Unravel

Posted on 19 Jun 2020 @ 1:35am by Lieutenant Commander True Keading

Mission: Mission 4 - Race against the machine
Location: Various Corridors
Timeline: Following "A Nice Family Dinner"
497 words - 1 OF Standard Post Measure

True took a breath and followed her brother through the corridors until she caught up to him.  "So . . . .that was a bit awkward.  When are you going to tell me what's going on?"

"I don't know what you mean.  And I'm really sorry True, I didn't mean to butt in like that.  I know you're your own woman now and can make your own life choices."

"I'm not talking about what happened with Jon," True said gently.  "Vern, you're really upset, what's up?  I don't need to be Betazoid to figure out that my brother is grieving for something."

He glanced at his sister and nearly held back the glare in his eyes. "That's not really any of your business." He said sharply.

"Stop being ridiculous."  True grabbed his hand and made him stop walking. "You don't need to protect me from this.  I know how the real world works, I've lost people too, a lot of people.  You have no idea how that feels, you weren't there."

"I know exactly how it feels!  I ordered her to her death, True.  I sat there in my big chair and told her to go and I knew the risks, I knew she might not come back and I did it anyway because it was for the good of the ship." Vern was standing over True now, several inches taller than her.

"Who?" True whispered.  "Who was she?"

He seemed to slump forward and True wrapped her arms around him. "Lily, Lily Jackson.  She was just this little ball of energy, petite, beautiful and so intelligent I felt like an ape in her presence most of the time.  My science officer." He shook his head. "Mine.  For some inexplicable reason.  She just decided one day that she was going to love me."

True didn't break the hug.  It had been years since she'd held her big brother in that kind of embrace. "I'm so sorry."  She held him without judgement despite knowing that he had not confided in her earlier.  There had always been this wall between them despite her attempts to break it down.

He sighed.  "It's over.  She's gone.  I have to learn to live with it."

"Yes, but you don't have to torture yourself over it.  I'm sure if Lily were here she wouldn't want that. She was a Starfleet Officer and knew the risks Vernon."

He nodded, knowing what his sister said to be true.  It still didn't make him feel any better.  But at least he had moved past being unable to think of anything else. Past being so damaged that it affected his command.  "That's life.  Which is why . . . if you're really happy with Jon, I think you should marry him."

True snorted. "I think I'll decide that for myself thanks.  Come on.  Let's go have a drink."


●● Lieutenant True Keading
Chief Counselor
USS Andromeda


Captain Vernon Keading
Commanding Officer
USS Europa
PNPC by Keading