Brynn Phytrelia 12

Frowning, she curled up on the bed and felt fatigue cloud her senses as she began to slip into sleep. She could hear Idris voice in her dreams, vaguely see his face.

I'm sorry, Brynn, I'm so sorry. I can't explain, but I just couldn't leave yet. I promise I'll find you, even if it isn't as soon as I said. I promise, I'll come for you. I miss you...so much...I just...I couldn't leave yet...

The dream seemed eerie and twisted as she heard his voice, the words fading in and out as he spoke to her. She could see him, standing there, smiling, in a fleeting glimpse, and then see the injured, beaten man that had helped her escape, see the urgency in his eyes. "You have to go, Brynn," he'd said.

I know you didn't want to leave me, but I couldn't let them keep you. I promise you'll be safe on Tychonderocia. She is one of the biggest ships IN Ulratian Defense, and she has more firepower than any one Delethirian vessel. Just be quiet, be safe...and don't be so stubborn. I'll try and find you again, in secret this time...and maybe...maybe we can be together...like we were once on my ship.

He laughed a little, and then his voice seemed to fade from her mind as he left her. When she awoke, it was to the sound of the clattering of a tray as the poor girl, the one called Nia, dropped the food she'd brought up for Brynn, all over the floor. As she heard him speak, she felt her heart grow and then shatter, as she realized he hadn't come after her. He had stayed. Feeling betrayed and sad all of a sudden, she wanted to speak out to him, to have him answer the questions bubbling up inside of her. Then he was gone and she sat up with a start. Her cheeks were damp with tears. Quickly she rubbed at them, drying her eyes as she slid from the bed and began to help Nia pick up the food.

"I'm so sorry, Brynn. I didn't mean to wake you up. I'm such a klutz. I can't even handle walking over flat, level surfaces." She sighed and finished scooping the rest of the meal onto the tray. "It's ok. Go back to bed. I'm sure you're tired. I'll-" And then she looked over and saw Brynn, as if for the first time. She saw her tear-streaked face and looked horror-struck. "Brynn...what's wrong? What is it?" She was so worried, terrified for her and whatever it was that had upset her so much. Brynn seemed like a girl who was made out of stone, so to see her cry left Nia reeling.

Brynn chuckled at Nia as she continued to help her with the food, standing when it was all plopped back onto the tray. She thought she had cleaned her face up, but there was no getting it past Nia. "I uh...I'm fine, Nia. I just..." She faltered for a moment and looked down, swallowing hard. "He's...not coming. He made me leave and then...he's still there, Nia. And...he won't be coming for me. I'm on my own again." She swallowed hard, cleared her throat, and tried to look put-together. "But that's fine. I've done it before. Sorry...I don't know why I'm telling you all of this. It's silly and...please...tune me out. I'm babbling."

She shook her head and set the tray on an empty bed, helping Brynn move to lie down before sitting in the chair again. She held Brynn's hand in a consoling manner and looked at her. "No, no, c'mon, Brynn. What is it, what's wrong? What do you mean 'he's there'? Where is he? And what makes you think he wouldn't come back to you." She frowned and looked as though she might just cry with her. She gazed at Brynn, her heart breaking.

"He chose to stay on that ship...where they were hurting him. Instead of coming with me. That's exactly what he did." Looking up at Nia, she noticed how much her words were hurting the girl, and she quickly looked away. "It's fine Nia...I...I don't know why I'm depressing you. I'll be fine. I'll get a clean health scan, then perhaps I won't be a prisoner anymore and maybe I'll start a new life on a planet somewhere. I'll be fine...stop looking so worried." She smiled warmly at Nia, and shook her head. "Please?"

She smiled at Brynn. "I doubt that he would do that to you, Brynn. I'm sure it was just a bad dream." She sighed and looked at Brynn, frowning and then smiling again, a little weaker this time. "I'm sure he'll turn up, sooner or later. Don't worry about it, alright? Just get some sleep...and when you wake up, I'll have something for you to eat, even if I have to have one of the mechs bring it up to you." She smiled again and let go of her hand, moving away a little to allow Brynn to sleep.

Brynn stared at her doubtfully, not trusting her reassuring words for a moment. How did she know? She hadn't heard Idris speak to her a moment ago. And then her smile began to soothe her and Brynn nodded very slowly. "Fine. I'll sleep. Thank you..." She let the girl walk away then slowly lied back on the bed, not trusting herself to sleep again. But the fatigue her body felt began to win over and soon she had slipped back into sleep.

Idris would not visit her again in her sleep, allowing her to sleep peacefully. Nia and the other doctors left her alone, deciding it best not to bother her in hopes of passing the time until Brynn was released. As Brynn had said, they found no traces of any pathogens, and save for her battered wrists, they were unable to find any injuries. When Brynn awoke, she'd find Nia quite close, sitting and waiting for her. She slept for a long while, much more tired than she had ever thought she was.

The days of panic, stress, and everything were taking its toll on her body. Slowly, she woke up, groaning at the grogginess she felt laying over her like a thick blanket. Rolling over to look at Nia, she smiled very faintly, and forced herself up on her elbows. "Did I sleep long?" She whispered her throat still thick with sleep.

Nia smiled at her, shaking her head and looking at her chronometer and then up at Brynn. "Not really, but the doctors have already finished your tests. Now we just have to hurry up and wait for the last forty or so minutes before you can go to your quarters. I'm told they already set it up for you. You'll have lots of clean clothes, your own refreshing chamber, and a very nice bed. Lieutenant K seems eager to keep you from wanting to leave until Captain Chariton shows up." She looked around, feeling a little uneasy about her last statement, because she knew just a little more than she was supposed to.

"Oh. Alright." Brynn listened quietly as she suddenly got an urge for that shower. Not only was she tired but she felt dirty, and in need of washing. The last bit about Idris made her frown and she forced a bitter chuckle. "If he shows up, Nia. IF." Sitting up fully now, she gave her legs a little stretch.

Nia frowned a little and regarded Brynn curiously. "Why do you feel so negatively about the concept? When you arrived, you seemed optimistic about him appearing, as he said he would. Why, now, do you doubt it so much more?" She narrowed her eyes a little. "What has happened since you've arrived that has affected your attitude this way?"

"I've..." Heard from him? No that made her sound insane. Might as well play the cold card. "I've just realized I should be smart about this. He's not on time, which means he stayed behind longer... and...he may just not come. I have to plan for the worst. Being alone. Which I am fine with. I've done it before."

Nia wasn't buying a word of this. She just stared at Brynn with a "are you sure this is the story you expect me to believe?" look on her face. She closed one eye, and arched an eye brow at her, but then nodded...slowly. "Right...ok. Well, I brought you a meal...if you are hungry..."

"I am." Brynn spoke quickly, a little too quickly. She just wanted to change the subject, recognizing Nia's disbelief. "I... haven't really eaten in... a while. I think." Actually, she really couldn't remember her last meal and that made her more determined to eat something. Just because she didn't feel hungry didn't mean she shouldn't get something in her stomach.

Nia was silent for another moment, regarding her. Then she nodded slowly, getting up. She brought her a tray propped up on a stand meant for her to be able to consume her meal in bed. It was some kind of steak, vegetables, and what looked like citrus fruit. "Here, eat this." She brought her a tall cup of water as well. It was already sweating from the cold within when Nia set it on the tray. "If you need anything else, let me know." She walked away, back over to one of the workstations.

"Nia, thank you." As soon as she saw the food, she didn't have to force herself to eat. She was famished. Quickly, she began to eat, purposely slowing herself down so she didn't look like a wild animal consuming its first meal in days. She grabbed the cup of water and took a long drink, sighing happily as she finished off the meal.

Nia did not respond, simply moving off and remaining at one of the workstations. The computers sat behind a curtain, hiding their activities as they worked. Brynn was left alone at her bed, and there appeared to be no one else in the wing with her. She finished up the food and gently pushed the tray away, and sat there quietly. She felt really strange just sitting there - waiting. Leaning back, she stared up at the ceiling then down and around at the other people working.

The third woman, whose name Brynn had yet to learn, came over to her. "Would you like me to take your tray from you, Miss?"

"Um. Please. Thank you." She watched the tray get taken, and she sighed a bit. Looking down at her hands, she wiggled her fingers a bit, tempted to make those flames appear. It had always entertained her but...eyes went up to the women around her and she thought better.

The doors opened, and the woman, the tall one with the eye patch, walked in. She had a man on her left and right, both armor-clad and carrying their personal weapons in hand. She smiled at Brynn and then moved over to the workstations. Brynn couldn't hear the entire conversation. It sounded like mumbling. Then the lieutenant looked at her, and smiled. She walked over to Brynn's bed and nodded her head forward. "I'm here to take you to your quarters, Miss Phytrelia. If you'll please...follow me?"

Smiling faintly at the woman, she glanced at the guards at her sides. Guns. Really, they made her much too nervous. Sitting up, she nodded and slid from the bed. "Of course, Lieutenant." Standing, she moved towards the woman, and then paused, waiting for her to lead.

She smiled at her and nodded. Moving out the door, she turned to Brynn, then to the guards. They stepped back a small distance and followed a little further behind. Lieutenant Kichrista regarded Brynn, and her pace was slow as she started to walk. "So...Miss Phytrelia, have you heard anything from Captain Chariton since you arrived? Any idea when we should expect him?"

"Of course I haven't. There's no way to contact him if I'm not on the ship." Brynn responded simply, not meaning to be rude. Of course there was also no way she was going to try and explain to one more person about him contacting her...however he was contacting her.

She looked at Brynn, and narrowed her gaze. She sensed how defensive Brynn seemed about this. "I was just asking. It would be foolish for me to assume anything. You were searched, yes, but it's entirely possible that you could have heard from him, despite everything." They continued walking...slowly, the guards continuing to follow behind them about three meters back as they walked around the corridor. "Do you have a favorite color, Miss Phytrelia? Something that you find more appealing for appearances?" She regarded Brynn, and her tattered clothes.

Brynn glanced back at the guards. Hell they made her nervous. She tried to focus back on what Lieutenant K was saying. "No...No favorite color. Purple, I suppose...or blue. Whatever...I...Do they HAVE to be following us? I mean...the guns." She made a slight face then looked away. "Sorry. I know you don't trust me, and that I'm a prisoner, so I shouldn't complain."

She laughed a little and shook her head. "No, no, of course not. Brynn, the doctors cleared you. You are no more a prisoner here than I am. I'm sorry if my guards make you nervous, but the captain does not allow me to stroll around, with people we know next to nothing about, completely unprotected. Would it make you feel safer if they holstered their weapons, instead?"

"Holster their weapons? Well...yes. It sounds foolish but guns...I don't like them very much." Memories flashed across her mind for a moment and she winced, rubbing the back of her neck.

She nodded at Brynn, and turned behind her, making a gesture. The guards stopped and moved to hang their weapons on their backs. Once they were done, they continued to follow them as they walked.

Continuing to follow, Brynn looked around the corridor they were walking through, trying to familiarize herself with the new ship. The ship looked very much like Avenger, save for the different colors, but the general make-up of the bulkhead seemed almost identical.

Lieutenant Kichrista stopped, and looked over at a door. She smiled, gesturing. "These are you quarters, Miss Phytrelia. Should you need anything else, be sure to let us know. I have asked Teric here," she motioned her hand towards one of the guards who stepped forward and bowed his head towards her, "to stand watch in case anyone attempts to approach your quarters without your permission. Let him know if there is anything missing, suspicious...out of the ordinary...or if you just need our help with anything."

She winked at Brynn, and the door opened. Her escorts stayed outside, including the lieutenant. She smiled at Brynn, gesturing for her to go in on her own. Staring up at Teric, she nodded a bit, wary of having him standing guard outside her door. Perhaps Lieutenant K meant well, but Brynn just wasn't used to all this. Swallowing hard, she stepped into the room and shut the door without saying another word.

She only offered up a nod goodbye and the door was shut. Stepping back, she sighed softly, enjoying the silence of the room for a moment. As she walked away, the door slid shut, and she could hear the footsteps as Lieutenant K and her escort left Brynn's quarters. It felt nice to just be alone, to not be stared at. Looking towards the refresher, she was there in a moment, turning on the water, eager to feel the heated water cleaning off her skin. The refresher chamber wasn't quite as large as the one she had had on Avenger, but it was still a little bigger than Atalanta's. The water came out warm, the perfect temperature. The various other fixtures emitted water was well, the streams of water coming at her at chest, waist, and even knee level. One fixture sprayed water onto her back from the roof. It got hot, and as the steam started to fill up the chamber, she could hear fans come on, sucking up the humid air away from the mirror to keep it from glazing over.

Brynn...are you there? Brynn...?

Brynn jumped when she heard his voice. Instinctively, she reached over and grabbed the towel hanging from a hook nearby and wrapped it around her body, stepping away from the sanisteam. "What? Idris?" She frowned as she heard his voice, looking around the refresher as if expecting him there. She was alone, but she could still hear him. The steam still billowed around as the vents sucked up the humid air.

Brynn...oh thank goodness. You're safe. I'm so sorry, Brynn. I promise...I...it's so complicated, but I swear to you...I had intended to meet you, I didn't think the delay would be so awful. His voice almost seemed to break, so great was his agony over the matter. Please...forgive me? I just wanted you to be safe.

Hurt began to build up inside of her and she shut her eyes as she listened to him. "You promised you wouldn't leave me alone. I told you that I...didn't want to leave you. That I refused to be alone...and you LEFT ME. Idris, why did you leave me? I'm alone...and...it's because you didn't want to come with me." Sighing softly, she shook her head letting out a soft cry as tears began to well up in her eyes. She could almost feel his emotions within her as if they were her own.

He was overcome by remorse and helplessness. Brynn...please. I...I promise that's not what happened. I did...try to leave. I truly...I did. But...but I can't. Please...don't ask me to explain. I can't explain it. Something keeps me here, trapped. Until I discover what it is...and...fix it, I can't leave. I want to...I could, so very easily...but...I'd never survive it. Please, you must understand. But...I...I need to know...some things, Brynn. Can you help me, please?

She didn't understand him. Shaking her head again, she leaned back against the nearest wall and just listened to his voice. "How can I not ask you to explain? You left me alone, in a ship I know nothing about, that I can't pilot on my own and now I'm..." She stopped herself and growled softly in frustration. "Never mind. What is it, Idris? How can I help you?" She still loved him, wanted him to be okay, but she was torn between being angry and hurt, and worried.

Brynn...where are you? Where did you end up? Tell me what happened? What ship are you on, do you know? Wait...no...I want to try something. Go...go to the mirror. Never mind all of that...tell me in a moment. First...I want you to see if you can find yourself in the mirror... Despite the efforts of the vents, the edges of the mirror had started to fog over, but the center of it seemed to be free of condensation.

Nodding at his request, she pushed away from the wall and stepped up to the mirror. Her eyes focused on her reflection in the mirror, her hands grabbing her towel tightly to her body. "Alright, Idris. Now what?" As she stood there, she could see her face, her body wrapped in the towel. The mirror was large enough that she could almost see her entire body that wasn't obstructed by the vanity. Then she could see a glimpse of something...something else in the mirror...some ONE else. She could see his face, even if it wasn't very clear.

His eyes, his hair, his face; he looked dreadful still, like he was on the verge of dying, but he smiled at her all the same. It worked...I'm so happy. Can you see me...in the mirror, I mean? I can just barely make out my reflection. The reflection of Idris' mouth didn't move, just smiled a happy smile at her. He seemed overjoyed.

Brynn stared, shocked to see him there. It may not have been the clearest, but he was there. She knew his face. Choking back a soft sob, she brought a hand to her mouth and immediately began to shake her head. "I can see you. I...I can see you." Taking a deep breath she tried to calm herself. "I'm on a ship. UDI. Lieutenant...uh...K. Kichrista. They are taking care of me. Until I am ready to leave."

The image seemed puzzled by her statement. Kichrista...I don't know of her. The expression continued to be more and more perplexed, creasing its forehead. Then it shook its head. You said "UDI"? Which ship is it? Do you know the name?

"No, Idris. I don't know the name. I barely can pronounce the name of the Lieutenant."

Then the smiled got a little mischievous. The face leaned in and kissed her cheek. She could feel his lips as their reflections joined. She felt him as his tongue tasted her ear, his mouth moving up towards her hair. Can you feel that, Brynn?

"I..." She stopped as she felt his lips on her cheek. And as his tongue tasted her skin, she felt a chill go down her back. "YES. I can feel that...now stop. Don't think you can just be nice all of a sudden. I'm still good and mad. Focus on the important thing. I'm on this damn ship, by myself, and they say I'm not a prisoner and yet there is a guard at my door." She reached up to bat him away, reaching up for her own ear.

The image smiled as her hand moved through the reflection in the mirror, but felt no resistance as it passed through him. She could hear him laugh a little. Then she felt as his hand seemed to grasp the hand holding her towel. I know you are, Sweetie. But...I will confess...I do like this...it is almost as good as...being there with you. Mmmm...I promise, as soon as I find a way to get... But he stopped, and she could feel digits moving up her spine, just trailing over her skin. The reflection moved its lips down to her neck, and she could feel him nibbling on her, feel his tongue tasting her skin. Besides...I think you like this too...even if you are...good and mad... The way the voice said it, it sounded like he was making fun of her. Since when was her being angry with him supposed to deter his actions...and, even if...how could she begin to? He wasn't even there to begin with.