Aftermath

Posted on Sunday, 19 April 2020 - 3:47pm by Commander Soral

Mission: Operation: Overdrive
Location: Observation Lounge
Timeline: 2393 (0100 hours)

{ON:}

Eyelaya sat on the floor staring out at the stars. They always seemed to have a calming effect on her. She allowed the peacefulness of the starry night to settle on her like a comfort blanket. She had been so lost in her thoughts that she did not hear the door whoosh open.

"Chief?"

She turned to see the taller then usual Soral looming by the door. She then, of course, realized that she was seated and quickly stood. "I... I was just looking at the stars. I should go."

He held up his hand. "You have been crying."

She shook her head. "No..."

Soral sighed, "You are not a good liar. Your eyes are red and there are other signs." He looked at the tissues on the floor.

"Oh!" Eyelaya hurriedly picked up the tissues and as she turned to toss them out she slipped and would have fallen if Soral's lightening fast reflexes hadn't reacted. He'd managed to snag her arm and keep her from falling. In return he had a tissue, that had gone flying in the air, land on his head.

He picked up the offending item and tossed it in the small can that got emptied daily.

"Oh Commander I'm so sorry! I!!"

He held up his hand. "Sit." He motioned to the chairs and headed to the replicator. "Drink?"

She sighed. "Hot chocolate?"

He ordered her one and a cranberry juice for himself liking the tartness of the ruby red liquid. Carrying the drinks he set hers down by her and his own in front of himself. "Now. From the beginning please."

She stayed silent taking a sip of her hot chocolate. "I'm really okay..."

"Very well. You can either explain it to me or to the counselor."

She sat rod straight. "No...I..." Her shoulders slumped. "Alright. I guess..." She launched into her tail of things that had been going on, her roommates all leaving, her time with Sam so far, and her thoughts on Emerick and what he said. Once she'd opened the floodgates of it all she could not stop.

Soral, for his part, listened silently. In the end he stayed silent weighing things. "You have not spent long with Emerick. Do you not feel it premature to develop feelings for him?"

She shrugged. "I honestly don't know what I feel anymore." She gestured to the ship and windows. "All this is what I've wanted I have it now... I shouldn't want more I guess."

"What is the more you are wanting?"

She shrugged. "To have friends. I desperately want them I just don't know how. To have someone love me..." She shrugged again. "It's a lot to ask."

"Why?"

She stood and put her hands on her hips. "Are you Socratic Method-ing me into a corner here?"

Soral's lip twitched. "Perhaps. But why is it a lot to ask?"

She sighed and sat back down. "I don't know. I feel like I don't deserve it." She drank some of her hot chocolate. "My adopted mother told me not to expect much from life. I mean I'm not pretty, I'm not smart. What I get is a bonus."

Soral raised an eyebrow. "Not smart? You are a published Engineer. Your work speaks for itself and you have attained a Rank and status that is beyond your years based on that work. You are more then as you say, smart. You are intelligent, well read, your IQ, and I did check, is ridiculously high. Your previous commanding officer, although worried about your social abilities, wrote that you were the brightest engineer he'd ever had at the shipyards. He even commented that he found you more resourceful and intelligent then his department head."

She blushed, "I'm not that good."

Soral had the urge to grab her shoulders and shake her. "Your adopted mother was obviously the misguided one. You are indeed intelligent and.." he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "You are a handsome woman."

Eyelaya smiled, "Thank you for trying Commander." She polished off her hot chocolate. "I should go. I have an early shift tomorrow." Standing up she went back to the recycler to get rid of the cup and as she passed Soral he reached out and touched her arm.

It was the only way he could get a full read on her. "You carry many secrets and much pain. You need to share it."

She studied him and shrugged.

Her silence spoke volumes. He let go of her arm. "Good night Chief."

She gave a nod. "Goodnight Commander."

Soral stared after her. He was grateful that Doctor Rose's telepathic device was removed. He was able, through his touch of her arm, to read the pain she was in. It somehow spoke to his own pain. He would find a way to help her.


{OFF:}

Lt. Cmdr. Soral
Executive Officer

&

CPO Eyelaya
Engineering Officer