Fireside Chat

Posted on Mon Jan 18th, 2021 @ 9:38pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Chief Petty Officer Remal Kajun

Darkness had fallen but Remal true to his word had scrounged around and found a rocky outcropping that would provide shelter from the elements. A small fire crackled in a sandy bed, taking the chill off the air and providing light. They had no food to eat with them, only a few berries and fruits from the local trees that both knew were safe to eat. It wasn’t much but it would have to do.

Rhenora hugged her knees to her chest, a feeling of vulnerability edging closer as the darkness closed around them. She looked at Remal who seemed at one with the wilderness. Damn him.

He, meanwhile, was sitting under a large tree, soaking up the fire and looking up into the night sky. There were a few stars out, but what he was looking for was a glimpse of the opening and closing wormhole. It felt different, distant now, foreign, now that he had turned his back on the Prophets.

Her stomach grumbled, complaining that the small handful of purple berries although flavourful were insufficient for the caloric burn they had just completed.

“ Sorry” She admitted, patting her belly as though it would soothe the savage beast. “ Do you believe what Sisko said?” She asked, diverting her attention away from food.

He smiled as he heard her stomach growl, “If you mean what he said about choice, yes, I think I do. I am not prepared to fully commit to any particular part of what may lie ahead, but I believe our path is laid before us by the choices we make, yes.”

“ So all the hogwash about our path being predetermined and we had no say as to if we follow it or not didn’t ring true?” She asked, knowing that she was delving deep into his mind “And what of the vision at the end?” The words were quiet, it would be a delicate subject to broach.

He thought for a moment, knowing they had been through a lot in the last few days and various visions and dreams flashed through his mind. But he had an idea of what she may be referring, “You mean my torture sequence, with you passing as our baby is born?” He shook his head no, “I believe that was a fear plucked from my brain in order to scare me into doing what they want.”

“Will it happen? That remains to be seen. As long as we are together, I don’t think it matters.” In the back of his mind it mattered, but he would not allow her to see that nugget of weakness within him. A man had walls for a reason. “What about you? Do you feel having a baby would be the death of you?”

“ I would hope not, figuratively or otherwise. I know it's not easy but we’re up for the task. The Liberty would be a great home for a young one. What concerns me is that in one future the price of one life is another.” She admitted. Age was not on her side but medicine could be known to amazing things in this day and age. Or did they put their trust in the Prophets who had treated them so badly?

“I just don’t know, I don’t want to trust the Prophets but I don’t want to embark on such a thing with that sliver of doubt either” She realised she was rambling and looked at her husband with sad eyes. “ I don’t want you to go on alone, not if there’s a choice”

“Well that’s just it then, isn’t it. I wouldn’t be alone. After what we just experienced with those aliens, I don’t think we can trust them to be on our side much at all. But if it means choosing to live my life free of fear, for one moment of loving you, I would gladly give up breathing if that is what it took.” His rambling made sense in his head. Perhaps he was tired too.

“As for going on alone, I feel it in my heart, you are too stubborn to go first.” He smirked. “But should you depart before me, rest knowing that our child will know her momma. Who she was, who she is and who she is going to be. I’ll sing your praises so much, she’ll think you were in the Celestial Temple as it’s Queen.” He plucked a twig apart and tossed a piece at the fire causing sparks to rise.

She mused over his words, falling quiet for a while as though hypnotized by the flickering of the small fire. The way the flames danced across the wood was calming, soothing even.

" Do you ever miss the simple life?" She asked, wondering where that particular question came from. There was a certain simplicity to sitting by a fire with nowhere to be and nothing urgent to do.

He picked at the bark on his twig. “Our lives were never simple. Just moments of peace surrounded by a lifetime of adventure.” He reflected for a moment as he stared into the licking flames. “Sometimes, when life is hanging in the balance, I do miss the tranquil days. I always did prefer planting and creating rather than the excitement of the resistance, but that is the past.” He allowed himself to trail off as he thought of more tranquil times.

"Chapters in our lives" she completed his chain of conversation. The last few years had been a rollercoaster but it felt that their current chapter was in space, helping people. Another chapter would follow where they retire to Bajor by the beach, but that was pages unwritten in the future.

"I do miss sitting by the fire, preferably with a cheese platter and a glass of spring wine"

His insides grumbled, “Apparently I could go for some of that myself. I swear my second stop will be the galley where I hope the buffet will be open for service.”

"Coffee, warm hasperat, and a healthy serving of baked vegetables drizzled with cheese" she all but drooled at the thought of such a feast. Her stomach rumbled again, matching Remal's. "Perhaps we should get some rest, would you say it's another 15 KMs to the transport hub?"

“Something like that. There are daily shuttle runs to a nearby pad though.” He tossed the rest of his twig into the fire, then stood and moved closer to her. As he knelt down his knees groaned with his age. He lay down beside her, allowing his arm to be a place of rest, while his other wrapped her tight. This would stave off the cold of the morning air.

They settled into a cosy embrace, each content as they could be with what they had just experienced and their current state of mind. Tomorrow would bring a new day, and hopefully a return of the Liberty and their previous lives. Somehow Rhenora had a gut feeling that things would never quite be the same again.