Ripping the Colours from the Mast - Part 2

Posted on 30 Jul 2012 @ 8:36am by Commander Scarlet Blake

1,481 words; about a 7 minute read

ON:

"Hey! What the hell are you doing here?" the man watched Scarlet with anger, putting the phaser rifle back where it belonged. He was jumpy. But most of them were so close to a mission and he had not expected to see Scarlet there. He didn't like her. She was watching, always observing.

Scarlet stilled, freezing on the spot. It was as if she was trying not to spook him. She held her book tight to her, slowly tilting her head to the side, watching him intently. "I was trying to find someone."

He watched her for a long moment, his eyes narrowing. "Yeah? And just who, you little spy?" he demanded, moving to her.

She took two quick steps back, but she backed into the wall, breathing hard, her eyes wide as she carefully ran her tongue over her bottom lip. She searched his eyes as she considered her response. "Jeroen."

"As you can see, he isn't here..." he whispered harshly, watching her before shaking his head. "You're always under everyone's feet...with your blasted book!"

She watched him carefully, just taking him in as she took slow, deep breaths to try and stop her heart from racing. She made a decision, moving forward quickly without a word to try and dart past him.

He grabbed her and pushed her back, backhanding her across the face as he let out a breath. "Don't run away when someone is speaking to you!"

She gasped, gripping her face, the delicate skin over the high cheekbone already swelling and bruising from the hit. She gripped her book tightly, using it to slam it across his jaw, her instinct pushing her just to get away.

He stumbled back, anger shining in his eyes. "Little bitch..." he growled, moving to grab her.

Scarlet dropped down quickly so he couldn't grab her, scrabbling across the floor, book forgotten and discarded as she half stumbled back onto her feet and ran for the door.


***

Jeroen frowned as he looked around, holding Scarlet's book under his arm. He had been looking for her when she hadn't shown up. And...well...finding the book in the makeshift armoury worried him. So now he walked the base, searching for her.

Scarlet had taken up residence in an old access hatch, a round pod like space that she'd taken cushions and a blanket to some months before. It was big enough to sit or lie in and had become her favourite spot when she decided it was probably best to stay out of people's way for a while.

Jeroen sighed as he moved through, frowning as he peeked in. He tapped it, gently, watching her. "Hey...girl," he said, his voice soft. "Come here."

Scarlet smiled softly when she saw who it was, leaning forward to open the grating up properly to him. "I think I should stay in here. It's not a good day out there."

He watched her before holding the book up. "Maybe not. But it will be better in my room..." he frowned as he watched her face. "Hell."

"Yeah. I was too slow," she shook her head with a sigh, crawling out to take his hand, pulling herself up onto her feet and brushing herself down. "You have my book?" she asked, her eyes shining at the prospect.

He smiled gently as he watched her, offering it to her. "It's the one you were reading yesterday," he studied her before looking down. He had been a fool for not realising she needed training. "You need to be able to defend yourself."

Scarlet looked to him with surprise at the words, watching him as she pursed her lips with thought. "You mean like fighting?"

He held her eyes, giving a small, sharp nod. "Yes," he said as he let out a breath, "And fighting dirty."

She shook her head with a frown, holding her breath at the prospect. "I don't like fighting. It's a waste of time."

"I don't like it either," he admitted and reached out, to touch her bruised cheek. "But one day, it might save your life."

She winced at the pain, sucking a sharp and shaky breath in as she looked down. "Hurts."

Jeroen nodded gently, reaching to pull her close before hugging her. "I know, Scarlet. Come with me...I'll put something cold on it to reduce the swelling and then some ointment to help."

She nodded, moving trustingly with him as she let out a long, shaking breath. "I don't like it here," she said quietly. "Mum and Dad are never here. They're always somewhere else, doing something 'important' for the Maquis. That's what they call it."

He nodded weakly, watching her. He found it irresponsible. Her parents should be raising her, not fighting. It was selfish of them. "Well...you need someone to take care of you. I know you are independent and strong. But you are also still a child. You need security."

She looked to him with surprise, holding her breath for a long moment. "I figured you'd think it was silly."

He shook his head, frowning as he met her eyes for a long moment. "I don't think you should be here. I think they should have taken you somewhere safe and raised you there."

"I wouldn't have argued," she admitted quietly, shaking her head as she glanced to him. "I don't like the people here," she whispered. "No matter what they're trying to do."

Jeroen nodded as he led her inside, making her sit before getting the ice pack. "I don't blame you. I don't like the majority of people here either."

She sat down for him, watching him with large, honest eyes. "Why do you work here then?"

He smiled gently as he wrapped the ice in a towel, gently pressing it to her cheek. "I worked on a lot of colonies here. When...the Cardassians advanced, I needed to do something. I believe in putting up a fight, in helping...but a lot of people here go for the violence, not for the cause."

"There's so much hatred here," she whispered, holding his eyes with a frown. "Hatred and anger and eagerness to spill blood. Can't you feel it?"

He nodded gently, frowning as he watched her. "I can," he admitted softly. "It's a pretty dark place. You need to be careful, Scarlet."

"Mum and Dad are angry too," she shook her head with a frown, holding her breath. "The Cardassians attacked the people in the colony where they used to live, where they came from. The colony was left in the DMZ. That's why they left Starfleet and joined the Maquis."

He watched her for a long moment before nodding. "Yes...I understand very well why they did it. But they are parents...should have considered what was safest for *you*." He checked on her bruise, letting out a breath. "How does that feel?"

"Better," she sighed with how the ice eased the throbbing, leaning into it a little. "I try and stay out the way. But we're all on top of each other here."

Jeroen nodded as he watched her, frowning before touching her chin. "Which is why you need to be able to defend yourself."

"You said yourself, I'm a skinny thing," she watched him with curiosity, leaning forward to him. "Can I even hit?"

"Yes," he said and smiled gently, shaking his head as he lowered the ice and took the ointment to rub into her bruise. "Just need to know where to hit, Scarlet."

Scarlet smiled at that, a soft laugh escaping as she watched his face with open curiosity. "Can a scientist really be a fighter?"

He chuckled softly as he started to rub it in, taking a deeper breath. "Yes. Just because you are one thing doesn't mean you can't be another. People are very...adaptable. And complex."

Scarlet nodded at that, taking the words in and locking them away. "Okay. Maybe it could work then."

He smiled gently as he nodded, rubbing tenderly into the skin. "This doesn't have to be your life," he said softly. "One way or another, this will end and the universe is your playground. You can do whatever you want to. Once you get off this base."

Scarlet gave him a half smile at that, taking a deep breath as she glanced to her hands. "Let's hope so. I think of leaving. Mum and Dad aren't around often. I could just steal a shuttle. Maquis don't like people stealing their stuff though."

"No...they really don't," Jeroen chuckled and sighed as he finished. He watched her for a long moment, his eyes gentle. "But one day. When you get a chance...take it. Leave here, head for Federation space."

Scarlet smiled at that, her eyes bright and shining despite the bruise across her cheekbone. "I will, Jeroen. Trust me."

TBC:

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