The more the merrier

Posted on Fri Oct 2nd, 2020 @ 6:13am by Lieutenant JG Nerinath zh'Rhilror [Lalor] & Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen [Taylor]

Mission: SEASON 4: Episode 1: Know Thy Self!
Location: Gary & Alicia’s hideaway
Timeline: MD2 Before Alicia's capture
1104 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

{ON}

Alicia hadn’t remembered falling asleep, all she knew was she’d lay next to Gary for warmth praying the dogs wouldn’t come back. Now she awoke to find herself cuddled up on his shoulder, her arm draped over his chest just as she would have with Savar. Opening her eyes it took a moment to register just where she was before she withdrew her arm arm and gave Gary an embarrassed look. “How ... long was I asleep?”

Gary smiled at her, "Oh a few hours Alicia but you needed it." He saw her embarrassed look and smiled, "Don't worry. I won't mention you falling asleep next to me to anyone."

“Thank you” She offered a more relaxed smile as she ran her fingers through her hair to tidy it up a little. She reached for her water and took a few sips being careful how much she drank so as to ration it for later use. “Did you get any sleep at all?”

"of course Alicia." He replied with a smile then answered her question about him getting any sleep "Oh, I got an hour or so. I wanted to be sure the dogs didn't come back." Gary replied.

Alicia nodded. “Thank you for taking care of me, I appreciate it.” She picked up a ration pack of food and offered Gary some as well. “Do you think our people would have made it? It’s hard to even imagine something like this happening but here we are.”

He waved the food away. "I think so Alicia. I know the cargo bays were full of our people. However I have no doubt some are resisting and fighting back against our mirror selves."

“I know you feel guilty for surrendering the ship” She gave Gary an understanding look. “For what it’s worth you only did what you had to do, the crew will understand.”

"I'm not so sure Alicia. Maybe they will. As for me maybe it's time for me to get out of Starfleet, resign my commission." Gary answered solemnly.

“Don’t talk like that!” Alicia turned to look Gary in the eyes. “You did this to save the Captain! If you’d left her to die then you’d never have been able to forgive yourself! At least this way we’re alive and so are the crew, we’ll fight and we’ll win!!”

"Right Alicia." He gave her a smile. If he believed or or not only he knew for sure. "You are right we are going to fight and we are going to win."

Alicia looked at Gary as a noise in the corridor outside their door made her jump. "What is it?" She reached for the small blade Gary had given her holding it in her hand ready to use it if needs be.

"Easy Alicia, stay calm but be ready to move if we need to." Gary replied as he edged towards the door to see if he could get a look to see what caused the noise.

“Sorry!” Alicia took a deep breath to calm herself, Gary was right it could simply be someone else looking for shelter like they had. “Do you see anything?”

Gary peered through the stained glass and looked. He could see a figure about 20-25 ft away but in the dim light it was hard to tell if it was friend or foe. He turned back Alicia. "There's someone about 25 feet away. Can't tell if there one of our crew or our mirrors."

“Then I guess there’s only one way to find out.” Alicia looked at Gary. “Unblock the door, I’ll go out. If anything goes wrong you’ll have the element of surprise.”

"Absolutely not. I'll go out and you watch. IF anything happens to me, you take off and find some of our crew. They are here on the station." He unlocked the door as quietly as possible and stepped into the dimly lit corridor. He hefted his 'bat' in his hand but made no threatening move as the figure came closer.

Alicia watched as best she could before her eyes widened in surprise, it was Tate! She was about to rush out before she stopped herself wondering whether it was their Tate or a mirror version pretending to be theirs.

Gary took a step toward the figure and could now see it was Tate. He took another step towards her, "Tate?" He cautiously questioned.


-/\-
At 7h30 in the arena, several screens lit up, showing a suspended Phoenix Lalor drenched in water, sweat and more hanging in an Agony Booth. Sound accompanied it as it showed the torture she was placed under.

-/\-

Gary stopped and looked up as the viewscreens came on showing Phoenix hanging inside an Agony Booth. "Oh my God." He whispered at seeing his friend and Captain in such a dire situation. She was completely helpless and at the mercy of Captain Taylor and his psychos.

Alicia gasped as she looked at the screens, seeing Phoenix hanging there knowing there was nothing they could do to help her was cruelty in itself.

Gary looked at the screen for a few more seconds. They had to get to Phoenix and save her from his evil mirror. He shook his head , saw Alicia standing there, seeing the same thing he had with Phoenix.

"She's in so much pain!" Alicia turned away from the screen unable to watch anymore.

The group from the tubes gathered behind them, Neri however was not staring at the screen, she as looking around cautiously.

Malak stepped up to Commander Taylor. "Commander, I was told to give you this." He handed him a slim black communicator.

Gary looked at the communicator as he took it from Malik. "Who told you to give this to me Mr. Malik?"

"Her" he pointed to the Black clad Aandorian. "Her and my duplicate."

Gary looked to where Malik pointed. "Neri?" He questioned "Why did you and his duplicate instruct him to give me this communicator?"

"I am not your Neri Commander. That communicator? It links to the communication units that the ISS crew use as well as having a channel for the resistance."

"You may not be the Neri I know but you are part of the resistance. Isn't that so ?" Gary questioned.

She smiled. "Most of those who would help you are either that or after for what they can get."

"I see." Gary replied as he tucked the communicator inside his waistband. "Now what?"

"You need to find more of your crew. Hounds come every night Commander."