Cast Out

Posted on Sat Jan 16th, 2021 @ 11:29pm by Lieutenant Commander Melanie D’BrooNi- Haistro & Commander Peter Horn

1,606 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - Echoes Of An Empire
Location: Counselling offices
Timeline: MD7 18:00

ON:

“You want to do what?” Mel asked quietly.

"I want to try and block the memories you have of those bodies," Peter explained quietly, "It is not something I offer lightly, or to anyone but I can see what this is doing to you. I have known you for far too long for that."

“Do you think you can? I mean actually meld what with me having a symbiont?” she asked. The idea he could block the images in her memories was very tempting.

“Oh... Oh Peter. They just went quiet. All of them.” All her hosts had it seemed disappeared into the centre core of D’BrooNi. The stillness was suddenly wonderful. They must be vacating to let him Mel assumed. She could on occasion sent them there when required. She had so Keiben could read just her..... “I think they are onboard, ” she smiled. Yes that must be it or they would all be talking and arguing.

She thought for a moment and decided not seeing those bodies would be very helpful. She would be able to work better. “Yes. Yes please let's try it. Thank you.” She knew and understood he wouldn't offer this treatment for just anyone.

Peter nodded and gestured for her to be comfortable and relax. He sat across from her, closed his eyes for a moment and drew a few deep breaths to centre himself. Then, he reached out with his left hand and touched specific points to the side of her face, murmuring the incantation that would initiate their joining of minds.

Mel knew she trusted him and was used to rapid images from memories but didn't expect to get as much off Peter as she did. Then her symbiont reminded her that she and Peter had swapped consciousness years back. Maybe some of it was from that.

"He's here .... the invader ...... "one of them screamed out. "Push him BACK."

Peter grimaced as he steered himself into her memories, trying to find the specific ones that haunted her so. I am here to help. He told the myriad of voices inside her mind. Let me help.

Inside Mels mind she was looking down upon high at Peter and all her symbionts hosts circling round him.

"I don't trust him," one a male stepped forward looking him up and down. "You're helping her. Looking for the T'Kon secrets."

Calmly staying within the circle, Peter shook his head. No, I am not. I only want to help her deal with the memories, so she can function. So she can live. I am not after her secrets.

"We are not giving them to you. No memories."

"He's pushing," a beautiful regal looking female stepped forward. "I will push him. Last time he invaded I fought with him for control."

Leiko, no. Peter implored the female, wondering if he was supposed to get past the circle. She is suffering, I need to help. Let me pass.

She flashed him a wicked smile. "You remember me. Oh in another time Peter Horn," she looked him up and down. "But there's a process. And all have to be in agreement to block."

"Find his weakness. Push him out," another said firmly.

"Connor ....." Leiko uttered but one word.

Peter went still at the mention of that name, intense guilt washing over him as he was drawn back to the memory where he'd been forced to kill the husband of someone he -still- admired a great deal. "I had no choice," he whispered, vivid memories of Connor's honourless death washing over him like a tidal wave. The man had not been in his right mind, he should've found another way, but the threat to his own life had been very present. He simply had no choice!

"No .... No ..." said Mel looking down. "Peter its okay. Leave him alone. I'm the current host. You do what I say. You all had your turn at control. I just want to get rid of the bodies flashing up every time I go in my office.

The circle around him looked pensive for a minute but they took a step away from Peter again.

"I'll find the memory," Mel said angry at them. Why were they being like this.

"NOOOOOOOO," bellowed Hal. It was like he grew bigger and higher up towards where Mel was above them in this bizarre mind space. Mel had got the memory and had it in the middle of them both but as she and Hal seemed to square off it started flickering. Glitching almost.

The pile in her office then suddenly a very different pile. Beings not familiar. In a place not familiar. Very alien. Being a doctor Mel could immediately tell they weren't normal bodies. Things had been done to these bodies. Terrible things. Then the emotions tied to the memory hit her and Peter. Fear.

"NO," Hal said firmly shoving her back. The memory disappeared and Mel was left stunned. No matter how she tried she couldn't pull it forward again. Hal grew smaller re-joining the circle and each host looked at Peter crossing their arms in front of them and turning away.

It was increasingly difficult to maintain the meld, and trying to isolate the memory that troubled her so. You must build a wall... wall the memory off. He suggested as even his mental image was starting to look strained. He flinched as the fear hit him like a brick. Focus...I cannot keep this up much longer.

Mel was trying to retrieve the memory again but a glance at Peter she knew he couldn't keep this up. How did one break a mind meld she wondered.

"Peter let go, this isn't going to work," she yelled out at him. The same image flashed. Another pile of bodies. Alien bodies.

"Nooo," Hal yelled up at her again. "Stay out"

He started to grow again and pushed her. Mel bolted upright suddenly in her body again.

"Peter, Peter," she pulled his fingers off her face trying to see if he was okay.

Peter slumped against the backrest of the couch, physically drained. It took a few seconds before he looked up at her, a haunted expression on his face. "It did not work, I am sorry," he whispered hoarsely.

"I don't care about that," the Trill said firmly. "All I care about right now is making sure your alright." She fussed over him, making him more comfortable on the couch before replicating some water and handing it to him. "Are you alright? What did she say to you?"

"You did not hear?" He gently pushed her away, wanting her to stop fussing and just give him some space. "I am fine, just...exhausted." He wondered if he actually could get up and walk away if he wanted to.

Mel looked disappointed at Peter trying to gloss over what had upset him so and in her head Mel called Leiko out. "You didn't," she muttered getting exactly what she needed from her. She had been too occupied trying to find that memory she hadn't during that surreal mind meld been keeping an eye on Peter the whole time in her mind.

"You need to forgive yourself for what happened with Connor. It was so long ago and you defended yourself," she told him firmly.

"How..." His expression turned anxious, almost pleading. "I do not know how."

“Well somehow K’Nara managed to forgive you so if she can you can yourself, ” Mel said firmly.

"Did she really?" Peter wasn't so sure of that, even if it was a long time ago. Somehow it still weighed very heavy on his shoulders. "Perhaps...in time," he finally conceded, "if only to do my son justice as he is named after a great man."

"She did," Mel told him. "And she moved past it in her life. You need to do the same."

"I will...try..." The counselor conceded. "Right now, however, we need to help you."

Mel nodded. "Well I'm open to other ideas. I don't think though that last one worked. I'm sorry about them. All of them behaving like that."

"Currently I do not really have other ideas." Peter cast her an apologetic look. "But I will have a think on it. Meanwhile, I want you to try and block those memories out yourself. Wall them off. Maybe the hosts or D'BrooNi can help?"

Mel nodded. "I will try convene. When they decide to speak again. This quietness is odd. I think now they might be punishing me for undergoing that. They didn't like you being there at all. I'm sorry Peter. I read the situation very wrong. I thought when they made no appeal against it they were onboard."

"There is nothing to be sorry for." The counsellor rubbed his temples, willing his headache away. "We will find a way, but right now, I think I need to go and lie down for a bit."

Mel nodded. “Feel better Peter. And if you don't come find me again and I’ll give you something for the pain.” She knew Harley would frog march him down to her anyway.

“Thank you for trying, ” she offered reaching the door. At least he hadn't been stuck in her body in his interaction with her hosts this time. D’BrooNi flashed those memories. Mel transferred also to Peters body temporary. It had been a very strange situation.

"Anything for an old friend," Peter answered with a smile, before walking out.

OFF:


Commander Peter Horn
Chief Counselor

Dr Mel D'BrooNi
CMO

 

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