Metamorphosis, Part Two
Posted on Aug 22, 2014 @ 12:18pm by Thomas Varn
Edited on on Aug 22, 2014 @ 12:19pm
Mission: The Tangled Webs We Weave
(“Metamorphosis Part 2”)
(Continued from “Magic Bullet”)
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Location: Earth
Scene: Office of the Secretary of Temporal Investigations
Stardate: [2.14]0815.2232
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Standing on the edge looking down below, Thomas took a deep breath trying to calm his mind, trying to drown out the noise that is progress. While it was true that he had been discharged from the hospital, mainly because he checked himself out, Thomas had not left the hospital’s vicinity. The general hustle and bustle of the city below seemed almost unreal, as if it was a scene from a video file or the holodeck. Shaking his head slowly trying to clear the confusion and fog that remained he slowly removed his coat and straps before slowly turning to the noise of quickened footsteps behind him.
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Scene: Thomas’ Hospital Room
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Standing at the window Sylvia did her best to make sense of what was happening and come to grip with the possibility of losing Thomas.
“No matter how long you look the picture stays the same, “ Cade commented stepping into the room.
Leila sighed heavily before turning to her distant cousin growling as she spoke, “you are not helping.”
Sylvia merely turned her head before fully acknowledging the duo by facing them. Taking a slow breath and staring directly at Cade, Sylvia began to allow her verbal assault to begin only to be halted by the sound of rushing steps echoing down the hall. As the duo, now a trio, moved into the hallway Leila called to one of the attending nurses.
“Su’Ban, what’s going on,” she asked stopping a Bre’elian nurse.
Stopping momentarily Su’Ban slightly nodded, “there is a man atop the building with something strapped to his back.”
“Something,” Sylvia asked stepping forward.
Nodding Su’Ban smiled, “the reporting officer was saying something about feathers.”
Without responding the three moved quickly, making their way to the building’s roof access with Cade trailing behind, “why does this place even have a roof?”
“It’s an older building,” Leila stated only stopping to open the door to the roof itself.
By the time they had made it to the roof several medical personnel and local security officers were there attempting to assist and assess the situation the young man had created. It wasn’t until Leila, Cade, and Sylvia pushed their way to the front that any real comments or statements were made.
“What ya doing wingboy,” Cade shouted smiling slightly at the quick and shocked expression on everyone’s face.
Standing there Thomas looked at the crowd his gaze almost blank and expressionless. As the crowed stared back not a word was heard or attempted to even be whispered. Tension in the air began to escalate as all involved became increasingly nervous, that is all but Sylvia and Cade. Sylvia, who had stopped behind Cade and Leila, finally pushed her way past not being the only person near to Thomas. She watched as his head moved and looked the crowd over only to gasp loudly in horror before stepping back.
“What has happened to his eyes,” she asked giving Cade cause to look closer.
Thomas startled by the gasp immediately turned to face Sylvia. His face change from calm to a scene of horror and the black in his eyes, which has almost consumed their color, vanished replaced by a multitude of color shades just before he launched himself from the roof over the edge.
In almost synchronized unison screams and gasps were heard as everyone, almost compelled by instinct, quickly moved to the edge. Eyes began to frantically look below only to find nothing before the whispers and rumors began being fueled by security personnel beginning to clear the roof.
Standing their staring over the edge Leila tried to say the words that would truly express what she was thinking only to exclaim, “but how?”
Cade who calmly walked up scoffed, “he’s not called wingboy because he likes chicken.”
Leila managed to blink, “you mean they are functional?”
Cade prepared to return a remark only to be cut off by Sylvia, “where has he gone?”
“With the wind,” Cade mused heading back to the door.
“But where and why,” Sylvia asked.
Leila, who was now in toe simply advised, “track his combadge, he’s still in Starfleet right?”
Stopping the group Sylvia sighed showing them Thomas’ coat, which she had picked up, “his combadge is here.”
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Scene: San Francisco Shopping Area
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Thomas glided over the shops and people, some happened to see him, some didn’t; but, this did not matter to Thomas now, only getting away. He knew that they couldn’t track him without the commbadge and he didn’t think they would scan the entire planet for his life sign; but, wouldn’t put it past Sylvia. He had to leave the city, keep moving; but to where, where to go that he would not be known and to go without being seen.
“I need a new coat,” Thomas sighed to himself before landing in an alleyway listening to the shops around hearing something unusual.
Peering around the corner he watched a scene unfold between a man and woman, who didn’t appear to be a normal civilian before being joined by a young man and woman armed. As the trio disappeared from view and the now injured man quickly made an exit in the opposite direction Thomas moved across the alley way to an open door that belonged to a shop. With no one around he quickly took a trench coat tucking his wings back and placing it on before leaving as quick as he came.
“Now, to leave the city before I fall victim to some strange lady like that moob back in the alley,” Thomas stated making for a local transport station
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Scene: Venice, Italy
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There were many things that the head chef, and proprietor, of The Devil’s Delight had to do. One of the less glamorous things was take out the garbage when your bus boy didn’t show up.
Or if it was a random Tuesday, deal with the moaning man passed out in the alley.
But Marcus Bonviva, long ago, dealt with demons that had forced him into a similar situation. Dealing with those kinds of demons gave him an insight into what lead people to becoming a moaning mess in dark alleys. Many a days the only way he survived was on the kindness of strangers; now long past those days he long made the promise to himself that whenever he could help someone like that he would.
Sighing, the Human man in his late 60s walked down the alley and crouched down. Nudging the grown man he said, “Eh? You wanna wake up?”
The Human man, wrapped up in a dark – and now dirty – coat moaned.
Marcus inspected the man. He didn’t appear to be hurt, just knocked around a bit. “You awake?”
“I’m awake,” Thomas Varn mumbled.
“You don’t sound awake,” Marcus chuckled. Patting him on the shoulder he said, “Come on up, we’ll get you some espresso, some food. It’ll be good for your soul.”
Thomas moaned. “Where am I?”
“You don’t remember? Yeah I’ve been there,” Marcus nodded with compassion. Groaning as he got up he said, “You’re in Venice, Italy outside my restaurant. It’s called The Devil’s Delight.”
Thomas tried vainly to get himself up but couldn’t seem to straighten himself up. Marcus sighed and called out, “Gavi!”
A thin teenager stuck his head out of the restaurant. “Nonno?”
Marcus nodded to the man on the ground, “Aiutarlo.”
Gavi walked out and folded his arms across his chest, staring down Thomas. Thomas stared up and saw the thin boy, wearing the white chef’s jacket and pants with only thin black gloves standing out. “Perche?”
Marcus looked at Gavi. “We’re Bonvivas, it’s *who* we are, it’s what *we* do,” he said with a soft fierceness.
“Si, Nonno,” Gavi sighed. With that he reached down and pulled the Science officer up off the ground. “Did I hurt you?” he asked softly.
Thomas looked at Gavi. “You couldn’t hurt me,” he said.
Gavi snorted at that. “I’ll make you an espresso,” he replied as he walked away.
Thomas sat there looking and watching all those that had gathered or began to move their glances into the full on stare in his direction. Sighing he did his best to keep his composure and eat what was given to him. There was a flurry of activity in the kitchen, and yet there was a fluidity and grace in their movements. Each member clearly had a pre-designated role -- from the young woman in the back who was kneading the dough, to the man at another station whose sole responsibility was to monitor the large stock pots and everything that went into them, to another station further over and the intimidating woman who wielded a meat cleaver which alarming alacrity.
Yet, it also reminded Thomas of a ship. Everyone had their place, they knew it, and without one the rest could do the other positions but it would cause a burden.
The Science officer looked down to bury himself in his hazelnut biscotti and cappuccino but surprisingly found that he finished it all.
Marcus had been wandering from station to station. “Now then, what brings you to Venice,” he asked as he motioned for a young kid to take away the plates.
Thomas looked up. “That was good. Thank you,” he said softly.
Gavi snorted from his fry station. The station wasn’t warmed up yet, right now he was prepping it for the first shift, so his hands were seemingly flying as he cleaned it in prep for the chopping to come. “Good to know one of the best pastry chefs makes “good” stuff,” he scoffed softly.
Marcus glared at Gavi before turning back to Thomas. “Now, why are you in Venice?”
“It’s hard to say,” Thomas sighed.
“I’ve got time,” Marcus offered kindly.
“No you don’t, we need to get ready for the lunch time crowd,” Gavi pointed out. When Marcus turned to glare at him, Gavi held up his fry pan as a defense. “Hey, I’m just the Rôtisseur - you’re the Chef de Cuisine but even I can tell time.”
“Gavirosh Bonviva you’re always going on how you can do more, even if you don’t want to leave Venice to go to go to culinary school--”
“I don’t need to leave here!”
“Yes you do! There’s more to the universe than Venice!”
“I’ve seen it and I want to stay here!”
“Not all of it is bad and some of it is good and you need to see *that* if you want to be a chef.”
Thomas watched the back and forth, it was clear that the two of them had this verbal game of Velocity before. Part of Thomas really felt more comfortable (and quite frankly curious) to let them have it out again. Still he couldn’t help but ask, “Bonviva?”
Both men turned around. “Si,” Marcus said.
“I know a Bonviva,” Thomas said.
Marcus gave him a look. Then he looked at Gavi with a raised hand before turning back to Thomas with a smile, “You probably know one of my kids.”
Thomas gave him a look. “One of your kids?”
A shadow crossed over Marcus’ face them, then it passed. “I have three living children. I would know you if you met my Corina, she died when she was still a young woman.”
The kitchen, which had been a bustle of activity, seemingly slowed down before picking right back up. “I’m sorry for your loss,” Thomas said awkwardly.
Marcus shook his head. “Not your fault, it was an accident. And it was a very long time ago.”
Gavi glared at Thomas then as he chopped his mushrooms. “Maybe you know Zia Iphie. Get kicked off any planets lately? Seems about your speed.”
Unsure of what to do with that comment, Marcus thankfully interjected, “Ok, it’s been awhile since that’s happened to Iphie.”
“Ten planets in 9 years,” Gavi grinned.
“You talk to your Uncle Horatio too much,” Marcus grumbled. Looking over at Thomas he asked. “You know Horatio?” When Thomas shook his head, Marcus sighed and turned back to Gavi, “And you -- even Iphie managed to go to culinary school so she’s got that for her.” Looking over at Thomas he said, “She’s the Chef de Cuisine at my eldest daughter’s restaurant on the GATEWAY. It’s called the Devil’s Delight. Have you been there?”
If it was possible, Thomas thought Gavi was going to murder those mushrooms. “I don’t know an Iphie. But I’ve been to the Devil’s Delight. I thought that was Xana’s restaurant.”
“You know Xana?” Marcus asked.
Gavi snorted. “He watches the news or went to get a bite to eat at the GATEWAY. That doesn’t make him special.”
Thomas looked over at Gavi. “I remember your mom too. I remember when Daisy married Xana on BAJOR - all of you at the oxder - um - that ceremony when you all bonded.”
Marcus and Gavi exchanged a look.
Thomas pausing for a moment signed before standing and stretching his arms a bit, “I was the Chief Science officer aboard Gateway when your mom and Xana were there. I was always glad to serve with your mother, she is a very kind and gentle woman and Xana, I do not think I have met anyone quite like her.”
Gavi slowly wiped the mushrooms from his blade as he and Marcus both turned to look at Thomas. Gavi shaking his head leaned back against the counter, “I remember the cheif science officer on the Gateway just barely enough from what I saw and what I was told. He wasn’t anything special, a introvert if I remember; but, mom would talk about his wings.”
Marcus looked to Thomas then back to Gavi, “ali? As in the flappy bird kind”
“Si,” Gavi smiled softly, “and if I do say so myself you don’t have to be a chef to see that you don’t have anything remotely…”
As if being taunted Thomas slowly slipped off his jacket tossing it into the chair that he had been sitting in just moments before, “you were saying?”
Standing there the trio looked from one another as if trying to find the words any words to fill the silence. Marcus who had just met Thomas a while before was paying more attention to Gavi than he was Thomas, and his wings. It was he who broke the dead silence with a quick remark to his grandson.
“You see, he gets out there and sees the world,” Marcus stated loudly.
Thomas not really sure how to take the comment could only manage, “excuse me?”
“Mi scusi, I meerly mean that you have those wings attached to you; but, you do not stay cooped up in a small building on Earth. You are in Starfleet, sailing across the stars and go back everyday,” Marcus stated hoping his point was getting to Gavi.
Scoffing and turning back to the food, “except this time and whatever he’s running from.”
Thomas stepped forward slightly, “what I’m running from isn’t something up there its something inside me and I do it so that another will not be hurt.”
“Yet it’s still running,” Gavi returned.
Thomas stopped for a moment allowing the truth to sink in, that he was in fact running. He may say its for Sylvia; but, for all the times that he tells that not once has he believed it to be true. Sighing Thomas nodded, “you’re right.”
Turning and picking up the coat before putting it back on and securing it in place Thomas nodded, “thank you for your hospitality, and if I may ask you one last favor.”
Marcus nodded, “si.”
“Where is Xana?”
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Scene: Bonviva Resident
Time Index: One Hour Later
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Thomas had spent most of the time wandering the city until he finally managed to locate the home of Xana Bonviva; but, he did manage to. He spent a good twenty minutes standing looking at the home before deciding to approach.
“I can’t do this,” Thomas stated turning to back track only to hear footsteps coming down looking around realizing there was only one way out he quickly took his coat off and leaped into the air flying away trying to get out of view only to land in what appeared to be a nice empty courtyard a few meters away.
Moving to a railing and sitting down allowing his feet to dangle over the waterway below Thomas sighed not knowing he was being watched the entire time. It was his mistake to have gotten turned around in Venice and the house that he had thought to be Xana’s was in fact not hers at all; but, the courtyard he managed to land was.
It was this landing that triggered a young Benito rand as quickly as he could to where his mother and father were now talking, “there’s an angel in the courtyard!”
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Tag Sarah :D
