Debrief Continued

Posted on Wed Nov 18th, 2020 @ 10:51pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Chief Petty Officer Remal Kajun

Mission: Diplomatic Masquerade
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: Before Vulcan

He couldn’t hold back his grin. “You know enough about me now to be dangerous. Besides I don’t like to discuss those days openly with people, too many memories dredged up. You know as well as I how harsh the reality of that war was for so many.” He admonished. “Buuuut, should you want to know more I am willing to share all that I am and all that I was, with you.” Then he quickly added, “As long as you do the same.”

There was much about her past that he didn’t know - much that most people didn’t know apart from those that were there at the time and they were mostly dead. It had been a dark period in her life, one filled with hatred and death, yet somehow she survived and even thrived once she had found Starfleet.

“ I will, I can’t guarantee it will be pretty but I will tell you anything you want to know” She promised, taking a long sip of the lemon water.

Where to start, he pondered to himself. "You've never really talked about family or how you came to be in the resistance or where you see yourself in five years. I really can't believe we've never shared these details with one another." He took a sip of his lemon water and winced at the bitterness. "On the other hand we have been through so much together. Enough to bond us or scar us," he chuckled, "for life."

She laughed at his comment, relaxing into the easy banter they had always shared.

"My family died when I was young, the Cardassians razed our house, murdered my mother and father, my brother and I fled to the hills. I never saw him again but some time later I was found by one of the resistance cells - the rest is as they say history" her voice was quiet and circumspect, releasing a glimpse of a former life she could barely remember herself.

"As for 5 years time, I hope to be happily retired living in a beach shack on Bajor with the only man who will have me" she smiled at the last comment.

"Oh really. And just who might this fellow be to deserve someone as special as you?" His smile was broad, his poker face non-existent. This was interesting information though.

" Oh just someone I found back on Bajor, he seems to have a habit of following me around and making sure I behave myself" she couldn't help but grin at his response and the implied innocence.

After the laughing died down he asked, "So this brother of yours, does he have a name?"

"Sed" the mood turned sombre as the memories of darkness returned. Her eyes downcast as she recalled her sibling.
" I haven't seen him since the night the Cardassians razed our home. We both took off into the hills but I couldn't keep up with him. I assume he's dead, I haven't heard anything about him since that day."

"Sounds like he was afraid for his life to leave you alone in the woods like that." He scratched his chin in thought. "Did you ever check the lost souls registry or consult the Cardassian records for any sign of him?" He could tell from the sound of her voice that this was a touchy subject and he knew not to push certain buttons too hard.

"I tried to find him once, but wasn't able to. It's been one of those non-closures that have haunted me for years" she admitted, trying to reign in her emotion. She shifted tack to take the attention off herself.

"So tell me, where do you see yourself in 5 years?" She tossed the ball back over the fence.

Not only did she dodge but she redirected. Clearly she didn't want to discuss the current matter further, which only meant at some point she would need to. He gave her a sly knowing look over the brim of his glass and gave the most obvious response. "Right here with you at my side, of course." His mind immediately shot to the cabin on the beach he had crafted for them to share in their glory years. A vision he still held onto despite the unlikely nature of their lives.

" Ahhhh you so plan on still tripping around the galaxy in 5 years time. Interesting" she giggled and rubbed her chin in a very poor imitation of 'the thinker'. "Well I guess we could do that as well. Heck the universe could be a completely different place in 5 years time, the Prophets do work in very mysterious ways"

"That they do." He mused while enjoying her giggle and intimidation and somehow falling in love all over again. "It could be the wine talking but you are looking particularly lovely tonight Mrs. Kaylen." He raised his eyebrows twice succinctly and smiled a 'bring it on' smile.

"I don't believe you have mentioned it this evening. I didn't know you appreciated decrepit bloodstained uniform quite so much" she mocked him in good humour and happily strung him along.

He gave the one eyebrow raised look, "I would prefer the non-blood stained version but really any version with you in it… or out of it," he smiled, "is my preference." He stroked her hair lingering a bit near her right ear, a sensitive spot.

"My my my dear, what big eyes you have" she melted at his touch as she always did, a simple yearning for a simple humanoid connection on all levels.

"All the better to see your beauty, my dear." That line sounded as corny as ever.

"Such talk, is not suitable for this location" she teased, standing and setting her glass on the side table.

"Is that right? And I was just getting to the part about your ears. Or are you jumping straight to the huffing and puffing?" He teased openly. As she stood though, he got a whiff and his facial expression changed. She noticed. "Perhaps a shower for this big nose of mine?"

The comment could have killed the mood if she were sensitive, but in his presence she knew he was speaking the truth - she stank of blood, sweat and more recently tears.

“ That bad huh?” She raised an eyebrow at him, then took an experimental sniff of her uniform - wrinkling her nose further.

"To be candid, you smell like a tarcat… that lost a fight to a wampa."

“Worse, ugh. Shower. Join me?” She left him to decide then padded off to their shared bathroom. She flicked the shower from sonic to water and turned up the heat, steaming filling the small space soon after. It felt good to scrub the events of the day and the ghosts of the past from her body, the water a therapeutic healing that left her skin rosy and fresh. The steam cleansed her sinuses, removing the dust and debris from the planet and the battle. It stung stung slightly on her still healing hand - a reminder of Maccet’s little ‘gift’ he had left them. Thoughts of what she had left to do to tidy up the loose ends started to fill her mind - a conversation with Savar, her final report on the incident on the planet, a follow up with the next ship due to arrive and confirm contact with the occupants of the planet. A deep inhalation of steam, and a slow and deliberate release of breath. There was a time and a place for all of those things - and it was not this time nor this place. She needed her husband, and she needed sleep. Work would still be there in the morning.

Heading for the bedroom she found Remal lying in wait - arms open and warmly accommodating. There was much to be said about the healing benefits of humanoid contact, simply lying in the arms of a loved one was healing on so many levels. She crawled into bed and into the arms of her husband, happy and content.