How do you come home again?
Jan 13, 2016 5:16:06 GMT
Post by Admin on Jan 13, 2016 5:16:06 GMT
Alizabeth Moroveston
Old 02-14-2015, 10:02 PM
Alizabeth stepped from the light into the dimly lit cantina and took a few moments for her eyes to adjust. *Some things never change.* she thought to herself. For the first time since coming home, she was glad.
Home... now that word rolled lazily from her lips, but it seemed wrong some how.
She had gone on her last mission and nearly died from it. Because of that, the 'powers that be' thought it best to send her on a relaxing trip to clear her head. But it had merely made things worse. The strange surroundings, lack of friends and immediate departure that had been imposed meant the vacation had been anything but. The nightmares had rung her out till she wanted to scream. And she had, on more than one occasion.
She settled the bag into a vacant booth and asked for a stiff drink from a passing waitress. Sitting down next to the bag, she sighed. Adam and Tal had been stood up for dinner, she suddenly remembered. That seems like so long ago. She doubted 'forgive me' would cover it this time.
Taking the offered drink, she pulled out her data-pad and began rummaging thru the myriad of files just to keep her mind busy. In a moment she turned it off realizing she hadn't managed to truly read one thing in the last 3 missives.
She technically wasn't due back for another moon cycle. But she couldn't stay away another day... or night.
This long without real sleep had taken its toll. To those who knew her, she would appeared to have lost weight, and not in a good way. To others, she would appear tired, strung out and if they truly didn't know her, perhaps on withdrawal from something potent. Except for the withdrawal part... she doubted any of them would have been wrong. She took another sip and watched the patrons file in and out as they went about their business.
***
Kaie
Old 02-15-2015, 07:55 AM
Finishing up some medical reports, Kaie took a break and looked up and scanned all the faces within the tavern. Some enjoying company while eating a late lunch while others surfed the net on their pocket computers. Spending most of her waking hours in the local hospitals helping where she could, the Guardian realized fairly early that she could have a permanent career doing just that alone. Seems a Jedi's work was never done and taking her mother's example, she had known that for a long time.
Kaie took a sip of her tea as her green orbs finally fell on another face whose expression told her everything the healer needed to know: Lost, tired and feeling out of place for some reason. She had seen that before on many of the faces of the soldiers under her care in the last two years since helping the New Republic. Sighing, the white witch shut off her datapad and grabbed it up along with her tea, then pushed herself from her booth. Motioning to the waitress that she was moving to another booth, the girl nodded and grinned as she continued on with taking care of her customers.
Focusing on the Force, Kaie exuded an air of peace and calm as she approached the woman's table. "Hi, name's Kaie. I've been helping out at Vy Parker Hospital," her Jedi robes no doubt telling more of the story. "Not sleeping well?"
***
Liz
Old 02-19-2015, 02:07 AM
Alizabeth swore the air got a bit thinner and she relaxed for the first time in over a year. As the woman stepped into view it dawned on her. She nodded and motioned to the booth bench across from her. "One must sleep to sleep badly." She laughed though it didn't quite sound genuine.
"I am Liz, Alizabeth Moroveston. Senate Intern. I have been on a healing sabbatical. But wasn't very healing, apparently." She smiled and took a long draw of her drink. She was hoping the heavy alcohol would help her pass out, and tonight she may get sleep in her own bed.
If the woman read thoughts, she would see a myriad of flashes that included torture, captivity, escape and barely surviving. Then the separation from everything that would have, in her mind, helped her.
If all she felt were feelings, abandonment was the most prevalent. Behind that would be rage, anger, fear and helplessness in varying degrees.
"Please... join me. Though I admit, I am not sure how good of a companion I will be." She nodded once more and raised a hand to the waitress for a refill. "Care for another?" she offered as the waitress walked over.
***
Kaie
Old 02-20-2015, 02:22 PM
Claiming the proffered seat on the padded couch across from Liz, Kaie listened to every word as well as the body language as she spoke, noting several telling signs of stress. Continuing to exude the Peace aura, she hoped it would allow the intern to relax finally. "Sorry to hear that," she replied calmly, taking another sip of her tea. "Sometimes talking about things helps the healing," the Guardian suggested. "I know it's worked for me."
***
Liz
Old 02-20-2015, 06:24 PM
Liz shook her head and laughed softly. "I have talked of it. It is what got me sent on my leave of absence to begin with."
Something made Liz begin to think that her arrival in the spaceport had set off some alarm and the Senate had sent the woman to give her an eval without being intrusive. Well, she would give them all the info they wanted. But she would do it on her terms. Smiling she set her glass down.
"I had a rough first assignment. I was taken, tortured and finally escaped with help. But when I came home, finally glad to be here, I was told that I had to go off world to recuperate. That remaining her would be detrimental to my psyche. They were wrong."
She laughed then, but this time it didn't make it to her eyes. She took a long draw of her drink again and almost didn't continue. But after another sip, she set the glass down.
"They were wrong. I couldn't sleep, didn't want to eat, couldn't rest in any way."She crossed her arms and tilted her head."How can removing someone from their friends, from their support system, from their routine, be healthy or relaxing?"
It wasn't this woman's fault. She knew that. But somehow the invitation to talk had been a loosening of tongue and mind that she didn't realize she had wanted... or needed, apparently.
***
Kaie
Old 02-21-2015, 08:36 AM
"Depending on where the event happened, sometimes having a change of scenery helps gain a different perspective and helps us see things differently. The mind protects the body in many ways, but there are things that happen in our lives that keep us from forgetting traumatic events. It's what we do with that knowledge that defines us," she grinned sympathetically. "I've seen things that no one our age should witness also, but knowing that the Force helps ease the suffering of those who've gone on helped me deal with what those murderers did. It also helped me know that end stole their thunder, as it were."
"Soldiers in war see horrible things every day, for years. Many toughen up and change while others become an emotional mess and have to be discharged. You're still here which means you won. Don't let those criminals own any part of you."
Reply With Quote
***
Liz
Old 02-21-2015, 05:31 PM
Change of scenery... That's what the psychologist had said. But since home had been a change of scenery, sending her away seemed ridiculous to her.
"But isn't the best chance to heal being around those that comfort and support you?" She frowned staring back down into her glass, though wasn't really seeing it. "I didn't want to be sent away. I had barely made it back in one piece on my own. I wanted to be here, to be with those who thought I was dead and it was there fault. Be with them to help them realize I was fine." She was blabbering again and when she realized it, she looked back up and tried to shake off her personal pity.
"I hadn't thought of myself as a soldier in a war situation. But I guess that's an accurate analogy. I mean it was hell." She tried to laugh again and was relaxing a bit finally. She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes at the girl. "Did the Senate send you to find me? To see why I came back early?"
She was probably being paranoid, but it wouldn't hurt to ask, would it?
***
Kaie
Old 02-21-2015, 10:15 PM
Shaking her head apologetically, Kaie realized she was imposing her opinions on someone that didn't ask for it. "Sorry, no. I've been working in the hospitals healing those returning home from the front and," she grinned as she glanced to her glass of tea. "I get in the mode of trying to help everyone when I see them in pain. Bad habit of mine," the Guardian shrugged.
"I learned at my mother's feet to heal the other sisters in our coven when growing up and it's something that I've wanted to keep doing for the rest of my life. That's why I became a Jedi; to heal. I'm not necessarily a great diplomat, but I can definitely recognize certain things about people easier than some. What do you like to do when not at work?"
***
Liz
Old 02-21-2015, 10:44 PM
Alizabeth laughed. “You claim you aren’t a diplomat, but going from apologizing, to telling something of yourself to putting focus back on me is diplomatic indeed.” She laughed and played some with her glass.
“Honestly,” she tilted her head and looked back at the dark haired woman, “I know it sounds odd, but I like practicing. From the defensive moves T… taught to me, to learning new ones. And I like studying planets and what makes them tick. From who runs them to who rules them.” She laughed then. “And those aren’t always the same thing.”
She glanced around and tapped a passing waitress, “Can I get a cup of tea please…” As the waitress reached for her still half full glass she shook her head. “No, think I’ll play with this a while longer.” She smiled and watched her leave.
“I guess I don’t relax too much lately. I did before. I liked reading, and long walks. But both make my mind wander and remind me there are other things that need to be done.”
She wasn’t so much drinking her alcohol now as playing with the glass like a favored toy. Absently half-forgotten but still there being rolled and pushed slowly back and forth between her hands as she talked.
***
Kaie
Old 02-22-2015, 07:17 AM
Smiling at the retort, Kaie then finished off her tea and once the waitress approached, ordered another and handed the woman the glass, then went on to listening to Alizabeth more. Knowing now what the woman did for a living, she knew that her new friend understood politics and diplomacy better than she did. Jedi were supposed to be good at a lot of things, but it seemed she still had a lot to learn.
"Have you talked to your friends and family since returning? I know you mentioned needing to have them around which is always a good thing also. They might even make you relax. I know focusing on others instead of myself helps my problems sometimes take care of themselves."
***
Liz
Old 02-22-2015, 01:29 PM
Liz nodded as she thought a moment. "My family isn't here. And a have a couple friends, co workers, I guess. I was going to seek them out. But I'm also worried about how they will react." She laughed realizing that saying it out loud was admitting what she hated most. That they would walk away thinking that's what she had done.
"I was supposed to meet a couple of them for dinner the night I was shipped off. I stood them up. And right after my ordeal. What if they are mad? How do I tell them ... convince them... it wasn't my choice. That I hadn't wanted to go." She bit her lip and giggled. "I am probably the first person to be mad to be sent on vacation to a pleasure planet and come back early." She lifted her hand to her mouth to cover the laugh. "I know they were sent back into the field, I'm sure. Everyone worries about the trauma of the victim. But I sometimes think those on the periphery are sometimes affected worse."
She looked at Kaie and tilted her head curiously. "Do you think anyone considers them? The others I mean. I know what happened to me. I knew I wasn't dead. But those who thought they had failed me, who thought I was dead, why weren't they the ones sent to recuperate? It doesn't make any sense, does it?"
***
Kaie
Old 02-22-2015, 01:42 PM
Grinning, she understood the sentiment. "Then perhaps reuniting with them will help you both heal. It's true, I've been affected by those that we've lost on the operating table, wishing I could've done more to help. But, in that case, some things are meant to be." Kaie definitely knew about life and death firsthand and was glad that not everyone had to live in that sort of arena all the time.
"Call them and set up a meeting. If they're true friends, they'll understand and before you know it, it'll be like nothing changed. Get back in to your routine and put all this behind you."
***
Liz
Old 02-22-2015, 02:05 PM
...like nothing had changed...
Was it really that easy?
She nodded and took the tea the waitress brought. "I can see it now, 'Hi guys, yeah, I know I disappeared and you thought I was dead, and then I disappeared and stood you up for dinner. But I am back and I won’t disappear again.’ I can see how well that would go over.” She laughed but it was nervous.
She took the tea the waitress finally brought back and took a sip. As her mind reeled at the thoughts, something started making sense. She was running again.
“You know, you are right. Tomorrow I will check in with the Intern program, get my fit eval and return to duty.” She smiled and nodded as she sat a bit straighter and looked at Kaie. “And I will get in touch with the others and let them know I am back. Maybe that missed dinner will happen after all.”
As she looked at Kaie, she reached across the table and touched the woman’s hand. “If the Senate didn’t send you,” she winked laughing and released her hand, “they should have.”
***
Kaie
Old 02-22-2015, 02:12 PM
Kaie smiled, glad that she had done something right today and received the thanks as the waitress brought their drinks. "Well, just glad that I could help. I'm going to be here for a while, but I can give you my frequency if you ever need anything." Taking out her comlink, she moved to the personal file and then transmitted her number to Alizabeth's own.
Knowing she should leave soon, the Guardian was enjoying the quiet afternoon and hoped for it to last just a bit longer before heading back to the hospital again.
***
Liz
Old 02-22-2015, 03:05 PM
"Of course." Liz responded. She felt silly for not having offered first. Pulling her link out, she noted the receipt of the info and locked it in so she wouldn't accidentally delete it. She then sent back her own information. "Contact me anytime you want a cup of tea. Maybe we can keep each other sane." She laughed.
Slipping it back in her pocket, she smiled. "I hope they know how good they have it with you at the hospital. And I will ask around and see if maybe I can get you hooked up with field trauma aid to those in the Senate as well, if you don't have too heavy a load with your soldiers all ready." She realized the woman's duties were probably all she could handle. But it seemed wrong not to let the skills she had just witness first hand go unnoticed or unused by others in their branch of work.
Everyone thought being a Senate Intern meant parties and balls and diplomatic dinners. But it was also espionage, sleeping with one eye open and knowing that no matter how you planned, humans were the one thing you couldn't count on to behave as she should.
***
Kaie
Old 02-22-2015, 03:24 PM
"Thanks," she knew that having more contacts with their allies would always be a benefit and approved the incoming information, then returned her comlink to her pocket. "Didn't realize the senate chambers were so dangerous," she smiled and took another sip of her tea. Perhaps the rumors were true after all.
***
Liz
Old 02-22-2015, 03:35 PM
She laughed at the woman's comments about politics being dangerous. "I think between data pads crashing, files being lost and names being forgotten, the trauma may be ten fold what it is in the field." She laughed and took a sip of her tea. "But seriously. My first assignment was to see to a simple peace treaty signing. Even the Senate wasn't worried about it which is why it was my first assignment." She looked down into her glass and sighed.
No one outside of the assignment knew what had happened. "Something went wrong... terribly wrong. The night before the signing, my guards were slain and I was tranqed. Long story short, I was supposed to be a political prisoner to put pressure on the Republic to back off. But someone got over zealous. I was questioned and tortured because I didn't have the answers they wanted." She rolled the tea back and forth between her fingers before looking up at Kaie. "I was given aid by another prisoner to escape, but once outside and free, he left me. I spent several weeks trying to get back. But with no id, no one to vouch for me and no way to communicate back here... Well," she tried to laugh and waved her hand as if to make it all go away. "Anyway, needless to say my first assignment was a bit over the top. But there are other seasoned agents who face those possibilities all the time."
She brushed a wayward strand of hair back behind her ear and took a sip of the tea, though she barely tasted it.
**
Kaie
Old 02-22-2015, 06:26 PM
Kaie's eyes widened at the news of her last mission and couldn't believe that something like that had happened, though with a war going on she realized, anything was possible. Reaching across the table, she touched Alizabeth's arm sympathetically for a moment, then retreated. "Just glad you made it back home. See, everything worked out."
Taking a few long sips of her tea, she wanted to enjoy it before it got too cool, then set the glass back onto the table. "I'm going to have to get back to the hospital here shortly, but if you ever want to talk again, give me a call. I'm staying at the Thani Royale, downtown."
***
Liz
Old 02-22-2015, 06:34 PM
Liz was comforted by the touch and nodded. "I will indeed. I used to have a fairly nice collection of off world teas. Perhaps it's time I rebuilt that. Maybe with your help?" She smiled hopefully at the woman.
As she spoke of needing to return to the hospital, she nodded, "Of course, forgive me... I didn't mean to keep you." She laughed and winked. "If they give you any trouble, send me a bill and I'll cover your excuse." She smiled and sipped her tea. "And please, let me cover your drink if I may. It's the least I can do. You gave me the courage and clarity to return. It seems like such a small thing but it's all I can think of to repay you."
***
Kaie
Old 02-22-2015, 06:48 PM
A warm smile and chuckle as Kaie knew she had made a connection and hopefully helped someone today. "Well, thank you. I'll buy you a dinner sometime. Like I said, I'm going to be on Telos for a while, so I'm sure we'll run into one another again." Finishing her tea, she set the glass down finally, though was now too full to move and remained a bit longer. Drinking too fast, not smart.
"Just hope you get in touch with your friends and family again, give you a chance to get some sleep finally." As they talked, the waitress returned and took her glass, then asked if she wanted anything else. "I"m good, thanks. Have to get going."
***
Liz
Old 02-22-2015, 07:12 PM
Liz nodded. "I will, I promise. Who knows, maybe your advice in reaching to them will help them sleep as well." She laughed and let both her glasses go as well. "I should get to my apartment. I haven't been home yet and need to clean up a bit before reporting tomorrow. I hope we do get back together while you are here. Thank you again, Kaie. I don't think I can repay you what you deserve."
She rose before the other woman and grabbed her duffel from where it had been tucked under her coat beside her. "Be well." She smiled and headed for the door, pausing with the waitress to tap her cred stick to cover whatever had been left on both tabs.
***
END THREAD
Old 02-14-2015, 10:02 PM
Alizabeth stepped from the light into the dimly lit cantina and took a few moments for her eyes to adjust. *Some things never change.* she thought to herself. For the first time since coming home, she was glad.
Home... now that word rolled lazily from her lips, but it seemed wrong some how.
She had gone on her last mission and nearly died from it. Because of that, the 'powers that be' thought it best to send her on a relaxing trip to clear her head. But it had merely made things worse. The strange surroundings, lack of friends and immediate departure that had been imposed meant the vacation had been anything but. The nightmares had rung her out till she wanted to scream. And she had, on more than one occasion.
She settled the bag into a vacant booth and asked for a stiff drink from a passing waitress. Sitting down next to the bag, she sighed. Adam and Tal had been stood up for dinner, she suddenly remembered. That seems like so long ago. She doubted 'forgive me' would cover it this time.
Taking the offered drink, she pulled out her data-pad and began rummaging thru the myriad of files just to keep her mind busy. In a moment she turned it off realizing she hadn't managed to truly read one thing in the last 3 missives.
She technically wasn't due back for another moon cycle. But she couldn't stay away another day... or night.
This long without real sleep had taken its toll. To those who knew her, she would appeared to have lost weight, and not in a good way. To others, she would appear tired, strung out and if they truly didn't know her, perhaps on withdrawal from something potent. Except for the withdrawal part... she doubted any of them would have been wrong. She took another sip and watched the patrons file in and out as they went about their business.
***
Kaie
Old 02-15-2015, 07:55 AM
Finishing up some medical reports, Kaie took a break and looked up and scanned all the faces within the tavern. Some enjoying company while eating a late lunch while others surfed the net on their pocket computers. Spending most of her waking hours in the local hospitals helping where she could, the Guardian realized fairly early that she could have a permanent career doing just that alone. Seems a Jedi's work was never done and taking her mother's example, she had known that for a long time.
Kaie took a sip of her tea as her green orbs finally fell on another face whose expression told her everything the healer needed to know: Lost, tired and feeling out of place for some reason. She had seen that before on many of the faces of the soldiers under her care in the last two years since helping the New Republic. Sighing, the white witch shut off her datapad and grabbed it up along with her tea, then pushed herself from her booth. Motioning to the waitress that she was moving to another booth, the girl nodded and grinned as she continued on with taking care of her customers.
Focusing on the Force, Kaie exuded an air of peace and calm as she approached the woman's table. "Hi, name's Kaie. I've been helping out at Vy Parker Hospital," her Jedi robes no doubt telling more of the story. "Not sleeping well?"
***
Liz
Old 02-19-2015, 02:07 AM
Alizabeth swore the air got a bit thinner and she relaxed for the first time in over a year. As the woman stepped into view it dawned on her. She nodded and motioned to the booth bench across from her. "One must sleep to sleep badly." She laughed though it didn't quite sound genuine.
"I am Liz, Alizabeth Moroveston. Senate Intern. I have been on a healing sabbatical. But wasn't very healing, apparently." She smiled and took a long draw of her drink. She was hoping the heavy alcohol would help her pass out, and tonight she may get sleep in her own bed.
If the woman read thoughts, she would see a myriad of flashes that included torture, captivity, escape and barely surviving. Then the separation from everything that would have, in her mind, helped her.
If all she felt were feelings, abandonment was the most prevalent. Behind that would be rage, anger, fear and helplessness in varying degrees.
"Please... join me. Though I admit, I am not sure how good of a companion I will be." She nodded once more and raised a hand to the waitress for a refill. "Care for another?" she offered as the waitress walked over.
***
Kaie
Old 02-20-2015, 02:22 PM
Claiming the proffered seat on the padded couch across from Liz, Kaie listened to every word as well as the body language as she spoke, noting several telling signs of stress. Continuing to exude the Peace aura, she hoped it would allow the intern to relax finally. "Sorry to hear that," she replied calmly, taking another sip of her tea. "Sometimes talking about things helps the healing," the Guardian suggested. "I know it's worked for me."
***
Liz
Old 02-20-2015, 06:24 PM
Liz shook her head and laughed softly. "I have talked of it. It is what got me sent on my leave of absence to begin with."
Something made Liz begin to think that her arrival in the spaceport had set off some alarm and the Senate had sent the woman to give her an eval without being intrusive. Well, she would give them all the info they wanted. But she would do it on her terms. Smiling she set her glass down.
"I had a rough first assignment. I was taken, tortured and finally escaped with help. But when I came home, finally glad to be here, I was told that I had to go off world to recuperate. That remaining her would be detrimental to my psyche. They were wrong."
She laughed then, but this time it didn't make it to her eyes. She took a long draw of her drink again and almost didn't continue. But after another sip, she set the glass down.
"They were wrong. I couldn't sleep, didn't want to eat, couldn't rest in any way."She crossed her arms and tilted her head."How can removing someone from their friends, from their support system, from their routine, be healthy or relaxing?"
It wasn't this woman's fault. She knew that. But somehow the invitation to talk had been a loosening of tongue and mind that she didn't realize she had wanted... or needed, apparently.
***
Kaie
Old 02-21-2015, 08:36 AM
"Depending on where the event happened, sometimes having a change of scenery helps gain a different perspective and helps us see things differently. The mind protects the body in many ways, but there are things that happen in our lives that keep us from forgetting traumatic events. It's what we do with that knowledge that defines us," she grinned sympathetically. "I've seen things that no one our age should witness also, but knowing that the Force helps ease the suffering of those who've gone on helped me deal with what those murderers did. It also helped me know that end stole their thunder, as it were."
"Soldiers in war see horrible things every day, for years. Many toughen up and change while others become an emotional mess and have to be discharged. You're still here which means you won. Don't let those criminals own any part of you."
Reply With Quote
***
Liz
Old 02-21-2015, 05:31 PM
Change of scenery... That's what the psychologist had said. But since home had been a change of scenery, sending her away seemed ridiculous to her.
"But isn't the best chance to heal being around those that comfort and support you?" She frowned staring back down into her glass, though wasn't really seeing it. "I didn't want to be sent away. I had barely made it back in one piece on my own. I wanted to be here, to be with those who thought I was dead and it was there fault. Be with them to help them realize I was fine." She was blabbering again and when she realized it, she looked back up and tried to shake off her personal pity.
"I hadn't thought of myself as a soldier in a war situation. But I guess that's an accurate analogy. I mean it was hell." She tried to laugh again and was relaxing a bit finally. She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes at the girl. "Did the Senate send you to find me? To see why I came back early?"
She was probably being paranoid, but it wouldn't hurt to ask, would it?
***
Kaie
Old 02-21-2015, 10:15 PM
Shaking her head apologetically, Kaie realized she was imposing her opinions on someone that didn't ask for it. "Sorry, no. I've been working in the hospitals healing those returning home from the front and," she grinned as she glanced to her glass of tea. "I get in the mode of trying to help everyone when I see them in pain. Bad habit of mine," the Guardian shrugged.
"I learned at my mother's feet to heal the other sisters in our coven when growing up and it's something that I've wanted to keep doing for the rest of my life. That's why I became a Jedi; to heal. I'm not necessarily a great diplomat, but I can definitely recognize certain things about people easier than some. What do you like to do when not at work?"
***
Liz
Old 02-21-2015, 10:44 PM
Alizabeth laughed. “You claim you aren’t a diplomat, but going from apologizing, to telling something of yourself to putting focus back on me is diplomatic indeed.” She laughed and played some with her glass.
“Honestly,” she tilted her head and looked back at the dark haired woman, “I know it sounds odd, but I like practicing. From the defensive moves T… taught to me, to learning new ones. And I like studying planets and what makes them tick. From who runs them to who rules them.” She laughed then. “And those aren’t always the same thing.”
She glanced around and tapped a passing waitress, “Can I get a cup of tea please…” As the waitress reached for her still half full glass she shook her head. “No, think I’ll play with this a while longer.” She smiled and watched her leave.
“I guess I don’t relax too much lately. I did before. I liked reading, and long walks. But both make my mind wander and remind me there are other things that need to be done.”
She wasn’t so much drinking her alcohol now as playing with the glass like a favored toy. Absently half-forgotten but still there being rolled and pushed slowly back and forth between her hands as she talked.
***
Kaie
Old 02-22-2015, 07:17 AM
Smiling at the retort, Kaie then finished off her tea and once the waitress approached, ordered another and handed the woman the glass, then went on to listening to Alizabeth more. Knowing now what the woman did for a living, she knew that her new friend understood politics and diplomacy better than she did. Jedi were supposed to be good at a lot of things, but it seemed she still had a lot to learn.
"Have you talked to your friends and family since returning? I know you mentioned needing to have them around which is always a good thing also. They might even make you relax. I know focusing on others instead of myself helps my problems sometimes take care of themselves."
***
Liz
Old 02-22-2015, 01:29 PM
Liz nodded as she thought a moment. "My family isn't here. And a have a couple friends, co workers, I guess. I was going to seek them out. But I'm also worried about how they will react." She laughed realizing that saying it out loud was admitting what she hated most. That they would walk away thinking that's what she had done.
"I was supposed to meet a couple of them for dinner the night I was shipped off. I stood them up. And right after my ordeal. What if they are mad? How do I tell them ... convince them... it wasn't my choice. That I hadn't wanted to go." She bit her lip and giggled. "I am probably the first person to be mad to be sent on vacation to a pleasure planet and come back early." She lifted her hand to her mouth to cover the laugh. "I know they were sent back into the field, I'm sure. Everyone worries about the trauma of the victim. But I sometimes think those on the periphery are sometimes affected worse."
She looked at Kaie and tilted her head curiously. "Do you think anyone considers them? The others I mean. I know what happened to me. I knew I wasn't dead. But those who thought they had failed me, who thought I was dead, why weren't they the ones sent to recuperate? It doesn't make any sense, does it?"
***
Kaie
Old 02-22-2015, 01:42 PM
Grinning, she understood the sentiment. "Then perhaps reuniting with them will help you both heal. It's true, I've been affected by those that we've lost on the operating table, wishing I could've done more to help. But, in that case, some things are meant to be." Kaie definitely knew about life and death firsthand and was glad that not everyone had to live in that sort of arena all the time.
"Call them and set up a meeting. If they're true friends, they'll understand and before you know it, it'll be like nothing changed. Get back in to your routine and put all this behind you."
***
Liz
Old 02-22-2015, 02:05 PM
...like nothing had changed...
Was it really that easy?
She nodded and took the tea the waitress brought. "I can see it now, 'Hi guys, yeah, I know I disappeared and you thought I was dead, and then I disappeared and stood you up for dinner. But I am back and I won’t disappear again.’ I can see how well that would go over.” She laughed but it was nervous.
She took the tea the waitress finally brought back and took a sip. As her mind reeled at the thoughts, something started making sense. She was running again.
“You know, you are right. Tomorrow I will check in with the Intern program, get my fit eval and return to duty.” She smiled and nodded as she sat a bit straighter and looked at Kaie. “And I will get in touch with the others and let them know I am back. Maybe that missed dinner will happen after all.”
As she looked at Kaie, she reached across the table and touched the woman’s hand. “If the Senate didn’t send you,” she winked laughing and released her hand, “they should have.”
***
Kaie
Old 02-22-2015, 02:12 PM
Kaie smiled, glad that she had done something right today and received the thanks as the waitress brought their drinks. "Well, just glad that I could help. I'm going to be here for a while, but I can give you my frequency if you ever need anything." Taking out her comlink, she moved to the personal file and then transmitted her number to Alizabeth's own.
Knowing she should leave soon, the Guardian was enjoying the quiet afternoon and hoped for it to last just a bit longer before heading back to the hospital again.
***
Liz
Old 02-22-2015, 03:05 PM
"Of course." Liz responded. She felt silly for not having offered first. Pulling her link out, she noted the receipt of the info and locked it in so she wouldn't accidentally delete it. She then sent back her own information. "Contact me anytime you want a cup of tea. Maybe we can keep each other sane." She laughed.
Slipping it back in her pocket, she smiled. "I hope they know how good they have it with you at the hospital. And I will ask around and see if maybe I can get you hooked up with field trauma aid to those in the Senate as well, if you don't have too heavy a load with your soldiers all ready." She realized the woman's duties were probably all she could handle. But it seemed wrong not to let the skills she had just witness first hand go unnoticed or unused by others in their branch of work.
Everyone thought being a Senate Intern meant parties and balls and diplomatic dinners. But it was also espionage, sleeping with one eye open and knowing that no matter how you planned, humans were the one thing you couldn't count on to behave as she should.
***
Kaie
Old 02-22-2015, 03:24 PM
"Thanks," she knew that having more contacts with their allies would always be a benefit and approved the incoming information, then returned her comlink to her pocket. "Didn't realize the senate chambers were so dangerous," she smiled and took another sip of her tea. Perhaps the rumors were true after all.
***
Liz
Old 02-22-2015, 03:35 PM
She laughed at the woman's comments about politics being dangerous. "I think between data pads crashing, files being lost and names being forgotten, the trauma may be ten fold what it is in the field." She laughed and took a sip of her tea. "But seriously. My first assignment was to see to a simple peace treaty signing. Even the Senate wasn't worried about it which is why it was my first assignment." She looked down into her glass and sighed.
No one outside of the assignment knew what had happened. "Something went wrong... terribly wrong. The night before the signing, my guards were slain and I was tranqed. Long story short, I was supposed to be a political prisoner to put pressure on the Republic to back off. But someone got over zealous. I was questioned and tortured because I didn't have the answers they wanted." She rolled the tea back and forth between her fingers before looking up at Kaie. "I was given aid by another prisoner to escape, but once outside and free, he left me. I spent several weeks trying to get back. But with no id, no one to vouch for me and no way to communicate back here... Well," she tried to laugh and waved her hand as if to make it all go away. "Anyway, needless to say my first assignment was a bit over the top. But there are other seasoned agents who face those possibilities all the time."
She brushed a wayward strand of hair back behind her ear and took a sip of the tea, though she barely tasted it.
**
Kaie
Old 02-22-2015, 06:26 PM
Kaie's eyes widened at the news of her last mission and couldn't believe that something like that had happened, though with a war going on she realized, anything was possible. Reaching across the table, she touched Alizabeth's arm sympathetically for a moment, then retreated. "Just glad you made it back home. See, everything worked out."
Taking a few long sips of her tea, she wanted to enjoy it before it got too cool, then set the glass back onto the table. "I'm going to have to get back to the hospital here shortly, but if you ever want to talk again, give me a call. I'm staying at the Thani Royale, downtown."
***
Liz
Old 02-22-2015, 06:34 PM
Liz was comforted by the touch and nodded. "I will indeed. I used to have a fairly nice collection of off world teas. Perhaps it's time I rebuilt that. Maybe with your help?" She smiled hopefully at the woman.
As she spoke of needing to return to the hospital, she nodded, "Of course, forgive me... I didn't mean to keep you." She laughed and winked. "If they give you any trouble, send me a bill and I'll cover your excuse." She smiled and sipped her tea. "And please, let me cover your drink if I may. It's the least I can do. You gave me the courage and clarity to return. It seems like such a small thing but it's all I can think of to repay you."
***
Kaie
Old 02-22-2015, 06:48 PM
A warm smile and chuckle as Kaie knew she had made a connection and hopefully helped someone today. "Well, thank you. I'll buy you a dinner sometime. Like I said, I'm going to be on Telos for a while, so I'm sure we'll run into one another again." Finishing her tea, she set the glass down finally, though was now too full to move and remained a bit longer. Drinking too fast, not smart.
"Just hope you get in touch with your friends and family again, give you a chance to get some sleep finally." As they talked, the waitress returned and took her glass, then asked if she wanted anything else. "I"m good, thanks. Have to get going."
***
Liz
Old 02-22-2015, 07:12 PM
Liz nodded. "I will, I promise. Who knows, maybe your advice in reaching to them will help them sleep as well." She laughed and let both her glasses go as well. "I should get to my apartment. I haven't been home yet and need to clean up a bit before reporting tomorrow. I hope we do get back together while you are here. Thank you again, Kaie. I don't think I can repay you what you deserve."
She rose before the other woman and grabbed her duffel from where it had been tucked under her coat beside her. "Be well." She smiled and headed for the door, pausing with the waitress to tap her cred stick to cover whatever had been left on both tabs.
***
END THREAD