Caught in a Nightmare

Posted on Fri Mar 18th, 2022 @ 9:18pm by Lieutenant JG Faith Vianelli & Captain Calypso Skyie

Mission: Lower Decks

It was over.

It was all finally over.

Faith had graduated from the Academy.

Now, with the ship docked at the Starbase, it was time to celebrate and the person she wanted to celebrate with most was Briella.

No doubt it hadn't been easy for the toddler, dealing with her Momma constantly running from class to class, placement to placement, but her graduation and assignment to the Chimera meant that those days were well and truly over.

Briella was able to attend the school room with the other children on the ship while Faith worked, and they had settled into a routine. A happy routine.

Now, walking toward the docking port, Faith couldn't help but smile as she held fast to her daughter's hand, reiterating the rules for their excursion, rules to keep the little one safe given how busy and populated the promenade would be.

Just before they stepped through the docking port, Faith looked down at Briella, squeezed her hand tightly and grinned. "Alright my little love, how about we start this celebration with some ice cream!"

Briella jumped with excitement, looking up, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Pink stawby ice cream?" she asked hopefully.

"Is there any other kind worth celebrating with?" Faith asked as they took their first step together toward the promenade.


=/\=

On the upper level of the promenade a figure leaned over the railing of the balcony, watching with interest as the dark haired young woman and the toddler entered the starbase. She hadn't changed, not truly. Motherhood had softened her curves, but she was still the same Faith. The way her hair cascaded down her back in a silken waterfall, he could still remember the feel of it in his fingers. Those eyes, those lips, the sway of her hips as she walked. For the briefest of moments he even thought he could smell of soft fragrance of her perfume in the air. She was a memory from the past that had somehow found its way into his present. He pushed away from the railing and sauntered toward the stairs down. Now it all began.

=/\=

The first moment Faith became aware of the fact that someone had approached behind them was when she felt Briella's hand being pulled harshly from hers. She turned toward her daughter, about to call her name when her gaze fell on the figure in front of her, the figure now holding her small daughter who was already crying and reaching for her mother. Faith's expression grew fearful, her voice sounding small as she spoke. "David."

"Faith, my dear." David said silkily, lifting Briella gently but firmly in his arms, "It's all right, Briella, honey, it's just your daddy. Are you surprised to see me?" It wasn't certain to whom that he'd asked that question.

Faith's eyes widened with fear. "David," she repeated softly as she reached for Briella. "Please, just give her back, you're scaring her."

David took a step back to keep the little girl just out of Faith’s grasp, bouncing her a little but keeping his voice as jovial as he could, “Well, she would have recognized me if you hadn’t stolen her from me, so this is all your fault.” Even while keeping his voice bright for Briella, the venom in his voice was obvious.

A cold fear washed over Faith again, the tone of voice was familiar. He was angry, beyond angry. "I didn't steal her from you," she pleaded quietly, unable to help the tears in her eyes. She knew that crying would just make him angrier but she couldn't help it. He had her daughter. "Please, just give her back to me and we'll go."

"You want to take her away from me again?" David demanded, "Take her away from her father again? You should come with me, Faith, we can be the happy family that we should have been before, you, me and Briella." A hand snapped out and grabbed Faith by the wrist, "The way it ought to be."

Faith struggled against him, trying to pull her wrist away. "We were never going to be a happy family!" she shot back. "Now give me my daughter or I'll start screaming blue murder and have you arrested!" She drew a deep breath, ready to start screaming to get the attention of someone, anyone who might help them.

David dragged Faith over to him, squeezing her wrist tight enough that it was going to bruise, then transferring that grip to her shoulder, "If you even try it, you'll regret it." His eyes promised her just as much as his words.

Faith cried openly now, tears on her cheeks. Seeing her mother crying, Briella started crying harder. "Please just don't hurt her," Faith whispered urgently. "I won't scream, I'll do what ever you want, just don't hurt her."

"I would never hurt my little Briella." David promised Faith, "I could never hurt her. But here's what you are going to do. I'm going to arrange for our transport while you go back on board your starship and resign from Starfleet, pack your things and come back to the station. I'll keep Briella with me so you don't think of double-crossing me. We'll go and get some ice cream." The last was directed at the toddler.

Faith whimpered slightly, closing her eyes and trying to stem her tears. "Alright," she said softly, her voice wavering with emotion. "I'll need some time though, and I'll take Briella with me. She's scared. She needs to be with me. I will bring her back, I promise."

David looked down at her and nodded, much better. Still biddable with the right pressures. He pressed a kiss to Briella's cheek as he let Faith go and gently handed the girl back to her, "We'll leave in forty-eight hours, be back here by then." The 'or else' was unstated but in iron nonetheless.

Faith grabbed Briella roughly, quickly turning to shield the child from David. "I'll be back," she said quietly. "I'll be back here in forty-eight hours."

"You better be." He said quietly, watching her walk away, "Oh, you better be."