Getting to know you

Posted on Wed Nov 24th, 2021 @ 3:31am by Lieutenant JG Marina Tanger & Lieutenant Kasey Tanger

Mission: The Riixian Insurection
Location: Tanger quarters

{ON}

With her Starfleet career back on track despite her actions with the Caliphate, Marina had made her way to Kasey’s Quarters. Pausing outside the door she wondered whether he’d mind her just dropping by, he’d no doubt already sensed her approach from down the corridor. Their connection was something the likes of which she’d never felt before, she couldn’t help but wonder how strong it would be once her inhibitor came off. Not that, that was happening anytime soon. She pressed the door chime and waited.

"Enter" Tanger stated as the chime ended. "Greeting Miss Monroe." Tanger greeted the newly found sister he never knew he had before. "I welcome you to my quarters. Please come in and have a seat."

Entering her brother’s quarters Marina looked around before looking at Kasey. “I err...I hope you don’t mind me dropping by? I wanted to...well I...” She paused and took a deep breath. “I want to know more about you, about our parents.” She took a seat.

"I don't mind as I knew you were coming." Tanger replied. "I am still not sure about how we are so supposed to act around one another as I was raised with no real knowledge of you. But I can do my best to give you the private side of my parents. Sorry, our parents. That is going to be hard to say as I am still processing now having a sister and a twin at that."

Marina nodded and smiled. “Imagine how I feel. I go from being an adopted orphan to finding out I was kidnapped at birth, and dumped by my kidnappers at the door of the orphanage!” She shook her head. “I’m having a hell of a time wrapping my head around all of this.”

"I understand you have had all your beliefs totally uprooted and scrambled. I would not even imagine what you are really feeling. I can sense your mind and I know you have some fond memories of your adoptive parents and that is what you need to hold on to and focus on for your strength moving forward. They raised you and did what they felt was best. While we now know they were part of a movement, you are only a product of your nurturing. You joined Starfleet as a way to find yourself much as I did. I enjoyed the life I had with my parents, I mean our parents. I liked the traveling from location to location and the experiences we had, so I followed in there footsteps and become a diplomate myself. But now finding a lost sister I never knew anything about is shaking my life as well." Kasey responded. "I will do my best to help you adapt back to the way things should be and get you back on a path for good. I am sort of liking the fact that I am no longer an only child but yet I am going to be doing a lot of crash learning about being a brother."

“I think we’re both going to have some crash learning.” Marina smiled as she sat wringing her hands together, her skin was clammy with perspiration which showed. “Sorry!” She gave her brother an apologetic glance. “It’s the drugs...or rather lack of them, the doctor said I’d have withdrawal symptoms, it’s really starting to set in. Can I ask you something?”

"I will say you can ask me anything and if I have the answer I will provide it or help you get it." Kasey replied. "I am your brother so I might as well start embracing it. We are family after all."

“I’ve seen others go through this” Marina pulled up her knees and rested her head on them. ‘It’s not pretty, and I know it’s nit going to be easy. “Will you help me?”

"I will not abandon you in this as long as you are truthful in your progress, I will help you as best as I can as you are my sister and I can't turn my back on you now." Kasey stated as he leaned over to give his new sister a hug as he felt her pain and he knew the withdrawl would be easy part for her because she left Starfleet and that would be the hard part for her to adjust back into that role.

Marina hugged Kasey lightly at first before holding him a little tighter. She closed her eyes feeling safe in Kasey’s embrace. “Thank you Kasey, I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

"Isn't that what family is for?" Kasey replied. "I have never said that before as I don't really have a bond with what family I do have. Maybe, you coming into my life at this time was what I need as well as what you need more than ever."

Marina nodded. “Perhaps you’re right, maybe events in our lives have been leading us both back to each other.” She smiled. “I intend to earn my place here, I’ll make you proud of me!”

"I do look forward to having a sister in my life and thus having a family." Kasey replied. "You can do a lot to show people you are serious about changing yourself and if you can get rest of the crew see your changes, you may have a chance. I will back you as best I can, but know that I must attend to my duties first regarding the ambassadors and the other diplomats when in that setting."

Marina nodded in agreement. “I know, I don’t expect you to leap in and defend me. You barely know me.” She offered a smile. “I do want to change that, I want to get to know everything about you.”

"Getting to know me, getting to know all about me. Getting to like you and hope you like me too." Kasey replied. "Sorry, I sometime will quote old Earth musicals or movies. I don't think you would know that reference but I know we have a long way to go to getting to know one another and I do want to learn about you and get to know you and I will be up front and honest with you as that is part of the genetics of Betazoid twins, they can not lie to one another without the other knowing it."

Marina gave Kasey a serious look. “There’s something you need to know.” She took a deep breath. “I err...I was chosen when I was younger to be part of the leader’s harem. Back then it was an honour, as part of the harem you’re afforded certain luxuries and rights.” She paused. “Kasey I...have a daughter, her name is Aurora. She’s six months old, in those six months I’ve only seen her when I’ve been back with the master. Unless you’re with the harem you aren’t permitted to see your children. It’s his way of ensuring your obedience.” The pain of separation was plain to see.

"Wow, I did not expect that news." Kasey replied in shock. "I am an uncle and never knew it. I am not sure what to say, but Starfleet will work to get your daughter reunited with you as soon as possible."

“I’m not holding out much hope right now” Marina sighed. “I want...need, to be with her, but he’s not going to hand her over that easily. Aurora and other children like her are his key to the next generation of the Caliphate.”

"I am not going to say it will be easy but the special forces will do all within their power to free the children under the Caliphate control and return them to the families they belong to and that includes Aurora." Tanger replied. "I need to know my new niece is alright and I will help in her recovery any way I can."

Marina nodded. “Thank you Kasey, I needed to hear that.” She offered a smile.

"Well, know I said it not just because you needed to hear it. I said it because it will be part of the mission to get the Caliphate wiped out." Tanger replied. "You are being assessed to see how you can likely rejoin the ranks about a starship, maybe even this starship."

Marina’s eyes widened in surprise. “I could stay here? I’d really like the opportunity to stay if I can.”

"I would like to work out the opportunity for you on this ship. However, if there is any doubt that you are not being honest they will likely not continue with the chance to even get back into Starfleet. However, we need the edge on the Caliphate, so it is being considered to work with you if you work with us." Tanger replied.

Marina nodded. “I’ll do whatever I can to help Kasey, I swear.”

"You need to realize, that I will know if you are hiding anything, while I may not be exact upon what, I will know. The thoughts you have been having while on the ship have flooded my mind and I am sorting them out while still keeping up with my duties. Once you get cleared to serve at a duty station, you will likely start to feel more like yourself as the drugs used on you will hinder your thoughts for a little while longer yet." Tanger responded. "I will be here or you can talk to Lieutenant Coleman. She is part Betazoid and can help you. She is also someone that can be truly trusted."

Marina nodded. “I understand, and I’m sorry. I didn’t know my thoughts were impacting on you. I guess that has something to do with us being twins?” She paused. “You do know I’m going to have to go back and play my part, I have to go play the two faced woman whose playing you guys in favour of the Caliphate.”

"I am aware of what is expected and I am now aware of what a Betazoid Twin feels when with their twin. We will likely always now have this bond when we are close to one another physically so be prepared for that flood of thoughts. That is likely why they are so rare in our species. But know I will do my best to help you remember that we are here for your better good and the Caliphate is not in your favor." Tanger replied.

Marina nodded. “I want to try and convince my adoptive parents of that, but I don’t know if they’ll listen.” She sighed. Truth be known she was feeling a little off par but after everything that had happened that wasn’t surprising.

"I do have to say that I am picking up another mind or two when you are present with me. I know as twins we are able to do more in our minds that traditional Betazoids but this mind or pair of minds is weak and not fully developed." Tanger stated. "You would not happen to be expecting, would you?"

Marina looked at her brother in surprise. She hadn’t long learned that from Commander Hendon. “Actually I err...” She nodded. “I wasn’t feeling well after the procedure to remove my implant, seems I’m around 4 weeks.” She sighed. “It’s...our leader’s child.”

"You mean the Caliphate leader is the father, you are no longer his to lead and so you don't need to call him leader ever again." Kasey stated in reply. "You are free and will find a way to get your other daughter freed from the harem."

Marina nodded. “I wasn’t expecting this Kasey! I thought I’d avoided conceiving his child this time. Don’t get me wrong I’ll love this baby as my own, I just wish he or she wasn’t his.”

"I am not judging you, the nature you nurture this baby in, will be what makes the child the person they are destine to become." Kasey stated. "You now are with those that will help you and you will steer the child along a path of good choices. I am certain of it."

Marina nodded and smiled, deep down wishing she could tell her brother the whole truth of the fact that she was working for Starfleet Intelligence under deep cover and had been all along.

{OFF}

Lieutenant Marina Monroe
Infiltration Officer
USS Leto

Lieutenant Kasey Tanger
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Leto