Complete Again

Posted on Sat Jun 16th, 2018 @ 10:47pm by Chief Warrant Officer Daytona Ral & Akira Zhuri

Mission: Curing the Black Blood
Location: Akira's Quarters
Timeline: Current

"Well, Mister Ral," Hospital Corpsman 1st Class McKay was saying. "Looks like that's it. You're free to go. The doc wants you to take things easy for a while, but he said you could leave. Your leg looks good. Say what you want about that black blood crap, but it does wonders for cell regeneration. Your new leg looks to be fully integrated with the rest of you. As for the rest of you...like I said, if it wasn't for all the negatives, I'd say that black blood should be bottled and stocked on every ship in the fleet. It seems the stuff kept you from seriously losing any muscle mass or tone. Since most of your recovery and PT happened while you were still infected, the black blood seems to have maintained what you still had and regenerated anything you lost. Hell, according to our tests, you're in better shape than before your injury."

Daytona smiled, but it was a subdued smile. He was somewhat less than his usual, jovial self.

"I'd have to agree with you there, Corpsman," he said, sliding off the biobed until he was standing. "Physically, I feel great. Emotionally and mentally...well, I'm in pretty good spirits all things considered. Thank you for everything."

"My pleasure, sir," McKay responded. He looked a little uncomfortable. "Uh, sir, it's not really my place to intrude, but..."

"That's alright, McKay," Daytona said. "What is it?"

"Well," McKay said. "It's Miss Zhuri. She was real upset, kinda shaky, when she came to visit you. Thought you might want to know, in case you were headed over to see her from here."

Daytona put his hand on McKay's shoulder and gave it a friendly squeeze before releasing the corpsman.

"Thank you for the heads up," he said. "I'll go see if I can find her right away."

The two men shook hands and Daytona left Sick Bay as he walked out the door, he spoke into thin air.

"Computer," he said. "Please give me the location of Chief Operations Officer Akira Zhuri."

"Chief Operations Officer Akira Zhuri is currently offline," the computer voice replied in its unemotional tone.

What the...??

Daytona stood a moment, hesitant. He wasn't entirely sure what to do. He reached for his wrist device, the one he sometimes texted her on, only to realize that it of course was back in his quarters. He hadn't been wearing it when Danu transported him down to Granweh and he hadn't been back to his quarters since. He swore. He needed an access terminal. The wall panel would do in a pinch, but Akira's quarters weren't far and he had the access code, thankfully, since it would be more difficult hack the lock without his wrist device. Not impossible, but someone might come by and notice and start a whole thing about it. Decision made, Daytona strode purposefully towards Akira's quarters. Akira had stopped going off line shortly after they started dating, preferring to remain in the physical world even when dormant. Daytona arrived at her quarters and hit the chime. When no one answered, he used the code Akira had given him and entered her quarters. He went straight to her computer terminal. She didn't really need one, but one had come with her quarters and she decided to keep it, in part because Daytona could work from her quarters that way and they could spend more time together. Daytona accessed the shipwide email system and typed a message to Akira.

{Akira, my love, it's me, Daytona. I'm out of Sickbay. I've missed you very much. I see you're offline. Is everything alright? I'd love to see you if you're feeling up to company. I hope you don't mind, I let myself into your quarters. Feeling rather peckish. Do you feel up to having dinner with me?}

When he was satisfied with his message, he hit 'send'. He waited a moment to see if she responded. While he was waiting he looked around Akira's quarters and when his eyes fell on her android form, standing there like a manikin, he practically jumped out of his skin!

"Great leaping lizards!" he said. He looked more closely at her form, realizing almost immediately that she wasn't in it. If she had been, he would have known immediately. Once his liver settled back into his chest, he turned back to see if there was any response yet.

When he turned, there she was again, although her hologram form retained its blue-skinned appearance unlike her pale-skinned android body. "Daytona!" Akira said with surprise. "Why didn't you call for me, I could have met you at Sickbay," she said softly as she put her arms around him to welcome him home, yet somehow she didn't seem happy to see him; her usually cheerful self seemed to be completely absent, replaced with a subdued melancholy that hung over her head.

Daytona wrapped his arms around Akira and enjoyed the feeling of her pressed against him for a moment. He wasn't so lost that he couldn't tell she wasn't completely present in the moment. He kissed her on the top of the head and held her a moment more before lifting her up in his arms and carrying her over to the couch, where he sat down, lowering his lover into his lap and holding her.

"Akira, my love," Daytona said. "What's wrong?"

"It's Granweh," Akira replied softly, curling into his embrace like a lost kitten leeching warmth and comfort from the larger being. "Danu's technology made me feel uncomfortable, and then the trials we had to face to even meet her have left me shaken; I can't seem to stop feeling the fear I experienced during my trial."

"You're safe now," Daytona said as he held Akira close. "Nothing's going harm you, Akira, not while I'm around, not even Danu. Do you want to tell me more about what happened? You don't have to if you don't want to. We can just sit here together for a while if you'd like. But if you're willing, talking about it might help. Either way, I'm here with you and you're safe."

For the first time since being back on the ship after Granweh, Akira was starting to feel safe; she didn't know what it was about the Vulcanoid-Rigellian that made her feel so safe, but she did, and she didn't want to leave his arms for anything! "I talked with our new pilot, and the Counselor, it helped for a moment, but only a moment, and once I was alone the fear kept coming back," Akira replied, the admission making her feel so small. "For my trial, I had to hold a white-hot rod of iron; Commander Xustos did not order me to do it, I was free to decline, but I knew what it would mean if I didn't do it. In the end, I accepted and passed the test, it didn't burn me, but the fear is still there."

Daytona just held Akira for a moment and whispered soothing words to her. After a moment he spoke.

"Why do you think you were so afraid?" Daytona said, softly. He suspected that he knew the answer, but he wanted to see what she thought first.

"Pain," Akira answered honestly. "At first I was disturbed by how Danu's dampening field made me feel, I didn't have full control over my body and I felt caged in it, but then we found the Priestess and she told us of the trials, the first being if the tested was innocent, if I was innocent, then the rod would not burn. I guess I had no reason to doubt my 'innocence' or not, but the idea that I might get burned, my body damaged, possibly even irreparably so, and all the pain that went with it... I cried inconsolably the first time I ever stubbed my toe, thinking about my hands being burned away down to the frame without being able to shut off my pain receptors was terrifying!"

Daytona smiled and then kissed Akira gently, enjoying the feel of her lips on his for a moment before parting and holding her close again.

"Welcome to the world of flesh and blood, little one," he said. "You must have been really frightened. I'm sorry I wasn't there with you. The whole idea of using your android body again must be terrifying. I love you no matter no matter what form you are in, so I won't pressure you to use the android body. But don't let your fear keep you from taking advantage of this opportunity to experience the world outside of this ship. Yes, it's scary out there, but there are many wonderful experiences to have out there as well. When you're ready, I will be there for as many of those experiences you'd like to share with me."

"I know, I'm trying my best not to let this fear control my actions," Akira replied with a heavy sigh. "But I'm doing it anyway, I can barely even look at that body! I've accepted that I may just need time, but that doesn't make it feel any better."

"Take all the time you need, love," Daytona said. "If you require cuddling to cut down on the anxiety...or a kick in the ass to get passed the anxiety, I'm here for either one! As you recently reminded me, the only way to stop being afraid is to face your fears, head on. You were there when I faced my feelings about my daughter's death. I'll be here as you face your fears about using your android body."

"Thank you," Akira said softly as she snuggled against him. "You know, I was looking forward to trying real food in that body with you, but then my first venture into eating was a stew on Granweh, I was so nervous I could barely get it down, then as soon as I passed my test I threw it up..." she mumbled, pouting slightly at the memory. "Is it naughty of me that I felt a hint of glee when I realized I'd almost hit the Priestess with it?"

Daytona laughed.

"Is it wrong of me that I wish you had hit her?" he said. "It sounds as though the priestess deserved to be splattered with projectile vomit! We'll have to set up some targets on the holodeck so you can practice. I don't want you to have to miss out on that opportunity again...I'm kidding, of course, my love!"

Akira grimaced with disgust when he suggested projectile vomit target practice, but was appeased when he revealed it was all a joke. "That's just gross," she remarked with a pout. "Anyway, your message said you were hungry, so please don't let my mood stop you from eating if you need to. I don't know if I can stomach much right now, but I can at least join you for the ambiance."

"Sorry, dear heart," Daytona said. "Please pardon my bad idea of humor. I just couldn't resist. Alright then..."

Daytona shifted Akira so she was reclining on the couch and stood. He grabbed a throw blanket he had given Akira not to long ago for curling up on the couch and...well...threw it over her to make her more comfortable.

"Now," he said. "Let me see what I want..."

Daytona went over to the replicator and ordered a bowl vanilla yogurt with blueberries, strawberries, cherries, and bananas in it, and a glass of chilled Moscato, a light, sweet, fruity wine. He brought these over to the couch and set them down on the table in front of the couch.

"Are you sure I can't get you some tea or something like that?" he asked. "I know you don't like alcohol, but what about a glass of cider or lemonade or iced tea? Maica's program has some tasty looking holographic versions of things like that. I don't know why, but this feels sort of like a summer afternoon to me. "

"I'll try some cider," Akira replied with a shrug, and when he came back with the cider in hand, she sat up so he could sit back down and she immediately snuggled up against him. "What makes this feel like summer?" she asked curiously as she took her cup of cider to take a sip. Immediately she looked at the glass as she ran her tongue across the roof of her mouth to explore the texture as well as taste of this new beverage, eventually taking another sip with a pleased hum.

"I'm not sure," Daytona said. "Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, wanting to spend a summer afternoon with curled up on a couch on the deck of summer beach house, right on the water, eating, cuddling, and watching the water as the warm breezes blow over us..."

Daytona chuckled.

"I guess I know the kind of place I want to go on our next leave," Daytona said. "Or on our next night off, if we do it on the holodeck."

Akira sighed; his idea sounded absolutely wonderful, but leaving the ship meant using her android body, and the holodeck was no more appealing than her body. "It sounds lovely..." she replied sadly.

Daytona leaned in and kissed Akira. The fruity taste of the cider on her lips mixed with the taste of the Moscato on his.

"It's alright," he said. "You'll get there. I have faith in you. And until we get there, I'm sure we can think of other ways to entertain ourselves."

"Hmm... another thing I was looking forward to doing in my new body," Akira replied, then blushed when she realized just what had escaped from her lips.

"I'm ready to give that a try whenever you are," Daytona said, grinning. "But I'm equally eager to be with you the way you are."

Daytona downed the last of his wine and set down his glass. He pulled Akira over into his lap and began to kiss and nibble at her neck.

Akira giggled as he began to kiss her neck, but she didn't ask him to stop. "You do realize that sex can't solve everything?" she asked teasingly.

"You're right," Daytona said, continuing to kiss her neck unabashed, occasionally stealing a kiss from her lips. "But sex can be a wonderful addition to any other solution...Prime Number how I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too," Akira said, then cupped his cheek to hold him still long enough for a long, lingering kiss. "You know, it was weird, emotionally I missed you as I expected, but even the more analytical aspects of my personality missed you as well; you've become such a big part of my existence, the logical operators of my matrix kept looking for something that wasn't there anymore," she continued softly as she stroked his cheek.

Daytona smiled.

"I'm glad I'm more than just a pretty face," he said. "But I understand what you mean. You've become a significant portion of my life now, as well, and if I don't look at things from the right perspective, when I'm apart from you, it feels like a part of me is missing. But then I look in my heart and mind and there you are, smiling back at me."

Daytona pulled Akira close and kissed her again.

Akira smiled into the kiss; she had been so worried when he had been hurt on the Dyson Sphere and even more so when they learned that he was infected with the black blood, and though things had gone well with the attachment of the biosynthetic leg and the therapy that followed, she had to watch him slowly degrade under the effects of the black blood, and after watching Nexi growing ever worse, Akira had wondered if there really was a cure out there, if they would find it, or if she would ever get her Daytona back once he was cured. But as he rose from the couch with her in his arms and strode to the bedroom to do wonderfully unspeakable things with her, Akira allowed herself to finally feel relief that he was well and truly okay now.