The hardest news

Posted on Fri Jun 18th, 2021 @ 7:28am by Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece] & Lieutenant Commander Kara Starr {Kelea-Salik}

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Earth, Deep Space Eight
Timeline: 2395
1603 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Sitting at his desk, on Deep Space Eight, Captain Mattias Richardson was going over some personnel files for the Marines under his command. He had been here, incommand of this brand new Marine Ranger unit for seven months now, and the unit had finally started to flow the way he wanted it to.

Suddenly, a message of upmost urgency was flashing on Mattias’ screen, one of the hardest nature he’d ever have to face. The face of a young woman appeared on screen.

“This is a message for Captain Mattias Richardson, I’m sorry to say your sister Kara has arrived at Starfleet Medical under the most...” she paused. “Appalling of incidences. She has instructed us to tell you, I’m sorry to say, she has been raped and badly beaten. She has requested your presence when, or if, you are able to come.”

As it was a message and not an active communique, Mattias did a quick check, and saw that, while it was 0430 hours where he was, back on Earth, it was roughly 2315 hours, tomorrow. Quickly opening a direct comm channel and, using his command authority, had it pushed through immediately. He then waited for someone to pick up on the other end. As he waited, he sent a message to his subordinate leaders to report to his office immediately.

The comm channel was picked up by the same young woman who’d sent Mattias’ the original communique. “Captain Richardson, Thank you for responding so quickly.” She offered a warm smile.

"How is Kara?" He blurted out. The look in his eyes was a mixture of fear and rage. Can I talk to her?!"

The young nurse shook her head. “I’m afraid she’s sleeping at the moment, the doctors have her sedated. We’ve treated the worst of her injuries but she’s refused to have the superficial wounds and bruises treated. Something about them being a reminder of something, she was quite adamant. She wants to see you, is that possible?”

Mattias nodded. "I'm in the process of securing transport now. Our garrison vessel has QSD, so I will hopefully be there within the hour. If she wakes up before i get there, please tell her that I'm on my way!"

The young woman nodded. “I will, that’s a promise. Just ask for Melanie when you get here, they’ll call me.”

Mattias nodded. "Thank you, Melanie. You can call me Mattias. I'll be there soon. Out here." He ended the call as he officers started to shuffle in. After he quickly briefed them on the situation, he sent an energency transport request to the station's CO, for the use of the USS Congo, one of the two garrison starships. It was a small destroyer but, it was also the newest of the class, and had the new QSD propulsion unit, as opposed to normal warp drive.

After the briefing, he asked his MXO to stay behind a few moments. "Chris, those fucking savages hurt my baby sister. Whatever it takes, I'm going to make them pay!"Mattias was so angry that he was vibrating.

First Lieutenant Christopher Leonards nodded in understanding. He and Mattias had served together ever since he graduated the Academy and entered the fleet. "Whatever it takes, Boss. Me and the boys got your six. Always. You find out anything, let me know. We'll hook up and deal with em."

Mattias moved around and extended his right hand. Both men clasped each other's forearms. No words pf tbanks needed to be said, not between warriors thst had served and fought side by side.

Less than twenty minutes later, the USS Congo was leaving her berth and maneuvering into position. Then, in a flash, they were gone, screaming towards Earth, a trip that would have taken days at warp six. However, with Quantum Slipstream Drive, the trip took all of twenty minutes.

After Mattias beamed directly to the medical facility, he rushed inside and, when he got to the visitors desk, told them who he was, who his sister was, and then asked for Melanie.

“Mattias,” Melanie smiled as she appeared to greet him. “It’s nice to meet you, I just wish it was under better circumstances. I should warn you, Kara looks pretty beat up. It’s just superficial wounds but as I said she won’t let us heal them. She was just waking up as I came out, I told her you were coming.”

The look on Mattias's face spoke volumes of how badly he needed, not wanted, needed to be by Kara's side. "Please...just take me to her!" His voice was quiet desperation.

“Of course” Leading Mattias down the corridor she pushed open a door motioning him to enter. “I’ll be near if you need me” with that she left.

Kara had heard the door open but hadn’t taken any notice of who was coming in, if it was Mattias she was ashamed of him seeing her looking the way she did.

For a few long beats, Mattias was still and quiet as stone. Seeing her, Kara Richardson, his baby sister, the only family he had left (no that their father had vanished, after their mother had died suddenly), the one person tgat he cared about more than himself...laying there, beaten and bruised, he wanted to weep. However, right now, she didn't need his tears. He had to be strong and supportive, and protective of her.

Slowly, as he moved closer to her biobed, he locked the tears away. He would use them later, to help fuel the inferno of vengence to come. "Hey," he said softly, as he reached her side. Looking down on her with eyes of love and acceptance.

Kara looked up slowly, the tears she’d been holding back now rolled down her cheeks at the secure presence of her brother. She opened her mouth to speak but all that came out was a whisper before the heartbroken sobbing began.

Without another word, Mattias bent down and wrapped Kara in his loving arms. He held her protectively and closely as she broke down her exterior. "It's okay, Little Girl. I'm here now. I've got you. No one will ever harm you while I'm here."

It took a while for the crying to subside but eventually it did. Kara lay cuddled up against Mattias’ chest feeling safe in his embrace. “I... I’m sorry!”

"Don't." He said quietly. "Don't you ever apologize for this! Did you do anything to make the animals who did this think it was okay to do?"

Kara shook her head. “No. I was... on assignment on Nimbus three.” She paused. “Klingon enforcers, they saw me... followed me... I tried to hide but ended up cornered... I had nowhere to go!!”

As he held Kara to his chest, Mattias's face twisted into a face of vengence. It took a couple beats to calm down enough to talk again. "Did...did you see their family crest?"

Kara closed her eyes it was painful to remember. “I... I can’t...” she gripped onto him tightly holding him close. “Maybe you... I can show you?” She knew if she shared what happened telepathically that Mattias would see the whole thing, and experience it alongside her.

Bracing his feet, he nodded. "Go ahead, honey." He then readied himself for the hell he was about to see.

Kara closed her eyes focussing on a bond they’d had since they were kids, when she’d first developed her abilities. She entered his mind, dropping her defences she let him inside her mind. Amongst it was raw terror, as he saw what had happened. How she’d been blocked from escape, her clothes brutally torn off and her body savagely used, and abused like it was theirs for the taking. She managed to hold him there long enough to show him before she collapsed in his arms exhausted.

Rageful tears were pouring out of his eyes. Mattias's mind felt every sensation that Kara's did, though more as an observer. He did, however, not only see the house crest for both of the Klingons, he saw their faces in great detail. He now had his targets. All he had to do was find them and remind them that had been walking corpses this whole time. "I'm sorry..." he gasped to her as he continued to hold her close.

Kara held onto him until the exertion overcame her, falling peacefully asleep in his arms knowing that she was safe from further harm.

The door slowly opened as Melanie popped her head inside. “Is everything alright?” She walked over to the bed checking the biobed readings. “Kara’s readings are stable, it’s gong to take a long time for her to mentally get over this. Physically she just needs a few days rest and she’ll be fine.”

Vengence fully taking over his mind, Mattias was very gentle as he laid Kara back down on her biobed, he then gently pulled the blanket she had on her lap, up to her collar bones. Next, he leaned back down and softly kissed her forehead. "Sleep, Little Girl. Big Brother has some hunting to do. I love you." He kissed her again, then straightened up and turned to Melanie, the look of vengence filling his eyes. "Watch over her. She wakes before I get back, tell her I'm making things safe again." He then marched out, intent on his mission. He activated his commbadge. "Reaper to Demonspawn, assemble." He then vanished in a white transporter swirl.

{OFF}