Trying to find clarity

Posted on Tue Jan 10th, 2023 @ 3:12am by Lieutenant Cyrus Marner & Lieutenant Libby Harper

1,128 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: After the incident in the Svian System

Following the horror filled cries of Svian the mood of the ship had never felt lower even after they'd endured a bumpy ride into this terrible timeline and lost crew members in the process.

Sitting in the deserted sickbay now upgraded with fancy gizmo's she didn't understand Lieutenant Libby Harper sobbed, her sorrows echoed around the sterile space enhancing her grief. She felt waves of anger, sorrow and frustration cascade over her senses spiralling her into darkness. Deep down under the adult exterior she had matured into Libby wished dearly for the comforting embrace of her mother to sooth away her hurt.

Cyrus had sequesterd himself in his office, his eyes closed trying to not think of the cries he had heard earlier. His ears perked up though, either he was just remembering the cries too vividly or he was hearing some actual sobs. He opened his eyes and cocked his head to one side listening once more. Nope he wasn't imagining it. He went to investigate, there was someone there. Seeing lump of human misery, he knelt down by the woman, and silently place an arm around her and sat next to her in silence. He should call for the counselor, but well right now he thought it best to just have an arm about the woman.

Wordlessly Libby leant into the comforting arm and pressed herself against Marner's barrel chest allowing his uniform to absorb her tears as she wept for the lives lost, the lives they hadn't even tried to save.

From the earliest days of your Starfleet career you're reminded of the sacrifices that may lay ahead and how the binding laws of the Federation should direct you into making such difficult decisions. Yet out here, in the hard, cold and terrible dimension those ideals were just faded dreams and distant memories. Lawlessness and gripped the galaxy and held it ransom.

Compassion had died among the stars, based on Galatea's statement it had been sudden and brutal following the Burn - a hard concept to swallow as the crew nursed its latest wounds.

"I hate this place," Libby sobbed lowly. "I wish we could go home, back to where we belong."

Cyrus gave a deep sigh, then his voice sort of rumbled in his chest. "If there is a way for us to go then we will find it. If we are supposed to go back that is. I know there is no place like home, as what Dorothy had stated in the Wizard of Oz but in time in the later books she went back to Oz and left Kansas with her her Aunt and Her Uncle to help better Oz." Cyrus trying to make some sort of correlation of being flung forward into time. He then said. "I hated the fact though that we couldn't help the Svians out. We were used, we ended up becoming the scapegoat and now we are having to live with what happened. They did all that just to make us feel this way, someone knows us too well, what the Enterprise will do and we were set up." still holding her in his arm.

Libby dabbed her nose with her sleeve: "Why would they do that? What happened to help thy neighbour?"

Cyyrus felt around in his pockets and then produced a clean handkerchief handing it to Libby, "Here you go, and as for what happened to Help thy neighbor at times, people will disregard what we hold dear to our hearts. Different standards for different people. When things are in a warlike atmosphere the ones who suffer most are the innocents, being treated like pawns to be used and discarded. It was difficult to not be able to help the Svians, we just couldn't. I could see the two sides of what was needing to be done, but, with them already poisoned we couldn't do anything. We just couldn't." Cyrus giving a shiver, his mind going back to the cries of those suffering.

Accepting his handkerchief gratefully Libby gently stemmed her nose and wet eyes as the Doctor spoke offering his opinions on the case and insights. She hadn't been on the bridge to witness the whole scene but was aware of the key moments and how the Emerald Chain forced the Captain's hand in making the Enterprise withdraw. "We're only one vessel and compared to everyone else we're antique," she conceded. "I understand we're not equipped to save everyone but we could have at least tried? And what did they do to deserve such a terrible fate?"

"Unfortunately, there are those who like to kill off the innocent in order to make a statement, and they don't care what happens. All in the name of the game of control." Cyrus growled out. "They are utilizing this to have us under their control. Well that is what I am feeling like as to why they did what they did."

"That's horrific," Libby replied lowly. "For what gain? They'll already at the top of the food chain with the Federation in pieces."

"The best way to take down an enemy is to demoralize them. And that act that happened was indeed a great and awful piece of psychological warfare that I've ever seen. I do not like the fact that I was witness and on the ringside seat of that happening. This particular horrific happening did well to put us all in a state of depression, including lack of trust for some of the crew where the command staff is concerned." Cyrus giving a deep seated sigh.

The junior officer nodded and remained silent thinking over what the Doctor had said in all its brutal truth. "Do you think it will divide us?"

"I hope not, if there is some division then hopefully it can be bridged and peace can at the very least be attained on our little city flying in space. If we are to survive what is going on out there, we need to be civil to one another, and not kill each other off." Cyrus remarked. He looked at Libby to ascertain how she was doing, then gave a small smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," she nodded sitting upright again and returned his small smile. "Thank you for sitting with me."

"You are very welcome." Cyrus answered, he rose from the floor and held out his hand to give Libby a hand up. "For now though we just need to keep our heads together and move forward."

Stretching up to accept the assistance Libby dusted herself down and wiped away any remaining tears. "You're right, we can't afford to lose ourselves over this."

"Indeed not, now it is time for us to continue on." Cyrus giving a bit of smile.

END

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