Beginning: A Star Trek Novel (New Frontier Reloaded Book 2)

by ROVER MARIE TOWLE

  Kejal shook his head. "Hover trams can take a beating. They'll be fine."

  He liquefied and reformed looking perfectly dry with puddle of water on the ground by his feet.

  Thunder roared overhead, shaking the windows. Kejal grabbed an unused wineglass and opened the door far enough to collect several large hailstones. One was almost half the size of his palm!

  Aleexa reached past him and moved the takeo plant closer to the door. Over the past few weeks it grew six inches taller. She picked off its largest leaves and hummed to herself while grinding them up in the blender.

  Odo and Kira still hadn't left their freshly wedded bubble of happiness.

  Kejal chuckled at them. He peeked in the bedroom. Mora sat on his bed, quietly praying before his prayer mandala. He wore a his warmest robe over a striped flannel nightshirt. His tuxedo lay neatly folded inside its box by the closet.

  When he finished his prayer, Mora scooted backwards and laid himself down. He groaned with every movement, briefly revealing the pain he hid during the wedding.

  "I'll get this put away." Kejal hurried to shove the box into the back corner of the closet near the rolled up cloth coffin.

  "Kejal."

  "Yes?"

  Mora exhaled noisily. "I think I've reached the 'dying' part of this damn disease. The pain is constant unless I medicate myself. Every morning, I wake up and wonder what I won't be able to do anymore that day. I'm afraid I may not be a pleasant person to be around much longer."

  Kejal felt a stabbing sensation somewhere in his chest.

  "Don't worry, father." He placed his hand on top of Mora's. "I don't care how unpleasant it gets in here. I'll take care of you."

  Mora sniffed. Then he smiled, his eyes watering. "Wasn't that a beautiful wedding?"

  "The best wedding ever." Kejal replied. "We're all glad you were part of it." He showed his father the glass of hailstones. "Quite an angry storm, eh?"

  "Oh, but storms on a wedding are lucky. By weathering that storm, they showed they'll weather any storm that comes their way."

  Yes... Kejal thought, and I think I know what the next storm will bring.

  Chapter 14: The Dying Process

  Time got lost somewhere in the days following Odo's wedding.

  Mora's pain worsened almost overnight. High doses of triptacederine combined with the metorapan patch and takeo smoothies offered his only relief. The dexalin stopped helping his fatigue and the cough aggravated his back, so he discontinued it. He had trouble getting out of bed, and he couldn't bathe without assistance. Aleexa got him a bedside commode with a rig to transport his waste right into the bathroom toilet. He knew he was losing ground after he needed Aleexa's help to take a shower.

  Sleep became Mora's favorite escape. He slept often and dreamed every time. Sometimes his slumber sent him chaotic, abstract visions. Others seemed as real as a holosuite program.

  And then came the morning he woke to Leruu petting his hair. She smiled, crinkling her lovely green eyes. Her breath tickled his brow when she bent to kiss his nose ridges.

  "Good morning," she said.

  Mora blinked at hearing her voice. He caught her hand. "Leruu?"

  "Who else, silly?" Leruu rubbed his upper arms. "How do you feel?"

  "Awful," Mora admitted. "But with you here? Better."

  Leruu climbed onto the bed with him. Mora's throat ached when her arms wrapped around his shoulders. Yet something about her felt different. He let his gaze wander downward to the swell of her gravid belly. His heart caught somewhere in his throat.

  She followed the line of his eyes. "The baby is due in two weeks."

  "Oh, darling..."

  "Do you want to feel him kick?"

  "Him?"

  "I'm still sure it's a boy." Leruu placed his hand on her swollen belly. It felt soft, yet strong under his hand-- like a hard boiled egg after peeling off its shell. Something tiny swished beneath his palm.

  "Oh!" Mora gasped, meeting Leruu's eyes. "I can't believe you're making that."

  "Well..." She grinned impishly, "You helped get it started."

  Then she laughed that wonderful laugh of hers. The baby inside her moved some more.

  Leruu visited again late in the evening. No one else saw her, yet Mora never thought anything of it.

  "Close your eyes, Pol. I want to show you something."

  Mora did what she asked. Leruu helped him sit up.

  "Now you may look," she said.

  They stood together on an asteroid within an unfamiliar solar system. Mora saw a blue and brown planet twirling around its central G-class star. The planet's gray-green moon orbited extremely close to it.

  "This is your star, Pol."

  "My star?" Mora flashed back to Kejal naming a blob in 'his' nebula. "Oh. Oh my..."

  He looked towards the galactic hub. Except, there appeared to be two, and the neat stellar bands denoting the Milky Way were distorted beyond recognition. Giant clouds of star birth lit the darkness like newly polished jewels.

  "So it's true...this galaxy is colliding with another."

  Leruu nodded, looping her arm through his. "Yes."

  He closed his eyes and breathed the floral scent of her hair. How he did so when there wasn't any air never occurred to him.

  "I must look so old to you," whispered Mora.

  Leruu didn't answer.

  Mora opened his eyes. He was in his bedroom again, staring at the blue daylight outside his window. The hand on his shoulder wasn't Leruu's.

  "Good morning." Kira sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry to wake you up. It's almost lunchtime. Aleexa wants to know if you'd like any soup."

  "Yes. Thank you." Mora covered a yawn and stretched. He thought better of it after invisible hot pokers jabbed his back. His eyes screwed themselves shut. "Oh!"

  "Are you all right?"

  "The pain is pretty bad." He admitted. "Would you please hand me my triptacederine hypo and the white card? Ah, thank you."

  Kira patted his hand. "I'll go let Aleexa know you want lunch."

  Mora reached under his nightshirt collar and peeled off yesterday's metorapan patch. He stuck the new one onto his hip-- Aleexa said to place it on a new site every day-- and dosed himself with the triptacederine. The sharp pains in his back cooled away into nothing.

  "Coming in!" Aleexa announced. "Are you decent to be seen?"

  He had to laugh. She saw him naked yesterday, so why did it matter?

  "I'm clothed, if that's what you mean."

  She stepped in carrying a steaming bowl. "I always like to ask. Dignity matters. Plus, you stepped into a towel. I only saw your bottom."

  Mora let Aleexa roll a tray up to the bed. He stirred the chunky, delicious smelling soup and watched steam pour into the cool air.

  "I keep dreaming about Leruu."

  "Oh?" Aleexa leaned forward. Her tender smile warmed Mora's heart. "What sort of dreams?"

  "She is..." Mora gestured at his own stomach to indicate a pregnant belly. "I felt the baby kick. She told me it's due in a few weeks. When she died, she was only six weeks along."

  "Mm, and Bajoran women don't show until the second month, right?"

  "Mmhmm." Mora tasted the first salty spoonful of soup. Somehow Aleexa managed to create a rainbow of flavors. He enjoyed the chewy bits of cabbage she'd added at his request. "Leruu had the most adorable sneezing fits. They always came in clusters of five at the same time every morning. You knew it was ten-hundred at the first set, and ten-hundred and five at the second set."

  "Was she a scientist, too?"

  "No. Leruu was extremely smart, but she hid it and worked with the laboratory cleaning crew." Mora ate another bite. "She listened in on Cardassian talk around the lab and helped smuggle ingredients for medicine and information to a small Resistance cell." He sighed, his eyes far away. "Leruu could sweet-talk you into believing the sky is purple. It's a miracle she was never caught."

  Aleexa giggled, her eyes twinkling. "I'm sorry I never met her. Sh
e sounds like someone I'd definitely get along with."

  "Leruu would have adored you. She was kind to practically everyone...except the Cardassians." Mora licked the spoon and finished the soup. "I need a shave."

  "I'll get your supplies."

  A good shave fixed a lot of ills.

  Fifteen minutes later, Mora let Aleexa help him into his favorite chair by the oval window. He held a small PADD in his left hand.

  Odo, Kira, Kejal and Aleexa sat together on the couch. They gathered at his request.

  "I know this is difficult, but I want to get this done now. I don't want you scrambling around after I'm gone. This PADD has all the information you need for planning my funeral." Mora cleared his throat. He'd put this off so long because it made him emotional. "Keep it small, and bury me beside Leruu at sunset as soon as you can after my death. Odo, I have a copy of my treatise...I would like you to read it before I'm buried."

  Odo's blue eyes widened. He folded his hands in his lap. "I can do that."

  Mora nodded once. "Kejal, I have the chants I'd like sung over my grave." He read them off the PADD.

  "Okay...I know those. I'll do it, father." Kejal breathed. Almost humorously, he mirrored Odo's stiff posture.

  "Nerys, I understand your duties on Deep Space Nine may mean you can't be present." Mora said, focusing on her. "Please don't trouble yourself over it. If you are here, I'd like you to help carry my coffin."

  "I'll be here for the funeral." Kira laid her hands on the two clasped pairs flanking her. Her strength held the two Changelings beside her together. Somehow.

  "Aleexa," Mora focused on her, "If you're able, I'd like you to carry my coffin, too." He gazed at people gathered on the couch. "I don't want a spectacle or a three hour chant. All I need is a simple burial in the presence of those who stood at my side in my final days."

  Kejal suddenly hopped off the couch. He curled up in Mora's lap and wrapped his arms around his neck. Mora set the PADD aside and embraced him.

  "I'm not ready," Kejal whispered. "It's going to happen, but I'm not ready."

  Mora kissed his ear. "You will be when the time comes."

  Aleexa and Kira discretely slipped into the guest bedroom to speak quietly amongst themselves. Odo stayed on the couch. Always just out of reach behind his mental stronghold.

  Except now, Leruu sat beside Odo, petting his hand, and Odo had no idea. She winked before disappearing in the time it took Mora to glance at the clock.

  He closed his eyes and stroked Kejal's hair.

  "Odo?"

  "Yes, Doctor Mora?"

  "I'm sorry if I spoiled your wedding."

  "What?" Odo balked. "You...you didn't."

  "It's only been two days since you got married, and I've declined so much."

  "Three, actually...you slept through most of yesterday."

  Kejal snorted and rubbed his cheek against Mora's shoulder. "You kept talking to Leruu in your sleep. I didn't want anybody to wake you up and take those dreams away. You looked so happy."

  "I was," said Mora.

  "As I was saying..." Odo squared his shoulders. "You haven't spoiled anything. We all knew this was coming. The wedding was the surprise." He tipped his head towards the guest bedroom.

  "A pleasant surprise." Mora beamed. "I think I'm ready to lie down again. Assist me?"

  Kejal climbed off Mora's lap. Odo extended a hand. They helped Mora up and walked him back into his bedroom.

  That evening, he had trouble keeping his supper down. Aleexa made excellent ratamba stew. Its delicious smell filled up the whole house. Mora ate a whole bowl full, and spent the rest of the night vomiting.

  Odo commed Aleexa when Mora brought up blood. She came and gave him an antiemetic, and the heaving stopped.

  "I think it's time I moved in, sweetie." Aleexa said soothingly. "I can share the guest bedroom with Nerys. I'll bring a futon."

  "There is a mattress hidden in the wall. Pull the handles behind the door and you have a spare bed." Mora made a face. "Why am I vomiting? I felt fine this morning, and I know I don't have an infection."

  Aleexa smoothed his hair back. "Your digestive organs aren't getting enough oxygenated blood. They're slowing down. It's a normal part of the process."

  "What can I do?"

  "Small, light meals might be best."

  Mora closed his eyes. He used to be a big eater until recently. "Thank you...I’m sorry for waking you."

  "No, don't apologize, sweetheart. Times like this are when you need me the most."

  "I appreciate-- " Mora gagged and leaned over the bowl in his lap. Nothing came up. "False alarm."

  Aleexa gave him water to swish around in his mouth. "I'll sleep in the spare room tonight. I'll get the rest of my supplies tomorrow morning."

  Mora laid back. He wiped a hand across his face. "I'm getting close to the end, aren't I?"

  "Yes, Pol, you are." Aleexa never sugarcoated anything. Mora liked that. She leaned forward, fixing him in a serious gaze. "Is there anything you want to do that hasn't been done?"

  He nodded without hesitation. "It's...a private matter I need to resolve on my own. I hope I have enough time. It's going so fast now."

  She rubbed his hand. "It's a blessing. It really is."

  "Now watch, I'll end up living another six months." Mora chuckled at the irony. "I never do things the conventional way."

  "Well, good!" Aleexa replied jokingly. "I never liked conventional men anyway!"

  They both snorted. Aleexa emptied and washed the sick bowl.

  Mora drifted in and out of slumber. He dreamed about Cardassians pouring acid into a beaker of golden fluid. The liquid screamed. Its pain traveled straight through his lower back. He awoke gasping for air.

  "Shh, father. It's time for your medicine." Kejal changed the metorapan patch and gave him his triptacederine. He handed Mora his oxygen mask. "Here."

  Mora breathed the sterile-smelling air. He slowly resumed his sleep. This time, he rested peacefully.

  .o

  Aleexa's discrete departure from the guest bedroom barely registered in Odo's consciousness. Somehow, he'd reverted to his gelatinous state in his sleep, but Kira's body was the dam keeping him on the bed. He assumed his humanoid form and nibbled on Kira's ear.

  "Nerys..."

  "Hmmm?" Kira answered. He loved her croaky just-awakened voice.

  "I have a bowl of koganka pudding."

  "Ugh!" She pulled the pillow over her head.

  Odo chuckled, kissing her bare shoulder. She hit him in the face with the pillow.

  "Spousal abuse is a crime." Odo smirked.

  "So are bad jokes first thing in the morning."

  "I never joke."

  "Ugh. I want a divorce."

  They snickered at the same time.

  Odo grabbed the pillow, flung it over his shoulder and caught Kira's wrists. "You are under arrest for spousal abuse."

  "Ooh, is anything I say going to be used against me?" Kira squirmed in his grasp.

  "Possibly." Odo morphed his hands into handcuffs. "Resisting arrest is also a crime. How do you plead?"

  Kira licked the end of his nose. She grinned with fire in her eyes. "Guilty."

  Odo's eyes glinted. "Then your sentence is death by a thousand drops."

  His body glistened as he liquefied. He oozed drop by drop under the front of her nightgown. Beads of his substance slithered across her erogenous zones. He flowed through softness, wetness and warmth until her gasps of release sent him rippling into ecstasy.

  Odo reconstituted himself when the chaos of the moment passed. He spent a short time as a puddle between her breasts before slipping to the floor and regaining his humanoid shape.

  Kira rolled over and kissed him as he rose. "I wish I didn't have to go back to Deep Space Nine again. Pol is getting worse. I don't think he'll live much longer."

  He glanced at the sand mandala hanging above the bed. "I know, but it's probably for the best. Do you want me to accompany you to the space
port?"

  She shook her head. "I want you to stay here and take care of Pol. He needs you, Odo."

  Odo hung his head. He couldn't decide if the emotion curling in his chest was anguish or shame. Having Kira around gave him a great excuse to avoid seeing Doctor Mora's illness advancing.

  "I'll see if he needs anything."

  Kira squeezed his arm. Odo kissed her brow.

  He crossed the living room and poked his head into Doctor Mora's bedroom. Just in time to see him miss his sick bowl and splatter vomit all down his chest.

  Doctor Mora muttered obscenities. The tiny dinner napkin he grabbed did not even touch the mess on his clothes.

  Odo hurried into the room. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

  "Odo, wait, I-- " Doctor Mora heaved into the bowl a second time.

  Disgusted, Odo averted his gaze and praised his inability to smell.

  "Aleexa will help me bathe."

  "She isn't here right now. You aren't sitting in emesis until she gets back. Are you through?"

  "Yes. That was breakfast."

  At that, Odo helped Doctor Mora stand and assisted him into the bathroom. "I'll help you get into the shower. Take your nightshirt off and give it to me once you're inside."

  "That's a strange way to do it." Doctor Mora replied.

  "And more private."

  "You have a point."

  Odo steadied Doctor Mora until he stood safely inside the shower. A few seconds later, he was presented with the vomit stained nightshirt. Odo wadded it up and shoved it into the bedroom replicator for cleaning.

  The shower hissed.

  Doctor Mora called. "Odo, please, don't go far. Stay in the bathroom."

  Something in his voice stopped Odo from walking away. A thread of...panic?

  "Doctor Mora?"

  Odo saw Doctor Mora sitting on the bench in the middle of the shower. Hot water poured down his back. The bones closest to his skin stuck out in sharp relief. His ribs were visible, though not overly so, and his arms and legs seemed thinner than Odo remembered.

  He was a hardy man, once. Now, his flesh resembled clothing too large for its frame. Everything sagged around his bones.