A/N: Hello dear lads and laddies! I have spent alllllllllll day thinking about this chapter, and after many trial runs through my head (and many episodes of psych to instill bravado and silliness into my brain), I present you with this chapter, crafted lovingly from sweat and blood (not really, that would be a bio-hazard :P) R&R, or be fed to the pigeon-owls and monkey-rats in this here cage. *rattles cage menacingly, grr-ing noises heard inside* Be smart. Don't get fed to the pigeon-owls and monkey-rats, leave me a review. No copping out, I will know. I have ways.
T'Lali flattened herself against the wall, panting breathlessly
"I... Will... Not... Take... Those... Pills!" she threw the words like daggers, and each struck home, tearing at the heart of her assailant/medicator
"Tee-laa, I must preform my duty. If I do not, you know the consequences." Serik sat down holding his head in his hands. "I know better then any of us what will happen if we disobey orders. And disobeying orders would mean..." His voice broke before he could say it. It would mean losing you, his eyes seemed to say, but he was too Vulcan to say anything more. The medicine was life saving, but the side effects were almost to horrible to bear. The drugs brought on hallucinations, memory, pain, and nausea during the night hours, but during the day, a facade of normalcy, like a great brick wall, held up.
"Serik," she whispered, "listen to me." She put her hands on the sides of his head. "Some things-" she drew a breath and looked away into the middle distance. "-Are worth not being remembered." Her resolve was strong, but it was breaking. He had used her childhood nick-name, she was almost ready to crack.
"T'Lali, we need you to complete the mission. We cannot accomplish it by ourselves. Even now, Ruby and Katiline have doubts on our odds of completion."
"Fine" she sighed. "Gimme the damn pills." Serik handed her the clear orange plastic bottle. She popped open the cap, and took out one of the tiny blue tablets. She cringed visibly, and popped it into her mouth.
They took effect almost immediately, the colour draining from her face. She lay down on the bed, clutching her head. Serik was torn. He turned to leave, but looked back.
"N-no Serik." she stuttered. "Please stay, I- I'm scared." He walked back to the bed, and she grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly. He didn't show it, but Serik was scared to. Terrified. Terrified to see her this way. He knew it would be a long night. T'Lali whimpered, and he pulled her close, like the little sister she had always been to him. Like the friend he had been since she was a very small child. He knew this was to be a long night, but only the first of many...
But we must prevail, he thought, and prevail we shall.
A single tear ran down his cheek as she sobbed and screamed into his broad shoulder, still holding her close, safe, secure.
But at what cost?