Coming to Terms With Myself...

Posted on Wed Jun 23rd, 2021 @ 5:50pm by Captain David Tonelly [Reece] & Captain Garrett Lovejoy [ Taylor] & Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi-Tonelly & Lieutenant Tate Sullivan Ph.D. & Master Sergeant Kieran Fredericks & Chief Warrant Officer Man'darr [Naxea] & Senior Chief Petty Officer Emily Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik}

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: USS Elysium sickbay
Timeline: MD 8, 1434 hour
1934 words - 3.9 OF Standard Post Measure

It had been almost two days since David had awoken from his coma. And he was still trying to come to terms with the memories, his memories. He was still finding it difficult to believe. His memories. They were all there, in the correct places. The artificial memories that had been conditioned in were quickly fading away, almost gone entirely. Of course, this sudden change in his past made him wonder who he really was, here and now.

What would his life have been like, had his parents not done this to him? Who would he be? Would he even be alive? Those thoughts, and many more, keot rolling through his mind, over and over and over and over again. So much so that he was begining to question many things in his life. Many, but not all. There was one thought that he held onto for dear life.

That he loved Baeryn Whavi more than anything else in existence.

It was through his bond with Baeryn, that he was able to maintain his sanity. If it took him a thousand lifetimes, he would ensure that she knew just how much she meant to him.

Heather was working her small handful of hours, now that she was officially on maternity leave she had dropped down to as few hours as she could manage in Sickbay. She smiled as she walked over to David’s bedside. “Hi David, how are you doing?” She checked his pulse the old fashioned way before checking his readings.

David gave Heather a sad smile. "Honestly? My body feels fine. It's my mind I'm not so sure about. So many changes happening. I can almost feel the memory engrams reverting, the memories I should’ve had taking the place of the artificial ones, which are fading more and more away, each hour."

Heather nodded. “I can’t imagine how that must feel. At least now you have a chance to remember your brother, even if it means having to mourn his loss. No matter what you’ve got all of us to help you through this.”

At the mention of his brother, David began to weep softly. He wished that Baeryn was here. However, he knew that she had a lot of important ship wide work to do. She told him that she would get through it and back to his side as quickly as she could.

“Oh hey now!” Emily smiled as she appeared at David’s bedside with a box of tissues. “Here you go, as many tissues as you could want. I understand how you feel, I’d be devastated if anything happened to George.”

Taking the tissues, he took a handful and balled them up against his eyes. He continued to weep as Heather and Emily tried to comfort him.


Baeryn had requested to end her bridge shift early so that she could make her way back to sickbay earlier then expected. Lovejoy had been more then happy to approve the request. The hybrid was finding it more and more difficult to separate her private life with her duty, not that her work performance was slacking, her heart just happened to be a few decks away in sickbay, as were her thoughts.

Entering sick bay she carried one of the small statues David kept at the alter in her quarters, wishing she had thought to bring it sooner. The smile she wore fell the second she saw her beloved, such sadness in his expression that sent a pang through her heart. Quickly approaching the biobed Baeryn braved a smile, "Hey you," she chuckled softly before adding "how could you be sad surrounded by such stunning women?" Baeryn teased and crinkled her nose as she looked to both Heather and Emily before sitting on the edge of the bed.

Hearing the voice that held his heart, David dropped the tissues and gave Baeryn the best smile he could muster at the moment. "Baer," he said, trying to calm himself. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be a bother to everyone. Maybe I should just free up this biobed. I've certainly been occupying it long enough." He continued to try and sound brave, but wasnt sure if it was working.

Baeryn's face didn't falter but her voice held a stern underlying note to it, "You're not leaving this bed until the doc says so, and then when your released, you'll learn I can be far more fussy then the medical staff so you better enjoy this while you can." She raised her brows daring David to object. Baeryn placed her left hand on the other side of the biobed over top David, acting as a makeshift barrier.

Knowing that look, he aquiesced. Nodding slowly, he said, "Okay. I'll stay. For you, Baer." He took in a ragged breath and tried to calm down.

Suddenly, a deep voice reverberated through the room. "And if you don't listen to Red, I'm sure I could put you down, especially in your current state, boy."

David looked over at his friend. "Moses. What are you doing up here in civilized country?" David tried to jokr, but still felt horrible deep inside.

"Oh, I just came up to see what was taking you so long to return to work. Now I see. All of these lovely ladies flittering about, pampering you. You're not careful, you'll go soft." He grinned a bright sparkling smile, chuckling softly. Then he turned serious. "But like Red here just told you, you stay and get better. You just went through a hell of a battle. I can only imagine what's going on inside of you right now. He stepped forward and gently rapped a meaty knuckle on the biobed.

"Get better, Ghostwalker. I'll be around, you ever need to vent."

Nodding his thanks, David replied. "Thanks, Moses. I appreciate that."

Moses nodded in reply. Then giving a grin and nod to Heather, Emily and Baeryn, he said, "Ladies, take good care of my friend. They don't make 'em like him anymore." He then turned and walked out, leaving his old friend to heal.

Gary strolled into Sickbay and seeing Heather went over to her, "Hello Heather, I heard Corporal Tonelly was ill, I thought I'd come and check and see how he was doing." Gary had been impressed with the corporal from their time together on a previous mission.

Seeing Commander Taylor enter, David tried to sit up more. He would wait until spoken to, to address the Elysium's true Executive Officer.

Heather smiled as she looked toward Gary. “Hello Commander, Corporal Tonelly has been through quite an ordeal. He could certainly use some cheering up Sir.” She smiled as she looked towards David.

Soon after the doors slid open to reveal Naxea who stepped just in the doorway. "Well, look at mister popular," she joked with a grin. "How are you, Corporal?"

Looking up at Colonel Naxea, David saluted. "Ma'am, to tell the truth, I've been better. When you have a moment, Ma'am, there's something I feel I need to discuss with you. Well, you, Warrant Officer Man'darr and Master Sergeant Fredricks, Ma'am."

Gary stood behind the rest. "Don't let me interrupt you all. I just came to see how the Corporal was doing and he seems to be doing fine by the evidence of all the people who are concerned about him."

"Sir!" David called out to Commander Taylor, hoping hed come closer.

Gary moved closer, "Easy Corporal, I can hear you just fine." He joked, "My question for you is how are you feeling?" He smile at Naxea, "Colonel, good to see you as well. How are you coming along with your new arm?"

David frowned, people kept asking him how he was feeling. It was hard to describe. "Physically, I feel fine, Sir. However, my mind feels like it was run over about a dozen cheese graters." He then motioned for Taylor to move closer. When he was close enough, David whispered to him. "I know a corporal's opinion isnt real high on mattering, Sir, however, for what its worth, you are the one and true XO on this boat. If ever you need me, you have but to call, Sir."

As David whispered to him. Gary felt truly blessed to have the support and respect from the Marine. Gary clasped his shoulder and whispered back "Corporal your opinion means as much as anyone's on this ship if not more as it come from the heart. I appreciate your support and loyalty more than you will ever know. Just hang tough and we'll all get through this."

David felt pride, hearing those words from Commander Taylor. Nodding, he offered his right hand to Taylor. "Aye, Sir."

Gary didn't hesitate he clasped David's hand in a firm and warm handshake. "We draw strength from each other. It's how we'll make it. Just hang on to that." Gary assured David.

"My arm is fine, Commander. Physical therapy is slow," she reported simply. Since being reduced to administrative duty only, Naxea had become more withdrawn often spending the entire duty shift in her office. However she had a responsibility to check on any injured Marine, which brought her to Coporal Tonelly.

"It takes time Colonel. However with your determination and drive, I know you'll be back in the filed in no time. Just stick with and don't get down on yourself." Gary answered the Marine CO.

David watch his two superiors converse. He knew, if either ordered him through hell, he'd go willingly, knowing in his heart, that there was a good reason for the attack.

"Thank you, Sir," Naxea managed to grin.

"You are welcome Colonel. Any help I can give you, please don't hesitate call." Gary replied to Naxea.

Approaching David's bed and the crowd around him, Tate offered, "Knock, knock… Can anyone join this party or do you have to have an invitation?" Sullivan asked with a smile.

Heather smiled warmly as she looked towards Tate, “I’ll give you some room, if we get any more visitors they’ll have to get in line!”

David smiled and nodded at Tate as she entered. It warmed his heart to see so many come see jow hecwas doing. It made him see that the Elysium really was becoming his home.

He then saw his first sergeant, Master Sergeant Fredericks, enter. David nodded silently in respect.

"Corporal. How you feeling? " asked Kieran as he approached his junior NCO. He didn't really know him as he hadn't been aboard that long, but Tonelly was still one of HIS marines, so he would look in on him when he could.

David gave Kieran a tired grin. "I feel like I went twenty round with a Gorn enforcer, Top. But, I'm getting stronger." He then paused, before continuing. "Top, when things calm doen in here later, would you come back? I need to talk to you about something important."

Kieran nodded.

"Of course. Whatever I can do to help. " said Kieran.

"Thank you, Top." David replied, a soft smile of appreciation on his face.

"No problem. That's my job. Now you stay here, rest up. I'll be around, so call if you need anything. " said Kieran.

Nodding, David replied. "Roger that, Top."

Tate was pleased to see David had so much support. She knew he would need time to recover physically and mentally and quietly offered, "When you're feeling up to it, I think we should talk. In the meantime, if you need anything, please let me know."

David smiled and nodded. "I will, Tate. Thank you."