Hearts and Minds

Posted on Mon Jul 14th, 2025 @ 12:33pm by Lieutenant Seth Travis & Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T’ghann-Travis MD

1,596 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Wounds From the Mirror
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: After Maurading Mirror 2

The room was silent and dark except for the soft electronic hum or the occasional beep of the machines as they get a vigil over their charge. The only light coming from their displays. Seth lay on the biobed, his eyes shut as his chest slowly raised. From the casual observer Seth may look like he was at peace if one can be a peace from being shot with a disrupter at close range. However, his mind was awhirl as he hovered between life and death. He thought of his beautiful, loving wife Shon, she was missing, presumed to have been taken by the mirrors. He could only hope and pray she was safe. His daughters Shasta and Sage, he knew were safe. He loved them with every breath he took even if his next breath could be his last. He protected them, kept them safe. His mind searched for Shon trying to connect with her but failing.

Shasta sat leaning over Seth's arm as she slept. Her dreams were numerous and nebulous, sometimes the family were all together on Earth in a big old farmhouse miles from anywhere. the sun was bright and the breeze moved the leaves on the trees and the tall green grass caught the wind and made wave patterns across the fields. Her parents and sister lay in hammocks set in lower branches of the trees. She looked at them and at this man she had learned to call Dad.Somewhere the beeping of a communications device began to annoy her.Her father woke and took her in his arms.

"Now, I know you are too old for this but I want to tell you how much i love you and always will even when you are too old to do this. You, your mother and Sage are all i live for and...."

The beeping was becoming louder and she tried to shake it off, tried to continue the dream. "Will you die Dad?" she asked. He smoothed the hair out of her eyes.

"We all have to die sometime Shas, but, even if that happens I will still be here for you." He touched her forehead, "Here in your mind."

"Don't die Dad, Shasta said as the tears in her dream began to soak Seth's arm.

Lying there on the biobed Seth could feel Shasta's love, her concern, her overwhelming goodness. His eyes fluttered open, the monitors beeped louder and more frequently even as they faded into the background. He was at their mountain cabin, "Shasta." he asked in a hoarse whisper. "Are, are you and Sage alright?"

Shasta opened her eyes and stood looking down at his white face. "Yes Dad, I have hidden Sage in the secret room behind you and mum's closet. Mrs D'osta is with her until i return but there is no word on Mom yet. Please get well," Shasta said as her tears fell.

Dr Perrim worked around her adjusting medications and checking Seth's wound. "You're doing well Seth." Perrim exclaimed, "but you have a long way to go." He moved away.

"There, you see Dad, Dr Perrim says you are doing well. I don't want to loose you too. Dad,?" she said her words faltering." I...I. think mom was taken onto the other ship. I..think she might be dead?"

Seth tried to smile but it was so hard. "Shasta." He reached a hand for her. "You have to be strong, for yourself, for Sage. Your mother is alive. I can feel here. We have to be strong for her. Never lose faith, never give up Shasta."

*Seth darling, it's Shon, it has taken me so long to break through.*
it was like a whisper at first but then stronger into Seth's mind.

"I just want us all to be together again...Dad, Dad what's the matter shall i call Dr Perrim?"

Seth gasped as Shon spoke to him telepathically. *Shon love! Where are you? Are you alright?* To Shasta he said. "Your mother! I'm talking to her!"

*I am on the other ship, in sickbay, I am fine Seth* Shon wasn't about to tell him what had been done to her. "Is Sage safe and you...and Shas?" the words flowed in and out softly and sometimes not at all, Shon was straining to keep the link as it was all she had through all the madness and pain. However a part of her was being reached by the mirror Shran, something, someone darker than the Shon he knew.

*Other ship?* He questioned. "Yes Shasta and Sage are fine and safe. You would be so proud of Shasta, she saved me." Seth replied and stopped. he could hear the pain in Shon's 'voice' as she spoke to him. "What is wrong Shon? I can feel your pain." He replied even as the strain wore on him. "What has happened?"

Shon's answer was a whisper, *Shran took our baby, cut her right out of me and threw her away, I'm so sorry Seth, i could not stop him." she laughed "but don't you worry things are about to change and retribution comes in many forms. Get well, look after Shas and Sage and remember me as I was my love.*

Seth squeezed his eyes shut as Shon told him their baby had been taken from her by the Mirror Shran He reached out to her again telepathically. *Shon, I am so sorry love. Stay strong, we will be together again as a family.* He knew Shon had to be restrained in someway not to be able to stop the evil Shran and he wondered what she wasn't telling him.

*My darling tell Shasta to go be with Sage, hide, stay safe and you, please get well I wish nothing but to be with you but I am not sure I will survive this, my body is broken and something is happening within my mind.*

*Love, Shasta and Sage are safe do not worry about them. Concentrate on staying strong. You will survive this and I am not leaving you. We will survive this together. We are partners in life and all it holds both good and bad.*

Shasta held her father's hand tightly not knowing what was being said as Doctor Perrim frowned at the latest medical readings from Seth.

* My darling my strength has gone, my body mutilated and I cannot help the dark side of my Vulcan mind taking over, it will very soon and I do not know what I will do. Forgive me my love as I do not think there is any going back.*

Perrim tutted and injected Seth with vitlainix which cut off his anular cortex and the communication with Shon.

*No Shon! NO! Don't let your dark side prevail! Come back to us! Come back to me!* Seth implored with his mind just as Perrim injected in with vitlainix. "What did you do to me?" He snarled at the doctor. "I was talking with Shon!"

Perrim looked at him, "Seth your neural synapses are very fragile due to the drugs we had to give you. Any longer and you may have suffered neural failure. As it is you should be resting. Know that we all miss Shon and pray for her safe return." He ruffled Shasta's hair and she shrugged him off.

"Do not touch me," she shouted as she took Seth's hand. "Mom will be fine Dad, whatever is happening.

"Bastard. You're a no good bastard. Perrim." Seth said coldly and turned to Shasta as she squeezed his hand. "You are right Shasta honey, your Mother will be fine." He said convincingly at least he hoped it sounded convincing.

Shons mind was changing, the last thing she felt was love for Seth, Shasta and Sage and she sent one last feeling of love to Seth then, nothing as her brain reset. Shon's face changed, the soft gentle eyes became gimlet hard as her brain accepted the neural input of the Vulcan cruelty T"shi'Anta, a millenia old response to pain that is overwhelming. The loss of the fetus growing inside her was the final turning point and Shon was gone.

Shasta cried out, "Mom" she screamed and threw herself onto Seth. "she's gone Dad, she's gone."

Seth felt the message of love Shon has sent him, Shasta and little Sage. *SHON!* His brain screamed for her, desperately hoping to find and connect with her but there was nothing. Tears streamed down his face and he gasped for air at the shock of Shon being gone.

On board the Saber Shon turned away the ability to contact Seth gone replaced by sadistic cruelty, her goodness and love gone. Her name remained the same but she knew not where it came from. The only thing she felt was loyalty and love for the evil Shran. The life she knew was gone.

Shasta held Seth as they cried, "She will be all right whatever happens Dad. She would want you to get well and go and find her and bring her home."

Dr Perrim heard her. "Oh no Seth, you are going to go to sleep, if you want to live you will let me look after you. "He raised the hypo to send him to sleep.

Seth couldn't reply. He was in shock at what Shon said and then not being able to contact her. He gasped for breaths even as Shasta held him. He would find Shon, bring her home and kill those responsible for hurting her. He ignored Perrim and shared sorrow with Shasta.

 

RSS Feed