Business up the front, Party in the Back

Posted on Mon Sep 14th, 2020 @ 10:34pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Lieutenant Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell
Edited on on Mon Sep 14th, 2020 @ 10:35pm

Mission: Welcome Aboard!
Location: Liberty Shuttle Bay

It seemed to take an eternity, each heartbeat stretching to beyond and back. If she were honest with herself, Kaylen Rhenora was terrified. She loved Remal dearly, but his sudden arrival had thrown her emotional balance way off kilter. Was he wanting her to return to Bajor with him for their ‘happy ever after’, or did he want to stay on the Liberty? Was he visiting or staying? Her mind raced with the possibilities that she dared not reveal even to herself.

Remal emerged first from the dark confines of what was essentially a flying brothel. The elation in his heart boiling over the brim and spilling onto his face. Almost six years, it had been. His flowers long discarded at the starbase all he had to offer her was his open arms.

The stench preceded him and made Rhenora’s already wrinkled nose wrinkle even further. What WAS that smell?

Bonnie followed down the ramp, a squirming Lucy held in arm and at gunpoint. Cody chose to hang back near the bottom of the ramp. Not only was this not his place to be but he had yet to find time to change clothes and the cold space of the shuttle bay chilled his bare cheeks.

Bonnie eyed Cody, "aren't you coming?"

He shook his head, "I have delivered you safe and sound, more or less. My job is done."

Bonnie immediately grew perplexed emotionally, "Don't you dare leave yet. We need to talk to the Captain and you are a witness."

Remal walked right up to Rhenora, wrapped his big arms around her low and lifted her off the deck in an enormous hug without care or worry about rank or privilege. His heart beat rapidly, his mind raced. Would she still love him? Would she still remember the time they shared together?

“ Oip!” The startled sound of Rhenora’s unexpected yelp bounced off the shuttle bay walls. She was still trying to wrap her head around the very fact that Remal was here, let alone lifting her off the ground in a hug unlike one she had ever had. It had indeed been far too long.

“ How.. where… what….How are you here?” She stammered having regained the composure to speak. Somewhere in the back of her mind she realised she should probably address her new crewman and this...fellow with him.

Remal put her down, when he realized the room had gone silent. Everyone was staring at them and he was making a scene he was sure the whole crew would be talking about before long.

“ Umm err.. Sorry. Lt Durnell I presume?”

Bonnie stepped forward and stood at attention, "Yes ma'am. At your service ma'am." She half raised her arm to salute then thought better of it. Instead she came across as awkward.

“ At ease Lieutenant” The Captain regained her composure, regarding the new officer with a raised eyebrow before turning her attention to her companions.

“ It seems you have quite the tale to tell. In the meantime, I need you in Engineering to take a look at the impulse engines. And who is… this?” She looked at Cody with an unimpressed eye.

Bonnie, acknowledging first that she wasn't an engineer but was glad to have an assignment, responded only to the question at hand. "Mr. Devilrall was instrumental in my arrival to the starbase." She recalled the loss of Debbie, "Where an accident caused the loss of his private shuttle. Commander Huntley tossed him in the brig and was planning to ship him home empty handed." She grew emboldened, "Frankly I owe him quite a bit, actually. Captain."

Cody stepped forward. "Ah, if I may? You have such a lovely ship, and probably a wonderful crew, and I'm sure yer busy an all so if ya donna mind Ill just be takin my leave." Bonnie snapped around and gave him an evil eye before turning back to the Captain.

“ And just what are you going to be leaving in Mr Devillrall? Has this Orion shuttle been stolen?” Rhenora’s brow furrowed “ And what of this.. Commander Huntley?”

All eyes in the bay fell on Cody who could normally worm his way out of a conversation like this, but right now he was left feeling vulnerable. Bonnie sensed his discomfort along with the many eyes in the room. If this really was a Federation backed sabotage there could be collaborators in this very group.

Bonnie cleared her throat, "perhaps a full confidential debrief is on order Captain. If security would take Lucy to the brig we can let Mr. Devilrall divulge what he knows and then maybe let him be on his way." She looked Cody in the eyes, "If that is what he wishes." It was a guilt trip and he knew it as he swallowed hard.

The Captain regarded the small group assembled before her, casting her eyes over each of them as if to gauge their reaction to the request.

"Alright Lt, a confidential debrief, this Lucy can spend some time in the brig, although there are a number of Orion's already situated there. I'll confine her to quarters with a guard. We still need to get the engines going and tow the Orion ship back to the Starbase so they can answer for their crimes. It appears we are to be quite busy" the Bajoran admitted, her eyes resting on the calm face of her husband. So many questions.

TBC