True Love's Kiss

Posted on Thu Jun 17th, 2021 @ 6:45pm by Executive Officer Jake Ford
Edited on on Fri Jun 25th, 2021 @ 12:24pm

Mission: Mission 13: Stowaway
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD-09 - 12:30
1379 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Persis pulled up the covers as she watched the people she did not know move around and examine her. She wasn't used to being touched, nor was she used to this many people. It made her want to pull the covers over her head.

The doors to sickbay opened and she brightened at a familiar face. "Jake. Hello."

Jake had been in two minds about returning to sickbay. He felt an odd compulsion to check in on their new passenger, which was at odds with the strange other compulsions going through his mind at any given point. All-in-all, things had been strange ever since the crazy body-swapping and how that had seemed to change him deep down inside. Some people looked at him oddly when he spoke. He felt his anger bubbling away inside a little more keenly than he used to. Eden and Reuben had made the occasional comment about it, but he figured they were blowing it out of proportion.

Sighting Persis curled up in a biobed he felt a pang of pity for her; alone and afraid, probably tricked into some arranged marriage by the Ferengi...the injustice of it made him mad enough to want to fix it.

"How are you feeling?" he asked. "I told you they'd look after you here. I was right, wasn't I?"

She nodded. They hadn't hurt her and though it had felt odd, she did feel better once they'd given her a stimulant to get her heart moving at a faster rate, where it was supposed to be. "I am feeling better. But . . . what's going? No one's told me anything. Are we at the planet? Did I wake up too early?" She moved to sit up, tucking the covers around her legs.

"I'm not sure what they've told you, but no - we're not at the planet. The Ferengi was lying to you, and putting you in stasis for transport was highly illegal." He tried to look reassuring. "You're on board the SS Mary Rose, and we're still on our way to Betazed, but there have been some complications. There are some not-very-nice people who seem to want to take possession of you."

Her eyes rose at this. "But they were helping me . . . who?" she said not understanding and then suddenly she smiled as if that didn't matter any more. "I'm glad you're here though. I know I can trust you. And don't worry about me, I will be fine." She paused for only a moment, the smile still on her face. "Where are you from?" She asked interested.

"I..." Jake felt momentarily flustered. Humbled, even. "Vega Colony originally. It's a little world, not far from Tellar. Beautiful sunsets. Real pretty place." He angled his head. "What about you? Where did you come from? And how did you end up in this situation?"

"Krios prime. And what do you mean? I was born this way and saved so I could do some good someday," Persis looked as if she meant what she said.

"I didn't mean to offend you," he replied. "I just mean the whole business in packing yourself away in a box like that. Shipping yourself like some mail-order bride to a guy you never met. Surely you deserve better than that?"

"But this is a noble sacrifice for myself and for them. It's what I was raised for. My family benefits quite a bit from this arrangement." She frowned. "Do you know when we will arrive?" Persis was starting to get nervous, as if these people might not take her to her intended. What happened if she didn't arrive?

"Honestly, I'm not sure." Maybe never if that marauder can't be stopped, he thought to himself. "I hope we can help you follow through with things, at least for your family's sake. I just...I don't like the thought of someone being forced into giving themselves away like that."

"No one is forcing me." Persis replied. But they had talked enough of the subject. In all honesty she was disappointed that he was not her betrothed. "Can I leave here? Want to go for a walk?" She pulled the blankets off of her and reached out a hand to him.

"Oh..." Jake looked around for Oliver or Beya, but neither were to be immediately found. She seemed all right in herself, though, and if she felt ready for a walk that might not be the worst thing. "I...guess that's okay. Maybe we can get you something to eat - you must be hungry." He took hold of her hand to help her stand up from the biobed.

"I am starved," she agreed. "What's your favorite kind of food?" Persis asked as she smiled, glad that he'd helped her off the bed. "I haven't really gotten to try that many kinds of food, not on Krios, but I'm looking forward to trying a lot of new things on Betazed. I've heard it's a very nice planet and that the people are friendly."

"So far as I know. Let's find the mess hall and a menu," Jake suggested. "I can introduce you to some people; I'm sure Eden will like you at the very least."

"Who is Eden?" She asked curiously, not at all familiar with the word and assuming it was a name.

"Eden's my girlfriend," Jake replied with a grin. "We met on board. Honestly, she's really sweet - you'll like her a lot. Just don't ask to meet Stan, that's all I'll say."

"Oh," Persis answered him, having a hard time not showing her emotions on the subject. She was sure Eden was a perfectly nice person but for some reason she'd been hoping . . . it was silly to think that way. She was betrothed! "What's a Stan?" She asked, much more subdued.

"You ask a lot of questions. Maybe it's better if I show you," Jake explained, ushering her towards the door.

"Is that bad? Asking a lot of questions? How else am I going to learn things?" But she followed along after him anyway.

"Ha - good point." He grinned. "Did you not go to school on Krios? Have an education?"

"I was educated at home. But I don't consider myself deprived. I could learn about anything I wanted and I had many tutors for different subjects. It was nice ... I will miss them a lot but I'm also excited about this new chapter in my life and a little nervous."

"Sounds like you had it pretty good back home. And don't be nervous, we're here to keep you all safe. That's part of our job here. We'll get you delivered to wherever it is you need to go, so long as that's what you want."

She nodded, for the first time in her life she was a little confused about that. " Are you happy? In life, right now?"

"Am I happy?" he asked. It was a strange question. In many ways he was the happiest he had been in a long time. He was normally pretty flighty and found it hard to put down roots, but Rosie had felt like home for a while now, and he had Eden, and Reuben trusted him. Of course that was despite Liha's recent antagonism and Beya's weird reaction earlier on. "I'd like to think I am. Sure. Why? Are you happy?"

"I .. . don't know. I thought I was." She gave a small apologetic shrug. Her life had gone from knowing exactly what was ahead to being a little bit confused about it all. "I want to be happy but I guess I won't know if I will be until I get to Betazed."

"Maybe we can make you happier before we get there," he suggested. "I bet you didn't get a bachelorette party before you jumped in a stasis box, huh? Maybe we can get the girls to throw you a shindig. A good party makes anyone happy."

"A what?" Persis looked at him curiously with her head slightly cocked. "What does that mean?"

"A party. It's...a get-together? Lots of people coming and having some fun, celebrating an event or something important. Like a wedding, for instance." He chuckled. "Come on. I'll introduce you to some folks and we'll get you settled in."