Broken Friends

Posted on Wed Nov 24th, 2021 @ 8:45am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar

Mission: Darkness Rising - A Phoenix Lalor Sub Plot
Location: Kate's Quarters
Timeline: MD 37 / 10h00
1058 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Kate was reading another one of her books when Lily walked in. Sighing, she put it down. "I suppose you're going to keep me here for a while. I've decided to put this extra time to use expanding my knowledge of human literature."

"Get over yourself" Phoenix said coldly. She was done. "This mission is important. I didn't suffer through months in another galaxy, through being imprisoned in a Romulan Prison camp, tortured by the Mirror Universe, leave my children with my sister, burned bridges both professionally and personally, just so you can put yourself up as higher than thou Arrianna, I was given this assignment, and I am going to complete it. Once I have Highlaw in custody, you will be allowed to leave the room. You can take Cragen and fly away, go live with him and his puppets just to be close to Josie, I do not care. But I will follow my orders. That said, my orders are to kill anyone who puts the mission in danger. Would you prefer I kill you?"

Arrianna sighed and stood. "I've messed up everything, and I only keep on messing things up. Maybe saving Josie was never an option. I'm sorry Phoenix. Sorry I had to be enslaved.. Sorry I lost my partner.. Sorry for everything. In my desperation to hold onto Josephine. I truly have destroyed everything in my life. I'm Sorry Phoenix Lalor. For betraying you." She looked at the painting. Picking the broken painting up. She began to look for a way to fix it. "I don't know what to do, My Josephine.. Let go of you.. Hold on... why? Should I keep fighting? Should I let go? Should I surrender... Should I just stop? Tell me!!!"

"ARRIANNA!" Phoenix lost her temper. It was rare that she did so. "STOP RIGHT NOW!" She wanted to smack her but she didn't. "You were not at fault for anything that happened to you or Josephine. Highlaw knew Cragen, knew his past and he put you in their sights. Highlaw is the one we take out. But until you calm the hell down and let us do the original mission you are staying right here!"

Arrianna started shedding tears. "I'm so sorry Phoenix.. I'm fighting a war in me right now. None of my people, since the ancient holocaust, has been through this much mental trauma." She noted. "I just... don't know what to do anymore... And I can't be of any help, not when my mind is in the state it is right now. Right now under different circumstances I'd be on indefinite leave from starfleet. Maybe that's what I need to do. Please save her, and if you cannot. I understand." Arri knelt to Phoenix. "I beg your forgiveness."

"Get up" Phoenix said pulling her up. "I am sorry Arri that we have no counselor here for you. I want you to just take time to heal. You are here until then."

"I'm trying to heal my mind, Phoenix. But it's not easy." Arri mentioned. "I feel the pain when I sleep, and have the nightmares. It feels like it's happening all over again."

"If there was a place I could take you where you would be safe and be able to heal Arrianna I would."

"I have an idea.. It might just save my life, and my mind from regressing on itself again. My mother commands a ship in the Imperial Guard.. The ANS Tirielle. It can reach us and take me to Sena Alindar in a few days. Normally it would take a few months."

"Arri..." Phoenix sighed.

"We developed the Tirielle to fight the borg. Just like the Federation Defiant. Since we were Federation Members. We developed Tirielle alongside the newest of Federation Starships currently in service. The ship is equipped with a QSD." Arrianna noted. "I can spend time being treated by the Philosophy College's Mind Healers, and I can pass along information on what was done to Josephine, including the drugs he used on us and the mental conditioning. We will have a treatment for Josephine." Arrianna noted. "When they've helped me sufficiently in restoring my mental discipline.. I will return to aid you, Captain. But right now.. I may go into Nirak Ti again, and either die.. or emerge with a completely random set of dangerous personality traits." She sighed. "Tell Mattias, I'm sorry. I've disappointed him."

"And just how do we get you there? its not like we can just stroll up and drop you off."

"Perhaps Not. And I cannot do anything more here... The best thing I can do... is grieve for Josephine, pick myself up, and move on." Arrianna noted and she flipped the painting over. "Is there any hope for her? Am I fool to hold onto love? Knowing what it's doing to me right now? Well. No longer. Ill remember her as she was. Five my heart to her. And never let myself make the error of loving again." She sat down and shed tears.

Phoenix took a breath. "If you can find a way that will not put the mission at risk Arri, I will do it. But I will not risk this crew."

"And how do I do that Phoenix, when he holds all the cards?" Arrianna noted. "Will you let me crack that cocoon open and wring what I need to save her out of him?!? No?!?"

"There is the difference between you and me Arri, you are not a killer, so no I wont let you do that."

"What if takes a killer to save her." Arri noted. "Could a killer not become a monster like Pallas? And what if I'm on the verge of becoming a monster?" She shook her head. "Josie would not want me to become a killer. I'm so sorry my love."

Oh for a counselor, Phoenix thought. "I want you to sleep, rest, and just take time for yourself Arrianna. You are confined to quarters so use the time to relax."

"Captain... I am not well. If I begin to lose my sanity again... Put me to sleep for as long as you deem it necessary. Promise me.. Promise me I will remain Arrianna Salannis an Vantar, Your friend.. and forgive me for what I've done."

"You will" Phoenix replied and left the cabin.