Shadows of Dusk

Posted on Sun Mar 1st, 2020 @ 10:21pm by Captain Tienn Ezas & Commander Tienn Iteela & Lieutenant Colonel Tienn Nerra & Director Tienn Gyce

Mission: Mission 36: The Crusade Against the Infidels
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1900Hrs - July 3rd, 2391

Tienn Iteela had just been returned to her cell after the Captain's mast finished not fifteen minutes ago. Ensign Tienn Iteela was sitting on the bench as she regarded the PADD in her hands before she rose to her feet. "Guard?"

Crewman John McDougal came over. "Yes Ensign?"

"May I have a large book, about five hundred pages of blank text....I'd like to write something."

"Whats wrong with the PADD?"

"I'm Sorry Crewman, I've always preferred the old approach. Also can I have a dozen pens.."

"Sure." and with that he went off to fulfill her request, now six hours later she was sitting as she wrote in her new book as she hummed a soft tune, she missed the fact she had a visitor.

For many days, Gyce would sit outside in the floor, rubbing her throbbing leg and guard Tienn. Not because her girlfriend needed a protector, as there were a few brutes blocking the entrance already.

No, she did so because she wanted for many nights, to talk to Tienn. But words never came, for she was severely disgusted with the events that transpired.

"Are you OK?" Gyce finally asked out of true concern.

"Out there... I had plenty of distractions from seeing what was truly important." she responded. "Regardless if anyone gets me off.... I still hit her... I still hurt her... I still caused her pain..." she said softly. "I am guilty as sin..." as she regarded Gyce. "Why... do you remain here?" there was no malice in her question, just curiosity.

"Because I adore you, Iteela." Gyce's eyes watered. "I only ever wanted to show you a life without hate. And I still would like to do that."

Iteela stopped, she had never known how the other woman felt as she lowered her head before she sniffed. "I... never knew.." she admitted as she wiped her face, while she wept.

"Saki pointed out that I like you, actually." Gyce smiled at that memory. "...I just killed so much in the Occupation that I felt I had no right to ask to hold your hand or kiss your cheek."

Tienn sighed. "I feel.... so angry .... all the time..." she admitted. "I feel a certain... comfort... and I know I shouldn't.." she gently placed a hand on her book. "I started writing... my life story... its all in here... everything... Ezas and what she went through, my first kill.... all of it."

"When you kill, you never go back. But you can choose not to let the darkness in if you really want peace," Gyce tried to tell her younger counterpart.

"I hate Cardassians... for what they did to my sister.... my mother... and what they did to me." she whispered the last, not raising her voice at all as she sighed. "I... have hated and I've never been able to let go... I don't know how..."

"You have to accept that you can't change what has happened and think about how your family would want you to live now," Gyce spoke solemnly. "My folks were a simple people. Non violent, until we joined the fight. But they fought to get our land back, not to wipe out any grey-skinned lizard. And I live now knowing the Cardassian Military are the enemy."

Tienn nodded. "My folks were priests." she responded softly. "my brothers are all priests today.... my sisters all went off into Starfleet.... Tienn Ezas and Tienn Nerra are both here, as part of the battlegroup..."

The door opened and in walked a taller Bajoran woman. "Iteela." she said softly with a smile. "Its good to see you."

"Ezas... What are you doing here?"

"Visiting you. I asked the guards nicely.... you have such interesting servants..."

Iteela smiled. "Ezas... meet Gyce... My girlfriend."

Ezas turned to the shorter woman nearby, her smile widened when she realized the other woman was Bajoran. "Greetings Gyce."

"Joi Ezas," Gyce greeted in Bajoran. Then she looked to Iteela. "I been looking at this case, My Dear. And if you plead Not Guilty via Diminished Capacity, and proved it was due to an unknown, forced drugging, you'll be cleared of all wrong doing."

"But I remember everything... I was the one who did it." Iteela responded quietly. "I'm as guilty as sin.... nothing will ever change that."

"Are you so sure of that?" Ezas inquired. "Well Iteela, some of us are not so eager to fall upon our swords..." as she produced a PADD. "Your Lieutenant Sheridan was most helpful." a soft smile graced the larger Bajoran woman's lips. "He allowed me access to the surveillance records... for what you were doing that morning and since my medical staff are highly skilled. I decided to look into the matter.."

Iteela regarded her sibling. "Its too late... its not admissible."

Ezas waved her hand, consigning Iteela's words to the dustbin of history. "Nonsense." she responded as she produced a PADD. "Lieutenant. I found this.... you two were at breakfast and someone slipped something into your drink" she indicated Iteela. "But I suspect that you... were in fact the real target." as she regarded Gyce. "You are well known for your stance on drugs and by discrediting you, they would remove you as a threat." Ezas handed the PADD to the smaller Bajoran woman before her. "Iteela chose well."

Iteela blushed a dark brown before she stood up, speechless. "Wait...because we both were threats..."

"Yes, Iteela... you were a threat simply because of your determination to run the bastards to ground... and now that you have been effectively caged, you are both out of the way..."

Iteela's eyes widened. "Oh no." she whispered. "The OD case.."

"I have been paying attention to events taking place aboard the USS Roanoke for the last while now. So has Nerra and we are both greatly concerned about the drugs situation." Ezas explained. "However... I have requested the assistance of the Avalon and her personnel should they become needed. Captain Neban Hular is ready to assist should you wish it." her smile widened.

"That's because he's your husband." Iteela sighed.

"Yep." Ezas responded bluntly. "I asked him nicely and he said he would assist, he simply wants to know how many people you need and how you want them utilized." she said to Gyce.

"If I find I need more eyes, I will call upon you," Gyce promised. "This Sullivan case has many interesting turns that I cannot talk about it."

"I understand." Ezas responded. "But I was also not clear enough... My Captain is willing to provide more people to augment your security staff should you desire it." she explained. "I want to see her freed... I have not seen my siblings in too long.."

Just then the door opened. "Ahh... the three of us... together again." the third Tienn walked into the room. "Hey Iteela.. Ezas." she smiled.

"Nerra... meet Gyce." Iteela introduced the two women. "My girlfriend."

Nerra turned to Gyce as she greeted her in Bajoran. "Joi Gyce."

"I used to build cases for the prosecution... They will hit hard on the facts," Gyce spoke as she regarded Iteela's twin. "Not really a way to refute their evidence. Only thing you can do is prove Iteela didn't premeditate the events. Which that feed should do. Plus, a K3 indicator test would not be balked at either."

Nerra and Ezas shared a look, the two looked almost alike aside from their size differences.

"Truth detectors are far more accurate that Earth's ancient history," Gyce assured the both of them.

"We're Bajorans... we really know what Ancient is... humans are one of the younger races." Nerra responded. "we're old."

"Not old enough to think that we're superior to them. They accomplished in a century what we did in ten centuries." Iteela responded quietly.

"Iteela..." Gyce sighed with sadness in her eyes. "This isn't your fault. You have to believe that."

"Are you sure?" Iteela responded. "I'm in here... aren't I?" she indicated the cell. "you don't think I'm guilty or what I did...nobody else agrees with you."

"You were drugged," Gyce tried to console. "Tell me... did you truly hate her before that fight?"

"No.." Iteela answered. "I thought of her... as a colleague, maybe a friend... I didn't know her that well." she said quietly. "Now... she despises me."

"Then there you go... You aren't a monster, and you don't need to be in here," Gyce spoke very positively. "As soon as we prove the drugs weren't knowingly taken, you'll be off the hook."

Nerra raised an eyebrow as Ezas regarded Gyce. "Off the hook.." Iteela said quietly. "Maybe with you and some.... but not with me.."

Ezas slowly smiled, she didn't often get to see this side of her sibling.

"That's great news Iteela." Nerrra said. "Then you can get out of here and go back to living your life."

"I have to face responsibility for what happened Nerra." Iteela responded. "regardless of whether or not I am guilty."

"Kosst..." Gyce swore in her native tongue. "Why in the name of The Prophets do you have to be so hard on yourself? You deserve a break. To laugh, to know what true joi is."

Nerra chuckled softly. "Iteela has always been this way..." she paused. "In any case... I'd best get going... Iteela. we'll see you out soon." as she made her farewells and then she departed.

Ezas raised an eyebrow. "You'd think with the way things have gone down. I'd be the rage case and she'd be the happy one." she then smiled. "You honestly would have better luck taking her to bed to get her to lighten up."

Iteela paused as she looked at her older sibling. "Ezas. Why does everything need to be about sex with you."

Ezas smiled. "Because its my best outlet." then her smile faded. "When was the last time you meditated... or prayed...?"

"Too long ago and never.. to answer your questions in that order.." Iteela responded. "I've never known what faith is.."

"I shall pray for you then," Gyce insisted. "So that you'd regain all your wits back."

Iteela slowly blinked her eyes as she looked at Gyce. "Are you saying that I am insane?"

"With the logic you're working with at the moment, yeah," Gyce admitted with exasperation.

Iteela raised an eyebrow. "Then... what would you have me do?" she inquired. "I am still confined in a gilded cage."

"Fight for yourself," Gyce spoke vehemently. "Accept what you did, but strive to be better."

"I am Gyce." Iteela responded as she gently tapped the large tome next to her. "That is what this is for... to allow me to express myself and write down about my experiences so I can come back to it later and reflect on whats happened... so I can learn from it."

"Anything I can get for you?" Gyce asked after she soaked in Iteela's admission.

"Just a glass of water." Iteela responded quietly. "How long will I remain in here before the powers that be decide what to do with me?"

"Maybe a day, if we can get Tane to view the evidence," Gyce informed hopefully. "Then you and I are going on a date, and I don't intend to let you leave my bed until morning."

Ezas chuckled softly. "Iteela, I think you are now spoken for.."

Iteela slowly grinned at Gyce. "Well you know what they say....Be careful what you wish for... you may get it.."