Fallen Angels

Posted on Sat Oct 11th, 2014 @ 4:46am by Lieutenant Colonel Jillian "Phoenix" Sullivan

6,499 words; about a 32 minute read

Mission: Mission 86 - Discovery
Location: Siaxx's Quarters - Starbase 400

"Fallen Angels"

Lieutenant Siaxx Dvald
Major Jillian "Phoenix" Sullivan

***** Siaxx's Quarters - Starbase 400 *****

Siaxx sighed softly as she stumbled into her quarters as she tripped over her own feet and ended up very nearly face planting into the decking of her quarters. "Shit!" she grunted as she landed.

She sighed happily. "So... this is where I am to sleep... well at least I'm....home" she closed her eyes as she slowly started to drag herself forward towards the bedroom but halfway there she finally stopped as she simply kicked off her heels and decided to sleep where she lay.

Later that afternoon was when Phoenix came in. Sweaty from just having finished her patrol run in her fighter. But she could not miss the blue creature sleeping in the floor. She loved Siaxx and wanted to tell her so many times in the past few days. But always the temper and possessive nature of her lover told Phoenix that Siaxx was not ready yet.

Then came the question of waking her up. There was only one way to do it, really...

Phoenix's real hand began to gently tickle Siaxx's sides. At first just to get her to stir. But mostly so Siaxx would figure out it was Phoenix touching her.

"You all right Goddess?" Phoenix finally asked once Siaxx came around.

Siaxx raised a hand. "I'm okay.... just sleepy.." the clearly exhausted Biolian sighed softly with her eyes closed. "I'm dreaming...?" she mumbled.

"Most folks nap on a couch or in bed," Phoenix snickered.

"Mmm.. well the carpet isn't quite as comfy as I'd hoped.... help me up?" the Bolian woman felt herself being picked up as the human had decided to simply carry her rather then help her up. "Mmm... this works too." Siaxx commented as she smiled softly.

She found herself on her back, lying on her bed. "Ahh... much better..." she commented, making no move to strip out of her clothing, clearly a measure of her exhaustion.

"Mom's making country-style stake tonight," Phoenix spoke happily as she sat on the bed beside of Siaxx and began to undress the Bolian. "I can ask her to set aside a doggy bag for us. So you don' have ta cook."

"Mmm... I'm surprised you can actually handle my cooking skills. Half the time I don't cook it long enough or I burn its ass off." she then giggled. "The shepherds pie turned out alright... your folks still want me to make more?"

"Next time we host, sure." Phoenix smiled. Relaxed now that they had talked most of their issues out. Now she just wanted to sit beside Siaxx and help her girlfriend unwind.

Siaxx sighed softly as her eyes flickered open as she regarded the other woman in the room. "Wait... what time is it?" she inquired.

"Close to nineteen hundred," Phoenix shrugged. "I got caught up with new pilot orientation, after my CAP."

"Wait... you mean to tell me I've been lying asleep on the floor for almost six hours?" Siaxx raised an eyebrow. "Wow...but next time I insist we talk things out... just spank me next time... and make me scream.." the Bolian then smiled. "It'll be more productive." she then paused. "also I should look into getting these quarters soundproofed..." she admitted.

Phoenix did not smile at the joke. Hurting the one she loved really was not on her to-do list. But she nodded in agreement, despite her reservations.

"What time is your mom making dinner at anyway?"

"Should be ready in about thirty minutes," the pilot said as she checked her watch. "Gives me time to shower. But if ya need rest, then I'll get ya in a gown and I'll go pick up dinner for both of us."

"No... I should get up... because if not then I'll be up at midnight and screw myself over for tomorrow.." she sighed. "I'm in enough trouble with Doctor Brislan as it is.." she then smiled. "and I am not missing your mothers cooking..."

"I sorta made her a super star by her cooking, haven' I?" Phoenix laughed. Then she chose to switch gears a bit, mostly out of concern. "So how'd your behavioral review board thingie go?"

"Its not like she started yelling at me or ripping me a new one... it was her demanding an explanation as to why I came unglued." she paused as she smiled. "so... take turns in the shower?" she inquired, considering they were going out for dinner.

"Would be done faster if we showered together," Phoenix noted as she thought a moment on it. Her body language did not speak of playing in the shower. But rather a genuine means of making good time.

Besides... Phoenix doubted Siaxx had the energy for that sort of thing at the moment.

"Sounds good to me." as Siaxx slowly sat up then she gently reached over as she kissed Phoenix gently on the lips. "If only others could see the jewel in the rough that you are..." she said softly.

Phoenix returned Siaxx a pop-kiss on the lips before she pulled off her flight suit. Then she squeezed Siaxx's hand warmly before finishing undressing her exhausted girlfriend.

"Then they'd not be a mystery for folks to wonder 'bout," Phoenix winked, trying to make Siaxx feel better.

Siaxx smiled. "Ahh.." she responded. "Brilliant.." she nodded her head. "you are such a tease..." she added, referring to Phoenix gently stripping her of her uniform and undergarments as she smiled. "come on... times a wasting.. and I don't think your mom will be too happy if we're late.."

"Well if we're late, I'll blame it on you," Phoenix snickered as she smacked Siaxx's bare bum on the the way to the shower.

Siaxx jumped as she had not been expecting that. "It could be worse." the Bolian responded as she went into the bathroom as she opened the shower door and turned on the water. "Don't you like it hotter then the fires of the sun? - the water I mean?"

"Nah. Too hot an' it burns my skin," Phoenix spoke off-handedly as she stepped into the shower and turned the water on. "But enough to cleanse, sure."

"Well most days.. I prefer it lukewarm or even cool." the Bolian followed the human woman into the shower. "but... ahhh.... now that feels heavenly."

"Sometimes ya just gotta relax ta let the stress go away," Phoenix said as she began to wet her hair.

Siaxx smiled as she felt the hot water splash over her upper body as she regarded Phoenix's burns. "How are you healing....they look painful."

"Itchy now... Brislan says it's cause I'm healin' though," Phoenix shrugged off, then began to lather up her hair with shampoo. "It's battle scars I've no problem wearin' for you Goddess."

"I feel bad because these are from me." Siaxx commented with a soft frown. "Hopefully you'll build an immunity to my sweat.." she raised an eyebrow. "Hopefully..."

"I'm gonna see Brislan tomorrow about startin' treatment. Ta get rid of the poison in me for good," Phoenix told Siaxx as a means of making the blue lady feel better. Then she put her head under the faucet to rinse her hair out.

Siaxx looked at Phoenix. "That's wonderful news." as she seemed to perk right up as she gently kissed Phoenix on the lips.

"I know ya been feelin' helpless Dear, but..." Phoenix paused to spit out water and soap, then continued, "...This was one decision you had a large part in helpin' me reach."

Siaxx regarded the other woman as she blushed a shade of deep blue. "I didn't want you to keep punishing yourself for no reason." she explained with a smile. "Besides... I'd prefer that you enjoy life when I'm around... now I know I've not been the best of company recently." she paused. "what hobbies do you have, asides from Parkour?"

"Suppose I could try art again," Phoenix shrugged, reached for her loofah, and then lathered it before she began to clean her body. "I'm game ta try stuff you like too."

"It'll be fun... you could teach me how to paint.." Siaxx commented. "I can always remind you how real darts are played..." she smiled. "aim at the dartboard and not the guy who just spent a minute hitting on you in crude terms." Siaxx grinned. "Of course, the miniskirt I was wearing at the time.... didn't help."

"Mentioning that in tha shower is cruel, Dear," Phoenix mock-groaned.

Siaxx chuckled softly. "I do still have the miniskirt though." she then smiled as she picked up a sponge and a bottle of soap from the shelf as she poured herself some soap and then she began to lather herself over. "Fuck, I forgot about how relaxing this shit was."

"Bolians have a spiritual connection to Water," Phoenix spoke as if quoting a book. A sign that she took a genuine interest in understanding Siaxx's culture.

She nodded. "I used to relax with a long soak in the tub." as regarded Phoenix. "We also have a physical connection too... not many know that about us..."

"I'm honored you have told me then," Phoenix grinned brightly. "If ya need time ta relax in tha shower, I shall always respect it."

Siaxx smiled at the human woman who had crashed into her life with the grace of a meteor and the style of a rampaging bull. "Oh, what good is a shower if one isn't sharing it." she then smiled at the other woman before she gently kissed Phoenix on the lips.

It did not take much to convince Phoenix to return the kiss, only semi-playfully, as the pilot helped Siaxx de-sud herself in the same stroke.

"We're gonna be late if we play, Goddess,," Phoenix warned warmly.

"Yeah..." Siaxx smiled. "I wouldn't normally not be too bothered about it but.... this is your mom we're talking about." the Bolian then turned to the side as she finished cleaning herself off. "We'd best get going."

"Oh she wont get mad if we're a little late," Phoenix laughed lightly as she blindly palmed for the towel on the rack beside the shower. "Dress-casual, I think. Polo and khaki jeans for me."

Siaxx smiled. "Jeans and a sweatshirt for me.... the base is always a tad too cold for my blood." she admitted.

"Don' think my mom minds what ya wear dear," Phoenix added as she dried herself off. "She likes ya. That's all that matters."

Siaxx smiled as a soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Well it could be worse." she commented as she dried herself off and then proceeded to start dressing as she went into the master bedroom where her clothing was kept. "Mmm.. lets see.." and with that she pulled out a pair of blue jeans and a gray shirt which she proceeded to don, then it was time for the socks and the sweatshirt, within seconds, Siaxx was dressed.

Phoenix was dressed not long after Siaxx. Khaki cargo pants, chestnut brown oxfords, and a long-sleeve pale-yellow polo. Her hair was pulled back in a brown headband and she smelled of lilacs, from a body spray she put on.

"All set, Goddess?" Phoenix asked as she pocketed her personal flip-out communicator.

Siaxx nodded her head. "Yep. shall we?" and with that she slipped on a pair of sneakers.

Phoenix walked hand in hand with Siaxx for a short walk to the turbolift and a ride down twelve levels. After a few tight turns through massive corridors, Phoenix hit the chime to her folks' quarters.

The door soon opened to a plethora of scents. Mashed potatoes, green beans, and country style steak. Blake stood at the door cleaning his hands on a hand towel and he smiled once he set eyes on Phoenix and Siaxx.

"Your mother just sampled the meat in the pot. Gravy turned out well too." Blake stood out of the way, wearing workout shorts and a loose shirt. "Come in and have a seat at the table, Ladies."

Phoenix kissed her dad on the cheek before she led Siaxx in. Lots of noise could be heard in the kitchenette area. Mostly from Aryssa setting the table, and Dorothy placing covered dishes in various places.

"An' how are you doin' Jillybean? Siaxx?" Dorothy asked very pleasantly as she summoned Blake to the bar to make drinks for everyone.

"Good. Not gotten into a fight yet," Phoenix snickered as she pulled a chair out for Siaxx.

Siaxx smiled as she sat down. "Thanks..." she commented softly as she watched Phoenix sit down next to her. "No. I'm the one getting into trouble." she admitted with a smile. "Doctor Brislan hauled me into the office where she and I had it out. It was over my recent conduct... which is a long story." she commented. "Tressa then sent me home for the day.... where I made it home and tripped over my own feet and spent half the day asleep on the floor."

Dorothy began platting the food for each person, gradually sending the plates in a circle to each person as she smirked.

"Young love... I remember when Jill's dad kicked the front teeth out of another suitor of mine," Dorothy laughed in kind. "I hope everything is better now, yes?"

Siaxx chuckled softly as she regarded the older woman. "The floor is not a good place to sleep." she commented with a smile. "Its.... not comfortable."

Phoenix smirked for only a moment, and then waited until everyone had their plate before she dug in to her gravy-covered steak.

"So I was thinkin' that maybe you two might wanna take Aryssa to a holo movie this weekend," Dorothy prodded gently. "Assuming Aryssa wants to go."

Aryssa's response was a typical teenage indifferent shrug. Phoenix then looked to Siaxx. "I'm good if Siaxx is."

Siaxx raised an eyebrow, she had not been expecting this but she recovered with a smile. "Sure... depends on what's showing in the base cinema" she explained. "Lets not watch something sappy... Aryssa... what's showing?"

"Dragon Riders: Icebreath," Aryssa spoke very excitedly once she realized she had a say. "It's about a rare sort of dragon that only breathes ice, that this young elf gal wants ta track down and talk into letting her ride him."

"Something tells me this is another audio book series you listen to," Phoenix grinned to that. At least Aryssa spent part of her time trying to read, rather than immerse herself in the social holomedia outlets like most her age did. "Still... If that's the one you want, that's the one we'll see."

Aryssa's smile improved even more when she had confirmation that the decision was hers alone to make.

"You like Torilla's gal?" Phoenix asked after she took a savoring bite of gravy-covered steak.

"She's one of the smarter kids in my class. I don' really talk to her all that much cause she's got her own group of friends," Aryssa answered guardedly.

Phoenix looked to Siaxx carefully. All the senior officer's kids, siblings, and nieces and nephews were well-known in the school system. Aryssa was the newest pseudo celebrity in that particular peer circle because of who her 'sister' was.

Even so, her first week of school was not going well. Aryssa did not seem to want to try very hard socially to get to know any of the other students for reasons yet unknown, though her remedial reading teacher did tell Dorothy that Aryssa was trying real hard to keep up with the regular students.

"You think Torilla's youngest might want to come with us, Siaxx? Give Aryssa some time out-of-school to get to know the kid?" Phoenix asked her partner

Siaxx nodded. "Knowing Rachael as I do. she'll want to come along... like other members of the senior staff. she has a large following of other kids who want to be her friend... so Rachael tends to be picky and choosy about her friends as you might expect." Siaxx explained. "She tolerates everyone to a degree but considering her rather unique abilities and skills, she tends to get a lot of attention which she well and truly despises." the Bolian explained.

"Aryssa tells me a lot about Rachael. Sounds like she's going for an officer track, with her classes," Dorothy spoke matter-of-factly. "Can't say I know a whole lot about her personality though. Aryssa doesn't tell us much about her new school beyond first impressions and her workload."

Aryssa went into her own world, the moment Dorothy opened her mouth. Instead, she began to eat more quickly on her dinner.

"I've known Rachael almost her entire life. Hell I delivered her and helped deliver her nephew. Gideon, son of Torilla's second child.. her only son, Gabriel" Siaxx added. "Torilla and I are very close as I've known her ever since I graduated medical school which was about thirteen years ago now, Rachael was my first baby I delivered."

Phoenix watched Aryssa carefully, for she suspected the teenager did not like being talked about, especially when she was in the same room.

"I would want to know more about this kid before we green light an invitation," Blake spoke. He too, watched Aryssa with his feeble eyes.

"Rachael tends to want to help her friends.. but she does have a fair bit on her plate most days."

"One judges a person best by how one treats their inferiors," Phoenix pointed out, then directed the conversation back to Aryssa. "She an' her little gang treat you all right?"

"I guess," Aryssa shrugged. "I dodge most folks during recess and lunch. So I dunno really."

"Kids give'n ya a hard time in general?" Phoenix probed, clearly concerned for her younger counterpart.

"No... I dunno." Aryssa went into that indifferent shell of protection of hers.

As Aryssa peered down at her plate, Dorothy gave a prodded nod. It was like Dorothy was trying to coach Phoenix into having confidence, with being a parent.

Phoenix finished a bite of mashed potatoes before she went on to say, "I was behind in math when I enlisted. I had to take special needs courses before I could reenlist in the Flight Cadet program, actually."

"Yeah, but you were already an adult. This is different." Aryssa's bite was extremely severe to begin with, but gradually softened once she realized Phoenix was trying to help. "I'm a retard... An' lots of folks pity me for it."

Siaxx made a mental note to talk with Rachael the next morning before school started, she needed to make sure that all was well with her because of her psionic issues.

The teenager cleaned her face with a napkin and stood up politely from the table before she left the room. Phoenix felt sympathy for Aryssa. Dorothy too, though the older Sullivan added, "Trying is what's important... Sadly, kids are cruel in general and this is a sensitive subject we've forced her to confront. So it'll take some time before she sees any rewards from improving her reading."

"I just wish I knew how to make her pain go away," Phoenix spoke lowly as she continued to eat.

"She will find her own path in time." Siaxx said softly. "We all must find our own way through the trials of life." she added. "Rachael has a doctors appointment tomorrow anyway... I need to check her over and make sure her psionic issues aren't causing her grief.... if you guys want.. I'll invite her over for dinner so she can meet you all... that way you can grill her to your hearts content." she then smiled.

"A telepath," Blake spoke blandly. Clearly the entire Sullivan clan viewed telepaths with skepticism.

"Her mom is OK, Dad... Rachael is just a nosy, tactless prick sometimes, in public. But that's mostly cause of her age," Phoenix spoke, referring to Rachael's comments she made about/to Phoenix at the wedding party. "No worse than Aryss'a occasional teenage bullshit."

And that seemed to of appeased the Sullivan clan on that subject. Though in all reality, the Sullivans were probably always going to be a bit prejudice against the telepathic population of the Federation.

"Rachael is thirteen so such is to be expected.... but she's not obnoxious about it." Siaxx commented. "Also she doesn't see Phoenix as anything other then her rank and post." she explained as she looked at Phoenix. "She doesn't know you."

"Fair enough," Phoenix agreed.

"So any medical projects you researching, Miss Siaxx?" Dorothy asked excitedly.

Siaxx shook her head. "Other then the usual. I'm between projects at the moment." she admitted. "I've been thinking about what happened on the Yorktown though... they built her computer using something old and something new... and the ship..." she paused. "she became self aware.."

"A cybernetic organism. That is interesting," Dorothy smiled brightly. "Nothing bad happened to it, right?"

"No... the ship itself is alive." Siaxx explained. "It happened during our last mission to shake her down for bugs." she paused. "I'd call this a rather massive bug." she looked down at her food. "I have no idea of what's going to happen to her."

"Maybe you should speak for it, since you feel so passionate about its existence," Dorothy suggested gently.

Siaxx nodded. "I will." she commented. "since the Yorktown has nobody else... I'll do it."

"Siaxx mentioned trying to find a cure for this poison in our blood... The latter stages, that is," Phoenix added.

Dorothy was truly touched by this notion, as her eyes watered with a cheerful smile. "I... Miss Siaxx..." Dorothy had to covered her mouth and recompose herself. "Even if you never find that cure, I am very pleased that you have crossed paths with Jill."

Siaxx nodded, first in response to Phoenix's statement. "Well Jill here and I crossed swords.... how we met was... interesting.." she chuckled softly. "The poison quest however will take some time and I didn't mention it because I didn't want to get anyone's hopes up."

"I know I am gonna die, Young One," Dorothy spoke very soberly. "I would probably be happy that you found a cure for the people in that prison, long after I'm gone."

Siaxx regarded the older woman, sadness shining in her dark eyes. "That doesn't mean I have to like it..." she sighed softly.

"Warden Yeager has his medics call the poison a fake illness, just so legal folks never find out what he's doing," Jill supplied a bit darkly. "Air's poison to breath."

"When I get finished with him.... dreadful devices will be so in use and dreadful deeds so commonplace that mothers can't help but smile as they behold their infants quartered on the hands of war."

"I used to quote that same Shakespeare line, right before a big battle against the spoonheads," Dorothy grinned to Siaxx. "You two should stop by more often too. It is a joy, spending time with my daughter, and a possible in-law."

Phoenix tugged her collar at that line and had to take a sip of her dark import to keep from choking.

Siaxx opened her mouth to say something but she stopped at the last moment. "I was not expecting you to say that." she admitted. "I was expecting the whole 'violence doesn't solve anything' speech." she paused. "I don't often get out but I will make it a point to come out of hibernation more often.... besides... this steak was worth six hours of sleep on my living room floor." Siaxx added with a wide smile.

"Well Siaxx, Dear, I am too old to carry the fight. Nor do I wish to anymore," Dorothy explained as she started to finish her plate. "I do believe in picking the right battles, in the end. The ones you know you can win."

Siaxx nodded her head as she clearly understood what the older woman was saying. "I know... I will find a cure for this poison and when I am finished... Yeager... will never leave this base alive...." as a dark and rather cruel smile appeared on her face. "there are a few others who want their pound of flesh from him too."

Phoenix looked up suddenly to Siaxx. So far as she knew, Torilla was the only other to know, in passing, about Aryssa's dad. Who all had Siaxx been talking to? And did this imply there were no secrets between them?

To say Phoenix was angry, was an understatement. But she maintained the illusion of calmness.

"I'll go check on Aryssa, I think," Phoenix offered with true concern as she wiped her mouth, then stood up and left the dinning area. Aryssa's room was her next stop.

"Just so ya know, Miss Siaxx? Jill cares a lot 'bout you," Blake told the young Bolian. "She might not always show it, but then again she often not does see just how badly she's attached to someone until somethin' bad happens."

"I know... I'm not the easiest to deal with..." Siaxx sighed.

"Blake isn't either," Dorothy teased her husband.

"But then again, you'd of missed out on a lot of fun if you chosen Dak Grayson," Blake quipped back at Dorothy, for which both of them laughed.

"Key to a good relationship, is knowin' it aint always gonna be fun. Ya gotta work at it if you truly want to be with eachother," Dorothy explained to Siaxx.

"I've not been in a relationship with anyone since the Dominion War... " she paused. "Fucking Spoonheads.." she growled.

"She hasn' had one, period," Blake informed. "When most her brothers and sister died, Jill didn' know how to handle their deaths. She took it worse than her mother did, actually."

"She didn' come out of her room for at least three months. But when she did come out, she was not the little girl she used to be. Junior and Tommy were as much best friends to her." Dorothy was sad when explaining, but she brightened once she transitioned to Siaxx. "Since she started dating you, however, I've seen glimpses of the little girl."

Siaxx smiled as she turned her attention to the closed door where Phoenix has disappeared minutes earlier. "I see a completely different side to her when I'm around her... and I like what I see... she makes me feel wanted and valued... which is something I've not had in a long time."

"Your family not really support ya much?" Blake asked out of curiosity.

"No." Siaxx admitted. "they're rather.. conservative and would rather I end up with an eligible Bolian make rather then a human female." she rolled her eyes. "My siblings however were more understanding though... one of my sisters thinks my parents way of thinking is out of date.. considering she married a human and has two children with him."

"I can't say I like Jill dating same-sex. But it has more to do with the fact our clan has so little Sullivan blood left," Dorothy explained rather apologetically. "Be as it may... she's happy, and that should always be the most important thing for any parent - their child's happiness."

"My parents think its unnatural..." she sighed softly. "I don't know how Phoenix slept through that screaming fest." as the Bolian sighed softly. "I don't think I'm been fair regarding Phoenix.... I tend to keep breaking things... and she gets caught in the middle of my own problems when she has her own to deal with..."

"Well you are dating my daughter. So that makes you family here," Blake smiled brightly at Siaxx.

"I find being around her... intoxicating." she admitted. "she's teaching me new and fascinating ways for stress relief..." she commented. "guns, hand to hand combat and something called Parkour." she then grinned. "I suspect I'm making her go gray before her time."

"She dyes her hair," Dorothy winked and then motioned to her own. "I've a wig. Looks just like our natural tones. Which is the point, really."

"Phoenix dyes her hair.... that's not a shock to be honest.." Siaxx commented with a smile. "blonde doesn't' really suit her all that much."

"Thus she mostly sticks as close to the strawberry blond as much as she can," Dorothy chuckled, and became even more joyous as the sound of Phoenix and Aryssa sharing a laugh in Aryssa's room.

"Well if things go sour with your folks, you always have a plate an' a bed here," Blake offered.

"I really appreciate that." Siaxx smiled at him. "So... do you want me to go chat with Rachael and invite her to dinner.... so you can meet her?"

"I think Blake would be more at ease," Dorothy laughed in kind. "Though I think it's more Phoenix's first impression of the lady that's got her a bit skeptic."

Siaxx nodded her head slowly. "Phoenix doesn't know her as I do." she paused a moment. "which honestly is to be expected... she sees her as little better then your average spoilt teenager but I've known her most of her life.."

"In what way?" Dorothy asked as she finished her plate.

"Rachael is a little more thoughtful then most know.... part of it is because of her abilities and the rest of it is down to what her parents taught her."

"Jill don' care for kids much because she don' think she can take care of 'em. Goes back to the massacre, really. Not bein' able to save her baby sister when we told her ta guard the young ones," Blake pointed out very soberly. "Might of blamed her, back in the day. In my grief. But I apologized the moment she let us talk to her. Still... She'll never admit it, but I think it's my fault she can' really get to know kids well."

"Something like that... I doubt one would ever truly get over." Siaxx commented. "Her anger feeds my own and mine... I think feeds hers...." she sighed. "like a never ending conductive loop.."

"Thing with Jill is that as good as she is with keeping all that pain and rage bottled up, eventually it gets to be too much when they aint shit for her to kill," Dorothy informed very carefully. "Anger is what's kept her alive all these years... Hard for her to just let go of a tool that's been useful to her when all hope was lost. An' I tell you this so you are aware that Jill might be tame now, but she is very much a wild animal. And it's the wild nature of hers that got her the pardon from prison to fight the spoonheads in way no Fed morally would."

"She'd already snipped twelve spoonhead officers, and decapitated another in her late teens. Before she enlisted as a marine." Blake spoke very lowly so Aryssa would not overhear them from the girl's room. "She's a trained killer. Lethal, more so with 'at temper of hers."

Siaxx nodded. "She's told me a couple of things... " the Bolian kept her voice down. "She's not told me and I never asked.... if she wants to share then that's great, I'm here for her but if not... then I won't press..." she smiled.

"I'd be remiss if I did not at least make you aware of Jill's dark side," Dorothy added. "Part of me thinks she needs closure with the death of most her siblings, to be at peace. Until I figure out how to accomplish that, I'm not sure what else I can do."

"She's lost a lot and she's going to lose more." she commented sadly as she looked at Dorothy. "I don't see her finding peace any time soon."

"Then we need to be there for her as much as possible. To make what time we spend together now, good," Dorothy surmised.

"How long are you guys remaining on base?" she inquired with a smile.

"Dorothy wants ta spend the few months she has, here with all her family. Then I plan ta move to a retirement community on Risa," Blake answered bravely for his wife. "We're too old to go galavantin' 'round the galaxy."

"Why don't you settle on Kaleb Four?" she commented with a smile. "Its just as nice as Risa and I find the Viery territory to be lovely." she grinned at them.

"The main thing is to make Jill as happy as we can, spending time with us," Dorothy smiled brightly. "She's a good woman. Deserves joy."

Siaxx nodded. "Yeah she does..."

There was a loud clash from Aryssa's room, which immediately followed with both she and Phoenix laughing hysterically.

"If she's showin' off her quidditch broom in her room again..." Blake balled his fist in aggravation. "Damn Yeager for giving her that infernal thin'."

Siaxx jumped when she heard the bang. "What the!" she raised an eyebrow as she heard Blake's comment. "Do I dare ask?"

"Gave it to her for a birthday present last year. It's all she ever does in her spare time - play in the Quidditch World Cup holo program," Dorothy explained. "It's why she is behind in her studies... Been playing that game for six years. But this year the holo program company released the interactive hover broom that helps to simulate flight in the holodeck."

"The professional World Cup teams in the program bought them. Each model of broom has supposed stats. The more expensive the broom, the better it is." Blake rolled his eyes at that. "Yeager bought her the most expensive one there is - A two-thousand gold-plated latnium bar broom that only hovers four feet off the ground."

Siaxx narrowed his eyes. "Who is this Yeager anyway...." she paused. "is he who I've heard about?" she quickly looked around.

Again there was a massive crash, followed quickly by a loud thump, and a round of laughter from Aryss'a bedroom.

"It is. He showed up on her birthday with his security in tow and gave her that thing, along with her own charge chip to spend whenever and however," Dorothy spoke with dark eyes. "We don't let her have the credit chip until she's old enough to manage money."

Siaxx nodded her head as she clearly agreed with what the others were saying. "I have nothing nice to say about him.... considering what Phoenix has told me about him..." she stopped as she sighed. "I've not met him and I despise him..."

"We don' like him either. But he's kept Aryssa out of tha mines and out of the air in the prison complex," Blake told Siaxx. "Aryssa don' like him either. She knows the guy showers her with stuff ta keep her mouth shut of all the things she sees in the warden's mansion."

"I can only imagine exactly what those are." Siaxx shivered, not with cold but with barely restrained rage. "I'd like ten minutes alone with his worthless ass.... I'd make him a woman..." and with that, a rather dark smile appeared on her face.

"Could always try to frame him for something when he comes in," Dorothy spoke hypothetically. "Get Jill to file charges on him. Pretty sure he'd go to prison, with Aryssa's blood to prove her story."

Siaxx slowly smiled. "I have something far better... a friend of mine who would love to destroy his mind... her name is Torilla. Mother to Rachael who you'll be meeting tomorrow."

"That aint justice. Justice is him rottin' someplace, knowin' folks he wronged got tha better of him," Blake spoke fiercely. "He can' live in fear if ya turn him into a vegetable."

Siaxx regarded Phoenix's father. "It can be arranged.... but we'll need to be careful in any case.. otherwise he'll have you guys back in the slammer and me along with it for causing trouble.... and Valen knows what he'll do with me." though it was clear that Siaxx had a few good ideas if the look of disgust on her face was anything to go on.

"So should we drag the children out of their room?" Dorothy asked in transition of a new subject. A playful smile was on her gaunt face as she shook her head to another crashing sound.

Siaxx raised an eyebrow as she heard and felt the raging thunder ripple through the room as the toy crashed into the wall for the umpteenth time. "No, let them spend some time together." she commented. "Engineering can always repair the damage and Jill and Aryssa need to bond..." she added more quietly. "they will need that in the days ahead..."

"Where do you see yourself with Aryssa?" Dorothy asked with curiosity.

"That.... is up to her." Siaxx responded. "I'd like to get to know her and see how she copes with life on the Starbase but.... I am not about to force her to do anything, that includes respecting me.... she has no idea as to who I am or what I want from her."

"Is that because you don't want her to know you, or because you think she might not like what she sees?" Dorothy asked gently.

"The latter." she admitted. "to be honest.... my relationship skills are not the best... they all fall apart generaly rather quickly... mostly because of my experiances.. and to make matters worse.. its usualy by me.. self doubt and my trust issues with men." she paused. "maybe Phoenix-Jill..... is what I need."

"If you truly want to be part of Aryssa's life, then don't hold back with who you are with her," Dorothy spoke gently. "Teenagers don't think outside their scope. If you are guarded, she'll see it as you not wanting anything to do with her."

"Considering how things are presently going between me and Phoenix... rocky at present... I'm not sure I need to worry too much about Aryssa."

"If it helps to talk, we'll listen," Dorothy offered, Blake meanwhile shoveled the last of his food in his mouth.

"I told my superior a couple of things I shouldn't have... about Phoenix..." she admitted. "the subject... was the Warden." she sighed. "I thought... I was helping matters but... all I did was piss everyone off because I always had an aggression issue which I can't control at times..... now that's irony for you."

"Did you tell Phoenix you might need to tell your boss about Yeager?" Dorothy asked quietly, thinking back to the moment Phoenix left the table.

"No... that was the moment trouble between us started.." Siaxx sighed. "I never thought to ask...."

"I would not be shocked if you slept alone tonight then," Blake noted with a frown.

"You'll work it out though. If you like her enough, that is," Dorothy amended.

"I probably will..." Siaxx commented. "same as last night..." she sighed softly. "We'll sort things out... we usualy do."

"If she's unreasonable, you can send her ta us," Blake joked lightly.

"I have a feeling... I will be." Siaxx wasn't joking in the least and it showed.

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