Looking Forward (tbd)

Posted on Fri Oct 2nd, 2026 @ 8:29am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Civilian Teevs Dosivi & Civilian Kerilia Dosivi [PPC]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Promenade : Char and Grill
Timeline: June 14th 2398
1589 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

It was late. Teevs and Kerilia tried to sleep, but it wasn't happening, so they took a walk. It was relatively quiet; Kerilia was still shaken, and Teevs was emotionally fatigued. Neither of them were keen to strike up conversation. Simply existing in each other's presence was enough. They made it to the promenade, which had settled into a quieter ambience, and decided on the Char and Grill. Taking a seat outside, they decided to go simple and get chicken strips and fries to share.

Neither were particularly hungry. It was just to offer patronage.

Kerilia gave a shy smile to the server as they brought the food, and it faded as she put a piece of chicken and a few fries onto a plate. It had been a few days since Teevs was well enough to pick her up from Addison's place, but things had just been... awkward. She'd catch him staring at the dermaglyph sometimes, and whenever she was out and about, she could feel the stares. She felt exposed, like she'd forgotten a piece of clothing. There was also the pity, and she hated it. The only place she felt half-comfortable was in her bed. Nobody stared at her there.

Phoenix had been looking for them. She walked into the restaurant and spotted them. She carried a small bag with her. She smiled and walked over to the pair. "Mr Dosivi. Miss Dosivi" She said brightly, warmly.

Glancing up, Teevs went through several emotions as he spotted Phoenix. The first was the recognition of the woman who had helped them and took them in nearly a year ago. Second was remembering that she was an authority figure, which introduced subtle tension into his posture. After the stressful "chat" with Lady Sama, authority figures left him more alert amd cautious. He didn't want to cause Kerilia any further stress, however, so he quickly suppressed it for her sake and offered a polite little smile to Phoenix. "Commodore," he greeted.

"Please, I am off duty. Its Phoenix." She placed the bag on the table. "I was trying to find you both to give you this. I didn't get a chance to give it to Kerilia before everything happened. Birthdays are a big deal on my world. Its the biggest celebration when someone comes of age. I know its probably not something that you might wear but, I hope you like it." She smiled at Kerilia as she gently pushed it to the girl.

Curious, Kerilia glanced up at Phoenix before looking at the bag that was nudged toward her. She glanced to Teevs, seeing his equally confused but curious expression, before she pulled the bag closer and looked inside.

Inside the bag was a black box. And when Kerilia opened it:

The bracelet rested in the open case like a handful of captured starlight. At first glance, it appeared to be made from silver, though no ordinary silversmith could have created something so intricate. Dozens of impossibly fine strands curved around one another in a broad, delicate cuff, weaving and separating like vines caught in a gentle current. There was no obvious clasp, no hinge, and no single point at which one strand truly began or ended. Among the silver ran slivers of colour—soft violet, pale blue and the faintest blush of rose. They were subtle enough that, when the bracelet was still, they might have been mistaken for reflections. But then it moved.

One slender strand curled fractionally inward. Another slipped beneath its neighbour. The colours travelled with the movement, violet fading into blue, blue into silver, until the bracelet settled into a slightly different pattern than before. It was unmistakably Erisian. Designed not simply to be worn, but to respond to its wearer, the bracelet would shape itself to the wrist the moment it touched skin. The many silver strands would shift independently, tightening or relaxing until the fit was perfect, while the wider, luminous sections nestled naturally into place. Once settled, it would feel almost weightless. And it would never look precisely the same twice. Movement caused tiny changes in its design. A turn of the wrist might send several strands flowing across one another. A lifted hand could cause the central weave to open like unfurling petals. Even the colours within it changed—never dramatically, but in gentle washes of violet, blue, lavender, pearl and occasionally the faintest silver-pink.

On the Case under it was a hand written note.

Kerilia,

I see who you are now, who you have been, and whoever you may yet become. Your light shines.

P.

For just a brief moment, the weight of exile and loss left Kerilia's shoulders as she admired the bracelet. She picked it up with care, and she could feel it changing in her palm. Something under the case it was in caught her attention. Was it... paper? She'd never seen a handwritten note before. She knew enough Federation Standard to be able to identify the language.

When Kerilia read the note, her expression shifted. The heaviness was back, but it wasn't alone. It meant something to have Phoenix of all people not only do something nice for her, but see her. A few simple sentences. That's all it was. Kerilia felt her throat tighten. She didn’t want to cry in front of the adults, less so in public, but it was a losing battle. She tried to speak, the "thank you" quiet as she put the bracelet down to wipe her tears before they got too far down her cheeks.

Teevs was initially surprised to see Kerilia start crying, but he picked up the note to read it before his protective instincts eased up. He looked toward Phoenix; not directly at her, just in case, but in her direction. "This is very generous, thank you."

Phoenix smiled gently. "No thanks is needed. You are both apart of this ship and crew. This is your home. And I want you both to know that. Kerilia is part of this huge family. And being part of that family, means you are seen and cherished."

Kerilia sniffled and wiped her eyes before looking at Phoenix. "Does that mean we can stay here? On Elysium?"

Teevs watched Phoenix's body language carefully when Kerilia asked. It wasn't an attempt to sway her response. On the contrary, he wasn't even thinking about Phoenix. He was deciding if he needed to protect his daughter, since he was denied the chance the last time he was in the room when a modest request was made.

Phoenix calmly knelt so she was at eyelevel with Kerilia. "Yes. For as long as you want to." She assured her. "And if you and your father want, I will arrange for citizenship so no one can make you leave against your will."

Kerilia's eyes widened slightly, allowing more tears to escape. She pushed her chair out, stood, and hugged Phoenix. "I'd like that," she said quietly.

Phoenix hugged her back. "And everyone here will be happy you are both staying." She said honestly. "You have a future here Kerilia. And I know you will make it work." She gently pulled back. "Now I should leave you both to your meals, and when you are both ready we will start the process for citizenship."

Seeing them hug, the tension in Teevs' body slowly eased. He knew Kerilia liked it here, as did he, and it was relieving to know they'd be accepted. It at least put one nightmare to rest.

Kerilia separated from Phoenix, seeing some tear spots she'd left behind on the woman's shoulder. She nodded to Phoenix's words as she returned backwards into her seat, grateful that she and Dad could stay aboard.

Teevs watched Phoenix leave for a couple seconds before something in him pushed him to get up. "I... forgot something. I'll be right back," he assured Kerilia. When she nodded, he left the table to catch up to the commodore. It wasn't something he was quite comfortable doing, but he also knew he'd feel guilty if he didn't address it. "Commodore," he called out after her.

Phoenix turned and smiled. "Yes Mr Dosivi?"

He stopped about 2 metres away, enough to initiate conversation but not close enough that anything statistically unlikely could happen. Despite the earlier invitation to use her name, he couldn’t convince himself to. He also refused to fully look at her, his eyes instead more downcast. "I... I hope that any adverse feelings I display toward you or your position in the short term can be given lenience. Lady Sama..." He took in an anxious breath. He was nowhere near ready to open up even to the counselors about the experience, let alone to an authority figure like Phoenix. "I know you are not her, and I don't think you would do what she did. I just... need to find that trust again."

Phoenix nodded. "That is fully understandable. And I do not blame you at all. She was not a nice person." Which was Phoenix being diplomatic. "You and Kerilia need to take time to rebuild after what happened. Speak with the counselors, spend time on the holodeck together, you are both safe here."

Teevs nodded. Even though he knew Phoenix was much kinder than Sama, it was still a relief to hear his words, and a reasonable request, be received wothout repercussions. "Thank you, we will."

Phoenix nodded. "Go and enjoy your evening Mr Dosivi." She then headed off.