Hoping For A Quiet Day
Posted on Sun Feb 21st, 2021 @ 9:43am by Chief Helmsman Dixoho Saa (Mirror) & Micheal Robinson (Mirror)
Mission:
Mirror Mirror
Location: ISS Fenrir, Dixoho's quarters
Timeline: 2397
3072 words - 6.1 OF Standard Post Measure
Micheal, fully refreshed, despite the large amount of alcohol he and Dixoho had consumed the night before, was one his way to her cabin, as the ship's computer had told him she was located. In his hands, he carried a covered tray. Underneath the cover, was an assortment of things that he knew Dixoho preferred to have after a night of drinking honey whiskey.
He knew that it wouldn't give him absolution for his actions in the past. However, he hoped it would be a good place to start over and rebuild a relationship with the beautiful Trill. Even if all this gesture did was earn him a genuine warm smile, then that would be a start.
Reaching her cabin, the former bounty hunter took a deep breath, cleared his mind of the nervous energy that was building, reached out and pressed the door chime control pad.
Dixoho had not been awake longer than it took to shower and then slump back onto her bed when the chime echoed through her quarters. "Come in." She called grabbing up a robe to wrap around herself. No one would bother her to attempt anything as no one else had anywhere near the skill that she had driving the ship. It made her uniquely needed for a Trill but also why Gregnol kept her around, she was loyal and blocked anyone else's attempts on him
Upon hearing her enter command, the computer opened the door and Micheal entered, a soft smile on his face. "Di?" He called out as he moved further into the cabin. "Morning. I have some breakfast for ya."
The room was dimly lit but what could be seen of any of it was luxurious. The ship was huge and could afford to have it compare to other ships. Dixoho appeared tying the robe closed. She looked at him confused as she moved her hair out of her face. “How can you be feeling so good after everything we drank?” She demanded not at all softening like she used to.
Micheal at first smiled brighter when he saw Dixoho, then cringed a little at her question. "Well," he said as he gently placed the covered tray on the nearest table. "Remember how i told you that I had massive injuries? Well, along with my legs, there were a few internal parts that had to be completely replaced. My liver, left kidney, left lung and left side of my rib cage, most of my small intestine and half of my skull, all had to be replaced with either medical grade duranium or artificial organs." As he spoke, he took his shirt off, revealing the patchwork of silver lines and duranium sheeting that covered his torso.
Dixoho raised an eyebrow at him taking his shirt off and sat down on one of the couches to admire. "Well, you were always a fan of taking your shirt off. Nice to see that has not changed." She said looking him over unrestrained. She had never been coy in her life but now she was like a huntress looking over her prey. "So just how much human is left?" She finally asked.
Seeing that familiar look in Dixoho's eyes, Micheal gave her a hungry smile as he responded. "All the important parts are still there, unused since you enjoyed them last." He hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his closed pants, just below his belly button. A low growl started to rumble deep in his broad chest.
"Was not what I was hinting at but nice to know." She murmured. She knew she had nowhere been that restrained. She had presumed him dead along with having a husband until six months ago. Their relationship had always been complicated so there was nothing new there but this was definitely different than before. She had the upper hand this time though, she was the one who knew what was at risk here.
Feeling the awkward pause, Micheal asked the question. "What's wrong, Di?"
"Nothing. This is just.... odd." She finally conceded with a shake of her head. "Everything I want but it feels wrong. You do not feel like mine. I have to share you with your master."
The Texan shrugged. "No more than I have to share you with Gregnol." He moved to crouch in front of her. "Di, we've been given a second chance. Let's not waste it. Let's enjoy the time we have." He chuckled. "Heh, who knows, we might be dead by morning."
"Gregnol is not my lover or my master. He is my senior officer." Dixoho moving away from him amazed that he thought that of her or at least thought her capable of that.
Micheal sighed, knowing he had worded it incorrectly. Standing he paced towards the far bulkhead, his back to Dixoho. Hanging his head, his voice was barely above a whisper. "I never meant that. I only meant that you serve him, as an officer of his senior staff. You could never be anyone's slave. You're not weak. Not...not like me."
"You are not weak. Just foolish. You think of the next step, not the next five steps." She muttered leaning over to where the tray was covered and pulled it free looking at the food.
Turning his, still human, eye towards her, he nodded slowly. "You're right. You were always the one to plan things out, find just the right time, place and method to claim your prey. Me? I simply exploded on the scene, not caring who was in the way as I terminated my target."
“And that is not how we do things. Not anymore.” Dixoho said simply picking up a piece of toast taking a bite. It was delicious and buttery after her drinking session. “Your master, how long do you think he will survive on this ship?”
Micheal turned the rest of the way around. "Why? Are you already planning on killing him? Because, if you are, know this. If Reece dies while on this ship, I die too."
“No. I’m not planning on it but I can imagine the Interrogators have found at least four plots especially if they cannot get him on their side. Nathan got killed because he pissed off the Interrogators and got stupid letting it all go to his head. They did not warn him of a threat from the Chief Engineer.” It was the way ships worked but the Chief Engineer was long dead. She had not enjoyed the position long.
Micheal stepped closer to Dixoho and repeated himself. "Di, did you hear me? If Kyle Reece dies while assigned to this vessel, I will die. Instantly and in a great deal of pain."
“I heard you Micheal.” She assured looking up at him as she flicked a piece of hair behind her ear. “You asked me if I was planning to kill him I am not but that does not mean others will not try. He doesn’t like me so what can I do to protect him hmm?”
Micheal was starting to get angry. Dixoho was seemingly refusing to recognize the danger he will be in if Reece was killed. Clenching his fists, he spoke, the anger clear in his quiet tone. "I'm not talking about his well-being. I'm talking about my own." He paused, visibly vibrating in anger. Then, he got still. His voice, when he spoke again, was nearly dead calm.
"You don't care about what happens to me anymore? Fine. I deserve that. I was hoping that there might still be a part of you that cared about me. I see that I am wrong." He paused. "I won't bother you again. I apologize for disturbing your morning. Good bye." He then turned before he lost control of his breaking heart, and started towards the door to leave Dixoho's quarters.
Dixoho almost picked up the glass next to her and threw it but decided to roll her head. “I keep him alive. I keep you alive. Where are you not seeing the connection?” She demanded comply. “Just because I am not throwing myself at you doesn’t mean I do not need or want you. I’m just not a Betazoid with a free ride to emotions or law protecting their lives.”
Her words stopped him in his tracks. His mind was spinning. Did she care about him? Didn't she? He so wanted to believe the former. With his back still to her, he said, "I know I hurt you, Di. I know that I almost hurt you so much more when I..." He didn't think he had to mention the day he nearly fired on the bridge.
Turning to face her, still shirtless, he said, "I know you can do so so much better than me, Dixoho Saa. But you, you are the best that I will ever be with." He took a few steps towards her and then a few more, stopping right in front of her. Looking down into her beautiful eyes, he inhaled deeply, taking in the perfume that he always liked on her. "I will never do anything to hurt you again. Even if that means giving my life up to protect you, from whatever may come." He paused, gazing into her eyes. "I love you."
“You aren’t the only one to have hurt me in the last year Micheal.” She commented on leaning out to gently touch his chest as he was close to her for the first time in a year. “As I said last night I do not know if I can love anymore.” It was impossible to not love but Dixoho was wanting to protect herself.
Micheal reached up, with his artificial left hand, and gently took hold of Dixoho’s hand on his chest. He sighed softly, as he relished the sensation. While he knew that it was just circuitry, but, it was the first time he had felt her with that hand, since his original had been cut off. He knew that she could feel warmth coming through the synthflesh as he held her.
With his real right hand, he reached up and gently tucked some loose hairs behind her left ear. Then, absent-mindedly, gently traced the spots above her left ear with the tip of his thumb.
There was no anger or hurt in his right eye, even his artificial left eye glowed a softer red. "I'll gladly take whatever you feel you can or want to give me." He started to lean in to kiss her.
Dixoho relaxed into the kiss, finally feeling him against her as if time hadn’t separated them. She moaned softly as she pulled back sitting down. “Mmm like nothing has changed.” She whispered touching her lips.
A warm grin started to slowly fill Micheal’s face. "I've miss you, more than you can know, Di." Lowering his large bulk to sit next to her, he shook his head as he stared at the floor. "Through all the pain, of surviving the explosion, to the treatments and surgeries, to the conditioning they tried to beat into me." He looked up into her beautiful face. "The memory of you, in my arms, the taste of your kiss, the way you felt under me. It all kept me sane and helped me to survive."
It sounded painful and something that she was sure she would never have endured well. She could not do physical pain when she had so much mental pain going on that she could never share with anyone. "I am glad you survived." She finally said turning a little to look at him.
He gave her a soft grin. "Me too. I had to get back to you. To make up to you all the pain I caused you." Casting his eyes up and leaning back into the luxurious couch, he said, "I have made so many mistakes."
"So have I." She assured him quickly. It could not just be on him alone, she had made mistakes from marrying someone else to taking the mission to the other universe.
Lifting his head and turning his body to face Dixoho, he reached with both hands and took hold of hers. Looking into her eyes, he said, "Let's start over. Leave our separate pasts in the past and work towards a single, unified future."
"I cannot do that. I have seen things that no one should have." She whispered pulling her hands back to rub her face trying to work out how to explain it. "Michael, the other universe... It has changed me and if I show anyone outside of this room that I am dead."
Concerned, Micheal slid closer to Dixoho, reaching out and pulling her into his embrace. "Di, sweetheart, listen to what I'm about to say because I'm only going to say it once. No matter what happened to you in that alternate universe, I will always stand by you, with you." He gave her a determined look. "Even if it means I find a way to cut out the explosive charge that was implanted into my brain."
Dixoho stayed silent for a moment before she pushed him away. "Implanted in your brain?" She demanded.
Micheal didn't resist. Frowning his nodded. "Yeah. One of the way the Black Phoenix Group ensures loyalty. The joy with mine is, it's tied to a device in Kyle’s heart as well. So, if he dies, then the device in my head will detonate." He paused before continuing. "I was assured, given the
“How Gregnol ever let either of you onboard I have no idea.” Dixoho sighed leaning forward trying to think of options. “Well at least your brain has not been completely addled that you do not trust them.”
Smirking, Micheal glanced over at Dixoho with his artificial eye. "What are you thinking? I can hear your gears moving."
“Nothing.” She said turning to look at him seeing his red eye staring at her. “Does your eye do anything special?” She wondered trying to distract him.
Caught off guard by her question, Micheal chuckled softly as he thought of how to answer. 'Well, as you remember, with the old one, I just had the ability to see in regular and low light level. This one," raising his left hand to it, "has a more complex CPU and I have more options. Regular vision, low light, thermal, magnification to third power, and an internal text comm unit, where I can see text sent to me."
“That is not creepy at all.” She muttered leaning over to pour some coffee passing one to him then pouring her own. This was so much more domesticated than they had been in a while.
Taking the offered coffee, he chuckled. "It took me a while to get used to everything. Check this out, for example." After moving the mug to his right hand, raised his left arm, palm facing the ceiling. After a moment, his hand twitched,and bent toward the deck. As it did so, a five centimeter spike extended from the base of his palm.
“What the hell?” She muttered looking at him alarmed. What had they done to him?
"It's a combination, data terminal connector/close quarter spike weapon." His voice was void of any emotion as he described the item. "With this, i can physically hook into any computer with a data port. As a weapon, it makes a decent hole in a person, were I to use it as such." Another pause and the spike retracted back into hi wrist, the small opening from where it exited slid shut like a small set of doors.
Looking at Dixoho, regret was written on his face. "They turned me into a monster, Di!" He turned away and leaning his elbows onto his knees, buried his face in his palms.
Dixoho had no idea what to say to him for a long time as she tried to understand what had happened to him. She had never heard of anything like that. She felt relief that he was alive and well but she was scared by what he was now. “Michael you are not a monster.” She assured.
Looking up at her, he had a determined look on his face. "You wondered how much of me is left. I want to show you." Standing up and turning to face her, he extended his real right hand to her. "Do you trust me?"
“I do but it will have to wait till after my shift. We are arriving at the rendezvous point in the next few hours.” She admitted wishing she had more time to enjoy moments like this.
After a beat, he nodded, smiling warmly that she hadn't said no. "Shall we have some breakfast then?"
Dixoho nodded looking at what was left to eat. She was going to wonder all day what this evening was going to bring she just knew it.
Micheal moved to pull out a chair for Dixoho to sit. "Whats your day looking like today?"
“Well we arrive at Phados Prime today and no one knows whether it is for pleasure or business yet so who knows what today will bring. Why I am not on duty yet.” She mused drinking the coffee down quickly not knowing how long she would have before she was requested back on the Bridge.
Micheal smiled softly as he watched Dixoho relax. He knew that she was the best at what she did, but, was also not totally arrogant about it. That, and her perfect killer instinct, had enabled her to live long enough to come into his life. He only hoped that, after this past year of hell, he wouldn't lose her again. "Well," he said after taking a sip of his own coffee. "Just make sure you hope for a quiet day, so we can have the evening together."
The woman nodded. It would be wishful thinking but she was feeling positive. She just needed for it to be to allow her to do whatever he wanted her to do.
