Toy Soldiers

Posted on Sat Dec 23rd, 2023 @ 11:11pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Lieutenant Ayana Hillis & Ensign James Phoenix

Mission: Hard Earned Peace
Location: USS Washington

Ayana was discussing security matters with some of her people. She had placed Phoenix in charge of security for the colonial delegation. "The captain has been pleased with how tight the security has been thus far. What updates do you have regarding your security detail ensign?"

"So far so good ma'am. I've had my detail keeping eyes on the delegations primarily for their safety but also in case the talks go south" James began. "In addition, I'm making sure they keep an eye out for anything odd. We can't afford to have Hela interrupt these talks let alone influence a bad outcome" he reported. He hadn't run into Hela yet during this mission and he had heard everything from reports and word of mouth. But he had a concern that she'd want words with him, primarily because of the events that led him to be here on this day.

"Very well. The Kilrathi seem to be behaving themselves, but make sure you and your team remain vigilant. These talks are important to the captain" Ayana noted. "Dismissed."

"Yes ma'am" Phoenix nodded before turning on his heel to leave. As he exited the room, he continued to feel uneasy about Hela. He couldn't let it consume him. He needed to be prepared for the eventual conversation with the god whenever that would be.

As Phoenix travelled to his destination on the turbolift, Hela quietly materialized behind him. "You know, you mortals are so precious thinking you have any ability to stop me if I wanted to do something to you. And you, you do bear interest. You are another time traveler. Quite a few of you on this vessel it seems. But you aren't like Inara, you came from the distant past. You've tried to acclimate, but I sense you are having trouble. Yes, you lost someone didn't you?" Hela spoke in a devilish voice.

The ensign was startled at first, which resulted in him turning around swiftly and putting a hand on his phaser. He knew it probably would have little effect but rather instincts caused that. He processed her words. He didn't know Lieutenant Senn all that well yet, so he didn't know if that was correct, but she was only fully correct about one thing. Or so he thought.

He couldn't give her the satisfaction of it though. Besides, she was slightly wrong about him being a time traveler, at least before his time on the Washington. "You know nothing, Hela" he said bitterly.

Hela smiled wickedly. "So, you want to play it that way, just like Inara? You time traveling mortals do seem to want to put yourselves through all kinds of pain. So be it. I do enjoy a little sport after all."

He raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Tell me, who was it you lost? You watched her die, didn't you? It was painful, wasn't it? You don't want to relive that, or worse, make her go through it again, do you? questioned Hela.

This infuriated James. "She's not important to you. But more importantly, what are you insinuating?" he questioned, referencing the second part of Hela's own question.

"You are right, she isn't important to me, but she may provide me entertainment, unless you wish to cooperate" Hela replied simply, a vile smile on her face.

James settled a little bit. He was starting to think Hela knew more about Ash than him. He'd have to cooperate in the event she was alive, provided he didn't put risk to the ship and crew. But what did Hela know about her? He knew Ash had survived being frozen, but he didn't know if she was even alive in the 24th Century, let alone where she was. In addition, most of his efforts to even find any unclassified records of her were hidden from him. He was now more curious than anything, besides furious for Hela making threats.

"What do you know about her?" he questioned.

Hela smiled like a Cheshire cat. "Yes, I know everything about her. She serves me well. She cared for you, but perhaps not as much as you care for her. Such a pity that accident that pulled you apart and through time. It wasn't deliberate of course, not the way it was with Inara, nor an act of an immortal being as it was for your colleague Kate Kono. As I said, quite a few of you time travelers aboard this vessel, making it a very interesting place for my kind."

He wanted to know more. Hela couldn't be trusted but her information regarding him and Ash was mostly true. "In what way does she 'serve you'? Is she alive?" he questioned.

"Alive? She was once alive, living her life as you mortals do, and then she wasn't. But that doesn't mean she isn't alive today at this very moment. I could put her before you with a snap of my finger or the flick of my wrist. But what is it worth to you?" Hela questioned, obviously looking to make some sort of Faustian deal.

As enticing as it was, if Ash was alive he couldn't risk endangering her life with Hela in the room. But the chance to have his best friend back was tempting. So, he decided to humor Hela.

"If it happened, it would mean everything to see her again. But I can't risk her life. What would it even cost for me?" James asked.

"You aren't risking her life. As for cost, it depends on what I fancy. I could ask for something big in return or something small. Nothing will be required of you up front of course" she replied.

"Would whatever you ask risk the ship or crew, or be illegal in any way?" James questioned.

Hela chuckled. "I'm not looking to harm your fellow mortals. I'm not putting anyone at risk above you, and only so much that you will owe me. As for illegal..." she chuckled softly once again, "not at all."

He wasn't sure if Hela would keep her word. But she wasn't bluffing about the information she knew about him and Ash. "Well then, what would the cost be? I'm not keen on blindly follow your requests without an idea of what I'd be doing. If you don't, would I be in debt to you like Doctor Travis?"

"In debt, yes. Like Shoniara, no" Hela replied simply. "You can't give me the same thing she could regarding payment. Besides, what you are looking for is far less than what she wanted."

He sighed, realizing another thing. If he made this deal with Hela, which was crazy enough as it was, he would be pulling Ash away from whatever she was doing which could be important. But by that same logic if she was in some sort of danger, then she would be safe. But the prior was more likely. Could he take that chance?

"Is she doing anything important right now?" he asked. "If so, then I'd rather ask how to find her than to see her right now. If it's heavily important I can't exactly turn her away from it."

"I suppose that depends on what you consider important. From my perspective, no. I suspect she would welcome reuniting with you, and I know you want to reunite with her" Hela replied almost cryptically.

"I don't have much doubt of that. We were close. But what if she is doing something for the greater good, so important-" he paused himself. "I suppose unless it doesn't matter as much as I'm cracking it up to be. Say I agree to this, how would this work?" he humored Hela.

Hela began to wax philosophical, "Good and evil are concepts. No different than the concepts of normality and chaos. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly. So it is with good and evil. What you see as good another may see as evil. It is all perception, understanding the absolutes of the universe. As mortals you can't see that usually." She narrowed her eyes, "So, yes or no?"

"Besides me owing you, what's the catch?" he asked.

"Why must there be a catch? I've made you an offer, given you details, you can take it or leave it. The choice is yours" Hela replied emphatically.

"There's always a catch" he said. He still didn't completely trust her. But if he agreed he could reunite with his best friend. Something he was starting to lose hope in happening. He sighed. "Fine" he said plainly.

"Excellent" Hela said sinisterly. "She is waiting for you in your quarters. Do enjoy. I'll be back for my payment in due course." With that Hela vanished.

Just after Hela vanished the turbolift stopped and the doors slid open and Phoenix stepped out. He still wasn't sure if Hela was telling the truth. For all he knew there could be a Borg Drone or a blood thirsty targ waiting for him instead to assimilate him, or maul him, if it was the targ. There could be anything, or anyone behind that door, or nothing at all.

He started walking to his quarters which was a long-ish walk from the lift. He hoped that Ash was inside, but part of him hoped she wasn't. He wasn't sure why, maybe anxiety? He couldn't be certain. All he knew to do was to go to his quarters. If there was no-one there, then Hela would be bluffing, and he could forget the entire encounter with the god, unless Hela returned to collect a debt regardless. Or maybe his best friend was waiting for him. 362 years since they had seen each other last, not including Ash's mirror counterpart. There was so much to catch up on.

His thoughts kept racing through his mind. Everything felt like it was going by him very slowly. But while he was distracted in his thoughts he had made it all the way to his quarters without realizing. He looked around him for a moment in disbelief that he got there that quickly.

He turned around to face the entrance to his quarters. He stood there for some time, loosing himself in his thoughts again. James didn't know how much time had passed by while he was spaced out, but he shook off the feeling and forced himself to push the button to open the sliding door to his quarters.

It was dark inside his room as he had left it. He saw a familiar silhouette of a person he hadn't seen in a long time. There was enough light in the room to make out that the figure was facing away from the entrance and towards the window. She had dark auburn hair and was wearing an off white tank top with black pants. She had a familiar presence. One that could not be mistaken for anyone else that wasn't Ashlynn Regan. This was his best friend. The person he had been missing for hundreds of unconscious years.

He was terrified. What would he say? He relaxed slightly to gather his thoughts. He would just call out her name and go from there. It was all he could come up with being this nervous.

"Ash?"

Ash turned around to face him directly in his eyes. She raised an eyebrow. "James?"