A Moment Please...

Posted on Mon Apr 26th, 2021 @ 12:33am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Lieutenant Aurora Vali

Mission: Trapped in Time
Location: Ready Room

There was a lull in the activity on the bridge, the crew running smoothly and focused on their tasks. There was no need for Rhenora to be on the bridge at the moment, so she retreated to her Ready Room to tackle the never ending pile of reports that required her attention.

Making her way to the ready room Aurora wondered if she should really be telling Rhenora about what she’d sensed. Not that it could do any harm for the Captain to check. She pressed the chime waiting for an answer.

Rhenora looked up from the padd she was reviewing at the sound of the door chime. She rose and headed to the replicator, using the opportunity to grab a fresh hot cup of coffee.
"Come in" She called.

Aurora smiled as she stepped through the door “Captain, May I talk to you? I sensed something on the bridge that I think you should know.”

" Oh really? Please, take a seat and we can discuss. How are you feeling by the way?" Rhenora asked in a motherly fashion as she gestured the chair opposite her desk for the ever growing Aurora.

“In all honesty ...” Aurora took a seat. “I’m shattered! This baby is taking everything I have and more besides. I have to check in with Sarah soon so I’ll see what she has to say.”

"So everything is progressing as it should then?" The Bajoran replied, leaning back in her chair and taking a sip of the coffee. Overall Aurora looked radiant, almost as though someone were shining a light from within. It was delightful to see her friend so happy.

“Actually I was thinking you may want to visit Sickbay as well.” Aurora offered a smile. “Your sneezing isn’t usual for you is it? Perhaps a sign of something more ...” She paused. “Captain I think you’re pregnant.”

There was a pause, a pause that wasn't normal for the woman who had an answer for everything and made the tough calls. This wasn't what she had been expecting at all. She'd put the sneezing down to irritation of the sinuses caused by the fire, although she'd never been fully checked over by Dr Wilson when they'd beamed back.

"I....are you sure?" She whispered although she may hear something frightening.

Aurora nodded. “I think so, to someone like me pregnancy comes across as a sense of duality, that’s what I’m sensing from you. I could be wrong, there’s no harm in finding out.”

"I'm too old" Rhenora started, her mind immediately coming up with a dozen reasons that what the Prophets had foretold couldn't be so. She looked at Aurora almost with a pleading eye.

“Does it scare you?” Aurora looked at Rhenora curiously. “Does being pregnant scare you?”

For once without words the Captain nodded, her mind reeling with the news that would change everything. Her actions would no longer be hers alone, her body no longer hers alone. It was something the Prophets had always shared with her, the tail end of the vision always ended in her death during childbirth.

Aurora’s gaze softened. “At least you know that the child you’re carrying is your husband’s, it’s natural to be nervous. If truth be told I’m scared stiff! I don’t know what to expect. Is there a reason why you’re so scared?”

Rhenora fidgeted with her coffee mug. "It's something I said I always wanted to do, but never could spare the time. Then I grew older and put those desires into the 'bygones' basket. Then there's the visions Ive had, almost a warning from the Prophets where I die in childbirth" she admitted, trying to come to terms with everything herself.

“The prophets may have just been showing you a possible future, or a lie to test your character. From what I know of them they’re not known for being completely forthcoming.” Aurora offered a smile. “Don’t let it scare you, if I’m right then you have a pregnancy to enjoy. The miracle of life growing inside you, hell I never planned this ..” She motioned to her growing stomach. “But I plan to enjoy it.”

"How do you keep so positive? If this is indeed true I have no idea how I'm going to even think rationally, let alone run a starship" Rhenora quipped, her brain finally catching up. "I never thought we'd be having this discussion, you pregnant - which is great of course, telling me the same thing"

Aurora grinned. “As much as I’m enjoying this, I wish it was Savar’s baby I was carrying.” Her smile faded. “We’re still waiting to hear from Starfleet on that one, for the permission to have help with getting pregnant. I wanted to give Savar a child naturally, and I can’t!” She sighed. “Still I have to give this little one a chance at life.”

"Why do you need to wait for Starfleet?" Rhenora asked, curious as to her friends woes. She rose from behind the desk and took Aurora's hands in her own "please let me know if you need me to help in any way."

Aurora offered a smile. “I’m a hybrid, Anna told me there’s no way I can conceive naturally, I have to be implanted. I just wish ...” she shook her head. “As Savar would say there’s no point in wallowing in self pity. It is what it is!”

The holding of hands turned into a hug that meant so much more than was intended.

"I'm sorry to hear nature wasn't kind to you. It will happen one day, the stars will align and whatever gods you believe in will shine upon you both." Rhenora smiled as she stepped backwards a step. "In the meantime you are going to have yours hands full shortly by the look of that belly"

"Captain the Away Team are ready to beam over" Ops announced from the bridge, breaking the sacred moment they had shared. She sighed "Care to join me?" she offered to Aurora before heading back to the bridge.