Food for Thought Part IV

Posted on Sunday, 2 April 2023 - 5:51am by Lieutenant Alex Kingsley & Commander Soral

Mission: Operation: Lobes & Liberties

ON:

Increasing the volume, allowing the music to fill the lab, Lieutenant Kingsley tracked the vital signs as Theo moved around the modified chamber which was now home. More space, more stimuli… all were helping to heal the victim of some barbaric treatment in the universe it called home. Making regular notes, the science officer sat cross-legged on the floor at eye level with the chamber, having made everyone else work elsewhere.

Such as Lieutenant Connelly who was filling in for her on the Bridge. Something he had offered to do and which made it painfully obvious the gossip mill had worked as quickly as expected after last night.

So deep in thought and planning was she, that she did not hear the door to the lab open. Indeed it was only when the music abruptly stopped that she half turned, a deep frown etched on her forehead as she climbed reluctantly to her feet. “Is there something I can do for you, Commander?” She asked, her tone neutral bordering on ice cold.

"Indeed." He raised an eyebrow at her tone. "I have come to pick up the department head report for Science. Only two outstanding are Engineering and Science." He stood holding several data Padds already.

With a nod she crossed to the nearby workstation and called up the latest updates and downloaded it to a PaDD. Signing off on it, she turned and held it towards him, keeping as much distance between them as possible. “Lieutenant Connelly is on Bridge rotation for the alpha shift to gain experience, other than that, nothing special of note. Was there anything else, Commander?”

He raised an eyebrow. "Lieutenant, is everything alright?"

“Oh, I’m fine. But you had quite the evening, fighting a Klingon, vocal criticism of the Federation - so very sorry the destruction of my homeworld proved so inconvenient by the way but, oh wait, even you thought there was some truth that Romulans had a hand in that somehow… and then, to top it off, our new Vulcan intern came to say hi and announce she is in the mess hall for a dinner date. Turns out, it was with you! I trust you had a delightful time on the holodeck.”

His lip twitched slightly. "Firstly, I am perhaps enjoying your Jealousy slightly more then I should. Secondly she is a student of my old mentor at the Vulcan Defense Academy it was not a dinner date it was a dinner. As a Third I do blame the Federation for Romulus. It was unconscionable for them to sit by while a planet was destroyed. Even when the Borg were in danger there are examples of Federation helping. Mars was unconscionable in the eyes of Romulus a blight on them. I said nothing that was not true that evening. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. It is something your father knew well when he saved Haru and the others. I have never stopped wishing I could save him for you, that has never changed nor would I downplay his sacrifice. I mourn the loss of Federation ideals. If you cannot see that perhaps ... we are too far apart on things." There was a sadness to his face now. "I have never stopped attempting to salvage our marriage, it is you does not want to." He shrugged. "I have always bowed to your wishes in that." He shuffled the Padds.

Soral sighed, "I will leave you to your research."

“I am not jealous,” she countered, although she knew that wasn’t entirely truthful. She had seen how he seemed engrossed in Belladonna’s every word and movement. His laugh… “Although perhaps lamenting the loss of Federation ideals is best done in private and not in the middle of the mess hall?”

She took a step closer, “and for the record, I’ve not given up on our marriage. If I did the rumours wouldn’t be rumours - albeit probably not with Knight. He snores.”

"Send him to medical. I shall be happy to assist in jamming a snoring probe through his nose."

“Now who is jealous?” Alex noted as she arched an eyebrow.

"Not jealousy. Mere fact."

“A fact that would earn you a place in the Brig,” she pointed out.

"Hmm." Was all he said. "Well I shall not interrupt your day further. I do however have a request."

“Professional or personal?”

"Both."

“If it is the chocolates you liked, they are on my desk - in the Dyson Sphere jar. I shouldn’t be eating them anyway,” she replied. “But I am guessing that isn’t it…”

"No. Mackenzie made a mistake in revealing my...thought process and decision making on leaving Starfleet. Words I shall have with him over that. You have told Vali who now knows and surly confided in someone else as I have been asked three times if I was leaving by different parties. If i choose to go no harm is done. If I choose to stay Starfleet will make it difficult for me for even thinking of going. In their eyes all things Romulan are a blight so in the end i will have to leave anyway. I ask for some discretion with personal affairs."

“I sincerely doubt T’Lanna betrayed something told to her in confidence but noted,” Alex replied. “I genuinely did not speak to her with the intention of hurting you, even indirectly. But leaving anyway… okay… good to …. Good to know…”

So that was it? Whatever happened he would eventually just up and leave. Go to whatever place he felt was his true home. And what? Leave her behind when he’d decided he’d had enough of the Federation and its lack of ideals? Turning her back she all but ran for the door. She couldn’t breathe or even look at him. Hell, suddenly Starbase 80 seemed more like a lifeline than a punishment.

It took all he had not to go after her but he'd been doing that a lot. He'd been fighting for her, for them, she would need to fight for him this time.

“No!” Two steps out into the corridor she spun around and marched up to him, her hurt and anger palpable. “Leaving anyway? So even if I choose us you will go be a Romulan senator or whatever? And then what? I stay in Starfleet? And what about Severine and Soval or N’Vek? Will you leave them on Vulcan? With my mother? Assuming she goes back. Or are you factoring in them at all? They love you and they miss you.”

He raised an eyebrow. "I said no such thing. I meant if Starfleet questions my loyalty I will be forced to leave. Rumours are rumours Alexandra but they can still damage and wound. Do you think the Starfleet would look favourably upon me?"

“Soral, you - kind of - stood and advocated a founding member break away from the Federation,” she pointed out incredulously, “and that isn’t a view just mirror you had, let’s be honest! How can you even look at me, at any of us, feeling like you do about our ideals? And rumours that wound… seems plenty of that going around. You do plenty of wounding yourself.

I don’t know what you want from me Soral! I need time but you think that is some kind of disrespect to our marriage. None of us asked for this Soral! I’m sorry but it’s true! Why can’t you give me that? Please?”

"Time. For now there is time but when it runs out....I leave it fate." He shrugged. "Time it is." He studied her. "The only thing I want is you to be happy if you choose it to be with someone else. The choice is yours."

“No. The choice is ours,” she told him. “Together.”

She was sure he disagreed but raised a hand, “before you declare how much it isn’t, I too have a request. Entirely personal.”

"Of course."

“Call your children, check in on them?” She suggested. “They miss you. N’Vek is awaiting word of when he can join you on the ship. Severine wants me to weigh in on her behalf about her plans to study with the priestess to aid her path. She is determined. She also wants the recipe for my mother’s chocolate chip cookies so at least I could do something. But anyway, I know it is not my decision but you should consider letting her do this.

That’s it,” she added.

He gave a nod. "I shall do so." He studied her. Why cannot your mother give Severine the recipe they are in the same house." he paused. "Have they fought?"

Alex doubted her mother and Severine had ever so much as raised their voices to each other. “My mother isn’t there,” she said after a brief hesitation.

He raised an eyebrow. "Isn't there?"

“Correct,” Alex confirmed. “So I am sure the children will all appreciate some time with you.”

"Why isn't your mother there? She did not tell me about the trip. She usually informs me of a trip so that I can arrange for a governess to stay while she is away."

“She didn’t just abandon them to fend for themselves in the wild, Soral,” Alex told him, feeling her temper rising. As if her mother would do such a thing. “And my mother is a grown woman who is free to do what she wants or needs to do. The governess is there. The children are safe, I assure you.”

"That's not the point. The question is, is she alright?"

“Yes. No. Maybe... but I will deal with it,” Alex told him, trying not to let her worry show. There were many reasons she suspected her mother had felt the need for space and not just a possible marriage proposal. “My mother will be fine. She always is so you don’t need to worry. I’ll pass along your concern when she calls.”

"I shall to do more then be concerned. I shall contact a few trusted searchers to find her. I promise she will be well."

“Soral she clearly is looking for some space of her own, please… I know her when she is like this. I have already left messages with her friends in the most likely places for her to go. I’m her daughter. Trust me to find her. You have more than enough going on,” she reminded him. “If I haven’t heard from her or from anyone by the morning, then you can go all red alert on the situation. Right now we aren’t even at yellow. Or even a shields up. She does this, I’ve known this - experienced this - pretty much my whole life.”

His eyes widened. "She has left you alone?" He didn't even try to hide the shock from his usually cold face.

“I was a teenager and had lots of people looking out for me,” Alex replied, defending her mother. “She was going through a hard time.”

A sudden fury washed through him. "Mother's do not leave their children." His jaw worked. "I will let you look if she cannot be found I will find her." He held Alexandra's gaze. "I respect your mother for everything but her leaving you...dims that respect."

“I shouldn’t have shared that,” Alex sighed, “but thank you for letting me deal with this.”

He gave a nod. "If you'll excuse me. I should return to the bridge."

Alex said nothing, and instead watched him leave before she sank into a nearby chair, unable to believe one conversation could be so exhausting.

OFF: