Alla (Madness)

Posted on Thu Apr 22nd, 2021 @ 12:03am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Chief Petty Officer Remal Kajun

Mission: Trapped in Time
Location: Bajor
Timeline: A century Ago

“Naprem! Stay close to me darling. We don’t want to be late.” She stood upon the gangway bridge connecting the terminal to the launch pad, a small group of Bajorans surrounding her. While her attention was upon the conversation, her eyes and her mind kept darting back to the young child who kept wandering off to play in her own imagination.

“...and when we get the engines really going, Alla will soar faster than ever before.”

This statement got her attention though, “Raza Doge’! What have I told you about pushing the engines on this ship? There is no way of telling what may happen out there, in the blackness of space. And why in the name of the Prophets did you name her Alla?” She stood, hand on her hips like she was demanding an answer.

Laughing as though he had just awaken a Wraith he responded, “Because. It is madness to travel the stars, even more so in a craft so small and so uncomfortable as Alla.”

“She is not uncomfortable. At least for a freighter. You’re just jealous that I get the top hammock and you’re stuck on the bottom.” She poked him in his slightly oversized gut. “You wouldn't hit the deck plating so hard if you didn’t enjoy momma’s buttercream pie so much.”

“See, there you go, making me hungry again. I can’t help it if they taste so good. Besides, we are going to be gone for months. I had to get in as many as I could.”

“Three were way too many. You’ll be lucky if you don’t upchuck on take off.” She had relaxed her stance as they continued to walk. “And as funny as that would be to see, I’m sure the Major would not want to clean gross off his preflight checks.”

Doge’s smile faded, “Nor would I to be honest.” He looked behind them at the lagging little girl. “Come Naprem, make your momma happy for once and move along.”

Together the three of them, plus three others continued walking towards the small freightliner. As they neared the end of the walk, they spotted two figures in the distance. A stoic looking man, the Major, grumpy as always, and a younger man, who barely looked like he had two stones of weight to his name, the Commander. Together they called the shots.

“ Tardy as always” The Major grumbled as he turned away from the approaching trio to the gangway “We’re going to miss our launch time if you don’t hurry up” The voice was gruff and authoritative, although the rumor was the man had never smiled in his entire life.

Doge spoke up first, “I blame Naprem.” He joked. While he was a true Uncle, always friendly and always making her laugh, he knew when he could use her as an excuse.

“Heeey!” Naprem spoke up as she rushed forward and smacked Doge’ upon the thigh. “You were the one who kept stopping to chat with everyone like some Vadeck of the Highest Order.” She was cute when she was angry.

“Okay, okay. Owe. Did you have to hit so hard?” He smiled while refusing to hide his shame even as he rubbed his thigh. He gave Salaya a look, “What, she’s your daughter.”

Salaya’s brow went up, “I know.” She then turned to Naprem, “Good job Nappie.” and gave her a quick celebratory high five. When the commotion had dialed back, she turned and looked at the Major. “So where are we off to this time?” She asked seriously.

“When you’re all finished” The Major grumped as he waited for them to board and stow their gear. Everyone had a role on a ship the size of this one and they wouldn’t be able to launch without things being done in the right order. He was a stickler for order and process, but fate had led him to this little freighter and a ragtag crew.

Shuttling produce and wears to nearby planets and systems had not been his grand plan, but he would follow what the Prophets had laid down for him, although he didn’t have to particularly like it. The Commander headed straight for the front of the ship, folding into the narrow cockpit and starting to power up the systems.

As Salaya strapped in Naprem for take off, she commented to Doge with a side glance in the direction of their passengers. “Any idea who we’re carting with us this time?”

He glanced at her, then to the Man and woman who were joining them. He Knew she wasn’t talking about Bernoff, the Cargo Controller, he rarely talked. No she was referring to the two wearing stuffy robes and walking as though they were more important than anyone else. He had noticed the bulges at their sides, indicating one of two things, a loaded purse or a loaded weapon.

“Don’t know, don’t care. As long as they keep to themselves, I’ll do the same and we can all get where we’re going in one piece.” He finished strapping his gear in the small cargo hold, then turned and slipped into the Engineer seat where he could monitor the engine efficiency and other things related to the ship he helped build. “Preflight Engine checks are good.”

Salaya finished pulling the straps tight, leaned in and gave Naprem a kiss upon her nose ridges. “Remember what I told you Nappie. If you get scared…”

But Naprem finished the sentence with an eyeroll, “Just close my eyes or look out the window at the stars. Gosh Mom, I know. This is my third trip, remember?”

Salaya stood up, her head almost hitting the roof of the small craft, her hand on her hip. “Yes sassy pants, I remember. And it’s my sixth trip, so nyeh.” She said while sticking her tongue out at her daughter. She then moved forward and sunk into the Navigator’s seat. “Still waiting on those cords Major.”

Major handed over a handwritten note, something he had kept concealed until the last minute.

“Our destination, and the destination of our passengers” He said simply, knowing the coordinates would raise a few eyebrows. Hence the concealment. Good thing in these early days of space travel the need for a full flight plan was minimal.

TBC