Before the Shuttles Leave

Posted on Sunday, 17 May 2020 - 5:57pm by Lieutenant Alex Kingsley & Commander Soral

Mission: Operation: Recall
Location: USS Fontana | XO Quarters | Deck 01
Timeline: 2393 - MD06- Morning -- Pre shuttle boarding

{ON:}

Soral woke early. He left Alex sleeping. He should be getting ready but instead he replicated a mug of coffee and stood staring at the stars. They would be leaving soon on their shuttles and Alex was on a shuttle. He stood brooding. He sighed, "Gods of Vulcan protect her," he whispered.

Alone in their bed, Alex stirred as a distant corner of her brain registered exactly that. She was alone. She rubbed her eyes as she willed them to focus on the clock, frowning. She touched the other side of the bed, the sheet still a little warm. She doubted he had been up for long. “Soral?”

Soral heard her calling. He put the coffee cup down and headed back to the bedroom. "Good Morning my lady." He said using a Vulcan greeting that like the Romulans a husband would use for a wife. She wasn't his wife but in his heart she was all he desired. "Sleep well?"

Propping herself up on her elbows she nodded, “yes. And you? You’re up early.”

"Indeed." He walked over to the bed slipping under the covers happy to spend a little more time in bed. He opened his arms to her, "We leave the ship today."

“For a little while, and from what I understand, my team has possibly the easiest task,” she pointed out as she happily lay in his arms. With a grin she added, “and you get warrior nuns. And one of the teams, hopefully, will find a lead on Stillwater.”

"Perhaps." He kissed the top of her head. "I do not want you to go. I know you have to but I wish we could stay here."

She smiled up at him, “me too. But we will be back before you know it. And don’t they something about absence making the heart grow fonder? Although, you are making staying in bed a very persuasive argument.”

"Indeed." He looked at her. "I do love you, you know. My people do not say it lightly and I am afraid that I have something to ask of you which you may not like."

Her eyes narrowed, the way he worded it made it sound like something truly bad was about to cross his lips. She just had no idea what. “No bubbles,” she reminded him.

"No my lady. When I am married, it will be in name only. I do not wish to have any...other dealings with her. If I were able to guarantee that...I would ask that we continue what we have." He was quiet a moment. "You do not have to answer right away. But I ask you to consider it."

Alex sat back, studying him for a long moment. She did not doubt that he was being honest with her. She took his hand, “I promise to think about it. Those are big ifs. You have become so much more than I imagined. But she would still be your wife. That has to mean something. But I promise I will think about it. What we have... I don’t want to lose it.”

"Nor I. There may be a way but...Well it is fortuitous that I am going to Vashti. I have a friend there. There may be a way yet for us."

Leaning in she kissed him, “I’ll keep hoping then. Just be safe. I mean, warrior nuns ...” she grinned.

"Yes. They are interesting." He sighed. "We should go," he said but made no move to do so.

“We should, or else people will think I’m a bad influence on you,” she teased. “I mean I am but everyone doesn’t need to know that.”

"Indeed." He still made no move to leave. He kissed her gently, lovingly. "I will ... miss you."

“Perfectly logical,” she assured him as she took his hand and began to get out of bed. She had zero hope of budging him if he didn’t want to move but that was okay. “I’m going to shower and change. You can stay nice and cozy in bed,” she said as she let go of his hand and walked towards the bathroom, “or you can join me and educate me on some of those Ferengi traditions you are suddenly fond of...”

"Shower sounds good. It would be logical to conserve water and save time." He stood and lifted her into his arms. "Ready for that shower?"

“I have legs,” she yelped as he suddenly swept her off her feet. As he carried her, his hand brushed against her side and even biting her lip could not contain her laughter. She tried but within seconds she was squirming as her laugh seemed to burst out of her. What a time to be ticklish!

"I see I have discovered you Kryptonite. I shall use it wisely." He said. "That being said. I told you about my birth mark. You must tell me about your tattoo." He delighted in her laugh. He was in a lot of trouble. If this ended it would shatter him.

“‘Tis a magical tale, set in the land of Tequila and Vodka with a few cocktails dotted on the horizon. A hangover of epic proportions - honestly, if I were a Klingon there would be songs dedicated to the suffering- and the birth of the cute butterfly tattoo on my hip,” she said in her most overly dramatic voice as she reached out to start the water running. “Now, I do believe you will absolutely need to put me down since you are very overdressed for a shower.”

"Indeed." He placed her down.


=/\= One Hour Later =/\=

Soral finished dressing in civilian clothing. He packed a quick bag of items that he needed just as Alex came out of the room. "Did you pack what you will need on your journey?"

Tying back her hair, Alex emerged from the bathroom clad in an skin tight black jeans, boots and an emerald green tank top beneath a black leather jacket. “I’m packing light,” she admitted, “but I have what I need.”

"What's what you are wearing?"

“Clothes .... Should I replicate something? I do not have a lot of civilian clothes...” she turned to disappear back into the bedroom. “Will gym gear do?”

He sighed. "No it is just me. You look...beautiful. Like a Vulcan Goddess." He sat down on the big sofa chair. "I was thinking bubble thoughts," he said.

Hearing his sigh she peered around the doorframe at him before she grinned. Joining him on the chair she took his hand, “no need for bubbles. If it makes you feel better, I’ll steal a pair of overalls from one of the maintenance lockers and wear that instead...”

He laid his forehead against hers. "No. You look beautiful. I wish you to take something with you."

“Pretty sure they’ll notice if I sneak you aboard,” she whispered.

"Indeed." He stood taking her with him into the bedroom. He brought her over to the little groove on the wall with the statues. "These are the Vulcan Gods. These smaller ones...they were a gift. It was a mysterious package that arrived for me when I was a child. They are called household gods." He picked up a small figure. "This one is the protector. I wish you to keep her with you. She will fit in your pocket."

She let him place it in the palm of her hand, the small statue oddly warm to the touch. “I’ll take good care of it,” she promised, making sure it was safe and secure in her pocket. Turning she placed her hands on either side of his face, “Try not to worry, please. I want you home safe. Deal?”

"I will return." He said. "My heart goes with you my lady."

“And mines with you,” she promised. “Come on, we better get to the shuttle bay before anyone realises what a bad influence I am on you.”

"I believe it is the other way around." He kissed her again. "I will drop Bones at Vali's quarters. You go ahead."

“I’ll see you the second we get back,” she vowed, kissing him one last time before she left.

Soral watched her go and then knelt before his shrine. "Gods of Vulcan. I have honoured you. I beg your protection not for me but for Alex. Bring her back safe and in your honour I will give funds to the temple shrines on Vulcan that still honor you." He stood, walked out to the living area, picked up Bones and his bag and headed out. He wondered what revelations Vashti would hold for him.

{OFF:}