From Now Until Eternity

Posted on Friday, 29 May 2020 - 2:26am by Captain Barret Stillwater & Lieutenant Talarn Zilth

Mission: Operation: Recall
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: MD-13+

ON:

Talarn was broken. He stood in the middle of their new, mostly empty quarters and stared at the floor. He didn't know how else to describe how he was feeling. They hadn't even given them time to pack. If he could have wept he would have. Already, he felt suffocated. He tried to breathe normally, but found, once again, that he couldn't and stood in the middle of the room hitching through his breathing problems. At least he had Barret with him, but how long would that last? How long would it be before Starfleet found out he was on board as well and forced him away? He was fairly certain that they weren't going to reinstate him anytime soon. He was still ex-Borg. That was never going to change.

The loss he was experiencing was painful. His chest hurt and the pain seemed to radiate out to his limbs. There had been so many things in their home that he had been attached to and they hadn't even been allowed to take any of it or given a chance. Finally, the stress and sorrow got the best of him and he sunk down to the floor and lay on his side in the middle of the room.

When Barret Stillwater entered the suite that had his joined officer (the Captain's Ready Room), he knew that his husband was in the living section of it, if not in the bedroom. Stillwater made his way through the Ready Room and into the living area. It did not take long for Barret to find his husband who was clearly as unpleased about this move from Prairie as he himself was, but for Talarn it was a lot more. Stillwater chose to retire from Starfleet. There had not been such a choice for Talarn.

Stillwater approached with some caution. "I know," he said calmly trying to calm his husband. "This is not what either of us wanted. We were supposed to have Prairie until one of us died, but it is important that we remember that it is important we stay together. Nobody is going to get to you without going through me."

Talarn rolled over on his back on the floor to look up at Barret, his limbs sprawled around him as if he was preparing to make snow angels. His eyes conveyed, that as funny as he looked at the moment, he was struggling. Barret's voice was a comfort though and seeing the human was even better. "We didn't even get to pack..." was about all he could manage.

"I brought the mug you made," Stillwater replied. "I had them send up a few things. They are sitting in a cargo hold, but I opted to leave a lot of our belongings behind for a reason, Tal," he added. "Think of this as a lengthy vacation. We will be returning to Prairie when this is all over with. We can make due with what we have here for the time being."

Talarn stared up at the human in surprise. "How can you be so sure?" he asked softly. The question was more to himself than Barret. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You are right, of course and that is why I love you. Do you know what is in cargo?" There was obviously something that he wanted that he had in mind or the question wouldn't have come. He couldn't get his mind off the potential items in cargo.

Stillwater shook his head, not as a response, but more as a reaction. "Your blanket is in the cargo hold, I promise. I would not let you leave Prairie without it, and I am certain because I am a man of my word. I always have been and I always will be," he replied swiftly. "One call to Admiral Quinteros and I am certain I can end this all, but for now if there is some good we can do, getting these lost black sheep back in order, then we should make an honest attempt at it. I'm going to need my best tactical officer at my side."

"It's in the cargo hold? It really is?" All he had really wanted was the blanket. "When can I go get our things?" he questioned, already feeling better, the sorrow in his chest starting to subside. "Do you really think they will let me work again? I'm still not... not sure I want to, Bar..."

"I'll have a request put in when we arrive at the station," he said assuringly. "For now, it is probably best you relax and try not to worry too much. I don't want the crew in cargo to be alarmed at a Cardassian ex-Borg, you sort of have that effect on people," Stillwater added. "I know you are hesitant about it. The Admiralty will probably take issue, but Victrix and I have already discussed a more political route. You may not get your officer commission back, but a warrant is likely. Between Victrix and I, we may know the right doors to knock on."

Talarn snorted. It was hard to tell if it was amusement or sarcasm, Barret would know it was both. "Do you know what shift you'll be working?" He sat up and put a hand out, grasping at Barret's closest leg. "I'm sorry I am upset. I know this isn't easy for you either. I will try and be supportive. I promise not to scare the crew in cargo. I can't promise I will stay in these quarters though." He paused for a moment. "Bar... I love and trust you. I will make the best of it as I can... for you and for us."

"Remember that old Ex-Borg saying, 'I will adapt,'" replied Stillwater. "I do not expect you to stay cooped up in the quarters. This starship is small enough as it is. You will need to get out and stretch. My suggestion would be to enjoy the luxury of the space station while you can. I am still going to have to get used to commanding something this... cozy."

Talarn laughed softly. "I wouldn't mind the cozy so much if it was just the two of us, but I'm not so big on sharing. I'm also still worried that they're going to make me get off this ship. Technically, I'm still a civilian."

"And the Captain's husband" countered Stillwater. "If it makes you feel any better, I'll assign a security detail to you for your protection" he added. "I won't let them take you from me."

The Cardassian laughed again. "Only if they board us to actually physically remove me. I think I will be okay other than that. I will let you know if that changes." He finally decided to get up off the floor and stood. "My head hurts again. Do you think I should see an engineer or a doctor?" He put a hand out, trying to place it on whatever of Barret was immedately available, simply to be touching him. "I won't let them take me either... or you. Is it possible to have a support human?" he joked.

"I believe it's very possible," replied Stillwater. "Don't see the Chief Engineer unless the new one is properly aboard and the transition happens. The outgoing one is part Klingon and from all reports difficult to work with," Stillwater cautioned. "I have heard good things of Doctor Rose, the CMO. See him."

"I hate doctors... you know that. I'd rather speak to an Engineer, but I'll wait until the Klingon is gone. It's not all that pressing, I'm just not sure why it keeps happening. Cortical node maybe? Stress... can I be stressed? I probably can. I know I can get frustrated. That's stressful, isn't it? I'm not sure it's the same. Do you really think I'll frighten the crew?" he worries.

"Not all of them," Stillwater said in his nonchalant sometimes direct response. "You are two things that are not easily accepted: Cardassian and Borg," he added. "I think it will just take some time for them to get used you is all, but that cannot happen with you sheltered by me in here."

"I won't stay sheltered and at least I have a small bag of tea leaves. It will remind me of home when things get hard. I'll be okay. I just..." He reached out to touch Barret's cheek with the back of his hand, gently, caressing. "I guess I'm just... frightened." It was hard for him to admit that he was scared. He was a big, bad, tough, Cardassian, Borg. There was no reason for him to be afraid, and yet, he still felt fear.

"I wouldn't expect you to stay sheltered," replied Stillwater. "I understand that you are frightened. I hope you are able to shake that feeling."

Talarn shook his head. "Regardless of how I feel now, all that matters is that I'm here with you. Just like you said. As long as we're together, where we're together is semantics. Right? Did I say that right?" He tried a small smile.

"You said it just fine," Stillwater replied. "Come, let's go see what this ship looks like. I know it isn't much, but I have not gotten the chance to walk it stern to bow, nor port to starboard."

"I'd like that. Will this be in an official capacity? Should I dress?" The sarcasm wasn't obvious, if it had been anyone but Barret Stillwater.

:OFF

 

Comments (1)