Posted by Noril Zoi (Captain) in Trouble Makers Gonna’ Trouble

Posted by Vashkilu (Infiltrator) in Trouble Makers Gonna’ Trouble

Posted by Noril Zoi (Captain) in Trouble Makers Gonna’ Trouble
Posted by… suppressed (30) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Noril, was, as expected, pulled away to the bridge, but he was back later. His feelings for her confused him, but he wished she didn’t think ‘idle friendship’ summed it up. Too bad he had no idea how to have that conversation.

~ N, Captain

Vash had learned a lot in her time with Noril and Sisnil, but her empathic skills were nothing like theirs. Noril hid his feelings too well for her to even know they were hidden. She had thought when they first met that there was the potential for something there, but Noril had made it clear that his cultural upbringing wouldn’t allow it then. She had hoped that would change after time. She had been wrong.

None of that entered her dreams though. She slept deeply with only flashes of the fight and the pain entering her sleep occasionally.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Noril was there when she woke. He was sleeping, but at the first sign of her being awake he woke too.

~ N, Captain

When Vash woke her eyes landed directly on Noril’s face. The inhibitor had worn off over night so through her hand on his wrist he could feel the relief and comfort that flooded her at his presence.

Fir a brief moment her senses swirled out, expecting to feel Sisnil approaching. He always showed up right after, but he wouldn’t this time. He had been identified. They had to go back for him. His absence left her scared. Especially after Thogel’s threats. Vash had no doubt that Noril, Eli, and Nathan would keep her safe, but Sisnil was her legal safety. Everything was in his name, including her. They didn’t treat her as a slave, but the Syndicate did. She loved Sisnil. He was her older brother, best friend, beloved mentor, and Captain all in One. She knew why Noril felt lost without him. She did too. She couldn’t exactly cry to Noril about Noril’s lack of affection and feelings for her. She couldn’t beg Noril to make sure no one had put a claim in her ownership papers, or ask him to go to the courts to defend his ownership of her. She knew anyone else on the crew would if they could.

She pushed it all away and smiled at him. “There you are again.”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Noril smiled, looking relieved and happy. “Vash. How are you feeling?” He asked. He looked exhausted. “Your inhibitor wore off.” He could sense it. He worried about her status and their ship, both were owned by Sisnil. As long as they got him back, it was fine. But if they didn’t… Could he Sisnil sold them to him? Throw his weight around and say it was always a joint ownership and he was the only rightful recipient? He chose not to think about it now.

~ N, Captain

“Tired, stiff, sore. My back and legs ache.” She knew he could feel it, so there was no point in denying it. It was always this way. Vash was always slow to heal and recover. She nodded, “It did. I’m thankful Eli has managed to keep a supply of it, but I hate being so disconnected from everyone.” Especially him.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

He smiled. “I know. I wish it wasn’t necessary.” Noril squeezed her hand gently. “From what I can tell, it’s better than yesterday, isn’t it?”

~ N, Captain

“Much better. A normal person wouldn’t feel a thing now. All my senses are overly aware. Even an itch and a scratch to relieve it hurts. But the flavor of my favorite desert is ecstasy. There is no in between.” It was times like this Vash hated her mixed blood.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Noril smiled. “Win some, lose some?” He said, trying to help.

~ N, Captain

“Yeah,” she agreed. “I would prefer that you and Sisnil never knew why the doctor and my father said my mixed blood ruined my worth.” She shrugged as if it didn’t matter. It was why she constantly made a point to make herself invaluable to the crew. Even if it meant cleaning up the ship after everyone else.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Noril looked confused. “Why? We’ve never cared about that doctor’s backwards opinions. And,” he said, reading her thoughts, “You don’t have to pick up or cook or anything else a damn thing you don’t want to. You’re invaluable either way.”

~ N, Captain

Vash grinned. “It’s good practice for when I go back to Orion. Never know what will be expected of me. Besides if I didn’t this place would be part of the garbage in the scow.” She mothered/sistered all of them. She took care of them because she wanted to. They were important to her.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Noril looked at her. “When you go back to Orion?” She could feel how he felt about that statement, he was holding her hand. He didn’t want her to ever go away. “Why, are you planning to?”

~ N, Captain

Vash shook her head, “No, not if I had my way. I can buy my freedom from my master, but I go back to my father. If Sisnil dies or gives me up, I go back to my father. When he dies, I belong to his second. I can never buy my independence. I can never truly be free because of my blood.”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

“If Sisnil dies you go to me,” Noril said firmly. “Can someone else buy you out?” He asked, glancing at her carefully.

~ N, Captain

Vash nodded, “An owner can always pay the Syndicate for a slave’s independence if they want to free them.” Vash looked at him. “Not necessarily. That would have to either be in the contract with my father, or you and Sisnil in a contracted agreement for my purchase. Then you would have to pay the Syndicate the remainder of the purchase price and what ever fees and taxes they choose to levy to process the agreement post mortem.”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

“The original contract was in Sisnil’s name only, but you know Sisnil, he always has contingencies.” Noril sighed, “I can’t say, not even to you. Just to be safe. But you know Sisnil. He’ll be in touch with us. He’ll find a way.”

~ N, Captain

Vash nodded, “I know. He plans for everything. Have faith, Nori. He’ll get back to us.”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

“I know he will.” Noril shook his head. “We’ve never been apart like this, Vash. I can’t even sense him. Not even a little bit.”

~ N, Captain

Vash squeezed his hand, conveying comfort. “I know. You and Sisnil are our foundation and the roof of our home. It doesn’t feel right with him not here.”

There was a slight hesitation in the connection, which wasn’t like Vash at all. “I know I’m not Sisnil, and I can’t replace that connection, but I’m here if I can help.”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Noril didn’t miss it. “What’s wrong?” He asked her.

~ N, Captain

She gave him a reassuring squeeze. “I just know I’m no fill in for Sisnil. My empathy isn’t strong enough to partner with you the way he does.”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

“Vash… You’re not… I mean, I never expected you to replace Sisnil.” He sighed softly and looked at her. “I- you are so important to me, Vash. But please, don’t try to replace Sisnil. Don’t do that to yourself. Besides, you’re not a sibling, you’re.... more than that.”

~ N, Captain

“I’m not. I wouldn’t want to replace him even if I could. I don’t want you to think I want to. I can feel how empty you feel without him. I just want to help.” She wouldn’t touch the other statement. Noril had said things like that before. She always put too much meaning to them. He cared for her, she just had to accept it wasn’t the way she had hoped for.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Noril nodded and smiled a little. “Imagine how he must feel, Vash. All alone out there somewhere…”

~ N, Captain

“I know. I can’t imagine what he’s going through. I… I could call my father. He would help look for him. You’re family now.” She also needed to know if what Thogel said was true.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Noril looked at her. “You… You would do that? But… Wouldn’t he require something in return?”

~ N, Captain

Vash shrugged, “Perhaps, but if I request it as a favor to me, he will do it. I am his little spring flower. He spoils me. He knows I am happy here and how important you and Sisnil ate to me.”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

“I won’t risk you, not even for Sisnil,” Noril said, looking at her. “Do you think it’s safe?”

~ N, Captain

Vash gave him a very strange look. She couldn’t dig out the emotions attached to the words. She passed it off as him being protective of his crew. “Of course. It doesn’t hurt to ask. I won’t if you prefer.”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Noril hesitated. “....You know I want to find him more than anything, but I won’t risk you and I don’t trust the Syndicate. Not when he’s in the hands of Starfleet.”

~ N, Captain

“Then we’ll wait.” It was that simple.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Noril nodded. “I… haven’t reported his absence. Which might look bad. But if they decide he’s a risk…”

~ N, Captain

“You need to. Thogel knows. Better to say he is laying low until we can retrieve him than let Thogel weave his tales. He is after us now. He is disloyal to the Syndicate. Get ahead before it looks like you are making up lies to cover.”

Vashkilu, Infiltrator

Noril nodded. “You’re right, of course. I’ll have to reach our contact as soon as we’re safe.”

~ N, Captain

“Are the Korda still chasing us?” They needed to make that contact soon.

Vashkilu, Infiltrator