The Exorcism

[Malaclypse 666]

Near Pueblo Bonito Station, the [TAZ]Malaclypse slowly matched speeds with the [TAZ]IKS-negh'var, and then gently closed to within transport range.

The Episkopos Prime's personal Corvo was dwarfed by Commander Rajuc's new Aquilon Carrier. "Comms open, E-Prime." said the TAZMal's comms officer.

"Carrier negh'var, this is Malaclypse. Permission to come aboard, as per request of Captain Rajuc?"

After a moment, the face of a low-ranking Klingon appeared on the screen. He was a younger fellow, clearly the ship's comm officer.

"You are cleared to come aboard. Prepare for transport, negh'var out."

Such a curt response would be taken by most as rudeness or disrespect, but Malaclypse knew that it was just a Klingon's idea of politeness, in that they didn't waste a person's time with unnecessary banter. He stood up, and stepped into an open area so the negh'var's transporter would be able to get a lock on him.

Within minutes, Malaclypse found himself in the Transporter room of the Aquilon. While he had no "military" rank in the TAZ, Malaclypse was confronted with the sight of five Klingon warriors in full Ceremonial garb flanking the room. Captain Rajuc stood at attention beyond the Honor Guard.

"Episkopos Malaclypse, I am Commander Rajuc, son of Toragh, Captain of the negh'var. It is a pleasure to have you aboard. I hope that the negh'var meets with your approval."

Of course, the two already knew each other, but Rajuc could be stiffly formal at times. Rajuc indicated the soldier standing next to him.

"This is Leader Kras of First Squad, my personal guard. The others are the rest of First Squad. They will see to your safety while you are here."

This was, of course, a formality, as being aboard the negh'var was no more or less dangerous than being aboard his own ship. It was entirely a gesture of respect from Rajuc.

"Beautiful vessel, Cptain Rajuc. Not quite as "cheery" as the Chapel Perilous, but that is a matter of personal and cultural tastes, I'm sure.

"Now, Captain, your vessel seems to have had a spot of bad luck.. trouble interfacing weapons' systems, infuriating bad glitches with her transponder; and then that unfortunate "incident" with the Molly Repubic in Dublin, sir. I would tend to agree that she may indeed have inherited some sort of 'curse' from the original owner.."

"Indeed. Getting this ship fit for battle has not gone as smoothly as I would like. Mechanically, everything seems fine, and I can vouch for the competence of my engineering staff. They would not be aboard if they were not competent. There is a rumor going around on the lower decks that the vessel is haunted by jat'yIn.... I believe you would call them 'ghosts'. Of course, that's absurd, but I'm starting to wonder."

Malaclypse seemed distracted and distant for a few moments, his head cocked as if listening to something off in the distance. His eyes suddenly opened wide, and a sad smile appeared on his face.

"Captain, this vessel once used slaves. They were used for difficult and dangerous tasks, it appears; and one such task proved to be too dangerous, resulting in the loss of several dozen of those poor souls.

"If you could direct me to the.." his eyes closed again briefly.. "..to the port midships auxiliary power reactor, sir, I believe I can help. Oh, and if you have any spare Amulets aboard, I believe the crystal energies within them will help as well."

Rajuc and Malaclypse soon found themselves in the Reactor control room.. looking down into the chamber which housed the reactor's turbines and secondary coolant loops. Malaclypse seemed a bit shaken, and was silent for several moments.

"Yes. Here. A valve malfunctioned, causing a primary coolant leak in the pressure containment vessel below us." Mal pointed, indicating a large hatchway in the floor which led to the sealed reactor chamber below.

"The slaves eventually repaired the valve; but it took almost an hour. The radiation poisoning might have been treated, and some of them might have been saved; but instead, the Captain left them in the Chamber. It took several hours before they succumbed painfully and horribly to the radiation sickness.

"Here is your curse, sir! Let us see what we can do about putting these poor tormented souls at peace. Give me the case of Amulets. I will go down alone."

Mal descended the ladder from the Control Room, and approached the massive circular hatch cover in the center of the room. He placed the crystal Amulets in a circle surrounding the hatch. He then moved to the center of the hatch itself, and sat cross-legged in za-zen, relaxed and focused.

"Eris, please guide these souls to whatever afterlife they believe in. Give me the power and strength to be their conduit. Kallisti!"

Several minutes of silence elapsed as the Episkopos focused on raising the Kundalini energies up his spine, and to the Ajna chakra. He held the energy there, and focused on the pressure vessel below.

Suddenly, there was a gasp from the Klingons assembled above in the Control Room. Softly glowing luminescent shapes began to rise from the floor.. first a few, as if tentatively looking for something. Then more floated upwards, and the nebulous clouds of energy began to circle around Malaclypse.. first slowly, and then in a rapid spinning spiral.

The essences of the slaves were now spinning so rapidly around that they took on the appearance of a solid toroid of glowing energy. Again, the observers gasped as Malaclypse himself began to glow softly, as if attuned to the rising harmonic frequencies of the spinning circle of energy.

Malaclypse dropped the Kundalini energy to his Heart chakra, beckoning the souls with an outpouring of love; and in a split second, the spinning energies broke their dance, and plunged in a stream directly into Mal's chest. He went rigid, and gasped himself; but he remained focused, and lifted the combined energies to his Crown chakra.

Almost instantly a beam of focused, brilliant white light shot from the crown of Mal's head. It pierced the ceiling above, and was gone. Mal slumped forward, breathing raggedly. Rajuc and his Guards raced down the ladder to his side. As they approached, he straigtened, and smiled weakly.

"It is done, my brother. Your vessel should give you no more trouble.

"Now, if I could trouble you for a meal and a place to lie down for a time.. I am exhausted."

((//My compliments to Captain Rajuc, aka Capt. Henry Morgan for his Klingon "color" and perspective. Mal.))

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