Black Diamond: The Army of Light

Black Diamond Dogs and the Army of Light


Chapter One

Razor stood in the shower with the ice cold water slipping down his scarred back.  The skin infection caused by the phaser suit was slowly healing, but it still burned painfully.  Other than going to Sick Bay for drugs the cold water was the only thing that seemed to truly help.  Putting his head under the soothing spray Razor ran his hands through his dark spiky hair.  It felt so good to be clean again after litterally rotting towards death in the tight fitting uniform.  Turning off the water Razor stepped out and gingerly dried his delicate skin.  

Loosely wrapping the towel around his waist Razor wandered out into his living quarters.    Lounging in one of the large chairs that faced the floor to ceiling window Razor stared out into the vastness of space.  He was amazed how well Joanna had been able to restore his stolen vision.  After a quick surgery the only evidence that anything had happened was the small scar under his eye where North had pressed the knife tip in.

Thinking of North brought Razor's thoughts back to Gina.  Razor had been trying his hardest not to think about Gina sitting alone down in the brig, but his thoughts kept wandering back to her.  He ground his teeth in irritation.  He was convinced that Sybok had pressed his new found love for her into his mind while he had been mucking around in there.  Although he could probably escape Sybok had spent the past three days peacefully sitting in his cell meditating.

"Goddamn, Vulcans...nothing but trouble."  

A chime at the door pulled Razor from his thoughts.  

"Come in."

Salen walked in and stepped up to Razor.  He did not seem surprised to find Razor undressed.  Putting his hands behind his back Salen tilted his head slightly to the side.  The Vulcan briefly looked his partner's half naked form over with a critical eye.  Razor had expected a bit of a warmer greeting from his friend, after all Salen had risked everything for the small chance of getting him back.  However Salen was inspecting him with an almost medical detachment.

"See something you like?"  Razor chuckled.  

"Your injuries are healing well, but you have lost a substantial amount of weight for such a short time in captivity."

"Torture burns calories."  Razor shrugged.  "How about you?"

"My health is failing me faster than I expected."  Salen replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

"What?  Why?"  Razor asked in alarm.  "I thought Sybok cured your Pa'nar Syndrome."

"He did, but it is not the Pa'nar Syndrome that is taxing me.  It is the Vuladine."

"Salen you don't need that Vulcan emotion drug, just stop taking it.  We like you the way you were, emotions and all."

"That is an illogical choice, with the Vuladine I am only at risk myself.  To stop now would put the entire craft in danger.  My emotional projection has become far more intense since I lost control and killed two men to obtain the information for your rescue."

Razor furrowed his brow in concern.  There was something different about Salen.  He somehow managed to look more like a breathing statue than a living man.  His voice was flat and toneless.  Salen's dark eyes held no expression, which actually made him look younger since usually the weight of his past could be seen through them.  

"'Killed two men'?"  Razor repeated.  

"I told you about the men I killed in order to locate you."  

"Yeah, but three days ago when you were first talking about it you used the term 'murdered'.  You were extremely upset about what you'd done, now you talk as though it was nothing."

"Technically they were enemy combatants and therefor the term 'murder' does not apply."

"Uh..."

"Do you wish to bring me up on murder charges?"  Salen asked seriously.

"No of course not.  I'm just concerned that you are no longer bothered by what happened."

"I can not change the past."

"True but..."

"The episode of reckless emotion has made me more dangerous to those around me.  In turn it has forced me to increase the amount of Vuladine I take to keep my emotions shielded from others."

"That explains a lot.  That shit is messing you up."  Razor sighed.  "You are not the Salen I know."

"I assure you I am not an impostor."

"How long do we have before the cure becomes worse than the disease?"  Razor asked ignoring Salen's comment.

"Vuladine is not a cure and I do not have a disease."

"Damn your literal translation, Salen.  Don't you dare go all 'Vulcan' on me!"  Razor growled.  "This is serious, how much time do you have?"

"I do not know."  Salen replied.  "At the best I will survive another two months."

"And at worse?"

"Each injection runs the risk of a lethal seizure."

"How many injections a day?"

"At this point I am doing six during the day and I get up four at night to keep the levels in my blood steady."  

"Salen,"  Razor said in concern as he got to his feet  "are you saying you are risking death ten time a day?"

"Yes, and with each injection the chances of a seizure increase dramatically."  Salen replied calmly.  "I am also quickly losing weight as I can not keep anything in my stomach for more than a few minutes.  Joanna is supplementing my nutrition and hydration intravenously, but it is barely helping.  The drug is also straining my liver, kidneys, and heart."

"Bottom line is my First Officer is dying."  Razor sighed.

"That is correct."

"You seem fairly calm about it."  Razor pointed out slightly annoyed by his attitude.

"The high dose of Vuladine has removed my ability to feel or express all emotion."

"I've noticed."  Razor huffed.  "I don't like it."

"I am sure that if I could be horrified by what is happen to me I would be."  Salen acknowledged evenly.

"You must still have some emotion, Vulcans are not devoid of it."

"Even a human on Vuladine would lose their ability to 'feel'."  Salen replied.  "I am on ten times the dosage needed to keep a Vulcan in control of his emotions during the events that precipitated the need for the drug."

"What happens if you take less?"

"Anyone within ten feet of me is instatnly subject to my emotions."

"So they only way to stop it is to remove all emotion?"

"Yes.  Currently I remember that you and I are friends, but I no longer hold your life above that of any other stranger beyond the logical fact that you are the Commander of this vessel and therefore a key component in her operation."

Razor found himself extremely hurt to hear that Salen no longer had the ability to enjoy their friendship.  Feeling increasingly emotional himself Razor reached out and put his hand on Salen's shoulder.  Usually Salen tensed when touched before relaxing, but now there was no reaction at all.

"Salen, this is no way to live, not even for two months."

"It is hardest on Joanna."

"Don't tell me..."

"I no longer love her."