This Is Me...(part 2)

Posted on Thu Mar 11th, 2021 @ 5:32pm by Chief Helmsman Dixoho Saa (Mirror) & Micheal Robinson (Mirror)
Edited on on Thu Mar 11th, 2021 @ 6:07pm

Mission: Mirror Mirror
Location: ISS Fenrir
Timeline: 2396
Tags: Challenge 2
2051 words - 4.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Panting from the run, Micheal rolled his head over to his left to look at Dixoho. "Well," he began between gasps for breath. "That was just as fun as I remember it. I swear, it seems like you got a bit faster. Before, with my own, real legs, I was never able to beat you. And now, even with the cybernetic enhancements that I have, you still seemed to find a hidden reserve, deep down, and wiped the corridor with me." As he finished speaking, he sat forward, peeled off his sweat soaked shirt, and tried to use it as a towel to wipe away the a sweat that was pouring down his face.

Dixoho could feel her heart beating hard against her chest and the adrenaline coursing through her veins but she thought she could have pushed herself further if she thought about it. Ten times around the deck was nothing to what she pushed herself to sometimes. Sometimes it was the only way she slept and did not think about the blood on her hands and the blood she had been covered in when Nathan had been murdered.

“Every non-Terran has a reserve that you Terrans always forget about that keeps us alive.” She murmured with a small sigh as she stretched out a little on the sofa before sitting on the floor feeling the cool marble effect under her fingers.

Nodding sadly, Micheal replied. "Yeah, you're right. Though, I like to think that I am not like most Terran. I agree that most of my species feel that they are the superior race in the universe, however, I'd also like to think that you wouldn't lump in into that group, simply because of my birth origin." He stood and moved over to the replicator. He ordered two glasses of chilled Altair water and carried them back to the couch, handing one down to Dixoho.

"I'm not like my racial brethren, Di. You know that. Have I ever, in all the time you have known me, acted as if I was superior, just because I'm Terran?"

Dixoho took the glass and gulped it down allowing the purity of it to wash over her for a moment before she shrugged. She knew that but eventually all Terrans slipped up. “Not in my presence, Michael, but all Terrans slip up sometimes even ones who think they are not quite above every one of the species that they have conquered. Non Terrans are only allowed in Starfleet when it suits them. Look at what they did to Betazoids, Selina for example chief of engineering on this vessel now reduced to a whore warming someone’s bed and rooting out traitors.” Dixoho slammed the glass down surprised it did not shatter.

While Micheal empathized with Dixoho in this matter, he still found it quite aggravating that, even after all these years, after everything he had done and said to the contrary, at the end of the day, Dixoho still saw him as the same as all other Terran. A low growl vibrated deep inside his powerfully built chest. He started to pace, to keep from lashing out. "Di," he started, speaking quietly through clenched teeth. "What more must I do, to prove to you, once and for all, that I may be Terran by birth, but that is where it ends for me."

He stopped pacing and turned to look at her, using his right hand to indicate his artificial eye left arm and artificial ribs. "You do rember why i got these, yes? Because I tried to kill the Terran who destroyed a world of innocent Betazoids! I got the rest, " waving his hand over the rest of his body, "trying to finish the job i had started! What more, i ask you again," he dropped to his knees, defeated. "What more must I do to prove myself?" He hung his head, spent. His chest rising and falling in deep, ragged breaths. "I just want your trust and acceptance." The words were a bare whisper.

He suddenly knew something he could do. He had already told her that he wanted to expose himself like this...

He got up and moved to sit back on the couch. Without a word, he undid the laces on his boots and removed them. Then, standing up, removed his pants, leaving nothing on but his black boxer briefs. Sitting back down, he reached down to his right thigh, pressed a hidden control, there was an audible click, then twisted and removed the limb, just below the midpoint of his thigh muscle. He repeated the action for the left leg, placing it off to the side with his right one.

"What are you doing?" She demanded but got no reply.

Next, he tapped a few spots on his abdominal plating, which raised slightly, then slid down to either side, revealing his abdominal cavity, or what was left of it. It was a jumble of wires, circuits, tubing and some remaining bits of organic tissue.

Without pausing, he reached over to his left shoulder and, like his legs, depressed a hidden control then, with a soft pop, the arm lifted away from his body slightly. Taking hold of his left forearm, he lifted the limb the rest of the way off of him, placing it with his legs.

Finally, after putting his right hand on the arm of the couch, he seemed to stare off into space for a moment, there was a soft click, and the left side of his head and face blossomed open, showing the inner workings there.

"There," his voice was slightly distorted. "I am as vulnerable as I will ever be. This is what is left of me, Di. What little there is, is yours. The choice is yours."

Dixoho held her breath in and just looked up somewhere between horror and intrigued as she took in what was left of the man she had fallen in and out of love with for better part of half a decade. She stood up to give him space and because she had no idea where he had suddenly gone especially when the fall of Betazed was concerned. “How are you still alive? How did they even keep you alive and allow you to keep your commission?” She wondered distress as she back up until her knees hit the opposite sofa and she sat down.

The right side of his face turned up in a sarcastic grin. "The beauty of modern medicine." His voice was sounding more electronic than organic at the moment. "The funny thing is, the anatomical parts that make me a man, are still there, unscathed. I'm not sure if its a blessing or a curse." He chuckled softly at his dry humor.

His organic right eye took in Dixoho's clear discomfort. "You think I'm a monster now, don't you?" He sighed and turned the left side of his face away. "I don’t blame you," he whispered. "I am a monster."

Suddenly, his face cycled shut. He then started to reach for his left arm. "This was a mistake." It was clear that his heart was breaking.

Dixoho did not think he was a monster, but she was finding it hard to process it all. Mechanics and things like that really did not bother her, but she was concerned for him and his future. He was not someone who would ever be allowed to grow old nor leave Imperial Starfleet. They had too much on him now. “I do not think you a monster, but I am concerned for your future. You will never be allowed a life now.” Dixoho commented on trying to order her thoughts enough to make sense and to not lose him. She leaned out and took the glass of water between both of her hands.

Stopping his movements, Micheal turned his gaze to the angel that held his heart in her hands. A sudden flash of concern crossed his features. "I...I hadn't considered that." His chest pumped as his rate of breathing increaed with his anxiety. "What are...what can...?" He shook his head in frustration. He was getting very agitated, however, with three of his limbs removed, all he could do was rock slightly in growing impotent rage. Throwing his head back, he cried out in the rage that was screaming to get out. Slamming his right fist down on the arm of the couch caused his stack of limbs to tumble over, out of his reach. This sight caused a sad whimper of agony to escape his lips. Without thinking, he moved to try to reach them, only to roll and tumble to the deck in a heap.

Dixoho winced at the scream that echoed through her quarters, it was as if she had spoken a truth he had not considered and the penny had finally dropped. She closed her eyes for a moment as the sound left a silence between them as she tried to calm her whirling mind. “Stop. Just stop.” She whispered, unable to take the agony in his voice. She slowly crawled over and put everything in order for him to reach stuff as the chime went at her door. Standing she went to answer the door and was surprised to see two security officers there.

“There has been a noise complaint.” The man said, shifting uneasy to see inside. They all knew that Saa was under surveillance and they were checking she was safe.

“I am fine.” She said simply closing the door on there. She could hear the two discussing whether they were going to take her word for it but eventually they decided it was easier to take her word.

Micheal slowly reattached his left arm. Then using both, sat up and against the front of the couch. Reaching towards his abdomen, he resealed the sculpted plating, then he reached for his legs, reattaching the left one first, then the right one.

Once he was put back together, he slowly stood up, ensuring everything was properly reconnected. He was still clearly upset, but, didn't cry out any more. Moving over to the nearest porthole, he gazed out into the void of space, every muscle in his well-built physique rippling as he worked on his rage internally.

"Why?" He asked quietly. "Why did they save me? Why did they rebuild me? Why keep me alive?! What is the point?!"

Dixoho stayed by the door still able to hear the pair outside bickering. Slowly she turned back around and watched him pulling himself figuratively and literally together. She said nothing until she took him in stood by the porthole. He looked like a lonely figure now he had been challenged on so much, the guilt inside of her made her slowly move over to where he stood. “I do not have any of those answers I am afraid.” She admitted touching his shoulder. “They are not my questions to answer.” She added sadly wishing she did have something to give him but she had nothing.

Feeling her soft touch, Micheal slowly turned to face the beautiful Trill, the woman who had owned his heart since the first day they met, all those years ago. Moving slowly, he reached out and pulled her to him, wrapping his strong arms around her body. He buried his face in her neck and inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with her soft scent. The whole world faded away as they stood there. All that existed, for him, was her.

Finally, after a few beats, he loosened his hold slightly, moving his head back so he could look down into her deep, hypnotic eyes. "I love you, Dixoho Saa. I always have. I always will." He then leaned his head down to kiss her.

Dixoho stayed perfectly still feeling unsure of her self as he gripped her tight to him as she suspected he was trying to compose himself. It was nice to be that close to someone again especially when it was Michael. Time would tell if this was going to work though, she needed to process everything still. She needed time and arriving at Phados Prime was not the right time or place even if the kisses were a sweet trip down memory lane.