JPL (Backlog)|Cpt. Dhej, Cmdr. Rinehart|"Closure" Part 3 (Venel)

Posted on 241505.23 @ 2:04am by Commander Tierney Rinehart

=/\=Meeting Room, Cold Station Theta=/\=

As the doors opened to admit the next participant, the Guardian nodded and said "Hello Tierney Rinehart. Please, take a seat, we will begin as soon as you are comfortable."

"Thank you." Tierney replied in kind, offering a small smile as she crossed the threshold and sunk slowly into a chair. Her legs crossed as she cast a glance from the guardian to where she knew Karim would enter and back, unsure of what was to transpire and yet all too aware of the ritual's importance. "Whenever you're ready." She nodded to them, doing her damnedest to relax.

The Guardian nodded, and began the ritual. Moments later, Karim entered the room, not sure what he'd see once Tierney was 'joined' with Venel.

The sudden calm and sense of warm water overtook the young Starling, washing her away on a tide of comfort to a plain of existence she never knew possible. It was like a handshake had happened and in that brief instant, she'd been picked up and set aside with gentle ease while someone else, another consciousness, took residence in the driver's seat of her body. There was darkness, and haze and then a sudden clarity as Venel overtook the proverbial throne and re-opened his new host's eyes.

"Well burn my biscuits..." The drawl was distinctly different. Something foreign and new. Instead of Tierney's melodic lilting, the voice was gruff and husky and tainted by some form of accent. Fingers rose to stroke along either side of the woman's distinctly feminine jaw, "Well that ain't quite right... Those definitely ain't right." Venel's eyes cast down at the landscape of his new body's ample bosom.

Stepping closer, Karim cleared his throat and said "Hello Venel. I'm Karim, is now a good time to talk?"

"Karim..." Venel's eyes narrowed in thought as he mulled the name over, "Can't say that I know you, Karim, but sure. I reckon now's as good a time as any considering I've been dead for quite awhile and suddenly woke up with a full D cup attached to my chest. Mind explaining that? Has medical science changed that much?"

Smiling as he took a seat beside him, Karim replied "So you're aware that you aren't really here, but part of the zhian'tara ritual correct? I'm Karim, the newest host of Dhej. I was looking forward to getting to know you a bit better."

For a short while there was silence, "I'm aware that I died and that after death there is no reincarnation..." He paused, "aside from the joining. That kinda counts.... But slow down, slick, you're the latest?" He asked, straightening up to study the young man before smiling, "Ritual me away, kid. We'll call it progress."

Nodding, he said "Yes, I was joined with Dhej about a year ago. A lot has happened to me since then, so I thought it would be a good thing to complete the ritual now to try to get some perspective on my life."

"Perspective, eh?" The husky voice chuckled and a hand vaguely gestured to the rest of the body it was attached to, "I like your idea of perspective."

Rolling his eyes, Karim replied "You always were a big fan of the ladies if I remember correctly. I do however want to learn more about you. I haven't really had a lot of time to explore a lot of your memories. I remember you were a scientist, and a politician?"

"Scientist and Politician to some, nutjob and conspiracy theorist to others." Venel's head shook with a wild grin, "But that's how it is. The one thing you can take away from me is the knowledge that you will never be able to make everyone happy in life. You have to work on making you, yourself, happy and then let everyone else fall where they may." The Star-child's shoulders rose and fell under the direction of the Trill's spirit, "If you don't follow that idea..." He sighed, "You're screwed before you even begin, destined to fail because you turn yourself into a door mat. In short, you do you and forge ahead to find true success, not just some jumbled bullshit idealist version of reality found through the validity others give you. Know yourself, son, you reckon?"

Smiling, Karim replied "Believe it or not Venel, that is the kind of tough love I needed to hear. Thank you. You summed up pretty much what I was hoping to learn about you."

"That I don't take shit from anyone?" Venel canted his host's head to one side, quizzically eyeing the young Captain.

"Something like that." Karim replied "You sound sort of the friend of mine who your inhabiting at the moment."

At that, an eyebrow crept high. "Really? She likes to put foot to ass and doesn't let people get her all turned around? Seems like good people to have around you, kid. Gotta have a mind for yourself."

Nodding, he replied "I let her know that you approve of her. I appreciate it."

Shifting his weight in his seat, Venel eyed the young Trill before him. "Being that you're obviously a Captain within Starfleet... I have reason to believe I should approve of you as well." He gestured towards Karim vaguely, "Even if you are just a kid."

Chuckling, Karim replied "If I remember correctly, you considered everyone not as old as you a 'kid'. But thanks for your approval regardless."

"Indeed. Greenhorns are greenhorns, but age is just a thing... Kid." Venel settled a bit more, amused by the seemingly good nature of Dhej's latest host.

Shaking his head, Karim replied "I'd love to stay and chat, its kinda nice to see a different side of the memories I have of you. I do however have other hosts to meet. I will try to follow your advice though."

"Then make it happen, Captain." The old host chuckled. "Been a pleasure."

Standing, he stepped away from Venel for a moment while he waited for the ritual to end. Moments later he saw Tiereney's shoulders relax. Quietly he said "Hi Tierney, are you ok?"

Again the power shifted, this time twirling the consciousness back in favor of the body's rightful owner. The Starling found herself cradled in the chair she'd sat herself down in before the ritual began as she slowly opened her eyes. Karim's voice sent welcomed tingles of recognition throughout her sharpening senses. "Mmm yeah." She nodded as the feeling of control began working itself back into proper gear. "You?"

Nodding, he replied "I'm pretty good yes. You should get some rest, we'll talk more later." Giving her a quick hug, he left the room to prepare for the next meeting.

=/\=End Log=/\=

Captain Karim Dhej
Commanding Officer
USS Enterprise NCC 1701-F

Commander Tierney Rinehart
Chief Intelligence / Second Officer
USS Enterprise, NCC 1701-F