The Friend of your Lover is certainly your Friend.

Posted on Tue Jun 29th, 2021 @ 2:42am by Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece] & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar

Mission: Darkness Rising - A Phoenix Lalor Sub Plot
Location: Black Watch Base
867 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Arrianna entered the Base Galley for some breakfast to notice the man Phoenix spoke of. She was curious about this Mattias Richardson so she got a fruit salad and moved to approach Mattias. "Greetings... Is this table taken."

Mattias was staring off into space when Arri approached. Startling slightly, he quickly recovered and gave the woman a soft, friendly grin. "Not at all. Please, sit."

Arri sat down and smiled warmly. "Arrianna Salannis an Vantar. I am one of Phoenix Lalor's best friends on the Elysium, and her second officer. I wanted to meet the man who has brought happiness to my dear friend again." She presented her hand. "I also bear the responsibility for you losing Cragen. He will not evade me nor break me again."

Mattias took the offered hand and shook it warmly. "Mattias Robertson. Though, heh, I'm sure Phee already told you that much. I've known Phee since I cut her free from the whipping post, back at her father's castle, and carried her to safety. I have loved her since our eyes met, right before she was punished."

He shook his head. "It's okay. At least we got you and those other slaves outta there, and destroyed his base of operations. Don't worry. We will get both Josie and Cragen."

"No... I want Cragen.." Arrianna noted. "I want him alive... So I can take everything he's ever loved from him... I want him to see his entire enterprise be brought to the ground. I want him to live just long enough for me to take back all the precious things I've lost to him." Arrianna noted. "I really want to kill him, Mattias. I really want to kill him in such a way that hasn't been done by my people for two thousand years." She noted. "But if I did that... My love would see me as a monster too. And that is something I'll never do to Josie. He turned me against her, made me into what I was not. I will have my revenge in such a way. He'll wish he was dead." She shed tears. "Oh Josie. I'm sorry."

Reaching out with his right hand, Mattias laid it gently on Arri's left hand. In a voice that was both steady and full of conviction, he said softly, "I give you my word, here and now, as I already am a monster, I will ensure that his death is so prolonged by excruciating pain and anguish, legends of nightmares will be created. Then, when he is right at the edge, if you still wish to finish the job, you can, without becoming what I am, and your Josie will still love you."

"Josie fell in love with a woman who loves the Federation and it's principles. I have principles I never break." Arri noted. "He turned me into something called Flossie. She was a product of endless torture. I became her so the pain would stop. And she took hold inside my mind. You see Alindari believe in constant self improvement. The ascension of the individual through knowledge, art, and wisdom. That drive in me created a slave mistress unlike none before. Five days of torture, and an Alindari became the finest sex slave known. Flossi died in me when I was roused suddenly by sensing Phoenix. My shame was near infinite. I thought she'd turn me away, forsake me as a failure. She was not ashamed. I killed Flossi within me. She's dead Mattias." Arri held up the gift Cragen gave her. The gem was dead too. "But as Flossie, I did damage, he used my intelligence to create even better ways of breaking slaves." She noted. "He cannot take another Alindari. We excell, even as prisoners."

"Once we find him," Mattias spoke honestly, "the only thing he will be taking, is his final breath. And trust me, even if we, on this mission, don't find him, I will. Phee didn't tell you everything about me, because there are things I can never tell her. So long as he is out there, she is in danger. I will never allow her, or anyone she cares about, to be touched by that evil again. To truly defeate evil, you need another who's evil is stronger. I have that rage and evil in me, everyday. Phoenix and Kara are the only ones who csn keep me calm. Cragen...is a fucking corpse who is walking around, unaware that it's already dead. I'll remind him when we find him."

"If Phoenix is in danger from him." Arri noted. "Then I will help you end him." She noted. "I have saved Phoenix's life twice before, saved her from torture in the mirror universe at the hands of a maniac. And I will do it again and again." Arri mentioned. "As I said, I am her best friend."

"And I am the man who loves her and would do anything to keep her, her babies and her family, safe from any foolish enough to attempt an attack."

"I like you already." Arrianna noted.

Mattias grinned a fierce grin. "I think you and me aregoing to be very good friends."

End