Among Stars © GB September 9, 2000 Chapter 8 Sarassa’s Sanctuary Part 2.
The large park area held an atmosphere that was more than soothing; it created an almost dazed state within its visitors. Seven walked among the tall trees, slowly approaching the low wooden building in the centre. The large structure was made out of bamboo like logs and boasted a straw roof. A large patio stretched along the entire front of the house. Seven saw six women sitting around a table, apparently listening to a tall woman standing at the far end. The ex-Borg regarded the scene. She assumed they were students; their faces were mild and attentive. She walked closer, feeling herself drawn to the scene in front of her. As she approached, one of the six women around the table looked up and noticed her. She leaned over to the woman next to her and briefly touched her arm, motioning for her to look in Seven’s direction. The other woman rose and walked up to the tall woman at the far end of the table. She whispered something to her and the older woman looked at Seven with a soft smile on her lips. She walked to the stairs leading up to the patio and greeted Seven in the traditional way. "Welcome," she said, her voice sonorous and calm, "welcome to Sarassa’s Sanctuary." "I have come for more information regarding your establishment," Seven said, clearing her throat softly, trying to stay focused. The environment was affecting her. She felt compelled to just take the proffered hand and let the other woman lead her inside. "We would be happy to provide you any information that you require, my dear," the tall woman said, putting a reassuring hand on Seven’s shoulder. "Feel free to come in, join us. I am sure we can set your mind at ease. I promise you that you’ve come to the right place. Here you will find what you are looking for." Seven knew she was supposed to fight the urge to surrender herself. The place held such a magical, wondrous ambience; she found it difficult to concentrate, almost impossible to resist. Seven stepped onto the patio looking at the women seated at the table. They all regarded her in a friendly, accepting manner. She wanted to join them, to listen to the wisdom of this tall, slightly imposing woman. Seven paused a moment as she suppressed the unexpected feelings that this place seemed to evoke in her. Fighting the urge, fighting to retain her identity, she conjured the memory of her captain and in that moment she discovered her inner compass once again. In control once more, she calmly turned to the woman next to her. "State your designation," she said, more focused now and feeling the impact of this serene place dissipate. She thought she detected a glimpse of surprise in the other woman’s eyes. "I am Dajana, Third Speaker for Sarassa," she replied, her voice still as soft as before. "I’m glad you found your way here." "Third Speaker? Who is Sarassa and why does this individual require you to speak for them? What is the purpose of this place?" Seven asked. "I see you have many questions. I’m glad to see your thirst for knowledge; it will serve you well here. In time you will understand our community’s structure and its ways. Without training however, my answers to your questions would be meaningless so I must ask for your patience and perhaps one other thing?" "What would that be?" "Your … how did you so charmingly put it? Your designation?" "My designation is Seven of Nine." "Welcome, Seven of Nine. Would you like to join us at the table? Perhaps we may begin to quench your thirst?" Seven glanced around the table. All the women were about her age. They did not seem to mind the interruption; instead they smiled and patiently waited for Seven to make her decision. The ex-Borg nodded slowly. She sat down as the women at the table made a place for her, welcoming her into their circle. For the first time, no one showed instant fear or resentment towards her. Instead she felt like she had finally found a place were she truly belonged. She looked around her, inhaled the sweet scent of the flowers surrounding the patio. The serenity was almost tangible. A completely new sensation surged through her. She wanted to please, to be of service. More than anything she wanted to be part of this group. She wanted to absorb the knowledge and instructions that the tall, majestic woman in front of her offered. Somewhere in the back of her mind Seven knew she had to fight the overwhelming need arising inside of her. She could not give in to the desire to be happy. ***** Chakotay regarded the compact auburn haired captain sitting slumped back in the chair at her desk. Her gaze was directed at the small computer screen in front of her as she browsed through President Romir’s confidential report again. "I have a feeling we’re missing something," Janeway muttered. "I have read this report four times and still it eludes me." "I have the same feeling," Chakotay confessed. He raised his mug and sipped the hot tea. As usual, Janeway had a large mug of steaming hot coffee close to her right hand. "You do? Damn, I was hoping it was my overactive imagination," she smirked and dragged a hand through her hair. After a moment of reflection, she reached out, grabbed her mug, rose from the chair and began to pacing back and forth. "The plan is risky but doable," Chakotay tried to reassure her. Janeway pivoted and rested her mug on the railing between them. "I know," she said in a low, intense voice, "but there are so many variables involved. We can only sit here and guess what Seven has to endure. So far she hasn’t succumbed to the agent but for how long?" "The Doctor feels confident that she’ll be able to suppress its effects." "What about these beings that are responsible for this act against our people? How far will they go? We have no idea what motivates them and what little we do know shows that they can’t be trusted!" Chakotay knew she was right but also realised that the captain was counting on him to express a different perspective. "Seven has protection from any further attempts to inject her with the agent," he concluded. "What if the agent can be delivered another way? Did the Doctor mention what would happen if the toxin actually was increased?" Chakotay paused and reviewed the items the Doctor had presented to him regarding Seven’s condition. "No, not directly but I assume it would be the same outcome if her nano probes couldn’t contain the toxins she already has been exposed to." "Find out, Chakotay. Get with the Doctor. We should be able to model the possible outcomes." "I will. Kathryn, don’t underestimate Seven’s strong will and her loyalty to you and this ship. Her sheer will power will see her through. If she felt she would compromise either, I’m confident that she’d call for backup." "I hope so but her fear and contempt for failure could jeopardise her and this mission." The first officer got up and approached Janeway. "I know, but there is something that has a stronger hold on her than that." "And what would that be?" "Her love for you. Keep in mind that her feelings for you are her strongest motivation for being and it is that love that will bring her back to you. She will not sacrifice herself easily nor give in to desires. She will return to you, Kathryn." The heartfelt words seem to reach the captain. She nodded slowly. The chirp from the comm system interrupted them. "Tuvok to Janeway." Janeway tapped her comm badge. "Janeway here, go ahead, Tuvok." "Seven has commenced her part of the mission, Captain," the tactical chief reported. "She entered the Sanctuary four hours ago and the surveillance team is monitoring her movements within the compound." "So, I take it the concealed comm badge inside her bio suit is working?" the captain asked. "There have been some disruptions in the transmission on several occasions but overall the device is working satisfactory." "I’m still concerned that the Sanctuary’s scanning capability doesn’t allow us to use the inner ear communication device that we used when I was held prisoner by the Warra Nah ambassador." "Agreed Captain, their scanning technology is not typical for this planet or its inhabitants. I also regret that we are unable to listen in to the exchange of communication between Seven and the members of this sect," Tuvok replied. "How is your collaboration with the local authorities progressing?" Chakotay asked. "Mr Ebir and Mr Noro have been most accommodating despite their initial trepidation. They are in the process of co-ordinating for a strike force. If all goes as planned, the strike force can deploy as soon as you and President Romir give the order, Captain." Janeway walked down the flight of stairs to her desk and sat down. Rubbing her temple with two fingers she frowned slightly. "How long before they are in place and able to execute an extraction mission? Was Seven briefed on this before she entered the Sanctuary?" "Seven was adequately informed. As soon as she secures a sample of the toxin she will withdraw from the sanctuary and rendezvous with myself and Mr Noro. It is her intent to gather evidence that will implicate the Sanctuary so that the perpetrators can be prosecuted but her primary mission remains acquiring the toxin. We will only use the strike force for her extraction if something goes amiss otherwise it will be deployed to secure the compound and its occupant if Seven has gathered sufficient evidence to warrant their seizure." "Has she reported back to you, Tuvok?" Janeway asked. "Not yet, Captain," Tuvok replied. "However, I do not expect to hear from Seven until tomorrow. She is no doubt under strict surveillance since she is their most recent initiate. She needs time to acclimatise and create an identity." "I agree," Chakotay offered, "she will have to be convincing in everything that she says or does. They are bound to assign someone to keep an eye on her." "Mr Ebir has informed me that the strike force will be in place and ready to deploy within six hour. I do not anticipate a need of them any sooner. It will be night by then and the cover of darkness will ensure that their movements will go undetected by the local inhabitants of this planet. As you are well aware, Captain, this strike force’s activities must remain secret." "I’m well aware of that. Have the agents that are working with you synchronised their efforts with the President?" "Yes, Captain. Mr Noro is in constant contact with the Presidential Residence on a secure comm system," Tuvok explained. "He will issue the necessary commands to the strike force once he has the President’s approval and has consulted with us." Janeway leaned back in her chair, holding her coffee mug with both hands. "Now that you’ve talked with the local authorities and received their point of view on our mission, what are your impressions?" she asked in a low voice. There was a brief silence as Tuvok seemed to consider the question carefully. "Seven of Nine has a difficult task to execute. Although she is the logical choice for this mission, there are several elements at play that may hinder her success. It appears that she is still in control and has successfully managed to suppress the urges that our other crewmembers have succumb to but there is no way to predict the effect that a prolonged exposure to the Sanctuary will have on her, physically or mentally." Chakotay watched his captain clench her jaws. "What are her chances of success?" She asked. "I believe there is a one in ten chance for her success, Captain, but the odds for failure increase significantly the longer she is there. However, as I noted before, she was the only logical candidate for this assignment. "Keep us informed, Tuvok, and be prepared to pull Seven out of there if I give the word. I won’t leave her in there indefinitely. "Of course, Captain." "Janeway out." Janeway turned to Chakotay. "I hate feeling helpless and I hate waiting." "I have a suggestion. How about accompanying me to the mess hall after we pay a visit to sick bay?" "Agreed, if you’re buying," she smirked "My pleasure," Voyager’s first officer replied with a smile, admiring his captain’s ability to focus and set her own worry aside. "I hear that Neelix has tossed together an interesting leola root salad." "Oh, god," Janeway groaned, appearing grateful for the friendly banter. "Let’s go, then. I want the Doctor to start working on those models as soon as possible and perhaps he can provide me with an antidote for Neelix’s cooking." "He hasn’t been able to so far," Chakotay replied as they made their way to the ready room door. Just then the comm system chirped. "Sickbay to Janeway. I need you to come down to sickbay immediately." The Doctor’s voice was solemn. ***** Thin white curtains moved in the gentle breeze coming in through the large open windows. The room was large and boasted four beds. Two other women were sitting in the chairs by the fireplace by the far wall. Seven glanced over her shoulder, watching Dajana walk away down the corridor. She had shown Seven to her new quarters, which she apparently shared with at least three other members of the Sanctuary. One of the women got up and approached her, smiling softly. "Hello, I’m Tarinne," she said. "The Speaker told us we’d be getting a new room mate. Welcome." Seven introduced herself. "I am Seven of Nine. Which bed is vacant?" "That one over there by the window," Tarinne pointed. "It belonged to another girl but she got promoted last week. I think it’s the best spot in the room." "Do you want the bed for yourself?" Seven asked. "No, it is not how we lead our lives here," the other girl said seriously. "When we enter Sarassa’s Sanctuary we give up all desire for possessions. All our worldly goods are left behind. We are allotted an outfit that denotes our role within the community, a bed and food to sustain us. All our needs are provide for. Have you not been fitted for an initiates outfit?" Third Speaker Dajana had not been pleased with the fact that Seven had declined to change into the mandatory clothing consisting of a light grey tunic and pants. Only when the ex-Borg explained about her personal history as a former member of the Collective and the reason for the biosuit had the other woman relented. The compromise had been a robe like garment in the same shiny fabric as the other initiates wore. Seven now looked down at herself. "There are specific reasons, Tarinne," she now said. "The Speaker assures me this is satisfactory." Seven walked over to her bed and regarded her corner of the room. It was clean and impersonal. The ascetic room reminded her of a traditional Japanese setting that she had experienced with Janeway on the holodeck but its serene ambience. Suddenly feeling dizzy again and Seven sat down on the bed. The girls had resumed their seats by the fire. Tarinne closed her eyes and seemed to withdraw into meditation. Seven let her gaze wonder to the other girl and was surprised to notice open hostility. "We have not been introduced," the ex-Borg said, nodding to the dark haired young woman. "My name is …" "I heard." Curious about the evident antagonistic attitude the other woman displayed, Seven rose and walked up to the window next to the fireplace. "It is a beautiful area," she said. "How long have you been a member of the Sanctuary?" "Two years." The brief answer did not encourage more questions. "You have the advantage of knowing my designation," Seven said coolly. "What is yours?" The other woman sighed and rose from the chair. Walking towards the door she glanced over her shoulder, her irritation obvious, almost tangible. "My name is Atahlia," she said and left the room. ***** It did not take Seven long to understand that Atahlia’s bad manners were not regarded well by the leaders of the Sanctuary. The President’s daughter was, unlike the other men and women the blonde encountered in the compound, hardly able to remain polite. Several times Seven watched the young girl flinch at the mere touch of another individual. Despite this, Third Speaker Dajana treated Atahlia with patience but she still could not hide the fact that she was extremely annoyed with the young girl. Earlier during the evening Seven had participated in some type of ritual in the Servants’ mess hall. This apparently served as an opportunity to sum up the day’s activities and plan the next one. Listening intently to each speaker as they reported on their activities, Seven soon realised that the Servants of Sarassa worked long hours. The initiates’ routine was especially regimented. Every moment of their day was accounted for. They were either studying the Teaching’s of Sarassa under the watchful tutelage of Speaker Dajana, meditating, or performing tasks that were assigned to them around the compound. Every action was supervised close by one of the Speakers or by Journeyers. Journeyer was the rank designated for those that were promoted above the rank of initiates. Most Journeyers spent their time in what the Speaker referred to as ‘missionary work’ around the capital. They were also responsible for overseeing the initiates as they performed their tasks. Once the speakers had reported their activities, Dajana arose to lead the members as they recited readings from the Teachings of Sarassa. Throughout the readings, Seven fought the needs that swelled inside of her, needs that were like an insatiable craving that demanded to be satisfied. She had watched Dajana, listened to the charismatic leader direct the Servants through the ritual. It was mesmerising and intoxicating. It took everything within her being for Seven hold on to her will; her soul. The inner battle was exhausting but in the end she had persevered. Shaken by the inner struggle that she had just experienced, she did not hear the Speaker call her forward to be recognised. A fellow initiate had to give her a gentle nudge to get her attention. Seven quickly gathered her strength. Slowly she stood and walked forward to the front of the hall to Speaker Dajana. Once there, Dajana gently placed her hands on Seven’s shoulders and turned her to face the community. "We welcome among us Seven of Nine, our newest initiate. May her presence among us be a sign of great things to come. Welcome her, my brothers and sisters. Welcome her into our family, our community, and let Sarassa smile upon her." "Welcome, Seven of Nine. Welcome." Seven stood at attention as the members of the community broke out in song. After a few moments Dajana instructed her to follow her throughout the hall as each member welcomed her as a Servant. Soon, she found herself guided to her seat once again. After that, the evening meal was served. Seven struggled to ensure that her actions conformed to those around her. She forced herself to eat what was placed in front of her grateful for the fact that the initiates were expected to eat in silence. Once she was confident that her actions mirrored those around her, Seven began to observe the interactions of various community members. This was the first time that she had seen so many of the members congregated in one place. They had now finished their meal and all rose from the table. Tarinne joined Seven at the far side of the room where several book and pamphlets were displayed. "You show great interest in the teachings already, Seven," the other woman said. "It’s commendable." The ex-Borg glanced at Tarinne over her shoulder. She had seen the brochures before and now wanted to bring them to her room to study them. She regarded the titles; ‘Sarassa’s Sanctuary - Working For Peace’, ‘The True Road to Sarassa’s Blessings’ and ‘Sarassa Holds The Answers’. Seven picked up one of the pamphlet’s and browsed through it. It was a glossy product with an appealing layout that presented the Sanctuary’s message in a subtly convincing manner. The blonde had to agree that the leaders of this sect were skilled in the technique of propaganda and indoctrination. "Study them well," Tarinne said and assembled the brochures for Seven. "Here you go." "Thank you," the ex-Borg said and accepted the reading material. "I will educate myself to meet the requirements of the Sanctuary." Tarinne looked carefully at her and then smiled. "I’m sure you will, Seven. You seem eager and dedicated and I look forward to working with you. Sarassa’s Sanctuary seems to offer many of the things that I always have had the desire to explore." The Dagarian woman nodded. "You have found a home here with us," she assured Seven. "If you follow the rules and listen to your heart in this matter, you will find fulfilment and a happiness that you’ve never dreamed existed." There was something strange about this other woman that made Seven’s skin crawl and yet the words were alluring, almost magical. It was as if they wove a fine, invisible net around her, pulling her in. She had questions, so many unanswered questions. What if this place held the answers to them after all? Seven knew she had to fight the seductiveness of the Sanctuary but it was hard not to become enthralled by the dedication and commitment by these content people. A little piece of mind; a little lessening in her ever-present feelings of guilt … Perhaps there was a way to obtain this without risking the mission? ***** Tuvok carried the tray to a remote corner table in the dark little cafe. The establishment was located only blocks from the Sanctuary. Agent Ebir followed right behind Tuvok and sat down across the table from the Vulcan. "Are you not concerned that someone might recognise you? Tuvok asked. "It is not an issue. All they will see is Professor Ebon, who is on sabbatical from the university, working on his thesis. I have taken a small apartment not far from here. It’s so convenient to the Great Library, of course, and the park is an ideal place for me to study undisturbed, don’t you think?" "I assume you frequent this establishment often?" "Yes, I like the coffee and the ambience. I‘m a regular so my absence might raise suspicions. Besides, this place is not what it seems," the Dagarian said. "The agency enlisted the owners’ aid two years ago. We have made some interesting improvements to the place. We have a communication’s room in the basement as well as some pretty sophisticated cameras so that we can monitor the coming and goings of some of the clientele. The owners, a really nice couple, were more than willing to co-operate. They know what we’re up against. They lost their two daughters to the Sanctuary. They have tried to get in touch with them for several lunar years but so far they have not been able to." "This problem appears to have grown quite out of hand," Tuvok offered as he bit into the delicious wrap with stir fried local vegetables. "Surely the public must be aware of how the Sanctuary operates? Do you not receive a multitude of complaints?" Ebir nodded as he also began to eat. "Yes, we do. For the last five years, there have been more reports than ever about missing youngsters; family members who have turned their back on their loved ones from one day to another. None of the investigations we’ve launched have come up with anything that will hold up in court. There’s a lot at stake and we feel that your arrival has given us a window of opportunity to put an end to this." Tuvok regarded the other man, noticing the passion in Ebir’s voice. There was something undeniable in his eyes that caught the tactical chief’s attention. "Forgive my bluntness," the Vulcan said carefully, "but your demeanour suggests that this is also personal to you." Ebir sipped his water and seemed to confer with himself for a moment. "Yes," he said finally. "Your guess is correct. This has become very personal over the years." "It is not my intention to pry," Tuvok assured his companion. "I know. This whole thing with the Sanctuary has taken its toll. In our society family is everything. The loss of any member is felt deeply. For these families the cut off of ties is so complete; it’s as if there child was killed. It is beyond their comprehension why or how this has occurred." "Has you society never had to deal with cults before?" "No, it is a new phenomenon for us and when we were confronted with it our laws were not designed to deal with such an issue nor were our people." The Vulcan realised that being a typical Dagarian, peace loving, good-natured and hospitable would pose a problem with you were confronted with such an occurrence. "Do you feel comfortable talking about this?" he asked the agent. "Not really but the prospect of finally watching them all go down within a foreseeable future helps," Ebir smirked. "I have met a few of their leaders in the park. I am amazed by their ability to talk their way around the issues and hide behind our laws. There is one individual in particular, she holds the rank of Third Speaker, one of the highest ranks within their organisation. Her name is Dajana and she is bad news." "How so? Is it possible that Seven might encounter her?" "I think it is unavoidable. Speaker Dajana holds a firm grasp of every new initiate. She is quite beautiful and the Servants all adore her. She is charismatic, eloquent and in my opinion, extremely dangerous." "On what facts do you base your opinion? "We know for certain that Dajana controls everything that happens within the Sanctuary and to its members. We also know that certain members are missing, unaccountable." "Is it possible that they may have gone to another location unobserved? "That of course is what the people at the Sanctuary would like us to believe. Every time we have traced one of these incidents however the trail eventually turns cold. The frustrating thing is that we cannot trace their disappearances directly to the Sanctuary. "How can that be?" "The members who disappeared were off the compound when it occurred." "Could they have been beamed to a ship in orbit perhaps?" Tuvok asked. "It’s possible but highly unlikely. We would have picked up their activity on sensors. "And you have not recovered any evidence of foul play?" "No." "Interesting. Did any of these people have anything in common?" "Strange that you should ask that question. We profiled each of the initiates that were unaccounted for. The investigation showed that they were all strong willed, with keen analytical minds; not people that would be easily influenced. My fear is when they did not conform they were made to disappear. How that occurred I don’t know but I can come up with several scenarios and none of them bode well for the missing Servants." "Indeed. You realise of course that you describe many of the character traits that Seven possesses. Will she be able to deceive the community, especially this Speaker? " Ebir hesitated, rubbing his hands together as if the mere thought of the sect leader made him cold. "I don’t know." Tuvok frowned. "I briefed my captain earlier," he said. "They have difficulty keeping an undetectable transporter lock on Seven at times. It is as if parts of the compound have a protective grid." "We’re aware of that," Ebir allowed. "As you know, we suspect that there are multiple levels under ground. Nobody outside the Sanctuary has ever seen it but our scans show manmade structures imbedded deep inside the bedrock bellow." The Vulcan made a mental note to include this vital information for his next report to Janeway. They finished their meal in amicable silence. Getting up, Ebir stopped in his tracks and turned around. "I know I shouldn’t be such a pessimist," he said with hesitation, "but I hope you realise that in order to save your crewmembers and hopefully all the Servants on Dagar, you may have sacrificed a vital member of your crew." A quiet pang of remorse struck the otherwise so controlled Vulcan. He was always in control of his feelings but thinking of the brave young woman in the midst of those who were prepared to do anything to reach their objective was unsettling. "Seven of Nine is strong and capable," he said. "Do not underestimate her abilities. She will not be an easy catch. Concentrate on what you and your strike force must do when you are called upon to act." Ebir put a reassuring hand on Tuvok’s shoulder in the traditional Dagarian way. "I shall, my friend." ***** Early the following morning they all gathered in what looked like a large conference room.
Speaker Dajana was at the head of the long, oval table and the new initiates and servants took their seats around it. Seven regarded the woman at the far end with curiosity. The Speaker was dressed in the usual uniform, small golden insignias showing her rank. Two of her subordinates were standing to her left, keeping an eye on the group. Seven wondered about the security. Why were they there? "Welcome all," Dajana began and remained standing. "We are very happy to see you here and we also would like to welcome our newest member, Seven of Nine. She joined us only yesterday and we appreciate her decision." Everyone turned their head and smiled blithely towards the ex-Borg. Seven forced her lips into a faint smile back. "We will begin as usual with the exercises that will bring us closer to understanding the teachings of Sarassa," the Speaker said. "You’ve each been given a mantra … oh, right … you haven’t got one, have you, Seven?" "No." Speaker Dajana pulled out a piece of paper from an old book placed to her right on the table. "There you go. Do not share this with anyone," she said seriously. "This is your mantra that you will focus on during meditation. It is deeply personal. You memorise it and then dispose of the note in a way that it won’t fall into the wrong hands." "Understood," Seven said and accepted the note.
Opening the paper in her hand, Seven looked down and read the Dagarian words for ‘I surrender’. She bit her lower lip, folded the note and hid it in her sleeve. Speaker Dajana returned to her place and now raised her hands, her palms turned towards the initiates. "Listen to me," she said in a low, purring voice. "Close your eyes and think of your mantra. Repeat it in your heads and let it flow through you as I read the lyrics of the Prayer of Sarassa." Seven closed her eyes and began repeating the mantra as ordered, careful not to arouse suspicion. She found the exercise curious and non-productive. "Oh, hear the voice of Sarassa, my apprentice, my child. Let the wisdom of the Glory of Minds fill your soul and enter your mind. Relinquish the thoughts of home and the bounds that confine you. Deliver yourself, submit your strength and your willingness to do Sarassa’s good around our world. Let the true meaning of life, of you, commence and you will find the answers of all times." The power of the prayer was not revealed until Speaker Dajana read it for the third time in her suggestive voice. The ex-Borg suddenly wanted to stop repeating the mantra, wanted to open her eyes and focus on something else but found it impossible. She knew something was very wrong when her cortical implant began to scan her body, sending a myriad of nano probes through her veins. Trying hard not to gasp for air out loud, Seven struggled to fight the onslaught of the agent in her system. She realised that somehow the words triggered the effect of the substance and knew it was flooding the part of her brain that held her individuality, what made her unique. The sheer thought of losing her uniqueness, of returning to a collective of sorts against her own free will, terrified her. Seven focused on fighting the substance, struggling against the urges to just commit to it. It would not take much; it would be so easy to give in. ‘Kathryn.’ There. There was the name that held her world. Without making a conscious decision she began to repeat the name of the woman she loved, over and over in her head. ‘Kathryn, Kathryn.’ Slowly the shadows in her soul disappeared, fading into a horrific memory and she knew she could never participate in this exercise again; she might not win the battle next time. Keeping her eyes closed she adjusted her ocular implant to x-ray mode, by doing so being able to see through her eyelid. The sight of Speaker Dajana and her subordinates made the young blonde go cold. Sitting in her chair, the Speaker regarded the initiates with calculating eyes, as if trying to figure out what best to do with them. Her glance was reptilian in its coldness, her demeanour unforgiving. When Dajana’s eyes focused on Seven, the ex-Borg made sure not to move a muscle. She let her full lips move over and over, creating the illusion that she was indeed deep into the trance created by her mantra and the suggestive prayer. Dajana let her eyes rest on Seven for another fifteen seconds and then moved on to the young man sitting next to the blonde. The exercise went on for another half hour and Seven had to fight its power every step of the way. She was relieved when Dajana finally let go of her grip of the newcomers. Taking a deep breath, Seven tried to clear her mind of any residue of the seductive indoctrination. She glanced around the table, amazed at the tranquil faces, the contentment shining through. Quickly she made an effort force her own narrow features display the same docile ease. "Wonderful," Speaker Dajana beamed and turned to her subordinates. "I believe we have a fine group of recruits here. I think its time to start today’s first class. Some of you have already attended this introduction and you are dismissed. Go with Speaker Faro to the infirmary for the mandatory check up. The rest of you will do the same after class." Four of the initiates left the conference room with one of the speakers. When they had left, Dajana scanned their faces with her piercing glance. She smiled softly and leaned over the end of the table, leaning on her hands. "Now, I want you to pay attention. There exists a fine line between success and failure as a Servant of Sarassa. If you embrace the teachings, you will excel and prosper. As you progress, you will receive increasingly difficult tasks and more responsibility. All is designed to strengthen your body and mind in order for you to attain greater insights into Sarassa’s teachings. You see, there is only one pathway to success and it begins when you willingly release the bonds that hold you to this world. You now have a higher calling but to answer that call you must completely let go of your past. You must turn your back on all that you have known before. You must cut your ties with your old existence because they serve as an obstacle, a distraction that will prevent you from reaping the rewards that are only possible through the teachings of Sarassa. What rewards, you might ask? Peace, harmony, tranquillity, in other words … perfection." Seven tried to concentrate on what the Speaker was saying but her head still ached from the counter attack launched by her cortical implant. She knew she could not allow her discomfort to show but it was difficult to remain relaxed when her entire system was in uproar. "We expect a lot from you but only because we recognise your potential." Dajana looked pointedly at each and every one of them. "You will be criticised, ridiculed even, for being a Servant," the Speaker continued. "You may run into trouble with your birth family but once they realise that you know have chosen to stay with us, in this collective of people who thinks like you, act like you and live their life as you wish to live yours, they will embrace your choice. I must be honest with you; the path you have chosen is not easy. You will find it unbearably hard at time. However, remember that I believe in you. Sarassa believes in the teachings and through these, all things are possible." The tall woman rose and slowly circled the table, touching each of the initiate’s shoulders as she did so. "As a group, we depend on every single member to do his or her duty. You are among the finest initiates to enter our community and we’re proud to welcome you here. You will do great work once you have studied hard and taken the lessons to heart. We appreciate the fact that it is hard. The lessons will demand all your attention. Anything that breaks this fragile ability to focus must be pushed aside. You are not alone in this quest. I and the other Servants are here for you. We will not let you fall for each of you is too important to be lost along the way. We are a collective that is only as strong as our most fragile member." Seven cringed. The words, the ideas were so alluring. The Speaker addressed the initiates with such passion and conviction. Perhaps they were all wrong? Maybe the reports about the Sanctuary were misguided? She had not witnessed anyone administer any drugs. No one was forcing these people to stay. Stay. The word echoed in her head. Yes, she needed to stay. If she studied hard she would know perfection. The Speaker had told them that this was their reward. Perfection. "No!" her inner voice screamed. She had to fight the urges, the doubts and not give in. For the first time she became truly afraid that she might fail and succumb to the seductive promises. "Now, let’s go through this first booklet and then I’ll start sending you off two by two to the infirmary." Seven held the booklet with completely steady hands. This was definitely not the time to show trepidation or fright. She had an assignment to carry out and not much time to do it in. She pressed her lips together and thought of Janeway. ‘Kathryn.’ Her own personal mantra and the vision of her lover leaning over her on the Dagarian beach, the two moons behind her rendering the auburn hair a bluish halo and shadowing the beloved face, calmed her. "Seven, study page four and then relate the reason for Sarassa to convey these thoughts to us," Dajana demanded. Seven looked down at the text. "For every soul gained is a soul lost to the enemy. We must make it our business to conquer souls and keep them. They must not be allowed to stray or they will be useless to us. We will cherish them, punish them and service them in equal amounts," she read out loud, grateful for her eidetic memory that had allowed her to understand and read Dagarian without relying on the universal translator. She considered the text and found it quite fascinating and also terrifying. "I gather this means that we are supposed to solicit people for Sarassa," the ex-Borg began, deliberately making her voice uncertain and tinged with admiration. "Every member we gain strengthens us and weakens our enemies. If we are obedient and compliant, we are rewarded. If we are disobedient, we are punished. All will be taken care of." "That was very good, Seven," pronounced the Speaker. "Forgive me Speaker, but I still do not know who or what Sarassa is? What of these enemies? Who are they? What do they want?" Dajana regarded her with a slight frown. "Sarassa is a great prophet whose wisdom has come to us through the ages. Sarassa’s teachings enlighten and inspire us and show us that all things are possible. If Sarassa is the light and the teachings are pathway to enlightenment - who is Sarassa’s enemy, Seven?" Seven paused a moment to reflect on the Speaker’s word. "Darkness, would be Sarassa’s enemy and anyone or anything that would lead us off the path to enlightenment." "Excellent!" The speaker replied. "You intelligence serves Sarassa well. In time more will be revealed as you study your lessons but you have made a fine start. Continue in this manner." "Thank you. I intend to do my best, Speaker." The lesson went on for another hour before Dajana began shipping them off to the infirmary. When it was Seven’s turn, the Speaker surprised her by not teaming her up with another initiate. Instead the older woman rose and opened the door to the corridor. "I’m curious about you, Seven," she simply said. "I want to be present when you are examined by our doctor. I want to be assured that we are meeting all of you needs, not just the spiritual ones." Seven was concerned by this break in the routines but only nodded. "Very well," she said with a faint smile. Dajana led the way through the maze of smaller corridors stretching far into the compound. She showed Seven into a large white room where a Dagarian doctor waited for them. "Is this the one?" the doctor asked. "Yes, I want a full scan and an extensive examination. I want to ensure that Seven’s needs are being met. Since she’s not of our world I have concerns. I don’t want to see her health jeopardised by her commitment to us." The doctor pulled out the Dagarian equivalent of a medical tricorder and began performing scans of Sevens body. Starting from the left leg and moving up, he paused when he reached her waist. The medical device gave a beep and the readings made the doctor raise his eyebrows. "What have we here?" he muttered to himself. "I’ve never come across such extensive cybernetic implants. This stretches as far as …" "They are all remains from my time as a member of the Borg Collective," Seven explained matter of fact. "Most of my cranial implants were rejected but I still require regeneration cycles twice a week. I understand that arranging this will not cause a problem?" She raised her eyebrows at the Speaker who frowned. "I know you explained to me that you had special needs but I didn’t realise the seriousness of your condition or how invasive your implants truly are," Dajana said slowly. "Many time new initiates exaggerate about their conditions." "I do not exaggerate." "I have come to appreciate that Seven which is why I wanted to be here when you were examined. Tell me, how long has it been since you last regenerated?" "It has been three days." "Then I take it you will require regeneration soon?" "Yes, Speaker." "I’m sure something can be arranged if you assist in the construction of this regeneration device. However, I do have concerns." "Do you doubt my ability to become a faithful, dedicated Servant?" Seven asked, adding a tinge of sorrow to her voice. "I wish to stay, to become one of you." "And so you shall," the Speaker said as the doctor kept scanning Seven’s unique physiology. "Seven, we know that there are several more of your crewmembers that showed sincere interest in joining our community. I am … surprised, that we have not yet seen them here." Seven frowned. "I know why," she confessed. "Our captain intervened when my crewmates wanted to resign their commissions. She confined them to quarters." "Why did you not tell me this earlier?" demanded the Speaker. "You did not ask." "True," acknowledged the Speaker. "I will not make the same mistake again. Thank you for teaching me this valuable lesson. Now, tell me Seven, if she confined the others, why did your captain not detain you?" "I transported down here on my own volition by using a Borg encrypted command. My captain is a resourceful, strong leader but she will have to accept that I wish to remain here as a member of the Sanctuary. It is a very strong feeling and I know that I am making the right decision." Dajana smiled. "We will probably see the other five members of your crew soon," she said with confidence. "Your captain won’t be able to keep them onboard your space vessel for long. They will come and fulfil their destinies just as you have." Seven detected the note of triumph in her voice. The Speaker apparently looked at the crews’ detention as a minor setback of little consequence to the final outcome. "I will be delighted to see them arrive," Seven said. "I know these people will become an immense asset to the Sanctuary. I do not enjoy going against my former captain, but in this regard, she is wrong. You can not decide another individual’s fate. When the rest of the initiates arrive from Voyager, she will understand." Speaker Dajana smiled "I can see that you are of the right spirit for this," she admitted. "In your brief stay you have demonstrated a keen intellect and a desire to learn but I also sense a loyalty about you that shows potential." "I am only interested in pursuing the Teachings, Speaker," Seven stated. "I have questions that nobody has been able to find answers to and I feel I can finally find the solutions to the mysteries here." Dajana put a hand on Seven’s shoulder and squeezed it firmly. Seven cringed at the touch but did not flinch or move away. "Good," the older woman said. "Now, let Doctor Par finish his scans. I will leave you in the doctor’s care for the moment and will meet with you soon." Dajana nodded towards Seven and the doctor and left the infirmary. Doctor Par shook his head as he read the results of the scans. "I have never come across a physiology such as
yours," he confessed. "I don’t know how to interpret the values. Your blood
pressure is up but that is to be expected." "You are in a new environment, starting a new life; it is only natural that you are a little stressed out." Seven nodded, knowing that he probably meant that the drug caused the elevation in pulse, respiratory and blood pressure. "Was there anything else?" she asked, suddenly eager to get out of there. "No, you can go about your business." It was only by restraining herself with every ounce of her
self-control that Seven avoided letting out a sigh of relief. ***** The rest of the day passed quickly and Seven was no closer to finding the toxin. It was frustrating. So far she had not witnessed anything that indicated that these people were being drugged or held against their will. Walking into the large hall just inside the main entrance, Seven observed twenty servants gathered engaged in various activities. Some were studying; others were talking among themselves quietly. Most of them seemed happy and content. There were however two faces that did not radiate the same satisfaction and compliance as the rest. Atahlia was standing in the far corner, clasping a mug with some hot beverage between her hands and Speaker Dajana was right by her side, frowning down at the young woman. Seven directed her Borg enhanced hearing towards the two Dagarian women and was surprised to hear the Speaker sounding almost pleading. "Atahlia, I know it’s difficult to understand why you’re going through this right now. Just trust me that it will pass." "Something is wrong," the President’s daughter replied tersely. "I can’t sleep, I can’t eat and even gathering my thoughts and carry out my normal duties is overwhelming. I don’t understand how you can task me with this new assignment right now. It is not very wise since I know what’s going on." Seven saw the Speaker go pale. "What do you mean, Atahlia?" the imposing woman asked cautiously. "They are on their guard. They are not fools even if they don’t grasp or understand why I have committed myself to the Sanctuary. If I act now it will only raise their suspicions even further." "Perhaps, but I don’t see this as an obstacle but rather an opportunity that can be exploited. We can use this time to spread our message to more Dagarians. Our ranks grow each day. More are coming …" "Then why bring aliens into this?" the younger woman said, raising her voice. "It is stupid and unsafe. What can they possibly contribute?" "When we look at the Sanctuary’s future in a longer perspective, the additions of the off planet members may well turn out to be invaluable." "What about Rosina’s replacement? The tall blonde alien in my quarters? Is she cleared? Where is she from? There is something about her that I don’t trust!" "Lower your voice," Dajana commanded in a low growl. "Come with me to my office." Atahlia frowned but complied. Concerned, Seven walked in the crowded corridors behind the two women, curious to see where Dajana’s office was located. The other women entered a door at the far end of the north corridor and closed it behind them. Seven quickly walked up to the door next to the Speaker’s office and cautiously opened it. The room appeared to be a library of sorts. It was unoccupied. Silently she slipped inside. Standing close to the wall bordering to the Dajana’s office, she could hear muffled voices. "Here, drink this. You know it helps you relax." The ex-Borg frowned. What was the Speaker giving Atahlia? She leaned closer against the wall, adjusting her audio implant to register the now calmer voices on the other side. "I … I’m sorry, Speaker," she heard the younger woman say. Atahlia’s voice had now changed, it was tinged with drowsiness that Seven suspected came from some fast working agent that she and the crew were exposed to. She pressed closer to the wall and listened. "There you see, Atahlia," Speaker Dajana said softly. "Isn’t that much better? Sit here on my couch while the herbs do their magic. You know that a cup of my special tea always put you at rest." "Yes, Speaker," Atahlia murmured. "I don’t know why I get so worked up about things. I feel much better now." "You are a valuable member, well on your way to becoming a full Speaker," the older woman reassured her. "Just continue along the path, follow the teachings and my guidance and you’re assignment will be completed successfully." "Yes, Speaker," the young woman said, her voice slurring as if she was almost asleep. "Rest. I’ll have some work to do at my desk. You’ll not disturb me. Just sleep, my dear. I’ll awake you in time for our evening ritual." Suddenly, Seven heard footstep approaching. Patiently she waited, taking cover behind several bookshelves. Moments later the footsteps passed, and then faded down the corridor. Seven moved stealthily to the door, listened to ensure that there were no others in the corridor, and then silently slipped outside the door making her way back to the main hall. Quietly she hurried along the corridor. As she made the turn around the final corner she heard the door open to Speaker Dajana’s office. Not pleased that she had almost been spotted, Seven picked up the speed and made it safely back to the hallway without further incident. By then the crowd within the hall had increased significantly. Obviously the Journeyers had returned from their daily activities. Just then, one such member who was obviously late, came rushing through the door and accidentally bumped into Seven. The brochures that she carried in a basket were unceremoniously dropped on to the floor. Seven acted automatically and knelt down to retrieve the pamphlets that had scattered across the floor. "No! Don’t touch them!" a voice behind her exclaimed. Speaker Dajana had walked up to Seven placing her hands on her shoulders. Seven stopped and glanced up at the Speaker. It was at this point that Seven noticed that all other observers had stepped away from the materials, all except the Journeyer and herself. "Please stand up, Seven,’ the older woman ordered as she offered Seven her hand. Baffled by what was occurring, Seven rose slowly from her position on the floor. "Seven, it is very important that you understand; you must never touch anyone else’s materials, especially if they have been desecrated such as these," the Speaker emphasised, looking pointedly at the blonde. "The Journeyer has erred. Although your actions are commendable, she must take on the responsibility of correcting her mistake. You will understand later why this is one of our unconditional rules." The Speaker continued to hold on to Seven’s arm as she spoke, as if emphasising the importance of her words. She looked at Seven in a friendly manner and motioned with her chin towards the Servants’ mess hall. "It’s time for supper," she continued and let go of her newest initiate. "I suggest we all wash up and get on with our routine." The Third Speaker looked down at the girl who frantically gathered the brochures by scooping them into her basket. You," she said motioning to the Journeyer who was responsible for the mishap, "will pick up these items, deliver them to my office, then report to the Speaker on duty and ask for forgiveness." "Yes, Speaker," the distraught Journeyer replied. Turning to the community Dajana motioned them all to move along. It was time for the evening ritual. Seven watched the enigmatic Speaker walk towards the mess hall, knowing that she had witnessed something important even if she could not pinpoint exactly what it was. The agent in her system was taking a toll on her, blurring her eidetic memory and confusing her to some extent. She knew she had to take action soon, before her cortical implant lost the battle. The overwhelming desire to just give in to it all surprised her with its force. She could not fail. It was simply not an option. Walking towards the mess hall, knowing that she would be subjected to yet another evening of propaganda, she let the one word that meant everything flood her mind. Repeating it over and over again, she regained some of her inner peace. ‘Kathryn, Kathryn, Kathryn.’ ***** Janeway regarded the six bio beds. The six crewmembers subjected to the foreign agent were all kept sedated and fed intravenously. The Doctor and Tom Paris moved among the beds, constantly checking their vital signs and their solemn faces did not bode well. "How could this happen so quickly?" Chakotay inhaled standing next to her. "They’re ticking time bombs," the Doctor explained as he leaned over Samantha Wildman and scanned her brain with a cortex analyser tricorder. The readings made him frown and his usual smirk seemed far away. "Doctor, Crewman Nieva is comatose too. That makes all of them," Paris informed the EMH. "What is their prognosis?" Janeway inquired. "Seven better find a sample to beam up quickly," the Doctor answered. "This is escalating by the minute and I can only assume that it is these people’s human physiology that causes it to rampage in their systems like this. I don’t have to state the obvious, do I, Captain?" Janeway bit her lower lip, knowing what the Doctor was getting at. "Seven is human," she muttered. "She can become just as affected as her crewmates even if it takes her a little longer. The question is how long it will take." She turned to Chakotay. "We have to brief Tuvok, examine our options and act. Get hold of him, Chakotay. Doctor, Mr Paris, keep me informed about their condition," she continued. "I’ll be in engineering. I have to talk to B’Elanna." She glanced at the unmoving members of her crew, her family, on the bio beds. Overwhelmed with compassion for her crewmates and blinding anger towards the people responsible for their condition, she fought to bring her feeling under control. Taking a deep breath, she harnessed her emotions. Quickly she pivoted and left sickbay. ***** It was late in the evening and the park surrounding the Sanctuary compound was quiet and deserted. Seven gazed out the window before turning around, facing the piece of technology in the corner of the small room. After dinner she had asked permission to begin assembling her alcove. Speaker Dajana hadgranted her request and directed her to a small room across the corridor from the quarters the ex-Borg had shared with the other young woman. Dajana explained that on the nights that Seven had to regenerate she could stay there and the other times she would maintain her normal living area with the other initiates. Dajana had also cautioned her to limit her search for appropriate materials to the compound and not wander into areas that were off limits to initiates. The two speakers that had attended class earlier in the day had been assigned to assist her in finding the materials that were required but once Seven had begun the actual work on assembling the alcove they had left her to complete the task on her own. She now took a step back and regarded the familiar, green tinted dais with the makeshift computer operated connections that would sustain her systems. It was not as complex as her unit in cargo bay two onboard Voyager but it was enough to maintain her cortical implant within acceptable parameters. Seven knew her system was on the verge of becoming depleted, the agent had taken a toll on her nano probes in a way that she had never experienced before. She would require regeneration, if only for an hour or two, in order to be able to function. She stepped up on the small dais and manually attached the cords to the small of her back. The simple regeneration alcove would not send her into the same sleep like state as the one on the ship but it would replenish her systems. She closed her eyes, more in an effort to relax than as an attempt to sleep standing up. She thought about her day in the heart of the Sanctuary, of the people she had encountered. The Third Speaker was one of the most charismatic people she had ever met. She demanded your full attention and then seemed to hold it effortlessly as she preached the Teachings of Sarassa. In many ways she reminded the ex-Borg of Voyager’s captain, their husky voices held the same captivating qualities but where Janeway’s voice and expression showed compassion and strength, the Dagarian woman portrayed an overwhelming, powerful force. Seven recognised that the other initiates respected and admired their leader. She herself was curious about the older woman, in fact, quite eager to find out what the enigmatic leader could teach her. She knew what the leaders of the Sanctuary were capable of but could not deny that the way they presented their belief s made her want to know more. She clasped her hands behind her back. She could sense the new energy flooding her system. When she had regenerated for an hour, the door to the small room opened. Seven adjusted her ocular implant to x-ray mode and scanned the room with her eyes closed. The two subordinate speakers that had assisted her in gathering the material for the alcove stepped inside, moving quietly as if not to disturb her. "She looks asleep, don’t you think?" the younger one said. "She’s probably exhausted," the other Speaker replied. "The first days around here are tough." They approached the alcove and studied the tall blonde closely, making Seven cringe inside. "I’m glad our shift is over," the first one said as he took off his vest, revealing a hidden weapon strapped underneath his right arm. "I think it’s been too damn hot working today. Makes you feel bad for the new ones." "You always were a softy," the other subordinate smirked. "They need to get into the motions, to know what’s expected of them. They must feel that there is no other choice but to follow the Teachings. Only then do we have them firmly in our grip. Too many choices only confuse them." The other man did not look like he entirely agreed. The two remained in the room for another ten minutes, all the time keeping an eye on the regenerating ex-Borg. "What I need is a cold drink before I turn in. How about you?" the older one said. "Sounds good. I need something to dull the edge." "I’ll join you as soon as I’ve reported back to Third Speaker." "I’ll be in my quarters." They walked towards the door. The younger Dagarian glanced back at Seven over his shoulder. "I think Speaker Dajana has special plans for this one," he offered. The other man shrugged. "I’m not sure if I should congratulate her or offer her my condolences," he smirked. "Third Speaker has a way of targeting certain of her initiates and if they don’t live up to her expectations …" "I know." The two men left and when the door closed behind them, Seven slowly opened her eyes. It seemed that everyone was preparing to settle down for the night. It was time for her to get to work. ***** |
