EXETERRPG: (1 - 0810) FO, Ailynn Bracken/Gabrielle Knight and Ryan Christopher

[Mark Howard]

Mission: Lights, Camera….Action?

Day: 1

Stardate: 2446.01.01/2025.06.30

(Toronto, Canada - Gabrielle Knight’s Apartment  - FO Cmdr Ailynn
Bracken/Gabrielle Knight and Ryan Christopher - 0810)



Ryan Christopher was one of those Canadian actors with a well known face.
That was primarily due to the fact that a large volume of American
television was filmed in Vancouver and Toronto. It was very easy for him
and his brother Nathan to find gigs. Primarily as guest actors on American
TV shows, doing an episode here or there. What he was most well known for
was being one of the hunks regularly used in Hallmark movies. Whether he
was the rich pretentious businessman who needed to learn a lesson, the
simple hunk from back home that gets the city girl to remember her roots,
the secret prince from some generic European country, or the single dad
trying to do right by his kids, he had played them all. He enjoyed it, it
was good work, but the most fulfilling acting experience he had ever had
was playing Kyros Ryelle, a medical officer, both on the Second Pilot mini
series for the new Star Trek series set in the 25th century, and then later
in the first season of Star Trek Exeter. It had a lot of depth to it, the
character wasn’t as predictable or shallow as some of his Hallmark Hunks,
and the scenes and chemistry he had with the series regular he had the most
contact with was so real that they began dating in real life. Plus he found
it fun that both he and his brother Nate, who played Tyko Nix, both died in
the first season of the show.



As he saw Gabrielle fall to the ground, he quickly placed the tray of
coffee cups and the bag of donuts from the nearby Tim Horton’s and ran to
her. He picked her up and placed her on the sofa.



Ailynn slowly came to, finding herself on the luxuriantly comfortable
charcoal grey sofa overlooking the bay. She could hear the man’s voice, his
tone, calm and gentle, his face, handsome, and honest, but worried.



She tried to get up, but immediately regretted it. “Where…?”



“Gabs, you alright? Just because I played the hunky doctor in five
different Hallmark movies, doesn’t mean I’m one in real life.”



Ailynn looked at him, confused. " what's a Hallmark?" She shook her head.
“You are a Doctor. A dead one I admit. Besides. I'm a Doctor too remember?"
She looked at him.



“Did you hit your head? What’s a Hallmark. You know those Hallmark movies
I’ve done helped pay for half this beautiful loft.”



She shook her head, "I remember those movies." She smiled. ~Dale had some
back at Nappa.~



“Second you aren’t a doctor, unless you count your PhD in sexiness.
Seriously, hun, you ok? Do I need to take you the hospital?”



"I'm fine. Just...having a really wierd…" she looked around her. She
realised that her figuring out where she was would be easier with the
stranger's help, she played along, her safety could depend on his good
mood. "If I say something stupid do you promise to take it at face value?"



“Always. You know that.”



"Am I dead? I mean…" she reached out and ran a gentle finger round His
familiar jawline, one that she had been dreaming about for a while now.
"Ryelle? Where am I? I'm...kind of scared."



“Oh are we running lines. For episode 2 of this season. I’m glad I got a
cameo. This is the scene where Ailynn wakes up in the white space right.
Like after praying at the Bajoran temple program, because she was
regretting passing up the Hood.”



Ailynn nodded. She only in part regretted it, but her true views were
exceedingly complex, and she wasn’t precisely sure she understood them all
herself. “The temple program, the crazy AI.” she smiled.



“No Ailynn, you are very much alive. I’m not really here, the prophets are
allowing me to be here. To see you, to comfort you. To let you know you are
on the right path. Don’t worry, your destiny has yet to be revealed. Be
confident, be strong. Goodbye Paladin.” Ryan paused, and then I fade away,
and that’s it. That all I get to be in the episode for. But hey at least I
get to act with you again.



“Act?” One or two things were jumping up and down in her mind, and even her
intellect couldn’t link them. “Ry...For a dead Bajoran you look
awfully...forgive the word...Human? Do I smell coffee? The replicator over
there is broken.”



“Honey, calm down.” Ryan said as he placed his hand on her forehead. “First
off, I hate that makeup. I mean, so many hours in the makeup chair. Look
I’m worried about you.”



“I’m okay...just really weirded out.”



Ryan then put his finger on her neck to check her pulse. “Pulse seems a
little fast. Babe, maybe we should take you to see a doctor. Are you
wearing your smart watch? You should check your heart rate. Maybe you just
have anxiety over season 2 starting tomorrow.”



“My smart…” She saw a clutch bag on the kitchen counter. ~Identification, a
weapon, anything…~ “No...I will though.” She smiled. “Pass me my bag?
Please? And a coffee if one is mine?” she smiled.



Ryan went up and grabbed her coffee and handed it over with her bag. “Just
like you like it, caramel macchiato with whipped cream. It is your cheat
day after all.”



“My cheat day?” ~I want a coffee not a cup of...the frak is this?~ “Of
course. I slept so weird last night. Forget who I am some days.” She
smiled, sipping at the coffee, and despite it being sickeningly sweet, she
was glad of the caffeine and sugar” She then started to open her bag and
pull out a few things.



“ I hope you aren’t having seconds.”



Ailynn looked up, this conversation was hard enough, but there were so many
things that she obviously couldn’t bluff through. “...about?”



“The Make-a-Wish thing this morning. You haven’t forgotten right. That
little girl is excited to meet her hero. Gabrielle Knight, the most badass
woman in sci-fi.”



~Gabrielle Knight. So that’s who he seems to think I am.~ Ailyn shook her
head. “No of course not, I’ll need you to resend me the precise
arrangements though.” she sipped at the coffee once more. It was better on
the second sip. “Ry…?”



“Yes dear?”



The way he looked at her, and doted on her almost held her back, but there
were so many things on her mind. “Where’s Caity?”



“Who? You mean Katie Jenkins, our neighbour. She went to go visit her mom
in Ottawa. I know you guys usually run together. I saw her this morning.
Her mom apparently had a stroke, so she went to go visit and take care of
her. Sudden thing, I wanted to tell you in person.”



~Her mom? Caity hadn’t seen her parents in...How long? Had she? Was their
relationship a lie?~ Ailynn drew breath. “Poor girl...poor mom.” She picked
a pink card out of her purse, with a flag on it that she recognised, and
her own face. “UK Driving Licence. Issued 01-03-2017 Expires 01-03-2027”
Ailynn’s heart sank. She stood up and thrust the card into his hand. “WHAT
YEAR IS IT? WHO THE F&@K IS THAT? AND WHY THE F~£K IS MY HEART ON THE WRONG
SIDE OF MY F&”@£NG CHEST?” she grabbed his hand and placed it on the left
side.



“Ok, now I’m really worried. Or this is just some weird, not funny prank.
Honey, it is 2025, that is your driver’s license. Gabrielle Knight. That’s
you. And your heart is on the left side of your chest, because that’s where
hearts go.”



“I am Ailynn Bracken, Commander on the USS Exeter. Doctor. Fellow of the
Denobulan College of surgery. The year is 2445...well 2446.”



“Oh, so we’re doing roleplay this morning. I mean, I knew you liked the
Ailynn lives out her fantasy of sleeping with Ryelle, but honey we did that
two nights ago. Remember. Plus it’s early and you now have coffee breath.”



Ailynn wasn’t sure if her temper should go up or down, so since she had a
choice decided it should probably go down. “I am having the weirdest
morning. I swear.” She said, drinking her coffee.



Ryan went and took hold of her hand and brought her down gently to the
couch and sat down next to her. He held her hand firmly, looked her deep in
the eyes, and gave her the most trusting smile in the history of smiles.



“Hey it’s ok. Look I know things have been rough lately. We just moved in
together a few months ago, you’re transitioning into making Toronto your
permanent home. You haven’t seen your mom in forever. I know it's hard, and
stressful, and things may seem off or weird. But that's ok. It's ok.
Whatever is making you feel uneasy, we’ll work through it together. You
know I have your back. Always. Look, I’ll go with you to the make-a-wish
thing. Make sure you’re ok. It’s all gonna be fine. I know….I know this
life, our life, your life isn’t easy. But Gabby, I am here for you. Always,
my life is yours.”



Ailynn nodded. Glad of his gentle, understanding manner. She pulled another
object out of her bag, it looked like an ancient communication device,
she’d seen in museums. ‘Samsung’ was printed on the back.



[fingerprint not recognised]



“What?”



“You need to wiggle it a bit, those things are pain, that is why I stick to
the pin option.”



She moved her thumb as he showed. “Damn thing I can never get this first
time.” A bunch of reminders and notifications ran across the screen.
‘Make-a-wish’ was one of the first. She looked up at his worried face as
she fiddled. “Ry…?”



“Yeah babe?”



“Thank you. I’ll be okay...I just…” she shrugged, “Woke up on the wrong
side today I guess. Coffee’s great, but I think I need a new cheat day
item.” She smiled.



“Well I brought donuts.”



Ailynn smiled. “Sounds great.”



“I got you a double chocolate fudge and a maple dip.”



“Go cheat days.” Ailynn said as she scanned the notifications. Her kean
eyes gleaned a lot of information off the screen.



“I had gotten you a Boston Cream, but I ate it in the car. I was hungry.
Will you forgive me?”



“Of course.” She said. “This is more than enough for me.” She bit the
donut, it was sweeter than she’d have chosen, but she was glad for the pick
me up. “So...Make-a-life at 10:30, studio after lunch?”



“Make-a-wish, and Yeah, and you are meeting Tristan sometime this
afternoon. I think the studio is mad at him for leaking he might be done
after this season to go play Captain Britain on a new Marvel show. Really,
an American playing Captain Britain? I guess it’s revenge for Batman and
Superman being played by Brits. Rumor has it though, he is signing today
for season 3 and they’re gonna delay start of season 3 until he’s done with
the MCU project.”



None of the conversation made sense, but Ailynn filed each bit of
information away. “Please.” She said dismissively. “There’s more chance of
me making it as a...model than that happening. Why are there so many
pictures of me about anyway. How self-absorbed am I?”



“Babe, you did make it as a model. Seriously, you ok? The pictures are
there because you like them, you look pretty in them, and they remind you
of a happy memory.”



“Even the nude in the bedroom? Admittedly that is a beautiful picture.” She
shrugged a concession to the point, as she sighed.



“Well the nude was an artistic one. And you put it up for me. You said,
‘Ryan, I swear, I’m just gonna put a nude photo up on the wall you stare at
my boobs there and let me sleep’ Yup direct quote.” Ryan laughed.



“I said that? Go me.”



“No not really, its a classy nude, that has you covering all the bits, done
by a famous Swedish Photographer and it won some award.”



“Ryan?” She filed that away with the other stuff to check when she could
figure out how to find news and things.



“Gabrielle?”



“You’re sweet, and I’m sorry I’m so off this morning. Just on edge, me and
Ailynn overlapping today I guess.” She remembered the picture in the
memento room. “Season one was so...well...I just hope that season two is as
good.”



“That depends on the writers.” He laughed.



“Writers? Well...I’d like to meet them at some point.” she laughed, and
finished her donut. “I don’t mean to be rude, but no more of those...way
too sweet.” she licked her fingers. “Thank you though.”



“I’ll bring bacon and egg biscuits next time. Mind you its the savory North
American biscuit, not your British cookie biscuits.”



Ailynn remembered a very very old argument in her family, though try as she
could she couldn’t remember who it was between. Maybe her Great
Grandparents, Leola and Kingsley Bracken. “Bacon custard creams should
totally be a thing.” she laughed, easing gently into his company.



“Umm there is a place a few blocks from here that has maple bacon donuts.
You want me to get you one of those tomorrow?”



Ailynn shook her head. “Black mirror here says 0500 start tomorrow. We’ll
get one after the Hospital.” She scanned the message as she spoke, she’d
managed to open ‘gmail’ half remembering a lesson on communication history.
She’d always been able to read an entire page of text in almost a glance,
and read as she spoke. “I have an idea, but I’ll need my uniform. The
little girl in there doesn’t want Gabbie, she wants Ailynn.” She smiled.



“Your uniform is at the Studio. Wardrobe is cracking down on thefts. But, I
may have an idea. You did steal the dress you wore for the party in the
season finale. Right before the Borg attacked and you had to kick butt in
it. And we do have a couple misplaced commbadges. Would that work?”



“I have that dress? Wait...I’m...and I hate the word...important yeah?
A...star?”



“I mean not a major Star. Tristan is by far the more popular and famous of
the two. But thats because of Pro Wrestling and what not. But you were a
supermodel, sometime actress, now fulltime actress on a hit tv show. And
you were nominated for an Emmy, for best supporting actress, but lost. So
yeah you’re a star. Google yourself if you get bored. Though, you might be
shocked how many lingerie shoots you did.”



“Lingerie...of course.” she smiled. “Then wardrobe will help, if ask
nicely, if I promise not to steal stuff.” She thought about the other room.
“Any more stuff, especially given what it’s for.”



“Probably.” He smiled.



Ailynn dipped into the bag again, and pulled out a bunch of keys. One of
them, larger than the others and black with a silver emblem of two wings,
with two words emblazoned on them. She remembered being a teenager, with
Trip on his dad’s ranch, they’d driven...whatever it had been for days on
end that summer, and looked at old pictures of cars.

“Do I have a car?”



“Yes. You do. Brand new too. First one you’ve ever owned.”



“Cool.” she smiled looking at the badge on the key.



“Hey babe, I got to go, but call me if you still feel off in a hour ok.”



“I’ll be fine. Like I said...not so much wrong side, but wrong bed.” she
stopped. “Wait...that sounded bad.”



“Not sure why I got so lucky, but, Gabrielle Knight, I love you to bits.”
Ryan then inched closer and moved in for a kiss.



Ailynn’s emotions were all over the place. Caity was her girlfriend, her
love, her forever; but the man in front of her fired so much within her. He
had literally given his life for her own, and that sacrifice had weighed
heavy on every night’s slumber ever since. Trip had been correct, she
needed counselling, and her feelings now were testament to that. As Ryan
leaned forward Ailynn didn’t flinch, she felt safe, comforted almost by his
mere presence. She didn’t meet the kiss precisely on the lips, but there
was a part of her heart, on whatever side of her it was, that jumped when
he kissed her cheek.



“Take care.”



(Reply none)

(Posted by Mark and Will)
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