ILLUMINARRPG: (5 - 0707, 0211, 0710) ACONN Alex Dyson and SO Kelly Long

Sun Oct 2 14:12:43 UTC 2022

Mission: For Honor
Day: 5
Stardate: 2446.04.29 
(USS Illuminar – Deck 3,Dyson’s quarters – ACONN Alex Dyson and SO Kelly Long – 0707)

Kelly was asleep, straggledaround Alex, after an extremely dark night. When she had returned from herexpedition into the ventilation system of the Main Hall, it had beenempty-handed. But that had not be the worst. They had found the body of JoyChinlo. And Kelly had blamed herself for Chinlo’s death. On top of that, it hadturned out that the smell had been caused by the children during their factorybreak-out. This had made Kelly’s guilt even worse. 

Alex had been called in byPetty Officer Pevn, who had spotted Kelly drinking in a Jefferies Tube. The twoof them had managed to separate Kelly from the bottle of Orion Whisky she hadbeen drinking. They had then taken her to Dyson’s quarters to sober up. As herhead had cleared, the dam had broken. She told him about the expedition andlosing Joy. Then she had revealed what her parents had been like and what hernightmare had been about. ~The one she had the first night we met.~ 

He had instantly disliked theLongs. It had also been a harsh reminder of how rubbish a father he was beinghimself. But he had not burdened Kelly with his demons. Instead, he had listenedto her and held her. When she was done, she had burst into tears. Alex had notknown what to say, so he had said nothing. After the tears, Kelly had been soexhausted that she had drifted away into a fitful sleep. She had woken up aftera couple of hours…

(USS Illuminar – Deck 3,Dyson’s quarters – ACONN Alex Dyson and SO Kelly Long – 0211)

Kelly sat on the edge of thebed and stared into the darkness. But she was not seeing the darkness. She wasseeing her parents. She was seeing Joy, covered in blood. They were looking ather with accusing eyes. Then she sensed movement behind her. Alex had woken andwas sitting up. He turned on a single light, then put his arms around her.

“What do you see ?” He asked.

“What ?”

“I’ve stared into the darknesswithout seeing it,” It had been during his early days in the orphanage. He hadbeen processing the death of his parents, which was who had seen. “So…”

“I see my parents and Joy.”

“Joy’s death was not yourfault. Your instincts were right. You thought that there was a threat down inthe ventilation system and there was,” He paused. “You had no way of knowingthey would attack her.”

“But if I hadn’t…”

“Shh…” He put a finger on herlips. “Joy knew the risks when she signed on. And when she went down in thosetubes with you. Whoever killed her was brutal. If she had not separated from thegroup, maybe she would have lived. Or they would have murdered the entiregroup. You did the best you could.”

“It wasn’t enough. She died,Alex !”

“It wasn’t your fault, Kelly.Somebody is playing games down there. Joy became a victim of their machinations,”He kissed her on the cheek. “You’re a good person. And I love you.”

“Even though I can’t have…”

“Kelly, listen to me…I…love…you,”He moved to look at her face-to-face. “You are wonderful. I’m the one with theflaws and demons.”

“But you told me about yoursupfront. I told you about mine after we were together for…ages,” She paused. “Atleast, what passes for ages for me. My previous relationships were…less thensuccessful, Alex.”

“I don’t care. This is aboutyou and me. And I didn’t mind waiting, because you’re worth it.”

The look on his face made itclear that he meant it. So she kissed him and pulled him onto the bed. As theirclothes fell to the floor, the image of her parents dissolved…

(USS Illuminar – Deck 3,Dyson’s quarters – ACONN Alex Dyson and SO Kelly Long – 0710)

After they had finished, Kellyhad fallen asleep again. Alex had turned off the light, leaving him to ponder hisown demons in the dark. His mind had gone to his conversation with LieutenantWeston. ~I need to make a trip to New Romulus.~ But he had decided that itwould have to be off-the-books. He would ask Weston to come along when the timewas right, but he was not going to ask him to arrange for transport. For that,he had decided to ask somebody else. That decision made, he had fallen asleep. 

Until he had woken a couple ofminutes ago. He looked at Kelly and smiled. It was as if a great weight hadbeen lifted from both their hearts. Looking around, he spotted his combadge andmanaged to grab it. The device beeped as he opened a channel.

“Dyson to Vermyx.”

(Reply Vermyx)

“Can you meet me in holodeckone at oh-eight-forty-five ? I have something serious I need your help with.”

(Reply Vermyx, any)

(Posted by Ruben)

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