EXETERRPG: (2 - 1950) FO Cmdr Ailynn Bracken and PO2 Sytuk

[Mark Howard]

NRPG: can I encourage everyone to do this more - just find a buddy(s) and
start writing a...I dunno...a life for them. Now, Here, Ailynn has been on
a mission with Sytuk, but also has the benefit of Ash being friends from
Mars with him, but after your characters have done this a couple of times
with others, a character becomes so much richer. Apologies for preaching to
the choir, but please please please don't feel that even at this late
stage, so long as it doesn't 'get in the way', then there's room for a
'dammit I'm tired' JP with A.N.Other. remember, you friendly neighbourhood
COmmand Staff and/or Dept heads are always available. remember...have fun
kids.


Mission: Murder on the Exeter Express

Day: 2

Stardate: 2445.12.02



(USS Exeter - Turbolift - FO Cmdr Ailynn Bracken and PO 2 Sytuk - 1950)



Ailynn had left the Ready Room, and by extension the bridge, a short while
ago, and despite her body, her mind telling her she was utterly exhausted,
she dug deep into her reserves and ploughed forward, carrying on. The lift
stopped, and the doors opened, Petty Officer Sytuk stepping in respectfully.



" Sir." He said simply with a nod of his head " Deck 9 " He commanded the
turbolift



“Petty Officer,” Absent-mindedly she clapped him on the shoulder, “Been a
good few days. How are you doing?” The tiredness that Ailynn felt bypassing
once more her sensibilities.



When she clapped him on the shoulder he felt a rush of feelings and
thoughts that were not his. They were blurred together no one thing
standing out in particular except an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion.
The sensation made him tense up slightly as though he himself were
stressed. Yet there was something lingering that he couldn't put his finger
on. A strong emotion unlike anything he had ever felt. " Im fine Sir." He
said pausing and looking at her. " You?"



Ailynn smiled, nodding. “Tired,” she smiled deeply, happy to have been
asked, “but...uneasy lies the head…” She sighed slightly, seeking a means
of distraction. “Mind if we chat? I forget if I thanked you...personally I
mean, you had our back on the asteroid.”

Sytuk was not wanting to mention the odd and nearly impossible circumstance
of being able to sense her feelings. He knew he felt them on the asteroid
base and it just happened again. This was new to him.

" There is no need to thank me Sir. I had my orders and I followed them. I
should really be the one thanking you. You lead us. Your decisions kept us
alive. "



Ailynn’s heart swelled, “Well...I’m honoured for the thanks, but it was you
that had my useless arse, if I had to save you we’d still be stuck there
right?” she winked, then sighed. “Dammit, that might not have translated.”
she smiled again. Ailynn was genuinely deeply deeply fond of the Reman
crewman, his devotion to the uniform, and his general...well...humanity,
would put a lot of others to shame.

" Sarcasm is not lost on me. Sarcasm and playful jabs at a person are
common among mercenaries. "  He said as the doors opened to Deck 9

He started to exit, but stopped. He stood in the way of the door blocking
it from closing. " Sir. I understand it is sometimes customary for people
to share drinks after a mission. I know the away mission was months ago,
but if duty permits you. Would you allow me to get you a drink?"  He asked.
Not  knowing if it was appropriate.



Ailynn smiled gently. “I’d like that Sytuk…can't at the moment however.”
She paused. Her protective nature toward those under her coming to the fore
once more. “but, from where I’m from, kinda makes it my shout.” she winked
playfully, the crevasse of rank between them disappearing. Ailynn relaxed a
little, for the first time that afternoon.

He walked towards the Nine and Dine, but suddenly stopped remembering the
events of the day. More particularity Caity Dubois.

" Is Ms. Dubois currently working ?" He asked.

Without thinking, Ailynn rested her hand on Sytuk’s arm. “She is, which…”



He unintentionally pulled away from her slightly. He wasn't used to people
touching him.



Realising her error, AIlynn made her grieve apologies. “Your pardon.” She
said more formally that she would have expected. “If you happen to go that
way, please pass my…” she wanted so deeply to say the word the most single
word in the English language. “Please if you see her…” her mouth ran dry,
and her heart swelled to explosion. Upon seeing the door still open she
made her exit, gently resting her hand so very briefly on her part by
affection, in his…

He felt it again. This time the feeling wasn't blurred, it was clear. More
clear than anything could ever possibly be. He didn't know the feeling but
he felt her understanding of it. " Your...Love?"  He asked quietly as he
looked down.

Quietly she nodded. "You felt that?"

" I'm sorry I shouldn't have. I don't know what is happening to me lately.
" He responded.

"Not sure I understand." Ailynn looked puzzled at him.

He looked over at the Nine and Dine.

 " When I paint I feel a sense of calm that I have never felt before. " He
looked to commander Bracken. " I don't know how  but when you touched me. I
felt your feelings for her and... your feelings for someone else, but it's
like you're hiding that person.  It's hard to explain. " He exclaimed with
frustration. Words and feelings swirled around in his mind. None of them
making sense to him.

"I shouldn't have touched you, that was a force of habit and very rude of
me. However," she half smiled, "if it's any constellation Human feelings or
Bajoran feelings or whatever, don't make much more sense to us. As to
Caity, that is still early days, and the rest of my feelings are things I
keep close to me, people, colleagues and friends all figure highly to me."

He looked at his hands and chuckled a bit . " You know , I've used these
hands to share my feelings with others. My rage and pain, but on starbase
freedom I used that same ability to convey positivity when I volunteered at
the youth development center to help children find their artistic side. "
He said, closing his fingers forming fist. " Those positive connections
were the most intense things I had ever felt. Until I now. " He looked her
in the eyes.

 " Feeling what others feel is indescribable. It's very confusing to be
honest "

"Not going to lie, I'm surprised I didn't blind you with my assorted
insecurities and neuroses." She smiled once more.

He laughed slightly and shook his head.

" I didn't feel any insecurities. I felt confidence ,more confidence than I
have ever had myself and sheer unrestrained determination. It is almost
like there isn't anything you would allow to stop you from doing anything
and everything for those you care about."

Ailynn blushed, and nodded. "Fair point." It had been difficult for her to
admit, but she had grown up a lot in the last year, and she had to admit
that his assessment of her was probably better than her own of herself.

" Perhaps I am reaching a new stage in telepathic development. Although it
could be.." He stopped and laughed." No it couldn't be that." He shook his
head.



Ailynn frowned. "I'm not exactly with you." She admitted.

He looked around thinking of how to word his response. " I met an empath
once who told me intelligent minds are easier to reach, but way more
messy."

Laughing warmly Ailynn smiled. "Now you sound like my mother complaining
about my bedroom. 'Your a clever girl Ailynn but you're a messy cow.' " she
imitated her mothers tone and cadence of voice. "So why would intelligent
minds be easier?" She was genuinely interested.

Without thinking he led her to a table away from the Nine and Dine and sat
down.

" I guess it's like a noisy room behind a closed door. If two people are in
the room having a conversation it would be hard to hear them, but if 10
people were in the same room arguing and trying to over talk each other you
could hear them from the other side of the door. You might not be able to
focus on all the details, but certain words or phrases might stick out. I
assume intelligent people have alot going on in their heads." Sytuk
explained.

Ailynn smiled gently as he spoke, then turned to a waitress who had
appeared. “Just an orange juice, and…” her tiredness showed. “What’s that
spicy beef…? Pastrami...on rye please, mature cheddar and dill pickles, and
whatever my friend is having; on my tab, thank you Addison.” She smiled
thanks, remembering the waitresses name from the Starlight lounge, and then
turned back. “It’s like you can see in my head...which I appreciate you
kind of just did and it’s my fault.”



" I don't want anything, Thank you Sir."  He replied and looked at the
waitress, shaking his head. He was hungry but wasn't to adamant about
eating in front of other people.

“I have a jumble of thoughts.” She laughed gently. “Sometimes I can even
get them to think in the same direction.” She chuckled to herself. “So
without breaking confidences, what’s the gossip?”

" I am not one for rumors or gossip, but my ears work very well and from
what I hear among the crew is that you are sharper than raw dilithium from
the Caerulum mines." Sytuk remarked.

Ailynn smiled. “I have my moments of genius, but only because I’m
surrounded by people who know me, and put up with my many many many
faults.” She winked. “Like yourself. I always forget not to give you the
friendly clap on the shoulder than I’m used to, other times, with you, and
other people you give me, or the other Officers the right information, or
the right insights that we can do our jobs properly. You guys are the
geniuses. I’m...I’m just the dumbass who gets yelled at by the Admiralty
first. My mother included. Can you imagine?” she nodded a smiled at the
waitress and took a bite of her sandwich. “Amazing, thank you.”

He looked down as she took a bite of her sandwich. " It must be hard having
parents being above you at home and in your career. " Sytuk said as he
stared off out the window closing his eyes briefly thinking about his own.

She swallowed delicately before she spoke. She felt bad about eating in
front of others when they weren’t, but had had to eat anyway. Dabbing her
mouth with a tissue she spoke. “It did, back in the first year. I loaded
myself so heavy to keep up my family name, to keep up with them; that...I
made a lot of bad choices and it came horribly close to killing me. Now
though?” She smiled. “I don’t need that comparison. I have my own path, I
know I have the strength of being and strength of…” she motioned to Sytuk,
“Of friends and colleagues that I can weave my own story, if my family
don’t like it...well. If I fail...dammit I failed my own way.” She smiled.
“So...tell me about you, and don’t you dare be modest to me Mr Sytuk. I
know what Ashlyn tells me from back on Mars. She adores you...won’t have a
single word said against you.”



He laughed a bit. " My story isn't the greatest. I was orphaned at the age
of 3. I escaped and went out on my own at 14. Joined a group of
mercenaries. When they died I joined another, when the next group died I
joined another. Then I found work here in starfleet. The situation on mars
needed civilian contractors to assist in security. Ash convinced me to
enlist and here I am. " He said shrugging his shoulders.

Ailynn nodded, saying nothing but knowing that he’d skated over a lot of
things, a missing girl case on Mars to say the least.



" I never met my mother. She died long before I was free. I met my father
though. He was a illegal arms dealer in the beta quadrant. He's dead now as
well, he was killed 8 years ago. " Sytuk said with a slight tone of sadness
in his voice.

Ailynn sighed. “I’m sorry, truly.” She drew breath, pushing her food aside,
no longer having the stomach for it. “I never knew my father. He died when
mum was barely 4 weeks pregnant, maybe not even that, I…” she swallowed so
much back into herself.

He noticed her sudden pause and looked At her. " Are you ok ?"

“I was always jealous of those kids at Dad’s day at school.” She slammed
the door back on all the sorrow that she still carried. Hiding with a smile.

" Well if it makes you feel any better, at least you didn't kill your
father. " He said to her admitting something that he had never told anyone
before.

She wanted to reply by opening up to him, to let him see her each and every
fault, she wasn’t however, a tenth as strong as Sytuk seemed to be.

She backed down and swallowed every single atom of pain once more. Hoping
that all her shame never came out.

“I can’t begin to understand what you’ve gone through, any pain is all in
the past.”

" The choices I made are mine. I have taken lives because it was my job,
but my past doesn't define who I am becoming. Saving a life is far more
rewarding, my pain no longer defines who I am or what I do. I am not free
yet, but everyday I get a little closer."  Sytuk remarked with a half smile.

“I see why my Aunt likes you.” Ailynn smiled, still burying her own shame.
“You’re a good soul, mistakes? Sure, but that girl wouldn’t be back with
her family but for you from what I hear.” She raised an eyebrow.

" If it wasn't for your aunts persistence and attention to detail. We would
have never found the girl at all. The only part I played was making sure no
one harmed the good people involved. Like your aunt." Sytuk said, nodding
his head.

Ailynn smiled. Humbled by Sytuk’s gentle, generous nature.

" It's getting late Commander and there is still a murderer on the loose .
Perhaps you should try to rest. We need our First Officer at her best." He
said smiling.

“I have a whole lot to do yet Sytuk.” The waitress had managed to pre-empt
her and wrapped the rest of the sandwich to-go. “However, promise me you’ll
never lose that good heart of yours.”

He stood up. " I am not one for disappointing my superiors" He leaned down
slightly. " Or my friends" He said to her implying that he saw her as a
friend and not some officer.

Ailynn smiled deeply, honored at the word. “Take care Mr. Sytuk.” her smile
reached her eyes, “take care.”



Ailynn nodded, and smiling a goodbye happen to brush past Sytuk’s shoulder
with her own, tiredness still a factor, as she left, Ailynn herself didn’t
notice the contact.



He looked at her wanting to help her in some way. He felt her regret and
her shame, but decided to leave. He could tell she was struggling. He
didn't need his empathic abilities to sense that.

" Good night Sir." He said taking his leave heading towards the holodeck.



( reply None)

( posted by mark and Rob- spc Sytuk)
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