Lt Alex Storm - A Glimpse Through the Glass
Karen Morris
((USS Artemis, Deck 4, Storm’s Quarters))
The familiar Catian face that appeared on her viewscreen could only mean one thing.
H’aal: I saw her, Alex.
Alex’s diaphragm twitched and stopped half-way through an inhale. Staring through the viewscreen, her lower lip shifted in a quiver she couldn’t quite stop.
Storm: Cassie?
H’aal: Yes. She’s with Kona. I saw him too.
She blinked several times in quick succession, but without effect. Several drops of rain tumbled down her cheeks, hit her tank top, and disappeared into the fabric.
Storm: How’s ::Her voice caught in her throat as her eyes pleaded with H’aal:: she look?
H’aal: You can see for yourself.
There she was. Those dark brown curls falling in ringlets around her head. Her little eyes didn’t look as bright as she remembered them, but her cheeks were rosy. Her fingers hovered in the air, so close to the image of her daughter. oO If she touched her, would the image vanish? No. Oo Her fingers brushed the viewscreen and lingered on Cassie’s chin. But the movement on the other side of the screen drew her eyes over to H’aal. A question formed on her lips; her mouth opened.
H’aal: How quickly can you reach Kelara? They are leaving the station tomorrow at noon.
Storm: I’ll head down to Fereginar within the hour and try to charter a shuttle.
The air thrummed through the environmental controls as her fingers tapped several keys.
Storm: It’s about a twenty-two-hour trip. Stall them if you can. Do you know…
H’aal: I… I don't know where they are going yet, but I will find out. I'll let you know, don’t worry, Alex. I won’t let him slip away, not again.
Storm: I’m on my way.
Alex stood, and her fingers reached for the button to disconnect the call, when they stopped a fraction of an inch from the button.
Storm: Will you send that picture of her to me?
H’aal: Response.
Storm: I’ll be there as soon as I can.
Alex paused once again, looking at her friend. Their eyes connected - even over the distance, Alex could feel his eagerness to bring the two back together.
Storm: Thank you.
H’aal: Response.
This time, Alex closed the comlink. She turned away from her terminal, but in her mind, she recreated every inch of her daughter’s face. The curves of her chin. The open and honest eyes, the dark and brooding brows. Now that she wasn’t focused on the call, her skin felt the cool of the room collide with the beads of sweat still clinging to her arms and face, racing a shiver down her back, but she set her jaw and squared her shoulders.
Storm: I’m coming, Cassie.
Alex kissed her fingers and blew her breath across them.
Storm: Hold on for me, please.
~*~
Tags / End Scene for Storm
~*~
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2