The Best Accessories (Part III)

Posted on Sun Jun 27th, 2021 @ 9:34am by Commander Alexander "Alex" Knight & Lieutenant John "Pitbull" Mackey & Lieutenant JG Julien "Dutch" Wachenbach & Lieutenant JG Kurt "Lem" Lemansky & Commander Alora Knight
Edited on on Sun Jun 27th, 2021 @ 9:34am

1,273 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Allegations
Location: Runabout The Prowler
Timeline: After The Trial of Captain Taiga Aisaka

[PREVIOUSLY]

"Yeah." He smiled before adding. "So go do whatever it is you guys do when we aren't around. Just remember, you still have data to analyze, so be sure to get to that as soon as possible. The more we unearth about this Tal'Shiar plot the more we have to act on so we can tear it down."

[CONTINUED]

"I'll check in with you tomorrow to see how I can help," Alora added. Right now, she had other priorities.

"We'll let you know." Dutch replied. "In the meantime, go enjoy yourselves."

"Be sure to get some target practice in with those." Lem added. "You might want to familiarize yourselves with how it handles before using it in an official capacity."

"We will," Alora assured him. That was second on her list of things to do.

As the others left, John remained behind, waiting for the doors to close before approaching the two. "I thought you should see this." He said as he picked up a PADD from the desk. "Whenever you're ready." He said softly as he handed the PADD to Alex before placing his hand on Alora and walking out of the office.

Alora watched him go before turning to Alex. "What is it?" she asked.

"I don't know." Alex replied softly as he tapped on the PADD and brought up a video with the Starfleet Intelligence Emblem on it. He opened the file and after a second or two the image changed to the Emblem of the Rebel Faction is mother led. The faction he and his team were originally a part of. The video finally began, showing a background of a disheveled office before a woman came into view.

Immediately, Alex was taken a back, having to lean against the desk for support. She was a bit older, looked weak, but showed no signs of physical injuries.

"Hello Alex. I want to start off by saying that I am proud of you and the others for all you've done. Keeping to your code and fighting for what you believe in no matter how far you are from your home. It puts a smile on my face every time I get an update on how you are. I am especially happy to hear that you've gotten married. I would love to meet this Alora of yours one day. I hope you two never stop loving each other, like your father and I, and provide me a chance to be a grandmother before I go." She let out a slight giggle before adding in a firm tone. "Don't worry, Alexander, this is not what this is about. I have still miles to go before I sleep, son. This is about your brother, Dylan. He hasn't escaped, but he is dying. I don't know what it was, the chemicals he kept putting into his body or the implants finally giving way, but he's beginning to show signs he's losing the fight. Or maybe he is just giving up. I don't know. I've been to see him, but all he does is get angry at me. I don't know what I did wrong, but he's still my son and I still love him. If there is anything you can do, please let us know. I still hope, beyond hope, that we can save him or at least ease his way into the next world. Remember I love you, and my daughter-in-law. Please be safe. The message finally cut.

Alora put her hand on Alex' shoulder to watch the PADD. As his mother spoke, her hand squeezed his shoulder gently. "How did your mother find out about us and how do you feel about Dylan?" As far as she was concerned, Dylan could rot in a hole, but he was Alex' brother. "Could this be a ruse to get you to go to him?

Alex remained quiet for a moment, leaning against the desk, as he placed the PADD down. He stared at the floor for a bit, processing the information, before replying softly. "I don't know. Maybe Max reached out to give her updates on me? Maybe she has her own network that extends here. Could even be someone from the team sending her messages in some way." He shrugged slightly, his face not shifting from its current position before saying. "Dylan is the way he is because he found this darkness in him at some point, but before that he was different. Smiling and laughing. The Knight Brothers against the Universe. Before he was threatening, and attempting, to kill me he was saving my butt and pulling it out of the fire. Deep down inside I hoped there was still some part of him still in there that was the brother I grew up with." He paused for a moment before, seeming to get angry, as he continue to speak in a slightly broken tone. "But I wouldn't put it passed him to use this in some way to hurt me or my mother. One last strike before letting go. A final laugh." He closed his eyes, covered his face, fighting back tears. "I don't know. I don't know what to think." Alex added with a slightly broken voice. "I don't know what to feel, but maybe that's the point. All part of his game."

She hugged him. "I don't know. It could be another game. He's run enough of them. Even now, part of me thinks this is just another con to get you to go see him."

Alex wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling his head to hers, as he whispered. "I know, babe. I know." He said as he held her tight and closed his eyes. "But he's blood, Alora. That hasn't changed. I've avoided killing him because a part of me still wants to pull him back from the dark because he's still my brother."

She held him for a long moment. "If you go see him, I go with you." She would not let him trick Alex. She wasn't blood, and she'd kill Dylan before she let him hurt her husband again.

"I know." He whispered, holding her tight, a tear rolling down his cheek. "I wouldn't leave you behind if I decided to go. I don't want to be apart from you again. And more importantly? I would need you more than ever if I did leave. To keep me from being blinded by my hopes that my brother is still in there."

"Absolutely. If I can't use my dandy new weapon on him, I'll just throw him against the wall." She was only half teasing. "We're a team, and if you get stuck again, I'm going to be right beside you."

Alex closed his eyes, moving her position slightly so that she was now in front of him, as he kept his head down. He placed his hands on the side of her face and slowly looked up to her, tears in his eyes, and a smile on his face. "Just you being there, just like you are now, is what saves my life." He leaned forward, placing his forehead to hers, as he whispered. "Stronger together." Before bringing her close and kissing her passionately on the lips.

She wrapped her arms around him as they kissed. Yes, they were definitely stronger together.

____
OFF

Commander Alexander 'Alex' Knight
Chief Security/Tactical & SWORD Team Leader
USS Tokyo

Commander Alora Knight
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Tokyo

Lieutenant John 'Pitbul' Mackey
SWORD Team Second
USS Tokyo

Lieutenant Kurt 'Lem' Lemansky
SWORD Team Member
USS Tokyo

Lieutenant Julien 'Dutch' Wachenbach
SWORD Team Member
USS Tokyo

RSS Feed