Part II - Back Again

Posted on Thursday, 28 December 2023 - 12:21pm by Commander Soral & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Lobes & Liberties
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Post Rescue of Away team

Previously on Back Again....



She couldn’t stifle the laugh at his clear jealousy, wrapping her arms around him. “You always brought me more happiness than pain, like a protector and a knight all rolled into that uniform of yours,” she whispered. “Which was always better off than on, for the record.”

It felt odd to tease him and try to lighten the mood, but she refused to fall under a well of more pain. Perhaps because she had resigned herself to this ever since he first mentioned New Romulus. Everything after that point had been a futile attempt to preserve a ghost of their marriage.

He held onto her and smiled. "Yes well that was all to ensure I stand out in your mind and no puss filled lieutenants could compare." He pulled back and took her face in his hands. "So then am I to assume that we are proceeding with a divorce by Federation law?" He wanted her to say no but he knew what her answer would be. The coward in him could not let him have final world on this.


And Now, the conclusion....

ON:

It sounded so clinical, so matter of fact.

"Yes," she managed after what felt like an eternity. Such a simple word. How could it be so final, so ... heartbreaking. She saw it reflected on his face too, although he recovered his composure slightly better than she felt she did. "I guess we are..."

His eyes filled with tears. "It will be the most difficult document for me to sign." He thought a moment. "I feel like we should have a ceremony to end the marriage."

"A divorce party?" she asked, half kidding, "because I guarantee a certain someone we both know is probably having one right now..."

He smiled. "We will not invite her. Chance for us to say goodbye to our marriage with an honor it deserves and a way for me to say goodbye to everyone I may not be seeing again."

"It may be two or three too many bumps to the head but you are right. We should celebrate us and you should get to say a proper goodbye to everyone," she reasoned before she touched the side of his face. "There was my favorite smile again... I'm really going to miss you."

"And I you." He paused. "Alexandra there is something you should know."

She frowned, "what?"

"Your Aunt is on New Romulus. I will of course take care of that small infraction when I arrive. The other thing is...I may be out of touch for a few years."

"She's what?," Alex hissed, her hand balling into a fist as around them the lighting and monitors seemed to flare up and abruptly die, plunging them into a momentary darkness. "What do you mean, out of touch for a few years?"

"There is much to do to rebuild the Romulan Empire and that involves traveling to every Vulcan Romulan offshoot branch and finding every Reman that has survived. If I am to be praetor I must build my Empire from the beginning."

“Praetor?” She repeated. Build his empire… it reminded her that her Soral was not completely running the show.

"Yes. A recent ambition. I want peace but I also want a united Romulan Empire, Vulcans, Remans, Debrune, Rigelians and any Vulcanoid races. This way we do not have to rely on the Federation to save us if the Sun went Nova." He sighed. "I will ensure Starfleet and the Federation know who was responsible for Mars. They will be turned over to the Federation and perhaps one day the Federation will admit their sins." He sighed. "And Sara...well her fate will be in your hands."

“And for non Vulcanoids? What kind of Empire will it be for them?” She didn’t think she really wanted to know the answer to that. “As for the Federation… I don’t know if you will ever get the admission you seek. I wish they had kept working to save lives too. And of course things happened. As for Sara… I never want to see her again. I keep having this nightmare about her… she takes the children to draw us out. And then it’s an impossible choice. Save you, or save them. Or lose everything. It’s a dream, I know… but… it always feels real. And so her.”

"She cannot harm us." He sighed. "As for your question. If the Federation goes back to the old ideals maybe the New Romulan Empire will join if not then We will have no contact with them." He sighed. "However the Praetor's chair is an ambition that might not happen. I just want to work for the betterment of Romulus and all Vulcanians. I do not share the ambition of my mirror self. I just want peace and a new Romulus." He helped her back to bed. "Now you must rest." As he settled her in, he looked at her in the eye. "May I ask a favor?"

She wondered what he was going to say as he finished fussing. “I guess that depends on what it is,” she replied. She knew better than to blindly commit.

"Promise that you'll visit Severine every once in a while. She looks up to you."

She nodded, having already made a decision to ensure everything he had transferred to her name would find itself promptly held in trust so that it would all go to his children. Their children. “Of course. She’s family. What we decide here, now… it doesn’t change that.”

"Nor for me." He held her hand. "Never doubt that I still love you."

She took a deep breath, nodding. He had many qualities, some endearing, some infuriating but one thing she could never doubt was that. "You've even loved me in two different lifetimes, that's quite an achievement to endure this temper twice over," she complimented. "It feels... strange, doesn't it... this... this will take some getting used to."

He gave a nod. "Indeed. I can leave you with one vow."

She arched an eyebrow, which was perhaps one of the few things she could do at the moment with a zero pain factor. "You realise you don't have to vow anything, right?" she pointed out.

"My soul demands it. If I marry again, it will not be for love. Only convenience. Nobody ever will be you."

"Soral," she said as placed a hand against the side of his face and offered him a tired smile, "while I admit that at my peak best I am all kinds of amazing, I need you to listen to me. Because I know you. You are, and I realize given your Vulcan heritage this sounds insane... but you are one of the most hopeless romantics I've ever known. When you fall, you fall hard. And you usually end up with more children in tow to prove it. But don't ever change that. Don't ever let the past stop you from finding that happiness again if you are lucky enough to find it."

"It will be...too painful to fall again. I do not know if I am capable of it."

“Do you trust me?”

He held her hand to his cheek. "I do."

“Then trust me when I say you are capable of anything,” she told him, her tone brokering no argument.

He sighed. "I do not think I am a hopeless Romantic." It was the only thing he could say to her. Turning his head slightly he kissed her palm. "I should go and pack. New Romulus is sending ships to pick us up. I know Oriana is packed and Belladonna is...itching to get back to New Romulus."

“H…how long? You know for party planning purposes,” she asked quietly.

He smiled. "When we get to the Star base. A few days yet. Rest. I promise I will be here when you are ready to leave sickbay." He paused. "Perhaps I am a fool but I wish to spend as much time with you as possible."

“Well we have a lot to plan so it seems logical. And I may go stir crazy. And if we are having a party, you are going to need to help me find someone who can make this,” she gestured to herself “look party ready.”

He smiled, "You are always party ready."

“You would say that no matter how bad I looked, you are biased,” she accused as she stifled a yawn.

"Time to rest." He tucked her in a little straightening her blanket. Smiling he took her hand and gently he leaned down and kissed her. "Sleep well. I will return later to check on you."

“I’ll be here,” she assured him, already half asleep as she yawned, “unless my escape plan works …”

OFF: