The Fire Is Out

Posted on Thu Sep 24th, 2020 @ 6:18am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Chief Petty Officer Remal Kajun

Mission: Welcome Aboard!
Location: Captain's Quarters

He reflected on the past, "you know I didn't mean for it to be like this. I never meant for you to be hurt, especially by me." He turned around and looked at her in her tear filled eyes. "By the Prophets! You know I really expected you to fight back, or fight harder. The Rhen I knew fought the Cardassians during the occupation but for some reason is rolling over when a Vulcan takes away her coffee." He could see the fire beginning to build in her eyes. " Was it losing the Sunfire, the office work or losing me that made you soft?"

"Excuse me?!?" There was a fire in the words that she was sure Remal was fishing for. Damn him he knew exactly how to play her even after so long apart. She'd have to up her game again quick smart.

" I am NOT soft...ok maybe a little round the edges where I haven't kept in shape but NOT soft" she retorted, eyes flashing with a mix of anger and indignation.

He admired all of her curves, even the little bumpy bits but now was not the time to show it, not now that he had started something. "You have. You're just in denial otherwise you wouldn't be sitting here sulking, eating fruit and sipping peppermint tea." He was mocking the tea despite finding it adequate as a beverage.

She flopped unceremoniously down on the couch, wondering just where in her life she’d failed such as spectacularly as she had here. When had she stopped being the firecracker that always had a bone to pick with Command, did things how she wanted when she wanted and would take no attitude from anybody?

“ You’re right, I’m old, soft, and a pushover, when did that happen?” The words were more to herself than to her husband. The fire deep inside had been dulled to a tiny flicker by years of mundane work and lack of any kind of mental stimulation. She’d definitely lost her shine.

He felt sympathy towards her pain as he knelt down in front of her. After six years apart he had come back expecting a woman with the same drive and conviction she had when he had left. Instead, like him, she had changed. What was worse was he had expected her to be angry with him for leaving her. Angry for not fighting to keep their bond a sacred one, instead she was blaming herself for everything.

" I am sorry I turned all counselor on you after I told myself I wasn't going to do that. And I don't really have a reason for when or why but I do know a way, if you're interested, that we can rekindle that flame within." He reached up and lay a large warm hand upon her chest, feeling her strong heart beat like a slow rhythm drum.

A tear found its way down her cheek, slipping unbidden from her eyes yet unable to be stopped. For once she was speechless. Words of any description were beyond comprehension. The Bajoran captain simply nodded. She pulled him forward into embrace, desperate to maintain the connection that they used to share, now a distant memory.

"Good. First I assume you're hungry and I'm sure this fruit isn't cutting it, so I came across this little café on deck 9 aft, overlooking the warp nacelles. I'd like to offer to cook you breakfast, surely your Vulcan can't say no to that, can he?" He stood, her hands in his and pulled her up and off the couch in one fell lift. He was ready to be her attentive ear for as long as she needed one, and maybe, just maybe, he could let go of a few things as well.

She dressed in casual attire, a brown green and gold dress of her homeland that finished at the knee. It had been years since she felt connected to anything of any kind, yet now that Remal was back there was the tiniest sense of belonging.

"Lead the way" she smiled as she emerged from the bedroom, making a beeline from him and slipping her arm around his.

A short leisurely stroll later they arrived at the cafe. It was a far cry from the lounge Chef Malone had crafted back on the Sunfire, but it would do. Truth be told Rhenora was still finding her way around this Sovereign class ship. It was way bigger than either of the Sunfire's she had commanded, one being intrepid and the other defiant class.

With the large windows and the starfield flowing away from the ship along with the long nacelles displayed in bright blue with their red bussard collectors, this made for a beautiful spot to have their first meal as a couple since being back. Towing behind the ship was the Orion cruiser like prey caught in a web of blue, the tractor beam.

He pulled out a chair for his lady at a seat with a picturesque view and as she sat he asked, "So m'lady what will it be this morning? Something that doesn't piss off our resident Vulcan perhaps?" He made sure she was pushed in tight then walked around behind the small galley counter. He rummaged around until he found an apron and tied it around his waist. It was two sizes too small but it would have to suffice. He leaned on the counter and smiled awaiting her response.

"You're going to cook?" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Had she forgotten Remal's prowess in the kitchen so readily?

"Ahh...an omelette, spring vegetables with that stuff you used to make out of oozal tomato's on the side" she managed, regaining her composure and reducing the flushing in her cheeks to a mild wildfire.

"I may not be your old chef, Malone was it, but I've been around a kitchen or two in my day." As he worked, finding cookwear and ingredients he kept looking back at her for inspiration. Certain veggies were on hand in a small storage cooler, others he turned to the replicator to create. If Savar was watching he couldn't object to fresh cut basil and tomatoes, surely. As he mixed the sauce from the tomatoes she smiled and asked.

“ So tell me, what HAVE you been doing all these years? Something tells me the counselling centre didn’t occupy every waking moment of your day?” She pried, watching Remal rediscover the art of cooking.

He bagan whisking a batch of eggs together with a pinch of salt, to break down the protein and bring out the flavors. "Well, not much to be honest. Work kept me pretty busy and like you, i threw myself into it." He paused to reflect on his time on Bajor, the long days and the lonely nights. The skillet began to sizzle indicating the temp was just right.

"I traveled a little, mostly to check up on certain patients, but I never got out much on my own. Too much responsibility I suppose." He folded in the egg mixture and added the basil. "Oh, I did get to the space station once, to visit a JemHadar boy, man really. And I got to see the celestial temple for the first time since before we met." He turned the eggs with the care of a skilled tradesmen. He reflected momentarily on his journeys "I'll tell you though, no matter where I went, I never felt whole, like something was missing." He turned the stove off and allowed the remaining heat to seer the edges for that extra crunchy but that formed, that he remembered she loved.

He then transferred the eggs, the sauce and the garnish to two plates, removed his apron and carried the food around to the table. "We'll be back at the starbase soon. But for now bon appetite I think the French used to say."

The smell that wafted from the kitchen was amazing, permeating the small cafe like smoke drifting from fire.
“ You are indeed incredible, although we have a problem if I get used to this. The replicator may never get used again” The scent of coffee made her long for one but the ships counsellor hadn’t lifted the restrictions yet. She had plans to talk to him about it later in the day but for now - tea would do.

He took a bite of his own concoction and savoured the flavors in his mouth for a moment. "Not bad. The replicated bits always taste a little off but not bad." His tone looked more serious as he peered into her eyes. "Okay so, how do we plan to outsmart your Vulcan problem?" He knew a dozen or so alternatives to coffee and tea and he was sure the computer could offer suggestions. All it would take was a sipping session.

“ Not bad? It’s the best thing I’ve eaten in 6 years” She paused to consider his words, musing as she took a measured bite at a time.

“ I will talk to him later today - he is Vulcan, and he knows logic. Perhaps I can reason with him” She offered, hoping like nothing else she could get at least some coffee back on the menu. Right at this moment though - she devoted her entire attention to the man sitting opposite her, a man she hadn’t truly realised how much she had missed his easy company until he was right in front of her. That wouldn’t happen again.