[BACKSIMM][A-PQ] Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek & Kellan Rosek: Once Twins, Always Twins

[Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek]

OOC: Takes place after Lael hangs up with her father.

((Private Quarters, Transport Antioch))

{{The morning after Brell’s promotion party…}}

::Having just hung up with her father, Lael stared at the screen for several long moments, still processing everything that she’d heard and witnessed. She was still extremely emotional, though she supposed that was in part due her season. While the distance from Toryn took away the stress that came with their unusual telepathic and empathic connection, the distance also made the fever and the other symptoms more prominent.::

::She hadn’t slept well at all last night and she was certain it had showed in her face. Her eyes were puffy from the tears she’d allowed to break free moments before. This was the second time in the space of 12 hours that her emotions had gotten the better of her. After Toryn’s abrupt break-away last night, she’d left the party and returned to her thankfully empty temporary quarters, Anjar clearly having taken the girls to his and Liara’s temporary quarters for the night, and cried herself into a fitful sleep that had been interrupted by nightmares.::

::A twisted version of Toryn had taunted her, mocking her for daring to think that he would even consider being intimate with her. Serala, the Romulan woman she’d discovered he was also attracted to, had made an appearance as well, locked in an intimate embrace with Toryn that he’d made no effort to resist. But that hadn’t been the most painful part.::

::She’d been forced to watch as he resolved his season with some faceless Al-Leyan woman. He’d paused, his gaze had locking with hers, a cruel smirk crossing his lips before he returned his attention to the woman in his arms. The tears began anew and she shook her head, forcing the sleep-induced images to the back of her mind. It wouldn’t do any good to dwell on it.::

::She glanced at the chronometer and hesitated a moment before keying in the instructions that would begin a call to Kellan back on Earth. Hopefully, he would be either just getting off his rotation or would be enjoying one of his days off. She worried her lower lip. As much as she hated the thought of ruining his precious time off, this was too important to keep from him. Secrets only ever seemed to make things worse.::

::His face appeared on the screen moments later and Lael could tell she’d woken him up. She felt immediately guilty.::

K. Rosek: ::yawns:: Lael? What are you doing awake at this hour?

L. Rosek: ::teases:: It’s morning where I am, Doc.

K. Rosek: ::rubs his eyes:: You look like $%@!. What’s up?

L. Rosek: ::huffs and rolls her eyes:: You’re not exactly gorgeous yourself.

::She smiled despite herself. She missed the teasing banter between them. The two had been so close once, but it seemed their respective careers were keeping them both so busy that there wasn’t much time to connect. A familiar longing caused her throat to tighten. It had been too long since she’d been able to hug her brother. When she’d last had the chance, she’d been so lost in her own issues that she’d taken it for granted.::

K. Rosek: ::smiles sleepily and sticks his tongue out at her:: Seriously. What’s going on? It’s been forever since I got a call from you.

L. Rosek: ::shakes her head:: You know that the interference where I’m stationed means no live calls.

K. Rosek: ::brow furrows:: Then how are you making one now?

::With a grimace, she told him everything that had happened in the last couple of days and everything that she hadn’t told him about Toryn. Her twin’s eyes widened with each detail. By the time she’d finished, she was mentally exhausted, not really looking forward to telling the story a third time. Maybe Kellan would tell their mom so she wouldn’t have to.::

K. Rosek: ::whispers anxiously:: What are you going to do? Even if your doctor friend whips up some miracle drug, you can’t stay on it indefinitely.

L. Rosek: ::grimaces:: I know, I know. I just need to buy some time. Dad’s going to look into exiled Al-Leyans that may be both willing and able to help with my issue. Though I admit, I was kind of hoping since I’m half-Human it wouldn’t need to be an Al-Leyan at all. ::sighs and runs her hands through her hair:: Maybe I should just forget about Toryn and try talking to Jon...see if we can work out whatever it is between us.

K. Rosek: ::nods:: If it would work. At least then you’d have it over with and would have a few years to plan for the next one.

::A few years. It seemed like such a large amount of time. But it wasn’t really...not knowing that she’d be facing the same dilemma all over again. Her and Jon’s relationship wasn’t exactly the most solid at the moment. A part of her was afraid she and Jon wouldn’t be together when her next season came around. What would she do then? What Human colleague would willingly step up?::

L. Rosek: I think Chythar is going to be my best shot. ::pauses:: I’m thinking if I could trick my body into thinking I’m with a full-blooded Al-Leyan...somehow replicate the pheromones closely enough for my body to buy it, it might not matter who I’m with.

K. Rosek: ::pauses:: Haven’t they used holograms before when Vulcans entered Pon-Farr to far from home to return in time or when a Vulcan wasn’t bonded to a mate?

L. Rosek: Yeah. But the pheromones present an added complication. Chythar would likely need a blood sample from a full-blooded Al-Leyan male to make it work. ::grimaces:: Maybe Toryn would at least be willing to help that way.

K. Rosek: ::grins wryly:: The sooner you figure this out the better. It’s just occurred to me that I’ll likely be dealing with the same situation as you. God knows when mine will hit. I’m really not looking forward to having this conversation with Layton.

L. Rosek: ::eyes widen:: Oh $%#!, Kell! I didn’t even think of that.

::Lael had thought her situation was complicated. It would be difficult for her to simulate male pheromones in an male partner, though not impossible. But female pheromones and a male partner wouldn’t mix. Kellan would have no choice but to mate with someone that wasn’t his fiancé. How Layton would take that bit of news, she didn’t know.::

L. Rosek: ::murmurs:: I’m sorry, Kell. ::pauses:: I have a colleague who’s a full-blooded Al-Leyan. She’s very traditional, but she might be willing to help. ::grimaces:: I know that will only solve one part of the problem--

K. Rosek: ::shakes his head and sighs:: There’s three parts, sis. Even if Layton is miraculously okay with this, what woman would I ask that wouldn’t slap me for suggesting it?

L. Rosek: ::grimaces:: I hate to say it, Kell, but you might need to look for a disgraced Al-Leyan...once for no-strings. Layton might take it better that way, too. ::pauses:: According to Dad, there’s a list on Leya-I of everyone who’s been exiled. I--I could ask him to--

K. Rosek: ::lips tighten:: No. Absolutely not. ::grimaces:: I don’t want to owe that man anything.

::Her heart went out to her brother. Of the two of them, he seemed to be the one with the hardest time letting their father in. He’d flat-out refused to talk to him and had gone out of his way to avoid talking about him. It was clearly a painful subject for Kellan. She’d been hesitant at first, too, but after hearing what her dad had told her...was she being foolishly naive to believe him? He’d done nothing but try to look out for her and protect her. Could he have had an ulterior motive for trying to get her and Toryn together?::

L. Rosek: I think there’s more to the story, Kell. You really should give him a chance to explain--

K. Rosek: ::grunts:: Explain what? That he knew about us for the majority of our lives, but never once came looking for us?

L. Rosek: ::murmurs:: I need to talk to mom. Maybe she can help straighten some of this out. ::sighs:: At least hear him out. If you don’t want to talk to him after that--

K. Rosek: ::sighs:: Fine. But only because you think I should. ::sombers and murmurs:: We’ll get through this, Lae...no matter what. ::smiles wanly:: You know you’re stuck with me, right? I don’t plan on going anywhere.

::A watery smile crossed her lips as she was taken back to their childhood. Even after Lael had started making her own friends, he’d been her first and best friend. They’d looked after each other while their mom was away and had been each other’s strength on those nights when it had seemed the most bleak. Through all the growing pains of growing up, they’d been there for each other and even now, with the distance between them greater than it had ever been, she could almost feel that strange connection...almost as if he could read her every thought and feel everything that she felt.::

L. Rosek: ::murmurs:: Ditto. ::pauses:: I love you, Kellan.

K. Rosek: ::smiles:: I love you, too, sis.

---

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Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek, Eng.D.

Engineering Officer

USS Veritas NCC-95035

I238110RH0

https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php/Lael_Rosek

​&

PNPC Kellan Rosek
Civilian Pediatric Doctor

Earth

I238110RH0