Lt Alex Storm - Through Her Fingers, Like Sand
Karen Morris
((Shuttle Griffin, Betazoid Orbit))
Not again! Twice in six months, she had all but had Kona in her grasp! And for the second time, he eluded her like a wisp of vapor she had tried to wrap her hands around only to come up empty. And it wasn’t just her hands that were empty.
With her back to the other two, Alex took a breath, puffed out her cheeks, and blew it out trying to keep her lip from trembling.
Yes, her hands were empty - but her heart was empty, too. She had wanted to kneel down with open arms, but they were not going to be filled…at least not anytime soon. Choked words formed on her lips.
Storm: Just … give me a minute.
Cole: Take the minute. Then we stop reacting to him and start getting ahead of him.
Jaran: This guy's a piece of work. If I weren't the person I am, I'd say we hire some Nausicaans to put some real fear into him.
Alex turned her head to look partway over her shoulder, still not ready to show either of them her full face.
Storm: And if I weren’t the person that I am, as soon as I got my daughter back, I’d help you hire them.
Cole: He left before the funeral, with a packed bag and a multi-stop route. That’s not grief. That’s intent. Either he got spooked, or he was always planning to move before anyone could corner him.
No one planned this well. There was more going on.
Jaran: Someone is feeding him information. He can't have evaded everything this long by himself.
Storm: It wouldn’t surprise me if he hadn’t kept an eye out for a shuttle from the Artemis.
With a guttural growl, she stomped her foot and bellowed…
Storm: I should have seen this coming!
Cole: When we land, we talk to Nila first. Then I want departure records, berth footage if there is any, ticketing, baggage, and whether he booked the whole route in advance or stitched it together as he ran. Men who think they’re being clever usually leave one detail behind. I just want to know which one he picked.
Jaran: Do you know anything that would draw him to those planets? They can't be random. People he knows? Important places to him?
After one more deep breath, Alex slowly turned around. Betazed edged onto the viewscreen.
Storm: No. None of those mean anything to me. Or from what I know, should mean anything to him. It’s been two years, but we lived together for five years before. He never mentioned any of those planets in regard to anything important.
Betazoid Orbital Control: =/\= Avandar base to Shuttle Griffin. You are cleared to proceed to planetary orbit. =/\=
Jaran: =/\= Copy that, Avandar base. Proceeding on route. =/\=
Jira turned to Alex.
Jaran: No changes needed, right? Last chance.
Storm: We… shouldn’t need any changes.
But something tickled the back of her mind and her eyes scrunched together.
Cole: Response
Jaran: Natasha, you have the route. Stick to it closely. Planetary control warns that deviation is not permitted.
Storm: It's been awhile since I've been home, but I don't remember being told that before.
Cole: Response
Jira looked at Alex. Before she could answer, Planetary Control interrupted her.
Betazed Planetary Control: =/\= Planetary Control to Shuttle Griffin. Maintain orbit. Please state the purpose of your visit. =/\=
Jaran ::to Alex:: I filed the plan as a funeral visit. They should already know that. Why are they asking?
Alex shrugged and shook her head. Leaning down to the comm panel, she said…
Storm: =/\= This is Alex Storm-Antares. We’re here for Kyre Antares’s funeral. I’m Alex, his daughter-in-law. I’m sending over my credentials to verify my identity.=/\=
Alex swiped her creds over onto the comm channel.
Storm: =/\= You should have them now. =/\=
She stayed leaning over the console. But as seconds turned into more than a minute, she stood upright. Once again something tickled at the back of her mind. Something recognizable like the scent of a familiar perfume.
Cole:: Response
Storm: What’s taking them so long? My creds are valid.
Cole/Jaran: Response
Betazed Planetary Control: =/\= Ms. Antares, you are cleared to dock. Please proceed to Station Alpha, Berth Delta-7.=/\=
Storm: =/\= Acknowledged, Planetary Control. =/\= Nat, take us in.
Cole/Jaran: Response
Turning to the two of them, Alex crossed her arms over her chest.
Storm: I’ve had a thought. If I introduced you to Nila, what would you think about splitting up. I’m going to be hard pressed to get to the funeral on time as it is. Maybe the two of you could talk to Nila and see what you can find out, and I can attend the funeral - or what’s left of it.
Cole/Jaran: Response
Just as quickly as Alex felt the tickle at the back of her mind, it evaporated, leaving a faint hint playing at the edges of her consciousness. Her brow wrinkled, but she didn’t say anything. There was too much else going on now anyway.
~*~
Tags / TBC!
~*~
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2