A Port in the Storm

Posted on Mon Apr 20th, 2009 @ 10:38pm by Captain Elsie Halliwell

1,189 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
Location: Arboretum
Timeline: Current

Yvaine and Rory were certainly feeling the effects of cabin fever of late. From the luxury of forty-two decks down to a spartan eight, the overwhelming feeling of being cooped up in the ship equivalent of a sardine-can was certainly taking its toll on both. There is only so much a woman of a certain age can preoccupy herself with when it comes to knitting, and even less when it comes to a girl of Rory's age.

The holodeck, naturally, provided some distraction for the two, but if the political situation were any better, Yvaine would have loved to have escorted the little one down to the planet's surface to walk amongst the greenery. Alas, the hull that encased them also provided much needed protection, and it was only by sitting up in the arboretum that Yvaine truly felt a sense of freedom.

As she sat there reading poetry silently to herself, with Rory running circles around the splayed chequered blanket that was spread with the most delicious of cakes she had managed to bake earlier in the week, a long figure across the lush grass stood, holding what appeared to be a suitcase.

Dr. Catherine Halsey took a deep breath and let it out slowly, processing all the information that had flooded her mind since she left Rowena's quarters some ten minutes ago. Though she knew that talking to Rowena would never be easy, she expected a different outcome than this -- perhaps it was naive of her, but it was true. Rowena...

No. No, that wasn't Rowena Arkham. That was Agent Arkham, eternally loyal and permanently broken defender of the Federation.

Dropping her suitcase in the grass, she strode over to where Mrs. Gray was seated reading. Rory spotted her, and she waved a moment before going back to playing. Taking a seat next to Yvaine, Catherine said quietly, "Hello, Yvie. I need...to ask for a bit of a favor."

"Pulling her half-mooned glasses down to the edge of her nose, she smiled concernedly. "Catherine. What's wrong?"

Dr. Halsey sighed deeply. Shaking her head solemnly, she said, "Commander Arkham and I have...had a bit of a falling out. And I think it's best that I...remove myself from the situation before I lose the opportunity to do so. Would you mind if--"

"Oh, Catherine," she exclaimed, placing a hand on hers. "Of course you can bunk in with me. It could be like the good old days where we can sit up all night talking, braiding each other's hair." She chuckled to herself more than Catherine, but then allowed her face to drop as she looked upon the heartache in her eyes.

"What happened, Catherine?"

Catherine looked away, pushing her half moon glasses up towards the bridge of her nose. "I...I know that Rowena's job puts her under a great deal of stress. And I know that it requires a lot of her, and that to function she's learned to...separate her personality, so to speak. Though I hate to make the comparison, like the Nazi soldiers who guarded the death camps -- brutal officers by day, devoted fathers and husbands by night. Lately, with the return of this Harwood woman..."

"Harwood," Yvaine muttered under her breath. "That wretched woman! I have to say, I have heard anything but encouraging news concerning her arrival here. How has it affected Rowena?" she asked softly.

"She's losing that control," Catherine clarified. "She's...I know people Rowena's age are often unstable, but this...this is too much. It's like everything's bleeding over and she's...losing herself in the midst of all of it. To tell you the truth, I'm afraid of her. And I haven't been afraid of her in years. She...I know that what I said to her -- her being responsible for the death of Megan Ellard -- was rather far below the belt, but...she snapped, broke her scotch glass in her grip and moved to backhand me. She's never done that before. As cold as she is, she never would have dreamed of raising a hand to me."

"Oh, Catherine," she said, looking upon her weary face with those dark, friendly eyes. "That's disgraceful."

Catherine paused, gathering her thoughts. "I'm not...sure what to do. I'm not going to report it. I've been thinking about going home to Earth."

"Things can't be that bad, my love. You really should report her. A Starfleet officer, no matter how decorated, can treat someone in her charge, personal or otherwise, that way."

"If I do," Catherine began quietly, "her career in Starfleet is over, and she goes back to...them. They won't care--she'd fit right in with that crowd. And if working with them in this fashion is causing her to become a little unhinged, I can't...I can't imagine what going back to that Organization completely would do to her. I think the Arkham Horror would fully run the show and Rowena as I know her would cease to be. And God help us all if that were to happen."

Yvaine tapped the back of Catherine's hand lightly, comforting her as best as she could. "Coltan has… noticed her change, from what little he knew of her beforehand," she said, averting her eyes. "He… sometimes feels that he is a man alone, working against this new command team that seems to have pulled the rug out from beneath him," she went on. "Naturally, he tells me nothing of this. I have to gleam what I can from his moods, expressions… how he's come to spend less time with Rory and more locked in that damned ready room of his. It's a shame, really Catherine. If you return to Earth, I would lose you, and Coltan would lose Rowena, also. Cake?" she offered, pondering the thought of loneliness once again.

"No, thank you," Catherine said, shaking her head. "I know how he feels. And I think in some ways, he is a man alone right now. Harwood...knows how to manipulate Rowena. She always has. Because I mean...you've met her. She was always a little cold, but you could tell she wasn't...she meant well. Now...I don't think Rowena wants to side with Harwood. I don't think she has a choice. And it's fraying her sanity."

"Well," she returned, decidedly, "they say it's not the man that's great, but rather the woman behind him. I think we should use that to our advantage." She narrowed her kind eyes once more on the woman before her. "Don’t give up on her, Catherine. She needs you more than ever. They both need us."

"Perhaps that's true," Halsey said quietly. "But I'm not getting near her when she's like this. And even if I wanted to, I'm not sure Alex Harwood would let me."

"Then that's why you're living with me for the time being," she said, warmly. "Rory, come along," she said, standing to her feet and smoothing down her dress. "Let's get you settled, Catherine."

--

A POST BY:

DR. Catherine E. Halsey
Medical Attendant

and

Yvaine Gray
Governess

 

RSS Feed