Confession is good for the soul... apparently

Posted on Tue Mar 8th, 2022 @ 10:30am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: Season 5: Interlude: Darkness Abounds
Location: Executive Officer's ready room
Timeline: MD2- 12h00
2320 words - 4.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Lily had battled with it, but she knew it would be easier for her to do the mission if the executive officer knew the truth. So she checked the location of Gary Taylor, smiled faintly to herself when she saw he was in his office.

Leaving her assigned cabin, Lily made her way to the Executive Officer's office and when she arrived she hit the chime and waited. It was weird, normally she would have just paged Gary and he would have come to her. But she knew this was not the same as the old days.

Inside his office Gary, sat he was thinking on the black Watch crew, they were definitely a mixed bag. Bajoran Vulcan, Andorian an XB and Humans all thrown together and working as an efficient team which he created to their leader Lily Kass. She was cool, organized and intelligent. His thoughts were interrupted by the sounding of his door chime. Sitting straighter in his chair, he called out "Enter!"

Lily stepped into the office. "Commander Taylor," She said. "May I have a moment of your time?"

Gary was surprised to see Lily enter his office, nonetheless he rose to greet her. "Certainly Miss Kass, please have a seat. Would you care for something from the replicator?"

"Ah .." Lily paused as she moved to sit. "That sounds like an idea. Hot Chocolate please."

Gary rose to move to the replicator. he hesitated only briefly when he heard her request for Hot Chocolate. "Certainly." He replied as he got her a cup. Returning to her, he handed her the cup "One hot chocolate." He replied before moving behind his desk to sit down, his mind still mulling over the request.

"Thank you Commander" Lily sipped the drink. Then she said "Avalon, initiate secure Lockdown of Commander Taylor's Office. Authorization Lalor-Foxtrot-34-Tango"

The Computer replied "Acknowledged"

Gary froze at the order and Avalon's acknowledgement. His eyes narrowed as he stared across the desk at Lily. " A rather strange order from a member of an outside department, care to explain?" He waited a beat, two before adding "I knew the rumors weren't true."

Lily reached up and pressed her earing and the holographic image over her hair vanished, blond went to pitch black. She blinked and her eyes were now blue. Only the Bajoran nose remained. "Hello Commander" She said, her voice no longer Lily's, but back to Phoenix's.

Gary didn't answer her. He continued to stare at her. Then he slowly rose and came around the desk to stand in front of her. He still hadn't spoken when he suddenly bent down and picked her up. Hugging her tightly. " Damn, you are a sight for sore eyes Pho... Captain. It has been too long. Far too long and what's with the hello commander? You have to do better than that."

Phoenix hugged him back and buried her face in his shoulder briefly. "I am sorry Gary." She said softly "I am so sorry for everything"

Gary patter her back in both a show of support and comfort. "Phoenix, what in the world is going on? You disappear with rumors flying about you were arrested. Then Carrington comes in as CO with Lovejoy as her XO." He pulled back a bit. "Who thought Carrington was ready to be a Captain?"

"not me!" She replied stepping back. "I swear Commodore Mountbatten heard about that mess from me a few days ago." She took a breath. "When I was first given command, you would remember, we hunted down the Watch. After that mission, a group was assembled to monitor the remnants of the Watch. Over the past 2 years, more were pulled into the mission. Then, when they had enough evidence, they activated several Starfleet officers into the mess. I left things in place. You were meant to be promoted to Captain, and Arrianna was meant to be Executive Officer... which i am hearing might have been a mistake?" she looked at her XO. "What the hell happened with her?"

"Well, apparently Command doesn't share your confidence in me." Gary replied evenly but there was an underlying layer of hurt as well." However he moved on quickly. "Arri got into it with Carrington and she and Josephine Carlyle left the Elysium for some shore but in reality, for Arri to get her head back together. That was months ago. We got word Arri was found but she and Josephine had been captured and made slaves by some huge slaver operation. Josie is still missing. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?"

"maybe" Came the hedgy reply. "okay yes, Couldn't get Josephine out, but managed to get Arri. It was NOT part of the plan and we had issues because of it. This Operation was meant to be active for 4 weeks. 4 Weeks Gary, and its nearly 10 weeks now."

Gary shook his head sadly. "I hate hearing that about Josie." He sighed, "Well something got screwed up royally then if it's already taken twice as long to finish."

"As I said, Arrianna and Josie were not part of the plan. We never expected to see them. And I do not want to see what i saw then again." She admitted. "It was bad Gary. But we are now trying to get this back on track."

He nodded, "I can imagine. Arri was beginning to unravel here. She was argumentative and accusatory. It was as you say, not good." He continued the crew had no confidence in Carrington. She was hard and unyielding. There was no give, no compromise with her. She spoke very unflattering of you. Almost seemed to delight in it."

"Well she was always a bitch to me" Phoenix shrugged. "Oh By the way, Garrett knows"

"Well, she isn't a bitch to anyone anymore." Gary noted, "I'm glad he does. he's been a better captain then I thought he would be. " He admitted. "Crew, well some of crew think he had a hand in your arrest and disappearance."

"Well they are wrong obviously. Besides, Garrett changed his tune after we brought back his long lost girlfriend last year."

" He certainly isn't like he used to be. So stiff, if he bent over, he'd break. He's more... reasonable now. Not near as rigid and by the book."

Phoenix smiled at that. "You should have seen his face when he figured it out about me. I told him i wanted my chair back."

Gary grinned as well. "I bet it was a look you'll never forget. What did he say to that? No. I bet or wait. Hell no."

"Neither" she smirked. "He called me a true Phoenix. After he got his mouth working again"

Gary laughed at the image his mind created. "Well, he's right. You are. Reborn right in front of me."

"Uh.. no telling Lia ok?" Phoenix said "She is probably going to be pissed at me, so lets not get her pissed at you too."

Gary nodded slowly, "Okay." he answered. "I understand the fewer who know about this and your mission the better and you're right she is going to be pissed at you like you wouldn't believe. I'll probably catch it as well if for no other reason than just because."

"I think once this mission is done and they all know the truth, I will sit in the briefing room and let whoever wants to yell at me do so. A one time thing only. But they may have an issue getting past my bodyguard"

Gary chuckled softly. "I think you may get more than you bargain for doing that. Lots more. Your bodyguard? Let me guess the XB?"

"XB? Oh x-borg. Yes. But as with me, nothing is what it seems. I take it Lieutenant Rin picked up on it?" She smiled "I got a full crew roster before I came back."

"Oh, I am sure he isn't what he appears ands yes, Rin gave me a heads up on him." Gary confirmed.

"It was a risk, but one we needed to take, the Identity had already been written up" Phoenix said softly.

"I'm not going to betray or blow your cover Phoenix. You've successful disappeared for ten weeks, that is no small feat.'' Gary replied.

"yeah and to think I could have spent those ten weeks in New Zealand."

"True." Gary replied, "however would you really want to spend ten days let alone ten weeks there?" Gary questioned. "I would have thought you had enough of prison after our stay in one courtesy of the Romulans."

"Yeah but I hear they don't strip you naked and try to drown you in New Zealand" Phoenix quipped. "Which reminds me, if you see Arri.... just be cautious, I have added her to the list of crew I have seen sans clothing."

"That is true." Gary admitted and raised and eyebrow at Phoenix's statement about Arri. "You're getting quite a collection of crew you've seen without clothes." He pointed out.

"Yeah not really something I want to gloat about." Phoenix smirked at him. "So aside from Yasmine being a bitch and getting herself killed, and Garrett growing a personality, how have things been?"

"Not bad." Gary answered with a shrug. "Wish, I had known about this from the beginning but it's water under the bridge now. Crew wise, Jess is under a counselor's care, she went ballistic with Lovejoy. Accused him of having you arrested and tried and then hidden. She's suffering from PTSD. Lia was also having a go at him because he refused to tell her and the others any more than the basics concerning this mission."

Phoenix groaned at that. "Typical. Why can't they just accept stuff?"

"It's mystery." Gary answered. "It would be much easier and less tense if they did. I think that's the biggest thing Phoenix. The crew is tense. It's like walking on eggshells."

"Well I gave them all that we had." She said. "Aside from stuff that dealt with Arri and Josephine. That does not have anything to do with this."

"Not questioning you." Gary clarified. "And I don't blame you, Arri and Josephine don't have anything to do with this. This is your mission. You are in charge. As the time gets closer for the meeting just tell us what you need us to do. captain Lovejoy and I will act appropriately hostile. " He added with a grin.

Now Phoenix smirked "The offer to bash you up is open to you as well you know" She teased.

"Yes, I know, and I think I will take you up on it. As this falls under the heading of going above and beyond the call of duty and we need to convince the admiral and his crew we put up a fight."

"Garrett is going to get the doc to make him look like we beat him up, but you are going to let my team actually bash you? Gary, you are either crazy or just dedicated."

"Probably a little of both." Gary admitted, "However the biggest thing is I trust you. Always have."

"you know that most would not have. A young inexperienced officer promoted without warning to be your CO,"

"It was a shock when Carrington came aboard with Lovejoy as her XO. It hurt too and it still does but I don't blame you for that decision." Gary replied. "Carrington never should have been named captain. She was so opinionated and didn't want anyone around her that had been close to you. She moved me to chief diplomatic officer."

"Which was not meant to happen." Phoenix replied, repeating her earlier words. "I am so sorry it happened Gary."

"I know and I appreciate that, I really do. It made me reevaluate my worth to Starfleet."

"You could see it as a failed test for Carrington." Phoenix suggested. "I put your name into command months ago for your own command you know."

Gary nodded. "It definitely was, and she made the ultimate sacrifice. I know and I appreciate the faith and confidence you have in my abilities. Like I said earlier Command doesn't feel the same way."

"Or maybe they are testing you?" Phoenix asked. "Seeing if you would...how do humans say .. rage quit?"

"I hadn't thought of that. Thank you for that. Maybe you are right. It is something to consider. I hope I impressed them. I couldn't quit. I look at this crew like you do. It's my family and I couldn't desert them and leave them with Carrington. Even as diplomatic officer I was able to give them a face they trusted and could talk to."

"Which is why I was able to do the mission they asked me to. I knew you would protect the crew."

"You know me so well." Gary replied. "Even separated, we make a great team."

"We do." Phoenix smiled. "I should go back to my cabin, and make sure people see Lily Kass more."

"Alright. I think that is a good idea. Thank you for confiding in me. Your secret is safe until you are ready to reveal it to the crew. Until then you are Lily Kass, leader of the Black Watch."

"I am just going to be glad to have Jax between me and the crew when it happens" Phoenix pressed her earing and the disguise reappeared. Black hair went blond, blue eyes, Violet.

"I'll stand with you as well Captain." He smiled as her holographic image came back in place. "If there is nothing else Miss Kass, I bid you good day."

"Thank you for your time Commander Taylor" Lily stood and headed for the door. "You need to deactivate the security."

Gary nodded, "Avalon release secure lockdown of this office. Authorization Taylor Bravo 17 Yankee.''

"Thank you Commander" And Lily shot him a smile and vanished out the door.

"My pleasure Miss Kass." Gary replied with a smile of his own.