Query to Message

Posted on Sunday, 7 February 2021 - 4:20pm by Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt & Crewman Leopold Eberhardt

Mission: Operation: Trail of Tears

Adrianna had been lost in thought that evening. Planning a wedding seemed overwhelming and she could see why the mothers did it instead of the brides. She was already in bed in a silky set of pyjamas, reading her PaDD. That feeling of hiraeth rose up through her veins again, but it turned to guilt.

At least her mother had met Leopold and knew Adrianna was to marry him, albeit an assumption and forced obligation from the cougar. The Italian looked up to the door as she heard the familiar whoosh of the main entrance to their quarters open. "Welcome home," she called from her comfy spot on her side of the bed.

"Thank you," the man said walking through the doorway and finding himself pleasantly greeted by the woman he was betrothed to. "One of these days I'm going to have to think about changing what I do." Leopold shook his head as he began to loosen himself free of his uniform. "Waste reclamation isn't glamorous, and that didn't used to bother me, but our duty shifts rarely line up."

Adrianna offered an empathetic smile, "I know, but it makes the reunions better. I'm surprised you haven't gone for the position within the plant place. I mean what you did in the flowers was amazing." She looked him over a moment, "you shouldn't change because of me."

"I'd like to see more of you than passing moments and carefully orchestrating overlapping shore leave," replied Leopold. "We have a great relationship and I would like to keep that going. I just get worried with our schedules how they are, we won't get enough time together."

Adrianna put her PaDD on the bedside table and crawled to the edge of the bed, kneeling up in front of Leopold," I love you whether we have 10 minutes or 10 decades. " She put her hands softly on his chest, helping him with his uniform," plus, we have tonight and we're both off tomorrow."

Leopold smiled. "I know you do and the same is true for me, I promise," he said almost apologetically. "I just want to make sure that I am the best husband that I can be for you. Because you deserve me. I deserve you, and we deserve this." The man looked at the PaDD that was placed on the bedside table. "Work related?"

Adrianna smiled and kissed him softly, "you always say the right thing. You won't be a bad husband. Ever." She then looked back to the PaDD and crawled back over to it, "Uhh, no. You related. I wanted to talk to you about it before doing anything though. It can wait if you're already tired though."

"I sprung to life again the moment I walked into the quarters and saw you," he teased. "You tend to have that effect on me, you know?" he smiled at her and gestured to the PaDD. "About me? Now, I am definitely interested. I am my second favorite topic. So, let's hear about me and what you have there."

Adrianna giggled at his cheeky flirtation. "Your first, favourite topic being reclamation and science stuff," she teased back. Adrianna went to hand him the PaDD, "My mother knows about us. You've met family, some of them anyway," Adrianna explained before continuing, "a window is opening, if you wanted to send a message home."

"What is home?" he replied back. "To your mother or did you mean contacting my family? If you mean mine...I will come of with something. I do need to inform them about you or rather an update on our relationship status. They will of course want to meet you, but I hope that does not have to happen on my home world at least."

Adrianna nodded, "your family." She paused a moment, "I know more of earth's history than of your home world, but I have to ask: are you sure they'd be OK with me? I'm far from arian. Plus, you even mentioned once in passing that I was the woman she warned you about." She shook her head, "nevermind. Look, the window isn't open for long. But as soon as you work out a message, let me know and I'll get it sent."

"She also is very much that sort of woman she warned me about," Leopold replied laughing a bit. "She keeps my father very busy and on a tight leash, and always guessing." He smiled reassuringly. "They are who they are. I complain about them, but they are not terrible people."

"Oh gawd, you're marrying your mother," she teased. Adrianna offered a comforted smile, "I want you to be happy. As soon as I found out the window was open, I looked into it. I love you and I trust you. And if we need to visit, we need to visit. You'll keep me safe, and vice versa."

"You will be fine so long as we avoid places of strategic value," he replied. "My people, the Ekosians really only care about their endless cycles of war with the Zeons." He knew that he explained as much in the past and given her background she undoubtedly looked into his world's history. "There are not many Zeons on my home planet. Those that are there are rounded up and incarcerated. From time to time there are attempts made to liberate them by the resistance movement or Zeon sympathizers."

She patted the bed next to her, "we don't have to go back. But the opportunity has arisen for at least a message to your family. I'm sure they'd want to make sure you are doing well."

He nodded. She was right and he knew it. The opportunity was there and how often would he really get the chance? "I know and I will. I just need to figure out what to even say to them. Ekosians do not serve in Starfleet, not usually at least. It is 'beneath us' to do so."

"Why not do something un-uniformed. The signal can't be a Starfleet one anyway," Adrianna offered, "I can be the other side of the visual, so you can say everything as if talking to me. Moral support. You were there for me, I'll be there for you." She kissed his cheek, "how long has it been?"

Leopold shrugged. "Uh-well, I left home for a while. Found my way off the planet, had a misadventure or two and joined Starfleet." He was beginning to feel like he was avoiding the question. "Two years, and approaching three since the last I spoke to either of my parents."

Adrianna nodded, "almost the same as me then." She put her head on his shoulder, "I'm sure they'll appreciate the call home. I know I would."

"They would," Leopold agreed. He had never intended to leave them the way that he did nor end up turning to Starfleet to find himself, but it was what happened, and part of him was embarrassed to speak with his parents. To inform them that he was still in fact wearing a Starfleet uniform, working for the same galactic faction that had brought chaos to their world and whose misguided attempts at fixing their mistake had only resulted in more pain.

He looked up at Adrianna. "How long is that window? Enough that I can sleep on it and contemplate what to say to them?"

Adrianna shrugged a little, "about a week, maybe two with excuses."

"I will only need a night or so, not anything more. I won't need any excuses, just some things to figure out in my head before I put it into a message to home," explained Leopold. "Beyond the basic hey, I am safe. Sorry I haven't spoken to you in a few years."

Adrianna kissed him softly, "well, let me help you unwind. It is our first night together in days. I can give you a backrub, maybe join you in the shower first?"

"We can make it a two in one," he replied. "Backrubs in the sonic shower!" he exclaimed, practically launching himself upwards and setting a course for the sonic shower. "That should help clear my mind a bit."

Adrianna chuckled and followed, "happy to help."