The hardest decisions

Posted on Mon Oct 5th, 2020 @ 2:32am by Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik} & Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor]

Mission: SEASON 4: Episode 1: Know Thy Self!
Location: Taylor’s quarters
Timeline: MD3 Early morning
1418 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

{ON}

Alicia lay staring at the ceiling of Gary’s quarters, she’d been such a fool. She’d betrayed the only man who’d shown her love and treated her well albeit as his mistress rather than an equal. Now she was a prisoner in what she considered to be her home, the only reason for that was that she was needed to raise their son at least until he was old enough to do without her influence and she knew with Gary that he’d most likely have her out of her son’s life as soon as possible. He had a whole nursery and school system for children bred from Betazoid and other females that would be educated into the ways of the empire. His son was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps to become a leader and up until now she hadn’t seen the wrong in that.

Heather entered the Taylor quarters back to check on her charge Alicia’s son. “Now do you see?” She stood in the doorway of the bedroom looking at Alicia sensing the turmoil that Alicia was feeling.

“See what? That I was a fool falling in love with another man who just wanted to get to Gary?” Alicia looked at Heather. “A man who wants to see my son dead!!”

“Do you see the danger both you and your son are in?” Heather walked inside picking up Alicia’s son from his crib she handed him to his mother. “Before you were protected, now you’re nothing more than a baby making machine like the rest of the Betazoid females, but you made the mistake of betraying the Captain. He will see you pay for that, sooner rather than later I would imagine. Then what becomes of your son?”

Alicia looked at twelve month old, Connor as he played with her fingers. “I didn’t mean for this ...”

“I know” Heather nodded. “But right now you have to think of your son. I’m supposed to be protecting him, the Captain agreed to it.”

“What are you suggesting? That you raise my son?”

Heather shook her head. “No, but there is another you.” She gave Alicia a look that said it all. “He’d be safe with them, once the resistance takes care of the Captain and frees the slaves your son will be safe. They’re fighters Alicia! They’d take care of him!”

Alicia hugged her son tears streaming down her face. It was heartbreaking but she knew Heather was right. She turned to look at her and nodded holding out her son. “Take him!”

Heather nodded. “I’ll need his things quickly!”

~ Sometime Later ~

Heather carried a thankfully sleeping Connor cautiously along the darkened corridor. She knew all the old ways and had used every one to her advantage, hearing movement she waited until she was sure who it was before stepping out of the shadows.

Heather was taken aback to come face to face with herself, especially one carrying a baby in her arms.

Fernando looked between the two Heathers, there was no telling them apart. His riffle raised....just in case.

“I’m not here to hurt you.” Heather looked at both surprised to see this version of herself with Fernando. “I need you to take him! His name is Connor he’s twelve months old and he’s the son of Captain Taylor and our Alicia. He’s in great danger! You need to get him to your Alicia he’s hers now.”

“This is Taylor’s son?” Heather looked at Fernando. “What happens when he finds he’s missing?”

“He’ll have my head and that of Alicia on a platter!” Heather sighed. “Just keep him safe, he’s an innocent.”

"Keep him safe? Keep him safe in the middle of a battle and war that is sure to follow. Just how do expect us to keep him safe? You've put an ecen bigger bullseye on our backs." Fernando snapped.

“No I haven’t” Heather looked at Fernando. “If anything having this baby with you will keep you safe, Taylor won’t do anything that risks the life of his son. At least that’s what I’m hoping!”

Heather took a step forward her maternal instincts kicking in as she looked at baby Connor. “I’ll take care of him until Alicia is found, we’re not sure where she is yet we’re hoping she’s free aboard the station somewhere but we’re not sure.”

MU Heather gently handed over Connor who was still blissfully asleep. “You’ll need this” She handed over a backpack that she was carrying. “It’s his formula, diapers and things you’ll need for now. If I can I’ll get more to you otherwise it’ll be my people. We’ll try and keep you supplied when we can but no promises!”

Fernando, looked at his Heather, "Heather what are you doing?" He asked surprise in his voice at his wife's actions.

“We can’t just abandon a baby!” Heather looked at her husband. “I can do this Fernando!” She gave him a pleading look.

He sighed, Heather was right but under these conditions there was no guarantee they could keep the baby safe much less themselves. "Fine," He finally relented.

The other Heather watched curiously, “You’re definitely nothing like your counterpart” She looked at Fernando. “He’s the complete opposite of you. Cruel, sadistic and he loves to torment pretty women and bend them to his will. He spends hours upon hours enjoying torturing those in the agony booths yet you ...” She shook her head.

“He’s my husband” Heather smiled as she gently cradled Taylor’s son.

“I’m bonded to Savar” MU Heather shrugged her shoulders, “We are all so different.” She looked around. “I have to go, keep him safe especially at night. If the dogs hear him they’ll get you all.”

“Over my dead body!!” Heather shook her head.

With that MU Heather headed on her way reassured that Connor was in good hands. She needed to bury the information in her mind where no other telepath would find it, she had no doubt Taylor would suspect her involvement or at the very least punish her for not protecting his son as he commanded her to do.

Fernando looked at Heather and the baby she cradled. He picked up the supplies MU Heather had brought them. Thankfully they were in a lightweight all purpose travel bag which he slung over his shoulder. "We should be moving Heather." He said softly.

Heather nodded and smiled. “You probably think I’m crazy, I know it’s dangerous but a mother wouldn’t give up her baby unless she was truly desperate! This little one needs us Fernando, at least until I can get him to Alicia. I just hope she’s okay.”

Fernando shook his head, "No, not crazy Heather, never crazy. You are behaving like a mother. I apologize for behaving like I did. I'm sorry."

“No, I’m sorry” Heather looked at her husband. “I know this is going to be dangerous, if necessary I’ll take Connor and I’ll hide somewhere alone with him so as not to endanger the others. All I know right now is that I can’t see him suffer for the mistakes of his parents.”

"No, you have nothing to apologize for Heather and we will stay together, like the musketeers. All for one, one for all." Fernando replied.

Heather grinned. “I never thought when we ended up here that I’d be taking care of a little one. I just hope we manage to locate Alicia soon, this young man will know I’m not his mother last thing we need is him screaming the place down for her.”

"Agreed. That is the last thing we need. Him screaming would be a homing beacon." Fernando replied.

“We’d best get back he might wake up at any time and if he’s hungry or needs changing he’ll soon let us know about it.” She offered a slight smile, she was worried what her rash decision was going to cause major problems for everyone.

"Whatever comes, we face it together Heather." Fernando replied offering a slight grin.

“Thank you Imzadi” Heather smiled more cheerily this time. She just hoped they could find Alicia sooner rather than later.

Fernando just nodded and smiled.

{OFF}