Commander Lael Rosek-Skyfire: Awkward
Lael Rosek-Skyfire
This was probably the most awkward situation she had been in since—well, she could not remember when. Even after everything she had faced in the line of duty, this felt uniquely uncomfortable. She had been engaged to Jansen once, and that was not the kind of history one could easily tuck away or forget. At the time, she had been a wreck of herself, haunted by the aftermath of too many battles and struggling to climb out of the darkness of PTSD and the grief of losing a child. Every choice she made in those days carried the weight of someone desperate to prove she was still whole. Somewhere along the way, she convinced herself that pushing people away would keep them safe. It had not. It had only left wreckage, his heart among it.
Her teeth caught her lower lip as the memory surfaced. He had not deserved any of it. The familiar burn of shame crept up her neck, and for a moment she almost turned back. But that was the old her, the one ruled by fear, guilt, and the constant ache of loss. She was not that woman anymore. She had worked too hard to become someone steadier, someone who faced the hard things instead of running from them. Closing her eyes briefly, she offered a silent prayer. God, remind me I am not who I was. Then, because humor was sometimes the only armor that worked, another thought followed. And maybe keep me from saying something stupid while You’re at it. The faintest smirk touched her lips before she caught it and pushed it away. With a steady breath, she squared her shoulders and stepped through the sliding doors into the clinic.
The reception area was warm and inviting, clearly designed to put patients at ease. It was nothing like the sterile Sickbays she had known aboard starships. Here, soft lighting replaced the harsh gleam of biobeds, and the faint scent of flowers lingered beneath the hum of environmental systems. Amity felt different—too calm, almost pleasant. It set her on edge, as if the quiet might shatter any moment under the weight of a crisis. Too many years aboard starships, she supposed. Serenity there never lasted long.
A sudden stirring in her abdomen pulled her thoughts inward. She rested a hand against the curve of her stomach. The twins shifted again, picking up on her unease. Great, she thought. Even they can tell I’m jumpy. She brushed the thought away with a soft sigh, murmuring reassurance under her breath. They settled after a moment, though she suspected it had more to do with her tone than any real comfort she could offer. Before she could get too lost in the quiet again, a pleasant voice drew her attention.
Emilia: Welcome to Amity Medical Center. Did you have an appointment today?
Lael turned toward the receptionist, a woman with kind eyes and a serene smile that seemed entirely too genuine.
Rosek-Skyfire: Yes, I am here for a prenatal check-up.
Emilia: ::nodding:: Of course. And who will you be seeing today?
Rosek-Skyfire: Jansen Orrey.
The name felt strange on her tongue. She wished she had not told Chythar she was fine coming alone. They shared everything, but she had not wanted to say Jansen’s name out loud. He had been Chythar’s counselor once, and for a time, a quiet barrier that kept Chythar from approaching her. Without Jansen in the picture, their story might have unfolded very differently. Even so, she suspected Chythar already knew. Their empathic bond made it nearly impossible to keep anything hidden; he could always sense when something troubled her. Still, keeping this to herself, even for a little while, had felt necessary, though it left her weary each time she tried.
Taking another breath, she let her gaze wander across the tranquil waiting area, pretending to study the décor while trying not to imagine how awkward the next few minutes were about to get.
Emilia: Okay. A nurse will be out to take you back soon. ::motions to the chairs:: Please have a seat. Can I get you a beverage while you wait?
Rosek-Skyfire: Um. Thank you, but no.
The woman offered a final smile, and Lael found a quiet, empty corner of the room where she could gather her thoughts and her wits.
((Mini Time Jump))
A sudden sound caused her eyes to snap open, her mind momentarily fuzzy as it worked to assess her surroundings.
Right. She was in the medical center for a prenatal appointment.
A glance at the chronometer revealed that several minutes had passed by, and she realized that she’d dozed off. Despite how tired she’d been upon arriving home yesterday, they’d stayed up a good portion of the night, enjoying a rare opportunity to reconnect. A serene smile crossed her lips, the memory of his touch and his kiss instantly erasing any anxiety she felt about her upcoming interaction with Jansen.
She wasn’t the same woman she had been. Stronger now, steadier, she’d learned how to rebuild rather than retreat. Over the years, she had built a life and a career she could finally be proud of. Command decisions, research breakthroughs, and the trust of her crew stood as proof of how far she had come. Personally, she had fought for balance, wrestled with her grief and self-doubt, and become the kind of woman Chythar deserved. The woman who once had hidden insecurity and guilt no longer defined her.
Nurse: Response
She heard her name and turned toward the person who called it.
Nurse: Response
She nodded and rose carefully, trying to maintain her balance. At last, she stood at her full height and strode across the room, following the nurse back.
((Mini Time Jump))
With all the formalities (including her least favorite, the scale) taken care of, she chose to sit in one of the chairs for now rather than climbing onto the biobed. It was a cumbersome task these days, and she needed a moment or two before scaling it.
Nurse: Response
Rosek-Skyfire: ::nods:: Thank you.
Again, Lael was alone with her thoughts and decided to engage in a bit of light meditation to still them. It was a shame she didn’t have a candle to focus on, but she’d learned to do without it. Closing her eyes, she exhaled a breath and focused her attention on the faint whisper of the recycled air moving between the vents. Beneath that, the biobed near her thrummed with energy, just waiting for a command to rustle itself from its gentle slumber.
Rosek-Skyfire: oO My mind is still. My thoughts are ordered. My will is my own. I acknowledge the emotions. I don’t allow it to control me. Oo
((Mini Time Jump))
The sound of the door opening drew her from her meditation, and she opened her eyes, focusing on the calm.
Rosek-Skyfire: oO Stay professional. Stay professional. Oo
Orrey: Response