JP Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek & Lieutenant Commander Toryn Raga - Powderkeg, Part I
Lael Rosek
((Officer’s Mess, Deck 2, USS Atlantis))
{{Time Index - Day 2 of Shoreleave}}
Lael leaned back in the chair, her back turned to most in the room as she stared out the viewport in front of her. Cradling a mug of Al-Leyan spiced tea in her hands, her eyes went to the little girl sitting next to her and she smiled. Maddy was all but inhaling the ham and pineapple pizza she’d ordered from the replicator.
Rosek: ::admonishes gently:: Maddy, smaller bites. You’ll choke.
The little girl smiled up at her sheepishly and chewed the rather large bite she’d taken thoroughly before swallowing it.
M. Rosek: ::murmurs:: Sorry, Lael. It’s been forever since I’ve had it.
Rosek: ::arches an eyebrow:: You didn’t eat it when you were with--
She stopped short, tensing for a moment, worried that the mention of Maddy’s father would upset the little girl. He hadn’t been a huge part of her life, but he’d still been her father.
Dropping her gaze, Maddy shook her head.
M. Rosek: He could never get the recipe right.
Walking into the Mess with a PADD in hand the Second Officer strode up to the closest replicator and ordered up a large mug of Al-Leyan spiced tea. With the chaos of the last mission having consumed much of his time the Mission Specialist had been a little behind on his reading. Which included other reports from the crew filed during it. Personnel changes. There was the priority one recall of Lieutenant Hyden back to Starfleet Headquarters.
As he read, Toryn walked, relying on his keen hearing and peripheral vision to keep from colliding with anyone or anything. And yet, two things suddenly distracted him. The first being the realization that he could sense a mind in the room. Almost immediately he looked up hoping to see Ishka. His smile faded though when he didn’t see her. Just a woman with striking auburn hair and a little girl beside her.
The second, once he resumed reading was a transfer request that followed Hyden’s recall. Toryn was midstep when he caught the name. Rosek, Lael. A heavy pit formed in his gut and he glanced up at the back of that auburn-haired figure. A turmoil of emotions roiled within him. It didn’t take a Zephram Cochrane to figure out who the red-haired figure, whose mind he could sense, was after reading that. He stopped right behind her.
Raga: Hello, Lael. ::His voice was even, but somewhat cold:: oO I may need to lock out the transporters for a few days. Once Valin finds out she’s here he might do something drastic and Serala might help. Oo
She’d sensed him from the moment he’d entered the room. How could she not? Even with the reduction in her abilities since having Lenik’s katra removed from her mind and having studied the art of controlling her emotions on Vulcan for that month after her decision to step down as First officer of the Astraeus, his mind was an open book to her.
Out of respect for his privacy and his feelings, she raised her mental walls and pulled back from his mind. He was angry. Of course he was. It had been one of the most difficult choices she’d ever had to make. But she’d needed to be true to herself.
As much as she’d cared for him, she couldn’t torment herself with the daily thoughts of how he’d need to be intimate with someone else every few years. She needed someone who could be hers and hers alone. He was full-blooded Al-Leyan. He needed a full-blooded mate for his season. She wasn’t full-blooded.
Her gaze stayed focused on her adopted daughter for long moments, knowing that Maddy was aware of some kind of undercurrent between the two given her El-Aurian heritage. The confusion on the little girl’s face had Lael fighting not to get defensive. She could. She could be that person. The one who responded to coldness with coldness.
Exhaling a shaky sigh, she turned to face the man she hadn’t expected to ever see again. When orders had come in that Atlantis needed a new Chief Engineer, she hadn’t been given much choice.
Rosek: ::smiles:: Commander Raga. Good evening.
M. Rosek: ::pauses:: You know him?
Rosek: ::turns to Maddy and nods:: Of course. We both attended a promotion party for Brell when he was promoted to Captain. ::smiles::
It took all the restraint he had to keep himself professional. Toryn never expected to see Lael ever again, and while he was glad to see she was alive and well, she’d hurt him. A hurt that had only been made worse and prevented from moving on by his several month captivity and torture at the hands of the Consortium. Toryn opened his mind and reached out to the only other voice in the darkness he could sense. Ishka. She was several decks below them, but he could feel her mind. He sought it out for comfort.
Raga: ::smiles wanly:: Good evening. It’s good to see you’re well, Commander Rosek. ::Looking at the girl:: Hello. I’m Lieutenant Commander Toryn Raga. ::Smiles brighter:: Commander Rosek and I were..friends. Who might you be?
Maddy’s eyes widened and she grimaced when she realized the young girl was making the connection upon hearing his full name.
M. Rosek: ::breathes:: You’re Toryn? Oh. Lael’s told me about you. Is it true that you risked your life to save your Captain?
Rosek: ::gazes at the girl with slight sternness:: Maddy, you didn’t answer Commander Raga’s question.
M. Rosek: ::gaze snaps to Lael and blushes:: Oh. You’re right. That was rude. ::to Raga:: I’m Madeline Rosek.
Rosek: ::smiles wanly:: Commander Raga...my daughter.
Seeing the girl’s eyes widen he was briefly concerned that he’d said something out of sorts or confused her in some way. Until she mentioned Lael had spoken of him to her. The admonishment from Lael was only regarded with a curious glance between them before the girl’s name caught his attention and he shot a glance at Lael, brow raised.
Raga: ::Looking to Maddy:: It’s fine. And yes, I’m Toryn. And yes, I did risk my life to save Captain Brell. ::He smiled softly:: It’s nice to meet you Maddy.
Looking to Lael, he dared a silent comment.
Raga: ~It seems a lot has happened since we last spoke.~
It took all she had to maintain her composure. She hadn’t thought about Toryn in some time, much less had his voice in her mind. There were clearly some things that they needed to discuss, but she didn’t want to do it in front of Maddy.
Raga: ::Looking to Maddy:: Welcome aboard the Atlantis.
Rosek: ::turns to Maddy:: Honey, Commander Raga and I have some things to catch up on. Why don’t you finish your pizza in our quarters? Get a start on your homework?
M. Rosek: ::pouts:: But it’s summer and I want to talk to him, too.
Rosek: ::arches her eyebrows:: Then you can catch up on your summer reading.
Seeming to get the hint, Maddy’s face fell and she reluctantly picked up the plate and strode toward the exit, looking back once she reached the door before stepping out into the hallway.
Rosek: ::motions to the free chair:: I understand that you have some things to say. But I would prefer that we don’t cause my daughter that kind of anxiety. Being half El-Aurian, she’s very sensitive to it.
Toryn watched the exchange between mother and daughter and remained respectfully silent. He was grateful that Lael was sitting between him and the girl as, even though she was polite enough she was still quite young and he didn’t really know how to act around her. It was just like when Brell’s children were around. He was afraid he’d break them, and never knew what to do when they were nearby. After all, Al-Leyans never saw children between infancy and 10 years of age unless they worked at a Haemachuo Academy.
Raga: ::Taking a seat in the chair he set down the PADD and the mug, though he held onto the latter still:: Honestly. I don’t even know where to start. I genuinely am glad you’re alright, Lael. But I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t part of me that doesn’t want to throw you through a bulkhead right now. ::He said calmly, despite the turmoil internally::
Rosek: ::nods and says matter-of-factly:: And though I’m glad that you appear to be actually sleeping given that the bags under your eyes aren’t as prominent as when I last saw you, I’d be lying if I said that part of me doesn’t want to break your nose. And maybe your arm.
((Part 1 End))
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Lieutenant Commander Toryn Raga
Mission Specialist/Second Officer
USS Atlantis NCC-74682
PodCast Team Member
Training Team Member
Atlantis Staff Member
Writer ID: A239410TR0
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Toryn_Raga
&
Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek, Eng.D.
Chief Engineer
USS Atlantis, NCC-74682
I238110RH0
