What Can We Do?
Posted on Tue Mar 24th, 2020 @ 8:07am by
Edited on on Wed Mar 25th, 2020 @ 3:01am
2,012 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 9 - Empok's End
Location: O'Flannagain's quarters - Deck 2 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD004 1700 hrs
Ameri had been sent off duty long before Quinn. With all that had happened, she wasn't even sure when he would be home. Enya had long sense headed to her room to listen to music. When Ameri had checked on her she was sleeping.
She sat in the living area, drinking a cup of hot tea but she really wanted to scream. The loss at Empok Nor was getting to her, she felt like there had to be something she could do. When she had gotten home she had taken a shower, wanting to cry for those who had died but she couldn't because there was anger as well. Those who invaded the base needed to pay. She had every bit of confidence in the fleet and command but it didn't make her feel better. Would it have made a difference if they had gotten there sooner? A million questions ran through her mind.
Quinn walked in. He could see Ameri sitting lost in thought and festering something. He assumed it was the loss of Empok Nor. "Will get the station back." Quinn responded.
Ameri looked up at him. “I don’t doubt that, Quinn. I just...” she shook her head. “I keep thinking maybe if we got there sooner! Or maybe we should have known, some kind of warning this was coming. And I feel like I need to do something but what!”
"We were outmatched and out gunned, they caught us unprepared. We will not make that mistake again." Quinn suggested to Ameri. Like his wife, he was not happy with the outcome.
Ameri looked at him. “I was thinking of Kat. She could have been on there and those that served her and are stationed in Empok Nor. We don’t even know if they are alive!”
"We do have former crew on that station. Elloma Essu, comes to mind. I have not checked on her stats. Unclear if she survived. Pretty sure Elloma is not the only former Pioneer crew, to join Empok Nor." Quinn said, hoping his operative is still alive. He wished he could have told Ameri, about Elloma, and how she was helping him with trying to uncover the truth of the USS Pioneer.
“I’m sorry Quinn,” Ameri said shaking her head. “Here I am going on and on while you and Tyler have so much to deal with!” She took a deep breath. “Are you hungry?”
"I am." Quinn said, as he walked over to her and gave her a hug. "It's a lot to take in. Sometimes its easier to talk about the elephant in the room." Quinn pointed. Everyone on the Pioneer, was concerned and for the loss of a station. Not since the Dominion War, has Starfleet had to abandon a station.
"Still, I am supposed to be here for you to lean on," Ameri replied shaking her head. "Not me carrying on. What are you hungry for, I'll make you some dinner. Enya ate already and went to her room to play a game."
"I dont mind it being a two street. We are there to help each other out. Speaking of helping each other out, have you heard from Enya, has been offly quiet, as of late." Quinn said, hoping she was adjusting okay. He wondered, how she was taking the news. And feeling grateful, that he did not send her to live on Empok Nor.
“She was quiet this evening,” Ameri replied. “I think she will talk to us when she is ready. She is processing it all right now.”
"It's a lot to take in." Quinn said, he knew for him it was a lot to take in. He hoped Enya was taking it in strides. "Maybe we should plan a holodeck adventure for her." Quinn suggested to Ameri.
“That would be fun,” Ameri nodded with a slight smile. “We could all use that.” She stood up. “I’ll make you something to eat, I should probably have something as well.”
"Unless I am mistaken, we still eat as a family, do we not?" Quinn teased, in a playful way. He could tell that Ameri, was under a little stress. Mainly due to the gravity of the situation.
“We do,” Ameri smiled, shaking her head. “I need to gather some semblance of control over this.” She looked at him. “Talk to me while I cook and please tell me we are going to take the station back.”
"Were going to take it back, we just need to be smart about it." Quinn offered a shred of hope. He really could not go into his plan, to do that yet. Despite being his wife, he was also a first officer.
“I know you can’t share details,” Ameri replied. “I just needed to know we aren’t giving up. That is good enough for me at this point.” She started putting dinner together and looked over at him. “You want to help, you look like you need to keep busy too.”
Quinn could not really say anymore. And he knew that. He hated keeping her in the dark. But things were being kept from the crew intentionally. "So where is Enya?" Quinn said again, trying to change the topic.
“In her room,” Ameri replied, looking over at him. She had just told him that a few minutes ago. This showed how upset he was. “Why don’t you sit down and I will grab you something to drink and call Enya out here.”
"Or we can just sit here, and stare into each others eyes." Quinn suggested, hoping that Ameri would be into that idea. He loved looking at his wife, every time they did, they would make out.
Ameri sat down beside him, moving her chair close to his. She smiled as she looked at him. All these years of being married to him and she still got that feeling when they were together. They belonged together. “I love your eyes.”
She said softly. “That first time you looked at me and I knew.”
Quinn just smiled. "If I remember correctly, you did not stare at them for long." He said, as he recalled a vivid memory of them making love, after looking into each others for the first time.
Ameri laughed softly. “I didn’t did I? That first time will always be special to me.” It felt good to laugh and remember good times for a few moments. “After all these years and I still get that feeling when I look in your eyes.”
Did she really miss the mark, the first time they did that. They made love, or was she egging him on? Quinn was not sure, but loved staring into her eyes.
“I love you Quinn,” Ameri felt like she needed to say it. Not because he needed to hear it, he knew how she felt but because with all that had happened it was something she was sure of.
"Do you, well I hope so." Quinn said, with a teasing voice, as he continued to look into her eyes. He wondered, what she was thinking of.
Ameri smiled at him. “It probably sounds horrible but I am feeling so lucky right now because my family is safe here And so is our other family, the crew. I really feel for those that are hurting from loss but I just am so grateful I didn’t lose you.”
"I know what you mean, but some of our friends were on that station. I hope they are okay too. Information is sketchy at this point. We are trying to compile a list of who made off the station, who was killed and who is missing in action." Quinn told Ameri. He was grateful his family was safe.
“I am worried about Elloma and her sister,” Ameri confessed. “And others as well. We need to keep praying they are okay.” Ameri kept thinking about being at operations and the calls for help. What if they haeft someone behind?”
"Why are you worried about the Essu sister, did not realize you were close to them?" Quinn said, a little surprised to hear her call out their names.
“I have met her before,” Ameri replied. “We aren’t close or anything but I have a face to put with the name. Should l be unconcerned?”
"No be who you are, this is what I love about you." Quinn said, with a big grin. Then he went on. "You have a big heart, and you worry about all, and even with all that love, you chose me baby." Quinn said, trying to sound all cute and romantic.
Ameri smiled, his strength was giving her some. “I will always choose you.” Her eyes lit up. “You hold my heart in your hands and I trust you to protect it.”
"While I appreciate that, it does answer my question in the slightest." Quinn pointed out to her. She was avoid answering his question. He wondered why?
“What question?” Ameri replied. “I told you I don’t know Elloma all that well but it is someone I can put a face to her name. That can be said of a few on Empok Nor like the waiter at our favorite restaurant.”
"Why you chose me my love." Quinn said to her, with a big grin on his face. That was the question he asked. She had a big heart, and a sea of men to choose from, so why him?
“I saw in you the man of my dreams,” Ameri replied with a smile. “I knew from the moment I saw you that you were going to be important to me, that you had the values I was looking for in a man.” Her eyes lit up. “And you were the most handsome man I had ever seen.”
"I was hoping to hear you say my loving smile, but sure that works." Quinn said, with loving eyes. He wondered why she said that. He assumed, she fell in love with his personality, not his looks.
“My first attraction to you was your eyes,” Ameri explained. “And then to have this handsome man looking at me I wanted you the moment I saw you. What made me fall in love with you was your heart and yes Quinn, your smile lights up a whole room. The moment you walked in here tonight I felt my mood lift. I wish I could have a smile like that.” She hugged him close. “I chose you for all those things.”
"My eyes you say." Quinn said, with a big smile. He stared at her eyes, showing off his in the presence. They were caught in a romantic stare. "I personally love your smile, it shows how affectionate and warm your personality is." Quinn suggested to her. His eyes never stopped staring at hers.
Ameri’s eyes lit up. She knew where he was concerned Quinn could see straight to her soul. She loved him with everything she had. Her one and only true love. “I will always have one for you, even on the darkest of days.”
"We appear to be at our darkest days." Quinn said, trying to ground himself in the sad reality. This was not a pretty time for the crew of the USS Pioneer or Starfleet or Empok Nor.
“Then let me be your light,” Ameri replied. “Whatever you need from me I will gladly do it to give you some rest.” She realized that even though she was upset he carried a lot of weight on his shoulders as first Officer.
"I might take you up on that." Quinn said, as the scene starts to fade. He liked the idea, of her being his light. To help guide him out of the darkness.
A Joint Post By;
Commander Quinn Ó Flannagáin
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Ameri Ó Flannagáin
Chief Operations Officer, USS Pioneer
RSS Feed