End of the line ** Trigger Warning **

Posted on Sat May 11th, 2024 @ 9:05am by Captain Gary Taylor & Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: The Tea House
Timeline: MD 6
2243 words - 4.5 OF Standard Post Measure

== WARNING: This post contains references to attempted suicide. If you are affected, or offended by this, please do not read! ==


[ON]

Lia sat on the floor with a concoction in front of her, the time had come to end it. End the pain, end the frustration, end the hurt. Japanese Koto music played loudly. さくら変奏曲/Sakura hensokyoku a tune Lia knew well, from her days learning to be a Gheisha. How long had it been since she last had a lesson? Those were happy days, the days of summer and light. Now the winter had arrived, and only darkness could be seen.

Sthilg had been woken from his sleep by a knock on the door. The patroling master at arms had heard the loud music coming from Aurelia quarters and after failing to get her to answer had found the gorn. Raising his hand and giving a firm hard knock on the quarter's door the gorn raised his voice to try and be heard over the music. " Aurelai it'sss Sssthilg isss everything okay?"

Alicia had been alerted as well, she gave Sthilg a worried look as she joined him outside Lia’s door. She raised her voice trying to get a response. “Lia...it’s Alicia, can you hear me?” With no response she let her senses get a read on Lia, then looked towards Sthilg again. “We have to get in there Dad... Right Now!”

Sitting on the floor, Lia heard the banging on the door. "Computer, increase volume of the music." The music now rose in volume to drown out the noise. Taylor knew who was at the door, and why they were there. But in her present state she didn't want them anywhere near her, Alicia would take little Lia away once she was gone so she could wait. Sthilg would probably confirm she was crazy and remover her from everything. He could wait until she was gone, she and she alone would remove herself from what was left of her trainwreck life.

Alicia could sense Lia’s determination from outside the door. Having tried to take her own life in the past she knew just what the emotions associated with it were. She looked at Sthilg. “We can’t wait any longer!!” She keyed in her override hoping Lia hadn’t thought to disable it. As the doors slid open she rushed inside to find a sight she hoped not to see. “Computer! Stop music!!” She paused in-front of Lia. “Lia...stop! don’t do this!”

Sthilg followed his daughter in as quickly as he could. Seeing a hypospray on the floor his artificial arm reached for it. " What are you doing you sssily girl...." He said looking at Aurelai. Inside he was cursing himself. How the hell had he missed this?

Alicia didn’t want to risk getting too close incase it forced Lia made a quick effort to take something. “Lia, don’t do this...” she moved a little closer and knelt down. “Trust me I know.” She pulled back her uniform sleeves to show Lia her old scars. “I’ve been meaning to get rid of these for a while now, I just haven’t had the gusto to do it yet. I hit rock bottom after I lost my father, and then my fiancé Kal. The shock of their losses caused a miscarriage. I felt like I’d lost it all. I managed to cut one wrist pretty good, but I couldn’t finish the other. I realised I wanted to live!” She paused. “You have Gary, and Little Lia, she’s lost two parents already don’t let her loose another!”

Looking at Alicia, Lia just hung her head. "She's got Gary and she'll have you to teach her, she doesn't need a nutcase to look after her." As the CMO lifted away her means to an end, she looked up at him, "I'm leaving Doc, that's what I was trying to do. Seems as if that's what's wanted of me, so....." Her voice trailed off, she returned to Alicia. "You were lucky, you wanted to live. I don't, not anymore." Her eye's were hollow, empty. Her voice soft but dead, her emotions finally destroyed by circumstance. "I loved my job, I was proud of what I'd done. Now its all gone, a criminal has it. Rewarded for his violence, he attacked me but I got the blame as usual." Her bright red Yukata reflected the dim lighting, Lia's 100 year old fan sat on a small table with two photos. One of Gary, the other of little Lia. Both had hand written notes beside them, but Lia now knew they wouldn't be read because she was still here.

Alicia reached out to remove the line up of concoctions that Lia had in-front of her. “I told you to come and talk to me, that my door was always open.” She moved the medications handing them carefully to Sthilg. “You’ve been saving these up for some time haven’t you?”

Nodding her head, Lia found no reason to deny the truth anymore. "One here, one there. Another one found in the wrong place, it was easy. I wanted to come see you, but circumstances ran away with me. The more I tried, the deeper I became trapped in the mire of my life." She pointed to the small cupboard on the kitchen door, "There's more in there, some of which might be a little dangerous."

Alicia sighed. “I guess we need to sort those out then don’t we? But not until we’ve sorted you out.” She looked towards Sthilg knowing full well where Lia was going to end up.

Sthilg artificial arm took the concussion and with a bright flash fired the hypospray. Walking over to the cupboard his arm turned into it's phaser mode and he started vaporising all of the viles until the cupboard had nothing but dust within. " Computer lock out commander Aurelia Taylor from all replicatorsss and remove command codesss. Chief medical officer override code black ssseven. " Striding back he added. "You are not leaving usss Auerlia were going to get you the help you need. " He said in his grandfatherly tone.

"Why? I don't mean anything to you. Do I?" Lia looked as the CMO destroyed everything medical, then something hit her. "Hang on. If you lock me out of all replicators, how do I feed my family?"

" Let me worry about that. " Sthilg replied honestly. " I've seen what people can get out of a replicator," he added. Remembering what the medical staff had caught federation/Klingon wounded get ahold off from the stations replicators. " And of courssse you matter to me. You followed me into the afterlife remember? "

Sthilg's last comment caught Lia by surprise, "Oh yeah, that wasn't yesterday was it?" The fact that the CMO cared now made Lia's mind slowly remember happier times, "I'm sorry Sthilg, really I am. Guess I'm not myself right now."

" No onesss feeling themssselvesss my dear. " The old lizard said as he offered his arms for a hug. " Your not alone Lia. We're going to get through thisss."

Hesitant at first, Lia finally excepted Sthilg's offer of a hug. Tears began to form in her eyes but she fought them back, it was bad enough already no need to show she was a complete fruitcake. "What will happen now? Will I be sectioned?"

Alicia offered Lia a gentle smile. “I was hoping to avoid that. It all depends on you now Lia. We’re here to help you in every way we can, but you’ve got to want it. To want to live.” She tapped her comm badge. “Alicia to Captain Taylor, please come to your quarters as soon as possible.” She looked back at Lia. “I’ll arrange to have Little Lia collected from the school later.”

Gary was on the bridge when he received Alicia's call. Her tone and the fact that she wanted him to come to his quarters put him on alert. "I'm on my way." He replied crisply. as he turned the bridge over to the next ranking officer and headed for his quarters.

As Alicia called Gary, Lia sat and thought about how she'd got here. What would happen now? How things had changed since she'd joined this ship, from being a damn good agent she'd become a mental wreck with not much to look forward to.

Alicia was waiting for Gary’s arrival, she needed to talk to him privately to try and explain. When the doors slid open to reveal his arrival she stepped up. “Gary, I need to talk to you in private.”

Gary stopped and looked over Alicia's shoulder, trying to see Lia. "What's going on Alicia? Is Lia alright?'

Alicia motioned Gary towards a quiet corner of the room. “Gary, Sthilg and I were both called because of concern for Lia’s wellbeing. When we entered she had an array of drugs and a hypo at the ready to take, she also confessed to having lots more stashed away. My father has destroyed everything and locked Lia out of the replicators for safety. I’m afraid she’s going to have to accompany us to Sickbay for Psychiatric observation, after which we’ll work out what the next best steps are.” She paused. “I’m sorry this is a lot to take in.”

Gary listened in stoney silence as Alicia laid out the grim details. He had always been good at hiding his emotions and now was no exception. As shocked and surprised as he was he didn't show it. When Alicia had finished, he nodded and took a deep breath. " I'm glad you and the Doc were here to destroy Lia's stash of drugs. Furthermore, what you are saying is Lia was contemplating suicide and is perhaps having a nervous breakdown. Is that correct?"

Alicia nodded. “Suicide Yes, as for a breakdown it’s possible. Lia has been struggling with this for a while now, I did say my door was open if she needed to talk but...” she shook her head. “We’ll do everything we can for her Gary, and if you need help with Little Lia don’t hesitate to ask.”

"I knew Lia was upset but I didn't think she was this upset to go this far. The key is for her to get better. I'll do whatever I can to see she gets better. As for Little Lia. I appreciate the offer Alicia, but I think I can handle her." Gary answered resolutely.

Sthilg had helped Lia onto a seat and had gotten her some herbal tea. " There we go my girl. Get thisss down you." He said handing it over.

Taking the tea, Lia sipped it watching the interaction between Gary and Alicia. Why had it come to this? Even in her own mind, she couldn't put it all together and find an answer. There had to be more, why had S'hib become this violent creature? Why didn't anyone else see how he manipulated both them and the situation? He wasn't the innocent person he claimed he was, was it their S'hib or a mirror universe replacement?

Alicia smiled at Gary’s response to her offer of help with Little Lia. “Just bear in mind that Little Lia is going to find this very hard to accept. As for Lia herself, let’s see what we can arrange for her. Right now she needs to know that she has your support, it’s going to be crucial in every stage of her recovery.”

"I'm sure she will but we'll make it." Gary replied before adding. "Lia has always had my support and love. I'm sorry if I hadn't made that clearer to her especially with all she has gone through and is dealing with."

“I’m sure you’ve told her” Alicia smiled warmly. “She just might not have taken it in, depression is a difficult condition. Let’s get back to Lia.”

"Thanks Alicia." Gary answered. "I'm going to make sure she knows she isn't alone, that she has me and others like you and the Doc who want to help her."

Alicia nodded. Making her way over to her father she let Gary head over to Lia. She lowered her voice as she looked at Sthilg. “So, what do you think?”

" Major case of depressssssion. If we were back home i'd be asking ssshe be transssferred to a physssiological faculty immediately, but we can't do that. I'd like her to be monitored at all timesss. I'll ssstart her on a holo program that ssshould be helpful, but we all need to make assure ssshe knowsss ssshe isn't alone." The old reptile replied in his calm doctorly manner.

Alicia nodded. “Are we going to risk allowing Lia to stay at home? As much as I hate to suggest it, she maybe better off under medical supervision for a short time.”

'I think in my opinion it would best for Lia to be here at home. It is a setting she is familiar with and would offer some normalcy for her and all of us." Gary offered.

" I could have Ensign Sssnow ssstay with her. He is small enough to be inconssspicuousss." The doctor suggested.

"That works Doc, set that up." Gary replied somberly. Adding a silent prayer that the three of them could indeed help Lia.