Two Beat As One
Posted on Tue Apr 12th, 2022 @ 3:38am by Commander Jek'Lar Son of Koss & Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren
Edited on on Tue Apr 12th, 2022 @ 3:41am
2,430 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Episode 12 - Risin' To Risa
Location: Quarters of Alyssa Maren - Deck 2 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD011 1800 hrs
Having dinner with Jek'Lar brought back more memories, and more feelings. It made her realize that she'd never stopped loving him; she'd just come to terms with the belief that he'd been forced into a political marriage by his family. But now... Now she found herself humming or singing as she worked to catalog and store new supplies and set up duty rosters for the science department.
She wanted to see him again before the Pioneer departed, so she sent Jek'Lar a message, asking him when he'd be free. For now, she could arrange her time to fit around his schedule.
Jek'Lar was pleased to have heard from Alyssa again, he thought that they could possibly get back to where they were. However, he was not sure, but this message surely indicated that she was interested. He had told her that he would be free that Friday night and perhaps a tour of the Pioneer was in order.
She quickly agreed to meet him on Friday evening. They'd start with a tour of the Pioneer, then have dinner somewhere where they could talk. She considered After 11, but she wanted it to be just the two of them, so she might end up feeding him in her quarters.
The week seemed to just fly by and in no time, it was Friday night. After checking in with the Pioneer's security team, Jek'Lar was aboard the ship as it was moored at pylon seven. He made his way to deck 2 and looked at the names on the door until he got to Lieutenant Alyssa Maren. Jek’Lar hid a bouquet of orchids behind his back as he rang the door chime.
Alyssa had vacillated between wearing her uniform to give Jek'Lar a tour of the ship, and wear something more feminine. In the end, she wore her uniform, but left her hair loose. "Come in," she said, standing to greet him.
Jek’Lar stepped in with a large smile. "I am glad to see you, and brought you these." He pulled the flowers from behind his back. "I appreciate the tour for two reasons. The first is the opportunity to see an Intrepid Class ship. It is a rare treat as they do not put into port often. The other is that I get to see you."
"Thank you, they're beautiful." She took the flowers and kissed him. "It's a nice ship, although smaller than any I've served on before." She carried the flowers into her kitchenette to arrange them in a vase.
"Originally designed for deep space science missions. They became a work horse of sorts for the Federation when the USS Voyager returned. That crew proved the multiple applications that this class design could have..." Jek'Lar began and then slowed down his rambling. "I am happy that you are on a small vessel. It allows for family and comradery, more so than the larger vessels, I think. I have found that small Starfleet ships remind me of home in the way that the crew gets along and the such."
"I hope to find that to be the case," she said, coming back to where he stood. "The Pioneer has a top-of-the-line Astrometrics lab. It's impressive. I can show you as part of the tour." She paused and grinned. "Or anything else you'd like to see. Well, as long as I have access to it."
"I will be content seeing anything that you would want to show me. But especially you. But the question is I guess where do we start? I have read through the ship's logs and this vessel has a storied past. But you are the centerpiece that I am here to see. Tell me about your projects." Jek'Lar tried to show an active interest in what Alyssa was doing aboard the Pioneer.
"We've built a garden in a cargo bay. We'll use it for experiments and for herbs. I'm quite proud of how it's turned out so far," she said. "And there's another archaeologist on board. She's working on a program for the holodeck that will let you walk through ruins and then see what they would have been like when they were inhabited. There are some programs out there, but this is both for research and for pleasure. I hope to help her with it as I have time. Other than that, I haven't done much other than familiarize myself with what's already here." She slipped her arm through Jek'Lar's. "I'll show you, if you tell me what you've been doing on Empok Nor."
Jek'Lar felt whole again, something he had not felt in some time. He strode arm in arm with Alyssa as they left the quarters. "Well then you steer where we go and I will talk for the time being. I have only been on the station for a short while, about eight months. Strategic Operations has me managing all of the ships in the area. Both Starfleet and non-Starfleet. We actually had a Gorn vessel ask for a resupply about a month ago. The thing that is taking up most of my time at the moment is assisting in the investigation of my predecessor. It seems that he was the one who precipitated the station takeover a while back, then disappeared."
"That reminds me, I need to talk to a woman in intelligence. She was using Astrometrics to do some research on the Pioneer. I don't know the details, but if she's still doing it, we'll need to arrange time for her." Alyssa led Jek'Lar to the lower decks first, giving him a quick tour of the ship. She stopped by the garden cube--which still needed a name--so he could see what science had been working on.
Jek'Lar looked around the garden and was amazed at what Alyssa and her team had accomplished in such a short period of time. Softly he whispered "Qui'Tu" as he walked. When he returned to Alyssa's side, he could see the look of confusion on her face. He smiled, "Forgive me... This place reminded me of an old Klingon fable. One that told of Qui'Tu or what humans call Eden. I believe this place to be a small slice of that mythical garden."
"Ah. We have stories of Eden on earth, too." She looked around. "This can't measure up, but it's a start. I don't think it possible to do a garden justice on a ship or starbase. For a proper garden, you need a large area on a planet. Maybe one day." She sighed. "I visited Romulus once. It was beautiful. So is Betazed, although I haven't been back in a while." Alyssa looked around at their little garden. "This...will be nice once the plants have time to take root and grow properly. I'll show you how it's changed when we return."
"I will look forward to that. You must go see the hanging gardens of Trill. If you have not, it is a must for anyone interested in gardens and plants. So, what's next m'dear?" Jek'Lar enjoyed this place it was peaceful and quiet, calm amongst the chaos of shipboard life. Perhaps that is why Captain Malbrooke allowed Alyssa to complete this project.
"I haven't been to Trill," she said, taking his arm and leading him out the door. "I hope to see it someday." She showed him several other spots on the ship she knew he'd be interested in, then paused. "I'll show you what Mignon is working on later. She'd only got a few sites programmed in. I think she's got one in Klingon space on her list. For now, you can choose where we eat. We can go to the mess here on the ship, or I can replicate something in my quarters."
Jek'Lar enjoyed the tour, however he sensed a chance to be alone with the woman he loved. He was not one to pass up chances when they presented themselves. "I think we should return to your quarters." There was a knowing and mischievous grin on his face.
In spite of their previous relationship, Alyssa felt herself blush. "I think so, too. It'll give us a chance to talk." She hadn't been alone with him since he came to her quarters, and then it was a brief visit and she needed this time more than she'd realized.
When they walked into her quarters, they smelled like orchids. "What would you like to eat?"
"Let us say your closest approximation to Rokeg Blood Pie." Jek'Lar let his joke settle for a moment. "But seeing as that is an acquired taste, a nice steak and some potatoes would be great. Some blood wine too if you have it." He remembered one of their earliest dates and that being the meal. He wondered if Alyssa remembered as well.
That was the meal she'd prepared on their first date. He showed up dressed in his Klingon clothing and she still remembered her reaction. In that moment, she realized she was falling in love with him. She'd never reacted to anyone in the same way. She looked at him for a long moment. "I picked up some blood wine on the station. I'll have dinner ready in a few minutes."
"Sounds wonderful... You know no one ever knows how their life is going to go, or how things are going to turn out. But it is nice to know that in some cases second chances are given." Jek'Lar was not emotional often, he was not what some would say in touch with his emotions or the emotions of others. However, he could sense in a way that Alyssa needed to hear something. "You know I have never loved a mate the way that I love you."
Her first thought was, how many mates had there been? But she didn't want to know if he had others before her. Not right now, anyway. She knew it was her insecurities, but she didn't want to face them at the moment. She appreciated his words more than he knew. "I've never loved anyone as much as I love you." She moved closer and cupped his cheek with one hand. "I'm glad we have a second chance."
"You know I think that perhaps we should talk with Captain Hood. I am sure that the dreary Cardassian station could use a garden or two or three. Brighten the whole place up. Could be a nice project for when the Pioneer puts into the station." It would also serve as a way to see her more often when her ship was here. Jek'Lar was hungry and already the smells of the food being prepared had their effect on him. He looked forward to tucking into the meal.
Alyssa finished setting the table. "I met with the head of science on Empok Nor. They have a very nice arboretum there. I definitely want to spend time there when the ship is here, but my first love is still archaeology and history." She poured him a glass of blood wine and a hibiscus lemonade for herself. Finally, she brought out the food and served them both.
The meal looked fantastic, it helped that Alyssa was a fantastic cook. He raised his glass of wine. "The honor goes to you, my one true love." As he toasted, he remembered something that his family told him when they dragged him back to Qo’noS. They told him that a human and a Klingon could never be together properly. That a human female could never know the flames that existed in the Klingon heart. At this moment he could not wait to prove them wrong. Jek'Lar also found it rather humorous that should he and Alyssa wed she would come to lead the house of Koss one day.
She raised her glass to him. "And to you. May our love endure." She toasted him and took a sip of her drink. Part of her was overjoyed to find Jek'Lar again and learn that his family lied to her. But another part of her was a little afraid that he would find her lacking in some way now that they were back in the same general location. But time was the only way either of them could be sure, and she wanted to make the most of the time they had.
They fell into a companionable silence while they ate, not needing words to enjoy each other's company. When they were done, Alyssa cleared the table, leaving the bottle of blood wine and the two glasses.
The food was superb and the company even better. The only sadness that Jek'Lar felt in this moment was for the loss of Mozart. The memory of him coming to the table after he and Alyssa had their meals crossed his mind. But Jek'Lar was also happy that Alyssa had Mozart after the Klingon's family took him away. He rose from the table and went to meet Alyssa in the kitchen area. As she cleaned up, he came up behind her and hugged her. "It is hard as you know for my kind to feel at home anywhere save the field of battle. And yet in your arms I am home..."
She turned and wrapped her arms around him. "Yes. I've missed you in my life." Tonight especially reminded her of Mozart and how he used to follow Jek'Lar around. He even joined him for the Klingon's morning workout. "It's hard to put it into words, but you...complete me."
Jek’Lar did not have a response and in fact he did not need one. He simply pulled her close and kissed her passionately. Klingons had passion to spare in all walks of their life and this was no different. He allowed the emotion to wash over him and flow through him and into her. When the kiss broke, he whispered. "Two soulmates cannot be apart for long."
She'd felt so empty without Jek'Lar and Mozart, but especially Jek'Lar. For several moments she forgot everything but his kiss. When they stepped apart, she looked up at him. "Stay with me tonight?" She didn't want him to leave at all, but they both had jobs that kept them apart; so for now, she'd make the most of what time they did have together.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Alyssa Maren
Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
Commander Jek'Lar Son of Koss
Chief Strategic Operations Officer, Empok Nor
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