"And home again"

Posted on Tue Jul 30th, 2019 @ 6:41am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Commodore Evelyn Mountbatten [ADMIN NPC] & Captain Gary Taylor & Commander Liselle Qwyyn & Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor

Mission: Episode 1: Hell is a four letter word
Location: Bridge
Timeline: MD 17 - End of Mission
1203 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Phoenix was silent as she stepped onto the bridge. Hard to believe that it had been nearly 3 weeks since she had last set foot on it.

Evelyn was standing before the Center Chair watching as Earth grew closer on the viewer. She turned however at the sound of the lift opening up. Evelyn nodded at the Captain, pale still, and walking stiffly, and studied her in silence.

In the 12 days of captivity, the woman had lost a lot of weight, weight she could have ill afforded to have lost. And the raven wing colored hair, something that Evelyn had seen down once during a meeting with the Captain after her return from Andromeda, was bound tightly back, hiding the devastating cuts made by the Romulans. And there were many, as was evidenced by the multitude of hair pins holding small slivers of hair back.

When they had met in medical, shortly after her rescue Phoenix had mumbled about going to Paris for a proper haircut. Or maybe Milan.

“Captain Lalor”

“Commodore Mountbatten.” Phoenix replied, her voice soft. Her blue gaze swept the bridge and landed on the view screen. “I see we are arriving at Earth.”

“Yes.” Evelyn stepped clear of the Command well. “And this is where I will leave you Captain. The Elysium is all yours.”

Phoenix took a breath, struggling for a moment. “Thank you commodore.”

Evelyn raised her voice "Avalon, transfer all command codes to Captain Phoenix Penelope Lalor. Voice authorization: Alpha, Gamma Epsilon2371."

Avalon replied "Transfer complete. The Elysium is now under command of Captain Phoenix Penelope Lalor."

Phoenix stepped forward "I relieve you, sir."

Evelyn replied "I stand relieved." She smiled. “Good Luck Captain. Good luck.” Then she swept from the bridge, taking her aides with a glance, who fell in behind her, off the bridge into the turbo lift.

Phoenix took a seat gingerly in the center chair. “Operations, Helm. Commence docking procedures.”

She then hit the Comm. “Attention all crew, this is Captain Lalor. We have begun docking procedures with Starbase 1. All crew are released on rotation for R&R for the next 4 weeks.”

She then stood and after another glance around headed for her ready room and the sanctuary within.

Gary stood at the XO's chair as Phoenix came onto the bridge and assumed command from Commodore Mountbatten. He saw how thin she was and how slowly she moved due to their captivity and torture. He knew of her scars from the chains that had bound her to the concrete slab. As well as the stab wound she had suffered as well as the devastating hatchet job the Romulans had done to her hair. He too had scars, more across his chest and back but the truly horrible scars were those unseen. The terrible guilt he carried at seeing Phoenix, Liselle and Lia and knowing they were all tortured because the Romulans had wanted him. He knew for a fact that Liselle hated no despised him because of the torture she has suffered, holding him completely responsible. No doubt Phoenix and Lia did as well. As he watched Phoenix retreat into her ready room he made a decision. He just needed to carry it out.

Anje had been watching Taylor more closely at her aunt's request, she could ill afford Gray Wolf going off the rails now when so much was at stake. She looked to Phoenix sadly, but for that at least she had a solution. Easing over from her chair at Ops, she handed the Captain a box, whispering, "Estelle has one of these, I got one for you." She pointed surreptitiously towards Phoenix's once fabulous mane, "It'll help with that whole situation." ~Now if I only knew how to help with Gray's situation...~

Phoenix nodded and moved into the ready room with a small "Thanks"


Liselle knew that there were conversations happening on the bridge, but she wasn't actually hearing them. Her mind felt fuzzy, like it was wrapped in gauze. Apparently she should expect to feel this way for a while after what she had been through -- what they had all been through. Still, it didn't make going through it any more enjoyable. With a shake of her head, she suddenly found herself wondering if perhaps an order had been given and she had been too lost in her own mind to pay attention to it. Slowly, she turned about in her chair to catch the captain's eye. A weak smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Phoenix. Gods, what did they put you through down there? Far worse than me. I can see it in your eyes. "It's good to see you on the bridge again, Captain."

Phoenix paused at the door and met Liselle's eyes. Their friendship was an enduring thing. She gave her best friend a smile, and mouthed 'You too" then vanished.

Gary turned and caught Anje looking at him. For a few moments they just stared at each other before Gary nodded and gave her a thumbs up sign. Hoping she'd fall for it and quit spying on him.

Anje returned the gesture, though she wasn't falling for it, ~Does he really think I'm that dumb?~ She wondered, ~Or that I'm going to risk hacking off my aunt by letting him go on a rampage? Do I have silly Vulcan written across my forehead or something?~

Gary walked casually over to her. Then standing so only Anje could hear whispered, "I know the Queen told you to keep an eye on me. However I am fine. So stop it."

"Oh, no, not gonna work like that, pretty boy." Anje whispered as she shook her head, "You debate that with the Queen. And you know if it was reversed and I told you 'I'm fine, stop it' that you'd keep right on doing what she told you until she said stop. Why? Because you like your skin and I like mine."

He was quiet for a heartbeat, maybe two before he replied. "When your right, your right. Okay watch me but you're going to get bored. Oh? should I fix up the sofa for you to sleep on?"

"Sure." Anje replied sarcastically, "And then I'll tell her I'm sleeping with Gray Wolf and we can see who she decides to kill for it." She stifled a chuckle, not wanting to bring too much attention towards their conversation, knowing that leaked information could prove fatal to their new family here on Elysium.

Gary couldn't help but chuckle. Anje was a spitfire! A budding Queen. "What time should I expect you?" He teased.

"Now you know better than that." Anje smiled and winked, "One should never know when the wolves will come."

Gary returned the wink and said, "Truer words were never spoken." and threw his hands up in mock surrender.

"It almost seems as though you've done that before." Anje smirked and walked back to her seat.

Lia/Rebecca now entered and crossed to her station, she did a quick check and then glanced around the bridge. With luck nobody would talk to her, otherwise Lia would have to be released to respond. And Rebecca didn't want that, at least not yet.

OFF