You are not alone. (Part 2)

Posted on Mon Nov 24th, 2014 @ 2:48pm by Commander Alexandra Vance & Sergeant Amarylis Beckinsale

1,587 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Deadly Diplomacy
Location: holodeck
Timeline: prior to "And the hammer comes down".

[[OLD]]

"Then why a phaser?" Amarylis asked.

Vance stood up straight and took a few steps towards Amarylis. "Because I plan to kill them all..."

[[NEW]]

[[Present]]

Amarylis' mind returned her to the holodeck. Following the statement Amarylis had called her team and Alexandra was extracted with no further deaths. Looking at it now Amarylis almost felt hypocritical in the moment, having killed the guards in a fit of rage in front of Vance yet stopped her from exacting the revenge she deserved. She sometimes wondered if that action is what had given birth to Alexandra's lust for Cardassian blood. Since that day, Commander Vance had made it her purpose to take from the Cardassians what they had taken from her. The mere mention of a Cardassian brought out the worst in Alexandra. Worst part about it was that day was not the last time a Cardassian would deal a personal blow to Alex. One Gul Morat only helped to reinforce Vance's twisted belief of the Cardassians and her mission to drive them to extinction. She would never trust a Cardassian again, Amarylis wasn't sure Alex ever would.

"This place, it's nice." Alexandra said as she approached Amarylis.

"Yeah, it is. I come here to try and forget, but now a days all it does is bring me back." Amarylis replied.

"You don't forget these kinds of things Amarylis. You rise above them. Like a phoenix Sergeant, you will rise once again." Vance said taking a seat close beside Amarylis. Alexandra was adorned in a silk dress which loosely pressed against her figure and allowed the warm breeze to caress her skin. Amarylis smiled as it was rare for Vance to dress down so casually. It was a welcoming site and relaxed Amarylis.

"I wasn't talking about the planet, well not the Orion one. I was thinking of the day we met." Amarylis said wiping a tear from her eye as the images continued to circulate in her mind.

Alexandra smiled and placed her arm around Amarylis pressing closer to herself. "That was a good day Amarylis. One of the best i've had in a long time."

Amarylis looked over to Alexandra. Her bottom lip trembled as she fought back tears. "Really?"

Alexandra nodded affirmatively. "Absolutely dearest Amarylis. That was the day I was graced with a sister I never had. Despite the circumstances, even if given the opportunity I would never change what happened. I am thankful everyday that it was you whom came through that door."

"But the Cardassians..." Amarylis quivered.

"The CARDASSIANS." Alexandra said sharply. "They have ruined enough of my life I will not afford them anymore. You gave those spineless cowards a death better then they deserved, but like always you kept me grounded, like a good sister does."

Amarylis hugged Alexandra. "You came for me." she said in a muffled tone crying on Alexandra's shoulder.

"There is no galaxy I would not cross to be the one coming through the door Mary and I'll do it again and again if I have to."

Amarylis moved her head back and giggled as she wiped her tears. "Jailynn used to call me that, I haven't seen her in so long."

"I know, she told me a long time ago. It was actually around the time we met. She's a good sister always looking out for you. I think you were sleeping at the time when I was in the infirmary. You had been by my side all day as I recovered and you fell asleep in the chair. Your sister came in, she wasn't dressed in uniform, just some civilian attire and she brought you a blanket. I surmised she was medical staff and I asked her for some earl grey tea. Instead of being offended she brought it to me and sat down. We introduced ourselves and we talked. She told me how mischievous you two were as children. About the war, about everything. I told her what you did, how it was you whom had rescued me and how it was you who kept me from acting irrationally. I also told her, that from that day forward I would give my life for yours, would you like to know what she said?"

"Uh huh." Amarylis nodded with a warm smile.

"She told me she'd slit my throat if I failed. Because big sisters protect their little sisters." Vance replied with a soft laugh.

Amarylis burst out laughing. "Yup. That's Jailynn for ya. She's really a sweetheart underneath her strut."

"I don't doubt it Amarylis. It would have been my honour to serve with her." Vance said.

"You two would've worked well together. You actually remind me a lot of her." Amarylis joked.

"Is that why you're fond of me?" Alexandra joked back.

"NO!" Amarylis exclaimed. "I mean it's nice but I like you for you Alex. When you decide to come out of your little ice palace you really are a nice person. Back on the planet when we all forgot our memories. That was an Alexandra Vance I'd never seen before. If I wasn't suffering from amnesia myself I wouldn't have believed it myself. I really think she should come out more."

"She died a long time ago." Vance replied trailing her voice off and gazing into the horizon. "Long before the Borg or the Cardassians. What you saw was the reflection of a child unaware of the true nature of the universe and it's inhabitants. Blinded by her own mother's coddling. I was weak and vulnerable, but I learned. Observation gave me the ability to see beyond the shrouds of deceit and discover the true nature of people. My so called "ice palace" made me stronger, it allowed me to survive."

"No Alex, I don't believe you. Well not everything but this was not out of necessity." Amarylis said leaning forward and looking Alexandra in the eyes. "It was them...."

"Hardly." Alexandra said with a smirk raising her brow while also getting up from the ground. "Try not to give them too much credit you may end up inflating their already massive egos. I wouldn't want to be the cause of a supernova."

Amarylis got up in turn and stepped in front of Alexandra. "And I won't cut them short. It really doesn't matter WHO did it. The fact is they've suppressed such a beautiful person is a tragedy in itself." She gently grabbed both of Alex's hands and held them in hers. "It's time to let go."

Alexandra looked down at Amarylis' hands then back to her eyes. "And where did that get you Amarylis?"

Another tear fell from Amarylis' eye. "That's not fair. I knew you were cold but I never thought you a bitch." She released her grip from Alexandra and began to make her way down the rock towards the beach below. It was not abnormal for Vance to make a tactful faux pas, but sometimes she could be hurtful, even if she meant well.

Alexandra sighed and followed Amarylis down. She thought to herself that prodding at Amarylis' predicament on the planet so soon may not have been the best course of action, but this was why she wasn't a counsellor. Even Jailynn would not coddle her younger sister. Amarylis' older sibling was brash and forward, a remark such as the one Alexandra made should have been no surprise to her. The two may only have known each other for four years but they shared a bond far stronger then most families and the four years they had spent together seemed like a lifetime. "Amarylis wait." Alexandra called out.

Amarylis didn't stop as she continued her descent towards the beach. The water was more restless now as the wind had picked up slightly. The small waves crashed against the shore splashing up against the sandy shore.

"Sergeant Beckinsale." Vance yelled to Amarylis.

Amarylis turned to Alexandra and sneered. "You couldn't even drop it this once? Rank has no place here COMMANDER."

"I knew it would get your attention since you seem insistent on running away like a little child." Vance responded.

"Running away? You should know a little something about that, you do it all the time!" Amarylis replied angrily.

"So now I'm a coward. Perhaps I'm not the only one living in an ice palace." Alexandra responded, hurt by Amarylis' comment but not showing it. Despite their bond Alexandra would not tear up before Amarylis. She prided herself on her composure and Amarylis provided the best practice. She would simply turn and leave her friend to her peace.

"Wait, don't go." Amarylis pleaded as she chased after Alexandra. "Alex stop please!"

Alexandra stopped turning to face Amarylis with a scowl on her face and her arms crossed over her chest. "Oh, you weren't finished?"

"No I wasn't Alexandra. First of all I didn't call you a coward. If I thought you were a coward I would have said it straight up. Coward is the last thing that comes to mind when I think of you. Are you running from what happened? Yeah, but I don't think it's because you are a coward. Hell most of the people I know couldn't survive what you went through, but you're still here. The problem is, I see you but I don't feel you."

Alexandra shrugged and took Amarylis' hand. "There, do you feel me now?"

Amarylis burst out in laughter surprised by Alexandra's humour. "I...I can't believe you just made a joke."

[[To be Continued..]]

 

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