Are you still in there?

Posted on Wed Oct 7th, 2020 @ 4:31am by Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen [Taylor] & Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik}

Mission: SEASON 4: Episode 1: Know Thy Self!
Location: ISS Elysium Sthilg’s quarters
1329 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

{ON}

~ Flashback to a few hours earlier ~

The resistance had little choice, one of their top operatives had been seized and as per Heather’s instructions they sought to protect her daughter and alert her mate and husband to her fate. To that end an operative lay in wait for Savar hoping he’d listen.

Savar paced, Heather had not returned and was long overdue. When the chime to their quarters rang. Answering it, he found himself looking inti the eyes of a person he did not know. "Yes?" He inquired.

“Listen carefully because I don’t have time to repeat this!” The young man peered around the corridor. “Heather is in grave danger! Captain Taylor had her arrested and given to Doctor Sthilg. Even as we speak she’s probably being tortured for information. She made us promise to alert you if she needed you. There is word that the doctor is planning something using female slaves, I suggest you hurry!” With that he headed off.

Savar watched as the young man scurried away. He sensed no deception in his words and combined with his own feeling of unease knew Heather was in grave danger. he checked on their daughter still asleep in the her bed. Then leaving their quarters he locked and then placed a security lock on the door so only he could reenter.


~ Now ~

Leshku lay sprawled out on Sthilg’s huge bed partially wrapped in the covers. It had been a long night of pleasing her master and she hadn’t awoken when he’d left to do his work. It was only when a hand touched her skin that she awoke and rolled over staring up into the eyes of a man that Leshku considered an empire colleague but nothing more. “What are you doing in here!?” She looked angrily at the Vulcan that stood looking at her, “Did my master send you?”

"He is neither my master nor yours." Came the calm, cool reply.

Leshku looked at the Vulcan, she studied his form carefully before nodding a wry smile on her face. “It is you ... the one whose mate previously inhabited this body.” She sat naked on the bed looking at him. “What is left of her is dying, locked away in here ...” she tapped her head. “You should have heard her screaming to get out when I pleasured my master last night.” She stood and walked up to Savar running her fingers over his clothed chest. “Do you still find me attractive?”

He removed her hand from his chest. " I find the one inside you attractive." Came the cool reply. "It is she that I love. It is she I came to rescue."

Leshku laughed. “Do you think you can save her now? Exactly how do you plan on doing that?”

"Correction I will save her and it is really quite simple." Savar replied and in one fluid move had his hand on her head and with the other pushed her back in the bed to hold her down. "My mind to your mind, my thoughts to your thoughts." He intoned with a quiet intensity. "Heather, I know you are in there. Come to me, fight this. You are stronger than this. This is not you."

She put up a fight trying to kick and hit Savar but with every moment that passed Heather’s consciousness was fighting back from the inside. “Get ... off ... me!!” Leshku fought but Sthilg has trained Heather to be the best with her mind and she grasped onto the lifeline Savar was offering with his mind. “I said ...” she froze her arms stopped flailing and her legs became still.

Savar opened his mind to her. flooding it with memories of both of them and their daughter. Letting her see the life she had and could have again if she would fight for it. *Heather, remember who you are.* He sent to her. *You are Heather, my mate not this Leshku others would have you believe you are.*

The consciousness that was Leshku was overpowered as all the memories of the times that Heather and Savar had together flooded into Heather’s mind, tears streamed down her face as Heather was freed from the deep recesses of her own mind forcing out Sthilg’s drug induced programming. “Savar ...” Her arms raised up but this time they encompassed him holding him close. “I’m sorry! ... I’m so sorry!!”

Savar wrapped his arms around her. "It is alright Heather. Your mind is yours once again. No apology is necessary. Though I must admit green is not your color. We will get that corrected. For now let us get out daughter and find a way of the ship. The slaves and the crew of the USS Elysium are revolting against Captain Taylor and the Empire."

“Good for them” Heather offered a brief smile. “There’s some clothing and weapons” She leant on her husband for support the activities of the night before with Sthilg had taxed her energy levels. “He made me ... this!” She looked at her green skin. “But he also made me to be the best!” She picked up some clothing and weaponry. “Let’s get our daughter and get the hell out of here!!”

"He underestimated your will Heather." Savar observed as he placed an arm around her waist. "You are correct. You are the best. As for getting out of here, that is a most excellent idea."

“I have contacts” She looked at Savar, “in the resistance ... they’ll help us get away.”

"Then let us proceed with doing just that. "Savar agreed as they hurried to their quarters to get their daughter and a few items.

As they reached and entered their quarters she paused to look at Savar. “Savar I ... I spent the night with him! At least Leshku did. I couldn’t stop her!!” She felt guilty for betraying her husband.

"It is alright Heather. It was not you but a personality laid over yours. You were not responsible. Do not trouble yourself any more over it."

Heather nodded and smiled as she grabbed a few things in a bag, important trinkets and pictures. Clothing could be easily replaced, she also grabbed a few of their daughters things in another bag. “You’d best carry her, she won’t know me so well like this ...” she just hoped the green skin was going to be an easy fix.

"Yes. An excellent idea." Savar replied as he went and got their daughter. He returned moments later with their daughter in his arms. " How are you coming? He asked.

“I’m done” She paused looking at herself in the mirror. “What if this ...” She motioned to her green body. “Can’t be undone! What if I’m never the real me again?!”

Savar turned and faced her. "Do not worry Heather. What was done can be undone. I have have every confidence that your green complexion can be reversed and you will again be your natural, beautiful self."

Heather nodded. “Savar ... I can’t say what will happen if we end up faced with the doctor again. He’s already got through my defences once, I don’t trust myself.” She gently raised a hand and ran it through their daughters hair. “I would never harm either of you, that much I know.”

"Do not trouble yourself Heather. If we come to face the doctor, I will undertake whatever steps are necessary to protect you and our daughter. I promise you that." He said with conviction.

Heather nodded. “Thank you Imzadi” She slung her bag over her shoulder. “Let’s get out of here! We can take a shuttle and my contacts will arrange a pickup for us.”

"No thanks are necessary Heather. You are my mate. I will protect you and our daughter from anyone who tried to harm you." Savar replied determinedly. "Now, let us get to a shuttle while we can."