aftermath

Posted on Sat Jan 21st, 2023 @ 9:21am by Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels
Edited on on Sat Jan 21st, 2023 @ 9:48am

Mission: Traitor amongst us?
Location: Various
Timeline: After relieved

Tony left the captain's ready room in a blur. She managed to keep it together until she was off the bridge. She did not make contact with any of the bridge crew and focussed on keeping her dignity until she was safely in the lift.

When the doors closed behind her she crumpled and let the despair flood her system.

Sky was right beside Tony the whole time, she had felt the emotion bubbling beneath the surface and now she could see it as well. Sky knelt beside her friend offering what support she could. “Don’t do this to yourself Tony, don’t give in. This will be a temporary situation if we can get you sorted.”

"You heard him, I lost his trust. I should have never listened to Diane." Tony shook her head to try to clear the cobwebs. "This... this is what happens when you are honest about your health. You get shoved aside as some piece of garbage."

Sky shook her head. “No way! Not on my watch!” She sighed, she would be having a word with Diane, but Tony came first. “Let’s get you on your feet, and we’ll go to your quarters. Do you want me to call Ren for you?”

"You heard the captain, I have work to do." her voice was very flat. "I can't let him down again. And I don't want to dissapoint Ren as well."

“You aren’t disappointing anyone Tony. Xavier knows you’ll fight for what you want, don’t fall into a pit of despair now.” Sky was concerned for her friend, she was at rock bottom and it was going to be a long climb back from that.

"You heard your boyfriend! He wants another First Officer. Maybe they put this together him and Diane." She shook her head. "God it is so hard to think."

Sky shook her head. “I need you to calm down Tony. Last time you were this worked up you ended up in Sickbay remember? I need you to hold it together!”

Tony took a couple of deep breaths. "I don't know what is happening to me, Sky. Am I going mad?"

“No, you are not going mad” Sky offered a friendly, calming smile. “You’re stressed, and overwhelmed. Is there anyone you can stay with for now? Until Ren gets off shift? I don’t want you to be alone.”

"I am going to finish the job I have been assigned to do, Sky." She had gone from very emotional to no emotion at all within seconds and that was scary to watch.

“Are you sure you’re up to that right now?” Sky gave Tony a worried look. “You can’t bury your feelings and emotions Tony, you know that.”

"Please leave me alone, Sky. I can't take any nagging right now. It's taking me all my energy to work and to stay alive."

Sky gave Tony a surprised look. “I am not nagging Tony, I’m concerned. I’m your friend, and station Counsellor it’s my job to look after everyone here.”

"I know. But I can look after myself, and right now I need to get on with my job and focus on that."

“Okay” Sky nodded. “But I’m coming with you to help. With all those colonists you’ll need as much help as you can get. Besides right now you don’t officially have a role, at least not as First Officer.”

Tony had to count to ten not to let anger and grief wash over her and lash out at Sky again. It took everything she had not to react. 'Fine." She just managed to get out.

Sky was waiting for it, but when it didn’t come it made her more concerned. “Don’t bottle your feelings on my behalf, if you want to yell then yell.”

"No believe me you don't. It would only upset you again and I don't want that. Come on, let's get the job done, whatever my role is right now."

Sky nodded and smiled. “Agreed. Maybe it’ll help clear your head.”

Her head was throbbing like mad now but Tony decided not to mention that. Maybe. Come let's go."

{OFF}