Don’t shoot the messenger

Posted on 16 Jun 2021 @ 12:22am by Captain Melody Jones (Commanding Officer) & Commander Amelia Fox & Lieutenant Syvar MD
Edited on on 20 Oct 2021 @ 10:52am

Mission: Patching up the Copernicus
Location: Amelia and Syvar’s quarters
Timeline: MD2 1030
1107 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Amelia was laid back, reading aloud to her bump on the sofa, one hand holding the book, one hand gently stroking her belly where now and then, the small lump of a foot, or a hand or a head would appear.

“She likes when I read to her, come feel.” She called out to Syvar.

"I still wonder how you know it is a girl, when we had the doctor hide it on the scans," Syvar mused as he moved to join her on the sofa.

Suddenly, the comm system beeped. “Commander Fox. You’ve got a subspace message coming in from Captain Jones on the Merlin.”

Amelia brightened up and replied “patch her through.”

On the wall, the large monitor came to life with Melody, in her quarters sat on a similar sofa, the hint of a bump starting to show though her uniform. “Amelia! It’s good to see you. Boy, you’re getting big. How long now till blast off?”

“Another 3 or 4 months.” Amelia replied looking at her friend suspiciously.

“And how are you Syvar? Looking after Amelia?”

"Of course," the young man answered, almost defensively, "she is doing very well though not taking as much rest as I want her to take."

Melody chuckled. “That does not surprise me one bit. She always pushes herself too hard. At the Academy she always stayed up revising for finals.”

Amelia who had been scrutinising the image, piped up “So when are you due?”

The question was offered so casually that Melody responded without thinking “I’m a couple of months behind you…..” she suddenly realised and wagged a finger at her. “You could always read me like a book. How could you tell.”

Amelia raised an eyebrow “You always have your uniform cut on the snug side, you always thought it shows off your curves better… Well, your bump is showing.” Amelia frowned “A few months behind and your that size already?”

Melody nodded sheepishly. “Twins.”

Amelia gave Syvar’s hand a squeeze and whispered to him “I thought I was going to get big. She’s going to get Huge!”

From the viewer, Melody said “I heard that!” And laughed.

“And how’s Sansa taking this?” Amelia asked.

“She’s overjoyed. Looking forward to it but I’m afraid that’s not why I called.” The humour left Melody’s face “It’s about Mirror Fox.” She took a breath before continuing “She’s alive!”

Syvar's face drained of all colour as the words sank in. "No," he whispered, shaking his head as he felt utterly numb. "That's not possible, she was killed in a shuttle explosion. There was nothing left."

Amelia was still holding Syvar’s hand but was starting to grip tighter, the colour was draining from her face, her mouth was dry. “Melody! Tell me she’s in your brig!”

Melody shook her head sadly “I don’t know how she did it but she survived the shuttle explosion. She then put together a rag tag bunch of Mercenaries and infected the Federation colony on Ceti Beat 4 with some kind of ancient disease. They also launched an attack on the Merlin, kidnapping me in the process. She then sold out her hired goons for whatever latinim she could get her hands on, and escaped.”

Amelia was not on the edge of her seat, still holding onto Syvar. Her knuckles were now turning white. “Melody are you…?”

Melody held up her hand “I’m fine, they just held me in the dank cave for a night before the marines tracked me down. Our doctor is still analysing this disease but she managed to find a cure.”

Melody shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Amelia looked at her for a beat. “There’s more, isn’t there?”

Melody sighed. “I read your report from when she was onboard the Merlin. How…. How she extracted the DNA of one of your crew and impregnated herself with it and also….. assaulted other crew members.” She glanced at Syvar.

Syvar said nothing, just looking utterly miserable at her words.

Melody shifted uncomfortably again. “While she was on the planet she was examined by our doctor and she became quite agitated when she scanned the baby. To the point where she threatened to kill our Doctor. She expected the baby to be half Trill.”

Amelia frowned, almost afraid to ask “It’s not? Then what is it?”

Melody took a breath. “It’s half Vulcan.” Melody was one of the few people who fully realised the implications of this.
“I thought you should hear it from me. We’ll get her Amelia. I promise you, we’ll get her. I’ve got some short leave coming. Let’s meet up?”

Amelia nodded. “Yeah. Sounds good.” She paused. “Thanks for letting us know.”

Melody smiled at them. “It’s the least I could do. I’ll give you some privacy. Jones out.

Amelia looked at the blank screen for a moment before turning to Syvar “Are you ok?”

"No, I'm not," Syvar answered numbly. "I got assaulted, and now a baby is the result. She's got what she wanted, even not quite so. But..." he looked up at her, casting her a pleading look even though his green eyes smouldered with reigned in anger. "We can't have her keep it...if it is mine, I want it here, with us. Safe... Please Amelia, we need to save that child."

Of course he’s not alright! Amelia thought to herself. She gently freed her hand and wrapped both her arms around him, as if trying to take his pain away from him. She could see and feel his pain and anguish, radiating off him in waves. She leant in and kissed him, then whispered in his ear. “I’m here with you. I’m here for you. Always. No matter what. Whatever it takes. I Love you and will always love you. Our babies will be safe. You have my word.”

Our babies. The words barely registered but it made him feel better. "Thank you," he whispered gratefully, "I still don't know what I have done to deserve you..." It was still a whirlwind to him. The abuse and humiliation afflicted by her mirror counterpart, his strange compelling feeling to be with her, and then the real one all but saving him.

Amelia continued to hold him to her, gently stroking his hair, thinking. She had an innocent life to save, and she would probably need Melody's help.

OFF:

Captain Melody Jones
CO
USS Merlin

Commander Amelia Fox
XO
USS Andromeda

Ensign Syvar
Medical Officer
USS Andromeda