<USS Avalon> Greatly Exaggerated by Captain Ketchum, Li Nalas, Li Vilya, & Ming Kabuki

 
***takes place before 'Practicing for Real'  
 
"The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated." -- Mark  Twain
 
Walking along the corridor, Keith made his way to a meeting with Li  Vilya.
The engineer hadn't told him the specifics for the meeting, but  advised
that it was slightly urgent.

As he neared the door, and about  to ring the chime, a memory flashed in his
head.

~~~~~~

Keith  stood in front of Ambassador Li Nalas of Bajor, "Ambassador, the
Chairman  feels that you need a personal escort back to Bajor.  With  the
heightened awareness of the war, he feels that your safety is a number  one
priority."

"I understand Lieutenant, however I think I can take  care of myself."

"Yes, Ambassador.  Of course.  But, I  insist"

Recalling further into the war, the Bajorans were an extreme  benefit, with
the assistance of Ambassador Li.
 
Nalas resisted looking toward the heavens.  He wouldn't be looking up  at the 
Celestial Temple any way but it telegraphed his feelings quite  clearly.  Ah, 
Praz, your loyalty is very touching.  
 
"If you insist," he finally said, shaking his head so that the earring  
glittered even in the artificial lighting.  "My daughter and son-in-law  will 
be at 
Bajor soon, with my new grandchild.  Perhaps and escort will  make it a 
faster trip."  He chuckled  in amazement.  "I would  never have thought that 
Benjamin saving my life would end up with me here and my  daughter married to a 
Fleet officer..."

~~~~~~

Wondering why this  memory came to be, he wasn't sure, but he never served
as a Security officer  in the Diplomatic Corp.  Only in that odd dream.
Must be a flash of a  dream, again.

Ringing the chime on the door.

Inside Vilya heard  the chime and called to Enter.

Keith watched the door open and stepped  in, "Lieutenant Li, you wished to
see me."  As he stepped in his eyes  scanned from Ming to Vilya and then his
view rested on Nalas.   "Amba...", and he fainted.
 
Both Ming and Nalas flew to the captain's side.  Ming offered his  
father-in-law a wry smile.  "It was you, sir.  I'm sure it was  you."
 
"Should I call Sick Bay?" Vilya asked, her hand poised over her comm  badge.


Finally, coming to, rather quickly for a faint, Keith lay there looking  up.  
His eyes darted from Ming to Nalas.  "No need to call,  Lieutenant.  I'll be 
fine."  He stayed there, laying on his back, "But  I'm sorry, I'm not sure if 
we have met.  I am Captain Keith Ketchum",  raising his hand to shake with 
Nalas.
 
Ming covered his hand with his mouth, trying not to laugh.  It really  wasn't 
funny, not when he considered how much the reappearance had shaken his  
faith, but...well, it is sort of funny.
 
"Li Nalas.  They've called me Narvach back home and a hero, too,  though I'm 
happy enough to be hear my daughter call me Daddy," he said simply,  smiling 
at Vilya.
 
"He's why I asked you to come down here, sir," Vilya explained.
 
"But, Sir, I've read reports of your death.  They were not  true?"  Finally 
getting the ability to sit up without passing out  again.
 
"Sir, maybe you should sit down," Vilya said carefully.  
 
Nalas touched his daughter's hair fondly.  "I'm told some strange  things 
happened aboard this ship lately, Captain," he began.  "Explain it  how you 
will, 
to me--to us, it would make sense if you understood our  faith.  Whatever 
happened aboard this ship, my daughter had an experience  with the Orb of 
Dreams 
and Fantasies and, when your ship went back to the way it  was...or perhaps 
should have been, I was given a choice by Emissary.  The  reports you read were 
true...just not any more."
 
With a deliberate confused look on his face, "Strange things, Sir?   I'm not 
sure what you refer to.  But if the Emissary has given you life  back, then 
who am I to argue with that?"  He thought for a moment, making  an attempt to 
stand, "Check in with Commander Shimbrodus, and he can arrange a  suite for 
you, 
Nar", trying to remember the term at once coming to him,  "Narvach.  Glad to 
have you with us again."  Making his way to the  door, Keith turned, "Once 
this bit of shock passes, perhaps we can talk.   I'm sure that we have much to 
discuss."
 
Nalas had a bemused look on his face.  The captain certainly knew  exactly 
what he was talking about but it was his privilege as commanding officer  to 
deny it.  Instead, all Nalas did was offer the man a nod of  respect.  "I'm 
sure 
we will, Captain, I'm sure we will."
 
"Good night, sir," Vilya said, looking equally bemused as her father.
 
"Good night, everyone", as he walked out of the cabin into the  corridor.  
Making his way to his office, he entered the door closing behind  him, 
"Something defiantly has happened.  People are back from the  dead.  Weird 
dreams.  The 
Maquis were messing with the time stream, he  was sure of it now.

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