A Familiar Face

Posted on Fri Mar 1st, 2019 @ 8:59pm by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Commander Liselle Qwyyn

Mission: Season 2: Episode 3: Determination is not always a good thing
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: MD6/7
1164 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Ken Waters let the lock of his lover's hair fall from his fingers. He smiled at her, running his hand down the cool white sheets that covered her perfect body. His fingers rose and fell with her curves and he felt something in him begin to stir. He had fully intended to let her sleep, but that was before he had decided to take this moment to appreciate her finely sculpted athletic form. Perhaps if he kept running his hand along her thigh he might accidentally wake her? And if that were to happen, tragedy though it would be, he was certain they could make the best of the situation...

The computer chimed rather loudly. "Incoming message from Trill. Attention Captain Phoenix Lalor."

Ken sighed, falling back into his side of the bed.

Phoenix grumbled at the call. She sat up and glad that she was dressed for once. She reached out and hit the comm. "This is Lalor" she said running a hand through her hair. "On Screen"

The image of Liselle Qwyyn appeared on the nearby monitor. Although something was off. The bulkheads behind her did not look like anything on the Elysium. Rather it appeared as though she were standing in an office of alien design. Was she calling from the holodeck?

"Captain Phoenix Lalor?" the apparent Liselle asked. It was Liselle's voice, but the cadence of her speech was very different.

Phoenix studied the woman. "Lise?" She said as she reached for a hairband. "What are you doing calling me... hang on.. from Trill?!? Liselle Qwyyn what in gods name is going on?!"

The woman shook her head. The movement was slight. Precise. "Captain Lalor, I'm afraid circumstances have given you an incorrect impression. My name is Doctor Merella Swii. Commander Qwyyn is my twin sister," she explained. "I am contacting you on behalf of the Trill Symbiosis Commission. We are making a formal request to send a representative to your ship to observe and evaluate Commander Qwyyn. I have, of course, made a request through Starfleet Headquarters. They assure me that the final decision on this matter lies with you and the Commander." Finally, the woman stopped talking. She looked at Captain Lalor expectantly.

Phoenix studied the woman. Liselle had never really spoken about her family. Phoenix never pried because she understood family dynamics. "Doctor, you'll forgive my being blunt I do hope, but why you?"

"You're a forthright woman. You speak your mind. I respect that." Merella inclined her head to her in deference. "I purposefully requested the assignment. The commander and I were both under final consideration for the Qwyyn symbiont because of our similar career qualifications. And, of course, our identical genetic profiles. The Symbiosis Commission continues to be very anxious about the symbiont's well being. I am, by far, the most knowledgeable consultant on Qwyyn."

Phoenix merely inclined her head. And part of her wondered at the path not traveled. "We will be at DS9 within the fortnight. I am sure you can await there for us. I will need to discuss this with my executive Officer and of course your sister."

"Captain," Merella said quickly. "I appreciate your consideration. I would ask that you please not deny my request. The Qwyyn symbiont was allowed to join with your Commander on the contingency that certain milestones be observed. While Starfleet is in no way obligated to observe those milestones, it is important to my people that our request is not ignored."

"Doctor, I understand your request and I understand the nature of trills and the safety of the symbiont is important. I am not ignoring your request, I am merely saying I need to discuss it with my command staff. Now, I personally do not see an issue with your coming aboard. It will be nice to meet you personally and to get to know the sister of a woman I consider my best friend. I will let you know once I have completed my discussions with the Command team. We will be seeing you on DS9 I have no doubt."

Merella opened her mouth, ready to press further, but she wisely reconsidered. Instead she nodded. "Thank you, Captain. I will await you at Deep Space Nine. Doctor Swii out."

Even as the screen went blank, Ken Waters returned to Phoenix's side, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Well, she seems absolutely lovely, doesn't she?"

Phoenix leaned back against him. "Yeah such a difference. But then as a Twin myself, I know that twins are not always the same."

Ken blinked. "A twin yourself? You didn't tell me about that." He narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Did you?"

"Maybe not. My twin is my brother Pallas. He is younger than me, just" Phoenix replied as she kissed his cheek.

He shook his head in disbelief. "I'm not ever going to get to meet any of them, am I? Your family," he said, and then added, "Miran aside, of course."

Phoenix shook her head. "No I do not think so. My parents never leave Erisia, and my mother would need my father to accompany her anyway. My brothers are with with military at times but any contact with them would be them shooting to kill me."

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her in close. "You're a tough woman," he said, his tone both proud and sad. "Miran is very lucky to have you. We all are."

Phoenix smiled. "Why thank you kind sir!"

He laughed at her reply. By the Prophets she could be so cute sometimes. He pointed to the blank screen where Doctor Swii had been moments earlier. "So, what are you going to do about her? Clearly, she's looking forward to digging for skeletons in Liselle's closet."

"That will be up to Liselle. And we protect our own." Phoenix said as she reached for the light. "I will contact Taylor and Liselle and let them know. And let Liselle make the choice."

Ken nodded. While he had seen many people in command claim to put their crew first, Ken knew that Phoenix was one of those Captains that truly meant it. Almost to a fault, if he had any say in the matter. It was made him so nervous about her position aboard the Elysium -- he knew that she would be willing to die if it meant saving her people. He reached out to a put a hand on her cheek. "I love you, you know."

"I know. I love you too." Phoenix smiled and nuzzled his hand gently. "Shall we get some more sleep?"

"We could..." he ventured. And then he scooped her up off her feet and threw her back onto the bed. "But since we're already awake, it would be a shame to waste the moment."

She laughed and kissed him. "Well when you put it like that!"

OFF

Captain Phoenix Lalor
Commanding Officer
USS Elysium

Master Chief Petty Officer Ken Williams
Flight Control
USS Elysium