Hard Questions
Posted on Sun Mar 8th, 2020 @ 7:20pm by Lieutenant Commander Ariana Monroe-Wayne & Commander Hades,MD
2,143 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Episode 105 – Evacuation
Location: Medical Offices
Timeline: MD1 0145 hrs
{ON}
Ariana was sat on the sofa in her quarters, mulling over what Carolyn had told her. Hades had always been good to her and she was finding it difficult to believe that he would deliberately do anything to harm Carolyn. She needed answers and there was only one way she was going to get them.
A few minutes later she arrived in Sickbay, the sight was a busy one. Moving through Sickbay she headed for the offices, seeing Fal inside one of them she paused by the open door as she peered inside. “Doctor Fal, I'm sorry to bother you but I need some answers ... about Doctor Hades."
Fal sighed, "I see." He motioned. "Please come in." He walked to the replicator. "What can I get you to drink?"
“A fruit juice would be lovely, thank you” Ariana offered a smile as she closed the door behind her, making sure it had swished closed before speaking. “I spoke with Carolyn, she’s my best friend and I don’t like to see her distressed especially in her condition.”
He raised an eyebrow as he picked up the juice he'd ordered and handed it to her. "Is she alright?"
She smiled politely as she took the fruit juice and sipped some before putting it down. “Thank you, Carolyn is ... stressed and confused. What you told her has thrown everything she believes into turmoil.” She sighed. “I was on the First Federation planet too, Doctor Hades sent me there so I could get some help. I know there’s plenty about him that I don’t know, but he’s done so much for me and I trust him.”
He sighed, "Then you would be one of those unfortunate few who give him blind trust. It can be a fatal mistake, learn from Harris' mistake."
Ariana sat back in her seat and folded her arms. “Hades has never given me reason to believe that he’d purposely hurt anyone! I’ll admit I wasn’t there when Harris ... died but I’m not willing to believe that Hades would have had anything to do with it.”
"No, not physically but his blind trust in ..... that man was his undoing." He studied her. "Apologies my people or at least the people was raised with believe in perfect candor. I have no wish to make you uncomfortable." He studied her. "How can I further help."
"I don't know" Ariana sighed and massaged her temples. "If Hades is so bad then why is he idolised like a ... god on that world? She looked at Fal curiously. "What did he do to you to make you hate him so much?"
"Idolized? Perhaps by some but feared is more like it." He studied her. "Tell me. When you entered First Federation space did you just glide in or were you picked up by someone else?"
"Err ... Hades took us part way aboard this ship, then I was escorted the rest of the way into First Federation space by Michael Nivar." She looked at Fal curiously. "Why do you ask?"
"You were picked up by war ship. I heard about it. A Romulan ship was destroyed was it not?"
Ariana nodded. "That's right it was."
"Think back on that event. What did the captain do when the Romulans asked for help?" He could see the memory coming to her mind.
=/\= Several weeks ago =/\=
Nivar stood with Ariana on the bridge. The creature on the ship were mostly Dassik. Tall, thin, resembling Earth's old ET history. Their big black eyes seemed to follow the room at all directions. The captain, who was doing his duty, had given them a tour of just the basics. Now they were on the bridge. He sat in his chair glaring at Michael and Ariana. "This is the second ... of Starfleet he's sent here. Why?"
Michael sighed. "She needs med..." Whatever he might have said was interrupted by a shrill scream. "Black Alert. Black Alert."
The Captain sat up. He began barking orders in a guttural tongue.
Michael pulled Ariana to the side. "Stay behind me."
Ariana nodded. Right now she didn't know whether to be afraid or not but it was starting to make her head hurt again. For now it was just a dull ache and she hoped it stayed that way.
Michael watched as the screen lit up with the image of a Romulan Warbird.
"They are hailing."
The captain sneered. "On screen."
The image of a Romulan sub-commander filled the screen. "We require your assistance. Is this the First Federation?"
Nivar saw the captain's jaw clench. Not many knew nor sought them out. He stepped up. "Captain I must remind you of the orders when it comes to this."
The captain sighed, "Of course Hades and the council would have nothing less." He waved a hand. "What do you seek?"
The Romulan seemed relieved. "Our commander is ill. He sees the Vrdri."
The captain rolled his eyes and glanced at Nivar. He turned back to the Romulan. "The Vedari, you mean. Stand by." He cut the communication. "Scan!"
Michael, although a Vulcan was filled with worry, it rolled off in waves from him.
“You’re worried?” Ariana looked at Nivar with concern. “What are you so worried about?”
He was about to respond but the captain's voice carried. "Your commander is in sickbay now." It was a statement not question.
The Romulan responded. "Yes with his wife."
The captain, Korolan, looked at Michael. He snarled, "Fine does he have kids on the ship?"
The Romulan looked confused. "No...it's just..them..."
Before he could say more the captain waved a hand.
There was a moment of confusion and then a Romulan exchange. "You took them! Our shields are up how could ...."
Again Korolan waved a hand and the coms shut down. "Fire!"
Within a second a display of light lit up the view screen and the Romulan ship disintegrated into tiny shards.
"What in the hell?!" Ariana looked at Korolan. "What did you do that for?! They came asking for help and this is how you treat them?" She looked at Nivar, for the moment her anger was overruling his advice to stay quiet.
Korolan snarled, "Nivar!"
Nivar stepped around blocking her path. "She is right. Hades would not approve."
Korolan smiled, "Ohhhh I think he would...."
=/\= Present time=/\=
Ariana looked at Fal with a frown, “Am I supposed to believe that Hades is some monster?” She shook her head. “Unless there’s something you’d like to show me that would change my mind?” She gave him a determined look. “I felt you in my mind, sharing my memories Fal, I could have shut you out ... now will you let me in your mind to see your memories?”
"It is fair."
Just at that moment the doors opened and Hades walked in. He looked from Fal to Ariana. "Is everything alright?"
Ariana looked at Fal then back at Hades. “Everything’s fine. I was just ... there was something I needed to know and the Doctor Fal was just enlightening me.”
He studied Fal. "I'm sure he was."
Fal sat back and studied Hades. "I was just enlightening Ariana to your more charming characteristics. Or rather I was trying to."
Hades rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Fal..."
Before he could continue Fal stood and walked out. Hades sighed staring after him. He looked at Ariana. "I'm sorry."
“What for?” Ariana looked at Hades curiously. “I came here to talk to him, mainly due to the fact that I spoke to Carolyn and she’s ... distressed to say the least!” She paused. “Hades I want to know the truth, you’re the closest thing I have to a father figure now and I need to get past this air of mystery you hide behind. Will you let me in your mind? Let me see what it is that Fal seems to hate so much?”
Hades sighed. He sat down as if his body was made of lead. "A long time ago. I met a woman.... She was Romulan. She was Qowat Milat. They are a group of warrior nuns. She and I fell in love. She gave her loyalty to me and she helped me rescue those of Rebirth. She pulled me from dark place and where I would have given up in life she kept me sane."
Ariana moved to sit beside Hades as she listened to what he had to say. "So Fal is what?" She looked at Hades curiously. "Why does he hate you so much?"
"When we settled within the First Federation. She... said I'd changed. I stopped living for myself and started living for my people. She was called back to Romulus, a new cause. I was supposed to go with her and her son and daughter to Romulus but last minute I choose to stay to deal with a colony issue. Starfleet, Section 31 thought I was on the shuttle they downed it. I thought they were all lost. Fal seems to have survived along with a few other Qowat Milat. He blames me for their deaths."
"But it wasn't your fault!" Ariana sighed. "If you'd have been on that shuttle you'd have been killed too, then you'd all have been lost. How can Fal blame you for that? You had responsibilities, it's not like you arranged for anything to happen to her."
"He is right. Because they thought I was on the shuttle it was destroyed, forced to crash on an planet. In a way it is my fault."
Ariana opened her mouth to speak before closing it again. "What about Harris? I wasn't there when he ... died, what happened to him? and Carolyn, what about her baby?"
"He died saving the woman he loved. I should have been there though, to protect him." he sighed. "As for Carolyn, I knew she couldn't conceive and I knew that it pained her. I treated her for that and she didn't know. That was my mistake but once she got pregnant ... well I knew she wouldn't be able to carry because of Harris' unique genetic makeup. Adari came up with a great formula but she needed the last peace and I had that. It would temporarily deactivate the Rebirth gene so she could give birth. I didn't want her to loose both Harris and the baby and well...once I knew Harris loved her I kind of made it my mission to give them a life of love."
Ariana nodded. "So if you hadn't done what you did, Carolyn would lose her baby too." She paused. "You've done so much for me Hades, I guess I'm biased in a way because I ... care about you. I always have, I consider you a mentor and a friend. Fal can try all he likes to dissuade me but I'm not going to abandon you! If it wasn't for you I'd be under the control of the section 31 personality inside me. Instead I'm now blended with her!" She grinned a wry grin. "It's taking some getting used to I'll admit, but I'm here and for me it's good enough. So what now?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Fal... is entitled to his thoughts and Carolyn hates me so now...nothing."
"Leave Carolyn to me" Ariana smiled. "I'll talk to her. As for nothing, you still have me and besides I have a bridge test to prepare for plus I'm going to be needing those medical skills of yours." She paused for dramatic effect. "I think that I might be ... Pregnant." She grinned a wry grin.
He smiled, "That is wonderful." He gave a nod. "Yes, indeed you do have a bridge exam to get through. This is going to be a trying time for us all."
"Tell me about it!" Ariana grinned. "Can you look over the readings I took? Just to confirm?" She pulled out a tricorder and handed it to Hades. "As far as I can tell I'm about 5 weeks?"
He smiled and took the tricorder. The scan was quick. "Indeed. Five five and a half."
Ariana grinned. "Thank you! Cameron is going to be surprised!!" Her smile faded a little. "When I get chance to see him again, I miss him and I'm missing seeing Stacie too!"
"Soon." He stood. "Now let's get to the bridge. We'll leave Fal for now. I will speak with him later."
Ariana nodded and smiled. "Aye, Sir. I still have a lot to learn and I can't think of a better mentor."
He sighed, "We'll leave that judgement for now. Fal is right about one thing. I don't deserve blind adoration."
"Blind adoration ... You're not getting blind adoration Hades" Ariana turned to look at him. "You're getting the benefit of the doubt, so far I have no reason to doubt you."
{OFF}