Late Night Calls
Posted on Fri Jun 22nd, 2018 @ 5:19pm by Lieutenant Commander Vaebn tr'Hwersuil
Edited on on Fri Jun 22nd, 2018 @ 8:03pm
1,005 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Episode 3 - Weary Travellers
Location: Chief Science Officers quarters
Timeline: MD002 - 2345 hrs
Vaebn sat in his quarters, the lights low with a slight red tint to it. He lounged back in a chair with his feet on the small table in the center of the room. His dress uniform lay across the back of the desk chair, and his boots lay on the floor in a small pile with his socks and under-tunic. He was deep in thought, considering all the things that had passed over the last few days. The Badlands, that New Maquis station, the bio-weaponry with distinct Romulan signatures in its designs. So many things that weighed heavily on his mind, and yet, there was an air of celebration through the rest of the crew.
Something about the comradery on the ship, more alive than anything he had seen on a Romulan Navy vessel. In the past there was friendships, but it was mixed with a level of suspicion that hung on the edge of every action. Here, there was none of it. There was a sense of trust that belied the closeness of the crew. Some as friends, and yet a different kind of trust between colleagues; a mutual trust with respect, as opposed to wariness.
He stood and walked to the small lavatory and ran some water into the sink. He splashed some of the cool liquid onto his face and ran the residual liquid over his hair. He looked into the mirror, the dark creases around his eyes belied the small amount of sleep he managed to achieve every night. “You look like something rejected from the Underworld itself.” he said to the reflection. His eyes, still alight and alive, looked so much older than the body in the mirror, “Have we really seen so much that we seem so old?” he said as he touched the mirror. He looked down at the scars across his shoulders and chest, “Maybe we are, but are too stubborn to admit it.”
He walked back into the living space, a sense of purpose in his stride. Perhaps it wasn’t too late, perhaps she was still awake. He sat at the desk and opened the terminal requesting a subspace communications channel, and keyed in a complex encryption pattern. The wait seemed to take forever, but it always did from out here on the fringes of Federation space; then the familiar UFP log dissolved to show a well lit room with a familiar, yet not so, feel to it, but at its center, a very familiar face. “Lyie,” he began, “I hope I am not interrupting anything.”
“Of course not,” she said, “I always have time for you big brother. You look like something washed up from the sea…. Is everything ok?”
“I certainly feel like it. We have had a very eventful few weeks, and we are headed back to the Station for some rest, which is well deserved for the crew.”
“And you Vaebn? Don’t you deserve some rest?” she queried. The words held much concern, almost bringing a tear to Vaebn’s eye.
He choked back the thick tears and swallowed hard, “Maybe, but there is so much more to be done.”
“You cannot do it alone. You have to let someone help you, and trust them with the work. You have more than earned a respite.”
“Have I Lyie? With all that I tried to do, and failed at, can I really step away from my work? I cannot drop my respon……”
“Yes you can!” she said forcefully. “You have more than earned it. You have a new life now, with new people, and new places. Leave the past where it belongs. I have moved on, and so should you.” She breathed in deeply and calmed herself for a moment, “Vaebn, you are a natural at what you do. Just let it flow through you and become what you were meant to be. I know you can, and will always believe in you.” She looked down for a moment before looking back at the screen. “I was waiting for the right time to tell you this, but apparently you need to hear this more than I did. I applied to Starfleet, as a fleet engineer and designer, and I’ve been accepted into the off-site Academy, and I’m going to do it. I’m following your example and Mom’s footsteps and embracing my new future.” She wiped small tears from her eyes, “You should really do the same.”
Vaebn had cast his eyes downwards at the admonishment. In a low voice he spoke again, “You are always right. Sometimes it can be so hard, with what I’ve seen and what I’ve failed to do.” He looked up at the monitor. “I will do my best eaha rinam and give you another set of footsteps to follow.” He wiped the small tears from his own eyes, and choked back the rest; his stoicism finally winning out over the raw emotion that threatened to subdue him. “I will send you another message when we reach Empok Nor. Perhaps it is best if I get some sleep.”
“That would do you well hueiul dinam. Do not let the nightmares take you away from me again. I know you think that we only have each other, but do not forget that you have others around you as well. Do not be blind to them just for my sake, or the sake of your past.”
“Your wisdom is well beyond your years Lyie. I will try not to forget, but at least I have you to remind me.”
“Good night Vaebn. Sleep well and I will see you anon.”
The transmission ended, and he deactivated his encryption key. With a deep sigh he stood and walked to the bed. Maybe with those words of encouragement, he would have a restful night, free of the nightmares that usually plagued his mind.
Lieutenant Vaebn tr'Hwersuil
Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
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