Move in Day

Posted on Friday, 8 May 2020 - 11:32am by Commander Soral & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Recall
Location: USS Fontana | Varous
Timeline: 2393 MD03

{ON:}

Soral had finished some paperwork, the only thing that he could do stuck at home. He had an appointment to see Rose later that evening. Alex had worked late yesterday and she had left early this morning. Soral had gotten in some exercise, taken Bones for a walk, did some meditating, and had caught up to all his paperwork. He'd also done some reading and investigating into what he and Vali had talked about. It was becoming an interesting investigation.

After lunch he'd gone to his room and cleared half the closet, cleared some drawers, and the medicine cabinet. She did agree to two weeks but he was hoping for more.

“Soral?” Entering his quarters, Alex paused to give Bones a quick scratch behind his ear and toss the ball before wandering towards the bedroom. Still neat and orderly she saw the door to one side of the closet standing open, showing empty space beyond while three drawers were partially open, again showing that they were empty. As Bones nudged her leg, seeking more attention, she suddenly realised the person she was looking for was standing right behind her. “Are you secretly a ninja?”

As she asked the question she moved to wrap her arms around him, standing on her tip toes to kiss him. “I missed you. Did you rest?”

He enfolded her in his arms. "A little rest. I felt incomplete without you here." He kissed her lips gently with feather light kisses. "I have freed up some space." He said. "Can we bring your things here?" He was eager to have her there.

“I don’t know. I mean I have soooo much stuff,” she lied with a playful grin. “It will be a lot of work.”

"We will make it work." He said. He took and held her hand. "I fear you have become my addiction." He said. Giving her hand a squeeze. "Come, I have a gift for you."

“A gift?” Curious, she let him lead the way.

He led her to the sofa and then walked over to his desk returning with a package. It appeared to be an old velvet bag. Within it was a necklace wrapped in an old black cloth. The chain a deep silver and the pendant in shape of a tear drop. The stone green as Vulcan blood with a center that held a ruby red flame that seemed to move and dance as if alive when light hit it.

“Soral...” the necklace was beautiful beyond words. “It’s... incredible.”

“It was my mothers. My birth mother not my step mother. When she left me at my fathers door this was with me. My father had tried to give it to my half sister but she knew that it was mine. She told me I should give it to the Mistress of my Heart. That will always be you regardless of where life takes us."

She was speechless as she hugged him. “It’s beautiful, thank you,” she breathed.

He held her. "Shall we go and bring your things for two weeks. I am hoping to convince you to stay longer."

She nodded, taking his hand as she stood. “Fortunately I travel light. As for two weeks, let’s take that a day at a time?”

He gave a nod. "You lead and I shall follow."

“Always wise,” she teased, tugging on his hand to pull him after her. The benefit of a small ship was that the trip did not take long. Unlocking the door she grinned, “prepared to be underwhelmed.”

Leading him inside the computer automatically raised the lights, revealing quarters which could have been from a ship straight out of dry dock. Only one shelf held any items, a small cube and a picture frame.

Closer inspection would reveal each face revealing three squares with a seemingly random colour displayed on each. Although the cube could be manipulated so that the same colour appeared one side or - If you were skilled - all sides, a five year old Alex had discovered the antique version used stickers which (with a little encouragement) could be pried off and stuck back down. Which ultimately led her father to glue them back on.

Beside it, the picture frame dominated the space. Separated into three sections, it contained three separate images. In the centre Alex at six years old in a leotard complete with gold medal, her already unruly hair tired up in an intricate style as a man and woman knelt on either side, all wearing undeniably happy smiles. To the left, the image was Alex and the woman, standing in the entrance hall of Cambridge University. And to the right, again with the same woman, this time Alex wearing the dusting cap and gown of a graduate.

“If you want to get a drink I’ll throw my things in my spare kit bag,” she offered.

"Indeed." He looked around. He walked over looking at the pictures. "This was at you graduation?"

She peered around the door from her room, “yeah. I think my mother will never get old of telling everyone I graduated from Cambridge.” She said the last word in a pretty precise posh English accent before disappearing again.

"The school was not to your liking?"

“It was great in a lot of ways,” she called back as she packed her things with no real style, “but I was 14, just moved to another planet and was the only person in the lecture theatre who couldn’t get blindingly drunk whenever they wanted and my best friend was back home. Almost done!”

"Indeed. And this medal when you were a child? Sporting event?"

“I did tell you, gymnastics was my thing! For a couple of years anyway.” She appeared carrying two kit bags, one over each shoulder. “But I’m still pretty flexible.”

"Indeed. I have seen that first hand." He said while still looking at the shelf. "Would you like to bring these?"

“If you have space?” She nodded.

"Plenty of space." He gently lifted the items and took them to her to pack in her bag. He handed them to her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "It has been such a short time yet I cannot recall how to breath without you."

“I know the feeling,” she said as she put her hands over his.

"What would you like to do tonight when we've unpacked your things? Holodeck? Movie?"

“How about a movie? You still need to rest,” she reminded him.

"Agreed." A thought crossed his mind. One that would remain in his heart but not spoken out loud. "Let us go home."

“I like the sound of that,” she grinned as she kissed his cheek. “And it’s my turn to pick a movie.”

"Absolutely." He bowed as he took her bags "Lead the way my queen."

She laughed out loud, “princess is quite acceptable, thank you! Here, let me take one of those...” His look was enough of an answer and she held up her hands, “okay, okay. I shall lead the way.”

Heading out she waited in the corridor so she could lock the door behind him and then they made their way to his quarters. Now their quarters. For a while. Two weeks at least. “You are absolutely sure you don’t mind?” She asked as they approached the threshold.

"Mind what?" He asked.

“Me, moving in,” she clarified. “Long showers, my less than stellar cooking...”

As they entered he placed her bags by the door and pulled her into his arms. "I do not mind." He lowered his lips to hers. "I give all of myself to you my queen."

"Flattery gets you everywhere," she smiled as she kissed him back. "On a scale of one to ten, ten being a lot, how much rest do you need right this second?"

"What did you have in mind?" He asked knowing that he'd follow her to the ends of he universe no matter how tired.

"I though we could go running, maybe some rock climbing, swimming -" she rhymed off, her face deadly serious as she counted off each thing using her fingers before she flashed him a mischievous smile, taking his hands and gently guiding him. "I'm kidding. I was thinking something a little closer to home. You have to give me the official guided tour. We can stop to fully appreciate any very special places as we go as long as I get to spend time with you."

"Indeed but first a welcome gift." He lead her into the room. "Well Lieutenant how much do you like puzzles?"

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, "puzzles? I usually like them." She didn't dwell on the glued stickers on the Rubik's cube. "Why?"

"Hidden somewhere in this room is your gift. You must solve four clues to find it. I have the first clue. Do you wish to undertake this mission?" He raised his eyebrow in amusement.

"Mission accepted," she told him with a grin, "what's my first clue?"

"The first clue is one I shall recite to you. Hearing it will lead to your second clue. Take a look around this Vulcan room that was bare and lifeless before your arrival it was truly like a tomb. Now the room is filled with light and beauty and to find the second clue you must think on duty."

Her eyes widened a little and her lips tugged up in amusement. He was really taking it seriously. She pursed her lips, eyes sweeping the room. "Just in here or in your quarters?" she asked after a moment. On duty could be so many things! Although uniform popped into her head first but his answer would either confirm or deny that, since his uniforms were always neatly arranged in his closet.

He shrugged. "Logic my dear Alex. Logic. We started in the living room. That was a fact. I brought you here to give you the first clue." He shrugged. "That is all I will say except that the second clue is written on paper in Vulcan and you must translate it when you find it. However being a Scientist you might need the archeological database." He waved at her. "I shall rest on the sofa leaving you to find your prize." He was enjoying seeing the amusement in her eyes.

She watched him retreat to the sofa as she walked around the room, “sooo, in this room, to do with duty, but the next clue is on paper...” she mused. If he was enjoying this (and resting) she was willing to play along. “I know I’ve only been here a little while but this, was not here when I left for work.”

She had stopped beside one of the chairs which currently had his uniform jacket hanging over the back. His expression gave nothing away. Biting her lip she searched the pockets, holding up a small folded piece of paper. Sticking out her tongue she unfolded it, realising he had not been lying. “This is kind of cheating,” she pouted as she set to work on translating the next clue, feeling his eyes on her.

It seemed to take forever but finally she had the next clue.

The second clue read, You've found the first of four clues within this room the second clue unfortunately is not there it lays in the room where you wash your hair, within that room it could be anywhere. On parchment paper it does sit look at all that nooks and crannies where it could fit

“You are really enjoying this aren’t you?” She realised as she walked past him into the bathroom. She searched high and low, finally finding another folded piece of parchment, this time hidden inside the medicine cabinet. More Vulcan text... she groaned and headed back to start the translation.

"Indeed" He called after her, Congratulations. This is clue number three but there is one more to unearth before the gift is gifted to thee. For this next clue that will help you find number four you must search near the kitchen a path that is ten paces from the entrance door. Each cup and each saucer could be a clue and attached to this paper is a treat for you. He knew the last paper would have within it wrapped a box of assorted chocolates. He could not help but feel a sense of excitement as she searched. Was it wrong of him?

“I feel like a pirate on a treasure hunt,” she confesses as she counted the paces. He was definitely enjoying himself she decided. So once again she searched, trying not to disturb his need and orderly cupboard spaces. “Found it!” She declared, finding the parchment underneath an overturned cup. Curious she set it on the worktop, unfolding it to figure out why this wasn’t folded like the rest. Soon the paper was folded flat with the rich smell of chocolate filling the air.

“They smell so good! Where did you even get these?” Because they were definitely not replicated.

"From the station." He simply said. Soral was laying back on the sofa finding it hard not to smile. He now understood why humans did it.

This is your final clue. Find the box close to the Vulcan whose hear beats only for you.

Soral sat up as he saw Alex approach him. He reached under the sofa and pulled out a deep red box with a silky green ribbon. The box was divided into three sections. The first was covered in white tissue paper and held various gold plated brushes and combs monogramed with her name. The second compartment held bath salts and bubble baths and lotions of varying scents. The final long compartment held something special. It was a long deep emerald silk sleeping gown with spaghetti straps. Down the left side was gold Vulcan symbols and on the right leg a slit to mid thigh. He'd been searching the replication store and when he'd seen it he knew that it would look amazing. He hoped that she liked them. He'd never gotten gifts for a woman he was falling in love with. He'd had plenty of credits never using them for himself. Suddenly the confident Vulcan that was quite sure of himself was not sure of himself. Would she like it? Had he done the right thing?

“Chocolate and another gift?” She asked as she knelt down on the edge of the couch. “I didn’t get you anything...” as she spoke she carefully unwrapped each layer of the box, grinning and holding the silk sleeping gown in one hand as she leaned over and kissed him. “They are all amazing, especially this. Wait here and I’ll go try it on -“

He smiled, glad that she liked them. He felt complete for the first time in his life.

It took a little over a minute for her to change. With a slight adjustment to the straps so it hung properly, she had to admit it felt good and hopefully looked even better. “What do you think?” She asked as she stood in the doorway and turned in a circle.

Soral turned his breath caught. "I..." He blinked several times. "You look beautiful." The fabric brought out her eyes and hair an the alabaster in her skin. It hugged the right places and he had to admit he'd just replicated something for her that had the power to bring him to his knees.

“You are far, far too good to me,” she decided as she wrapped her arms around him.

He lifted her arms. "I believe you asked me earlier how tired I was?"

She wrapped her legs around him, her hands on his shoulders as she grinned. “I do believe I did... and?”

"Not tired at all." He carried her towards the room. Tonight they would lay together but it would be different because tonight he would admit to himself that he loved her and no matter what the future brought he would love her until he died. He made a choice that night. He could delay his marriage until Ponn Far hit him but he would not return to Vulcan. He would rather die a man in love then one married to woman who couldn't stand. He would say on the ship and he would take his last breath looking at the woman he loved.

{OFF:}