Mirror, Mirror - Part Ten

Posted on Sat Mar 21st, 2020 @ 8:17am by Grand Admiral Julia Antilles-Yeager & Grand General Paul "Caveman" Antilles

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 1400Hrs - September 12th, 2393

Commander Kate Antilles slowly stretched as she tried to meditate in her quarters, she had no duties and now she was getting to see how the natives of this reality lived, and if she said so, they lived very very well, but one thing she could do without was the almost frequent interruptions to her daily routine, she had been working out in the Starbase recreation center earlier, Kate tended to prefer one-pieces as she could work out in them and not worry about stupid things happening as she had warmed up with over two dozen lengths of the main pool, she had appreciated that she wasn't the star attraction in the pool. That was a nice change as another woman who was wearing a golden colored one-piece who was diving from the top of the board was taking that rather distinctive honor. Captain Hannah Mueller cut quite a womanly figure too.

Kate cracked open one eye as the doorbell went off at her. "It's open!" she called out, the doors opened and in walked a man who regarded her with a certain look in his eye, he wore civilian clothing rather than a uniform, he had a beard and goatee but his hair was neatly trimmed. He also looked like the kind of man who smiled easily and often. He was wearing a pair of hiking boots with a pair of jeans and a denim jacket completed his look. "Hello. Are you Commander Kate Antilles?" the man asked her.

Kat regarded him as the memory clicked. "Paul, Its... Its good to see you again." as she found herself being intimidated with the sheer size of the massive man before her. He was more than double her size and mass, as his arms looked to be about the size of her legs and she was six feet and change.

"It's a little strange, finding out about a twin I've never known about... I also can't ask our parents what happened..." Paul answered with a nod. "But still, twins...Julia and I..." he paused. "In this reality, it was Julia and myself, in your home reality, it was you and me?"

"Yes, Mom and dad tended to neglect me in favor of you," Kat explained but judging by the lack of a response, she could tell he wasn't surprised.

"Well, it was the same as Julia and that detail. Mom and Dad showered me with all the attention and Julia got shafted." he sighed softly. "I could get an E and they would be all happy and she'd get an A and they would ignore her. Fortunately, I saw it and Julia and I became close as a result. It's colored my perspective on relationships and hers too." Paul came over to his twin as she slowly stood up, but she was surprised when he sat down before her, before slipping into a classic martial arts stance, as he pressed his closed fist against the palm of his other hand before nodding to her.

"You have martial arts experience," Kate commented. "Maybe we can spar..."

"I do, yes," Paul answered. "Are you sure you wish it?" he commented as he regarded her, showing her a certain maturity that her Paul Antilles had never been able to acquire before his death, years earlier. The Paul she knew would have given her what she wished, without considering it whereas this Paul, however seemed to not wish to dive in headfirst.

"I honestly don't know what to expect from you... You act like the Paul Antilles I knew and grew up with but you are so different too, so mature, calm and collected." Kat paused. "The Paul I knew died in battle... You lived here and he didn't." she paused. "The Tyra System... What a mess..."

"Andrea died there... I escaped and went on a mad killing spree... I was reckless and foolish."

"But you lived... in my reality of origin, she lived and you died," Kat explained with a soft shudder as she regarded the man before her.

"Well, that's different." Paul paused. "I imagine our family turned out to be quite different as a result," he added.

"Robbie and Rachael were the only children that you and Andrea had... Before assignments broke you two up." Kat explained. "Here, that's not the case... I met Jerome... He enlisted..."

"He did, he chose to serve in his own way and I'm proud of him for his choice. He only got a commission through battlefield experience... He asked me for my perspective on the matter, I told him to do what he felt was right, not what I felt was right." he regarded his twin as he spoke. "It's like that with all of my children and some of my grandchildren. I look after things with them when they need my help and I let them be when they don't."

"You have been busy... But I think I know why..." Kat paused.

"I could never find another Andrea in all of those women, some were relationships of convenience and others were deep and impactful. All had a chance... Rorik was the worst though...." he paused. "She never tried to resolve things with me, but I know why... and I don't fault her for making the choices she did... I had been replaced with a Changling for six months... Except the Founder had decided to keep me alive... Rorik had delivered her child at this point except it was twins. When I was recovered, she learned that most of her relationship was built on a facade, a lie... So she left the twins with me and departed."

"So she didn't trust you with her heart but she trusted you with her babies." Kat shook her head as she found the notion distasteful in the extreme. "It almost sounds like Ms... Whatever her name is, has a few screws loose inside her skull." she then shook her head. "What a disgrace."

Paul smiled, clearly, the topic was something he had found rather amusing, the twinkle in his eye said much. "Yes... Well. Mekka was a great help there... When she wasn't busy with her studies and her own issues... She's an Andorian who is a telepath. She required much effort to bring her telepathy under control and to a level, she was comfortable with." he paused. "Mekka's life has been unusual, her trials equally so. But her siblings were around to help her, and she did ask, several times for assistance."

"What happened to Mekka?" Kat was curious.

"She was tortured and experimented on. She bonded with Rorik and since Rorik was seeing me, I took her in when Rorik left, Mekka was... lost and confused for a time." Paul explained with a soft sigh. "She had no kin so I took her in and formally adopted her. She's been an Antilles ever since."

Paul regarded his new sibling for a moment before the doorbell rang a second time. "She's here," he commented softly, as he smiled.

"Who?" Kat asked, her lips forming a perfect O as she asked him.

"Julia." Paul rose to his feet in one smooth motion before he offered Kat his hand, she took it as he effortlessly hauled the large female to her feet. She could tell that the massive man before her was exceptionally physically strong. "Let me get it," he commented.

Kat giggled as she nodded. "Sure." she then moved over towards the replicator. "Have it be some random guy and they think you are my boyfriend."

"Different," Paul answered. "But okay." and with that, he approached the door and he tapped the door release button.