Shattered

Posted on Wed Nov 27th, 2024 @ 9:27pm by Lieutenant JG James Phoenix
Edited on on Wed Nov 27th, 2024 @ 9:28pm

Mission: The Gambit
Location: USS Washington
Timeline: Current

James Phoenix sprinted down the corridor after his quarters had been ransacked. The had been a call for an unathorized departure as well as phaser fire in the shuttlebay. He knew it was the alternate Shran. The Lieutenant burst into the brig to find the forcefield down, and a young security officer on the ground.

Upon further examination, she was missing her phaser and tricorder. He scanned her to find that she was alive. "Phoenix to sickbay, one to emergency transport" he said when he tapped his badge.

She de-materialized and two other officers entered just after to help investigate. He already had an idea.

"He had help. The security officer that I sent to sickbay was missing her phaser and tridcorder."

"You think she helped him sir?" a Petty Officer asked.

James shook his head. "No, she would have been the one to help him to the shuttlebay. Someone else entered and knocked her from behind."

"Who could have done this?" A Bolian Ensign asked.

"Someone with access to my quarters. They took my log from the mission where we first encountered this Shran" he began. "The question is who-" a terror struck his eyes.

"Sir?"

"Continue investigating here" his voice shook. "I know who it was" he turned and moved quickly to Ashlynn's quarters.

Minutes later he stood in front of her door and started spamming the door chime. If she was behind the door, it would annoy her, but that would be better than what was the truth.

The door didn't open. He tapped the panel next to the door. "Computer override door, authorization Phoenix-gamma-four."

The door opened and Ash wasn't there. He tapped his badge. "Phoenix to Regan" no response.

"Computer, locate the last known location of Ashlynn Regan.

"Ashlynn Regan is no longer onboard the Washington. She was last seen in the main shuttlebay."

He fell onto the couch in disbelief. Why would she have lied?Betrayed him and everyone else? He sat there forever, contemplating what had happened and trying to process everything.

Then he realized. Hela had played him for the fool that he was. This wasn't his Ash. Somehow the mirror version of his best friend had been resurrected. She was sensitive to light? How could have missed that? How could he have been such an idiot. But more importantly, why would she help Shran if she died at his hand?

But more importantly, she was gone once again. But this time she had betrayed him. His best friend lied to him. He had been so stupid to let Hela bring her back. He was shattered, but he felt a rage growing inside him. In anger he flipped the table in front of him over. He fell to his knees and broke down into a million little pieces of glass. He finally got her back and now this.

Would he ever recover?