<USS Avalon> Avalon "Lyryn Cate's Story Ensign Cate & Commander Skyler

"Lyryn Cate's Story"
written by:
  Ensign Lyryn Cate and Commander Skyler
 
 
 
Lyryn wasn't the least bit surprised when Skyler stopped the lift.  She was 
pretty sure that she had piqued her curiosity, to say the least.
 
"I'm not sure where to begin, Commander," Lyryn said in a whisper, but with 
resolve.
 
"Oh, please, call me Skyler.  After all we've been through today, we're 
practically best friends," the Cmdr. retorted.  It was obvious she had reached 
the 
end of her patience with the Lt.
 
Lyryn nodded.  She paused for just a moment of silence and looked deep into 
the Cmdr's eyes.  "Skyler, I'm scared."
 
For someone who seemed so in control of themselves and so...so arrogant, the 
admission was almost a punch in the gut to Skyler.  It unnerved her greatly.  
She was unable to say anything.  There was nothing that could be said to a 
line like that.
 
Lyryn watched the emotions play across Skyler's face, knowing that she had 
her full attention.  Slowly, the Lt. sank down to sit upon the floor, watching 
her captor's eyes for permission or denial.  There was neither.  Lyryn pulled 
her legs up to her chest, locked her arms around them and began to softly 
speak.
 
"I've been in the military my entire life."  Her gaze was no where near 
meeting Skyler's, but focused somewhere deep into the past.  "They own me.  
They 
always have."
 
Skyler nodded for Lt. Cate to keep going, but the Lt. did not even see.  
Skyler sat down across from her and attempted to put from her mind the 
insistent 
call of duty.  It was time to listen.
 
"I was left...at the hospital...when I was very young."  Lyryn's words were 
slow in coming; that stunted speech people use when unsure or unused to telling 
a tale.  "I have no memory of my parents.  The closest thing that I had to a 
father was the retired general in charge of the orphanage where they placed 
me.  I had no mother."  
 
Her voice was hard, almost cold.  'Detached is probably a better word,' 
thought Skyler.
 
"His name was General Mensano.  Gareth."  She took a deep breath to steady 
herself and continued, "He took a liking to me early on.  He said that even as 
a 
child, I was...serious.  It impressed him.  He taught me languages."  At 
that, the corners of Lyryn's mouth turned slightly up, remembering those times 
fondly.  "A harsh man, but loving in his own way."
 
There were silent tears upon Lyryn's cheeks.  Something about that touched 
Skyler deeply.  Lyryn paused to regain composure, and continued as solemnly as 
ever.
 
"Skyler, I've never known any life but the daily structure of the military," 
she looked Skyler in the eyes as she said this.  "I was adopted periodically 
as a child, but always returned.  It was always back to the military.  I've 
studied martial arts and weapons since the age of four.  My education was 
always 
the highest of the military.  I was brought up to be a soldier.  I am a 
soldier.  It's all I know and it's what I do.  What I have done today goes 
against 
everything I was ever taught."  She dropped her eyes before speaking again,"The 
General would be so disappointed in me.  I'm disappointed in myself."
 
"So, why the sudden attack of conscience?"  Skyler asked with curiosity 
bordering upon bitterness.
 
Looking at her once more, Lyryn honestly answered, "I don't know.  I've 
thought about it a lot.  It just really got to me when I was studying your time 
period.  It wasn't perfect, but compared to now, it was so...peaceful.  And I 
just...I've just always wanted to live a life that was of my own choosing; not 
something dictated to me by memos and mandates and codes of military justice."  
Lt. Cate's voice began raising in timbre.  
 
'She's upset,' Skyler thought, 'and actually showing emotion.'
 
"What am I supposed to do, Skyler?  What you have offered me, sounds like a 
fairy tale from my childhood.  Is it even possible?  I know you say it is, but  
look at it from my perspective.  I would be betraying people I have worked 
with for the past several years even more than I already am.  Do you know what 
they do to traitors? And you said I had integrity.  How much integrity am I 
showing now?"  Lyryn finished by laying her forhead upon her drawn up knees.  
She 
needed to calm herself down.
 

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