Aftermath
General Alder, still holding Kelly's hand, stepped out of the infirmary. The last twenty minutes being a nightmare situation. Know one wanted to deal with Willa injuries.
“Does that often happen?” Kelly ask out of
“No, this is a situation. I can proudly say it has only happened four times. Over my life.”
“So only four time that you been involved in some like this”
“Yes” Sarah looked over at her, “what you thinking”
"That we should be grateful that the surgeons from Raelle's case, and had stayed. And was will to deal with Willa"
"Yea" Sarah muttered. “But does this changes things”
“Oh no, it doesn’t. I fully understand why know one would want to see inside her mind. Or risk seeing want makes her tick”
With a smirk which quickly dropped when she realised she still had to face Silver and deal with the situation with Tally and that officer Swythe.
Kelly sees her mood shift. Pulled her to a stop, and without warning, but to a surprise but not unwelcome Sarah. A deep and tender kiss, that if anyone was watching, would want to find their partner . . .
They carried on walking to Alder's office, briefly stopping at the officer that was stationed outside her office. Telling to bring Tally to her office at once. With that all of them entered Sarah's office, the bidders heading off toward the back room, leaving the door open a little.
Kelly sat down on one of the chairs in front of the fire that was on. Warming up the room a little. And relaxed a little, while here she never felt the pressure of work. But a community that helps each other out. Everyone has a role to play in this human machine, it always works perfectly but that's ok.
As her mind was allowed to wander a little Sarah got on with some work, writing a few letters and sighing a few things. The mid morning sun, floating in from the window behind her. Not that she really is focused on.
******
Scylla with Libba had both left, Raelle as she was transferred to the Necromancy facility, for her operations.
After that talk with Raelle, both of them were worried for Tally. Libba knows her father really well. Was more terrified than worried.
They got to the Raelle room she shared with Abigail and Tally in no time. Scylla's knees hurt a little bit, which was normal after her surgery. But she still managed to speed wake walk.
Libba knocked onto the door, knowing sometimes they would bring back partners or get dressed. So they knew not to just walk in.
There could hear a faint 'come in'.
Scylla opened the door allowing Libba to enter the room.
As they entered the bedroom, they noticed Tally sitting beside Bells. Who was holding her close. They could tell they haven’t been up for long. Scylla is not close with them and moves to the bed opposite them. Libba who got to know her. Closed the door and sat beside Scylla while asking her question.
“What happened, after Olly left, with me and Scylla”
Tally looked at her like being caught in the headlight. Bells feeling Tally stiff spoke instead.
“You both were there”
“Yes, but Olly said she would handle it,” Scylla said, holding Libba's hand. She knew how hard this conversation is for her, even if they haven’t yet got to the root of the conversation. Which about Libba's father, if you want to call him that.
“Well he was wrong”
Libba lowered her gaze, “I'm sorry, I so sorry”
Scylla moves to hold her, but she just jumps onto her feet.
“I should of allowed him to see me, then maybe he wouldn’t have hurt Tally, if he had me”
Scylla gets up, “you did nothing wrong, your father is a monster. And everything you told is to go on, I am just grateful that you also survived along with Tally”.
“What things did he do?”
Libba looks down, her breath hitches. Her legs give out. She had no control over her trauma response. But asking the question brought all the memories that she had managed to deal with so well up until this moment. Scylla moved forward and held her close, not that she could even register her right now.
Scylla understood this response and not the first time this had happened.
The first time was just after their first time together at Beltane. Libba's father had arrived before anyone had woken up and took her. Much to her confusion, she had seen them walk off, not knowing what was happening, she fell back asleep.
She had found her hours later, her clothes ripped, bleeding, outside her bedroom door. She knew straight away what had happened. Her heart broke, she felt so guilty for not doing something sooner.
As she was taking care of her injuries she asked her what had happened. This same reaction happened. After a few hours Libba came out of her head, and that night in tears and shaky self. Told what had happened, with her father and past stuff. The only reason she didn’t kill him that night was because Libba was more important and needed to be taken care of. And this time she was well enough to do things again. Her father was no longer on base.
Since that time, she had fallen in love with her and vowed to never speak on her behalf or force her to do anything.
Scylla looks over that them tears in her eyes form the memoires said, “it was bad”
That is an understatement, he had ever heard one. But at the same time, it covered the situation well, strangely. He also understood that it wasn’t Scylla's story but Libba. And so the questions he had after learning about want thing Mr. Swythe had said. He put them on the back burner, and may or may not come back.
Tally pushed aside her feelings right now, she knew a little of Libba's past, last night was eye opening. He had said a lot in his attack. Tally moved away from Bells and fell onto her knees and simply held Libba too, alongside Scylla.
“He tried to take me. I fought him of, that when Bells found me and him”
Scylla place her hand on her shoulder, “I'm glad nothing more happened”
She then made eye contact with Tally, “Libba has never had a Bells. Or anyone for that matter. Not until I met her. And together I help put distance between them. It only been a year”
Bells came down and placed his hand on Tally's shoulder to comfort her after seeing Tally wiping her tears away.
“Know she has all of us,” he said, making eye contact with Scylla’s watery eyes.
They stayed like this until there was a loud knock on the door. Bells get up and open the door, standing there, hands behind their back.
“Alder wishes to speak with Cadet Craven. About late night events”
Bells looked over at Tally, before looking at her, “give her a moment to change”
“Understood”
The officer stepped back, but didn’t move away.
Tally looked at Scylla, feeling more calm after this long hug. Normally she would hug Raelle but with her injuries she couldn’t, “take her to your hideout, we meet you two there. I will inform Abigail, she should be with Grey still”
“Ok” she whispered. Not wanting to move away from Libba.
Tally pushed off, and on shaky legs moved to her uniform. Bells quickly put his uniform on. Before helping Tally with her boots. It wasn’t long before they were both done.
Tally, followed by Bells, stepped out of the room, leaving Scylla and Libba in the room. There both followed the officer, back to Alder officer. Which once again didn’t take too long.
They are waiting just outside.
“Could you hold my hand while I replay, want happened” Tally whispered.
Bells put his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close to his side.
“I will do want ever you need”
With a shaky breath, Tally rested her head against his chest. “Thank you”
*****
Tally bounced her knee as sat in front of Alder’s desk. Where Sarah sits, Kelly stands just off from her. Bells right beside Tally. He rushed over and placed his hand on her leg. She let out a long breath and held his hand.
“So in your own words, could you tell me wanted happened”
With tears in her eyes. She opened and closed her mouth several times.
“I can’t”
Bells looked at her with a concern and worried look. Mirrored the same in Alder face.
“My words, fail me. I request a link” Tally said, looking down at Bells’s hands, tears running down her face.
Sarah gets up from behind the desk and moves to knee in front of Tally. Much to a surprised Bells.
“I know this is difficult, are you sure this the root, you wish to take”
“I know the risk General, I know I will re-watches it, with a link. But every time I try, words fail me”
“All right.”
She stands up and moves to stand behind Tally.
“I need you to think of the event. Think back to the lead up, you walking with Olly”
Tally closed her eyes, holding Bells even harder. Not that Bells minded. After a few moment she spoke, “i ready”
Alder placed her hands on the side of her head. Over her ears. She began a soft seed that the biddies. That Bells didn’t realise had entered continued the seed.
This was a different kind of link, one that is a lot more safer to use, when dealing with seeing a trauma. Which she was. Quickly their minds linked together.
She watches as Tally helps Olly to the infirmary. She could see all the details. She could see Libba from behind the window that led to the stair frozen in fear. The said officer, also known as Libba’s father, read the sign just off from the stairs. From where he stood, he couldn’t see inside the little room. But Tally could.
She watches as he tries to help, forcefully. Which she dealt with, knocking him back. She had ordered Olly to leave, so that she would deal with him.
Not even a few moments later, he dove at her. Making her fly back and hit her head, hard. Almost knocking her out, but thanks to training and this not being the first time her head has been knocked, she managed, barely, but, to stay awake.
He then got on top of her, saying all the shit that he did to Libba. That she was fun to play with whenever he wanted, but because of this restraining order and Tally behaviour to him. She was going to know a little of what he does to her. And that once he is done with her, she will pay for her misdoing.
So Libba will pay for Tally behaviour, what a shit. Alder thought.
The moment turned into a blurry mess, until it was clear. With Bells coming in and knocking him away. She quickly understood he was using a seed on Tally, making her see and know her surroundings. So she wouldn’t be able to describe what had happened.
She quickly broke the link. On doing so, Tally fell forward into Bells’s arms. Which, without a word he held her tight and close.
“Bells, take her to get checked out. That seed he used on her. Maybe still affect her and stopping her form forming words about this event”
“I understand, but can we just sit for a moment”
“Sure, I have a few questions for you, if you are willing to answer them now.”
“I’m good, to answer.”
Still standing behind Tally’s chair which she stayed put.
“First question, what made you head to the infirmary?”
“Raelle was there, I was going to get my orders from her. As she is my leader, like you are to many”
With a nodded, Alder had known this for some time.
“How long has she been your leader?” Kelly asked.
“That is a long story, but short. My unit and I were taken. I managed to escape but they didn’t. There a lot more to this but i couldn’t trust the army anymore and Raelle needed someone she trust to protect the entry way into the cession”
Sarah looked at Kelly with, i will tell you everything later, if you have more questions on this topic. Which Kelly understood, clearly.
“What made you enter that part of the building”
“Simple, I heard a seed being used. A seed that we aren’t allowed to use on base. For this very reason, General”
With another nodded she asked, “is there anything more that you which to add”
“Not that I can think of. But i will come back if anything come to mind”
“That is all then, How Tally”
He looked down at her.
“I think she asleep, could you help me stand she i could carry her to the infirmary”
With a smile, she moved around the chair and held away form Bells allowing him to stand up, once he did that Alder then quickly stood with her in her arms. And clearly handed her over to him.
“Thank you”
And with that moved to leave, one of her biddies opened the door for them. Only for them to stop short of leaving.
With a frustrated sigh, Alder looks over at non-other Silver.