SHELANA 8

CHAPTER 2- THE MERGE

KIRA

(there is a long pause, then she gives him a serious look) I'm sorry I doubted you...I just......you were acting so strange....

TARS'N

(averts his eyes) I wish I could tell you why.....(he hesitates, then looks into her eyes) [She has the right to know....]

KIRA looks into his eyes, and at that moment TARS'N decides to betray his secret for the first time in his three million years of existence.

TARS'N

(takes a deep breath, then takes KIRA'S hand) Come with me. You have to promise me you wont tell anyone what I tell you....Not even the Captain, not under orders. This is way bigger than you, this is bigger than the both of us....

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KIRA and TARS'N enter TARS'N'S quarters. KIRA notices that TARS'N'S bed is made...
TARS'N leads KIRA over to the window and sits on the floor in front of it. KIRA sits bewteen him and the window.

TARS'N

I've...never told anyone...any of this before....and it's...strictly against all the rules I've lived by my entire lives...

KIRA

(confused) ...Lives? But...you're not a joined Trill...you--

TARS'N

(gently interrupting her) Nerys....(he rests a hand on hers) I'm not a Trill.

KIRA

(stares at him) W...what?

TARS'N

(calmly) I'm not a Trill.

KIRA

(notices his eyes are a light violet...weren't they blue before?) A...are you...a changeling?

TARS'N

(smiles) I knew you would ask me that...

KIRA

Well? Are you?

TARS'N

(he looks into her eyes; his eyes seem to change to a warmer violet) No.

KIRA stares at him speechless for a moment. She had definitely just seen his eyes change colour. She is a bit frightened.

KIRA

(moves away from him slightly; tries to get up; her voice is low) What are you?

TARS'N

(reaches for her, he gently pulls her back onto her knees) Shhh...I can't tell you--

KIRA

(stares at him in disbelief; she raises her voice as she struggles against his grip) You told me you would explain all of this!

TARS'N

(calmly; he holds her in place) Nerys! (she suddenly feels his hands shocking her...not painfully, but...almost soothingly)

KIRA

(gasps, then relaxes a little, against her better judgement; she whispers; she is obviously frightened) Wha...what...are you...doing to me...Tars'n?

TARS'N

(closes his eyes; his voice is low and soothing) Shhh....I'll explain everything...I promise.......but I can't tell you...I have to show you...

KIRA closes her eyes as she feels the shocking feeling travel under her skin, into every pore...she opens an eye to see what is happening. She sees TARS'N'S hands melting into her shoulders, sending the shocking feeling coursing through her arms. She closes her eyes again and puts a hand on his arm for stability, only to feel it melt into him.

KIRA [VO]

[I feel like I'm going to fall...]

TARS'N [VO]

(whispers) [I won't let you...]

KIRA suddenly finds herself enveloped. The room seems to blur. The shocking feeling ran down her spine, coursing through every inch of her body. It feels so sensual, she can't help but moan a little.

TARS'N [VO]

Shhh...Everything's going to be alright....

Then suddenly, everything goes black.

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When KIRA regains her eyesight, she finds herself in vaguely familiar surroundings. It is a desert; it looks a bit like mars used to...except for the sparse foliage. She looks around for TARS'N, but he is nowhere to be seen.

KIRA [VO]

*her thoughts seem to echo, as if she were in an empty room* [I've been here before...]

There is a slight tremor in the ground, causing a clump of flowers growing on a rock to close their petals. Behind the rock, she can see a planet rising on the horizon. It is so close, it takes up about one fourth of the sky. KIRA'S lips part...she remembers where she is.

KIRA [VO]

[The.......Bashir's planet? What am I doing here?]

TARS'N [VO]

(His voice startles her and she whirls around) [This was my home, Nerys]. (his lips never move, but she hears his voice; it seems to echo as well)

KIRA

(she moves her lips this time, but her voice still echos) Your home?

TARS'N [VO]

(a slight smile spreads across his lips, but he keeps them shut) [Yes.]

KIRA

So...you lied about species X........Is that what you are? One of them?

TARS'N [VO]

[In a way...]

KIRA

Tars'n, I'm through playing games, if you'll just explain--

TARS'N

[I can't...I have to show you.] *he points off into the distance*

KIRA looks off in the direction he was pointing. She sees what looks like a spatial distortion forming a few kilometres in the distance. The spatial distortion opens and two orbs of light emerge from it. One of the orbs travels away from the distortion, while the other remains near it. The orb that travelled away moves towards one of the flowers growing on the rock. When the orb touches the flower, the flower morphs into a small flesh-coloured orb. The orb of light envelops the flesh-coloured orb and moves back to the spatial distortion. Both orbs enter it and the spatial distortion starts to close. KIRA notices that everything is starting to blur again.

TARS'N [VO]

[You have just witnessed my induction. From that moment forward, I was loyal to the Tychal, and to them alone.]

KIRA

Tychal? Who are the Tychal? And what do you mean? That flower was you?

TARS'N [VO]

[You shall understand, in time.]

Everything became black again.

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[More later]