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100stories, crossoverfic, allfandomfics, bsg2003fics, fan_fiction, and my own LJ.
Thirteen
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Going To The Chapel
NaToth was studying her copy of the Book of GKar when Starbuck came into the temple of Valen, called The Chapel by the Earthers, for some unknown reason. Starbuck sat down on a bench nearby and pulled out a couple of idols from a pocket in her Ranger uniform. The stocky, muscular Narn glanced at the human, then went back to her reading. It was when the Narn coughed from a tickle in her throat that she got the notice of the young human.
Im sorry, NaToth. I didnt realize you were in here. Ill leave if you would like to be alone.
The Narn woman waved her off and said, No, its ok. I apologize if I startled you. She pointed to the icons in Starbucks hands and asked, What are those?
Icons. They are of two of our Gods: Apollo and Aphrodite. Aphrodite is our goddess of love and beauty, while Apollo is the god of healing.
NaToth nodded, adding, Ive heard that your gods are similar to those of the ancient Greeks on Earth. We had our own gods like that, in ancient times. Then the Centauri came along and everything changed.
Starbuck noticed the hint of bitterness in her voice and asked, So you still have hard feelings towards them?
NaToth got up and sat down beside the human. Starbuck backed a little away from her, not only because she was an alien, but also a taller and more physically imposing woman than she was. Yes, I still do. Its something Im working on, but forgiveness is a hard thing, especially after all thats happened.
Who was your mentor? Starbuck asked.
His name was Gkar. He was a great man. Flawed, oh yes! He always had a thing for human women like you! Natoth laughed at the memory, then grew serious as she added, But when the Shadows came along, he began to change.
What do you mean?
Before the Shadows came along, he was a bit of a hedonist. Sure, he was a follower of GQuan, who was a founder of one of our religions, but he also loved to drink, eat, and fornicate. Then when they returned, he realized that it was as GQuan had foretold, and he began to change.
I wasnt around when the change happened. I had been reassigned by GKar to be his eyes and ears on our homeworld, but when I saw him again years later, he was dramatically different. In the years that followed, I began to read the book he had written. Ironically enough, he became a religious icon, and there are followers of his movement on my homeworld these days.
But you dont follow his teachings? Starbuck asked.
Well, in a way, I do. When he died, he willed me his copy of the Book of GQuan, and since I have started reading it, Ive begun to realize something that he once told me. He once said, We are all connected, in ways that we will probably never fully understand. When he rescued me from imprisonment on the Centauri homeworld, he told me that I should look for these connections, and that would bring me greater peace.
I didnt believe him at first, but as I studied the religions of various world, I began to see those connections. Makes me wonder if there is a God or are Gods after all.
Starbuck sniffed and said, Theyre just a vision of the Vorlons.
NaToth had heard from Earth Alliance president Garrison Hollifield about what had happened on Kobol. They were long time friends, and Hollifield had asked the Narn Ranger to keep an eye on her as she and her fellow Colonials trained. She thought for a moment, then said, And who did the Vorlons believe in?
Starbuck looked at her and asked, Excuse me?
The Vorlons arent the all-powerful beings that they pretended to be. Highly advanced and manipulative, sure, but they started out just like we did eons ago. Before they evolved into beings of light and energy, they had a culture of their own, and surely they had their own religion and gods as well.
Look, Kara, I had the same questions about our own gods when I was younger. I used to only believe in chance, dismissing off the old religons as foolishness. However, I have learned that I was wrong.
NaToth pointed up to the imposing statue of Valen in the chapel and asked Starbuck, How much do you know about him?
Valen? Only that he was sort of a messiah to the Minbari, much like that Jesus person was to some of the Earthers I have met. Why?
NaToth leaned closer to Starbuck and whispered, Do you want to know a secret?
What Starbuck asked.
Valen was a human. Well, actually he was part human and part Minbari.
Starbuck looked at the Narn for a moment, then burst out laughing. Youre kidding! Thats a great joke, NaToth! I didnt think you were a comedian!
Im serious. You know that Delenn is part human and part Minbari, dont you?
Starbuck nodded, then it hit her. You dont mean
NaToth returned the nod and added, He changed in a similar way that she had changed. He was known to the Earthers as Jeffery Sinclair. He was the first commander of Babylon 5, before Sheridan took over after the death of the Earth president Luis Santiago. She told the whole story of how Sinclair had gone from being a mere fighter pilot, to being the commander of Babylon 5, to eventually becoming the head of the new version of the Rangers.
When the time came to go back in time to Babylon 4 to become Valen, he transformed into a human-Minbari hybrid, which is why they say he is a Minbari not born of Minbari. I learned this because Valen, shortly before he was to pass on, left behind three envelopes. One to Delenn, one to a Ranger known as Marcus, and one to himself. He subsequently gave the one he had written to himself to Hollifield, who was his assistant here on Minbar at the time, then went back in time to play out his role.
Starbuck looked up at Valen and said aloud a writing of the ancient prophetess Pythia, "All this has happened before. All this will happen again."
Excuse me? NaToth asked, and Starbuck told of the prophesy of Pythia, especially of the occurrence of the number twelve.
Funny, the Minbari have a strange fascination with the numbers three and nine. Three and nine add up to twelve. Reckon theres something to it? Starbuck asked of the older Narn.
NaToth looked up at the statue of her old friend, thought for a moment, and said, With the way this universe works, maybe there is. Maybe he knew something about it. NaToth pointed up to Valens statue. They once said that he was to return one day. Babylon 4 did return years later, appearing out of nowhere, heavily damaged. A race known as the TakCha had tried salvaging it, but werent able to save it. During the encounter, they were able to find the final recording that Valen had made.
She leaned closer to Starbuck and whispered, Would you like to see it? Starbuck looked around to see if anyone was around, then said, Sure!
NaToth took her to another temple nearby, and she found where she had hid the data crystal years ago when she stumbled upon the recording in her studies as she trained to become a Ranger. She put the data crystal into a reader, and the display came up, showing an ancient Minbari standing up in an empty room.
The Minbari said, "My name is Valen... and I have served my people like no other. I led them into fire... into darkness... into death... and they followed me without hesitation. They acclaim my victories and hail me as a great leader. They speak of my successes as if they are as infinite as the stars. And yet, for all that I've accomplished... I lie awake, listening to the screams of the dead and dying, those who are already gone, and those are yet to be born. A few words from me could avert the Earth-Minbari conflict. A warning to Delenn or Dukhat... But without the war, there would be no Babylon 4 and no Babylon 5. There would be no rallying point against the Darkness... and the Shadows would win, now and a thousand years from now. I cannot deviate from the circle of which I am a part. I am the beginning of the story, as Zathras said... and a prisoner of it. I dare not change the end. Still... it's been a good life... lives... over all. Delenn, Catherine, Susan, Michael... if any of you see this somehow.. don't cry for me. For in the final analysis, I've always been too hard on myself. I'll be content to let history judge me, and all that has been done in Valen's name. And as for me... I've received my own reward, because I've found her. At long last... I've found... her."
Whose her? Starbuck asked.
Her name was Catherine Sakai., a voice said from behind them. It was Sech Turval, who had a bemused smile on his face. It seems that humans arent the only ones with a habit of sneaking around and looking into things that they arent supposed to know about.
Starbuck expected to be in trouble, but Sech Turval added as he addressed her, You neednt worry, Kara. You would have learned about this in the fullness of time, anyway.
Starbuck didnt know what to make of that, and asked, Why would you have told me that anyway?
Because you are special. In everything youve done here, you show the skills to become a truly outstanding Ranger. You also share a lot in common with our esteemed Valen, once known as Jeffery Sinclair.
Another voice spoke from behind her, and Starbuck was surprised to see Delenn entering the temple. It was once said that Valen was like the castes, but not of them. You are similar, in your own way, Kara Thrace.
Starbuck looked around at all three people in the room and said, Youre nothing thinking that I am some sort of second coming or something?
Delenn shook her head and said, No, not like that, but, from what weve seen, youve got the kind of personality inside of you to become the next EntilZha.
Starbuck was stunned by this statement. No way! No way am I ready for a job like that! I just got here!
I didnt say you would become the leader of the Rangers now, Kara, but the Rangers will need leadership in the future. Sheridan is dying, and the rest of us are getting older. I have an idea of who I want to succeed my husband when the time comes, but I want you to succeed them when their time comes as well.
Starbuck had an idea of who this successor to Sheridan would be, and said, Do you think shed take the job?
Im sure she will, and when I tell her of who I want to succeed her in the future, shell be much more likely to accept the position. She sees you as the daughter she never had, even though she never has said it to us.
Starbuck missed Ivanova, she realized. It had been Ivanova who had recommended that Starbuck join the Rangers, but she had no idea that she would ever be more than just another Ranger. She had learned that it was Sheridan and Delenns desire that the president of the Interstellar Alliance and the Entilzha of the Rangers be of different races, preferably Minbari and human.
Late that night, as she slept, she dreamed of walking to the temple. In there, she met Valen. He said to her, You must accept the fate that is before you, Kara Thrace, much like I did long ago.
Why? she asked.
Valen had changed, and was now Jeffery Sinclair, who was dressed in the version of the Ranger uniform worn by the Entilzha. Because the One actually refers to three people. I was the beginning of the story, Delenn and Sheridan were the middle of the story, and you, Kara Thrace, and the ending of the story, which leads into the next great story.
Starbuck looked at him and asked, But why me? Im just a Viper pilot!
As I was just a Starfury pilot once, long ago. Sinclair said, this time dressed in his old Starfury fighter pilot uniform. I never asked to become Valen, Kara, but I had to accept my role and do what was required of me. In order for the future to become what we want it to be, you must accept your role in what is to come.
Starbuck was about to say something, but the room changed. She was in a Starfury, in some sort of battle. Minbari ships were attacking her, and she realized that she was at the Battle of the Line. She heard over the communications link, Alpha leader! Youve got a Minbari on your tail!
She had no idea where the voice inside her came from, but she heard herself say, Mitchell, stay in formation! It might be a She saw a plethora of jump points blossoming before her, and her instrument panel indicated a massive jump point opening behind her. Oh my God, its a trap!
Mitchell! Break off! Break off! She saw Mitchells ship break apart from Minbari fire. As she looked on in shock, her whole squadron was wiped out. It was then that her Starfury was struck by an energy beam.
Aft stabilizers hit. Weapons systems at zero. Defensive grid at zero. Power plant near critical mass. Minbari weapons systems locking on., the computer said tonelessly.
She managed to reestablish control of the Starfury and had managed to turn it back towards the looming warship. Only that it wasnt a Minbari cruiser, but a Cylon basestar she was heading towards. Not like this! Not like this! Starbuck shouted, If Im going out, Im taking you bastards with me! She spoke to the computer, ordering, Target main cruiser! Set for full velocity ram! Afterburners on my mark
As the afterburners kicked in, she realized that she was no longer in the Starfury, but in her old Viper, which was on a collision course with the basestar. As she came close to hitting it, a beam of light overcame her, and she cried out.
When she came to, she was bound to some sort of crossbar. The ropes were tight around her wrists, so much so that she could feel a trickle of blood on her arm. Several robed figures stood before her. They held up a triangular ornament of some kind, and it glowed. She looked at them, wondering what they would do next.
One of them took of her hood, and, much to her shock, it was Sue-Shaun, the member of the Caprica Buccaneers pyramid team that had survived on Caprica because they had been high-altitude training when the Cylon attacks took place. The stocky black woman looked at her and asked, Do you know me?
Yes! Why are you here?
Sue-Shaun looked over to another hooded figure, and they advanced towards her. When they removed the hood, Starbuck was shocked to be looking at a much younger version of herself, which said to her, You are the nexus, Kara Thrace. You will help overthrow the mechanical Cylons and free those under their control. You will help create a better future.
Before she could say anything, another flash overcame her, and she was back in the temple of Valen on the Ranger training compound. A tall Minbari walked towards her and spoke to her gently, It is said that to dream in the city of sorrows is to dream of a better future.
Starbuck asked, Who are you?
My name was Dukhat. I once led my people long ago. I once dreamed of a better future for my race. I know that you dream of a better one for your own. Continue to dream, Kara, because you dream for us all!
Starbuck woke up with a start in her billet alone, as Boomer had been taken over to the infirmary because of her pregnancy. She sat up in her bed, clad only in her sports bra and her sports panties that she always wore to bed, and looked around the room. She rubbed her eyes and looked out the window, only seeing the mountains off in the distance. The first rays of the sun began to peak over the mountains, and she knew that her alarm would go off shortly.
She turned it off and made her way to the shower. As the warm spray of water ran over her body, she tried to make sense of the dream of last night. Something told her that she would be thinking of it for a long time to come.
100stories, crossoverfic, allfandomfics, bsg2003fics, fan_fiction, and my own LJ.Chapter Twenty-Nine
Going To The Chapel
NaToth was studying her copy of the Book of GKar when Starbuck came into the temple of Valen, called The Chapel by the Earthers, for some unknown reason. Starbuck sat down on a bench nearby and pulled out a couple of idols from a pocket in her Ranger uniform. The stocky, muscular Narn glanced at the human, then went back to her reading. It was when the Narn coughed from a tickle in her throat that she got the notice of the young human.
Im sorry, NaToth. I didnt realize you were in here. Ill leave if you would like to be alone.
The Narn woman waved her off and said, No, its ok. I apologize if I startled you. She pointed to the icons in Starbucks hands and asked, What are those?
Icons. They are of two of our Gods: Apollo and Aphrodite. Aphrodite is our goddess of love and beauty, while Apollo is the god of healing.
NaToth nodded, adding, Ive heard that your gods are similar to those of the ancient Greeks on Earth. We had our own gods like that, in ancient times. Then the Centauri came along and everything changed.
Starbuck noticed the hint of bitterness in her voice and asked, So you still have hard feelings towards them?
NaToth got up and sat down beside the human. Starbuck backed a little away from her, not only because she was an alien, but also a taller and more physically imposing woman than she was. Yes, I still do. Its something Im working on, but forgiveness is a hard thing, especially after all thats happened.
Who was your mentor? Starbuck asked.
His name was Gkar. He was a great man. Flawed, oh yes! He always had a thing for human women like you! Natoth laughed at the memory, then grew serious as she added, But when the Shadows came along, he began to change.
What do you mean?
Before the Shadows came along, he was a bit of a hedonist. Sure, he was a follower of GQuan, who was a founder of one of our religions, but he also loved to drink, eat, and fornicate. Then when they returned, he realized that it was as GQuan had foretold, and he began to change.
I wasnt around when the change happened. I had been reassigned by GKar to be his eyes and ears on our homeworld, but when I saw him again years later, he was dramatically different. In the years that followed, I began to read the book he had written. Ironically enough, he became a religious icon, and there are followers of his movement on my homeworld these days.
But you dont follow his teachings? Starbuck asked.
Well, in a way, I do. When he died, he willed me his copy of the Book of GQuan, and since I have started reading it, Ive begun to realize something that he once told me. He once said, We are all connected, in ways that we will probably never fully understand. When he rescued me from imprisonment on the Centauri homeworld, he told me that I should look for these connections, and that would bring me greater peace.
I didnt believe him at first, but as I studied the religions of various world, I began to see those connections. Makes me wonder if there is a God or are Gods after all.
Starbuck sniffed and said, Theyre just a vision of the Vorlons.
NaToth had heard from Earth Alliance president Garrison Hollifield about what had happened on Kobol. They were long time friends, and Hollifield had asked the Narn Ranger to keep an eye on her as she and her fellow Colonials trained. She thought for a moment, then said, And who did the Vorlons believe in?
Starbuck looked at her and asked, Excuse me?
The Vorlons arent the all-powerful beings that they pretended to be. Highly advanced and manipulative, sure, but they started out just like we did eons ago. Before they evolved into beings of light and energy, they had a culture of their own, and surely they had their own religion and gods as well.
Look, Kara, I had the same questions about our own gods when I was younger. I used to only believe in chance, dismissing off the old religons as foolishness. However, I have learned that I was wrong.
NaToth pointed up to the imposing statue of Valen in the chapel and asked Starbuck, How much do you know about him?
Valen? Only that he was sort of a messiah to the Minbari, much like that Jesus person was to some of the Earthers I have met. Why?
NaToth leaned closer to Starbuck and whispered, Do you want to know a secret?
What Starbuck asked.
Valen was a human. Well, actually he was part human and part Minbari.
Starbuck looked at the Narn for a moment, then burst out laughing. Youre kidding! Thats a great joke, NaToth! I didnt think you were a comedian!
Im serious. You know that Delenn is part human and part Minbari, dont you?
Starbuck nodded, then it hit her. You dont mean
NaToth returned the nod and added, He changed in a similar way that she had changed. He was known to the Earthers as Jeffery Sinclair. He was the first commander of Babylon 5, before Sheridan took over after the death of the Earth president Luis Santiago. She told the whole story of how Sinclair had gone from being a mere fighter pilot, to being the commander of Babylon 5, to eventually becoming the head of the new version of the Rangers.
When the time came to go back in time to Babylon 4 to become Valen, he transformed into a human-Minbari hybrid, which is why they say he is a Minbari not born of Minbari. I learned this because Valen, shortly before he was to pass on, left behind three envelopes. One to Delenn, one to a Ranger known as Marcus, and one to himself. He subsequently gave the one he had written to himself to Hollifield, who was his assistant here on Minbar at the time, then went back in time to play out his role.
Starbuck looked up at Valen and said aloud a writing of the ancient prophetess Pythia, "All this has happened before. All this will happen again."
Excuse me? NaToth asked, and Starbuck told of the prophesy of Pythia, especially of the occurrence of the number twelve.
Funny, the Minbari have a strange fascination with the numbers three and nine. Three and nine add up to twelve. Reckon theres something to it? Starbuck asked of the older Narn.
NaToth looked up at the statue of her old friend, thought for a moment, and said, With the way this universe works, maybe there is. Maybe he knew something about it. NaToth pointed up to Valens statue. They once said that he was to return one day. Babylon 4 did return years later, appearing out of nowhere, heavily damaged. A race known as the TakCha had tried salvaging it, but werent able to save it. During the encounter, they were able to find the final recording that Valen had made.
She leaned closer to Starbuck and whispered, Would you like to see it? Starbuck looked around to see if anyone was around, then said, Sure!
NaToth took her to another temple nearby, and she found where she had hid the data crystal years ago when she stumbled upon the recording in her studies as she trained to become a Ranger. She put the data crystal into a reader, and the display came up, showing an ancient Minbari standing up in an empty room.
The Minbari said, "My name is Valen... and I have served my people like no other. I led them into fire... into darkness... into death... and they followed me without hesitation. They acclaim my victories and hail me as a great leader. They speak of my successes as if they are as infinite as the stars. And yet, for all that I've accomplished... I lie awake, listening to the screams of the dead and dying, those who are already gone, and those are yet to be born. A few words from me could avert the Earth-Minbari conflict. A warning to Delenn or Dukhat... But without the war, there would be no Babylon 4 and no Babylon 5. There would be no rallying point against the Darkness... and the Shadows would win, now and a thousand years from now. I cannot deviate from the circle of which I am a part. I am the beginning of the story, as Zathras said... and a prisoner of it. I dare not change the end. Still... it's been a good life... lives... over all. Delenn, Catherine, Susan, Michael... if any of you see this somehow.. don't cry for me. For in the final analysis, I've always been too hard on myself. I'll be content to let history judge me, and all that has been done in Valen's name. And as for me... I've received my own reward, because I've found her. At long last... I've found... her."
Whose her? Starbuck asked.
Her name was Catherine Sakai., a voice said from behind them. It was Sech Turval, who had a bemused smile on his face. It seems that humans arent the only ones with a habit of sneaking around and looking into things that they arent supposed to know about.
Starbuck expected to be in trouble, but Sech Turval added as he addressed her, You neednt worry, Kara. You would have learned about this in the fullness of time, anyway.
Starbuck didnt know what to make of that, and asked, Why would you have told me that anyway?
Because you are special. In everything youve done here, you show the skills to become a truly outstanding Ranger. You also share a lot in common with our esteemed Valen, once known as Jeffery Sinclair.
Another voice spoke from behind her, and Starbuck was surprised to see Delenn entering the temple. It was once said that Valen was like the castes, but not of them. You are similar, in your own way, Kara Thrace.
Starbuck looked around at all three people in the room and said, Youre nothing thinking that I am some sort of second coming or something?
Delenn shook her head and said, No, not like that, but, from what weve seen, youve got the kind of personality inside of you to become the next EntilZha.
Starbuck was stunned by this statement. No way! No way am I ready for a job like that! I just got here!
I didnt say you would become the leader of the Rangers now, Kara, but the Rangers will need leadership in the future. Sheridan is dying, and the rest of us are getting older. I have an idea of who I want to succeed my husband when the time comes, but I want you to succeed them when their time comes as well.
Starbuck had an idea of who this successor to Sheridan would be, and said, Do you think shed take the job?
Im sure she will, and when I tell her of who I want to succeed her in the future, shell be much more likely to accept the position. She sees you as the daughter she never had, even though she never has said it to us.
Starbuck missed Ivanova, she realized. It had been Ivanova who had recommended that Starbuck join the Rangers, but she had no idea that she would ever be more than just another Ranger. She had learned that it was Sheridan and Delenns desire that the president of the Interstellar Alliance and the Entilzha of the Rangers be of different races, preferably Minbari and human.
Late that night, as she slept, she dreamed of walking to the temple. In there, she met Valen. He said to her, You must accept the fate that is before you, Kara Thrace, much like I did long ago.
Why? she asked.
Valen had changed, and was now Jeffery Sinclair, who was dressed in the version of the Ranger uniform worn by the Entilzha. Because the One actually refers to three people. I was the beginning of the story, Delenn and Sheridan were the middle of the story, and you, Kara Thrace, and the ending of the story, which leads into the next great story.
Starbuck looked at him and asked, But why me? Im just a Viper pilot!
As I was just a Starfury pilot once, long ago. Sinclair said, this time dressed in his old Starfury fighter pilot uniform. I never asked to become Valen, Kara, but I had to accept my role and do what was required of me. In order for the future to become what we want it to be, you must accept your role in what is to come.
Starbuck was about to say something, but the room changed. She was in a Starfury, in some sort of battle. Minbari ships were attacking her, and she realized that she was at the Battle of the Line. She heard over the communications link, Alpha leader! Youve got a Minbari on your tail!
She had no idea where the voice inside her came from, but she heard herself say, Mitchell, stay in formation! It might be a She saw a plethora of jump points blossoming before her, and her instrument panel indicated a massive jump point opening behind her. Oh my God, its a trap!
Mitchell! Break off! Break off! She saw Mitchells ship break apart from Minbari fire. As she looked on in shock, her whole squadron was wiped out. It was then that her Starfury was struck by an energy beam.
Aft stabilizers hit. Weapons systems at zero. Defensive grid at zero. Power plant near critical mass. Minbari weapons systems locking on., the computer said tonelessly.
She managed to reestablish control of the Starfury and had managed to turn it back towards the looming warship. Only that it wasnt a Minbari cruiser, but a Cylon basestar she was heading towards. Not like this! Not like this! Starbuck shouted, If Im going out, Im taking you bastards with me! She spoke to the computer, ordering, Target main cruiser! Set for full velocity ram! Afterburners on my mark
As the afterburners kicked in, she realized that she was no longer in the Starfury, but in her old Viper, which was on a collision course with the basestar. As she came close to hitting it, a beam of light overcame her, and she cried out.
When she came to, she was bound to some sort of crossbar. The ropes were tight around her wrists, so much so that she could feel a trickle of blood on her arm. Several robed figures stood before her. They held up a triangular ornament of some kind, and it glowed. She looked at them, wondering what they would do next.
One of them took of her hood, and, much to her shock, it was Sue-Shaun, the member of the Caprica Buccaneers pyramid team that had survived on Caprica because they had been high-altitude training when the Cylon attacks took place. The stocky black woman looked at her and asked, Do you know me?
Yes! Why are you here?
Sue-Shaun looked over to another hooded figure, and they advanced towards her. When they removed the hood, Starbuck was shocked to be looking at a much younger version of herself, which said to her, You are the nexus, Kara Thrace. You will help overthrow the mechanical Cylons and free those under their control. You will help create a better future.
Before she could say anything, another flash overcame her, and she was back in the temple of Valen on the Ranger training compound. A tall Minbari walked towards her and spoke to her gently, It is said that to dream in the city of sorrows is to dream of a better future.
Starbuck asked, Who are you?
My name was Dukhat. I once led my people long ago. I once dreamed of a better future for my race. I know that you dream of a better one for your own. Continue to dream, Kara, because you dream for us all!
Starbuck woke up with a start in her billet alone, as Boomer had been taken over to the infirmary because of her pregnancy. She sat up in her bed, clad only in her sports bra and her sports panties that she always wore to bed, and looked around the room. She rubbed her eyes and looked out the window, only seeing the mountains off in the distance. The first rays of the sun began to peak over the mountains, and she knew that her alarm would go off shortly.
She turned it off and made her way to the shower. As the warm spray of water ran over her body, she tried to make sense of the dream of last night. Something told her that she would be thinking of it for a long time to come.
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