Lavender sat in the corner of the room holding a PADD carrying the image of Dr. Magenta Coren-Branson, her sister. Lavender had spent her entire graduate year in medicine working on her Lazarus project only to have the project fail on two accounts.
Magenta did not want to be with her family. She wanted to be with Nicole Branson. Magenta only lived for a few days. Lavender then clicked on the image to see other images from Magenta's life. She saw her with Nicole. She saw how happy they were.
Lavender started to think about her mission and her courtship of Nicole Branson. She thought about the time she spent trying to woo Nicole to bring her down and to set up the Lazarus project. She even smiled when she thought about the morning by the Christmas tree and about little Brenna's only wish, to have a family for Christmas. Lavender remembered the warmth in that little girl's hug. She started to tear up.
Elizabeth walked by, "Oh sweetie, its okay. I miss her too."
Elizabeth came in to give Lavender a hug. Lavender laid the PADD on the bed. She did not even think her mother would look at it. Elizabeth looked down to see the image of Magenta and Nicole hugging. Elizabeth looked at Lavender, "Branson! Were you thinking about Branson?"
"Yes.", Lavender sobbed.
"Nicole Branson killed Orchid and took my Magenta twice.", Elizabeth sobbed tears of her own.
"I forbid you from talking to Chancellor Branson. I forbid from even thinking about Nicole.", Elizabeth scolded.
Lavender looked at her mother. Elizabeth was a Betazoid. She could feel Lavender's loneliness and pain. She was a long way from Corinthian Station, from Betazed, from home. Elizabeth hugged her.
Lavender waited for her mother to leave. She walked over to the console and tapped the buttons.
"Elora, its Lavender. Please don't hang up.", Lavender looked at the Colony Aide.
"What the hell do you want?", Elora responded.
"Can you patch me through to Nicole?", Lavender asked.
"No.", Elora bluntly responded.
"Please. I need to speak to her.", Lavender responded.
"You are with Starfleet Intelligence and are a security risk. No.", Elora repeated.
"I am begging you, Elora.", Lavender started to tear up, wiping her cheek.
Elora looked at Lavender and thought of Bill and their own unconventional relationship. Elora shutdown the screen. Lavender burst out crying. She was literally wailing like a baby when the screen came back up.
Nicole was in her Academy Office reading student papers. Lavender wiped her cheeks, "Hi, Nikki."
"What the hell do you want?", Nicole looked at the HUD hovering in front of her desk.
"Ummmm... I don't really know. I never thought this through. I don't understand my own feelings. I should hate you. I was like my mother. I blamed you for killing Orchid and Magenta. I did not care if you lived or died when I came here. I wanted to use you to try to ressurrect Magenta. I never expected to develop any feelings for you. I don't understand these feelings.", Lavender looked at Nicole.
"You tried to kill me. They cut my leg off, Lassie.", Nicole snapped.
"I know.", Lavender started crying again. Betazoids can be so emotional.
"I shouldn't have called.", Lavender reached for the shutdown button. She slumped to the floor balling.
Nicole sat her in her office. She thought about Lavender. She too thought about the Christmas tree. It was one of the most wonderful experiences of her life. She also thought about the operating theatre. She looked down at her leg slowly beginning to regenerate and she had a constant reminder about what Lavender did to her.
Posted by:
Lt. Lavender Coren, MD
Starfleet Intelligence
Starbase 234
United Federation of Planets
