home Pt 1
Posted on Thu Mar 25th, 2021 @ 2:57am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Chief Petty Officer Remal Kajun
Mission:
*CD*
Location: Bajor
We'll do it all
Everything
On our own
We don't need
Anything
Or anyone
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
(Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars)
*******
The USS Liberty had returned to the Bajoran system for a brief but well deserved stop over on the way to the Gamma Quadrant. The ship had docked with Deep Space Nine to effect some crew transfers, resupply and repairs. Pretty standard stuff as far as ships go. For the Captain however the blue and green orb that spun silently beneath the station was the home of herself and her husband.
Having conducted all official duties she headed back to their quarters, now officially off duty and ready to spend as much time as possible in the arms of her husband and in their humble beach abode.
The doors of their quarters slid open, revealing the calm and ordered sanctuary of their shipboard home. She hoped Remal was home, needing to switch off from her role of Captain and switch back into the role of wife needing a holiday.
"Remal?" She called into the mostly darkened quarters. He could still be working with the Manchester crew, assisting Aurora in the plethora of trauma those poor people had experienced.
She felt lost for a few moments, the silence of the rooms confirming her suspicions he wasn’t home. She had scheduled their downtime together but as she was well aware of sometimes things came up.
Their cabin was well set up for quick visits but Rhenora felt the need to pack a small bag. A book, a change of clothes plus some toiletries. She left a note, saying she would meet him at ‘home’ when he was ready.
After a long day of counseling sessions he had taken on in order to help alleviate the burden placed upon Aurora’s shoulders, he finally returned to their quarters, brain beat and tired. The first thing he noticed was the blue-green orb of Bajor spinning outside the windows. He recalled Rhen saying they would be stopping briefly, but he had not expected to arrive so soon. Or perhaps time had slipped his mind ever so much.
He tossed his overcoat on the couch and just stared out the window for a minute, marveling at the simplicity of the planet turning, spinning thousands of kilometers per hour all the while the people below lived out their mundane lives. He could understand easily why Rhen loved being in space. It was an almost serene feeling to be one with the stars. After his basking moment had passed, he looked around for any sign she had been in their quarters, finding a note stuck to the griddle of his kitchenette, a place she knew he would look.
‘Meet you at home The note was simple but carried the message she wanted to convey. He would know exactly where she was and what he would need to take with him. Simple, straightforward and to the point. He smiled at it’s simplicity, and then smiled broader knowing this was the third, no, fourth time he could recall where she had ‘gone on’ without him. That is unless you count the times she had ‘died’ and left him behind. In fact she was becoming predictable when it came to her leading ways. Something he made note of bringing up next time they saw one another.
He hurried to pack a bag, then set about making a plan for getting to his destination. She had the head start, but with a few quick trips he could make up the time, assuming nothing went wrong. This was one trip he was grateful Bonnie would not be joining him in making.
Half an hour later he was pleading with the station transporter chief to send him down to the planet or book him a ride on a shuttle, whichever was first available. An hour after that he arrived in the small village where he sighed a sigh of relief to know he wasn’t far from the cottage they shared. Hefting his bag upon his shoulders he stopped only at a local shop for a trinket, before trekking the path to their cabin.
The regular shuttles from DS9 were quick and effective, providing a regular travel option that was not too time consuming compared to the high drain of the station’s transporter. Rhenora boarded the first available shuttle and settled into her seat. A short trip followed by a transport to their home province and a short walk from town to the cottage. All in all it would take around 90 minutes. Not bad all things considered.
The small town transporter hub was all but deserted when she beamed in, such was the joys of their somewhat remote location. Remal really did have an eye for beautiful locations, amongst other things, and this one never disappointed.
The stone path weaved its way through a beautiful but low maintenance garden before arriving at the timber front door, an old brass doorknob and lock sat waiting for its key. She pulled out the long metal device, inserting into the lock and turning a half turn to the right. The lock retracted with a dull slide and the door swung open, revealing everything just as they had left it.
Not knowing how much time she had Rhenora set to work, setting out the table with a selection of crockery and silverware appropriate to the meal she had planned. A bottle of springwine sat primed in the centre of the table, next to two tall glasses and a vase of freshly picked flowers. A few calls later and freshly baked bread appeared on the kitchen bench, followed by a selection of farm vegetables. She could create something simple, hearty and tasty for what could be their one and only meal at home for some time to come. She wanted it to be perfect to repay her husband for the times she had dragged herself away from the bridge to find something like this set up in their quarters.
The table was set to perfection, two long white candles providing a gentle ambience as she retired to the lounge room. The cool afternoon air brought with it a light chill and she lit the fire, adding wood they had collected from the beach last time they had been there. The crackling flames took the edge off the cool temperature and added a warm glow to the room.
She dropped onto the warm comfortable couch, letting the heat of the flames cast a rosy glow over her face. She was tired, tired of the constant pressures of Starfleet life, tired of never having enough time to spend with her husband, tired of always being on the brink of jeopardy or disaster.
The flames drew her in, reminding her that once again she’d gone off and left Remal to catch up. Why was it that she couldn’t wait an hour or two for him to come home so they could embark on whatever adventure they had planned together? Was she that impatient? That caught up in her own little world that she neglected the very basic needs of simply waiting for her partner in life?
A sigh escaped her lips, her face turned downwards as she analysed her own shortcomings not only in her professional but in her personal life. Maybe it was time to settle down and leave it all behind? Yet another mission had gone by where they had barely escaped with their lives. Was that becoming the norm rather than the exception? The fact she was sitting alone in the cabin was testament to how unsettled she felt. Torn constantly between different priorities and different people. There was always something to be done or someone that needed their help. It was for that very reason she loved being in space - to help people. But that reason seemed to be fraught more than ever with danger that lurked under every mission briefing.
Standing, she rose and headed for the bedroom, stripping out of her uniform that she hadn’t even realised she was wearing. A comfortable dress that caressed her knees and dropped from the peak of her shoulders replaced it, coloured in the natural hues of their homeland. She pulled the few strategic pins from her hair, letting the practical style unravel into long strands that fell in waves about her face and shoulders. Casting a critical eye over her reflection she noted the fine wrinkles that had gathered around the corners of her eyes, the streaks of silver that danced in the light in her hair. When had she grown old? Not that she was considered old by any means, mid 50’s was still the prime of life to many, but right now she felt old.
Returning to the fire she stopped by the kitchen and opened a bottle of wine, pouring herself a glass to return to the fire with, leaving the good vintage still unopened on the table to share with Remal. The fire reminded her of the fever dreams she had experienced in the Jungle, the moth and the flame.
The Prophets had shown her a number of things during that dark time, the one that concerned her the most was the birth of their child. It had been a recurring theme in their last few visions and it disturbed her to the point where she questioned the very notion of having a child. It was still something that burned her heart, the ticking in her mind that was a constant reminder that her reason for being was to procreate. Sometimes she could block it out, times like now it seemed so loud that she swore the entire planet could hear it. Damned biological clock.
Taking a sip of wine she stared at the fire, missing the spectacular setting of the sun as it descended towards the horizon.
TBC
