[G-QTRS] BACKSIM: Lt. Alora DeVeau - "They Must Be Raindrops" (Kells)

[Amanda Nordstrom]

(( DeVeau’s Quarters ))


Kells: If you want me to go, you just say the word. I just -- I'd like
to repay you for the kindness you've shown me since I've been back.


DeVeau: Honestly, I’d rather have friendly company. ::beat:: Unless
you’d honestly want to be somewhere else.


:: Aron shook his head as hard as he could. It was a bit of a silly
motion, hair whipping every which way and it did earn a smile, however
slight. At least she had someone willing to stay with her.::


Kells: Not at all. Being a civilian contractor has its perks.


DeVeau: Then I’d honestly like you to stay.


Kells: Then I will.


:: The silliness faded and the seriousness superseded it. As he
hesitated, Alora studied his expression, noting the difficulty he seemed
to have with phrasing his next question. As he finally asked it, her
mouth quirked and tightened.::


Kells: Is what they did to you -- terrible? Still?


DeVeau: I've...been better.


:: He nodded, again as hard as he could and guilt pricked at her for not
being more forthcoming. She should talk about it and part of her wanted
to talk about it, but she wasn’t sure how to describe it. While she knew
that the other Kells had some sort of telepathic abilities, she didn’t
know if this one did. Would he understand? Probably not. Probably no one
who hadn’t been through something similar truly ever would.::


Kells: Have I told you the exciting news?


::He changed the subject and the opportunity to share passed for the
moment.::


DeVeau: What news?


Kells: After we talked last time, I decided I would go for it, so I am:
I told Starfleet that I wanted to reactivate my commission.


::That, at the very least, made Alora perk up. While he had discussed it
with her, she wasn’t sure if he would follow through with it. She was
glad, for it would mean another friend on the ship. They could figure
out what to do with the independent vessel later.::


DeVeau: Here?


::She hoped it was there. The idea that Starfleet might post him
somewhere else deflated her enthusiasm.::


Kells: If I can. I'll probably be one of your junior science officers.
That'd be a fun twist, wouldn't it?


::That did spur a smile, a bit brighter than before and it tickled her
lips a little longer that time.::


DeVeau: It would be fun. It’s nice to work alongside friends.


::Though Alora would always have to be careful not to show preference
for them.::


Kells: I saw that there's a public promotion and ribbon pinning ceremony
coming up. Do you think you'll go?


::That wasn’t a surprise, but whether or not she would was still up in
the air. On one hand, it would be good to support her fellow officers.
On the other, she didn’t know if she wanted to be visible to the rest of
the crew after what had happened.::


DeVeau: I don’t know. Do you think I should?


Kells: I think it would be good.


::Good for whom? For her to get out? Maybe. If nothing else, Alora knew
there would be some people who deserved recognition for what they’d been
through and how they had handled the situation. She didn’t know exactly,
but images had sifted through her mind as things had happened, images
from the connection of the Kindred to one another, and of her own
connection to the Mother.::


DeVeau: I suppose I will then.


::She knew she hadn’t done anything to be celebrated, but she could, at
the very least, be there to applaud those who did. Silence descended as
she mulled over what to say next. While she wanted to talk about what
had happened, she didn’t want to...want to what? Make him angry? Aron
was nowhere near that. At the same time, she felt responsible for her
part in it, forced or not.::


DeVeau: I’m…


RESPONSE?


::What? What could she say? Whatever words she spoke, they couldn’t
change anything. Yet she felt like she needed to say them.::


DeVeau: I’m sorry. For what I did to you...and the others...for
what...they did to you.


RESPONSE?


DeVeau: I know...I know...but...I still feel…


::She could still feel the flesh beneath the tendrils as if it had been
her own hands to cut off that life. She had felt the pulses quicken then
fade away. As their life slipped away, she’d seen the light fade and the
dullness replace it in the once vibrant eyes. Others had been hurt, pain
and torture. Even Doctor Skyfire had sustained injury. Poor Knight had
been poisoned...there were far too many injuries to even think of in a
single moment. Alora closed her eyes, but tears already stung and
threatened. Only a breath or two later, it became too much and she burst
into sobs.::


RESPONSE?


DeVeau: I’m sorry. I’m…


RESPONSE?


*************

Lt. Alora DeVeau

Chief of Science

USS Garuda