Play date
Posted on Fri Sep 25th, 2020 @ 6:12pm by Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke & Helena Moreno
Edited on on Fri Sep 25th, 2020 @ 8:12pm
2,056 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 10 - New Home, Same Pioneers
Location: O'Rourke Quarters - Deck 2 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD008 1300 hrs
"Mum, are there any other kids on this ship?" Helena asked.
"Yes, the XO and his wife have a daughter onboard." Hermia replied.
"Cool, I want to meet her." Helena replied.
"Well, I'll see what I can do, mo stór (my Dear)." Hermia replied.
Helena smiled.
"Computer, what is the current location of Lieutenant O'Flannagain?" Hermia asked.
“Lieutenant O’Flannagain is currently in her office in the Operations Department.”
Ameri was getting ready to head for lunch, debating on going to their quarters and check on Enya or head to the cafeteria.
Hermia walked over to her personal computer terminal and asked the Computer to establish a connection to Ameri's terminal.
"Good day, Lieutenant." Hermia said as the other woman's face appeared on the terminal's screen. "I don't believe we've met, I'm Hermia O'Rourke from Medical."
"We haven't," Ameri replied. "It's nice to meet you." She wondered what was up as she was certain she was up to date with her physical. "What can I do for you?"
"You too." Hermia said. "Don't worry, this isn't a professional call." She explained. "My daughter, Helena was wondering if she could meet your daughter, Enya, since they are the only two children aboard the ship."
A smile immediately crossed Ameri’s face. “That is a great idea. I know Enya has mentioned more than once that she wishes there was someone closer to her own age on board.” She thought for a moment. “When would be a good time?”
"I usually work Beta Shift, so before 1600 is best for me, though as Assistant CMO, I do have some leeway, and do a Gamma Shift, if you prefer after 1600." Hermia said.
"That works great for us," Ameri replied with a smile. "Would you like us to come to your quarters?" She thought it might be less daunting than the First Officer's.
"Sure," which day suits you?" Hermia asked.
“How about tomorrow?” Ameri replied, thinking the sooner the better.
"Of course, we look forward to it." Hermia replied.
“I am as well,” Ameri replied sincerely, a smile on her face. “And I know that Enya will be excited as well.”
Hermia was just finishing up things.
Ameri stood outside Hermia's quarters with Enya and rang the buzzer. Ever since she had told her daughter she had been excited. Now, she seemed a little nervous. Ameri wanted to say something but decided better of it. Enya was very independent.
"Come in!" Hermia called and went to meet her guests. "Welcome. Would either of you like something to drink?" Hermia asked.
“Yes,” Ameri smiled. “I would like a cup of coffee.” She turned to Enya who looked to Hermia.
“Can I have lemonade please?” Enya asked as she looked around both excited and nervous to meet the other child on board. “Thank you.”
"Of course." Hermia smiled. "Make yourselves at home, I'll fetch the drinks." She said.
"Oh, great they're here." Helena said running out of her room in excitement.
Seeing Enya she said. "Hi, I'm Helena, want to come play in my room?"
“Yes!” Enya said with a smile and headed towards her. “I am Enya. I was really happy when I found out you were here!”
"Me too. Do you like dragons, I've got a lot of dragon toys?" Helena replied as she led the way.
“They’re okay,” Enya smiled. “I would like to play with them.” The truth was she didn’t care what kind of toys they were, just having someone to play with was a dream come true.
Once the girls were gone. Hermia turned to Ameri placing her drink in front of her and said. "They seem to be getting on like a house on fire."
“When I told Enya she was ready to come over right away,” Ameri smiled. “I don’t think I want to here ‘Is it time yet?’ for a while.” She smiled at Hermia. “I am so glad you came to me, one of my concerns has been Enya’s need for friends.”
"I'm glad we could help. This is good for Helena too, she wasn't allowed to make friend under her father's watch." Hermia replied.
Ameri almost didn’t ask but Hermia had mentioned it. “I can’t imagine not having friends when I was growing up. Was he scared something might happen to her?”
"No, that would require him to care about someone other than himself." Hermia said. "My ex-husband was an over controlling narcissist. He made up lies in order to get sole custody of Helena as a way of hurting me." She explained.
“That is terrible!” Ameri felt for Hermia. “I can’t even imagine what you have gone through.” She immediately was thankful for Quinn, he was a really good husband. She needed to make certain he knew that more. “The girls will get along well then because Enya has been starving for friendship. Quinn is a good father and we are a close family but that bond with a friend is different.”
"In deed." Hermia said thinking about the few friends she had growing up. "I just get the girls their drinks and be right back." She said standing and heading for the replicator.
Ameri smiled as she watched Hermia get the girls something to drink. She thought that everyone could use friends and hoped that she and Hermia May develop one as well.
Placing the drinks on Helena's desk, Hermia asked. "So, how are you two getting along?"
"I'm having fun, thanks Mum, for arranging this." Helena replied.
“Yes ma’am,” Enya spoke up. “I have been waiting forever to have a friend on board.” She smiled at Helena. “Maybe you can stay over one night?”
Helena smiled too. "Can I Mum?" She asked.
"I'll ask Enya's Mum and we'll see, okay." Hermia said.
"Okay, Mum." Helena said and then went back to playing.
“I know my Mom will say yes,” Enya said, excited. She had wanted a friend to have come over for a long time
Hermia returned into living area and said. "They seem to be getting on like a house on fire."
“I was hoping they would,” Ameri sighed in relief. “It will make things so much better for both of them.”
"Indeed." Hermia said taking her chair. "They asked if Helena could stay the night at your quarters one night."
“Of course,” Ameri smiled at Hermia. “If they are already planning their first sleepover it is a given that they have hit it off.” Her smile widened. “I am so happy for both of them!”
"Me too." Hermia said. "Since they seem to be getting along, how about we share a little bit about ourselves? She asked.
“Of course,” Ameri smiled at her. “I will start when I was younger. I was born and raised on Earth, in Ireland. I am one of four children. Growing up I had a love for science.”
"I was born and raised in Ireland too, just outside Kilkenny. I have three half bothers, and like my father they are all Marines. I'm the 'black sheep' of the family. Always wanting to help people, I took after my mother and became a doctor." Hermia said.
"I was twelve when my mother passed," Ameri said with a sad smile. "It took me some time to be able to deal with it but we are a close family and with their help I learned to move on though I think of her often, good memories."
"I'm sorry to hear, about your mother's death, but I'm glad you have some good memories of her." Hermia said. "When it comes to my family, I'm only close with my mother, Helena and my uncle Sean, he's my father's brother, but he's also a fellow 'black sheep', he's currently serving aboard the Jim Bowie as Command Master Chief."
“Meeting Quinn helped a lot,” Ameri confesses. “I had recovered from the loss of my mother quite a bit before that but he helped me look for the good memories.” She looked at her quizzically. “Why a black sheep?”
"My father comes from a family with a long tradition of being Marines, my uncle Sean and I bucked that trend leading to our all but banishment from the family." Hermia explained. "My father even threatened to disown me, when I told my parents I'd been accepted into 'fleet Academy." She added. "So, much for more enlightened times."
“Family can be really supportive,” Ameri sympathized. “Or the exact opposite. It is important that you do what is best for you.” She paused. “I know we aren’t the same but you have your Pioneer family and we support you:”
"Thanks, Ameri." Hermia said. "That's good to hear." She smiled.
“I think this is going to be really good for both girls,” Ameri said with a smile of her own. “I have felt bad for Enya because she wants someone around her own age to spend time with. This will be good for both of them.”
Before Hermia could say anything in reply, Helena emerged from her room. "Sorry to interrupt, but can we have some cookies, Mum?" She asked.
"Help yourself, you know how to work the replicator, but only two each, you don't want to spoil your dinner." Hermia replied.
"Yes, Mum." Helena said and headed for the replicator and ordered four chocolate chip cookies.
Ameri watched as well. "I am hoping now that there are two of them and hopefully more children coming that we can have a designated school room."
"Yes, taking their lessons solely from computers doesn't provide the socialisation they need, I school would be a great addition." Hermia said.
“Quinn and I have been pushing for it,” Ameri confesses. “I think the girls would love learning together.”
"As parents do you think we'll get any say in who is chosen to be the teacher?" Hermia asked.
"They will consult us," Ameri nodded. "I'm not sure if it will be a hologram or a certified teacher. That is up to command and believe it or not that isn't anything Quinn and I have discussed so I don't know how he feels on the subject."
"If they do go with an hologram, I hope it isn't like our EMH, because Bones doesn't exactly have the right temperament for teaching children." Hermia said.
“My concern is the personal touch,” Ameri said with a smile. “Enya needs to see passion and emotion in teaching and not a monologue of words with no feeling behind them.”
"Helena had a great tutor, Ms Castilla I believe her name was. Hiring her was one of the few good things my ex did." Hermia said.
“Their schooling is so important,” Ameri nodded. “Enya wants to be an engineer when she is older. Both Quinn and I think that will change but I am beginning to think she knows what she wants.”
"Currently, Helena wants to be a scientist, when she was younger she wanted to be a cat." Hermia said.
“They will change their minds so many times,” Ameri nodded. “It will be fun watching them grow.”
"I've missed so much of Helena's life already, her father was a awarded sole custody of her. Luckily my mother was able to have the court assign her as an observer due to her qualifications and experience as a Child Psychiatrist." Hermia said. "I don't know what I would have done without her keeping me up to date on Helena's progress." A tear formed in the doctor's eye.
Ameri reached out and squeezed her hand. “I can’t imagine what you have been through, I am happy that you have her now and can have years to give her happiness.”
Hermia smiled, she was glad to have someone to talk to about this.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Ameri Ó Flannagáin
Chief Operations Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke
Chief Medical Officer, USS Pioneer
Helena Moreno
Child, USS Pioneer
Enya Ó Flannagáin
Child, USS Pioneer
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