The Stories We Keep Secret

[losthunter]

Hunter has received a few phone calls after completing his memorial to Kendra, and getting the opportunity to display the artwork in his dimension. His goal of finding the other people who might have had Kendra affect their lives had been successful. And now he is ready to go speak to them personally.

But first, he didn't want to go alone. And at the same time, he didn't want those he was meeting to know that he didn't trust them. So he called Faris to join him in the adventure. Hopefully he would be able to put more of Kendra's memory to peace by doing this.

Comments

[poetwarrior]

It is not difficult to realize that this situation is somewhat different than the rest. This Austin human is belligerent and aggressive, and Faris prepares himself to leap into action, if required. He swore to stay concealed unless there was danger, and he is prepared to honor that agreement.

But why, he wonders, would this person be excited to meet Hunter, yet now become angry at his arrival?

[losthunter]

Hunter thinks Austin is upset because someone close to him had died. And that perhaps he is not the only one to see 'Kendra' fade away. If Kenneth had passed away in the hospital, it must have been a traumatic experience.

"I think I know how you are feeling..."

"You don't know anything!" Kenneth pushes Hunter, with enough force to make Hunter step back a few feet. Hunter places a hand on his chest, to signify to Faris to stay put, he doesn't want to cause more of a situation between him and Austin.

"I keep seeing him in my dreams..." Kenneth grasped tightly onto Hunter's hand. Hunter didn't know if it was a desperate attempt to seek support or something more sinister. But he felt a little tingle at his skin, so pulled away.

"He keeps dying in my dreams..." Kenneth turns away. "Just leave me alone."

"Okay. I will go." Hunter places his card on a table in the room. "But if you change your mind and need someone to talk to... just call me."

Kenneth doesn't say anything. So Hunter honors his promise, leaving the room. And soon, leaving the hospital itself. His mind is a little clouded right now. The noise of Seattle around him isn't helping. So he makes the decision to return to PEI, where he and Faris can find a quiet place to sit and talk.

[poetwarrior]

Faris trusts in Hunter's judgment, though if Austin should get violent, he will no longer remain concealed. And he remains wary even once they leave the hospital, in case they are followed.

The moment they are alone, he finds a gap in Hunter's clothing and leaps out onto all four paws. During his time among humans, he has learned that having a disembodied voice coming from one's body can be seen as disconcerting, or at the very least, somewhat disconnected emotionally. And he believes that Hunter might take greater comfort if he can see his companion.

[losthunter]

"I didn't expect him to be so... upset." Hunter mentions softly. He is glad that Faris is within sight.

[poetwarrior]

"He was quite angry," Faris agrees, tilting his head slightly. "Why would he agree to meet you if he felt this way?"

[losthunter]

"Maybe he agreed to meet me... before he learned that 'Kenneth' was gone."

"I think he had gotten so close to Kendra's aspect, that it hurt him emotionally when he didn't have that connection anymore."

His arm feels a little itchy. So he scratches at it for a moment.

[I just noticed that I called Austin Kenneth several times. Sorry to have confused]

[poetwarrior]

Faris doesn't think anything of the gesture, at the moment. He is far more concerned with the strange situation at hand. "If that is so, it is understandable. What is less so is his lack of communication with you. Should he not have informed you that he no longer wished to meet?"

[losthunter]

"Sometimes, in grief, humans can get so wrapped up in your own head... you sort of forget about the people who are there to support you."

[poetwarrior]

Faris doesn't understand such a mindset that excludes others. K'da, by their very nature, can never be alone. But he certainly accepts that humans are not the same.

"What can I do to help you?"

[losthunter]

"I am just grateful that you were with me during this whole adventure. It helps knowing that I am not alone."

"This has been an emotional journey... I feel a little tired."

[poetwarrior]

Faris places a paw on Hunter's knee. "Perhaps you should return home and rest."

[losthunter]

"That's a good idea." Hunter stands up, and sits back down again almost immediately. "Whoa..."

"That was some dizzy spell."

[poetwarrior]

Now Faris is concerned. He hadn't noticed anything that could cause such a thing, but even K'da are prone to sudden illnesses, as humans are. "Are you unwell?"

[losthunter]

"Just really tired... almost exhausted..." Hunter didn't think he was on his feet that much. Or that he was this emotionally drained.

He tries standing again, and wobbles slightly this time, but keeps his balance. Barely. "I should really get home."

[poetwarrior]

Faris is about the perfect height to let Hunter use his back for support, and is quick to get under the human's hand. "Perhaps you should seek medical attention," he suggests, craning back his long neck to look up at him in concern.

[losthunter]

Hunter is glad that Faris is here. He keeps his hand on Faris' head for support, as he opens the PINpoint to get them back to his apartment.

"I don't even know if I would have the strength to get to a hospital."

[poetwarrior]

That admission is alarming. Such a sudden onset of exhaustion seems unnatural and possibly ominous. "Then we should call for assistance." Even as he attempts to convince Hunter of this, of course he'll help Hunter to a seat in his apartment, or his bed if that is his intention.

[losthunter]

"I agree with that..." Hunter will head towards the couch. It seems like a better option than the bed right now. He is a little afraid that if he gets into bed right now, that he might have troubles getting out of bed later.

He holds out his PINpoint. "My vision has gotten blurred."

[poetwarrior]

Faris accepts the PINpoint in one paw. Despite the ominous circumstances, he remains calm, as a warrior should. "Who shall I contact?" He doesn't know the correct number for whatever emergency services the Nexus has, nor that of New York. Or if there is someone else that Hunter would prefer be contacted.

[losthunter]

Hunter's contacts are listed by how often he touches base with them. So Verity is at the top. But he doesn't ask for her, since she should still be on honeymoon mode. Or at least, he hopes she is.

Jim is also near the top. "Try Jim. He knows you."

[poetwarrior]

Faris is glad for the easy access to Hunter's contact list. While K'da paws are more dexterous than they look, manipulating tiny objects requires a great deal of concentration and room for error. He touches the quick-dial for Jim, and sits down on his haunches next to the couch.

It doesn't take long for Jim to pick up. "Kirk here."

"Captain," Faris says, as he keeps an eye on Hunter. "You must come to Hunter's home at once."

"Who... Faris?" There's the sounds of movement, objects being disturbed as Jim reacts to the message. "What's wrong?"

"Unknown," the K'da answers. "He became exhausted quite suddenly. I do not believe he is well."

Jim curses under his breath. "I'm on my way. Should I get Bones?"

[losthunter]

Hunter can barely keep his eyes open. But every time he closes his eyes, some dark memories keep appearing in his mind. And he is unable to actually rest with those dark memories haunting him.

And so he is almost trapped in a situation where he can't close his eyes because of the memories, but he feels so tired he just wants to close his eyes.

It is hard to concentrate on what Faris is telling Jim. But the mention of Bones makes Hunter nod slightly. "If he is available..."

[boldygoing]

"All right, hang on. I'll grab him on the way." Jim closes the channel, and it's only a few short minutes before he and McCoy arrive. Jim is in very casual civilian clothes, but McCoy is wearing the same type of white uniform he had at Starfleet Medical, when Jim was a patient. He's also carrying a small medical kit, and reaches for his tricorder and scanner almost the moment he sees Hunter. He doesn't even look twice at Faris.

"Hunter, are you conscious?" the doctor asks, waving the whirring scanner over him.


[I goofed slightly, forgot Faris can't read English. We'll assume either Hunter has pics next to his contacts or that there's some translation tech for PINpoints]

[losthunter]

"Barely..." Hunter tries to sit up slightly, but he just doesn't have the strength.

[Assumption made ;)]

[boldygoing]

McCoy is quick to put a hand on Hunter's chest to keep him from rising, a reflex honed from years of dealing with restless patients. "Don't try to get up," he says, his voice automatically defaulting to a more soothing tone. His gaze flicks to Hunter's face for a moment, assessing his level of consciousness, before returning his attention to the readout on his tricorder, trying to figure out what's wrong. "Can you describe how you're feeling?"

Behind him, Jim watches in concern. Faris gets out of the doctor's way, coming to sit next to the worried captain.