round 22 Lt. Cmdrs. T'Lea & Rune Jolara: Defying a Direct Order

[Rahman and Rivi Vataix]

((Jolara’s Quarters, USS Invicta))

:: Rune stepped out of the shower still feeling like she’d just been hit by a torpedo. The images Lt Reese had shown her kept flashing through her head. To say she was on an emotional roller coaster would have been putting it mildly. She was torn between being borderline glad he was dead and enraged someone had done it before she could get any real answers, not to mention they did it in a way that made it look like she had gone ballistic and done it. ::

:: The fact that Laro had stepped in and destroyed the investigation before it even really got started both shocked the hell out of her and worried her more than she could say. ::

:: She was only half dressed when the door chime sounded. Grabbing a loose fitting t-shirt, she pulled it on while moving toward the door half wondering if station security had changed their minds and decided to pursue the investigation without the body or physical evidence. ::

:: The face she saw when the door opened made her almost wish it had been security. ::

Jolara: T’Lea… not really who I was expecting..

T’Lea: Me either. May I come in?

:: Rune stepped aside, one hand waving T’Lea in and the other brushing her hair back. ::

Jolara: Sure. Come on in.

:: While stepping through the doorway, T’Lea surveyed the lay of the land, meaning she eyeballed Rune for any changes since her meeting with “the father” of her child, or any hints of what might have happened. She seemed disheveled, and sweaty, or had she just taken a shower?::

T’Lea: So, how was your day?

Jolara: ::raising an eyebrow:: Totally crappy. ::sarcastically:: I am touched you care.

:: T'Lea let herself fall to the sofa and stretched out on it like she owned the place.::

T'Lea: Pfft.. the only thing I care about is that my handler isn't getting thrown into some hellhole gulag. Let's be honest, your replacement Intel officer won't play as loosely with the rules, or tolerate me as well you do.

:: Rune sank into the chair beside the sofa. She really wasn’t in the mood for their usual back and forth prodding. She closed her eyes, rubbed her forehead, then looked at T’Lea. ::

Jolara: hmph… Now, why would I be getting thrown into some hellhole gulag when I have you here to torture me.

:: Her sense of humor was still alive and well, that was at least something, thought T’Lea as she relaxed an arm across the back of the sofa.::

T'Lea: I heard a dead body turned up on the station. ::she slanted a look:: I don't need to know the details, mostly because I don't want to become complicit, but you're here and not in the brig so something went right.

:: Rune let out a short, not so amused laugh. News certainly travels fast. Everyone on the ship would probably know before the end of the day. ::

Jolara: I doubt you would believe me even if I told you. No one else does.

T’Lea: Try me.

Jolara: I did not do it.

T’Lea: It’s a rather interesting coincidence then.

Jolara: Like I said, no one else believes me either.

:: T’Lea smile was sharp and mocking.::

T’Lea: Did I say that? No. Besides if you had killed him, you’d be acting different. See, you have a conscience; I’d like to think it would bother you. What happened then?

Jolara: ::shrugging as if it didn’t bother her:: Someone high up in the Al-Leyan Council decided to take the body and all the evidence.

T’Lea: That was nice of them. Any idea who would want to do that?

Jolara: My mentor, Laro Susell… why, I do not really know.

:: At that moment, the baby kicked hard and Rune flinched. ::

T’Lea: Stop it. I know that look and you are not having that baby in front of me.

:: Rune’s face scrunched as she shot T’Lea a look. She took a breath and released it, trying to relax and ease the pain she felt. ::

Jolara: Do not worry. It is too soon.

T’Lea: Sounds to me like your mentor got rid of a loose end. You got too close, and Laro sent you a bloody message. What are you going to do now?

:: Rune shook her head as she adjusted her position in the chair trying to get comfortable. ::

Jolara: She has done terrible things but… ::taking another breath as she felt another kick:: I do not know. I saw her earlier. She seemed… different… ::another pain:: somehow.

:: The hybrid frowned suspiciously at Rune.::

T’Lea: Are those contractions?

Jolara: ::frowning and shaking her head again:: It is nothing. Anyhow... she said it was not safe for me to return home and I should return to the ship.

T’Lea: Isn’t that a drastic change from trying to kidnap you and drag your [...] back home? Or am I missing something?

Jolara: ::nodding:: It is a complete 180 as humans say. I still do not trust her and never will, but I did get the sense that something has happened.

T’Lea: You never told me how the meeting went with the father of your child, whatshisname. Did he say anything useful?

:: Rune looked down with a shake of her head. Her mind was starting to spin and she was becoming increasingly physically uncomfortable which made it more difficult to focus on what they were talking about. :: 

Jolara: Tra’li Ramni. Not really. He seemed surprised when I told him why I was there. Said it was not him, that it was impossible. ::making a face, her hand absently touched her stomach:: Something about having a solid alibi. Being in a hospital recovering.

T’Lea: You do know there are other ways to become pregnant. He didn’t have to be there in person. His alibi may be true. Did he say anything else?

Jolara: I do not know what to believe anymore. Before I could question him further, he told me to return to my ship immediately and stay here. Then he took off.

T’Lea: And then you killed him.

:: She said casually trying to catch Rune off guard. It didn’t work.::

Jolara: I chased after him, which was probably stupid now looking back and why I am not feeling very well right now.

T’Lea: Well, obviously he knew something. You should look into his alibi. Find out why he was in the hospital. Talk to his doctors. Talk to the people closest to him. That kind of thing.

:: She got up to stretch and make her way to the exit.::

T’Lea: Or let it go, have your baby, and get on with life.

Jolara: ::quietly:: I do not know if I can let it go.

T’Lea: Understandable, they impregnated you for a reason. I don’t know if it was to keep you in line, or if the child is “special”, but either way you’re going to have a fight on your hands eventually. ::frowning:: Are you sure you all right? You look pale.

:: Rune looked up at the Romu-Vulc and blinked. The room seemed to spin for a moment along with an intense pain in her lower back and abdomen, and down her legs. Holding her stomach, she leaned forward and sucked in a breath. ::

Jolara: ::slowly shaking her head:: Something is wrong.

:: An annoyed scowl crossed T’Lea’s Vulcan brow.::

T’Lea: Why am I not surprised. It’s the baby isn’t it? It’s coming.

Jolara: ::a little scared:: Can not be...

T’Lea: Yeah? Well, you don’t get to decide these things. Trust me. I know. Come on. You’re going to sickbay.

:: Rune started to stand but another wave sent her off balance. She reached out, grabbing the first thing she could find which was T’Lea’s arm. ::

Jolara: It is too soon. You have to make it stop!

T’Lea: Hush! Now you listen to me you annoying little AI-Leyan. I am *not* delivering a baby today, do you understand? I do not need to be involved with your body parts ever, EVER, *EVER* again. Got it! Now move your pregnant [...] to the turbolift.

Jolara: I can not!

:: She grabbed Rune and ushered her swiftly out of the door and toward the turbolift.::

T’Lea: ::com. tap:: =/\= T’Lea to Sickbay. I have a medical emergency in route to sickbay. It’s Commander Jolara and her baby.=/\=

Blueheart/Rosalee/Kaj: =/\= response

((Turbolift))

:: T’Lea hoisted the woman in and leaned her up against the wall. She glared at her over her shoulder.::

T’Lea: Don’t you dare drop it here.

:: Rune held onto the rail with one hand and her stomach with the other. She gripped the rail tighter as another wave of pain stabbed through her. ::

Jolara: I do not want to drop him at all!

Computer: Please state-

T’Lea: Deck six NOW!

:: The turbolift took off to its destination::

Jolara: ::suddenly calm and breathing through the pain:: T’Lea… He is... not going to... wait.

T’Lea: I am giving you a direct order, do NOT have that baby damnit!

Jolara: Am very serious.

T’Lea: So am I!

((Fast Forward))

:: When the lift doors opened, Rune was lying on the floor drenched in sweat and completely exhausted. She could hear a tiny cry and movement just out of her field of vision. ::

Jolara: Is he.. okay?

:: This had been the second child T’Lea had delivered in her life. The first had been Admiral Toni Turner’s, and that child too had been male. Apparently, T’Lea had a knack for delivering boys.::

:: The hybrid had taken off her jacket and the wriggly little newborn was swaddled therein. T’Lea, the hardcore [...], had him cradled close, checking him over like a mama lion.::

T’Lea: He’s gorgeous. ::at the baby:: Your mommy is a big stupid head, but you’ll be just fine.

:: She moved to hand the child over.::

T’Lea: All yours. You owe me. A *lot*.

:: Rune carefully cradled her new son against her. Tears filled her eyes as soon as she saw his little face. Her eyes flicked up to T’Lea and the back again. Seeing Rune like that made the hybrid uncomfortable, and she squirmed a little in her own skin.::

Jolara: ::her voice shaking:: Just two more things…

T’Lea: Ugh.  Really?  Haven’t I done enough already?

:: She couldn’t have sounded more put-off if she’d tried.  Really, she was just covering up her own emotions, and the memories of holding her own newborn.  T’Lea just stared at her waiting for whatever Rune wanted to be announced.::

Jolara: Do not let them take him from me.

:: Right.  *That*, thought T’Lea.  Something told the hybrid that once Rune settled into the mom role, she wouldn’t be need her help to protect the child.  But the Romu-vulc shrugged a loose response that kind of indicated help was there if needed.::

T’Lea: You’re so damn needy.  Anything else, your highness?

Jolara: ::managing a weak smile:: Do not ever touch me like that again.

:: Turning back as the medics swarmed the turbolift, T’Lea slanted a look at the AI-Leyan, and then just shook her head and rolled her eyes.  Bad joke received.::

….end….

Lieutenant Commander T’Lea
History & Archaeology Specialist
USS Invicta
Author ID I238301T10

-and-

Lt. Cmdr. Rune Jolara
    Intelligence Officer - USS Invicta
Writer ID: A238909RJ0