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Rivers quarters - ghosts of the past (Tag CNS)

Posted March 15, 2021, 4:14 a.m. by Lieutenant River Styxx (OIC Marine) (Nathan Derricutt)

Posted by Lieutenant Revna Edman (Counselor) in Rivers quarters - ghosts of the past (Tag CNS)

Posted by Lieutenant River Styxx (OIC Marine) in Rivers quarters - ghosts of the past (Tag CNS)

Posted by Lieutenant Revna Edman (Counselor) in Rivers quarters - ghosts of the past (Tag CNS)
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

River sat at the table in her quarters her trigger finger stroking the console in front of her. She had manged to put the disc in but now it seemed almost impossible to press play. As she hesitated her eyes traced her room resting on the two footlockers and the small box sitting on her floor. she had received them weeks ago and still hadn’t opened them. River was scared of what they would awaken to her they where Pandora’s box and she knew of she opened them she wouldn’t be able to close them again.

With a deep breath River tore her eyes away and let them wonder before stopping at the sword on the wall it was an elegant blade with carving in an alien language few knew how to read, a bitter irony as River knew the sword so well, every Knick, every imperfection. its sheath was above it its intricate detail rubbed away by Rivers hand. The only reminder she had allowed to exist. But now she had three and a video, so mustering all the courage she had, she pressed play.

An man in his late 40s appeared he wasn’t a star fleet officer he wore simply civilian clothes. “I hope this message find you well Miss Styxx. My name is Maximillian Davidson. I’m the lead restorer of the Acheron restoration and memorial trust. I’m contacting you today to inform you that we have managed to retrieve your belongings, the belongings of you fiancé and the belongings of your adopted daughter from the ruins. we have also been able to recover some partial information from the computer as well. I have included all this and sent you your belongings to you as well as the report on your fiancé Abigail Harkin. I’m told she is doing well and has manged to read again. Her physician Doctor Selar has included a message for you and a copy of her reports. I’m also happy to inform you that we have selected a spot for the memorial park and are ready to begin reinterning the dead. we need your permission for one of the dead, so if you could send a written replay a soon as you’re able that would be very helpful. I am truly sorry for all you have endured but I hope that these belonging and these files will give you some solace. I wish you well” the image of the man froze and River sighed.

No going back now she thought as she got up and walked over to the footlockers, she could read the files later. She moved the boxes to the centre of her room and spread them out. As he moved them her hand froze on the names on the box and one of the footlockers Abigail Harkin and Lily Styxx. she smiled sadly at the name They gave her my name, the name she never got to use she thought that was when she became aware that her cheeks where wet, she wiped her eyes and went to the end of her quarters. She had to do this, she had to. But could she? Eventually River realised she couldn’t do it alone and tapped her com =^= Styxx to Revna. you know you said to contact you if i needed you. i need you now more then ever=^= She said as walked closer to foot locker and sat down on the floor waiting for the CNS to arrive.

Lieut Styxx (Marine OIC)

=^=This is Revna. I’ll be right there.=^= Revna took the time to slip a wrap dress over her uniform. River wanted privacy and this way anyone seeing Revna arrive could assume it was a social call between colleagues or friends. She stepped out of her office and looked at the NE at the desk. “Cancel my appointments for the rest of the day.” The NE nodded and Revna walked to the turbolift and entered. “Computer where is Lt Styxx?” “LT STYXX IS IN HER QUARTERS” Revna nodded and instructed the lift to take her there. She stepped off the lift and down the corridor, walking with leisurely purpose, so not to draw attention. She stopped at the door and hit chime. Luckily no one was around.
Lt Edman, Counselor

“Come in” came Rivers voice.

When Revna walked in she would see that River was sitting in the middle of her floor with two large footlockers and small box round her. River looked up at her and it was easy to see that she had been crying. “Counsellor. Thank you for coming I just needed someone to be here. for this, someone who could keep things confidential” she said gesturing to the boxes around her. “I received these a few weeks ago and I’ve been working up the courage to open them. Now that you’re here I have no excuse not to open them.” she added before gesturing for Revna to sit.

Lieut Styxx (Marine OIC)

At her request, yet not a request, for confidentiality Revna nodded, “Of course.” She looked at the trunks as River spoke and then Revna entered and sat herself down on the same side of the trunks as River, but not inside her personal space. “Why do you need courage to open them? What’s in them?” It was a sincere question but one to allow River to give name to her apprehension and resistance. Sometimes that made it easier to look at things that were hard to see.
Lt Edman, Counselor

River sighed “These are the personal belongings of who I used to be , My fiancé Abigail Harkin and my adopted daughter Lilly Jones.” River paused her voice full of sadness “She never got to use my name.” she added.

“They where with me in Acheron, Lily died there, my sweet twelve year old girl. she’d never hurt anyone. Abi was captured broken and experimented on, she’s been institutionalised and has only just learnt to read, nearly a year and a half later.” River said sadly, it was clear that this was very hard for River, not many knew how much she had lost on Acheron. Even after that she nearly lost her commission, her freedom and her life.

“I don’t know what’s in these boxes. what I do know is that they will probably open wounds, I have hidden for so long.” she said. she had never felt so venerable so exposed.

Lieut Styxx (Marine OIC)

Revna listened quietly. They had spoken, briefly about Acheron, and Revna had done her research, but a news report, and official briefing, was never close to the reality. “Let’s start with Abigail’s.” Opening her own things would undoubtedly be easier, but Revna knew that saving the easiest for last (or potentially easiest) would help ease them back to the present. So they could start with Abigail. Why? Because though she was hurt and far away she was still alive and making progress. A real person, that if River wished, she could contact, write to, even go see if she wanted. “One item at a time. Do you want to open it, or would it help if I did it?”
Lt Edman, Counselor

River shook her head “No I’ll do it” she said as her shaking hand reaching for latches. with a click the chest unlocked and the lid creaked open. The chest was full of what you would expect mostly clothes including a silk wedding dress, a few Padds and few interesting items. There were two picture frames, a child’s drawing, dog tags, a few trinkets but the item River took first was a small box. She opened it and inside sat a Dimond incrusted dolphin ring.

River looked at the ring and smiled sadly “She had a thing for dolphins so I had this engagement ring specially made for her. I wasn’t sure is she’d say yes but to my joy she did. I thought I was the luckiest girl in the galaxy. I Remer my CO and the CO of the Starfleet officers had a falling out over who would get to walk her down the isle” She said as he handed the ring to Revna

Revna took the box and examined the ring. The work was of excellent craftmanship. “It’s beautiful.” It was a shame the doctors wouldn’t let Abigail keep it. She understood why, but something like this could act as a very strong reminder, trigger a sense or person and happy memories.

“You know she doesn’t remember me. Last time I tried to talk to her she didn’t even register I was there.” she added after a small pause

Lieut Styxx (Marine OIC)

Renva touched her arm gently. “She remembers you. I promise. She may not be able to tell you or show you, but she does. She’s in there, somewhere. Sometimes it just takes the doctors awhile to find her and lead her back. She’s not gone or broken, just lost, River. She’ll find her way back.” Revna believed it, she’d seen it, she’d helped people with it. And sometimes the path seemed endless but it wasn’t. She closed the box and set it down between them and nodded at a picture frame inside the trunk.
Lt Edman, Counselor

“Maybe, one day” River said simply as she reached for the albums “Her fate is the same as so many others, can that many lost people truly be found again?” she asked as she picked up one of the frames.

“Yes they can be, with enough help, with enough doctors, and if they have the will to be found.” Some times, Revna knew, the person wanted to stay lost, and they were the hardest to save.

The picture was of River she looked younger, her eyes where warm and a joyful smile was on her face. She had her arm round another women with long black hair, beautiful blue eyes sand ivory skin. then in the middle was a small child about 11 she had long blond hair in two long pony tails, grey eyes and light skin. the adult wore marine uniforms and the little girl had a blue dress on. They where outside some kind of restaurant, the sigh behind them said Bolwart’s Bolian banquet.

River smiled again more fondly this time she had forgotten how happy she had once been. She remembered the restaurant the owner was a very kind and cheerful man, always there to listen and always there to make you laugh. “We look so happy.” she said a hint f warmth on her voice “This was our favourite restaurant. the owner Bolwart was one of the nicest people I had ever met. If you where down he would cheer you up, he always listened to your problems and never judged. almost everyone felt that way. we used to joke that he was better then the counsellors star fleet had sent us.” she said.

Revna smiled, but didn’t comment. She’d met a lot of people like this Bolwart. She’d even sent patients to some on occasion. She was not to proud to go ‘off book’ of someone else could help.

“I’ve forgotten the exact days we went but we where there a lot. Bolwart used to say we might as well be part of the furniture” she added after a pause handing the picture to Revna.

Lieut Styxx (Marine OIC)

Revna took the picture and looked over it; taking in the happy family. A frozen moment of a happier time. Instead of putting it down Revna set it in her lab and placed the box with the ring on top. If River was willing later, she thought she should put some of these things up, to remember, to honor the memory. Revna knew something about that. She looked back at the box and waited.
Lt Edman, Counselor

River took the next frame and paused, the image was hand drawn it was a women at piano. A closer look and the women was clearly River “I’ve never seen this before. I mean Abi was always drawing she was an amazing artist. I mean it wasn’t uncommon for her to be drawing while listening to me play the piano. But why would this ne be framed?” River asked then she noticed something underneath it in the chest it was a birthday card. the handwriting in the card was very elegant ” To River, all my love Abi” She said reading the writing. In that moment River froze her hand started to shake again and tears where in her eyes. she just sat there not sure what to say or do.

Lieut Styxx (Marine OIC)

Revna set the things in her lap down and very quietly, but quickly, moved to the replicator and came back with a glass of cold water. She set it near River, where she could reach it but not knock it over, and then sat back down next to her. She took the picture and the card and set them gently aside. This was one of those moments were words were not needed. River was at a loss for how she should act, thinking about it, trying to analyze (everyone did that at some point or another) but what she needed right now was to let herself feel the emotions the card and drawing had created. River didn’t need the words of an outsider to dispel the moment. So instead, Revna put an arm around the other woman’s shoulders and let her cry. Let her cry it out for however long or short she needed, and then they could decide what to do next. Abigail was still alive but lost, and her little girl was gone. River needed to mourn them, and Revna would let her.
Lt Edman, Counselor

How much time had passed was hard to tell. But eventually River stopped crying and took a sip of the water “I’m sorry. I’m supposed to be a tough marine and a peace of paper made me cry” she said drying her eyes “The truth is I didn’t have a chance to morn either of them. When Lilly died there was an attack the same day. the battle raged I tired to give myself a moment but that was so rare. The Abi was taken during the height of the fighting, then the relief fleet arrived. Then after that a soon as Acheron was declared safe I was arrested and thrown in a federation prison.” River scoffed and shook her head.

“Even siting in that brig I didn’t have much time to think, getting ready for my trial, having my trial then waiting for the result. If it wasn’t for the Klingons and the Romulans I would of been found guilty and left to rot.” she added after a short pause.

Lieut Styxx (Marine OIC)

Revna had read River’s file of course and knew about the trial and everything that had happened. River had comported herself well and don’t what she’d needed to do. Revna wasn’t in a place to decide if the brass had been correct in investigating and then the trial or not. But she was glad for River’s sake that the Klingons and Romulans had spoken up. “You need to mourn, you lost a lot, and there are lots of ways to do that.” She looked in the trunk and back to River. “Let’s put these somewhere.” She handed the photo and ring box to River and stood up.
Lt Edman, Counselor

“I’m not entirely sure that’s a good idea, i mean its not like there isn’t space” River said gesturing around her quarters. they really where bare aside form the orate sword and Cain there was nothing on the walls or shelves “Maybe they should be kept in the boxes you know in case of damage and umm” River paused trying to think of a good excuse but she didn’t have any. the truth was he didn’t want to face that pain everyday, she knew she had to but she didn’t want to.

She sighed and shook her head “Maybe it would be appropriate to put them over there” she said gesturing to the empty shelf below the sword and cane.

Lieut Styxx (Marine OIC)

Revna put a hand on her arm, “When you are ready. Though the memories hurt these things evoke happier memories than the memory of when you last saw them. Though their loss will always hurt, having these things out can help you remember the better memories. But only when you are ready.” Revna did place them on the shelf indicated, but flat, so they were there, but River could decide when she wanted them on display, when she wanted to see them. Then she resumed her seat and nodded to the trunk again. “What other treasures does this hold? And they are treasures, even if it’s hard to look.”
Lt Edman, Counselor

“harder then you know” River said as she sat back down her eyes lingering on the downed picture on the shelf. River picked up the Padds and turned them on. On one of them was Abi’s personnel log rive played it

“Lance Corporal Abigail Harkins personnel log” the voice was gruff yet warm, the voice of someone who cared deeply but who also wasn’t afraid to be stern if they had to be. They also had a slight southern American accent which only got stronger the more the got excited “I can’t believe it. me and River where having a picnic by the azure lake and she asked me to marry her. Me, I mean I had hoped she had wanted to take our relationship further but I figured I’d be the one asking. I never expected this and now looking at the ring i can’t help but feel fate has stepped in, i never believed in that sort of thing. But it is odd i was thinking about asking then she goes and asks. Something must be pulling the strings for me to catch someone like River. Soon I’ll be Mrs Styxx.” Abi laughed joyfully “Mrs Styxx I like the sound of that. I know people think she’s cold but they just don’t know her. I know her and i love ever aspect of her. I know that as long as we are together nothing bad will happen, we’ll always be together. She could never lead me astray and I can’t help but feel like the rest of my life will be fantastic.”

The log ended and River just held the padd, that was the first time she had heard Abi’s voice in over a year and a half. She had forgotten how good it sounded, how so much like a song it was to River. She had forgotten her fiancés voice. what did that say about her and who she had become. She closed her eyes and replayed the log. A smile on her face, a happier smile while there was sadness there but it was gone for now, It was like River had just met up with and old friend.

“I’d forgotten how beautiful her voice was. How beautiful she was in general. the first time I saw her and she decked me in combat training, I knew she was the one.” River opened her eyes and for a moment they where not cold but warm. all of the bad memories where washed away and all the good came to the surface. In that moment a shred of who River used to be, the joking, quick witted in love with life person she was, was visible for a split second.

Lieut Styxx (Marine OIC)


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