|
Post by Lt Cmdr Billie Jo Spencer MD on Jul 17, 2019 8:45:42 GMT -5
Billie Jo parted company with the rest of the crew of the Sentinel at Starbase 220. She had made a point to not make a big show of so as to not be asked to divulge too many details about her itinerary beyond the fact that she was headed to Earth. Ostensibly, the purpose of the trip was to visit her family and it was true that she did intend to stop by and visit her parents while on Earth. But, she had someone else she needed to visit with before that. Given the history the Sentinel had with Joshua Cameron and the nature of the questions she was going to be asking, Billie Jo decided it was best to keep that information to herself. So she did.
The trip itself was fairly comfortable in the passenger section of a Yellowstone class runabout. Plus by utilizing the network of transwarp gates the trip itself was reasonably short, only a few hours. She passed the time by reading. The runabout ended its journey at Earth Spacedock. And, from there Billie Jo was able to beam down close to her destination as regulation would allow. Fro there she was able to acquire a ground transport to get the rest of the way.
She hesitated for several moments before stepping out of the vehicle. Then she made her way down the gravel path to the rural Virginia farmhouse. As she got closer she spotted Joshua out in the yard chopping firewood in the early morning sun. He had his shirt off and his well-muscled form glistened in the light. Billie made a mental note of how healthy he looked compared to the last time she saw him.
She stood nearby waiting patiently until Joshua noted her presence and looked up from his work. He simply stood there staring with an expression on his face that denoted both confusion and happiness.
Billie Jo gave him a warm smile, “Well hello there stranger.” she said.
|
|
Chorus
Non Player Character
M.I.A.
Posts: 47
|
Post by Chorus on Jul 18, 2019 15:44:09 GMT -5
Morgan had spent most of his morning trying to shrug off a fr larger version of his usual daily migraine. He had gotten used to the dull steady pain since his last 'visit' from Aquarius way back on the Tantalus Colony. The day Liz had ultimately ended his nightmarish final ties to the monster he had once become. Following that he kept his word to his brother and cooperated with the medical staff.spending months responding well to his treatments, earning one positive review and examination after the other. The doctors and therapy staff had been all very pleased with his progress which had led to his conditional furlough and in time release from the colony...eve if his ESPer ability still scored off the charts...he seemed to no longer have access to his gifts...nor the inclination to use them...which made the staff all very proud of him...and that was enough for them all.
He had decided to give his mother and father some space today after his hundredth time trying to explain what had really happened to him and why it had all happened...to explain what had happened to him and all of his fellow operatives...he shuddered some. Each time the ax came down and spilt the wood he felt a bit more of the distance from those horrid mistakes he had made and the results...a distance between those voices once housed deeply within it...locked away by Aquarius...those voices that had made him a God...or as close to one as any could become...the choir...had finally gone silent...
His training set off his senses, long before she spoke...he knew he had an unexpected visitor. He would and could never forget her voice and the feeling that surged through his heart whenever he had heard it. Much like his brother this was the one other person he ha fought to get back to. He simply was not prepared to see her so unexpectedly..
He looked up, his surprised joy clearly evident, though to save face he immediately tried to play it cool Cameron style...he cleared his throat and tried to make a face of stone, to hide the boy like grin on his slightly grimey and sweaty face...
He cleared his throat once more looking to the side...and then did so again..
...the smile endured.
"Well hello there back...house calls now>"
He wasn't even able to conceal the soft chuckle that rumbled in his chest as he stared back at her, lowering his axe and holding it in both hands before him.
|
|
|
Post by Lt Cmdr Billie Jo Spencer MD on Jul 19, 2019 4:32:35 GMT -5
Billie Jo smiled warmly as she stepped forward and caressed Joshua's cheek with her hand, "You look well. Much better than last time I saw you." she stated letting her touch linger on his cheek for some time. How are you feeling?"
Billie Jo glanced toward the pile of firewood, "I see you have been keeping busy. I am sorry I did not come by before but command seems to have the fleet on permanent exile in the LMC now."
|
|
Chorus
Non Player Character
M.I.A.
Posts: 47
|
Post by Chorus on Jul 19, 2019 11:42:04 GMT -5
Josh watched her with a gaze of mild disbelief and happiness as she stepped up to him. He leaned into her touch as she spoke to him, memories returning as if the past had reached high tide. She was every bit as beautiful as he had recalled...to him, in this moment she had not aged a day.
He chuckled at her compliment, "You are still as beautiful as ever and very much a sight for sore eyes..." he shook his head. "I have to admit, how I am feeling...I am feeling more like me. More like me thn i have felt in years..."
He then nodded "Adding in a degree of feeling utterly the fool now too.."
Another deep chuckle from his wide chest. "Yes, sort of an apology to the argument with my Dad last night...a peace offering of sorts..."
He listened further to her and added. "Yes..the LMC, we hear so many rumors about you and the Magellan Expeditionary forces....you guys are all almost like rockstars..." He shook his head.
"On the new frontier...bad guys...shoot outs...new races....mysterious mysteries....scientific research...the FNS feeds are full of so many stories...not to mention your ship encountering just what maybe the first race not of our galaxy to join the Federation....these Yanda? " He shook his head.
"It seems like everything you and I once dreamed about back in the Academy..." He set down the axe before he reached up to gently cup her cheek very tenderly with his strong hand. He held her gaze as he adds.
"I am proud of you..."
|
|
|
Post by Lt Cmdr Billie Jo Spencer MD on Jul 20, 2019 17:23:39 GMT -5
Billie Jo let herself laugh a little, "Proud of me? I didn't really do anything. I am just along for the ride." she replied then after a few moments of quiet contemplation she continued. "I know you well enough to know how badly you really want to be out there right along with me. I am so sorry Joshua. They really have taken so much from you."
As Joshua cupped her cheek in his hand, Billie reached up and placed her hand over his.
|
|
Chorus
Non Player Character
M.I.A.
Posts: 47
|
Post by Chorus on Jul 26, 2019 15:05:49 GMT -5
Josh placed his other hand over her own as he stared into her eyes, the truth of his words stung yet, he recognized this moment for what it was. He was aware this might arise from his therapy and he had to give voice now to address it.
"No..." He signed. "Not they Billie....I did this....I walked right into everything they offered...blind and stupid..." He lowered his gaze..'They dint take anything...my stupid ass threw it away..."
"I just...threw it all away..." He voiced did now convey the depth of his pain and of what he had in the end completely lost. "My ego and pride..."
"I did this...in the end I am just as guilty as any one of them...I was them..." He shook his head still looking at the ground at their feet.
"I was a monster....just.like.them."
|
|
|
Post by Lt Cmdr Billie Jo Spencer MD on Jul 26, 2019 17:18:43 GMT -5
Josh placed his other hand over her own as he stared into her eyes, the truth of his words stung yet, he recognized this moment for what it was. He was aware this might arise from his therapy and he had to give voice now to address it.
"No..." He signed. "Not they Billie....I did this....I walked right into everything they offered...blind and stupid..." He lowered his gaze..'They dint take anything...my stupid ass threw it away..."
"I just...threw it all away..." He voiced did now convey the depth of his pain and of what he had in the end completely lost. "My ego and pride..."
"I did this...in the end I am just as guilty as any one of them...I was them..." He shook his head still looking at the ground at their feet.
"I was a monster....just.like.them."
Billie Sighed and closed her eyes tightly, "Joshua, I'm am not trying to give you absolution for things you did as Taurus. Things were done, terrible things that I don't have any authority to give you forgiveness for. But, don't give them a pass on this, as if what you became was not exactly what they made you into. When they found us we were both naive and idealistic kids and they used that against us. And, yeah you had an ego so big it had its own gravitational field. And, they used that against you too." Billie said with a short pause as she cracked a smile. "The only reason I did not end up just like you and the others was that Amanda and Liz got me out before that happened. Unlike you, I don't really remember most of the things I did while under their control. It can be frustrating, but it helps me sleep at night. You may have been a monster, but not just like them. The perpetrators of this were beyond redemption. You are not."
|
|
Chorus
Non Player Character
M.I.A.
Posts: 47
|
Post by Chorus on Aug 12, 2019 12:44:18 GMT -5
Josh could not help but wince at hearing her speak the hated codename, his reconditioning on the Tantalus colony had instill such a reaction as he steadied himself as a wave of nashua hit him. His gut knotted up as well as she spoke of /them/ and their crimes//just how many of those responsible for what they had done to him and to others...all for /her/ and her false copy..her echo. He inwardly winced...no..neither were to blame..his little brother was in love with the echo...ALICE! His very own sister in law....
Alice...Alice...Alice..
He did find himself chuckling at her evaluation of his ego back then and drew joy from the fact somewhere...out in space his little brother just felt a disturbance in the 'brother-force' and laughed at his expense...little bastard..he chuckled more.
He returned her smile warmly, soothed by her being here now.
"THank You Billie Jo..." He reached once more for her chin and cupped it gently. "That does help to hear...especially coming from you"
"I do not seek abososlution...only to ..well make the best of what I have left." She shook his head. "Crap...look at me and my manners...you came all this way"
He looked skyward to see the dark clouds forming above the bay and heading inward towards their home. "Its a long way to come to stand and talk in the rain...come on in and lets get some lunch."
"Maybe discuss the other reason why you are here?"
|
|
|
Post by The Dark on Aug 16, 2019 11:41:49 GMT -5
With a sudden flash of shadow around them, for the briefest of moments it seemed all around Josh and Billie Jo seemed to stand still in time...a bird paused in mid-flight, the rolling clouds of the darkening sky frozen in place, it was as if the pair suddenly found themselves in a snow globe stuck outside of time. a dark column of black smoke swirled up around Josh, Billie Jo could see movement churning under the smoke, dark tentacles like tendrils coiled around his body tightly as he was lifted out of the ground..while Billie Jo was lifted up into the air and spun around by some unseen force...
As she is turned she is brought face to face with an albino nightmare visage of enraged Travynei, its 3 meter tall, hooved figure loomed close almost face to face with her,a evil hiss escaping blood red lips. Its whip loke tail striking the ground viciously as it spoke in a booming darkly echoing voice to her.
"Doctor Billie Jo Spencer..." The Dark locked its abyss black on black eyes...an obsidian void, endless, empty gaze.."Stealer of children! Murderer of dreams!"
"You took my child from me!" She hissed, her breath carrying the stench of a cold dank slaughter house. "How dare you believe there would be no consequences for this?"
She turned the hapless physician to show Josh as he struggled in the grasp of the black smoke vortex. "You took what was mine...so now watch..."
Josh and the column are dragged down to vanish into the ground, Billie is pulled back and embraced by the Dark,its powerful arms wrapping around her as tight as any lover's embrace. "Watch as I take something you dearly care about while you remain helpless..."
A column of smoke rises about Billie Jo and the dark as she is held tightly to the cold powerful frame of the enraged Travynei. Soon all too soon the smoke covered her eyes and all she saw...was darkness....the cruel laughter of her captor her only companion...
**************************************************************************************************
The light returned to her as she lay on her back in a vast empty cornfield. As her eyes opened up to show the familiar night sky as she might have seen growing up, the gentle night wind blowing through the corn, the stalks rustling gently about her in the soft breeze. The area lit up by the peaceful white of a full moon....as she lay there all alone.
It took only a short amount of time for her to check her PADD to see weeks had passed...her hore leave all but exhausted.
No sign of Josh, nor his family home which was obviously now hundreds of miles away from where she now lay.
Her only companion at the moment...the lingering fading memory of the Dark's cruel laugh...
|
|
|
Post by Lt Cmdr Billie Jo Spencer MD on Aug 18, 2019 7:03:28 GMT -5
Billie Jo's eyes opened. At first, it was hard to concentrate, all she could think about was the lingering cold and the echos of the Dark's cruel laughter. It did not feel like waking from sleep, this felt more like returning from death's embrace.
She sat up, her eyes darting about wildly, “Joshua!” she yelled into the night. The only reply was a faint rustling from the corn stalks in the field. Billie Jo sobbed quietly. She had no idea what had happened to Joshua. She did not know if he was alive or dead. She just knew she did this to him, she put him in danger by coming here. She felt a storm of negative emotions. Fear, guilt, anger, grief all mixed in one toxic mixture that soured her stomach. She felt nauseous.
A bright flash of light blinded her. Billie Jo raised her hand to shield her eyes, straining to see what the source of the light was.
She heard a voice from inside the light, “Security patrol ma'am. Please identify yourself.”
Billie Jo pulled herself up from the ground, “Billie Jo Spencer...”
The patrol officer approached her and did a quick scan, “Doctor Billie Jo Spencer, Starfleet?” he asked.
Billie Jo nodded, “Yes.”
“There is a missing person's report out on you and for a Joshua Cameron.” he stated as he looked around, “He isn't with you, is he?”
Billie Jo shook her head no, “No. I have no idea where he is now.”
The officer nodded, “Let's get you to the hospital and checked out, then we can get your statement.”
Billie Jo simply nodded and followed the security officer.
|
|