Trust Me

Posted on Sunday, 27 September 2020 - 11:22am by Lieutenant Alex Kingsley & Commander Soral

Mission: Operation: Dreamweaver
Location: USS Standing Bear
Timeline: 2393

{ON:}

Having spent the better part of the morning alone and having a battle of wits with a particularly annoying piece of fluff, Bones was excited to once again have company. With a delighted yelp, the puppy fetched his favourite ball and - still missing his owner - sought solace in play. With a sad smile, Alex scooped him up off the floor, scratching his favourite spot behind his ear as she sat at the computer terminal and sensing playtime was far away, Bones curled up on her lap to observe all with his big brown eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Alex entered the final command which brought the monitor to life and revealed a familiar face. “Severine,” she began, frowning, “is something wrong?”

"Hello," she said. "It is why I called. Since leaving Earth, father has taken to calling daily...I have not heard from him."

“Oh,” Alex replied, wondering why she was surprised. It was very Soral. “I didn’t know. He is off the ship at the moment, I’m sorry. You are sure everything is okay with you and your brother?”

"Indeed. Grandmother arrives soon. Why is he off the ship? Last he said you were in deep space."

“She will and she is looking forward to spending more time with you,” Alex confided. “Where is your father... well, we are on a mission to chart a star system but we stumbled upon a mystery too. I cannot tell you more right now but as soon as he is back, I will make sure he calls you and your brother, I promise.”

Severine studied the woman. The eyes were not that of a child but of an ancient wisdom. "How much do you know of Vulcan family units?"

“About as much as I know about parenting,” Alex sighed. “I assume you asked for a reason?”

"Vulcan children are connected to their parents. We can sense...things even at distances. Even though I didn't know about my father when I was younger there was always a place in my mind where I felt his presence. That sense...tells me something is not right with him. Plus you look...worried. "

“Oh...” Alex murmured, not for the first time. Then chided herself. She had known it, had seen it even. The day Soral was guiding her meditation and she had seen two children playing beside him. That seemed a lifetime ago. “I don’t have answers for you and I do not have a lot of time - will you trust me when I promise you everything will be okay?”

There was a pause as she looked like she was considering it. "Indeed." She studied the woman noting that she looked tired. Just before she could say something else the door chimed.

"Come in!" Alex shouted, while Bones sat up from his near slumber, staring at the door.

The door parted and Grol walked in. "Sir, these are documents..." he began as he entered not looking up, "That need to be signed if Commander Soral is not found or ... killed."

"Grol! What is wrong with you?!" Alex snapped, Bones jumping down from her lap as she stood, darting to the corner. In that moment she seemed the embodiment of every stereotype of a red head every written. Her blue eyes were like ice as she fixed him with a glare before turning back to the screen, "Severine, it is not as bad as it sounds, I promise. I will find him just like he found me and he will be fine, I wasn't lying about that. Your dad will see you soon."

Behind her Bones gave what she hoped was a bark in agreement.

Severine studied them and then she sat up straight. "I trust you."

Alex smiled, “thank you. I need to go, stay safe, keep your grandmother out of trouble and lots of love to you and your brother.”

She gave a typical Vulcan salute, "Live long and prosper mother."

As the screen went blank she turned back to Grol, arms folded. “Perhaps read the room before speaking?”

"Yes..well..." He was unused to censoring with Soral. He stopped by her and gave her the papers. "For your review."

"The ones to be signed in case my husband is never found or is dead," she clarified icily as she took the documents.

"Yes...it is just a precaution. They will be destroyed when he returns." He paused. "I understand what you are going through."

Doubtful, she thought inwardly as she turned away from him as she read. After a moment she signed off on them, "signing these is a waste of time, he will be back."

"I'm sure he will. This is just a precaution." He paused. "You dislike me."

She handed him back the PaDDs, "jury's out."

He had been about to say something when the room shimmered. Bones began to bark and growl. "Lieutenant look!" Grol pointed to the corner.

There in the corner of the office a small slit opened. A battle scene to behold, the Valliant crew of the Standing Bear wounded but fighting with dark hooded figures There in the center was Soral and Mac.

“Soral!” Alex breathed, stepping closer, her eyes drinking in the scene yet never straying far from him. He was so close ...

Bones barked and leapt at the slit only to disappear. The slit closed.

“Bones, no!” Alex watched in horror as the puppy leaped passed her, disappearing as the opening closed with a flash of brilliant white light. “Soral...”

Grol, thankful for always carrying tricorder slammed it shut. "Got it! Visual and sensor." He held out the tricorder.

Numbly, Alex took it from him. How many more were going to be taken? "I need to get to the lab..."

"After you rest." Grol said. "You need rest Lieutenant."

“I will rest when they are home, right now there are probes to launch, sensors to calibrate and sensor readings to study,” Alex told him.

"And you believe that you can do that in your current state? Even Commander Soral knew when he needed rest to allow his subconscious to work a problem out. I can take the readings to the lab."

“Overstepping,” Alex warned him as she headed for the door.

He sighed and followed her out, "If you say so."

“Now your getting it...”

OFF