Can We Talk?

Posted on Sun Oct 22nd, 2023 @ 6:19pm by Commander Kyle Reece & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Lieutenant Commander S'hib

Mission: Season 6: Episode 3: Far From Home
Location: USS Elysium, Naxea and S'hib's family quarters.
Timeline: MD 5 / 1000 hours
2053 words - 4.1 OF Standard Post Measure

After leaving the Security Department, Kyle and Lia made their way down to the quarters assigned to Colonel Naxea and Commander S'hib. As they walked, they shared some small rank, getting to know one another a bit better. Once they arrived, Kyle reached up and pressed the door chime. Then they waited for a reply.

And then waited some more, with a curious glance shared between the two as the air in the corridor grew deafeningly quiet.

Eventually, after a few more moments they heard the gentle thump of hooves approach the other side of the door, then a discontentful sigh and a thud of something hitting the top of the doorframe.

Another few moments passed before the door finally hissed open, leaving them staring at S'hib with his forehead pressed against the frame of the door, leaning somewhat towards them with a sour expression.

"Let you out early did they?" He scorned before flicking his eyes over to Kyle without saying another word.

"Nice to see you too S'hib, and no I've got a couple of day's to go." She pushed past him and into the cabin, "Now let's get a few things out in the open, we screwed up. But we're still Security and we're still a team, got it?" Lia paced as she spoke, "Now if you've got a problem with anything, you come to me. NOT him, me! Do you receive me Commander?" Taylor had pointed at Reece as she spoke, but her eye's never left S'hib's face. Lia now glanced at Kyle, "Due respect sir, but a swift kick in the arse is required." Her attention now switched back to her 2i/c, "We're better than this shit, and we've got a point to prove. Now are you going to help me prove it, or are going to sit here feeling sorry for yourself?" She stopped in front of S'hib, "And you can speak freely to me, I'm a prisoner after all."

He stared at her with a furious glare as she spoke, how dare she barge into his home like this he thought, then his ire shifted towards Kyle for bringing her here.

But then he heard Sle'anna stir in the other room, his ears twitching to the side as she began to cry from the sudden and loud intrusion.

Kyle meanwhile had barely made it halfway inside with S'hib still standing in the doorway to their cabin when he saw the giant Sequus lurch forward, grabbing Lia by her overalls with a swiftness he didn't think possible for someone of his size.

The next thing he knew he was stumbling backwards as S'hib stepped out of his quarters and launched Taylor down the corridor, his quiet fury juxtaposed against the echo of a little fillies cry.

"You have some nerve coming into my home like it's a junior's office!" He finally bellowed as he thumped the door controls with a fist, shutting the three of them outside and away from his family.

Then a heavy snort left his throat as he clicked heavily towards Lia, his tail lashing out behind him as he eyed her up with disdain.

"Because I have nothing to prove, not to you or anyone else!" His voice was a deep rumble as he stopped above Lia, his hooves crashing down beside either side of her dainty frame. "The only one with something to prove is you, you and your damned guilt!" He growled as he leaned down, fully intent on not letting her get up.

"And I'm sure as the dunes not burdening that with you, Commander..."

That last word growled out of his throat, sounding more like a slur than anything else.

"STAND DOWN, BOTH OF YOU!" Kyle bellowed in a voice that screamed a high amount of competent command experience. In a show of surprising strength, he grabbed Lia by the front of her jumpsuit and yanked her up to her feet before pinning her to the bulkhead, putting himself between the former security team. With an air of proper, and angered command authority, he barked first at Lia. "First off, I allowed this little meeting so you could apologize to your former assistant chief, not so you could barge into his home unwelcomed and bark orders at him!"

Then, while still holding her in place with a strong hand balled up, holding the front of her coveralls against her sternum, he turned his gaze on S'hib, raising a warning finger. "As for you, Mister S'hib, while I can understand your anger for her actions, that does not give you the right to physically attack her. If I wanted to, I'd haul your hide down and toss you in the brig! However, given the situation, that is your one freebie. Do I make myself clear?!" His actions and tone left both officers no choice but to acknowledge his authority over them.

S'hib stood there, all balled up and tense for a moment before letting out a hot huff of air. "Yes sir, crystal clear." he then inhaled deeply, holding onto that breath for a moment before looking down either end of the corridor, thankful nobody else had just witnessed his paternal fury.

Lia stood and looked at both S'hib and Kyle, "That's what's required, isn't it S'hib? That's what you've been wanting to do since this whole thing exploded in our faces, and as for my guilt. My guilt was allowing you to think you were able to function as a Security Officer for that investigation, I let you show me who you really were. This little demonstration simply proves me right, now you may think you've got the moral high ground. But you just lost it, and you've lost any respect I had for you." She turned to Kyle, "I apologise sir, I thought i was talking to someone I knew. Turns out I was wrong, looks like you may have the department longer than you may want."

"Oh please, it's always about you, isn't it..." S'hib spat in retaliation, turning around and flicking his hand in her direction dismissively. "Honestly, how dare you try and justify your actions with your petty vindictiveness whenever you don't get your own way..."

He shook his head, looking down for a moment before looking up at her, the fury was gone, replaced by something even worse, pity.

"But you're right... you don't know me, because you never did."

"Guess not Mr. S'hib." Lia now turned to Kyle, "I'm ready to return to the brig, there's nothing to be gained remaining here."

In the doorway to their cabin, stood Naxea, wearing death's glare as she stared at the trio of officers. She had given Sle'anna some milk and played some classical music in their room to calm the infant. "You have exactly ten seconds to explain yourselves and why you felt the need to disturb my child from her sleep," she seethed, walking forward.

S’hib had sensed Naxeas’ fury on the back of his skull before she had even said a word

“You’re not going anywhere until you apologise Lia, but not to me or anyone else… to her…” He growled through gritted teeth, pointing at his wife. “And if you so much as sprinkle a veiled excuse into that apology while doing so, you will burn your last bridge with me.”

Releasing Lia's jumpsuit, Kyle allowed her to straighten herself out before responding to both S'hib and Naxea. "Well, Lia? What will it be?" He silently hoped that she would see the right path to take and take it. There was too much pain already on the ship, to have this damaged friendship crumble and add more

Looking at S'hib, Lia then looked past him to Naxea. "I apologise Colonel, it won't happen again." Her gaze then returned to S'hib, "There are no more bridges to burn Commander, it would appear we just burned the last one." She then turned to face Kyle, "If it pleases you Commander Reece, I wish to return to my cell. It would seem my presence here is disruptive to good order, thank you sir."

Kyle's jaw clenched in frustration. He then reached up and taped his commbadge. "Robertson, G'talla, report to my location on the double. Reece out." He then doubletapped the commbadge. Looking Lia square in the eyes, he spoke, disappointment clearly apparent in his voice. "I stuck my neck out for you here, Lia. I trusted you to do the right thing. And in return, you stabbed me in the back and broke that trust with your little temper-tantrum."

As he spoke, two security officers, Robertson, a female Human, and G'talla, a male Andorian, quickly jogged to a stop by the trio standing in the corridor. Kyle glanced at both of them, giving each a nod of recognition. "Please escort Lia Taylor back to her cell. She is not to have any visitors for the rest of the day unless cleared by me first." He then looked back at Lia. "Just remember, you brought all of this upon yourself, Lia. I strongly advise you reconsider the path that your actions are taking you down." He then nodded to the two security officers again and they carried out his orders, escorting their former department chief back to her cell.

When she was gone, Kyle turned back to address both Naxea and S'hib. "I wholeheartedly apologize for what just happened. Lia had made it seem, when she requested to come talk to you, Mister S'hib, that she wanted to admit that she had let you down and ask your forgiveness. Clearly, she lied to me. I hope you both can forgive me for my shortsightedness in this matter."

S'hib's face scrunched up in annoyance as he turned and took a few steps towards Naxea. "I don't want nor need an apology from you Commander, what I need, what we need is to be left alone..."

He then moved passed Nax, kissing her on the side of the head while whispering that he would go check on Sle'anna.

"Next time. Do these types of meetings away from my quarters, Reece," Naxea stated firmly.

Kyle nodded. "Believe me, Naxea, I had no idea she would act as she did." He took a breath and stepped closer, speaking to her with respect. "The last thing I ever want is to disrupt a family's home." He paused, glancing back in the direction that Lia had been taken, then back to Naxea. "Please tell S'hib, I'd like him to come back to work. The longer he's spinning his wheels, the harder it'll be getting back into the swing of things. Trust me, I know. Besides that, I have a good nose for people, usually," he frowned slightly then continued. "I can tell that he is an honorable person. I'd be very glad to have him as my assistant chief."

"Of course," she replied. "He'll be glad to be doing something again."

Kyle nodded and gave Naxea a soft grin. "Excellent. Then I'll let you get back to your family." He started to turn away, then paused, looking back one more time. "You should know, Liam speaks very highly of you. Perhaps, someday soon, your family would care to join mine in a meal?"

Naxea paused for a moment before answering. "Sure, I'd like that." It would at least give her a chance to get to know the Commander better.

Kyle nodded and grinned. "Then I'll leave you and your family in peace and look forward to seeing Mister S'hib soon. Good day, Colonel." He flashed another friendly grin at Naxea, then turned and left. He had business to take care of back in Security.

As Lia headed back to the brig, she thought things over. Had this case taken her so far off track she couldn't get back? Did she even have a snowballs chance in hell of ever getting her department back? And what of S'hib? "Welcome to Sequella Lia," she remembered when he'd first arrived, and the holodeck program he created to show her his world. Now he hated her and as such the thought of working together just didn't add up. Yeah she'd lost it all, and now Kyle and S'hib would take her department leaving her nothing.

~OFF~