My Curse And Companion

Posted on Dec 28, 2017 @ 6:26pm by Ensign Lynette Ryan & Iphigenia Bonviva
Edited on on Dec 28, 2017 @ 6:27pm

Mission: Fear Itself

MY CURSE AND COMPANION

Continued from Shawn’s (“Counting the Cost”)

=/\=

Location: USS PHOENIX
Scene: Arboretum


Different cultures let go of the dead in different ways; that was to be expected, as for most it was a permanent state. But even for those that allowed for reanimation or revival, there was still a marking of the passage of time. And so for each culture, for each group, there was a stamp upon death, as if to state that although death could take them, they would still make it their own.

At least, that’s what she had been taught. Still as the chef looked around after the ceremony was over she wondered if this is what the deceased had wanted their deaths to be marked. In a quiet ceremony on a ship. Then again, having gone to other funerals and memorials over the years, it wasn’t like she was in a position to say one was better than the other. They were all just...different. All just trying to make a final say, she sighed to herself.

Iphie Bonviva, the chef/bartender of the Vulgar Tribble, sat on a chair in the back, watching the others. She had listened to the eulogies and was now just listening to the conversations drift around her, feeling fairly removed from the others. Scratching her head, it was an odd position for her to be in. Calvin and Hobbes, the efficient Bynares, were for once listening to directions and discretely offering drinks to anyone who needed refreshments in the corners of the room. It left Iphie free to partake in the memorial...except she was utterly bereft at what she was to do.

Getting up, the cerulean woman dusted off her gray slacks and her black shirt (she removed her white chef’s jacket for the memorial) and walked over the headstones. She walked over to Arak’s headstone. A wave of sadness swept over her as she looked at the Science officer’s headstone. “Baron Broccoli,” she whispered touching his headstone, “hope there are all the best veggies and plants were you are.”

Backing up so others could pay their respects, the chef bumped backwards into someone. Turning around she saw the assistant Chief Engineer -- Lynette Ryan -- who had also been going backwards and was now turning around to see who she had bumped into.

“Sorry.” Lynette spoke apologetically with almost a whisper upon bumping into Iphie.

“I’m sorry, Lynette.” Iphie said in return and for the first time had called her by her real name rather than the nickname of Blue. It was a slight shock but not as much as when she looked upon the young engineers face. Her eyes were a dark red that almost tried to hide the dark patches of fatigue and sorrow underneath them.

“Are you okay?” Iphie asked with a degree of concern. It was after that the words left her mouth that she almost face-palmed herself at the question itself. Is anyone here okay? They were all at a memorial saying goodbye to close respected friends and colleagues. Of course no-one was going to be okay. *Stupid Iphie!*

“No. I don’t think I will be okay ever again.” The volume of Lynette’s voice increased from a whisper to be clearly heard within a few feet. She glanced over at the headstones in the distance where members of the crew stood before paying their respects and exchanging tales about their now lost colleagues and friends.

“They’re gone. People that meant a lot to me...gone. I....I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye to them.”

“I know its not the same, but here is your chance. I think they would appreciate it...where ever they are.” Iphie said calmly laying a comforting hand upon Lynette’s shoulder. There was silence for a second as the young engineer just stared in the direction, trying to build up the courage to face her departed friends and say goodbye.

“Thanks Iphie.” Lynette placed her hand upon Iphie’s and took a step forward. The Bolian watched Lynette take slow careful steps forward to the headstones and the surrounding crowd before turning to try to find Calvin or Hobbes for a much needed refreshment.

Lynette weaved herself through the crowd and stood before the memorial headstones that would always have a place in the Phoenix’s arboretum. She looked down upon Arak Schad’s headstone and remembered the times the pair had worked closely together on their last mission in Romulan space where they analysed and managed to decrypt the mysterious signal that turned out to be Reman separatists contacting the Phoenix. Lynette smiled as the tears began to well up behind her eyes again as she laid a hand down upon his headstone.

“Although I didn’t know you well. We did work well together and I will miss you.” Lynette turned her head to Chaucer’s headstone and she couldn’t help but smile and let out a small chuckle as she remembered all the brief conversations they had translated through his Vox. Although he had a large intimidating stature, he was a teddy bear and they both had a good working relationship and in his absence there was going to be an emptiness in Engineering that could never be replaced.

“To my loveable friend. Although you weren’t the best conversationalist...we did have some interesting discussions.” Lynette’s smile suddenly dropped. “Things aren’t going to be same again down there again. Goodbye Chaucer...my dear friend.” She planted a kiss upon the tips of her fingers before laying them upon the top of his headstone. It was then that she couldn’t hold back the tears any longer as they started steaming down her cheeks.

“Here.” Asta let out a comforting hand to help console her close friend. Without a single thought, Lynette instantly wrapped her arms around Asta, burying her face in her shoulder as she started to cry loudly.

Her close friend reciprocated and held her tightly. Lynette felt a number of comforting hands one by one lay against her shoulder as he cried uncontrollably. In the chaos of the strong emotions she was feeling a number of questions ran through head that she asked herself.

"Why does everyone I get close to die?” So many lives of those she had formed working relationships, friendships, intimate bonds....dead. Arak, Chaucer.....Sam....dead.

“Does death follow me wherever I go?” She felt like she had a close connection to death, a bond that she would forever carry with her. With that a sense of responsibility for them. Her actions, the assistance of the Starfleet infiltration team, lead to the destruction of the Point Bonita facility and the remaining personnel there even if they dire loyalists of the Neo-Essentialist movement or not. If her curiosity hadn’t gotten the better of her so Sam had to involve himself, he would probably be still alive. Then there was Chaucer she felt like she could have done more to save him.

“Do I have the strength to remain on the Phoenix or even in Starfleet?” Lynette knew very well of the trauma she carried deep inside her and taxed upon her heart and soul every single waking hour and with every nightmare as she slept. This then lead to a more terrifying final question that she asked herself.

“Do I even have the strength to go on?”

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NRPG: Sorry all for my inactivity and lack of communication. I have had a number of RL issues occur and I needed time to try get my head sorted.

Thanks Sarah for your help and giving me the drive to get back into the swing of things.

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A joint post by:

Phillip Wright
Writing for
Ensign Lynette Ryan
Assistant Chief Engineer
USS Phoenix

And

Sarah Albertini-Bond
Writing for
Iphie Bonviva
Chief Proprietor of the Vulgar Tribble
USS Phoenix