskly through the city, Naxea made her way to the nearest public transporter with S'hib in tow. Her mind was on what was ahead but also on S'hib. A part of her didn't want him to endanger himself because of her and yet she contemplated how integral S'hib was to her life now.

TBC....