Suffering Consequences...

Posted on Thu Jun 30th, 2011 @ 10:31pm by Lieutenant Elizabeth Lynn

Mission: The Fate of the Swiftsure
Location: USS Iapetus - Lieutenant Lynn's Quarters
Timeline: MD2 0941 hrs

Lieutenant Elizabeth Lynn walked into the quarters that would be her home for the foreseeable future and balked at the size of them. While they were only a touch larger than her old quarters, they were far more lavishly furnished than she liked... or rather was used to. Granted her position had the advantage of quarters of much grander size than on the first vessel she'd been on regardless of actual rank, but that didn't mean she was used to or expecting such.

While her quarters back on Starbase 24 had been family lodgings meant to house groups of three and up, Liz wasn't sure even they matched the size of the ones she was occupying now. It was funny to think that she might have finally outdone her parents in the space allocation department, and disturbing to consider that she might actually be proud of that.

Lieutenant Lynn crossed the gap between her front door and the trunks that held her belongings and began to unpack. The first trunk she'd opened held most of her pictures and other objects that she tended to decorate the room with. She'd even managed to get a hold of a painting or two in her time on Earth from one of the local artists. She'd been enthralled with the vivid imagination behind the paintings. Given her lack of artistic expertise, Liz didn't honestly understand the symbolism behind the abstract paintings, but damn it if they didn't look smashing on her wall. That alone had been enough to convince her to purchase them and keep them throughout the years.

The second trunk was clothing... mostly underwear and such, a few dresses she wore to functions and the like, casual wear of various types. She had just started to unpack it all and organize it in her clothing drawers when a call came through the comm.

"Bridge to Lieutenant Lynn, you have a message coming in from the USS Tripoli. Shall I patch it through?" the voice of what Liz could only assume was an Operations Officer flooded her room suddenly.

"Yes, please," Liz replied, though she honestly didn't know if she really wanted to take the call give what had happened between her and Captain Toreth not too long ago.

The screen that sat imbedded in her work desk began to rise, alerting her to two things at once. First, where her work station was in the room, and secondly, that the call had been rerouted to her. Liz sucked in a deep, cleansing breath and walked behind the desk, easing herself down with a slight hint of unusual apprehension before the screen blinked to show her the face of her lover.

"Elizabeth," he greeted her in the normal manner when he wasn't playing at being her superior.

"Toreth," Liz returned the greeting.

"I need to discuss something with you," the Vulcan said bluntly.

"Alright..." was all Liz could say. She had a nasty feeling that he was going to say exactly what she was hoping he wouldn't. Could she blame him for hating her after everything she'd said to him? Certainly not. Even though she was directly involved, the analytical part of her that was nothing but a Counselor told her that he was well within his rights to be upset and at the end of his rope as far as patience was concerned. The woman in her, the fragile girl that she'd allowed him to see more of than most, however, was crying out in misery at the prospect that she might have chased him away.

"I have spent a great deal of time since our last meeting contemplating our relationship," the Vulcan continued. Those words pierced through Elizabeth more sharply than any knife ever could. She had to hold her breath a moment to keep from crying out in frustration.

"I do not believe you and I should continue it. As deeply as I care for you, I do not believe we can make what we have been engaging in evolve into a fruitful and lasting bond. I understand that you might be upset by this sudden news after so long being out of touch... however I believe it to be the proper course of action and I do not wish to simply cut you out of my life without a proper explanation as to why. I am sorry..." Toreth concluded in a low tone.

It was obvious, even through her own pain, that he was hurting. He might not be on the verge of tears, but deep down even that Vulcan control on his emotions had slipped and the sadness unconsciously tainted his every word.

"I'm sorry too..." was all Lieutenant Lynn could say as she closed her eyes, fighting back tears with all her will.

"Live long and prosper..."

Those were his final words to her. Not that he loved her... not that he would miss her... just a curt farewell and then nothing. When Liz opened her eyes again, he was gone... and so was three years of her life with him. She wanted to cry... she wanted to curl up in a ball and just cry...

"Walex to Lieutenant Lynn," a voice called out to her mere seconds after the heart rending conversation. She didn't want to deal with him now. She didn't want to face anyone, talk to anyone, bother with anything...

And yet she found herself replying in cheerful voice she didn't think she could muster, "Go ahead."

"Are you busy counselor?" the voice inquired.

Liz rose from her desk and walked over to the drawers that had been pulled out and left standing wide open, "Only putting some things away, nothing I can't stop if you needed something."

She pushed the drawers closed, which most likely had been loud enough for him to hear on the other end.

"If you have a few moments, would you meet me at the Ridge Lounge and Bar? My treat." the man continued, "I have a slight problem I'd like to talk over with you."

"Sure, I'll find my way down there as soon as I finish this last drawer. Lynn out," Liz replied before she even realized what she was doing.

The link went dead and Liz screamed in frustration, landing a punch on the wall in front of her with enough force to crack it. The pain in her hand was enough to ease the pain in her heart. She couldn't let herself wallow in self pity... she still had a life outside of the love life that was now no more...