Stormstout

Posted on Mon Mar 2nd, 2020 @ 2:31am by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky & Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi & Company Sergeant Major Jeffery "The Mountain" Duval

Mission: Mission 39: By Fire be Purged
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1800Hrs - August 1st, 2391

Music soundtrack: Why do we fight - Mists of Pandaria, World of Warcraft.

Senior Flight Captain Tom Lasky was sitting in the lounge with a glass of water as Duval who had taken a break from the chaos in the sickbay. "Help me with this Fives.."

"Its Tom now... I should stop hiding from my humanity when others are fighting for theirs."

"Because you lost your way?" Duval inquired with a soft smile. "It takes a hero to find their courage in dark places Tom... While others fled... you chose to run in harms way and that..... is worthy of my respect... you helped save a lot of lives today... While that does not cancel your misdeeds... it does atone for them..."

"I appreciate you saying that big guy.... still I feel so..."

"Guilty that you lived through it and came out with only shrapnel wounds to your arms along with minor burns.."

Fives chucked softly as he regarded his arms which had been bandaged up. "I told Elizabeth just to have an orderly wrap my arms up... I'll let myself heal the old fashioned way... It's the best approach in my case... since so many are fighting for their lives... The least I could do is let the medics tend to the hard cases.."

"Your kin would be proud of you." Duval gently placed his massive hand on Lasky's shoulder as the door opened and in walked Commander Torilla Yamaguchi. She looked half past dead as she regarded Lasky but she didn't say anything.

"There will be no violence here." Duval growled. "I mean it Commander... I know what he did to you."

"I'm not here for vengeance. I don't have the strength to fight..." and with that she gently grasped Lasky before she pulled him to her, and with that she kissed him on the lips, this was not the average kiss as this was a full on passionate liplock.

Lasky simply enjoyed it, rather then fight with her as she pulled away moments later. "I'm Sorry Tom..."

"So am I." Lasky responded. "I almost killed you... in my rage... I can never atone for this."

"But you did... by saving lives Tom, you went into a burning building knowing you could get yourself killed."

"I did only what I had to do.."

Duval regarded Torilla as he let out a soft sigh. "Commander, you confuse me."

"Good... every once in a while... declare peace... It confuses people."

"Consider me confused..." Lasky responded quietly.

"Its been six hours since the explosion.." Yamaguchi sighed. "I feel like I've been at this for weeks.." she paused. "I sent Commander Wintersnow back to her assignment since I'm needed here.."

"Fair enough. Moved back into your quarters yet?"

"I just brought with me only the essentials... I left most of my stuff on the Dreamcrusher... stuff.. like Jake, the twins and the cats... I miss my kitties.." she sighed softly.

"Fair enough.... Well I'd best head on down to sickbay... Jeff.. let me help with those.." Lasky said quietly, moments later the two just walked out of the lounge and as the doors closed. Zara Tane came in through the other side as Torilla hefted a bottle of gatorade. "Its happy hours... because... I'm going to be happy..even if it kills me.." Torilla muttered before peeling off the top and downing half the bottle in one swig. "Ahh.... FOR KHAZ MODAN!!!!" Yamaguchi screamed at the top of her lungs

"OK then..." Zara shook her head in confusion and walked out of the lounge just as quickly.

Yamaguchi raised the bottle to her lips before she downed the entire bottle in one go. "I will... remain happy.." she whispered to herself as she turned and shot out the door, leaving the bottle behind.

Yamaguchi turned right and went done the hall after Zara Tane. "I'll be okay.." she repeated to herself softly, before she caught up to Zara. "You worry too much about my mental health.... I'm not suffering from insanity.." she paused. "I enjoy it."

Zara nodded and tried to form words, but she got a bit nervous and stopped. After she took a deep breath, Zara said, "I'm sorry for the things I said to you."

"So am I." Torilla answered, her hands shook as she blinked twice. "I'm gonna be alright.... I'm gonna be okay." she muttered quietly. "I have two children in that mess..." before she shivered, despite it being quite warm in the room. "Where are you heading?"

"Was trying to find Tom," Zara admitted sheepishly. "Figured I could use a good smile from him after touring what's left of the neck to the pod."

Yamaguchi considered it. "If I had to guess... I'd say he was in sickbay... visiting the wounded and seeing to the.. dead." she paused. "I'm not going down there just yet.... I.. I can't.."

"Phoenix saved Rachael," Zara spoke reverently, for the many dead and wounded tore greatly at her heartstrings. "For once, a tragedy occurred where your children were not seriously harmed... That's a good day."

Torilla peered down at the smaller woman. "I wasn't sure.... I mean I didn't want to know yet... my kids are so young and they've already seen and been through so much..."

"They got you and Jake to come to," Zara spoke with envy. "I killed my dad in self-defense and my mother, at the time, didn't want me because of how destructive I used to be... What I'd give to of had great parents like you guys."

"You are stronger then you look Zara. Stronger then you give yourself credit for..." Torilla responded. "Jake and I planned ahead.. most however never do plan ahead in regards to their children." a soft sigh escaped Torilla's lips. "What will you do when you have children of your own... and sooner or later, you will."

"Look to someone like you, to be the example I live up to," Zara answered honestly. "I'm a drug addict and alcoholic... So I have to be better than I am."

"You're an addict for now... but you still have the ability to change that... you can become something greater then you were..." she paused. "I think I know why you self medicate.." Torilla paused. "Its because you're terrified of Zeth Tane.."

"He wrote so many books on military strategy, during the war..." Zara sighed uneasily. "I can't be greater than him..."

"No... because you're afraid you might actually succeed where he failed... that you also might become something greater then he did..." Torilla looked down at the shorter woman. "I should know.... because word of you... had spread from Tarod to all corners of the Federation... Oh you should hear the com chatter... Talon's mentioned your name because the colony she looks after mentioned it to her... People are speaking of you from Bajor to Tarod, from Shermans Planet to Barolla. Like it or not.... you are becoming a legend Zara.... not because you succeeded in doing someone that nobody else could do.."

""All I did was the right thing," Zara spoke with humility.

"That... is why... even after everything we've been through and all the drama and crap we've dealt with in the last eight months... I'm still here."

"You should be a flag rank by now though. Not babysitting a drunk or doing her job when she's hungover," Zara admitted guiltily.

"You really should stop doing that to yourself." Torilla answered. "War does not make one great... it makes one lucky... so do something else other then war... and make your own mark... the Tane symbiont needs to remember who Zara is."

"Fair point," Zara agreed with a small smile.

"So... tell me.... What will Zara Tane be remembered for in times yet to come?" Yamaguchi inquired.

"Hopefully something good," Zara smiled. "I shall try to be more positive. You've my word on it."

"Alright.." Torilla responded evenly as she peered down at the smaller woman. "Computer: Locate Senior Flight Captain Lasky?"

"Thomas Lasky is located in sickbay."

Yamaguchi smiled, one of innocence. "Do give him my regards.." she responded. "I need to go and see the Admiral."

"I shall," Zara smiled, though as she turned and headed for sickbay, she was very anxious. Seeing the updated list of fatalities was not a pleasant feeling at all.