Flt. Capt. Karrod Niac - Absorbent Shoulders
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Karrod Niac
Dec 9, 2025, 11:58:48 PM (2 days ago) Dec 9
to USS Ronin – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG
((Sickbay Ward 2, Deck 16, USS Blackheart))
Niac: Because I did...and from where I sit you look a hell of a lot tougher than me.
Some last layer of internal shielding finally failed and the Ensign's emotions spilled over, a deep wracking sob shaking her delicate frame. He kept his grip on her hand firm as she sobbed, the pain of what she'd experienced finally catching up with her.
Akani: How? How could someone like me be tougher than you? ::whispering to herself, unintentionally loud enough for Niac to hear:: How could I, Ensign Akani Xira ever be tougher than a starship captain?
Within Niac there was an outpouring of sympathy for the young woman who had experienced too much, who had seen too much, but it was Karrod himself who out of all the lives Niac had lead had the most experience with this kind of grief.
Niac: Because I wasn't born a starship captain...and Ensign Karrod Morrahn lost some friends and damn near got himself thrown out of Starfleet over it. I got angry and bitter and started lashing out at people who were trying to help me. But I never admitted I was hurting. Never allowed myself to feel what you're feeling now because I was afraid of it.
The Ensign once again tried to shift herself up in perhaps an attempt to regain her composure but ended up with her head against his shoulder, tears soaking into the textured fabric of his uniform tunic. Embarrassed she tried to reset herself and ended up slumping back to the biobed with a muffled whump.
Akani: ::Quietly:: I'm sorry, Sir…
He could feel the small, gentle smile on his face as he helped the woman settle back in.
Niac: No apologies necessary Ensign...I'll make that an order if it helps. You're doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing.
Akani: What do you mean?
He leaned back and tried to give the traumatized young woman some space to sort out her thoughts. He gestured vaguely towards all the medical equipment around them with a glance.
Niac: All of this gear...all the specialists and trained medical professionals in the quadrant don't mean a thing if you don't let yourself heal. That starts by doing what you're doing...by accepting the loss you've suffered. By facing the pain it's causing you. It'll be hard...and it'll be hard for a long time. People will help...but it'll be on you to work through it. You were tough enough to survive what happened on the Rose. I'm confident you're tough enough to survive what comes next.
Akani: Captain… I'm only 23. I can't be tougher than you, you have more life experience.
Karrod chuckled and shrugged deeply, pointing towards his abdomen with a thumb.
Niac: Well you're right on one count...technically I've got five lives worth of experience...well, six if you count...::He tried to summarize how he'd ended up with Alyndra's impression within Niac and shook his head::...long story, doesn't matter. Point is...I didn't have this idiot with me when I went through the worst of what my career has thrown at me. I was a young officer, just like you, and I had to learn to live in a world my friends were no longer a part of. And it was hard...one of the hardest things I've ever done. But I decided something then that has kept me going ever since.
Akani: Response
He stood and brushed the front of his uniform off, the few tears on his shoulder still damp.
Niac: I decided to be a stubborn ass. If the universe was out to get me I wasn't going to help it finish the job. So I got myself back on duty and took the tough missions. I volunteered for the difficult assignments. I forced myself to stare a hostile universe in the face until I could make it blink. And...::he gestured to himself::...here I stand, a few broken bones and phaser burns later, but still in mostly one piece. So believe me when I tell you...if I could do it with weaponized stubbornness, you can make it through this Ensign. I promise.
Akani: Response
[Tags/TBC!]
===============================
Fleet Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
Niac: Because I did...and from where I sit you look a hell of a lot tougher than me.
Some last layer of internal shielding finally failed and the Ensign's emotions spilled over, a deep wracking sob shaking her delicate frame. He kept his grip on her hand firm as she sobbed, the pain of what she'd experienced finally catching up with her.
Akani: How? How could someone like me be tougher than you? ::whispering to herself, unintentionally loud enough for Niac to hear:: How could I, Ensign Akani Xira ever be tougher than a starship captain?
Within Niac there was an outpouring of sympathy for the young woman who had experienced too much, who had seen too much, but it was Karrod himself who out of all the lives Niac had lead had the most experience with this kind of grief.
Niac: Because I wasn't born a starship captain...and Ensign Karrod Morrahn lost some friends and damn near got himself thrown out of Starfleet over it. I got angry and bitter and started lashing out at people who were trying to help me. But I never admitted I was hurting. Never allowed myself to feel what you're feeling now because I was afraid of it.
The Ensign once again tried to shift herself up in perhaps an attempt to regain her composure but ended up with her head against his shoulder, tears soaking into the textured fabric of his uniform tunic. Embarrassed she tried to reset herself and ended up slumping back to the biobed with a muffled whump.
Akani: ::Quietly:: I'm sorry, Sir…
He could feel the small, gentle smile on his face as he helped the woman settle back in.
Niac: No apologies necessary Ensign...I'll make that an order if it helps. You're doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing.
Akani: What do you mean?
He leaned back and tried to give the traumatized young woman some space to sort out her thoughts. He gestured vaguely towards all the medical equipment around them with a glance.
Niac: All of this gear...all the specialists and trained medical professionals in the quadrant don't mean a thing if you don't let yourself heal. That starts by doing what you're doing...by accepting the loss you've suffered. By facing the pain it's causing you. It'll be hard...and it'll be hard for a long time. People will help...but it'll be on you to work through it. You were tough enough to survive what happened on the Rose. I'm confident you're tough enough to survive what comes next.
Akani: Captain… I'm only 23. I can't be tougher than you, you have more life experience.
Karrod chuckled and shrugged deeply, pointing towards his abdomen with a thumb.
Niac: Well you're right on one count...technically I've got five lives worth of experience...well, six if you count...::He tried to summarize how he'd ended up with Alyndra's impression within Niac and shook his head::...long story, doesn't matter. Point is...I didn't have this idiot with me when I went through the worst of what my career has thrown at me. I was a young officer, just like you, and I had to learn to live in a world my friends were no longer a part of. And it was hard...one of the hardest things I've ever done. But I decided something then that has kept me going ever since.
Akani: Response
He stood and brushed the front of his uniform off, the few tears on his shoulder still damp.
Niac: I decided to be a stubborn ass. If the universe was out to get me I wasn't going to help it finish the job. So I got myself back on duty and took the tough missions. I volunteered for the difficult assignments. I forced myself to stare a hostile universe in the face until I could make it blink. And...::he gestured to himself::...here I stand, a few broken bones and phaser burns later, but still in mostly one piece. So believe me when I tell you...if I could do it with weaponized stubbornness, you can make it through this Ensign. I promise.
Akani: Response
[Tags/TBC!]
===============================
Fleet Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
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