And So It Begins

Posted on Wednesday, 17 March 2021 - 11:36am by Commander Soral & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Trail of Tears
Location: Various | USS Standing Bear
Timeline: 2394 MD 10

ON:

Bones sniffed around as made his ways through the hall. Somehow, with the aid of his cuteness he'd found himself on the deck with the science lab. Piece of Soral's uniform in jaw he sniffed until he latched onto the scent of Alex. Slowly the small dog made his way there. He waited patiently until one of the science humans left the office and then bolted in to find his mistress.

Reaching for the evaluations she had been putting off, Lieutenant Kingsley let out a startled yelp when something brushed against her leg. Jumping to her feet she had to grab a chair to avoid falling over the very familiar puppy who was now peering up at her. “Bones?! Wha - how...?”

Even as all her questions tried to find a voice she crouched down to see what he had in his mouth. Fabric, with a small segment of red which told her it was not from one of her uniforms but had to be from Soral’s. “Did you ruin another of his jackets?” she asked as she finally retrieved the fabric. “I’m not taking the fall for this little guy. How’d you even get all the way here?”

The dog whined and gently held her hand between his teeth as if to pull her. He barked and ran to the door as if saying follow me.

“You’ve been watching Lassie too much,” Alex sighed, as much to herself as Bones as she stood and followed after him. This kind of behaviour for Bones was beyond unusual. She frowned as she tapped her comm badge, needing to quell a growing concern in the pit of her stomach. “Kingsley to Soral,” she said as she stepped into the turbolift with Bones impatiently running circles around her feet.

There was no response.

Bones circled Alex's feet. How did he say, how did he say that his master was in the cargo bay? How did he lead her, this human world was so confusing to him. He could sense something was wrong but not how to convey it.

In the silence which followed her call, Alex reached down and lifted Bones, "Computer, where is Commander Soral?"


=/\=Cargo Bay=/\=

Soral stood with the laser scalpel in his hand. The few Romulans that they managed to save stood behind him. The chunk that Alex had retrieved of Romulus was large. He cut it into several bits. Small bits were given to each Romulan. Two of them were entrusted with two additional larger bits. One to be taken to Vashti, one to Vulcan as a reminder of what Romulus was and the familial bond of Vulcans and Romulans.

Once the Romulans had left the Cargo bay Soral, who'd ordered all Starfleet personnel out turned to the final piece of the chunk. If was a small piece that fit in the palm of both hands.

When he'd been sure he was alone he let the grief of all that happened wash over him. It seemed to sap his strength and he fell to his knees. Tears, the ones he'd kept at bay fell now freely his grief washing over him like a river.

While it was not somewhere she would often consider taking an inquisitive puppy, her husband's silence and the unusual behaviour of said puppy had convinced Alex that time was of the essence. Soral would never ignore a call from anyone... As she entered the bay she hesitated as she saw him, kneeling in the middle of the bay which had not long ago contained the fragments she had found of Romulus. Setting Bones down, she watched as the puppy ran straight towards Soral at warp speed and cautiously, she followed. Soral rarely gave into his emotions to such an extent, certainly not here, where the entire crew could bare witness. Yet she could see from here that he was sobbing.

Quietly she moved to his side before kneeling on the deck. She said nothing, instead she just reached out, took his hand and held it tightly.

Once the damn was open the flood was not held back. He cried for Romulus, for the people lost, for Vulcan, for Vashti, for his children, for the people they were not able to save from he ship for his lost bond with Alex. All the pain seemed to have been pulled into a ball and his weakened state from the onset of Pon Farr provided a way for it to come out. He leaned into Alex resting his head on her shoulder and just allowing himself to be comforted.

Bones Laid down beside him and kept a paw on his knee as if he too offered comfort.

Alex said nothing, instead holding him and allowing all of his grief and pain and sadness to find a way out. Her mother had once told her of how cathartic it was sometimes to just let go, let the tears flow... and she was right. Soral needed to let his emotions find a voice, something she knew would be hard for him. And it pained her to see him so hurt and almost lost. Enough that tears stung her own eyes as she offered Bones a small smile in response to the puppy's own efforts to comfort Soral.

Soral held onto her. It was a long time before his sobs eased. Soral, hesitant to eave the arms of his wife, pulled back resting his forehead against hers. He couldn't find the strength to talk yet. He missed the bond he shared with Alex yet was glad it was not in place now because the sheer grief he felt would have been a heavy burden for her and he did not want her to feel that. "I..I.." He was all he could get out.

"Shhh," she whispered, pressing a fingertips to his lips as she held him. "It will be okay. I promise."

He absorbed the strength she gave. It took several moments for him more to come to himself. "I am sorry." He said. He didn't pull away but instead wrapped his arms around his wife. "How did you know to come here?"

"You have nothing to apologise for," she assured him. "As for how, I had help. Bones managed, heaven knows how, to make it to the science labs and into my office. With part of your uniform in his mouth. I guess the whole man's best friend saying is true enough. He knew something was wrong."

Soral only then noticed that the jacket he'd discarded when he'd come here, Bones in tow, had a bit missing from it. He sighed. "I see. Bones is proving to be quit an interesting personality." He smiled a little.

"He's a mischief," Alex agreed with a grin, scratching Bones behind his ear. She frowned, peering up at Soral, "we are running out of time, aren't we?"

"Not yet, no. Doctor Rose will help give us more time." He rested his forehead against hers. "I do not want you to worry." He kissed her and cupped her face in his hands. "Alexandra...I wish you to know, I love you. I know I may not have said it enough or often but I do love you."

“I know,” she assured him with a gentle kiss, “and I love you. Losing our bond never changed how I feel about you.”

"Nor did it change how I feel about you." He wiped the eyes. "I must ask something of you Alexandra."

“You can always ask anything of me,” she reminded him.

"I need you to take my bridge duty...I am not well." It was a brutal admission, one he'd never made before.

“I’ll keep the ship out of trouble,” she promised, “after I get my two boys home, of course.”

Another admission, "I will need your assistance I...am not secure on my feet."

Kissing him she climbed to her feet, offering him her hand, “we will get there together. Come on, let’s go home...”

He allowed her to help him stand. Still clutching the rock that once was Romulus in his hand he slung the other over her shoulder and they headed out Bones dragging his jacket.

It was a journey which had no witnesses that she noticed, for Alex was sure the trio made some sight. After what felt like an eternity, they were home - Bones dragging the jacket to his bed to join the others he had acquired while Alex helped Soral to their bed. “You should call Dr Rose,” she urged him gently as she fused with the pillows and sheets.

He placed the bit of Romulus on his night stand and settled back into the bed allowing her to fuss over him, enjoying it even. He took her hand. "Not yet I prefer to keep those shots to a minimum." He kissed the inside of her wrist. "It will all work out, I promise."

It was a hollow promise, one he could never be certain of keeping. But she didn’t argue as she kissed him, “try to rest.”

Even as she said the words he drifted into sleep.

Bones had come into the room and stood up on his hind paws placing his front paws on her knee to draw her attention.

“Feeling pretty proud of yourself, huh?” She teased him. “Come on, let’s find you some treats.”

Bones' eyes lit up. He wagged his tail and as she picked him up he proceeded to lick her face. Treats were always welcomed. This human gave him treats, the male human...not so much.

Closing the bedroom door to try and give Soral some quiet, Alex sorted some of Bones favoured biscuits. For a little while she just knelt beside him, watching him enjoy his treat and worrying about Soral. She doubted they had as much time as he implied and at that moment his promise of everything being alright seemed impossible to keep.

The door chimed gently to their shared quarters.

“Come in,” Alex called out as she stood.

The door hissed open and a young Romulan boy walked in, the one they'd rescued. "Um...hi again." He was clearly practicing his Federation Standard.

“Hi,” Alex replied with a small smile. “What brings you here? I’m afraid Soral is resting...” her words trailed off as Bones ran to the newcomer, almost bouncing with excitement. “Bones, no! I’m sorry, he’s curious but he won’t hurt you.”

The boy had never seen such a beast. Feeling somewhat afraid he ran to Alex and wrapped his arms around her waist. "What is this beast?"

For a moment Alex was caught off guard, unsure of what to say or do. "Not a beast," she assured him as she pried herself free and knelt so they were almost eye to eye, "he's a puppy."

She held out a hand and Bones came closer, sniffing out any sign of more treats but happily sitting for some attention before rolling onto his back seeking a belly rub, all the while his tail was wagging furiously. "On Earth, they have pets called dogs. And a young dog is called a puppy... they are always curious, hungry and full of energy. See? He wants some love and attention and to play. He doesn't want to hurt you. I can put him in another room if you want?"

While she knew Bones was as dangerous as a butterfly unless he thought Soral was in danger, she could understand how a little bundle of fur with lots of teeth could be misunderstood. It was probably the teeth the boy was focused on.

The boy knelt by the puppy and hesitantly reached out petting the animal. Bones, ever the attention ham, licked the boy's hand.

He smiled a little. He looked back at Alex. "He will not bite?"

“Only if you steal his food,” Alex grinned, giving the boy room to get to used to being around Bones. Her mother used to always say how valuable contact with animals could be in the healing process. Perhaps the hyperactive puppy could be just what the youngest survivor needed. At any rate, Bones did not seem to mind the attention one bit.

He smiled a little more. "His hair is soft." He pet the dog a bit more and then stood. "Will you please tell Soral I came by?"

"Of course I will," she promised, scooping up Bones before he could trail after his new found friend. "Nope, you've had enough adventure for today..."

The boy gave a nod. "Thank you." He looked at her. "You have kind eyes." He gave a nod and then he was gone.

“Guess you made a new friend,” Alex told Bones, setting him down, “now go finish your treat and I’ll write a note. Do not eat it.”

OFF: