Shattered Soul

Posted on 10 Aug 2018 @ 7:25pm by Lieutenant JG Jazmin Parks

864 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: History
Location: Starfleet Academy
Timeline: April 2385

Jazmin looked herself over in the mirror for perhaps the twentieth time since getting ready. She wanted to look her best for Kelly when she returned from her first solo flight. It was a big deal, the second year Flight Cadet taking her first solo flight between Earth and Saturn. Even so, the route was well-used and Kelly should have no problem navigating the long flight alone. She smiled when she remembered Kelly getting ready the morning of her flight. She always looked so...so...

Jazmin smiled shyly, she never had the words to adequately describe Kelly. Sure she could say beautiful, athletic, sexy, kind, charming, wonderful....all these words seemed inadequate. The young pilot had stolen Jazmin's heart and she never once asked for it back. She let herself go with the memory, a smile of wholeness, of completeness, crept onto her face.

Kelly zipped her flight suit up, gloves tucked into her belt, boots mirror polished and her honey-blonde hair secured in a french braid. She smiled at Jazmin, grinned was more like it, and held out her arms. "Well, how do I look."

Jazmin licked her lips slowly. "I better not start, because you'd never make your flight."

Kelly laughed, taking the shorter woman's face in her hands, kissing her slowly and gently.

Jazmin felt like melting, her eyes fluttering closed. "Damn you."

Kelly smiled. "For what?"

"Making me almost miss you."

"Oh, that's right. You never miss anyone."

"Right. They either come back or they don't. Missing someone only makes you get your hopes up that they might be coming back. Then when they don't you aren't disappointed."

"Ouch. Way to make a girl feel special."

Jazmin pulled away, punching Kelly playfully on the arm. "I know that you'll be coming back. So, no need to miss you."

Kelly looked at the wall chronometer. "Ouch, I have to run."

"Be safe."

Kelly smiled and the two women kissed and then Kelly headed to the door, stopping halfway out of it. "I love you."

Jazmin returned the smile. "Love you too."

Then Kelly left and Jazmin sat down to read a book.

Jazmin came back to herself, smoothing her dress down her waist. It was Kelly's favorite, an emerald green number that hugged Jazmin's curves, ending just a couple inches above her knees. She wore black stockings and suede heels the same color as her dress. Black lace gloves finished the ensemble and she spritzed a little perfume on her neck. Kelly would soon be a very, very happy woman.

She turned and left her quarters and had taken no more than a dozen steps when two senior Instructors turned the corner, heading right for her. They had a somber expression that stopped Jazmin in her tracks. They bore ill news, she was certain of that and felt sorrow for whoever the recipient was going to be. She stepped aside, pressing her back against the wall.

They stopped in front of her. "Second Year Cadet Parks?" It was not a question even though they made it one.

"Yes Sir."

"You are listed as Cadet Kelly Jones emergency contact."

"Yes Sir, she's my fiance'"

The man took a deep breath. "I am Commander Edwards, I am afraid I have some bad news."

Jazmin felt panic grip her with an iron hand. A feeling she had long since buried since her parent's death erupted and it was all she could do not to scream or sob. There was a standard of conduct that the Academy expected. She would maintain. "Sir?"

"I regret to inform you that Cadet Kelly Jones died earlier this morning when the feul tanks on her training fighter catasrophically failed. I assure you that it was instantaneous and she did not suffer."

"Yes...thank...what?" Her will broke, her voice failed and sobs poured out, her sould feeling as if it had died. Tears flooded her cheeks and she slid to the floor, hugging her knees. "No! No! No!" She looked up at the men their faces distorted by the tears. "Nooooooooo. Pleeeeeease. Noooooooo."

She barely felt the hand on her shoulder as Edwards knelt by her. "Let me help you," he said gesturing to the other man with her. "This is Counselor Lang. He is at yoru service."

Lang knelt on the other side of her. "I'm so sorry Jazmin. Here' let me help you back to your quarters."

She nodded absently, her body still wracked with sobs. "Whyyyyyyy. Whyyyy. Whyyyy did I have to miss her?" Her words came between sobs and trouble breaths. "Everyone I miss dies. Whyyyyy, I told her I wouldn't miss her. She...." Jazmin couldn't finish her thoughts. Her brain felt like it was crashing, nothing making sense and all she could do was ask...why?"

Once in the apartment, Lang helped her to the couch, draped a throw over her and pulled out a hypospray. "This will help you relax. I'm not going to go anywhere, I'll be here as long as you need me to." He put the hypo against her shoulder and it hissed.

Jazmin soon drifted off, and even in her sleep, the word why was all she could say.

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