Lieutenant Is’Kah Xiron - Then Frontier Day Happened

[Is'Kah Xiron]

((Valhalla Lounge, Approaching Deck 4, USS Valkyrie))

Is’Kah met Reine’X in a turbolift while on the way to eat a quick meal. After inviting the Orion officer to join zhen for their security interview, it quickly turned into an impromptu counseling session. The petite Trill/Vulcan hybrid wanted to stop the images flashing through zhen mind and had slipped into the stereotype for zhen species.

Is'Kah: Crewman Baker was fatally stabbed by the mechanical spiders and succumbed almost immediately. An officer under my command was abducted and subjected to torture, resulting in their death. In total, fifty-seven individuals lost their lives that day. I spent the subsequent five days awake as we were towed back to Deep Space 31, maintaining the integrity of the ship with blood, sweat, baling wire, and duct tape. When I finally managed to rest, I experienced a severe PTSD episode, during which I shattered both my hands and forearms while confronting what I believed to be a RoLF. It was not. Instead, it was the bulkhead in my quarters. Had it not been for my bond with Ghee’looth, I would have bled to death on the floor of my quarters. She reached out to me through our bond from Denali Station and rescued me from being trapped in my dream.

Reine’X: It was not your fault.. :: she paused, making sure Is’Kah was paying attention to her..::You are safe right now. Right here

It always felt like zhen fault, if zha had been a better shot. If zha had adjusted the shields correctly. If zha had listened to Lieutenant Commander Alieth. There were many things that Is’Kah should have done better or differently, but it all came down to zhen fault.

Reinex: Lieutenant… Is’Kah:: she decided to call zhen by zhen name without first checking if it was alright. Reine’X assumed the hybrid could actually benefit from it, since the situation required dropping ranks. Besides, they were off duty anyway.:: Is’Kah, you are not your trauma. Your trauma::she articulated the next words:: DOES NOT define you.

Is'Kah: Sometimes, it felt like it did.

Reine'X: May I offer you my help? My services, so to speak? ::She let that sink in::.As you know, my role is as a counselor. Would you consider regular counseling sessions? That is, if you are not currently seeing another counselor. This could be in an unofficial capacity for now, as I would first have to clear it with my superiors, of course.

The hybrid raised an eyebrow. Was she not one of the ship’s counselors?

Is'Kah: I am still under mandatory counseling sessions, as Captain Serala never rescinded them.

Reine'X : But of course, please continue talking if you wish to. If you want to take a break, that is also fine.

The petite officer put zhen empty tray to the side before placing zhen arms on the table, hands folded together, save for the tips of zhen forefingers touching.

Is'Kah: The other missions, while traumatic, were not as overwhelming. One week after witnessing C-crewman Ba-Baker's death, then Lieutenant Commander Kel and I were recalled to Earth from the Alpha Isles and the USS Ronin. This occurred just prior to Frontier Day, 2401. Following the theft of our ships by the Borg, my partner, Lieutenant Ghee’looth Xiron, and I were involved in the operation that led to the theft of the USS Chin’toka using forged orders. As we attempted to defend the fleet, the process of assimilation began. Subsequently, then Lieutenant T’Ama was assimilated before shooting then Commander Serala. Returning fire, the Captain shot T’Ama’s eye out. The Captain subsequently beamed her to the brig and deactivated all phasers on the ship.

Reine’X: Response

Is'Kah: At the time, we were unaware that T’Ama possessed a phaser from the USS Artemis and was not integrated into our computer systems. After setting off an explosion in the brig with it and fleeing, the Borg proceeded to engineering. Due to the incapacitated state of the weapons and my recent trauma-induced desperation to protect a senior officer, I deemed it appropriate to confront the Borg Lieutenant physically and bite as forcefully as possible. At that moment, I had implants that enabled me to extend my canines. In hindsight, having them installed was not the most logical decision. It is why I’ve been ordered to undergo mandatory counseling as part of my reprimand for my inappropriate choices.

Reine’X: Response

Is'Kah: It indeed achieved the intended effect and effectively halted the Borg's advance. To facilitate this, I intentionally provoked T’Ama with a highly offensive remark concerning the theft of her t'hy'la, Vulcan for soulmate, should she choose to continue her allegiance with the Collective. This provocation offended her, prompting her to respond by slapping my face with such force that it fractured my jaw and implants.

Reine’X: Response

Is'Kah: Following a brief visit to the medical facility, I resumed my duties in Engineering. At some point, I am not aware of the exact time, we rescued President Chekov. After his announcement to the Federation, the fleet turned against us. We were losing, so I implemented a deadman's switch in the computer to maximize the ship's chances of survival in the event that Engineering was compromised. Ghee’looth and I bid farewell to one another in the most professional manner, which honestly took me by surprise, when Admiral Picard ended the threat somehow.

Throughout the conversation, since speaking of the death zha witnessed, Is’Kah continued speaking in a monotone. It was as if zha were simply giving a report rather than therapy. The way the hybrid put in zhen Vulcan mask was to mentally switch to zhen native tongue. Doing it that way was like switching operating systems within zhen mind.

Thinking in that language was enough at this point in zhen life to activate it, two years after zhen chaotic bonding with zhen's partner had broken zhen emotional control. That had caused many moments that zha wished zha could take back, but you can’t exactly change the past. Not for something so trivial.

Is’Kah also knew that shifting to it to hide from the pain was not good for zhen emotional development. Calm detachment had its benefits, but this wasn’t one of those times. Yet, the petite officer didn’t know how else to deal with the pain besides shove it in a box and store it somewhere.

Reine’X: Response

Lieutenant Is’Kah Xiron

Chief of Tactical and Security

USS Valkyrie, NCC-76418-A

R240101I14

Pronouns:

She/Her (Player and Character)

Zha/Zhen (Character)