Backsim: JP: Lt. Jack Kessler & Lt. Nesre Salo - "Aftermath" (Part I)
Amanda Nordstrom
OOC: This takes place after Kessler returned to the ship.
((Nesre & Krystal’s Quarters, USS Octavia E. Butler))
They had clung to each other, gathered within each others arms, linked together as the joy of Jack’s return was accompanied by the fear that should either of them let go, he would disappear, that time never to be seen again. The tears had given way to exhaustion, and before his story could be fully told, fatigued settled on them, and they remained tucked into Krystal’s bed, each holding on to one another.
Afterward, the night passed uneventfully, Nesre and Krystal both tumbling into a sound sleep, a state that had eluded them since Jack’s original disappearance, and the desperate joy infusing them with a much needed restoration of the spirit. The hours ticked by, and eventually, one stirred, her eyes opening to the darkness of an unlit room, the memories of the previous night's happiness still fresh in her mind. Carefully, she lifted herself up to gaze upon the faces that remained in the land of slumber, then she carefully extracted herself from the tangled web of limbs and tiptoed into the living room.
The events of the previous night still felt surreal, as if it were all a dream, and if it was, Nesre hoped she did not awaken. But the night had passed, and the morning dawned, though the blackness of space bore only the light of the stars, their pinpricks doing nothing to illuminate the quarters within. She only brought the artificial ones to about half of their brightness, her eyes unwilling to douse themselves in too much brilliance so early, and lowered herself onto the couch. Rubbing her hands over her face, her thoughts tumbled over the event from a few hours ago, one that had ended merely because of the exhaustion that haunted them all. Now, morning dawned, and they would have to face the consequences of his return.
Kessler: (softly) Nesre, are you ok?
The inner doors were silent, unlike those that led in and out of main rooms, a feature meant to prevent the awakening of anyone who remained within the private bedrooms of quarters. Thus, Nesre did not hear Jack enter, and jerked at the sound of his voice, both unexpected and, since his kidnapping, unusual.
Salo: Did I wake you?
Kessler: No, not really. (beat) Maybe a little (smiling)
Her eyes traversed to the door that led to the child’s room, but it didn’t open a second time, and so she could only assume that Krystal had remained asleep. A small smile crept over her lips and she straightened, the weariness of the last few months still weighing upon her, though lighter than before. Now she was faced with something else, a discomfort. What should she say? What should she do? The emotionally infused moments after his reappearance had led to little conversation. Now, in the quiet hours of the morning, they had to do more than rely on such drama.
Salo: Do you want something to eat?
Jack looked at Nesre, the question almost not registering in his brain. Her eyes sent emotion after emotion through him as if he was being hit by hundreds of arrows fired from across the room. He’d promised himself he’d escape the Zet prison and find his way back to Nesre and Krystal. Each day had been in pursuit of that very goal and now he was here. Finally home with them both and it felt so close and so far at the same time.
He allowed his eyes to drift from hers, to her hair. The jet black, long locks of hair framed her face almost perfectly. Her green Orion skin in the low light expressed a sensual silkiness that he wanted to reach out and gently caress. He’d longed for the moment he’d back with her, gazing into her eyes and now that he was here, he was at a loss of what to say or do. Thankfully somewhere in that brain the word food popped back in reminding him of her question. Looking back at Krystal’s closed bedroom door and then back to Nesre, Jack smiled and nodded gently.
Kessler: Food. Sure. Really have not thought about food since we left the planet. (looking to the replicator and stepping in that direction) What sounds good to you?
Nesre had started to rise, but as Jack stepped closer to the replicator, she paused, then slowly lowered herself back down onto the couch. She knew she needed to talk, to get him to talk, because there was so much they had to discuss, yet placed in the unusual, if happy, position, she found herself at a loss for words to delve into the emotions she had carried over the last few months, and was grateful for something to say, even if it was the epitome of mundane.
Salo: I could go for a bowl of korla.
Jack looked back at her and smiled. Even the sound of her voice was so graceful and he was even more grateful to hear it land on his ears one more time.
Kessler: Is that an Orion dish?
Salo: Yes. A type of stew, warm, very filling. It was always something my mother would make when I got sick or just need something comforting.
When they had been slaves, the times she’d been given the dish were rare, and only when Lisha managed to steal some from the kitchens for her children. Once they were given freedom, her mother had made it for them any time they were ill or distressed, or just needed something wholesome.
Salo: Obviously you can order what you’d like.
Kessler: To be honest I am open for anything.
As Jack requested the dish from the replicator he stood there thinking about how much things had changed since his disappearance. The ‘Oumuamua was gone, Commodore V’Airu was gone and his closest friend aside from Nesre, V’Len was gone.
Looking back at the replicator Jack picked up the dish and the two drinks that had appeared with it and carried it over to the couch, sitting the food and drink on the table in front of Nesre, Jack took a seat on the opposing side of the couch from her and turned to face her slightly.
For the moment, Nesre ignored the drink and, instead, cradled the bowl in her hands, curling her feet under her as she lifted the spoon to take a bite. The savory meat mixed with vegetables filled her mouth with a burst of pleasant robustness and filled her heart with a sense of nostalgia. Perhaps it also helped ground her, build her courage so she could press onward.
Salo: It seems we have a lot to talk about.
Jack’s breathing seemed to deepen unconsciously at the mention of talking. It was not due to the fact that he did not want to talk, in fact he could sit here for days just listening to her voice, smelling her perfume, gazing into her eyes.
Kessler: There is much to discuss. (beat) Where to start though is something different.
Salo: But I also don’t want you to feel coerced. I can’t imagine how horrible this was for you.
Actually, she probably could imagine, considering her own past, but she did not wish to invalidate his experience or make him feel like she was trying to undermine it.
Kessler: (smiling as he lifted the bowl of korla to his lips) I need not be coerced to talk to you. (lowering the bowl) Now that you know my feelings and why I hid them, I do not feel I have anything to hide or hold back.
Well, that was not 100% accurate. After all he had held the truth about his mission and the leaving the ship. That was more of a bad decision trying to prevent either Nesre or Krystal from worrying but then getting captured did somewhat mess that entire plot up for him.
Sitting the bowl down Jack thought back on the experience and looked up at the windows that hung behind the couch, looking out into space. How did one explain being a prisoner when you were held captive but yet treated with such great care? The entire ordeal was still somewhat confusing for Jack himself.
Kessler: (looking back to Nesre) Other than knowing I could not leave the Zet facility, (beat) there was nothing I would say was horrible.
That surprised her. While the Federation made a point to treat their prisoners well, for mistreating them was seen as a barbaric practise, she had not expected the same from the Zet.
Salo: It wasn’t?
Kessler: Far from it. The Zet find a monetary value in their prisoners. I was what they called a VIP and the facility I was in, well it was extremely welcoming. Instead of a hostile environment, I was given whatever I wanted in the way of clothing, food and drink. Elegant room to stay in and my health was looked after closely.
Nesre had never been incarcerated before, so she could not attest to the type of room in which prisoners stayed, but she doubted ‘elegant’ would be among the words used.
Salo: That’s…surprising. I didn’t expect that. How did they profit?
Kessler: Any information I could give my administrator, jailor I guess; that brought him monetary gains meant that I got more in what I wanted and elevated within the facility.
Jack picked up the bowl of korla and dipped the spoon into it. Taking a sampling he found the dish very inviting and a comforting dish as Nesre had confirmed a few moments earlier.
Kessler: I feel that you and Krystal had a much worse time than I did and for that I am so sorry Nesre.
Nesre lowered the bowl into her lap, grey eyes focus on the food, yet the rich, orange stew did little to comfort her right then. If she were to be honest, she wanted to rant and rave, but she also knew it would do no good, so sat quietly, simply staring at the contents of her bowl.
Watching Nesre’s body language as she lowered her food, her eyes following the bowl rather than meeting his own, left a haunting feeling in Jack’s gut. He had caused her much more pain and hurt than he most likely would ever know.
Kessler: (softly, gently) Nesre?
Salo: I don’t know what to say.
Kessler: (feeling a knot in his gut) You don’t need to say anything at all. (beat) I made a mistake. This is all on me.
There were so many things she could say. How could he have gone off like that? Yes, he had family missing, but what about his crew family? What about Krystal?
What about her?
She had thought the well of her tears had run dry, but they once again sprang to her eyes, stinging sharply. Nesre fought against their insistent prodding and barely managed to hold them at bay.
Salo: What…were your thoughts at the time?
His thoughts at the time? Jack sat his bowl on the table and stood up from the couch and paced to the other side of the room. Running his hand through his hair and then turning back to Nesre. His thoughts…were all over the place. His thoughts were of finding his family, reuniting Krystal with them. His thoughts were on Nesre and V’Len and his love for both of them and the chaotic web they were tangled in. His thoughts at the time were a jumbled mess that most likely made no sense at all to the rational person looking in on what he was enduring.
Looking at Nesre, he felt disappointment and a self loathing only one could put on their own soul. He could not maintain eye contact with her and lowered his gaze to the table and then the floor.
Kessler: I was…
****
Lieutenant Jack Kessler
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler
T239901JK1&
Lt. Nesre Salo
Counsellor
USS 'Oumuamua
M239008AD0