Grief and Recovery

Posted on Thu Jul 15th, 2021 @ 12:14pm by Alexis Agrax (Mirror) & Executive Officer Kyle Reece (Mirror)

Mission: Mirror Mirror
Location: ISS Fenrir, Holodeck 2
Timeline: 2396
2855 words - 5.7 OF Standard Post Measure

After leaving Gregnol's office, and with Micheal in tow, Kyle left the bridge, still not acknowledging the stares. Once the turbo lift doors closed, he spoke. "Micheal, for the next three days, I will be in holodeck two. The Captain has granted his permission to do so, thus, unless ordered by the Captain, himself, no one but yourself or Alexis is allowed to enter. Do I make myself clear?" He wanted to ensure there wasn't another issue with Ford and his lapdogs.

"Perfectly clear, Master." Micheal's voice was near robotic in tone. Ever since the mixup outside of Kyle quarters, he had been receiving electrical shocks, as punishment, periodically. He would not fail in his duties again.

A few moments later, they were on deck ten, standing outside holodeck two. Kyle was inputting commands into the system as Micheal stood guard. When Kyle finished setting the holodeck to his requirements, he stopped and composed a message to Alexis.

Alexis,

Let me first say again, how much you mean to me. In the short time that I have been here, you have become the shining light in the darkness around me. I have come to realize that I am not only drawn to you but, gain strength from you when you are near.

The Captain has authorized my use of holodeck two for the next three days. As I am about to enter it now, I will be unable to meet you for our discussed dinner. I hope you can forgive me. Me and allow me a rain check on it for when I come out of here. I will be fasting for the next three days, so I will certainly be hungry. Haha.

I know that, though these next three days will be extreme, I will always feel the pain of my loss. With both your friendship and, hopefully, one day, your love, that pain will grow weaker and weaker.

You are a remarkable woman, and I am honored to both know you, and am allowed to be close to you. I look forward to the time when we can be close again.

I have instructed Micheal that you are allowed entry into the holodeck, during the time I am inside, should you so choose.

I love you, Alexis Agrax.

Yours Eternally,

-K

Once the letter was finished, he sent it off to Alexis's inbox. He then activated the holodeck program and entered the chamber. Once the doors slid shut, Micheal took up position directly in front of the doors, blocking any from entering and disturbing his master.

Alexis was not sure how to take the letter that she received. It was too soon and far too long since someone had declared that to her. Nathan had been the last person and that was so long ago that she could not even remember the words just how it made her feel and how the child that they had together had allowed her to love someone else even if they could never be. She went about her duties for a day before she decided to interrupt the man and his grief. She wanted answers when they had agreed to go slow. She looked Michael up and down and shook her head at him.
“You feeling like talking yet?” She wondered quietly to Michael, he had barely said anything to her since he had come on board. Him, Selina, Her, Dixoho they had all been on the ship on and off for years. They knew each other.

Micheal turned and acknowledged Alexis. "Good evening, Ma'am. I apologize for not speaking to you sooner. I don't have much free time. How have you been?"

Alexis raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "Drop the formalities." She murmured softly. "I've been here. I have existed." It was as simple as that. Her days were all the same.

Micheal was quiet for a moment, then sighed, glancing over his shoulder at the closed holodeck doors. When he looked back at Alexis, he gave her an uncharacteristic soft grin. There was also a slight softness in his right eye. "It is nice to see you, Alexis. Aside from Di, you're the only other person to say two nice words to me since I've returned. Even the Captain barely acknowledged my presence. Not that I blame him. The last time we were near one another, I was about to fire on the bridge and kill him. Frankly, I'm surprised he hasn't killed me yet."

"I am sure there is still time for him to kill you," Alexis commented with a shrug. She was pretty sure if the butcher killed everyone he wanted to no one would be on board the ship. He might be a warrior but he was also a politician and strategist, thinking many steps ahead. "I think most people are annoyed as you tried to kill him with us all in tow." She reminded him with a small smile. It was hard to be nice to someone after an event like that.

Lowering his gaze, he slowly shook his head. "Yeah, Di said the same thing to me. I think I was so focused on my rage, over how he had crippled me, that when I saw an opening, I went for it." He looked Alexis back in her eyes. "I hope to make amends, with those that were my friends, one day."

"And failed." Alexis reminded without being mean or awful about it. She was just stating facts and the fact of the matter as he had not succeeded and looked like he would be playing the price for a long time. "So has he come out? Eaten?" She wondered glancing at the doors already feeling the rage and emotions inside. It was the only thing stopping her at the moment. She did not want more rage in her life.

Micheal nodded silently. Still, the fact that she was speaking to him at all, even in a soft tone, gave him some relief. Shaking his head without looking at the doors, he replied. "No. He's been inside the whole time. He's also fasting for the duration. Apparently, it's a grief and death morning action that some cultures of old Earth once performed. He's into history and stuff like that." He paused and then added, "He did instruct me that, aside from Captain's orders, you would be the only one allowed entry, should you choose. I think he really does care about you, Alexis. And, if my opinion matters any, I think he does, truthfully, love you. I never saw him look at his wife, as he looks at you. Yes, he does, well, did, love her. Their marriage had been arranged. They both seemed quite fond of one another, but, the times he's been with you? He always seemed lighter afterwards. If you choose to give him a chance, I think you both would be very happy together."

“I am Betazoid in the service to the empire. I will never be allowed to be happy with anyone. And you cannot love someone after a few days of knowing them. It’s foolish..” She whispered to him sadly before pressing the release waiting for it to recognise her.

"While I don't know anything about the former, I do know, from personal experience, that the latter can be true. When I first laid both of my real eyes on Di, I was hooked instantly. I have not been with or cared about another woman but her, since that day." He replied honestly, then added a little quieter as he gently touched her shoulder. "So, just bear that in mind, okay, Ally?"

Alexis just looked at him and rolled her eyes. Love was for fools. “Do not call me that.” She said simply. No one called her Ally anymore.

As she finished speaking, the system finally recognized her and opened the doors. The scene directly inside was of a cave tunnel, lit by torches every few meters.

Alexis frowned. She hated torches like that but at least she did not need to use one to guide herself. It was easy enough feeling the anger in the air.

The sound of sword fighting carried through the tunnel. As well as screams of pain and anger.

Alexis picked up her pace. She really had decided to wear the wrong type of shoes for this type of holodeck she thought to herself as she looked at her heels.

Kyle was in the center of a large cavern. The ornamentation of the room was very feudal earth, possibly Japanese. Kyle was surrounded by a ring of attackers, dressed in various types of armor. There were a few new cuts on his chest and back. He was shirtless, wearing traditional judo pants. He was eyeing each of his opponents, waiting for one of them to attack.

Alexis sighed as an attacker started. “Computer pause program.” She called seconds from the attacker reaching Kyle. She knew he just wanted to rip the world as part of would not work at all.

Kyle was already moving to intercept the hologram when he heard a familiar voice freeze everything. Anger boiling out of him, he growled the question. "Why did you do that?"

“Because.” Alexis timidly pulled herself down her heels tip-tapping against the stone. “How many have you killed? Is it helping?” She demanded taking a dagger from one of the assailants twirling it in her hand as she looked everywhere but at him.

Kyle saw her take the weapon and adjusted his stance. Something about the way she refused to look at him was turning his anger ice cold. What was she planning?

Alexis finally looked at him and threw the knife at him missing his head by inches. “So answer my question. Has it helped?” She demanded quietly picking up another knife.

Even when he thought that he was ready, the speed of the throw caught him off guard. To his credit, though, he barely flinched as the blade whistled past him. "And if it hasn't, what do you suggest?" He then dropped back into a ready crouch, presenting his right side to her as he brought the katana he was using up and over his head, the tip of the blade pointed at Alexis. "Are you going to attack me now?" His eyes started to well up with angry tears. "Have you come to put me out of my misery? Or has Gregnol changed his mind and decided to have you just kill me and get me and my issues off of his ship?!"

He was starting to vibrate, he was so angry. From deep in the back of his mind, if Alexis was listening, came a quiet voice, nearly swallowed by the rage and anguish in his head. The voice said a single word.

"Please...."

Alexis just snorted and threw another one this one hitting his shoulder as it flew by him. “I do not attack. I just kill Kyle. You would never even know I was doing it nor would I be wearing one of my nicest dresses.” She said picking up a third knife. “The Butcher did not send me. I suspect he would not mind if I did do it but he has bigger issues than you at the moment.”

When the blade sliced the flesh of his right shoulder, Kyle grunted slightly. The pain caused by a living person finally triggered his full combat training. His mind suddenly went quiet and after a beat of silence, pressed the attack with surprising speed and agility, the katana spinning and slicing through the air towards Alexis.

Alexis shook her head picking up a sais that was discarded from someone who was long gone. She blocked the attack easily with the solid weapon, it was like an extension of her arm. It felt good to have something other than a dagger in her hands suddenly. Her own combat training kicking in from the years of being security before she became nothing but a womb for future Interrogators.

Feeling the vibration of steel on steel, when held by an actual person felt so different to the holograms. Kyle enjoyed the feel. Backing away from the blocked attack, he started to circle his beautiful opponent. "What makes me different from your other targets?" He asked, emotions swirling around his mind as his anger was starting to fade a little.

"You are not a target Commander. I have not been sent to kill you." She reminded with a roll of her eyes. So much for her being able to keep herself and dress clean.

With a sudden burst of energy, Kyle launched a new attack. Bringing the blade in an impressive variety of swings, slashes and thrusts.

Alexis just stepped back ignoring the angry movements for a moment before tugged his blade forward and then back missing his nose as he moved realising what she was doing. "I do not want to get my dress messy." She hissed dropping down to sweep his legs out from under him knocking him to the floor putting her heel on his neck. "I came to see that you were alright but it seemed you need real after all."

Kyle was panting heavily, as he lay on his back, Alexis's sharp heel pressed slightly into his Adam's apple. Looking up at her, the anger in his eyes started to turn to lust. Without warning, his left hand snapped up, grabbing her thin ankle. He then lifted her weight up off of his throat, allowing him to quickly roll away and jump to his feet. He then stalked back up to her, gazing upon her as if she was a juicy steak. "That dress is very lovely." His hands flashed out and pulled her to him. "But I am not ready to beg yet," the heat of his words was unmistakable. He wanted her. But, he would give her the respect that she was due. "Soon, perhaps. You have helped me considerably tonight. Thank you." He then gently kissed her lips.

Alexis moved the sais she was still holding to his throat to end the kiss and stepped back watching as the weapon scratched him just enough to prove a point without adding to his already bruised and battered body. "It is my favourite dress. I did not come here to fight but do not mistake that I could have killed you." Alexis said stepping back before she threw the weapon into the ground.

Seeing the look in her eyes, Kyle felt his heart skip a beat. He spread his arms wide, then dropped to his knees, completely exposing himself to any attack she chose to throw at him. "It is a very lovely dress, Alexis. And also, I do not doubt as to your skill. As I also do not doubt as to what my heart and soul are telling me."

Alexis just nodded at his statement. Time was what was needed. "I know." She finally said taking several steps back out of reach. "I came here to see how you are and it's easy to see you could be better but also you could be worse." She mused. She was not sure what he needed but it was not something she could help with, grief had to be tackled by yourself.

Lowering his hands to his thighs, he sat back on his heels. "It will take time, Alexis. However, with you in my life, I know, one day, I'll be a better man." He paused and then said, "Computer, run Kyle seven alpha." The scene around them changed from the dark, torchlit cavern, to a traditional Japanese dojo, sunlight filling the space, through the rice paper doors. Over the air, the scent of cherry blossoms wafted around them, as did the soft sound of traditional music from somewhere close by. "I'm going to meditate the rest of the time I'm in here. If your duties permit, I would be honored if you would join me tomorrow night, here, for a tea ceremony."

Alexis shook her head. “I can not. There is stuff happening. I am interrogating more than usual.” she said rubbing her temple. It had been why she was not wanting to delve into his mind and why her clothes were more revealing than what they normally were, it was all about distraction.

Nodding slowly, a touch of sadness colored his face. "I understand. Perhaps some other time." He readjusted his seated stance to cross his legs and place his wrists on his knees. "Thank you for bringing me out of my spiral. I won't forget your kindness."

Alexis nodded simply and turned on her heels. She retreated the way she had come down, her head nowhere near as light as it had been on the way down. She needed her own rest before she faced tomorrow and what she was looking for someone on the crew knew how to get across the barrier and she had to find them.

Kyle watched Alexis leave and then closed his eyes and began to enter his meditative trance.