A Deal Part II: In the Heat of the Fire Caves

Posted on Thu Oct 24th, 2024 @ 5:46pm by Lieutenant Fang Lee

1,376 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Fire Plains | Vulcan
Timeline: --- Several Years Ago --- (Fang's Final Academy Year)

ON:


The night had fallen like a thick blanket causing the outside of the cave to be utterly dark or it would have been without the silver twinkle of the stars. Their light was hardly strong enough to dispel the shadows but the light inside the fire cave was bright enough to ensure that they would not be bothered by animals. The warmth of the cave, whereas usually would be unwelcome, was very welcome tonight. Fang sat by the fire he’d built anxiously glancing at Zai. He was deathly pale but at least his wound had stopped bleeding.

Fang was no medical doctor but he knew that Zai needed a hospital and fast. The problem was that the fire cave system was vast and he himself had gotten turned around looking for Zai. He clenched his teeth trying to swallow past the lump that had formed in his throat. His fists clenched and unclenched. If he ever caught the bastard that stuck Zai with the knife he would ensure that vengeance was not an easy experience for him.

Fang laid down beside Zai turning on his side gently caressing his cheek. “Come on Zai, wake up. Open those lavender eyes of yours. Smile, scowl, I don’t care what I need you to open your eyes.” It was a futile response.

Why had he been so late? If that damned instructor hadn’t delayed him he’d have been here sooner and perhaps in time to save Zai.

Fang scooted closer pushing his forehead to Zai’s. “Please wake up.”

Still no response. In fact Zai’s skin was becoming colder to the touch. His breathing was becoming shallow and more labored.

Fang’s eyes filled with tears, making Zai seem distorted even this close up. He bit his lip to keep from making a sound. The last thing that Zai needed was to hear him cry. He was an empath so he could already sense the fear in Fang … well he could if he’d been awake.

“It’s past midnight. I promise you as soon as the sun is out we’ll go. I will get you help. I promise.”

Just as he’d finished speaking a rattle escaped Zai, the unmistakable rattle of the last breath he would ever take. Panic stricken Fang sat up. He held his finger under Zai’s nose but no breath came in or out.

“No! No!” Fang hit the ground several times letting out a roar that would have had a Selath running. He pulled Zai up clutching him to his chest. “Zai! Breath! Please breath for me!” Gently rocking the body that had been Zai Fang laid his forehead on Zai’s. His tears began to fall without restraint. It could not end like this.

“Someone please help!” He looked around wildly. “Please! ANYONE!”

He didn’t know how long he screamed, time itself seemed to have stopped with Zai’s breath. Fang’s whole body trembled and all of a sudden the cave temperature dropped quicker then a hammer off a cliff.

Fang looked up noticing that his breath was producing a fine white mist. The same kind that seemed to have covered the cave without him noticing.

“Odd. You two are not sons of Vulcan.”

Fang pulled out his phaser pointing it towards the man walking out of the white mist. The man, a Vulcan clearly stopped. His lip curved upward. “You call for help yet you would do me harm?”

“W…who are you?”

“A long and pointless question when your friend’s time is clearly running out.”

Fang looked down at Zai. “He’s not breathing. Please. Can you help him?” He placed Zai back on the ground gently and turned towards the man. Clasping his hands in supplication he finally looked at the man and was struck speechless. This was like no other Vulcan he’d seen. The eyebrows were pointed upward, the ears pointy and the face long but… His eyes were bright red, almost the colour of the fire lakes. Under his eyes was bright pink as if burned by the sun. His full pink lips were sooth and youthful yet his voice was that of wisdom and age. Upon his brow was a Symbol that Fang was not familiar with.

“A…are you a monk? Please tell me you have medical knowledge?”

The man rolled his eyes. “After a fashion yes I have the knowledge to save your friend.” He walked closer and Fang made out more details. His hair was a mix of black and deep red, as long as Fang’s own hair touching the man’s lower back. He had on a long black robe much like the Hanfu cloaks of old in China on Earth. Lee Chen had one made for him as it was similar to what Capellan royalty would wear. This man was Royalty….that Fang could tell by the way he carried himself almost floating.

“Please I beg you, help him.”

The man looked at Zai. “He is not full dead yet. Saving him is…possible.”

Fang let out a cry. “Please…” He whispered. “I’ll do anything.”

The man, this time smiled. “Anything. My. He must be important to you.” The man walked over and knelt down by Zai. He opened his eye and studied the wound that Fang had bound hastily. “I see by the scar this is not his first encounter with a dagger.”

“No…he said he was stabbed by the person he loved.”

“A lie,” the man said as if it were fact. “He believes it alright but it is a lie. I suppose he’ll discover that in time.”

“Huh? How do you? Who the hell are you?”

The man laughed. “Yes. Quite right. I have many names Mr. Fang.”

“How do you…”

The man held up a gloved hand but it was not like any Glove that Fang had seen. The fingers of the glove were points of metal that could sheer the skin off anyone they clawed.

“I will help your friend if for no other reason then the fact that you two fascinate me. You were not born here, neither a son of Vulcan yet both drawn to this planet. I love a good mystery, very few things are mystery to me.”

“You wish him to live then listen carefully.”

“Go down that path until you reach a natural waterfall. It will be water falling into a lake of fire. Capture some water and find a stick to bring back the fire. Hurry. He has but a short time in this state between life and death. I will keep his body alive until you bring back what is needed to fully revive him.”

Fang studied him. “H…how do I know you are telling the truth?”

The man laid a hand on Zai’s chest and it began to rise and fall. “He is breathing.”

Fang didn’t ask, he stood and ran.

The man smiled. “Very good. Now then Mr. Zai or rather Xingtian. Keep breathing. Let me see into your soul.”

Zai’s eyes flew open lit lavender glowing as if from a light within.

The man held Zai’s gaze his own red eyes emitting the same glow. The silent telepathic exchange only lasted a moment before Zai’s eyes closed again.

The man sat back. “Fascinating. You are very fascinating, as is your friend. To have one of you by my side would make eternity barrable. I have visited your plant many times. I have never encountered someone like the two of you. Alright Mr. Zai I will help you. Your friend…fascinates me too...he did say anything. Let me tell you Mr. Zai I know your friend there. On your planet he has done me great honour that he probably forgot. I never forget a debt so I shall repay him with your life. But again, I do nothing for free. Maybe I can make a fund deal out of this that will bind one of you to me...or both. Let's see what we can do shall we?” The man looked up.

"Ah, he is coming back."



To Be Continued...

 

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