Through The Looking Glass Part 1

Posted on Wed Jun 12th, 2019 @ 1:06pm by Commander Alexis Agrax (*) & Chief Petty Officer Nathan Kline

Mission: Mission 9 - Daucina
Location: USS Cosmos
Timeline: MD01 22:00
1987 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

Alexis looked up in alarm as the security alert flashed on the console in her quarters. It wasn’t unexpected as she had requested to it if something hadn’t been done but it was annoying as it made her realise how late it was. She jumped up grabbing her jacket quickly rushing out the quarters tying her hair up. Nathan would know she was responding to it straight away and that she would be back eventually.

Nathan had heard her leave and couldn’t help the smile on his face. It was easy to be with her even if she wouldn’t believe it. He stood up, making himself at home, he decided a shower was in order. He hadn’t even stopped by his quarters the night before and he needed one.

Emerging from the shower, his hair wet and hanging around his face in a fringe he moved from her bedroom into the main room dressed in a simple pair of shorts and t-shirt. He was a bit surprised by the computer screen. It was on and unlocked which wasn’t like her. He smiled, she was either losing her touch or trusting him. He turned to move away when something caught his eyes on the screen and he sat down as the information pour out to him.

Alexis returned a long time later and stopped in the doorway as she saw the man bent over the console. “You okay?” She wondered rubbing her eyes and yawning. She hadn’t been to bed yet so sleep was on her mind after a shower to get herself cleaned up after the run she had just been on.

“I have read the reports.” He started. “I know it is a thing, but they were there.” He turned to her with a questioning look on his face. Pointing to the screen, “Did you know about this?” His tone somewhere between a question and an accusation.

“The reports that I haven’t even half started reading,” Alexis said raising an eyebrow as she came into the room more and started to take off her uniform jacket. It wasn’t like him at all to look at her work but she had left it open. “Know what Nath? I don’t keep secrets like they are nothing and I am tired.”

“I am sorry,” He whispered. “I didn’t mean for that to sound so, accus-y.” Was that even a word? “I didn’t mean the reports, did you know they went through the mirror?” He wasn’t mad as much as he was confused. Turning back towards her. “I didn’t mean to read.” He said honestly as he rose from the chair. “I just…” Now he felt guilty and confused.

“It isn’t the universe that we knew. That universe is gone, this universe Terrans are still in charge and Betazed is gone. And no I didn’t not until the information was sent to me after you went to bed. I don’t even think the Captain knows yet” Alexis hadn’t gone much further into reading it apart from the first paragraph her mind had gotten stuck on Betazed being gone.

Nathan didn’t have to be empathic to understand how that idea of an entire Betazed gone would have affected her. “You know I hated to be asked to do this, but now.” He shook his head. “I can’t help but wonder what Starfleet wants with this.” He shrugged his shoulders, “I know I will never know the answer to this, but still.” He crossed the room. “I am sorry, babe.”

“What did you find? Something got you accusing me, so you must have found something you thought I would want to hide.” The woman asked as she took a step away from him stopping her undressing. The man looked clean and tidy compared to her and she didn’t want to mess him up.

“I am sorry.” He whispered. “It wasn’t the report, it was the fact that I got sent over there to get this based on your recommendation.” He shook his head, hadn’t he just had this conversation the other day about her using his emotions against him. “I get the impression you had no idea, but when you walked in I figured it was fifty fifty.”

“I didn’t know. It was six months ago but it explains why Starfleet asked ya to do it.” Alexis walked about to the console and sat down. If he wasn’t going to tell her what he saw she would do it herself.

Nathan didn’t ask her if she wanted something as he moved to the replicator. Returning with two drinks he set the one cup of dark hot chocolate in front of her and took the seat next to her simply watching her as she read what he had.

The woman stayed quiet for a long time before she looked at first file and then hers. “Seems I am as fucked up in that universe as this one.” She hissed to herself as nothing caught her attention. “What am I looking for?” She demanded knowing she hadn’t found what had gotten him so worked up.

“I don’t know…” He admitted. “I mean, he is married to a women I met the other day, and he isn’t with you, but that is his life.” It just sort of tumbled out of him. Why should that even matter? He wondered. “This is so messed up.” He shook his head.

“Of course it wouldn’t be me. He is Terran and I am Betazoid. I am nothing more than a bed warmer there to most men there.” She told him as she pushed away from the console hitting it with hand bringing up her own record. Maybe this was what he needed to see how his life could be somewhere else.

“What is this supposed to show me?” Nathan asked with disinterest. “Is this supposed to show me how you would end up if your entire home were destroyed and you were used as breeding stock?” He shook his head. “You are right, what a horrible person you must be to show that survive situations thrown at you.” Leaning forward he tapped the same commands and pull up his own file. “Why don’t we see what a winner I could be if my species were in charge?”

“Close it!” Alexis demanded as she saw something on his file. “Close it now.” She demanded using the tone she used when ordering people.

“Yes, Sir.” Nathan replied as he slapped the command to close the file. “Any reason why? Other than because I am a dutiful officer?”

“Because you don’t want to see what I just have.” Alexis moved away from the console and ran straight into the bathroom the sounds of heaving followed not soon after. Why did she have to find that after what she had told him earlier.

Nathan no had no idea what was going on. When he heard the sounds coming from her direction he ran without hesitation. “What babe?” He asked as he kneeled next to her. He brushed back her hair. He waited for her to say something, anything. “I can go look.”

Alexis heaved until she felt empty and even then she didn’t want to move and face what he was asking. It wasn’t a reaction that she normally had, it was scaring her. “Somewhere in that other universe is a little girl with my dark brown eyes and frustrating spirit.”

Nathan had moved to a standing position until she was spoke. “Wha?” He asked at he looked at her. His eyes went wide in understanding when he finally realized she had said his words back to him. “They have a daughter…” He said barely above a whisper as he lowered down gently placing his hand on her back.

“Before Betazed was destroyed. He doesn’t know. What I saw must be from a recording of some type.” She whispered wishing he wasn’t touching her for a moment. When she was ill she didn’t want people touching her which was ironic when she needed medical assistance often. If Alexis was thinking straight she would have wondered how the ship had gotten so much information from the other universe.

“Not a surprise.” He said as his hand dropped from her, sensing the fact that she didn’t want his touch. “Based on what I read.” He stood back up and leaned against the wall. For the first time in all the time they had been together, he didn’t know where to stand, where he fit. “I am sure she had her reasons for not telling him, or...whatever.” he whispered.

Alexis slowly moved from being bent over the toilet and sat up. She was pale and didn’t look right at all, the same thoughts kept going over and over in her head. “She has everything I want.” The woman finally whispered.

Nathan looked down at her. He didn’t move to touch her, comfort her, as much as he wanted too. “What does she have that you want, babe?” He truly wanted to know and made no attempt to convince her that this, he, was enough.

The woman shook her head at the thought it was such a silly thought when she was as messed up as she saw was with Liam coming back into her life and turning everything around again. “A child with you.” She mused slowly crawling her way up the wall until she was sat up. “I am sorry you had to see me like that.” She mused moving to the sink.

Nathan couldn’t help the smirk that crossed his face at such an inopportune time. “You don't get to apologize for that.” He started as he watched her. “Everyone gets overwhelmed, even you.” He teased slightly. “I am sorry I can’t give you what she has.” He finally admitted. While he didn’t care how they were a family he could understand what she was feeling.

“I get to apologise for what I want.” Alexis sometimes she felt she had the weight of the world on her. “Not you that cannot give it Nathan. I am the one that cannot give you that.” The woman said gently as she turned away so he couldn’t see the pained expression on her face as she bent over to grab her toothbrush.

“I already told you,” Nathan said. “Never mind.” He wasn’t going to fight with her. She was determined to take all the blame and there was nothing he could do about it. He loved her and that was all that mattered. He made sure she could feel nothing else coming from him as he turned and went into the bedroom.

Alexis took a lot longer than normal to get sorted looking at herself in the mirror for a long time before she came back and looked at the man. She hated herself more than she had in a long time as they stood there looking at each other. “I am going to go to bed.” She whispered looking at where the console was still showing the unread files. She moved and turned it off before coming back into the bedroom.

It was moments like this Nathan wished he could read her mind. He waited until he couldn’t hear her moving around the bedroom before he made up his mind. Moving into the dark room he said nothing as he laid in the bed behind her. He gently wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. He simply held her.

OFF::

Chief Petty Officer Nathan Kline
Sensor Specialist
USS Cosmos
(PNPC Tasha Belikov)

Commander Alexis Agrax
Chief Of Security
USS Cosmos
(PNPC Gregnol)