Posted by Captain Dira Myqian (Commanding Officer) in Vega Colony- Reunions and Unions

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Zoi Haven (Chief of Security) in Vega Colony- Reunions and Unions

Posted by Captain Dira Myqian (Commanding Officer) in Vega Colony- Reunions and Unions
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

That Zoi didn’t intercede or comment made Dira breath out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. It was the intuitive understanding that Zoi showed (that as far as Dira was concerned was beyond just being El Aurian) that was just one of the reasons why Dira loved Zoi Haven. She gave Zoi a soft but deep smile as they stepped into the elevator with her father.

Kesren managed to keep his thoughts to himself the entire trip back to the house. Dira noted his pensiveness but still they could all chat about the evening and how enjoyable it was.

Quiet resilience and support exuded from Zoi as they made their way back to Kesren’s home. Perhaps it was the security officer in her but she was used to sitting back and observing. She knew long before they reached the house that Dira would eventually let the tension and expectation get to her. She would eventually address what she was feeling.

Back at the house though, Dira managed to get inside and almost down the hall to the bedroom before her father’s intense gaze all but seared into her back. She sighed audibly, her shoulders sagging, and turned around, her eyes searching for Zoi’s. She knew her father wanted an explanation, and she wanted to tell him, but was now the right time? Couldn’t it wait till after the wedding, before they left? That thought was accompanied by the tiny chiding in the back of her mind that reminded her she had been avoiding the inevitable for months now by not telling her parents about the incident.

Dira couldn’t meet his gaze and so she just focused on the woman she loved. “I know I need to explain, but I don’t know how at this point.”

Captain Myqian, CO

Zoi stepped to Dira’s side, letting her hand rest gently upon her upper arm. She knew that Dira did not want to relive everything but at least something should be said even if it was not the entirety of the details. “Start at the beginning Dearest. You do not have to say every detail, but they deserve to support you as I have. You don’t have to have all the answers, or answer any questions you do not wish. Unburden yourself now so that we may be entirely in the now for the rest of the visit.”

Haven, CoS

Dira sucked in a deep breath and let it meander out before she nodded. Turning her head to gaze at her father, Dira gestured with her head. “Let’s go sit,” she said. Kesren nodded and led them into the living room. Dira sat on one of the couches, leaving room for Zoi and (despite the pretty dress she was wearing), crossed her legs trying to find the most comfortable position.

Zoi calmly moved to sit beside Dira and took a deep breath herself. She did not enjoy hearing how close she had come to losing Dira. It had been such a close call even though in the end they had been victorious.

“Do you remember what I told you about the drama with the XO on the Calypso?” Dira asked her father.

He nodded. “You didn’t say much until after you left the ship, but the gist was that you had to stop being his therapist and afterwards he was acting out. There was a mission or something where he was acting dangerously and you had to remove him from duty and he lashed out afterwards, creating an uncomfortable environment. It stopped when you got your promotion and assignment to the Ogawa.”

Dira nodded and reached out, seeking Zoi’s hand for reassurance.

Before the hand could go very far, Zoi’s own hand met and clasped Dira’s. It was cold, but Zoi’s warmth spread like wildfire along where they touched skin to skin.

“It was more complicated than that. The reason I had to stop being his therapist was because he kissed me. That crossing of boundaries was a hard no on us maintaining a therapeutic relationship. It was entirely one-sided and I didn’t reciprocate, but as I found out later, that didn’t matter.” Her other fingers tapped on her thigh as she pondered how best to go about this.

Kesren remained silent, but he radiated comfort and understanding. He wasn’t going to push and had a great deal of patience, even as he could sense his daughter’s distress.

“What I thought was just an infatuation that would pass, was in fact something more serious. William was obsessed with me, enough so that he went through great lengths to plan how to get aboard the Ogawa undetected and hide out until the right moment.” Dira paused gathering herself.

“What did he do?” Kesren asked gently.

Dira squeezed her eyes shut a moment and when she opened them, her vision was blurry. “He lured me into a trap, and then sedated and abducted me. He hid us in such a way that people wouldn’t be able to easily find us and was planning to beam us to a shuttle and escape the ship. He was under the delusion that I wanted this too and just needed him to come rescue me from Starfleet so we could go live our dream life together.”

There was no way for Kesren to hide his shock. He wanted to move over to Dira and wrap his arms around her, but he instinctively knew that wasn’t what she needed just yet. “What happened? How did you get free? My goodness, are you okay?“

Another deep breath. “I used my therapist skills to make him think his plan was going exactly as he wanted it to, but then he did something that damaged the ships and ultimately injured some of the crew, and I knew I couldn’t let this go on any longer. I used a moment where he was close enough for me to lash out.” This was where the details matter to her but she wasn’t sure how much her father could handle knowing. “I managed to wound him enough that I could get away, but I was injured so it took longer than I wanted. There was a bit of a showdown in the corridors, but Zoi”-she turned her gaze upon her beloved and smiled softly-” and others were looking for me and they found me before he could do anything else.”

She gently squeezed Dira’s hand and gave her a reassuring smile. There were thoughts behind her inner thought walls swirling, emotions tumultuous as memories of how scared she had been and her anger towards the man who had hurt her love. She didn’t let the emotions break through to the surface, though, as she did not want to add to Dira’s worries and own emotional trauma of the event.

Dira shook her head, fighting back the tears. “My injuries were easily fixable but the part I haven’t explained is the part that I’ve been struggling with the most: he used my telepathy against me. Both on the Calypso and the Ogawa. So on top of the emotional trauma I’ve been working with a therapist through, I have been struggling with how much I use a tool meant to help dampen my telepathy and give me a break from the input. He messed with my mind and I’m still trying to undo it, get past it. It’s… a complicated process.”

“You’ve always struggled with your mental shields. I guess…” Kesren shook his head. “I guess I thought it would get better in Starfleet somehow. In any case, I’m so sorry my dear daughter. I can feel how much pain this has caused you and you know I am here for you. However you need me.” He had so many more questions, but right now he didn’t want to push where she didn’t want to go, even if he was sure this was a very generic version of what happened.

Dira nodded slowly, not even sure exactly what that looked like at this point. A part of her wanted to revel in her escape and how she outwitted Franks, but it seemed like such a minor detail in the grand scheme of things.

Captain Myqian, CO

“Your daughter was so strong. I am so proud of her. She kept her head on her shoulders and she handled the situation exceedingly well.” She grinned and bumped Dira gently shoulder to shoulder. “For a therapist.” Zoi tagged on in a gentle teasing tone.

Haven, CoS

Dira smirked and leaned into Zoi a little. “Yeah, well, I’ve had practice with delusional people, so that was useful.” She sighed and gazed at her father, senseing all his worry and love. She rose to her feet and opened her arms, inviting the hug he so desperately wanted to give her.

Kesren wrapped his daughter up in his arms tightly. “I’m never not going to worry about you. It’s the life of being a parent.” He pulled back and placed his hands on her shoulders. “But I am so immensely proud of you. As I know your mother is too. I understand why you hesitated to connect with her, to let her in, but I also think you’re wrong and I think Zoi will agree with me. Yes, it’s your mother’s wedding and it’s a happy time. But she loves you too much to be on the sidelines of your life and only privy to the good things. She’s also a strong woman and can handle your pain, if you let her share it with you. Let us share the hard stuff too and maybe that will make it a bit easier to carry and manage, yeah?”

Zoi’s eyebrows shot up at his assumption. He wasn’t wrong but it was a surprise to have someone who barely knew her feel so certain that they knew what she would have advised. Still she said nothing. He was right, though she understood Diras desire to keep her parents happy and not tell the truth about the dangers of their lives. She often would forgo expanding on the more dangerous moments of her life when visiting her mother. Sometimes it was just easier to focus on the good parts and sometimes she simply knew her mother’s mental health would not be able to handle it.

Tears running down her face, Dira nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry for shutting you both out. I just…”

Kesren smiled and leaned in, kissing the softer Haliian ridges of her forehead. “I know. It’s okay. And we’ll forgive you anything.”

Separating, Dira held out a hand to Zoi. “What do you say? Bedtime? We have a wedding to go to and I as a witness really don’t want to look like I’ve been dragged to the ceremony. I need my beauty sleep,” she said with a tiny smirk. As hard as telling her story was, she felt lighter having shared it with someone she loved so much.

Captain Myqian, CO

Lost in her own thoughts for a brief moment, it took her time to realize Diras attention was on her once more. She smiled. Zoi stood and took the offered hand. “Kesren, today has been a real pleasure. I hope you rest well.”

Have, CoS

Kesren offered her a warm smile. “The pleasure was mutual. I’m so glad you were able to join Dira so we could get to know.” He stepped away and tossed a smirk over his shoulder. “Asala adi, you know where everything is in the kitchen. Help yourselves.”

Dira sent a loving brush to his mind and that made him smile deeper. “Goodnight Ada.”

He winked at her and stepped into another room.

Dira lifted their conjoined hands and kissed the back of Zoi’s hand. “Thank you,” she said softly, hoping her words could encompass so many of the things she meant by them.

Zoi simply smiled. This was the easiest of her duties as a partner. Somehow being there for Dira was easy, far easier than it had ever been with anyone else. She felt the rightness of their energies combined in their joined hands. She felt the peace of their togetherness. She felt the true ringing of love in her heart.

Leading Zoi to their bedroom, she let Zoi’s hand go and began to change for bed. But her mind was distracted, or rather preoccupied. She sighed and turned to Zoi. “He’s not wrong, I do need to share more. I’ve just never been sure what the right balance was with them. My particular job was never very dangerous in of itself, but life in Starfleet can be. And now I command a ship. I love them so much. I never want them to feel like they don’t know me.”

Captain Myqian, CO

She walked to their bags and pulled out her dark grey blue silken nightgown. Her mind listened to Dira’s observation and she nodded. “Ah, the double standard that applies to all in dangerous leadership positions. How much to you divulge to share your triumphs and sorrows enough without overdoing it? I suppose it is trial and error.” Zoi slipped out of her outfit, carefully folding it and placing it on the dresser and followed it quickly with her undergarments of frilly lace. She turned, naked as a jaybird, to her love. “I think you have realized you have given too little and shall now endeavor to find a more middle ground. I know they understand. Your parents are very good people.”

Haven, CoS

Dira had unzipped the back of her long dress and simply stared at Zoi, her eyes intense. “By the Goddesses, you really are stunning,” she said. No exaggeration, no qualifiers.

Closing the distance with sure steps, all the sadness and weight from the conversation with her father was pushed aside as she swept Zoi into her arms and pressed her lips to her beloved’s.

Captain Myqian, CO

For a full second, Zoi just blinked at her lover. She grinned widely as Dira came to her with purpose and the laughed loudly as she was swept up. Her legs wrapped around Diras waist as they kissed and pleasured each other until their worries fell away into oblivion.

Haven, CoS