Will you be able to rest?

Posted on Sun Sep 28th, 2025 @ 7:30pm by Lieutenant JG Syvar MD & Lieutenant Amelia Fox

1,592 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: R&R
Location: Syavar and Amelia's quarters, USS Brittanic

ON:

After speaking with the Captain, Amelia decided to return to her quarters. She smiled and acknowledged several crew members on her way but when they had passed, she allowed her face to fall. Inside, she felt drained and still out of place. Would she ever be able to find the reason why they had been sent back in time? Maybe some shore leave on Bajor would be just the thing to take her mind off the problem.

She paused just before the door and took a deep breath, making sure to put the smile back on her face for the girls. It was hard enough on them as it was without her adding to their worries.

"I'm home!" She called out as she entered, trying to keep her voice light.

"Mommy!" Two blonde blurs of energy raced forward to claim her attention.

Syvar held back, allowing the girls some time and attention. He smiled to himself as he watched the scene, then quickly reached for the camera which lay nearby to externalise the scene. He had taken to keeping the small device on hand and taken pictures frequently. Though if asked he couldn't explain what brought it on.

A look of concern shadowed his smile as he set the camera aside. Something was troubling her; he could feel it, but he knew better than to ask. "They've been wanting to show you what they made for you in school today," he announced, which prompted the children to run back to their rooms.

As soon as the children were out of sight, Amelia let herself visibly sag slightly. "Sorry I'm late, I lost track of time." She moved over to the replicator and paused. She did not want to start relying on alcohol. "Water, cold." A glass of water materialised, which she picked up and took a sip of. The girls came running back in, and in the blink of an eye, she quickly took a deep breath; the smile reappeared on her face. "What have you got to show me?"

The girls held up a single cup, which was elaborately decorated with colourful squiggles and lines. It also showed an elegantly written line which read 'best mum ever'. The twins cast their mother and expectant look as they handed over the fruit of their hard work.

Syvar smiled proudly as he observed the spectacle, though the hint of concern didn't leave his eyes as he studied his mate. Something was wrong, and he wondered if she would confide in him. He knew being thrown back in time with no hope of return was taking its toll, but he was trying to settle and blend in as best as he could.

Despite herself, Amelia smiled genuinely this time. "It's beautiful, I'll use it every day. Thank you both." She drew them into a hug. Tears were bubbling just underneath the surface. "I think it's almost bedtime for you two." She added, trying to keep her voice from cracking. "Goodnight girls." She looked at Syvar, hoping he would pick up that she wanted..... needed him alone.

Syvar ushered the twins to bed, offering quiet promises for time with their mother in the morning. It seemed their schedule was set up such that Amelia tended to them in the morning, while he was assigned the bedtime routine.

Once the girls were settled he returned and drew her into his strong arms "you are keeping up appearances, and the girls are starting to notice," he whispered, "what is going on, because I know you are keeping something from me too. You have always had my support, it wouldn't change now my love. What is going on?"

Amelia took a deep breath she released in a ragged sob. "I.... I can't figure it out. What brought us here." She paused then admitted to him, "I've been poring over the sensor data from the escape pod, from the Britannic. It makes no sense. The readings are confused... contradictory. It's like some force just plucked us out of the space-time continuum and dropped us here.

She smacked her hand into the bulkhead in frustration and was about to do it again when she caught herself, realised what she was doing. "Something is wrong here, it's like I'm out of step with time.... i .... I can't explain it." She gave up, exasperated and rubbing her wrist in discomfort.

Syvar frowned at her outburst, then moved quickly to circle his strong arms around her to give her a sense of security. "Please, that poor bulkhead is innocent," he murmured, "and I think you need to stop looking into this. We need to move on, it's not worth the stress." He shifted so he could examine her wrist. "Does this hurt?" He continued, easily adding doctor mode to husband mode as he gingerly moved the afflicted limb.

Having Syvar wrap his arms around her made her feel slightly more secure, and she managed a genuine smile. She still winced when he examined her wrist. "Yes, it hurts." She pulled herself closer to him, drawing on his strength. "It's like there's something, a splinter, something gnawing away at me." She sighed again. "Maybe the Captain is right, perhaps some shorelave on Bajor will be what I need. I wish I could speak to Melody, she always knew just what to...."

Suddenly, there was a bright flash of light, and Amelia had to close her eyes. When she opened them again, she was no longer in their quarters... She didn't know where she was, but she was standing on some planet in what appeared to be a meadow with a stream running through next to a very large mountain. Oddly, there was no sound except for the beating of her heart, which sounded like a bass drum in her ears. The light was all wrong, giving everything a weird, unearthly glow.

Suddenly, she sensed a presence behind her. She spun around and found herself face to face with Melody Jones..... But something was wrong. Her expression was not right, cold and distant, and when she spoke, her voice sounded flat and strangely resonant.

"You are the Fox."

Amelia quickly realised that this was not her friend. "Who are you?" She demanded, trying to keep her voice firm, despite the fact that she was quite terrified.

"We brought you here." The fake Melody replied.

She frowned for a moment, then realisation dawned on her. "You brought us back in time to the past?" She asked, becoming slightly more confident.

The being cocked its head to one side, it ignored the question and replied, "Time..... Past.... these words have no meaning to us. What is, is no different than what was, or what will be. You have been chosen. You will face many tasks, but you will not fail. You are the Fox. When you arrive, we will set us free."

Amelia jumped as Melody's eyes suddenly burned bright red. "Do not fail us."

"What do you.." Amelia started to ask when there was another bright flash of light, and she found herself back in Syvar's arms, in their quarters, like nothing had happened.

She looked around, slightly frantic. "What was that? Did you see her?" she started babbling...

Syvar, having sensed a shift in emotions, shook his head as he simply tightened his arms around her. All he could do was offer emotional support. "Perhaps you should go see the doctor, if you're concerned. Or the counselor?" As her husband, ethics forbade him to be her attending physician.

"I swear I was somewhere else just now.... I....." She stopped. Even she was kicking up on the desperation in her voice. "No... No... I don't want to bother anyone with this. Maybe I just need to relax. There is an area on Bajor that looks idyllic."

"The counselor and doctor are there for these kind of things Amelia," Syvar countered softly, "they wouldn't consider it a bother. And I'm worried about you, I really do think you should talk to one of them." He paused, reaching to make her look up at him. "We'll still go to Bajor," he promised, "and we'll take the girls and find some camping place and take them out on educational trips. But I'd still like you to have this checked out, just to be safe. I really don't want you to get into any kind of trouble while we're down there, away from civilisation."

His worst fear was that she'd revert to that childlike state again, and he wasn't sure he could handle another such episode. The last time was almost too much for him, and his own sanity had been on the line.

Amelia sighed and then, in her head, a smooth, seductive voice whispered. "He doesn't believe you, he thinks you're insane. Come to us Amelia! Embrace us! Feel our love. Bide your time. We will be with you soon, and we will make everything whole again. Play along, don't arouse suspicion. Don't worry, they can do nothing. A sample of what is to come"

A wave flowed through her, and she had to bite her lip to stop herself gasping. For a brief instant, her eyes flared a fiery red, and then it was gone.

"You're right, as always. I'll go and speak to the counsellor in the morning. Right now, I just need some sleep." She said as she slipped her arms around him.

"Of course,"Syvar answered, returning the hug. "I will join you later, there are some reports I need to finish first."

 

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