Lieutenant (JG) Jaran Jira - Never Have I Lost Respect So Quickly
Jira Jaran
(( Outside Transport Hub, Eastern Ice Shelf – Andoria ))
Antares: ::softly, to nobody:: No looser… or the wind will poke through.
Silveira and Sambur flanked Kona.
Silveira: I am sorry it has reached this point, but thank you Kona. ::Turning to Sambur:: I want registered that Mr. Antares was cooperative.
Antares: ::distractedly:: Thank you.
Sambur: Aye, Commander.
The nastiest part of the business past, Jira turned their attention to Alex. And Cassie. They allowed the mother her time.
Storm: Keep your face pressed into my coat to keep you warm, okay?
Jira joined the others as they walked down the stairs, occasionally turning their head to check on Alex at the rear.
Silveira: For what it’s worth, I know how hard it is to be far from your child…
Storm: So do I.
Kona missed a step, and Ozdin’s hand moved to keep him from falling.
The Betazoid lifted one palm, declining the assistance without looking at his would-be rescuer, then continued downward.
Storm: Jira, can you guide us back to the transport hub? My arms are full of precious cargo.
Cassie: I’m not cargo, Mommy!
H’aal: ::whispers for himself:: Enjoy your mama, little one. You will never know when you will miss it…
Jira smiled slightly at the unintentional humour that children so often brought to heavy times. They half turned and nodded to Alex.
Jaran: I've got you covered, Alex.
Storm: Cassie, we’re heading outside now. Remember what I said about your face, okay?
Cassie: Mmmhmm
Jaran: You both keep warm. Don't make me have to be your mother, Ms. Storm. I've heard
Silveira: Response
The door whooshed open and they were immediately reminded of the cold.
Storm: We shouldn’t be outside for more than five or ten minutes, Munchkin.
Antares: Where will she sleep?
Jira looked at Alex while they spoke.
Jaran: The ship is well equipped for civilians of all ages.
Silveira: Response
Antares: Please, no.
Kona stopped abruptly, and the crew stopped with him.
Antares: She can’t go aboard that ship. Please.
Antares looked behind him toward Cassie. Alex held her tightly against her chest, one hand beneath her and the other spread across the back of the blue coat. Cassie’s face remained hidden against her shoulder.
Antares: A starship is not a home for a child. Alexandra, she’s four. She cannot consent to living beside an… an antimatter reactor.
Kona’s breathing grew louder.
Antares: Wolf 359. Sector 001. The Dominion War. Frontier Day. ::sharply:: No– listen to me! On and on and on. And after every one, Starfleet holds a memorial. It reads the names. It promises lessons were learned.
His panicked face looked to each officer in turn.
Jira averted their eyes. They would be lying if they said this didn't echo their own fears. But such events were indeed rare, and statistics said Cassie would be safe. But people weren't statistics. The Prophets preserve them all.
Antares: ::quietly:: Then it builds another ship. ::bitterly:: Another hull. Another crew willing to be sucked into space while they sleep. Another group of people who trusted that the shields would always hold.
He was shaking now. From fear, not cold.
Antares: And when those shields fail, you hold another service. You place another plaque on another wall and call the loss the price of exploration. ::pointing at Cassie:: She will not become another name on one of your walls!
He looked for his daughter, who merely looked back from the comfort of her mother's arms. Something told Jira to move closer to Alex. As they turned, they heard the sounds of scuffle from behind them.
Storm: Sil!? What’s going on?
Sambur: He’s trying to run! Keep behind me!
Jira had expected this. They knew it had been too easy to this point. Kona had shown themselves too determined to stay out of justice's reach.
Jaran: Oh you foolish man...
Silveira: Response
Kona twisted again. His arm came free of one sleeve, then the other.
Antares forced himself through the opening between the two. He slipped on the ice, struck one hand against the pavement and scrambled upright, his glove flying free.
Whether he intended to or not, he was headed for a sharp drop in the terrain.
Sambur: Kona! Watch out!
Antares reached the edge of the embankment, half jumped and half fell over it, then vanished into the driving storm.
H’aal: Silveira? Doctor? Alex? What’s happening?
Ozdin didn't waste time answering. He pressed a hand into his communicator. He had to shout over the wind to be sure he was heard.
Sambur: =/\= This is Lt. Sambur of the USS Artemis on an emergency hail! We have a civilian lost over the embankment at my position! Betazoid male! Name, Kona Antares! He’s not wearing any communicative gear that I’m aware of! And he doesn’t have any coat or gloves! Repeat, no coat no gloves! We need aid at all speed to this position! =/\=
Andorian Operator: =/\= Acknowledged, Lieutenant. Your location has been logged and a Search And Rescue team alerted. We’ll take it from here. Clear the area. Get to secure ground or housing. Do not attempt to involve yourself in the search effort. Our people know their work. Any assistive efforts on your part can only slow them down. =/\=
Sambur: =/\= Understood. Thank you for your efforts. Sambur out. =/\=
Jira extracted their tricorder, but the refraction of the ice crystals prevented any reliable readings. They shook their head. A moment in time. That's all it took for him to ensure that the never saw his daughter again. All this time, and he had decided she was an acceptable loss to evade his own capture. For all his words of fear about Cassie's life on a starship, he had finally revealed that his true care had been for his personal safety and freedom.
There were no words.
Silveira/ Storm/H’all: response
Ozdin tossed a few pieces of survival gear over the edge. Jira fought with their oaths of dedication both to their medical obligations and to the care of all demanded by The Prophets, and eventually determined it was the right thing to do. Whether it made a difference or not was unimportant.
What mattered were the lives here. The lives that Jira had also sworn to care for.
Jaran: There's nothing we can do here. We need to get the little one back inside somewhere, though.
Silveira/Storm/ H’all: response
Jira had already stopped sparing thoughts for Kona. A man who would abandon his child in this way was worth nothing, including sympathy.
There was going to be a long bureaucratic process ahead. There would be forms to sign and statements to give. Some of that would have to happen before they could return to the Artemis. Cassie could not be shielded from it all, no matter how Alex tried. But they could attempt to ease the process.
Jaran: Alex, are you ready to go finish this and get Cassie home?
Silveira/Storm/ H’all: response
Jira remembered the thing they had kept as a surprise suddenly. It had been forgotten in the excitement of the day. They reached into one of the interior pockets of the bulky coat and pulled out the Hara cat plush toy they had gone back to purchase (far too dearly) from a vendor on Ferenginar after seeing it with Alex on their first meeting.
Jaran: ::offering the toy:: Cassie, would you like to hold this? You can keep it if you want.
Cassie: Response?
Silveira/Storm/ H’all: Response
Jaran: It was made my job to guide us back, and I'm going to follow through. This way, everyone.
And Jira started walking. They were exhausted, and they hoped the team was keeping up.
Silveira/Storm/ H’all: Response
TAGS/END SCENE FOR JARAN