Baggage Delay

Posted on Thu Apr 18th, 2019 @ 8:11pm by Lieutenant Commander Mnhei'sahe Dox & Jaeih Dox-t'Aan & Commander Rita Paris & Lieutenant Mona Gonadie

Mission: Detours
Location: USS Hera, Deck 8, Lieutenant Dox's Quarters
Timeline: 2396

Once outside VIP Quarters, Paris inspected the two Security officers already on duty, nodding in approval at Zelinski and Brando. Both stood at parade rest, their uniforms spotless, their military deportment evident, and both sharp-eyed and ready for trouble. She noted both were carrying versions of her old Type 2 phaser, whicvh gave the old-school officer something of a chuckle. Tapping her comm badge as she moved, the first officer spoke to the air. "Paris to Dox... Mrs. Dox is now installed on Deck 8, VIP quarters number 15. She has an honor guard and can be visited for further details."

From her quarters, the young Lieutenant Mnhei'sahe Dox sat on her couch as she leaned against the breast of her bond mate, Mona Gonadie. Her eyes were swollen and green around the edges from crying. She tapped her comm badge and replied, "Aye Commander. T... thank you."

Putting her hand in Mona's, she squeezed tight. "What do I do now, Jhu Dhael?"

Mona sighed heavily as she stroked her love's hair. "We'll undoubtedly end up working with her in some way so as much as neither of us likes her... It's probably best that we at least visit her in an official capacity. Perhaps invite that pirate lady along too, since she's involved in this Tribunal as well."

"Yeah..." Dox muttered. "Undoubtedly. I just need to learn how to talk to her without all this baggage. I just don't know how I'm going do that."

"It would be easier if I just hated her. I hate myself for wishing I could not care at all. But I just don't know how to let go of the idea that she can be different from what she's always been." Dox continued, shutting her eyes and trying to focus on Mona's heartbeat to help her calm down.

"Hating people is not the natural state of the universe. You care because she played such a large role in your younger years. As for hating yourself, you should never do that. Her failings and lies are no reason to hate yourself. They just are and you should take them for what they are. Attempts to wrap the truth in a comforting blanket of protection around something she fears, just like other Romulans I've met." Mona stroked her Minay's hair as she spoke, trying to soothe and calm her. "And I've seen it in other races too, unfortunately. Romulans that have dealt with the Tal'Shiar have just been the best at it."

"I guess I really do need to learn how to let go of my expectations and accept what she is." Mnhei'sahe sighed, feeling defeated. "But you're right. She's here, now. And one way or another we're at the very least going to be working with her if not anything else. So I'm going to need to figure out how accept that sooner rather than later. Hmm. probably the both of us will be working with her at one point or another."

Sitting back up next to Mona, Dox sank back slightly as a cloud came over her. "I'm sorry. You... shouldn't have to deal with her at all."

"Well, if you deal with her, I deal with her, because I support you in whatever way I can." Mona leaned in and kissed her love on the nose softly. "Because I love you so much, ok? You're not in this alone."

Responding with a slightly melancholy smile, Mnhei'sahe didn't know how to reply at first. Between the lingering effects of the mindmeld with the senior crew and the Titan Gaia that left her mind closed once again and the preparation for the Captain's upcoming tribunal, the red-headed Romulan felt increasingly alone. Her empathic bond with Mona was getting steadily stronger, but was still so much weaker than what it once was and her dealings with the Artan pirate family seemed to be creating a wedge between herself and Rita Paris. These factors had all left her feeling strangely isolated.

But she tried to put her own insecurities aside and simply trust in what she knew was real. And that was her love for Mona. So she smiled just a bit broader as she replied, "Thank you, Jhu Dhael. I love you too. But... let's deal with this... tomorrow. Okay? I don't want to think about it anymore tonight. I just want this."

As she spoke, her words tinged ever so slightly with the lifetime of depression she struggled with, Mnhei'sahe tucked herself back up against Mona's warm body.

"Ok, Minay. But just you wait until I get the chance to introduce you to my foster family. Those are some crazy birds..." With that thought, the brightly plumed Miradonian pulled her Romulan lover deep into her bosom and snuggled tenderly, thrumming deep into the night.

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Before too long, the morning Mnhei'sahe was dreading had come. After a night of fitful sleep, the young Romulan woman was standing in front of the mirror in the bedroom she and Mona shared, adjusting her uniform for the day. The two had time before their duty shifts would begin and it was time Dox had decided needed to be spent trying to talk to her estranged mother.

Yawning with a bit of a squawk, Mona walked up behind her and draped her arms over her shoulders, still a bit bleary eyed. "It's too early. The tea hasn't even been brewed yet." Tea was about the only thing Mona drank other than the rare fruit juice and hot tea was her drink of choice in the mornings. "You look as beautiful as the moon goddess, Minay. What say we grab something to eat and be on our way? After all, the longer we put this off, the worse you'll feel."

Leaning back slightly, Mnhei'sahe tilted her head against Mona's and closed her eyes long enough to connect to Mona's energy for just a moment. Even through their reduced connection, it was strong and soothing. "Sounds good. I can get breakfast together while you're getting ready. How's cheese omlettes sound?"

"That sounds divine," Mona replied, savoring the feel of her lover's energies. "Extra pepper sauce on mine please."

While Mnhei'sahe was a terrible cook as a general rule, she had been practicing with egg dishes and was getting moderately competent with omlettes as Mona had a preference for fresh made food over the replicator to the point of moving her kitchenette into their quarters when she moved in. So while Mona was showering, Mnhei'sahe quickly prepared breakfast getting it cooked and set up to eat in just a few minutes.

Taking the time to enjoy their meal together, the two talked a bit more about Mnhei'sahe's concerns before finishing up and finally heading down the corridor to the guarded VIP quarters that were now the home of Mnhei'sahe's Mother, Jaeih Dox.

Nodding to the two towering officers on duty, Dox spoke to the computer to unseal the door."Computer, unseal hatch of VIP quarters number 15. Authorization Dox, M. Lieutenant. Access code 795-X9E."

With a chirp, the computer replied with a security question farmed from her personnel file. =^=What year did you graduate Starfleet Academy?=^=

Thinking for a second, Mnhei'sahe replied, "Class of 2389". Then she turned to Mona to enter her information.

Mona sighed heavily, knowing the computer had limited data to go on for her personal data to ask about and what was in there was really unpleasant. "Authorization Gonadie, M. Ensign. Access code ɯȹʊʚ9."

With a chirp, the computer replied with a security question farmed from her personnel file. =^=What is the name of your foster home?=^=

Mona groaned inwardly and wanted to bang her head against the door. Of course this would come up. "Minay Moon Goddess Home for Wayward Youths."

Holding Mona's hand tight, Dox smiled and blushed slightly. The reminder that the name Mona chose to call her was also that of a Miradonian goddess was somewhat intimidating for the self-esteem challenged Romulan. But after a light chirp the doors wooshed open and they entered together.

Inside, Jaeih Dox was sitting at the small coffee table nursing a cup and reading over a PaDD of her new duties aboard the Hera. She was wearing her gray Starfleet Intelligence tunic and where a Starfleet comm badge would be was a badge in the shape of the great Romulan bird, Al'thindor with the forms of Romulus and Remus in it's claws. The symbol of the Star Empire she had once served and now wore as a reminder of her place.

As the pair entered, she stood up with a start, somewhat surprised and failing to conceal the slightest of smiles at the sight of her daughter. "Mnhei'sahe... Miss Gonadie. Jolan Tru. "

She offered the traditional Romulan greeting with a slightly awkward expression as Mnhei'sahe returned it. "Jolan Tru, Mother."

"Jolan Tru, Mrs. Dox. Sorry for disturbing you like this so early. Are you settling in well?" Mona decided to remain pleasant and started off with pleasantries to get them off on the right foot. She still didn't really like the woman, but she could at least understand why she did the things she did.

"Not at all. I welcome the visit, thank you." For her part,.Jaeih was committed to trying to make a better effort this time to not screw up again with either her daughter or the women she knew now as her daughter-in-law.

"The accommodations are more than I would have expected. In speaking with Commander Paris and Captain Ar... Telvan... pardon me... last night, I have been ensured I can leave as I please though the guards will accompany me, which is more than generous." Jaeih stumbled slightly on the Captain's name, having known her as Enalia Artan for years but quickly corrected herself.

"We were able to come to an accord easily and I assured her that she would have my support in her efforts." The elder Dox continued, still standing and realizing how tense the room was for it.

"Would you... care to sit?" She asked. Mnhei'sahe was unaccustomed to seeing her mother acting almost sheepish, but didn't challenge it

"Thank you, mother." Mnhei'sahe replied, motioning Mona to the couch where the two sat next to each other. "If I may ask, what accord was it that you reached?"

There was a moment of silence as Jaeih sat down across from the couple. "Nothing elaborate. She has secured my transfer to carry out an indeterminate portion of my sentence under her aegis here on the Hera. And the only other thing I asked for...."

The elder Romulan paused, collecting her thoughts. "I asked for her... assurance that she would continue to... protect you."

"If it's protection from Tal Shiar plans, The Captain can do that. I've helped her foil several of their plots before." Mona was humble but firm in her assertions as this crew had done that and more in her time aboard. She'd piloted this ship herself in those missions.

Pausing again, Jaeih was visibly nervous as she sat. She looked around the room for a moment, looking anywhere but at the two women sitting across from her. Standing up, she walked back over to the small tabled and picked up a second PaDD and sat back down. "Captain Telvan did assure me she would do everything in her power, of course. But she doesn't quite understand everything. When I spoke with her I explained much, but not everything."

Holding up the PaDD, she placed it on the small coffee table between them. "So I wrote out... everything. I've sent this to Captain Telvan and Commander Paris already... but you need to hear it from me, Mnhei'sahe."

The younger Romulan woman, whose hand was already in Mona's, squeezed a little tighter.

"You already know your father was a member of the Tal'Shiar. What you don't know... what I... couldn't admit to you... was that I was as well. Dralath tr'Rul was an investigator and I... I was an enforcer. We served under the command of the director of the Tal'Shiar, a woman named Verelan t'Rul. Now Senator t'Rul. She is... Dralath's mother and your grandmother. She rose to power by developing and perfecting a specialized form of... interrogation technology. A device that could... rewrite minds. Erase them. Probe them for information. It was a brutal device and it was my job to use it on those disloyal to the empire." Jaeih was not visibly distraught, staring at the PaDD as she spoke.

Sitting across from her, Mnhei'sahe's pulse was racing and her cheeks were flushed green as she listened, struggling to not say anything until her Mother had said her peace.

"She... consented somewhat reluctantly when your father and I began to see each other... romantically. But... that changed one day when... I was sent to a small colony moon. The Cololnists were Romulans that had begun to... embrace the ways of our Vulcan ancestors. They had reached out to Vulcan for assistance and when... we... intercepted the transmissions, I and a team of enforcers were sent in. We had two options. We could wipe out the colony... or we could... change their minds. I was sent with Verelan's Neural Extraction Converter. An antiseptic name for a horrible thing." Finally, she looked up to meet her daughters eyes. Mnhei'sahe's were cold and angry, but Jaeih's were weak and wet.

"I went there. I went there to rewrite the minds of an entire colony of Rihannsu who only wanted a better life. They were no threat to the Empire... and... I failed at my task. I disobeyed my orders and... I killed my mission commander to allow the colonists to flee on our own ship. But... it didn't work. Verelan triggered a self destruct, killing the colonists." At which point, the elder Romulan stood up and stepped away from the seat, turning her back to the two women. She had not said the words she was saying now out loud to another living soul in the thirty-one years that Mnhei'sahe was alive.

While the elder Romulan was speaking, Mona had kicked her senses into high gear, searching the woman for any signs of lies or deceit. She could see every flow of air around her, every beat of her green blood across her cheeks. This was the truth. When she spoke, it was soft, knowing that both women would be able to easily hear her. She had amazing sight, but these two put her hearing to shame. "You speak from the truth-heart... This is what you were running from... What you were trying to protect Minay... Mnhei'sahe from... Your own mother..."

"This... and more." Jaeih said as her heart sunk. "I am a cloaking engineer. Few people, even on Romulus, attend a university to be a Tal'Shiar agent. So I still had useful skills, and Verelan wanted me to keep my mind and suffer. So... there was a penal asteroid where the Empire used scientists they considered... disposable... to develop the newest and most dangerous technology. That was where I was sent to rot. And where I escaped from when the Borg destroyed it."

"But your father was a tenacious investigator who refused to believe I was dead. He searched and he found me. I was already in business with Declan Dox, but it was never anything more than a business relationship. He had a ship and contacts and I had cloaking technology. But still, your Father found us. And in finding us, he chose to betray his own mother and the Tal'Shiar by keeping my continued existence a secret. After a time, you were born, Mnhei'sahe." She looked back up to meet her daughter's eyes, which now were softer and trembling to match Jaeih's.

"We feared what would happen if Verelan ever discovered that she had a granddaughter. I was believed to be dead, but if your Father found me, we felt it was only a matter of time. I struck a deal with Declan to create the ruse of a marriage and your Father and I hatched a plan to hide you as Declan's. The surgery on your ears was... simple enough. But to hide the fingerprint of your true Father's DNA proved much more difficult. Ultimately, we broke into a Tal'Shiar research station, the Daire'eri Docgae'elh research station, to perform the genetic overlay. But in doing so, raised too many red flags to your fathers continued absences. When he returned to his duties, it was the last time I would see him as the man I knew."

"What happened, Mother? I've seen him. He's... I know he's alive. He was a drunk, an information dealer." Mnhei'sahe replied, confused and agitated as she spoke.

"He is... alive. The next time I saw him, you were twelve and we were docked at a refueling station. He was drinking at the station tavern, very likely looking like the man as you saw him. Disheveled and broken. I went to him to find out what had happened and... and..." Jaeih's voice cracked as her body trembled. Mnhei'sahe stood up, and Mona followed but the two women stood in place.

Tears were now rolling down the elder Romulan's cheeks. "He looked at me. The man I loved... the father who loved you enough to risk everything... but he was gone. His eyes were blank. I... knew the look well. It was a look I had a hand in creating for far too many Romulans that had challenged the Empire."

Interrupting, Mnhei'sahe spoke in a hushed voice. "Verelan's Neural Extraction Converter. She... erased his mind?"

Nodding slightly, Jaeih answered. "To a degree. You see, Erasing memories is easy. Reprogramming a mind only slightly more complicated. But pulling memories out by force. That... that always leaves a mind broken. The harder you resist, the more damage the machine causes. It, for all intents and purposes, lobotomizes you. She tried to find out why he betrayed her, I think. And he kept us a secret. I believe that, or she would have found us by then. I believe he let his mind be destroyed to protect you."

Her arms twitched slightly as she stood, not knowing what to do as she kept talking. "If he could do that, I could surely maintain a lie to do the same. It was... it was better to have you turn from me as a liar then despise me as... as a monster."

"M...Mother..." Mnhei'sahe shuddered in place. "Mother... I don't... Mother..." But the words weren't enough and the emotion became too much to process. Instead, she simply stepped over and hesitantly held her arms out to her mother who had broken down, crying openly now. The elder Dox grabbed hold of her daughter, clutching her as she began to sob.

"If she found you... If... If... if... she... she could re... rewrite your mind... make you into the granddaughter she would want... I couldn't... I couldn't risk that ever, Mnhei'sahe! I COULDN'T!!" Jaeih pushed the words out in between raking sobs.

Mona also came in for the hug, wrapped her arms around both women and started thrumming softly. "There there... No more secrets ok? Just let it all out... We can get through all this together now."

Much to all three women's surprises, Jaeih took an arm and hooked it around the brilliantly plumed Miradonian that was now her daughter-in-law and clutched her tight as well as she cried. In her heart, she was beyond happy that Mnhei'sahe had found love and could no longer keep the young woman at arms length.

After a long few minutes, the sobbing slowed and Jaeih's breathing calmed down. As it did, she lifted her head slightly and tilted it, looking at the gently thrumming avian aviatrix. "...what is... is that you?"

Mona blushed softly, the lighter feathers on her cheeks turning a softer shade of yellow as the thrumming faded. "Yeah... It's sort of an affection response... I'm told most people outside of the race never hear it..."

The emotional elder Romulan cracked the slightest of smiles as she raised an eyebrow. "This close and I... well both of us... can hear your heart beat with ease, Miss. Gonadie, as I'm sure you know. But until I realized I could actually feel the vibrations coming off of you, I thought there was a tribble in here or something."

"No, just me," Mona replied sheepishly.

As Jaeih stepped back slightly to wipe her face, Mnhei'sahe let out a slightly hoarse chuckle. Her own cheeks wet from tears. It was like meeting her own mother for the first time and finally understanding her. "I'm... I'm sorry, Mother. But.. I... I understand why you needed to lie. I wish it hadn't been the case, and I still... I understand."

Standing next to Mona, Mnhei'sahe had a tight grip on her mates hand as she wiper her own cheeks.

"T... thank you, Mnhei'sahe. I have spent so long... trying to make up for my sins. Trying to... find a way to live with myself." Stepping over, she sat down hard in her chair again. As she did, Mnhei'sahe and Mona returned to the couch. "I don't expect you to ever... ever forgive me... but..."

"But you told me the truth, Mother." Mnhei'sahe interrupted. "You finally trusted me enough to do that. And that's a start. Everything else can come at its own pace. But for now, that's enough for me to make me... happy to have my Mother back."

Sitting across, tears welled up in Jaeih's eyes again as she shuddered slightly. "I had to try. I had to try and at least do this. At least try and explain... for you. For both of you, now."

The brightly plumed Miradonian nodded happily. "With the truth comes healing and with healing comes freedom. It's all part of the cycle of the Moon Goddess. I know, I'm an inventor and a pilot and here I am spouting off old religious mantras of my people... My foster family are big worshipers and a lot of what they preached seems to fit my life these days... Anyway, thank you for telling us."

"You... you're welcome. I... Thank you." Jaeih's attention was now focused more on the woman that was her Daughter-in-Law. "You have given Mnhei'sahe much. I can see so much of the comfort she gets from you in her. She... you were always a strong woman, daughter. But I can see that strength in you tempered with more than I could have ever given you."

"For that, Miss Gonadie, Mona, you will always have my respect and my thanks." Jaeih didn't quite know how to talk to Mona just yet, but she was hoping that the damage done in their first meeting wasn't impossible to fix either.

"We... we have to begin our duty shifts soon, Mother. But... thank you. I think you'll find that this ship is unlike anyplace else in this galaxy. Let it and it will change you." Mnhei'sahe said with a slight smile as she wiped her cheek dry, secretly happy that she wisely eschewed eye make up. As she spoke, she stood up and walked over to her mother.

Kneeling down before Jaeih could stand up, She gave her mother another hug as she whispered in her native Rihan, though the phrase was known quite well to Mona by now. "Ri’anov, I-jol au."

As she stood back up, Jaeih stood with her and replied in English. "I love you too, my Daughter."

She turned slightly to Mona who was standing to the side, "And yes, that goes for you as well."

Mona cocked her head to the side a bit as she went in for another hug. "Awww I can't stay mad at anyone, least of all family. I love you too." Once she separated from the hug, she held Jaeih out at arm's length for just a moment. "Now, how about we have dinner together? I have to admit that I combined a cloak from one of those new Romulan Scorpion fighters and some Miradonian stealth tech and made a new type of cloak that I have been itching to get your thoughts on."

Cocking an eyebrow up, Jaeih paused to try any unpack everything Mona had just said. "I... Have a plethora of questions about all of that as well. So, yes. Dinner would likely be required."

"But I must not keep you from your duties. But I... look forward to seeing you both again." Jaeih stepped back so the pair of officers could leave.

"I do as well, Mother. Thank you." Mnhei'sahe said as she nodded as she and Mona made their way into to corridor and began walking towards the turbolift.

Mona grinned like a canary that had gotten caught with her hand in the cuttlefish jar. "See? That went better than either of us could have hoped, right?"

The usually skeptical Mnhei'sahe couldn't help but smile as they stepped into the turbolift. "Yeah... I... I still can barely believe it. I mean, yeah. I believe it. But I didn't want to hope anymore. Now I don't quite know how to feel. But right now, I feel good."