Fear Cuts Deeper than Swords - Part Two

Posted on Sun Mar 8th, 2020 @ 5:36am by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky & Captain Javier Morales & Commander Nathan Duhamel & Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 76: The Winter of My Discontent
Location: Various Locations - USS Courageous
Timeline: 1745Hrs - April 4th, 2392

Yamaguchi regarded him with soft eyes before she stood up. As she did she gently grasped his arm before she beckoned for him to stand as well, she gently coiled her arms around him before their lips met. "Mmmmm." as Torilla shared a rather passionate kiss with Lasky.
"I forgave you long ago for what happened... Thomas Lasky," she responded as he gently held her close to him.

"I do not-" Lasky responded.

"Yes, you do... I don't hold grudges, Tom. You were defending someone you cared about and you felt that I had violated her.. I was left no other option but to consider what I did."

"Cressa hypnotized her to prevent her from damaging herself."

"Cressa did it rather than myself or Elizabeth mind violating her," Torilla explained. "Because she'd try and then fail, but she'd never really fight for it... She knew she needed it as she had been destroying her body for decades... Amazingly, she was able to function at all.."

"I read the report submitted by Telios Wintersnow on her relationship with Zara Tane... Zara didn't even give her the time of day as she was pining for you."

"I know... That's why I submitted my request for reassignment, it was getting to the point when all I was ever doing was my job and hers most days... She'd be in the ready room getting stoned or drunk and I'd be on the bridge doing all the work." she sighed. "and I was pregnant for part of that to boot."

"That's why you gave up Kurt.."

"Tom. I couldn't keep him... I was.." Torilla stopped. "about to commit a crime against my very blood. Fortunately, Elizabeth was there and available."

"I know... She carried him to term and... Even with all the shit and mess that happened... She was pregnant with my son and I threatened her. That's why Kameron came so unglued."

Yamaguchi nodded her head. "Hell... Even Jake was astonished ad how your friendship with Kameron came apart so fast... He yelled at you about what you did in regards to breaking the rules... He didn't yell at you because of what you did to me or Elizabeth... He left that for us to handle."

"Yes... I was expecting far worse from him than that... He was well within his rights.."

"I know.. But he trusted Elizabeth to make the right choice for herself, he also trusted me to handle it myself... and we did.. You and I sorted that issue out... It wasn't you're fault that Zara refused my request to leave the looney bin."

"Even after I told her to let you go. Her holding onto you would only cause more problems than resolve them."

"I know.. She left me no choice but to go to Jake and April about it."
Yamaguchi explained.

"April... Seeing her angry is downright terrifying but... not as scary as you coming down the hall, that looks of rage in your eyes.."

Yamaguchi searched her memory before she called the event in question, she had just submitted her request for reassignment from Tane and the small Trill woman had refused her out of hand without even considering why Torilla herself was requesting reassignment elsewhere. She simply had throughout the PADD telling her to shape up or else. Torilla then threatened her with bodily harm and things from that point had gotten stupid.

Lasky had simply been walking the other way and Yamaguchi hadn't said anything to him but the event had marked him.

"I'm Sorry Tom... I didn't mean to take it out on you." Yamaguchi sighed.

"It wasn't your fault. Once I realized that... The rest was easy to handle... Except for my errors and faults."

"So... What now?"

"Now I'm going to go and see Teval in the morning and request reassignment from him to another ship elsewhere. I can't serve as Exec and work with Zara... She's my bosses boss.. and seeing her track record with you, I refuse to be in that situation."

"Well, I could trade my Exec for you.."

"You'd let me be Executive Officer on your ship.?"

"Sure. You know how to get shit done. You're good with people and you're also an iconoclast, you stand out because you are good with animals... I bring my two dogs on duty with me at all times.." Yamaguchi tapped her combadge. "Yamaguchi to Morales. Could you step in here please?"

"Right away skipper."

Morales rose to his feet. "Nathan. the Bridge is yours."

"Aye Commander." Nathan Duhamel responded as he tapped the display before him, he then went around the long horseshoe railing before sitting down in the command chair as his relief secured his post and carried on with Duhamel's work.

Meanwhile, Lasky regarded the new arrival. "Commander." he addressed the other man who nodded back. "Skipper you asked for me?"

"Yes... I was wondering. How would you feel about my swapping the two of you."

Morales raised an eyebrow. "It would be different but not a bad thing... Has something happened.?"

"Yes... I was dating Commodore Tane but I broke up with her due to an issue that's been unresolved for too long. Due to conflict of interest, I'm going to be sticking in for reassignment."

"Ahh," Morales responded. "Sure skipper.. I have no issues with this."

"Alright.." Yamaguchi responded before she turned back to Lasky "When you see Teval... Tell him that I can trade you two and it would only be until your permanent assignment came along... Wherever that takes you."

"Thank you Torilla.," Lasky responded. "Thank you, Javier. That's all I wanted."

"Of course skipper. I'll be on the bridge." and with that he departed, leaving these two alone.

Lasky sighed softly. "Okay... I think its time for me to see Teval now."

"Alright, but leave it until tomorrow morning... Good luck... I hope it works out for you Tom." and with that, she gently kissed him a second time before she turned and departed the lounge.

Lasky likewise departed a moment after Torilla did.