<div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'arial';vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Mission: The flames of purity</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'arial';vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Day: 18</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'arial';vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Stardate: 2445.09.18</span></p><br style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'arial';vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(USS Exeter - FO Lt(sg) Ailynn Bracken and 9D Manager Caity Dubois - 2000)</span></p></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Standing at the bar, Caity watched the variety of people that had wandered through for a day or two. Some had been celebrating the return of the crew and some had been drowning their sorrows, either after being themselves kidnapped or the loss of one of their own.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Offering words of commiseration or encouragement had become second nature to her. Wiping down the bar, she turned back and began to restock the glasses.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ailynn exited the turbolift, having been discharged from sickbay. The weight of her experiences over the last few days, her physical demeanour was weak, tired, and her shoulders, back and all her joints hurt. She needed sleep, to begin to get over the physical.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The mental would take a lot more.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She had been referred to compulsory counselling, and Ailynn had no intention of missing it. She knew this time that she needed help.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She was lonely, confused, terribly scared, and her meeting a prophet had badly badly shaken her, as had it’s form and it’s message.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Entering Nine and Dine, Ailynn simply wanted a decent sandwich, reaching the bar, she sat on one of the barstools with a groan of pain, and exhaustion. The weight of the world palpable on her shoulders. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She looked up at the reflection of herself in the bar mirror opposite, and was horrified to see how she looked. Or she would have been, if she cared.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Looking at the reflection in the glass infront of her, Caity's heart skipped a beat. Seeing someone who had once been so proud and strong looking so weary, it hurt her heart.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Something had obviously happened to the First officer. Something bad and she took a breath before fixing a smile in her face and turning around, "Steak sandwich and a glass of red for the lady?"</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Only if it’s a pint glass.” Ailynn sighed, wishing that she could raise a semblance of herself, and failing horribly.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Yeah, that's not going to happen. Not in this bar. Fruit juice?"</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ailynn sighed. “You’re right. Just a fruit juice.” She shrugged. “The orange.” Her hand trembled slightly as she raised it to point to a jug.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Noticing the shake but not wanting to acknowledge it, Caity poured her an orange juice. Fighting back the nagging feeling in the back of her mind, she handed her the glass, "So, I am not going to go with the trite how are you doing. Why don't you tell me why you came into the bar rather than hide in your quarters?"</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ailynn looked up, and opened her mouth a few times to try to answer. She had nothing.</span></p><br><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Honestly?” She managed eventually, “I haven’t ruled it out. I’m tired of being alone, but I used to not mind being in my own space, now though, I’m terrified of being around anyone, because I know that they’re all judging me for what I’ve done.” She felt her eyes fill, and a tear run down her cheek. “Also though I don’t want to be on my own because that’s when I start thinking again, dwelling.” More tears ran down her face. “I’m so scared.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Seeing the pain in her face, Caity's heart sank. Resisting the urge to pull her into a hug, hold her and tell her that everything would be alright, she simply stopped and listened. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She held out her hand. “Look.” her hand still shook. “I’m a bloody brain surgeon...or I was.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Taking the shaking hand gently, Caity replied simply, "You still are."</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Caity’s hand was warm, and had a strength about them that only came from doing a manual job like she did. For the briefest of moments her spirits lifted, before sinking again. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"I don't feel anything like it anymore."</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Letting go of the hand, she sighed, "Look, I don't know what happened. Haven't heard anything but I can tell you what I see."</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ailynn nodded, and motioned to the mirror before speaking gently with a sad smile. "I can see what I look like, but let's hear it."</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"I see someone struggling with the weight of something they had to do. Someone who desperately wants to talk but doesn't know how and I see someone who,  for the first time in a long time, feels lost."</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"I've always known what I wanted." Ailynn answered. "Knew what I had to do to get it. And now, I've done something, lots of somethings that go against everything that I stood for. I've experienced things that I'm not sure I understand or believe even happened. I've been lost before, but I don't even…" she shrugged again. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"What? Don't even know who you are anymore?"</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Sounds about right." She answered, taking a sip of her juice. "Which is good, because I cant associate myself with a murderer."</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Caity paused for a split second. Not knowing what to say, she took a deep breath and thought for a moment. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"You maybe many things. A murderer? No. Whatever happened, and you don't have to say, happened. Now, what you do next is up to you. Do you wallow or do you fight on. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you ask me, you fight. Because the woman I see before me doesn't strike me as someone who gives up easily."</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ailynn wasn't ready for this. As much as Caity was a great bar manager, and was fun to talk to, Ailynn didn't know her.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Look. I'm not being snippy, but can I get the sandwich to go? I'm...not ready"</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Caity wrapped the sandwich and handed it to her, "I'm sorry if I spoke out of turn. I didn't mean anything by it. I'm always here for a friendly ear if you ever need it."</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Maybe." Ailynn sighed. We'll see." Realising that she had been off with the other woman, Ailynn spoke quietly. “Thank you Caity”, she then picked up the foil wrapped sandwich and nodding a thanks, left the bar. Headed toward the empty shell that her quarters had become.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Reply none)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Posted by Mark and Jackie (SPC))</span></p><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br></div></div>