Happiness to Rage in 20 Seconds

Posted on Sun Nov 10th, 2024 @ 12:04pm by Lieutenant Commander Jason Frankley & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

739 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well

In the softly lit corridor of the USS Arcadia, Lieutenant Jason Frankley leaned against the bulkhead with his friend, a burly security officer named Ben. They were discussing the latest schedules when Adrianna strode down the hall with a bounce to her step and a wide, beaming smile. She was humming a familial tune and looking unapologetically happy for a change. Her usual professional demeanor and cold aura had shifted to just show that she was a mere human– a human in love at that.

Adrianna had slept so peacefully that night. She had Vance back and it had done wonders for her mentality. Adrianna felt like the woman she was before she'd lost him, only much more free. There were no lies between then-- she was Baciami. He still loved her-- his love for her was unchanged. All of her fears about losing him when he found out the truth-- they were gone.

Nothing could take this feeling away from her. Well, nothing except him...

Jason raised an eyebrow. "Wow. Just look at her. Now that is a sight I don't see every day– Lieutenant Baciami looking like she's walking on clouds with a smile that would make any man feel like a god. Have you won the Starfleet lottery? Care to tell us the secret behind that beautiful smile? Better yet, why don't you just tell me over dinner tonight?”

Adrianna rolled her eyes and laughed, and it was light, unguarded. "It's Vance," she said, her eyes alight. "He’s… he’s got his memories back. He's my Vance again. He's not dead and I am no longer a dream or distant memory."

Jason’s jaw tensed, but he forced a smile. He stepped closer to Adrianna, lowering his voice. He seems to be flirting, but it was clear that he was struggling to not show anger. "Guess that means I'll have to work a bit harder, then. The ‘Vance Adams’ or not, I’ve still got a fair shot of winning your heart back," his voice held a thin edge of defiance, “I'd do anything to have you smile like that because of me again. Just name what I have to do and I will do it tenfold.”

Adrianna's smile faltered, her gaze steadying on Jason. She could feel just how close he was, and it made her nervous. Her eyes quickly went to the other security officer, before returning to Jason's. She kept her voice low, not wanting to cause a scene, "Jason… Vance is my past, my present and now my future, and always has been, even when I couldn’t say it. You know that. I am sorry for everything– truly. No-one could have predicted this though. I'm sorry that I hurt you, but please– drop this fantasy and get help. Move on."

A flicker of something dark flashed in Jason's eyes. "And I’ll say this– he doesn’t deserve you, not the way I do," he bit out, "you are an unforgettable woman, Ade. He forgot you once, didn’t he? What's to stop him forgetting you again in favour of someone else?"

His fingers reached up and traced her jaw, causing her heart to pound out of her chest, but gone was the feeling of love with it– it had been replaced by fear and rage. Implying that Vance had purposely forgotten about her– that did not sit well and her fear turned to anger and it was written all over her face. Her murderous glare reached her eyes as she slapped his hand away. She opened her mouth to reprimand him.

Before Adrianna could respond though, Ben stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Jason’s shoulder. "Come on, mate," he muttered, giving him a gentle but insistent tug. "Leave it."

Jason’s expression softened, but his eyes never left Adrianna. "I was serious, Adrianna," he murmured before Ben pulled him away. "I'm not done trying. Not by a long shot."

Adrianna heard the threat, and continued on to her office, not willing to allow anyone to see her panic or get upset. When she got to her office, it was then that she knew she needed to act. Evidently things were not getting better and Jason was starting to make her nervous in a bad way. He was becoming unpredictable.

What if Ben hadn't have been there?

How far would Jason be willing to go?

Was Vance safe?

 

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