EXETERRPG: (19 - 0900) CO LCmdr Trip Williams and FO Lt(sg) Ailynn Bracken

[Mark Howard]

Mission: The Flames of Purity
Day: 19
Stardate: 2445.09.19

(USS Exeter - Ready Room - CO, Lt. Commander Trip Williams and FO, Lt. SG
Ailynn Bracken - 09:00)

“Ailynn, take a seat.” Trip said as Ailynn entered into his Ready Room.
“How are you doing this morning?”

Ailynn half smiled. "Tired. Emotional. Medically I'm okay, save some pain
that may be self induced. Trapped nerve or something. Going to need a whole
heap of counselling. You?"

“I’m still undecided on if I need counseling. But seriously though, are you
ok? No rank, no roles, I’m asking as your best friend. Are you ok?”

Ailynn sighed as she walked over to the replicator motioning toward it, a
silently gesture asking if Trip wanted anything.

“Hot chocolate, heavy marshmallows, whipped cream.”

Passing his drink over she sat down, sipping at the orange juice.
"Honestly?" She shook her head. "No I'm not. The worry has been eating up
at me. Hiding what I did from my oldest friend, and most of my family. On
top of that, meeting a prophet...marked by them...is hard to take."

“I’m, glad you kept the secret. Timeline stuff is, well….messy.”

"Erin came by last night after you left. Shouted at her, and that helped a
bit. She stayed with me."

“Shouted at her, bout what?”

"She badgered me until I let loose and shouted to open up.”

“Never badger a Bracken. Rule of life.”

"She did it on purpose and I adore her for it. I didn’t tell anyone but
her...the prophet took a couple of forms, but one of them was Mil. It took
the form of my father." Tears ran down her face again. "Dammit."

“Was it trying to taunt you? What did you talk about?”

"That was the thing, it was comforting. I almost didn't want to leave."
Quickly she recapped what the prophet had said, that she had had a task.

“So what is this grand task, this quest? For lack of a better term.”

"Not sure. I get the feeling that Jost was a major part. But he said there
were others, other people I mean. I suspect that we'd get only tiny hints
and it was up to us."

“Maybe it’s the so called Empress Ronnie warned about.”

"I'm a scientist, this doesn't make sense and I'm scared, and I just feel
lonely." Tears once more. "I have friends you, Ash, Erin, and you're all
great. I'm being silly and selfish."

“Lynn, Ash and I aren’t your friends.”

"Yes, I know" she smiled.

“We’re family. It's more than just mere friendship. You’ll never be alone.”

"I know. Its just...loneliness in my head. I'm being a brat. I'm just
shaken. Counselling will help."

“It should.”

"So where to next?" She asked.

“Well, one more merchant guild, then back to the wormhole. By my
estimation, we’ll be back at Deep Space Nine in two days.”

Nodding she stayed quiet a moment. Before drawing in breath sharply.
"Reminds me actually." She passed two padds over. "My full report. One
complete, the other missing out all the...what's the word... metaphysical
beings."

“Something like that.”

"Ryelle gave his life for me. It'll take a bit to get past that."

“It’s the job. The sacrifice play. Giving your life for someone else. It
sucks when you’re the one left behind. You should talk to Ravok. Ensign
Baker gave his life to save him at the Second Battle of Wolf 359. He might
be a good sounding board.”

Ailynn half smiled, but nodded. "That's good to hear. I will."

“Lynn, it was hard, putting you in danger like that. But, if I need to, are
you willing to be placed in danger again?”

She looked at him and for a moment they were kids again, sat in the
treehouse her legs and arms were long and gangly, and her elbows and knees
were skinned. Ailynn found herself smiling "only because I'm the only one
man enough to deal with the Ferplenian separatists while you have juice and
cookies with the Ambassador."

"Diplomacy is more boring"

"Always." She smiled.

"Im being serious here. We'll have some extended leave on DS9. Three or
four days. I can give you longer if you need it."

Shaking her head she drained the fruit juice. "I'll be fine. Just a lot to
come to terms with. As I calm down and come to terms with things I'll be
fine."

"Kind of unfair in a way."

"Oh?"

"Starfleet giving us a ship with like no practical experience."

"Thats a good point well made. If disconcerting."

"But we did it. One mission down. But we need to remember something Ailynn.
This isn't our victory. It's the crews."

"I know, and rightfully so, we have a great crew."

"Failure us on us, on me. But this victory  its theirs. We have a %$!%$#
amazing crew. As Unfair as our being thrown to the wolves may be, we are
blessed indeed."

"We are." She reached across and patted his hand. "Those wolves won't know
what's hit them."

(Reply none)
(Posted by Will and Mark)
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