Lt Alex Storm - Always One Step Behind

[Karen Morris]

((Shuttle Griffin, Shuttle Hangar, Deck 11, Artemis-A))

Alex leaned over the console where she was carrying on a conversation with Nila.  Her fingers lingered on its edge as if waiting for and hoping against something to cause them to fall into her lap.

Storm:  =/\= I have two people with me, Nila. Both from Starfleet.  =/\= What’s our ETA, Nat?  

Cole: Just under thirteen hours at current speed. I can push a little harder, but I’m trying to deliver us as a shuttle, not a cautionary tale.

Storm:    =/\= When we get closer, I’ll comm you with our landing coordinates.  =/\=

Nila:    =/\= Understood.  I’ll keep you abreast of anything else I find out.  Nila, out.   =/\=

Cole: Good. Eyes on Kona means fewer unknowns, and right now I’ll take any reduction in chaos I can get.

Jaran:  Response

Alex caught the question in their eyes.

Storm:  She’s a friend from the Scimitar who left Starfleet.  I knew she was still on Betazed, so as soon as I could, I messaged her.

Cole: Then I already like her. Anyone willing to help with this on short notice has good instincts.

Jaran:  Response

Storm:  She’ll help us get where we need to go … once we’re on the ground.

Cole: ::nodding:: Good. Now walk us through who’s likely to be there, who matters, and who might try to stop us from leaving with Cassie?

Alex nodded as her brain tried to switch gears.  Her thoughts felt … full, heavy, sluggish.  Not because she had too much information, but because there was too much emotion competing against what information she had.  

She was close, so close to being able to kneel down and wrap her arms around her daughter.  To cradle that little head against her heart, to feel her breath against her cheek.  It was too much, and not enough at the same time.

She looked up and caught Nat looking her direction. Had she said something? It took Alex a second to replay what Nat had asked.

Storm:  Oh… um... well, I can only guess at the main players.  Kona’s mom, Elsine will be front and center.  She would definitely try to step in between us and Cassie.  He’s an only child, so there won’t be siblings.  But Kona’s dad has a brother…Oh…what’s his name? 

Alex swivelled her chair around to face the other two.  Her hand formed into a fist which tapped her lips trying to squeeze out an answer.  Her brows knit as her hand fell open.

Storm:  Garret, maybe?  I don’t know if he’ll be there or not.  Neither of Kona’s grandparents are still living.  I really think it’s going to be a lot of business associates.  According to Kona, his dad was well-liked and well-connected.  Unfortunately, I can’t tell you anything else with certainty.

Jaran:  Response

Cole: We don’t need certainty yet. We need something solid enough to stand on, and then we keep moving.

Storm:  I think our best bet is going to be waiting everyone out and then confronting Kona quietly.  I really ... don’t want a scene. 

Alex paused and swallowed.

Storm:  Not there.  But I am concerned that even with my mental barriers up, he’ll sense me and run.

Jaran:  Response

But what if there was a scene? What if Elsine chose that moment to call her out?  To villify her for not leaving her son and granddaughter alone?

And what about Cassie?  What if Cassie didn’t remember her?  It had been two years. She was only two when Kona left.

Her lip trembled.  What if Cassie didn’t even want to see her?  What if she clung to her father, fearing the stranger before her?

Alex’s arms pulled in around her, her brain battling against her heart, and her face losing both wars.

((Eleven hours Later))

((Shuttle Griffin – En route to Betazed ))

Alex stood with her hands on her hips, swaying back and forth.  They had a basic plan.  Besides, anything more than that would be useless anyway.  There were just too many unknowns.

Cole: I’m not saying I like our odds, but they’ve improved enough that I’ve stopped drafting apology letters in my head.

Storm:  Once we see him there, make sure you alert Federation authorities, so they can take him into custody - just so we can get a judge to at least look at the case.

Jaran:  Response

The console Alex had been sitting at earlier lit back up with an incoming hail.  Slipping back into the seat, Alex opened the channel.

Storm:  =/\= This is shuttle Griffin.  Who is this? =/\=

Nila:  =/\=  Alex, it’s Nila.  We’ve got a problem.=/\=

Her eyes flitted sideways at the others.  She took a measured breath.

Storm:  =/\= What happened, Nila? =/\=

Nila:  =/\= He’s gone. =/\=

Storm:  =/\= Wait--Kona’s gone?  Where?  How? =/\=

Nila:  =/\= He spent the morning at his parents’ house, but about ten minutes ago, he left.  He had a large pack with him.  I followed him to the spaceport. He left on a transport, stopping over at Vulcan, but heading on to Draylon, Trill, and Kressari. I’m so sorry, Alex.  I didn’t expect him to leave before the funeral. =/\=

Neither had she.  Alex propped her elbows on the console and cradled her face in her hands.  Her shoulders shuddered, and her breath hitched once - twice.  Then she forced it steady.  

Storm:  =/\= It’s not your fault, Nila.  Kona is slipperier than a greased flabbit.  We’ll figure something out.  We’re getting close.  What’s our current ETA, Nat? =/\= 

Cole/Jaran: Response

Storm:  =/\= We’ll be landing at… =/\= 

Alex turned to Jira.

Storm:  What’s our berth number?

Cole/Jaran:  Response

Storm:  =/\= You’ll find us there shortly.  Storm out. =/\= 

Alex closed the channel and slipped out of her seat.  She didn’t--couldn’t--look at Nat or Jaran.

Her hands wrapped themselves into fists, but her voice remained steady…almost eerily placid.

Storm:  Just … give me a minute.

Cole/Jaran:  Response

~*~

Tags / TBC!

~*~

Lt Alex Storm

Tactical Officer

USS Artemis

O240103SK2