I Am Your Father

Posted on Wed Jul 31st, 2019 @ 8:29pm by Commander Logan Vance & Amanda Vance
Edited on on Sat Aug 3rd, 2019 @ 4:00am

Mission: Preludes
Location: Starbase 234 - Infirmary
Timeline: 2387
Tags: Prelude

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Time: 1602
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Logan walked back to D'Ral, who was trying her best to maintain her stoic expression. It was clear to Logan, however, that her stress level ratcheted up when everyone else left the room. He didn't want her to feel intimidated, so he did his best to break the tension early.

"No one is going to hurt you," he started. "No one is going to interrogate you or do anything to cause intentional harm." It didn't seem to do much to reassure her, nor did Logan expect it to but he did want to get it out there early.

"D'Ral D'varo. I'd ask you to confirm that is your name but I have a feeling you wouldn't be too keen on that. So I'll start with a little about me. How does that sound?" D'Ral darted towards him and then back to the wall in front of her. She seemed curious what his approach was about. "My name is Logan Vance. I'm a Lieutenant in Starfleet. I work for Starfleet Intelligence. One would say that makes me a spy and I suppose that's an apt description. My job is to find out things from people that they don't want others to know. A lot of people frown on actions like that, especially among my people. I know the Romulans, however, tend to admire skills like that. I know for a fact your mother fancied herself quite."

For an instant there was a flash of… something on her face. It was most definitely a negative feeling but it was too fast for Logan to identify precisely. There was obviously some tension when it came to Rhiana. Maybe he could chisel at that. "Believe it or not, I did care about Rhiana. She was a very intelligent and charismatic woman. She was warm and caring when we were alone together." Another flash, this time it stayed longer and was clearly concept. "I can see you never saw that side of her."

It was understandable why. D'Ral was a living embodiment of Rhiana's failure. The fact that she'd been tricked by a human spy. This was clearly his way in. "She was harsh on you, wasn't she? Embarrassed by you. Maybe angry at me for what I'd done and she took it out on you. Verbally, mentally, maybe even physically?"

The last part of the sentence elicited an eyeroll. "So, not physically then." She turned to look at him, curious as to why he'd come to that conclusion. "Your body language. Your involuntary actions. They give away more information than anything you can say. You can lie with words. Some can lie with their bodies. Only a few and deceive with their microexpressions. Yours are honest." She recentered herself on the wall in front and her posture stiffened. She was doubling down.

"You weren't with your mother when the star went supernova. It's why you're alive right now. Did she sent you away?" There was no reaction. "Did you run away from her?" The hint of a smile curled on her lips. "Ran away then. To strike out on your own. Prove that you were more than what she claimed you were." She took a deep breath, her fists clenched. "Prove to her how wrong she was."

"Did she ever explain to you who you are? Why you were different?"

The first hint of a tear started to form in her eye. "Leave me alone…"

The crack was starting to widen. "What did she tell you about your father? Who he was?"

Her head snapped around and her eyes shot daggers at him as the first tears fell. "That he was a traitor. That he ruined our family. And that I was the punishment for that treachery." The sudden outburst surprised even her and she startled herself back into silence.

"That's a lot to lay on a girl so young. That you're a punishment, even if it isn't true," Logan replied. He reached out to try and take her hand but she snatched it away. "When did you start to suspect the truth? That your father wasn't a Romulan at all? They couldn't hide that fact from you, I'm sure. The blue eyes, the brown hair, the pink skin… It was too much of a coincidence for you not to consider the truth." She stiffened again. "Too much for a girl as smart as you not to figure it out."

"I can see so much of my mother and my sister in your features. And I can see the pieces of me too." He took his own deep breath. She turned to face him. Their eyes met and in nearly the same instance they found themselves accepting the truth.

This time there were tears in both their eyes and they weren't so easily stopped. He reached out for her hand again and this time she didn't resist. "I'm sorry for what my carelessness put you through, D'Ral. And I'm sorry for what happened to your mother and you people. I don't know what comes next. I know it won't be easy for either of us but I'm willing to try and figure this out if you are. Because I am your father."

Agent (Lt. Cmdr) Logan Vance
Intelligene Officer