I'm Sorry to Inform You...

Posted on Mon Jun 22nd, 2020 @ 11:39pm by Lieutenant Kalin Brennan-Griffin PhD & Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri-Smith & Lieutenant James Smith
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:15pm

Mission: Divided We Fall
Location: Brennan-Griffin Quarters
Timeline: Before 'Now What'

A Mission Post by Lieutenant Kalin 'Shae' Brennan-Griffin PhD & Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri & Lieutenant James Smith
Mission: Divided We Fall
Location: Brennan-Griffin Quarters
Timeline: Before 'Now What'
Wed Oct 3rd, 2018 @ 8:10pm

Cailus had just left to take Aoife up to the school. Aoife didn't want to go, she had missed her mother so much and they were only just reunited, but Shae and Cailus had a staff meeting they had to report to, meaning the kiddo had to go somewhere. It felt odd being alone again, and for a moment Shae feared that if she closed her eyes again that she would be back in that Bubble, even though she reminded herself that this was real, the Bubble was not; but it had been real to them at the time, and as she calmed herself from the verge of a panic attack, she remembered something she had to do. So once she was again calm, Shae sat at her desk and sent a message to Kaleri and Smith that she needed to speak with them, preferably before the staff meeting. Then while she waited for either a response or a chime at the door, Shae went to her bedroom to get ready. The day had only just begun and already she could feel a headache building, the sounds of plasma running through conduits in the walls, and doors opening and people walking in the hall, and her neighbor was talking to someone but she couldn't make out any distinct words; how could she bear all these noises before the Bubble, it was all too much! But then again, she remembered that the silence had been just as deafening when they first found themselves in the Bubble...


Krysia walked along the corridor in comparative silence which was unusual for her, even though she felt reassured at having James with her she still felt lost without her children. She was also having to readjust to all the minds on the ship again.

Walking beside Krysia as they approached Shaes quarters, he thought back to the trouble they had within the bubble and the tension there was at that time. Of course, those problems disappeared over time, it the memories from the bubble were still fresh. However, James was happy to be seeing his friends again young and hopefully more restful. Arriving at Shaes quarters he looked at Krysia waiting for her to make the first move.

Arriving at Shae's quarters Krysia took a calming breath before pressing the chime. In the last period of the bubble she & Shae had finally reached some peace between them & were getting to know each other again but she still felt awkward. She looked up as the door swished open and offered a smile "Hi Shae, you wanted to see us?"

Had the door chime always been so loud? Flinching at the very sound of it, Shae halted in her attempt to get ready for the staff meeting, lacking her duty jacket and with her hair still down, she answered the door to make the infernal noise stop. Then she stared at Krysia and James like she'd forgotten what she was supposed to do next, and she actually had to remind herself that she had invited them to come and that it would be terribly rude of her to tell them what she wanted to tell them with them out in the hall like this. But it was just so bloody loud on the ship, she could barely think!

"Oh, uh, please come in," Shae said softly; the Chameloid woman was known for being soft-spoken, but this was even softer than usual, like she couldn't stand the volume of her own voice! "Thank you for coming to see me; I still tire quite easily, so I'm not ready to start venturing out very far, but I wanted to tell you something before the staff meeting," Shae said as she made her way to the dining table to sit down.

Krysia looked at James she got the sense that Shae was struggling and it was plain enough to see. “Are you alright?” She gently placed her hand on Shae’s arm remembering their last conversation in the bubble, “I don’t know about you but I’m finding this whole experience....unsettling and painful. It’s like everything we had is gone and yet we’re told it never happened.” She sank down into a seat at the table.

"No, I'm... not alright, but I'm adjusting, like we all are..." Shae replied, her gaze wandering into nothingness for a moment as she considered how to tell them... "After old age started to claim everyone, I, uh... I know a lot of you had each other to lean on, but the children... I didn't want them to be alone in their final moments. All of the children, I stayed with them, cared for them in their waning days... That's why I stayed in the coma for so long, I was waiting for them to all go." It was then that her gaze finally returned to Kryisa and James. "Don't ever let anyone tell you that they weren't real. Maybe it was all just a dream, maybe the memories will fade like everything else, but in those memories they are real to us, and I know that my little one will always have a place in my heart, as will they all. And I just need you to know that they weren't alone when they finally passed, because no one should have to go all alone and afraid..." she said as tears welled up in her eyes.

Krysia gripped James’ hand tears coming to her own eyes, “Thank you Shae” she paused for a moment gathering her emotions and thoughts, “We will NEVER forget them, any of them Aurora, Nick, Samantha or Madeline...they were all real for us and no matter what they’ll never be forgotten and thank you for being there for them after we were....gone.” She looked up at James.

Holding onto Krysia he nodded, it hurt loosing his children again, whether they were real or not they were real to them. He nodded in agreement, “Thank you so much, I also appreciated what you were able to do for them."

Shae smiled weakly. "I know it's a lot to ask, but could you do a favor for me?" she asked. "Since I've been back, I've been spending as much time as possible with Aoife, but I'm still recovering and so I tire quite easily... But I want the other parents to know, so could you tell them for me?"

"Of course" Krysia smiled and nodded, "I still remember everyone so I'll make sure they all get told I promise. If there's anything you need please feel free to come & ask us."

"For now that's it. I just need time to readjust so I can start feeling useful again," Shae replied. Then she sighed. "Anyway, I need to finish getting ready for the staff meeting," Shae said, rising to her paws. She really didn't want to go, she just wanted to spend time with Aoife, but she understood the importance of re-establishing a sense of normalcy with the crew as soon as possible. "Thank you for coming by, it was good to see you both."

Krysia smiled "It was our pleasure Shae like I said our door is always open." She stood ready to leave. "We'll see you at the staff meeting."

Standing with Krysia James said, “ Please feel free to stop by our quarters anytime. We would love to have you visit.”

"Once I'm feeling up to it, I'll have to add you to a fairly long list of people I want to see, but I will do my best," Shae replied.

“No rush” Krysia smiled warmly, “When you’re ready, we all have our healing to do”

END