Cold...

Posted on Wed Jun 21st, 2023 @ 6:45am by Commander Kyle Reece

Mission: Season 6: Episode 2: Survival
Location: Camp Derani
Timeline: MD 5 / 2345 hours
644 words - 1.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Vanessa continued to hold herself at night, Trying to warm up. She was not used to this level of cold.

In one of the few times he had been back down to the camp in the past week, Kyle entered the tent he and Vanessa shared with their newly adopted twins. Seeing that the children were fast asleep, he moved over to where Vanessa and he shared their bed. "My love," he said softly as he moved to her side and wrapped his arms around her, trying to warm her up. "I'm sorry that I've been away this past week. There is too much work to be done up on the ship, to come back and forth every night. My team and I gave been working around the clock to get as much of the offensive and defensive systems back online. I want to be able to protect my family against the threats that I am sure are out there."

Vanessa smiled. "I've been taking it slowly with them, and I haven't forced them to acknowledge us as mother and father. They put on a strong face with me, trust has been hard to earn, Kyle. But I know they are devastated inside. They call me Vanessa, I suppose that is good for the time being, as we cannot replace their parents. We are going to have to earn the right to be their parents. However... We've come to an accord. Somehow... They admit they are still young. They may not admit it, but inside they realize they need us." She noted. "I very much want to get them off this planet. And very much want to get Arrianna off this world. I visited her, and my cousin worries me." Vanessa noted.

"Children are resilient, Vee." Kyle gently placed a kiss on her forehead. "All we can do is be here for them and given them a safe place to fall back on.the rest will come in time." He hugged her again, then looked down into her face. "What's wrong with your cousin that has you so worried?'

"She doesn't care anymore, Kyle. I sense great love but also unimaginable suffering. Even I can feel the depression setting in. I don't like what I'm feeling from her. I tried to get her to eat, and she told me 'the dead do not need food."

Kyle gave Vanessa a sad look. "I am sorry to hear about Arri. She is...was...very important to me once. She is still a dear friend, of course. I just don't know how to help her."

"This is a battle she needs to fight on the inside. I just wish I didn't have to be this way. I don't like how the Commodore handled this." Vanessa noted. "Her spirit has been crushed, and is now replaced with anger.. Envy. Pure spite." Vanessa noted. "This isn't her."

"I know," Kyle replied softly. "Though the bond she and I formed, back on the Talleyrand, is now weaker, I can still feel some of her pain. She is not the same woman that I once loved. But then, are any of us the same as when we were younger?" He sighed softly then continued. "As much as this hurts to say, we can't help her if she doesn't help herself first."

"It's just... We are both Alindari. She, and my niece Alicianna, are the only ones of my people I may ever see again. And I feel her indescribable pain. It makes me cry at night, and I know Alicianna feels it too." Vanessa noted. "I have to try. If I don't, I'll never forgive myself."

Kyle pulled Vanessa back into his embrace and sighed softly. "Then we do so together, my love. We are a team, you and I. The struggles of one, are the struggles of both."

~Truncated~