Worst Case Scenario

Posted on Wed Nov 1st, 2023 @ 6:54pm by Captain Malcom Llwyedd & Lieutenant Commander Rhiana t'Aegis

1,384 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: A Long Hard Road Ahead
Location: Romulan Family Quarters
Timeline: 23 August, 2396 1730 Hours

[ON]

"You cannot trust anyone," Rhiana repeated for the third or fourth time, just in case Xavi had somehow managed not to understand this sentence. She had summoned him to their quarters shortly after having left her meeting with the captain and Rees, wanting, needing to have this conversation as soon as possible for she did not know how much time she would have left.

"Except for two persons: Commander Llwyedd and Bokot," she continued, then interrupted herself and added in a slightly different tone, "Make that one person: Commander Llwyedd. Bokot may be a friend and I would trust him with my life, but he is what he is. He should only be your last recourse when the captain cannot help you anymore." She was pacing in their living area, trying to think of things she had never quite had to contemplate before, and realised that she should have done so as soon as they had managed to free Xavi a year ago.

Xavi frowned. "Of course. I have found Captain Llwyedd to be trustworthy myself. He has always protected me. But, if I may ask, why the sudden emphasis? Is there something happening that I should know about?"

Rhiana paused mid-step and stared at Xavi for a few long seconds while she tried to remember the last few moments. Had she not explained the situation to him? Surely, she must have. She remembered that she had thought about nothing else since leaving the captain's ready room. Or maybe that really had only been in her mind... She blinked and finished the step. "We received a distress call from a space station that is under attack in the Gamma Quadrant. I am very likely going to be assigned to an away team that is being sent through the wormhole to evaluate the situation." She took a breath. "There are too many unknowns for us to estimate the likelihood of our return. Therefore," she continued quickly before the boy could interrupt, "We need to make certain that you have everything you need. So. Whom can you trust?"

Xavi held up a hand. "Why are you talking as if you won't be coming back? You always come back. You are t'Aegis," he said. "I trust the Captain, Nurse Mox, the EMH because he is programmed and I have reviewed his programming, and Petty Officer Lak. He has honor."

Rhiana's lips pursed and she frowned while Xavi spoke, even shook her head slightly. "I may have survived often, but noone is immortal. This mission is... unusual. We may not die, but we may be cut off from the ship and stranded in the Gamma Quadrant. But the situation for you will be the same, which is why we are speaking right now." She took a breath and continued. "Now, in normal, everyday situations, you can trust everybody aboard the Firebird. Even the new crew members will do their duty. But only those who have fought with us before will go above and beyond that duty. If you are in danger - any danger, even something as seemingly trivial as some Federation employee wanting to place you somewhere 'for your own safety' that is neither the Firebird nor Starfleet Academy - you will go to Commander Llwyedd. If he cannot help you, contact Bokot. He can help you disappear. But he has his own agenda, his own loyalties. So be wary of him."

Xavi nodded. "I understand. I mean, I understand why you say Commander Llywedd and Bokot, but I don't always understand them. My childhood was not... trustful. I've only ever really trusted two people. My mother and you. I know that the Commander has risked his life, his reputation, and more to protect me. I don't really understand why. Bokot... I don't understand him at all. He is the only person that you talk about the way you do. You like him but don't trust him but understand him? It's all so complicated when dealing with adults."

Despite her tension and not-properly-dissimulated agitation, that last part brought a smile to Rhiana's face. "Romulan adults. It is difficult for you to understand that way of thinking because you have not grown up with it." She took a breath, trying to decide how much to tell him. "There are two main reasons why I trust him: he has risked a lot to help rescue you and... he is the brother of the man I was betrothed to. Now," she added quickly and made a gesture with her hand as if what she had just said was not important. "I do not actually know whether that last part is true, but he knows enough to make me want to believe him. However, he is working or at least used to work for the same organisation as his brother and that makes him dangerous. In addition to that, he will also have his own agenda - whatever that may be. I fully expect him to betray me eventually - or simply to do his duty, which will have the same result." She stated all of this rather matter-of-factly, as if it was just a minor part of Romulan life.

"Commander Lloyd is a different matter," she continued after a pause to let sink in what she had been saying so far. "He is Starfleet and he does have a duty to protect his crew and their families. Furthermore, I think he considers most of the crew to be part of his family. Protecting his family is natural to him."

Xavi nodded. t'Aegis had been betrothed? "I understand. What should I be doing? I feel like I should be contributing in some way to the ship when we are facing a possible emergency."

"No. You are a civilian." She was being kind by not adding 'and a child', because she knew he would not appreciate that thought, even though it was true. "Trust that if your help is needed, you will be summoned." Rhiana crossed the short distance to her workstation and tapped on a few of the buttons that were set into the smooth, spotless surface. "There is an access panel hidden in the wall underneath my bedside table. It will open to your fingerprint. The compartment behind contains latinum as well as several documents. Among them is a rental contract for quarters aboard Empok Nor. They were rented under an assumed name and may provide a temporary hiding place."

Xavi was not at all surprised that t'Aegis had made such plans. They were simply good precautions in case of an emergency.

"You would like me to make my way to Empok Nor and stay there until Bokot arrives? If something happens to you, I am sure he would be motivated to find me as quickly as possible."

"No," Rhiana replied once again. "Should I not return, you will first seek the captain's counsel. He, unlike anyone else, will have your best interests at heart. If he cannot guarantee your safety aboard anymore, he will let you disembark once the vessel is back at Empok Nor." She was assuming that what she was saying was true and she had to believe it. While Xavi's situation probably was not unique, it was dangerous and there was no easy way of dealing with the many unknowns that he would have to face without her. He was brave and resilient, but he was also young and inexperienced and rash.

Rhiana was not someone who prayed often, but looking at the boy right now, she offered a brief, silent prayer to the Elements to let her return from this mission alive so she could try and keep him safe for a while longer.

"I have to return to my duties," she concluded the conversation in her usual, measured tone of voice, all note of urgency gone, and walked towards the door. "I expect you to have finished your homework by the time I am back, Xikeno."


[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Rhiana t'Aegis
Second Officer / Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

Xavi (NPC by Llwyedd)
Romulan Youth
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

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