Reflections on a Train

Posted on Fri Apr 5th, 2024 @ 2:48pm by Chief Petty Officer Maeve Kelly
Edited on on Mon Apr 8th, 2024 @ 5:54pm

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - The Evil That Lies Beneath
Location: In Transit to the USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD005 0800 hours

Maeve let out a sigh as she sank further into the seat she had chosen hours ago when she had boarded the small transport. She was thankful that the craft was full enough that no one seemed to notice the solemn woman sitting by the window. She hadn’t communicated with a soul past a head nod and awkward smile when someone finally caught her eye.

The expansive darkness of space made her feel almost claustrophobic she stared out into the black abyss; the events of the night before replayed in her mind.

Maeve awkwardly shifted from foot to foot and she stood outside Riley’s quarters. It was improper for her to be there, seeing as how she was just a Chief Petty Officer and he was an Ensign. Their interactions were the current topic of conversation in the department as it was so what harm would it do? She let out a breath she wasn’t aware she was holding when she heard his familiar cadence approaching behind her.

Turning in a well-practiced manner, she gave him an almost formal nod before addressing him. "Sure, I was hopin' ye'd have a moment." Her Irish brogue was a little thinner than when she had enlisted but very much still present. Despite her accent, the formality came naturally to her but she didn’t miss the change in his body language at the reminder that their relationship was not and had not been proper. “Sure, Chief,” He said before punching his code in the panel next to the door to his quarters before he stepped through and waited for Maeve to follow.

Maeve jumped and was drugged from her memory as a child’s toy tumbled against her foot. She looked down at the shuttle truck leaning against her black boot. She reached down and picked up the toy, handing it to the little boy who stood by the empty chair next to her. “Here you go, love” “I am so sorry,” the mom said, looking tired and frustrated as she placed her hand on the boy's shoulder and steered him back towards their seat. “Not a problem,” Maeve replied, watching the family with a pang in her heart.

"I've been ordered to th' USS Pioneer, I leave tomorrow." Maeve began leaving the implication hanging in the air between them. Riley simply nodded as if he was waiting for her to continue. “How long is this assignment?” He finally asked with a slight rasp to his voice that she knew was caused by anger. Federation Standard was funny that way, it showed her more of the emotion the person was feeling, or at least putting behind the words. She and Riley had mused over that discovery trying to figure out if it was a nuance to the language or the fact that it was her first language so she thought in it as well. The memory brought a half smile to her lips. “What?” Riley asked, his tone softer but still unsure of where this was going.

Maeve shook her head, “Nothin’,” She replied before clearing her throat."It's a permanent transfer out o' th' Diplomat Corp." He looked like she had just slapped him across the face, the look of betrayal she saw there slashed a permanent cut through her head. “How can they do this to you? Spring something like this on you. They can’t just…” She cut him off. “I requested it, weeks ago.”

Silence hung between them as realization fell over him. She was running away, she knew that. Based on the look on his face Riley knew that as well. “Screw them all, Maeve.” He exclaimed as he moved towards her stopping just short of their shoes touching. Raising his hand he softly brushed the back of his knuckles against her cheek. “I don’t care about the rumors,”

"Riley, ye have t' care. Ye're a commissioned officer and I ain't. It's against protocol and ye know that." He didn’t say anything and just looked at her. After a long pause, he finally broke the silence. “I could just resign,” with a shrug of his shoulder. Maeve could tell that the idea tore him up, a choice he didn’t want to make but would.

"Ye can't do that, ye've put in too much work and dedication." She smiled up at him as her heart was breaking. "Ye bein' in that uniform doin' what ye do is important, more important than..." She waved her hand in the space between them indicating whatever they were. “It'll hurt, and it'll be hard and then one day ye won't..." She couldn’t bring herself to say the word remember, the idea of him forgetting her was almost more than she could bear but he would and they would both survive.

Clearing her throat again, she took a step back from him. "Thank ye, sir. For everythin'." Before he could even realize what she was doing she turned on her heel and fled. That was the only word that could describe her departure; she didn’t even stop to take a breath until she stepped on the lift, turning to see him standing there as the doors closed.

The announcement of their arrival brought her back to the present. Looking down, the tears that had welled in her eyes fell and landed on the carpet next to her back. Taking a deep breath she grabbed her bag and rose to move with the rest of the passengers to disembark at the station. She had a first officer to locate and a new department to lose herself in.

A Post By

Chief Petty Officer Maeve Kelly
Communications Specialist, USS Pioneer

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