What isn't real?

Posted on Thu Jul 11th, 2019 @ 5:46pm by Lieutenant Commander Ariana Monroe-Wayne & Lieutenant JG Ilan Rol
Edited on on Thu Jul 11th, 2019 @ 5:47pm

2,443 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 98 - A Raid on Peace
Location: Observation Lounge, SB400
Timeline: MD 03 1500 hours

ON:

Rol turned the page of his book. He looked up at the windows of the observation lounge. From here he could see several ships including the Mercy that was docked. He smiled. How beautiful these space birds were. Being here, at the observation lounge was amazing. It always calmed him. Later he would head to the healing center for some meditation and a crystal therapy with Splendora and then the opera presentation tonight. It was turning out to be the kind of day he needed after all the stress.

He looked over at the others gathered and then something caught his eye, his boss heading towards him.

Ariana smiled warmly as she walked over to Rol. "Hi Rol, I received your message. What's this about needing my help with Braxton?"

He sighed. Placing the book mark in his book he closed it. "He came to see me the other day. Said he wanted to leave Starfleet."

"Leave Starfleet!" Ariana's smile faded somewhat. "Did he say why he was considering resigning?" She took a seat and made herself as comfortable as she could.

He sighed, "He just doesn't feel like this is his home. As a medical doctor he walks a line where he has to heal people and possibly hurt them in a fight. He feels he's more a healer. I suggested that he resign his Marine commission. He passed all his exams and will be getting an MD license so maybe medical can take him."

Rol sighed, "He didn't want that. I think....he's depressed."

Ariana nodded. “I agree. The day I...became Nicole for a short time, to learn the truth about her death he looked at me in a way that I can’t explain!” She frowned. “I still can’t get that look out of my mind, even though we spoke about it and he said he understood why I did it.” She shook her head. “There’s a part of me that knows Nicole wouldn’t want this for him! She wouldn’t want him to give up and run away.”

"Perhaps. I can understand him not wanting to be a Marine but maybe we can talk to the Marine COs to see if we can get him temporarily off Marine duty and Hades if we can get him into medical as a sole role for now." He was thinking out loud.

Ariana nodded. “That’s a good idea, but it’s not Hades we have to convince. The hard part is going to be convincing Braxton. I’m not even sure seeing me will help him, it just causes him more pain when I’m around.”

"There is also another problem. He's been spending a lot of time in the holosuite." He looked sheepish. "I broke counselor code and investigated."

“So what did you find out?” She looked at Rol concernedly.

"He's ... created a whole world in there. Nicole, children an alternate reality. I'm worried he'll have a holosuite addiction."

"My mother was a firm believer than when the universe makes a mistake it finds a way to put things right. I never believed that until I saw a picture of Nicole, and when I impersonated her it gave me the creeps!. But I am not going to lose Braxton! We have to talk to him, one way or another we need to convince him to stay!!"

"That's why I sent you a message. I have no idea where to start." He sighed.

Ariana nodded. “Maybe I should try the direct approach to start with” She looked at Rol as she considered what would be best. “It’s time he tried to face his fears, he needs to move on from losing Nicole. I know how painful it is losing what you love, but as I recently realised you can’t hold onto what you’ve lost forever. You have to let go and that’s what Braxton needs to do. Where is he now?”

"In the holodeck. Like I said he's created Nicole, a home, kids, everything. He exists there. If he is not at work, he is in the holodeck. I checked he has not been to his quarters in days. I've had other cases that were similar." He shook his head. "It was never easy."

“No it’s not. I’d like you to come with me if you’re okay with that?” Ariana glanced at Rol. “I’ve been a little too close to things with Braxton so I’d like you there to make sure I don’t get too involved.”

He sighed, "Sure." He had some time before the evening he'd had planned. "He might not take too kindly to us being there. He seems immersed in the holo simulation so...maybe we better play along...at least until we figure out if he's completely loopy."

"Play along how?" Ariana looked at Rol curiously. "We don't exactly fit into his holographic world do we?"

"Well to him Nicole and the kids...they seam real. He actually invited me to drop by for Coffee when 'Nicole'," he said with air quotes, "finished her shift. I say we go."

“Seriously? He actually invited you to go for drinks with a hologram?” She sighed. “Okay, lets do it.”

They headed out and arrived at the holo suite within minutes. As they entered they were hit with a burst of warm air. The blue sky was clear dotted with fluffy white clouds that hung like cotton puffs adding a brightness to the blue.

Before them was a stone cottage with what looked like a straw roof and flowers of all kinds. There was a low yellow fence and inside Braxton lay in a hammock reading a book.

Rol sighed, "Let's go down the rabbit hole." He smiled at Ariana. "Are you sure you are up for this?"

“I have to be” Ariana offered a smile. “I’m the one who stirred all this up for him, I look like Nicole, then I impersonated her. I want to help put this right. Braxton saved our lives...” She rested her hand on her stomach. “I owe him this and I intend to see it through!”

Just as she finished talking Braxton stood and saw them. He waved them over. "Hello Ariana, Rol." He seemed happier but odd at the same time.

Ariana looked at Rol before turning and looking at Braxton, putting on the best smile she could muster. “Hi Braxton, Rol was telling me you’d invited him over so I thought I’d tag along. Hope you don’t mind?”

"Of course." He motioned. "Come on in." He lead them inside. "Welcome to our home." He turned towards the kitchen. "Nicole! We have company."

From inside a tall, blonde, Vulcan came out wiping her hands on her apron. "Oh, Hello." She moved up to Braxton as if not noticing Ariana looked exactly like her. "Welcome. Perfect time. The kids are asleep and Braxton and I were just about to coffee and cake. Please join us." She motioned to the table. She kissed Braxton on the cheek and then headed back to the kitchen.

Ariana watched Nicole go, just seeing the likeness between them sent chills down her spine. She snapped out of it long enough to look at Braxton. “Braxton...what’s going on?”

"We're having coffee. Oh and Cake. It's Vulcan Lemon Zorai root. She makes it so good. There is a sweetness to it and zing from the lemon." He smiled fondly. "We have been thinking of taking the kids for a vacation next month. I've talked to Nicole about possibly resigning maybe we can move to Vulcan and I can teach at the military academy."

“Resigning!” Ariana looked at Rol. She was finding hard to believe that Braxton had retreated so deeply into the holographic fantasy he had going. “Braxton...this isn’t real.” She looked at Rol then back at Braxton hoping what she was saying would somehow sink in. “This fantasy isn’t real and you know that...Nicole is gone and this is not what she’d want.”

Rol placed a hand on hers. He gave her a look that said we have to go with this if we're to brake it.

Just before Braxton could say anything Nicole came in. "Here we go." She doled out the coffee and cake. Braxton smiled. "As you can see she is real, she is a fantasy and a vision but quite real." He pulled Nicole down to sit on his lap and she playfully gave his shoulder a tap. "We have company."

He grinned. He motioned to their table. "Please...eat."

Rol smiled, "So...Nicole you are in Starfleet too right? You're an Engineer I am surprised that you're not on ship."

He looked at Ariana hoping she could see what he was doing, trying to poke holes in the story.

Ariana gave Rol an apologetic look, she was finding it harder than she had expected it to be. She politely reached for a piece of cake. “So Nicole, do you not find it strange that you and I look so alike?”

He studied the woman. "Oh! I didn't notice. We do a little I guess."

Braxton smiled, "A little." He took Nicole's hand and gave it a kiss. "Lucky for us our kids look like Nicole." He smiled. "We plan to have a few more."

Rol held back a sigh.

Nicole turned to Rol. "To answer your question I retired a few years ago. We wanted our babies to grow up with a mom and dad. Braxton took a post close to home."

"On Starbase 400?"

Nicole looked confused. "No...here, at HQ."

Rol looked at Ariana. "Ariana come see the pictures of the kids aren't they cute?" He pulled her aside so they could talk.

“Excuse us a moment” Ariana smiled as she moved over to where Rol was, studying photographs of Braxton’s holographic family. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to act like a bull in a china shop!” She kept her voice low. “There’s a part of me that’s screaming at Brax for this and I have no idea why! What do we do?”

He sighed, "Two options. Burst the bubble or let him figure it out on his own."

“I....I don’t know what to say” Ariana looked back at Braxton, it was nice to actually see him smile. “He’s so happy but in the long run he’s going to end up losing her again. The longer this goes on, the more painful it’s going to be for him. We burst the bubble and face the consequences!”

Rol sighed. "Then we have to do it in a very...strong style. We engage them then end the program."

Ariana nodded. She just hoped Braxton wouldn’t end up hating her for what was about to happen.

Rol and Ariana rejoined the hologram and Braxton. "Braxton are the kids down for the night? We'd like to meet them."

As if on cue the kids ambled into the room. They seemed a perfect harmony of Nicole and Braxton. Rol watched with a heavy heart and Braxton scooped the hologram twins up and hugged them tight.

"Hello! How was your nap?"

Rol listened to the exchange. Knowing this was hard for Ariana he sighed, took a breath and then called, "Computer end program."

The holograms fizzled and winked out of existence.

Rol could have kicked himself. The look on Braxton's face was one of shock, anger, pain. It was not something Rol relished.

"What have you done!" Braxton moved towards Rol who side stepped a punch he knew was coming.

"Bring them back! You can't take them from me!"

Rol pulled Ariana behind him. "They were not real. Nicole is dead, your children were never born."

Braxton was shaking looking around like a wounded animal. "You can't do this! Bring them back!"

Rol was glad he wasn't Betazoid. The pain was evident in his eyes which were angry and tearing up. Just a few more pushes and he would bring out Braxton's grief. The man had never fully grieved and that was what the problem was.

Ariana was struggling to keep Braxton's emotions from intermingling with her own, she could feel his grief, pain and anger. Using that anger she side stepped Rol and took a step towards Braxton. "Braxton she's gone! Nicole died, as painful as that is you need to let her and yourself rest!" She sighed her voice softening. "I know how painful it is losing a child and you lost both of yours. I'm so sorry!!"

He stepped back. "Bring her back!" His glare was at Rol.

Gently Rol stepped between Ariana and Braxton "Sure." He called for the Arc and imputed some commands. The scene shifted to what it was before with Nicole standing by the table. Rol walked over to the table. "Nicole jump."

The Hologram jumped.

"Nicole slap Braxton."

The hologram did.

"Nicole cluck like a chicken."

The hologram did.

"Do you see! She is what I tell her she is. A hologram projection."

Braxton's rage filled over and he upturned the table. Throwing things off the shelves he howled in pain.

Rol pulled Ariana aside. "I know...Trust it. This is a new Vulcan therapy. Trust me."

Within minutes, rage spent Braxton knelt down crying.

Rol approached him and knelt down too. He gently put his hand on Braxton's shoulder. "She's gone...."

Braxton straightened. He pulled off is communicator and tossed it to the ground. He would go with Vox for the next two months. Unpaid leave. He was done. He wondered if he'd come back.

Turning and left the room.

Rol gently placed a hand on Ariana's arm. "Let him go. He needs time."

"I....I know" Ariana had felt every ounce of pain and rage that Braxton had felt. Now all She was left with was the memory of pain from a man she'd come to care for and respect. " It doesn't make it any easier! As my mother was fond of telling me the universe finds a way to correct it's mistakes, I don't feel I've corrected anything but I guess Nicole would be happy that he's finally having chance to grieve."

Rol smiled, "Alright now you need to rest." He placed an arm around her. "Let's get you home. I will look in on Braxton later tonight."

Ariana nodded in agreement, it had been a stressful experience and she was in need of a rest. As they walked she could only hope Braxton would find the peace he needed.

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