Tim returned to the table. Tathilan was just digging into her sandwich. He looked at it, looked again.
"Is that what I think it is?"
**What do you think it is?**
"Well, it looks like chicken."
She took a nibble. **Well it is.**
"And I thought you were the dedicated herbivore?"
**Well, I will be once I get my body back. Until then I keep the varied diet.**
"We'll get your body right after we eat. I called Ap Owen while I was out, caught her just before she left on leave, and the Akiga will be waiting for us at the dock. Seeing Savanna will be a thrill. I have been in his system what, three times and I have never been off the stations."
**No one has stopped you from visiting Glade.**
"Nothing wonderful about Glade, another planet with another city."
**So, Savanna is just another planet with an even smaller city.**
"Ah, but the allure of forbidden fruit, most people never get to see Savanna."
**And that is the attraction?**
He grinned. "Best way to get a human to want to do something is to tell him he can't."
**You would be the authority on that.**
"So, why chicken?"
She blushed slightly. **I was curious.**
"Right. So whenever you finish your simulated lizard, lets get going."
The trip from Builder Station was uneventful. The Akiga, as promised, was at the dock. A crew to drive it was not. 90% of the Kongo's crew were on extended leave with the Kongo herself in space dock for the next three months. Those long awaited custom inertial compensators were finally to be installed. Kirk piloted the shuttle himself. It was good to get his hands back on a ship. Ever since he had made Captain no one let him fly anything. Doing is own piloting was a pleasure.
Savanna guided him in.
"Akiga, you are clear to land at Founder's Field. Transfer traffic control from Builder Station to Founder's Field."
"Roger Founder's Field, we have you five by five."
"We have your ETA at 15 minutes, do you concur."
"Roger that. ETA 15 minutes."
Tathilan said. **You seem to be having fun.**
"Well, I am. No one lets me play anymore. Where do we go to pick up the goods?"
**The facility is right in the city. We can walk.**
"Walking, can we still do that?"
**Last I checked.**
"Very well, let me get the ship down."
The reentry went smoothly. They were shortly down on Founder's Field. Kirk was surprised, Founder's Field was just that, a grassy field with a simple beacon. A small handful of ships sat on the edges of the field. No one came out to greet them.
Kirk asked. "Is that it?"
**Yes.**
"No, 'Welcome to Savanna', customs check, anything?"
**No. Those that need to know, know you are here. I know where to go, so we don't need a guide. So why clutter your time with needless ritual?**
"I suppose, it just runs contrary to everything I am familiar with."
**You will find that common here.**
Kirk took a deep breath. "Nice smelling planet."
**Glad you like it. What we came for is this way.**
She held out a delicate hand. Kirk took it, and they walked together. The city was almost a misnomer. A forest with a few buildings seemed more like it. Huge trees sheltered low structures loosely scattered around the area. No semblance of streets or roads was to be seen. Native wood and rock were the prominent building materials. If you let your eyes wander, it looked more like rock outcroppings in a wooded plain, than anything like a city. A few people, Humans and some Ane moved leisurely about the town.
Tathilan lead him to another building very like the others.
**This is the place.**
"The complete Stoner Medical systems bio facility?"
**No, the Nanotech/Stoner RI facilitation center. You might say, the place I was born.**
The door opened for her. **Come on in.**
The reception area was "manned" by a young Ane female, at least Tim took her for young. She rose as they entered.
**Can I be of assistance.**
**Tathilan and Jim Kirk. We are here to pick up an Ane-form bio.**
**Jim Kirk from the Kongo?**
Tim grinned. "The same."
She came round her desk. **I must thank you Captain. I am Xanalan. You and your crew rescued me from oblivion.**
"I have wondered what happened to you. Tathilan has been quite reticent with any information." Tim stepped forward took her head and touched noses. Xanalan moved closer for a more human style hug. Tim obliged her with a firm neck hug.
"I am cheered to see you doing well. What have you been doing?"
**Manning the desk, learning how to be alive mainly. The transition has been difficult, but has done me a world of good.**
"Any plans?"
**Not yet, too many options, just laying around doesn't suit me, but I am not sure I ever want to go back to space. They are ready for you Tathilan, and thank you also.**
**You are most welcome. This way Tim.**
Tim followed her into the complex, ramps lead them down almost at once.
"I thought you said she would never function as a computer?"
**She hasn't Tim, that was not a bio.**
"She was a normal biological? How?"
**It's a very involved process, and it involves a number of steps the Federation Medical Association would freak over. But yes, we have examples of computer Ane that have crossed over to biological, and one example that has gone the other way.**
"Some one volunteered to lose their body to become a computer?"
**The one example I know of it was a choice of no choice. He had taken a massive dose of radiation and phaser coolant. In short, He was dead, and waiting to die. The transference saved him from death.**
"If certain people found out about that you would have a rush of geratic patients banging down your doors."
**The sad reason we cannot let it become general knowledge. The demand would far outstrip the facilities, and not every one is suited to life as a computer. It is not a kindness to give everyone, everything they ask for. Too many lack the wit to ask wisely.**
"So how do you decide?"
**Better to not bring up the question than have to decide.**
"Yet the genie is out of the bottle."
She smiled at him. **Not unless you let it out.**
"You mean to tell me that no Ane would ever tell?"
**Tim, we kept the Builders a secret for 750,000 years. Do you think this thing greater?**
"No, I suppose not. What if some great person that was not Ane could benefit from what you do, would you help?"
**We would do all medical science could do for that person.**
"An answer that is not an answer."
**Take it as you will.**
"Are you going to get all Prime Directivey on me?"
**Remember the wisdom of Solomon, and why the jinn were imprisoned in the first place.**
"Never heard of it."
**Then maybe you should read those classics. In any case, we are here.**
The two of them entered a door much like any other on the complex. It opened into a waiting room, for mixed company since both humanoid seating and the cushions favored by Ane were present. A tall Ansisi gentleman greeted them.
"Tathilan and Captain Kirk, good to see you. I am Doctor Huatoo NeAnsisi. I have your 'body' ready Tathilan. How do you wish to handle the transference?"
**Well... Do you have an interim system?**
"As always."
**Okay, I want to look it over first. Coming Tim?**
"In for a pence, in for a pound, as my Father would say."
He followed the other two into the lab. The sight was a little disconcerting. "Tathilan" stood there, a blank look on "her" face. The Ane face he had grown so familiar with, and had lost two months back on Gramer 3.
Tathilan, the humaiod version, didn't hesitate. She walked around the Ane-form, examined it from every angle. Then she ran her hands over it in close examination. While she proceeded with a very through examination Kirk approached the Doctor.
"What keeps it standing there, is someone 'holding' it for her?"
"No, we have a metabolic program, that maintains life-from bios that are not in use. They cannot be turned off like mechanical machines, but are close enough to alive to need to run all the time. The brain is active at only the lowest levels of function."
"It looks like her, but it doesn't look like her."
"The differance between a person, and a statue of them. The face and body lack expression. You will see the change once she accepts it."
"This could get weird."
Tathilan finished her inspection, and cleaned her hands.
**It looks good so far Dr. Huatoo. It's me all over.**
"We do have the pattern from your first adult body."
**I know, but differances can and do crop up in the growth process. I am ready to check it out on the inside.**
Dr. Huatoo moved over to a console and touched a control.
"The transfer system is in place."
Tathilan got that "busy look" that Tim was familiar with. Then she turned to Tim.
**I am going to take my two-legs back to the shuttle. Having two of me in the room might be a bit much for you, but I'll be 'back' quickly.**
Tim looked apprehensive. "This is your call. I'm trusting you on this one."
She kissed him. **Just a moment.** Then she left the room.
He watched her go, then turned back to the impassive image of her before him. The An-form twitched an ear, then took a deep breath, shook all over and whistled a little. To Tim it was like watching a manikin come to life. Suddenly, it was Tathilan, in every way it hadn't been a moment before. tentatively, as if approaching something he wasn't sure was real he reached for her.
"Tathilan?"
**Yes Tim?**
The same deep blue eyes, the tilt to her head, the expression that a phaser had blown away two months before were there, real, alive. He rushed her, tackled her to the floor and laughed. Laughter turned to sobs as at last the grief of the moment he thought he had lost her came out. He cried himself out into the softness of her neck. She let him, for a while, then nuzzled him softly.
**Time enough for tears.**
He sniffled. "I am being terribly silly. I know you were never dead, I have had you in my arms almost every night since then, but somehow, this makes it all real. It felt pretend, a charade to hold off the specter of reality or something."
**I know, but it wasn't the time, or the place to force it. I knew your relief would come when you saw 'me' again. It's why you twisted arms to get the Kongo into dock, and why I twisted a few as well.**
"It isn't very professional of me."
**Right now, you're not the Captain, and no one is watching but me and thee.**
"What about..." Tim looked around for Dr. Huatoo. Suddenly remembering him.
**He left almost at once. Ansisi have a 'sense' about such things.**
"Would that everyone learned such sense."
**It would be nice lover. What say we get you out of that stiff Captain suit, and into something more comfortable, in someplace more comfortable, and do some serious playing.**
"Well, I hadn't even given a thought to off ship accommodations, but with the Kongo in dock, it is likely to be messy and noisy."
**Your right on both counts. However I did, and I think you will like it.**
Orios stood at the windows. The ship was bathed in light, panels and sections of Hull opened to space. It was the ship he sought. He caught is reflection in the glass, and started slightly. The deep brown of human flesh made him look like someone else. But, he smiled, that was the idea. Where was the ship, the Captain could not be far. His sources indicated that Kirk had not left the system. All that was left, was to find him.
"What is this place again?"
**For a starship Captain you are forgetful.**
"If you remember you made me leave all my uniforms on the ship, efficiency went with them." He grinned.
**The Presidential suite in the Crystal City La Toit Rouge. Fanciest place I could get. Unlimited service.**
"So what is this setting me back?"
**What, worried about money?**
"Not really, but I am not an unlimited money-bag either."
**My treat, it isn't costing you a milicredit.**
"So your the unlimited money-bag?"
**Miser! No money involved. I gave good reason to have it, it's mine. Ane economy.**
"So your saying that the Ane economy is a communism?"
**In effect. From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs. In this case the words of Marx work. But it only works because an Ane do not take advantage of the system, and because the supply out-strips demand by a considerable margin. 200 years of budget surplus that no one has bothered to spend. It is easy to be a communist when your needs are green grass, water, and air, and your means are something like this. But why talk the politics of the matter. It is, and we can enjoy it, so we should.**
"So what have you planned?"
**I know your preferences, so we avoid the dives and bars, hit the goods shows, and sights, and experiment with that little adventure you wanted.**
"Ahem." he blushed deeply. "Trust a computer to remember."
**A female computer if you please. If you still want to know what us girls are getting from sex, that can still be arranged.**
"Well, the thought had slipped from my mind, but now that you bring it back up, yes, I would like to find out. Which body?"
**Both, either, your choice.**
"This could get real kinky, real fast."
She nuzzled noses. **Lover mine, you ain't seen nothing yet.**
"When do we start?"
**How about after dinner?**
"Is that to build anticipation in the condemned?"
**Take it as you will lover.**
Tim looked around the restaurant as they were seated.
"Fancy place."
**We eat enough meals in the Federation's high tech mobile replimates. Time for some real food.**
"So what is real here?"
**Everything but the meat, and you can even get that for a price.**
"I don't think I want to pay that price."
**Imports are expensive. However, you, are not paying. My ticket. You want real meat, order it.**
"I don't know, I have trouble with the idea that it was alive once."
**A lot of people from the last several generations feel that way. It was one of the main driving forces behind food replication.**
"Giving history lessons is a passion of yours, is it not?"
**Well, I guess.**
"Never mind the history, lets get some food. How is the coffee here?"
**Blue Mountain stock locally grown.**
"You mean real fresh coffee? Not the stuff they call fresh?"
**Beans roasted and ground on premises.**
"I could make dinner of that, but I won't."
**Good choice.**
A human waiter approached the table, placed a bowl and glass of water on the table as well as a bread basket.
"How might I serve you today?"
Kirk started a bit. "Ah, yes. Tathilan, ladies first."
**Calypso dinner salad, cheese side and lemonade.**
"And you sir?" "Hmm, the grilled tuna, a calypso side, and coffee."
"Very well. You meals will be right up." He departed with due ceremony.
"You didn't tell me that they had live waiters."
**You didn't ask.**
"This is a classy place."
**Hey, you're a Captain, you should be enjoying this level of dinning.**
"I never considered myself part of the 'upper crust'. Frankly, never believed in an upper crust." He buttered one of the bread slices. "Want buttered bread?"
**Upper or lower crust.**
Tim refrained from throwing it at her. The waiter returned with the small salad, cheese, lemonade, and coffee. He made some fuss about the service and left them to enjoy.
"Hmm, good coffee. How is the lemonade?"
**Good, as usual.**
Tim pecked at the salad as Tathilan lightly nibbled the cheese cubes. The coffee was very good, he drank it quickly. Tathilan was trying to say something to him, but the noise level In the restaurant had gone way up, he could barely make out her words. It was like everyone was shouting at once, and saying the most ridiculous things as well. It was too much, he clutched at his ears, the noise was deafening, but that didn't even muffle it. He tried to rise, to flee the noise and the crowd, but he was dizzy, the floor rushed up to meet him. The room swam with faces, they leaned over and leered at him, the noise was unbearable, he wanted it to stop. A Vulcan in dark clothing leaned over him, Tathilan shoved in beside him, damn the noise, it was unbearable, he felt like his brain was going to explode, "please" he thought. "Please be quiet, stop the noise, stop the NOISE!!"
Silence. That was the first thing he noticed, silence, but not quite. A soft rustling sound filtered into his ears. Light impinged on his eyelids. He opened them a crack, then all the way. As far as the eye could see fields of tall grass rolled in the wind like a green and yellow sea. The sun was bright, but distant. He reached out. His hand touched a furred softness.
**Tathilan?**
**I am here Tim.**
Her voice was strong, clearer than normal, and a sound seeming, again, like the sea surged behind it. He saw a second female Ane on the other side, a soft dove gray in color.
**Who are you?**
**I am Casalan, a healer.**
The shapes of thought felt, different. Words, in all their heavy simplicity seem too great a burden to even try.
**What happened, where am I?**
Tathilan answered. **On Savanna. You were drugged, you need to rest.**
**Rest, it sounds good, I will rest.**
Darkness again, with the sound of that distant sea to lull him to sleep.
**Admiral Brok, Captain Kirk is on leave, is there some emergency that requires his presence?**
The Admiral, a block of a Tellerite stumped about the room, looking the Ane over. Also present was Terkos, the Romulan expatriate, and Constable of High Crystal Station.
"I understand there was an 'incident' involving him at the Skyview cafe. Constable, what do you know of this."
"Admiral should I know something?"
Brok stormed to within biting distance of the taller Romulan.
"You were there. You are the constable. You should know. One of my Captains is involved in an incident, and I do not know where he is. Yes, this is an emergency."
"Captain Kirk left with the Ane he entered the Skyview with. I understand he suffered a fall rising from his table."
"I understand, he was under the Influence of an illegal drug!"
"Fascinating. Since my report mentions no drugs, how is it that you think any were present?"
"I have my sources."
"Then perhaps I am over due a purge."
The Tellerite turned a remarkable shade of florid red. "Are you suggesting I have spies in the civilian police force?"
Terkos looked levelly at the Admiral. "Your words, not mine. We both know the 'danger' of Starfleet Intelligence operations in the domestic theater."
Admiral Bork looked ready to detonate. "I will have copies of your reports."
"Please."
"What?"
"You will ask 'please' or you will get none."
"What is this 'please'?"
"You know very well. It is a human politeness custom I am very fond of."
"I do not have to ask 'please' of anyone, I am in command here, and my orders are to be obeyed."
"Ah, but you are in command of Starfleet personnel, and areas. I, am a civilian employee of the Ane government. I am not under your command, so you must ask please."
Bork turned to the Ane present. "Are you going to let him talk to me like that!"
**Free speech is a guaranteed right of the Articles of Federation. I cannot very well stop him.**
Admiral Bork stood on the brink of an apocalyptic explosion, tottered, and slowly deflated. Through gritted teeth he continued.
"Constable Terkos, will you please, send me a copy of your incident report."
"I would be happy to Admiral."
Bork looked brighter.
Terkos continued. "However, as there was no incident, no report was filed. Now if you will excuse us, we have a station to run."
Admiral Bork stood rooted to the floor as if frozen in place. A look of pure shock and rage enveloped him as the Romulan and the Ane departed his office.
Once outside Terkos took hold of the Ane's horn, and both Teleported back to High Crystal. In the Station manager's office Terkos continued.
**Is the office safe Galaban?**
**Yes, I had our Starfleet people go over it this morning.**
"It is still more comfortable for me to speak."
**I understand.**
"How long do you think the charade will hold Admiral Bork off?"
**Hopefully long enough for you to find something concrete. Do you have anything concrete?**
"His pot of coffee had enough psidroxan in it to affect the entire staff and patronage of the restaurant. The waiter knows nothing, he just picked up the pot. I have some leads. The kitchen staff there is pretty tight. I have one question. Why the secrecy about the whereabouts of Captain Kirk?"
**His companion requested it. Should Starfleet medical examine him right now, he could be medically discharged. She would not be pleased with that. She has hopes that within the period of his leave she can get him fit for duty.**
Admiral Bork was not so easily deterred. Once he had recovered his composure he headed down to the one place he knew he could get answers, the Kongo herself. This Tathilan was Starfleet, and under direct questioning she had better answer him. The ship was a mess, circuit conduits opened all over the place, crews working on everything in sight. In spite of 20 years in Ambassador class ships he got lost twice. Finally he was at the computer core room. The door opened to a most unimpressive sight. A bank of black panels and a round core no more that 2 meters across. The panel indicated that all was working.
"Computer, secure this room, code alpha alpha three."
A male "voice" replied. **The computer core is sealed as requested Admiral Bork, how can I help you?**
"You are not Tathilan."
**Observant of you Admiral Bork, no, I am not.**
"Where is Tathilan!"
**Computer officer Tathilan is on leave for the next 1789.13.7 hours. I have agreed to replace her for the duration of that leave.**
"So who are you?"
**I am Unaban, I am under civilian contract with Starfleet.**
"Where is Captain Kirk!"
**Captain James Timothy Kirk is on leave for the next 1789.12.4 hours. His whereabouts are not on file.**
"DAMN!"
When he woke again he was feeling a little better. Moving did not produce the wave of nausea that it did the first time. Hunger was making itself known.
**Tathilan?**
**Right here Tim. What do you need?**
**Food, water, and a head.**
**Can you stand.**
She stood up beside him. He made it up with her for support.
**Well, kind of. Which way, relief first I think.**
She walked him back to the privy that was in the camping suite, then walked back to the cot when he was finished.
**How about a chair, that bed looks scuzy.**
**You have been in it for over 30 hours.**
**No wonder I feel like Hell, what happened?**
**Eat, I'll tell you.**
He ate, and she explained.
**Someone put psidroxan in your coffee. It could have killed you.**
**Great, lucky me, my first really good coffee in six months, and it has a Mickey in it. What is this psidroxan?**
**It is a psionic enhancer. Illegal in about 70% of the Federation, but it is one of the few drugs Ane can tolerate. It is useful in boosting a healer's abilities for serious cases.**
**A drug the doctor takes to make the patient well?**
**Exactly, it has a certain irony. However, the effects are unpredictable in a non-psionic. They can be anything from euphoria, to hallucination, in reality bits of intercepted thoughts from those around them, to death. In your case it was a bit, different.*
*
**How different?**
**Tim, does your family have any indication of psionic talent?**
**Not that I am aware of.**
**Well, you are a latent telepath, or were a latent telepath.**
**Were? As in not any more?**
**That's right. The attack you had was your metal barriers coming down. Right now I am holding your mental state together with my own discipline. It helps that Savanna is real quiet.**
**So that is why the silent talk.**
**Yes, we are very closely linked right now, closer than we have been before.**
**And my career is in the trash. I can't command a Starship in this state.**
**No you can't, so if you are keeping the Kongo, we have to make a competent telepath of you in two months.**
**Can it be done?**
**We will not know until we try.**
**OK, we try. Someone wanted me out of the center seat, I am not giving up that easy.**
Terkos was once a again the hawk on the hunt. The Ane wanted this one badly, and he did not plan to disappoint. All traffic on and off the station was carefully monitored. Anyone with defenses against telepathy was questioned. Either someone had pulled the perfect poisoning, or the quarry was still at bay. In his favor psidroxan did not tolerate heat well, so the drug had to have been placed in the coffee just before it was served. He had teams throughout the station searching. So far, no luck.
"Terkos."
"Yes Dianna."
"I think I have your break."
Terkos tensed. "You have an identity?"
"I have a possible face, and a likely false identity."
"Then let us have it."
An ID card came up on his screen. "Richard Grant, Human from Farhome, age 26, profession listed as variable. He applied for work at the Skyview and was accepted three days ago. He did not show up for work the day after Captain Kirk's attack."
"A suspicious profile, I will give you that. It is not however a proof. It is enough to seek him. We will do so. Report to the nearest team if he should cross a security point."
"Will do, and Admiral Bork is here to see you."
"Well we could not hold that off for long. Send him in."
Bork steamed his way into the security office. Terkos put on a smile, and fixed it in place.
"What can I do for you Admiral?"
"The location of James T Kirk."
"Why do you think I know Admiral?"
"Because Terkos, you know everything around here, and Kirk is part of the everything."
"Admiral, I know most things, about my charge, High Crystal Station. That is hardly everything."
"So, where is Kirk?"
"I can better tell you where he is not. He is not on High Crystal Station."
"You have the information."
"And if I did?"
"I know the story behind your 'Vulcan' citizenship. I know you are a Romulan, and that information can cause you a good deal of trouble. How do we know you are not a planted spy?"
Terkos stopped cold, his voice dropped into the sub-freezing range. "Admiral Bork. My Romulan heritage is the biggest non-secret on the station. My Vulcan citizenship is, as you will find, in perfect order, with Vulcan perfectly aware of from whence I came. Now, your threats are a matter of record, you have worn out your welcome on High Crystal Station, I dare say you will find that you have worn out your welcome period. I would expect a transfer shortly, good day Admiral."
Terkos promptly ignored the Tellerite, two security men entered the office and provided him "escort" to his shuttle.
Once he was gone Terkos spoke. "Dianna, will you prepare a report of that exchange and forward it to Falan, director Galaban, The Director of Fleet Operations Starfleet Command, and the Ane Representative to the Federation Council, whoever they are this week."
"Consider it done Terkos."
Admiral Bork fumed all the way back to his office. Temper had blown it this time. His only course of action was a full apology. They had to be hiding Kirk, but for what reason? His sources said drug use. So far he was getting nothing but flak form the Ane, and no answers, one way or the other. The only thing to do now was to report, and inform his superior. It was out of his hands.
Tim Kirk walked under the clear skies of Savanna, the grass was up to his knees. In the middle distance a small group of Ane ran for the sheer joy of motion. Tim watched with interest, he had never really seen them run full out. Beauty in motion. It was hot, but in the days he had spent here he had stopped noticing. He lived stripped to his bikini briefs and his skin was turning a golden tan, with the aid of a few melanin injections.
Tathilan moved beside him. **Ready for your afternoon session.**
**Like I am ready for a beating, but lets get to it.**
**Eager to get out from under my protection?**
**Sweet as that feels, yes dear, I am. Let's go back to camp, I want to sit down for this.**
**Sure.**
She walked a leisurely pace that had Kirk jogging to keep up. His eye caught something in the grass. A hard whiteness odd in this soft environment. He stopped to look. The object was well settled into the earth, a skull, and second not far from it. He could see no other bones.
**Tathilan.**
She came up short.
**What happened to these people?**
**They died Tim.**
**But left in the middle of no where? The deaths might not be reported. From the looks of it they died some time ago. We had better tell someone.**
**Tim, it doesn't matter.**
"What?" The sound of his own voice started him.
**It doesn't matter. This is where they fell, this is where they died.**
Tathilan looked distant for a moment, the roar of that distant sea grew louder, almost intelligible, and faded back.
**They were old, and together. Now they are with the All. It is as it should be.**
**You just leave people to rot where they fall?**
**That has been the way of nature since there was life. The body is not as important as the mind, and that remains with the All.**
**So the dead are left to the elements.**
**And the scavengers, yes.**
Tim Kirk looked at the bleached bones again, he opened his new eyes to the sight. Tentatively, an aching almost of a whisper breathed. **Don't worry child.** Kirk's breath caught in his throat, the tide of that distant sea came roaring in. Faces in the hundreds of billions filled his vision. Each telling him its name, its place, its history in a single thought. Awe overwhelmed him, and the vision was gone.
Kirk knelt before the bones, tears streamed down his face. He ached to go back, to see more. The absence of that sea was a pain within him. Pain so real, yet...
"Tathilan!" He croaked
**I am here Tim.**
**What, what did I see?**
**You touched the All Tim.**
**The All. It was beautiful. I feel a lack now... where I never knew a need.**
**Never we know how empty we are, until we are filled.**
He rose and turned to face her. **I want to go back.**
**First you must learn, what there is to learn.**
He returned with her to the camp, and lessons for the afternoon.
Continued in Part Two
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Return to -- Epiphany Trek: The Stories The Above is a work of fiction. All characters are fictional, any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.
Copyright © Garry Stahl: July 1998. All rights reserved, re-print only with permission. |
