Lt Alex Storm - We're Going Home

[Karen Morris]

((OOC:  Thank you all who made this part of a larger arc - not just a reality, but a delightfully full and emotionally touching one.  It means the world to me!))

((Outside Transport Hub, Eastern Ice Shelf, Andoria))

Storm:  We shouldn’t be outside for more than five or ten minutes, Munchkin.

Antares: Where will she sleep?

oO Where will she sleep?!? Oo

Jaran: The ship is well equipped for civilians of all ages.

Silveira: Cassie will be in good hands.

Antares: Please, no.

He stopped. The group bunched to a halt around him. 

Antares: She can’t go aboard that ship. Please.

Kona looked toward Cassie. Alex held her tightly.

Antares: A starship is not a home for a child. Alexandra, she’s four. She cannot consent to living beside an… an antimatter reactor.

Alex opened her mouth to protest.  Kona cut her off.

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.

Kona’s eyes moved wildly between them.

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.

Alex was glad that the wind made it hard to hear.  She certainly didn’t want Cassie afraid of her new home.

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!

The snow was swirling, Alex saw movement.  She backed up against the nearest building.

Storm:  Sil!?  What’s going on?

Sambur: He’s trying to run! Keep behind me!

Jaran: Oh you foolish man...

Silveira: Kona don’t…

Sambur: Kona! Watch out!

H’aal: Silveira? Doctor? Alex? What’s happening?

Alex’s first reaction was to rush to the side of the embankment, but not with Cassie there.  She was not going to subject her daughter to anything else.  Instead she held her close and whispered into her ear.

Sambur was again the only one to fully react to the situation.

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 took out their tricorder, and Vitor was still frozen. As if the cold Andorian weather had glued him in his spot.

Storm:  Let’s get to the shuttle, please.  It isn’t good to keep Cassie out here.

H’aal: response

Jaran: There's nothing we can do here. We need to get the little one back inside somewhere, though.

Alex nodded her head, not that anyone could see it.

Gaining some self-control, Sil raised his voice.

Silveira: C’mon, we are leaving.

Storm:  Please stay around us, though. 

What she wanted to say is that she wouldn’t put it past Kona to try to circle back for Cassie, but also, she wasn’t going to say that in front of her daughter.

H’aal: response

Jaran: Alex, are you ready to go finish this and get Cassie home?

Storm:  Please, Jira!

H’aal: response

Vitor kept quiet and saw Jira pulling something out and offer it to Cassie.

Jaran: ::offering the toy:: Cassie, would you like to hold this? You can keep it if you want.

Alex looked between the Haracat and Jira.  A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye and froze on her cheek.

Cassie looked up at Alex.  Alex nodded assent.  The little one reached for the stuffed animal.

~ What should you say in return? ~

Cassie: Thank you.

Storm: I can’t thank you enough, Jira. 

She swallowed hard and nodded.

H’aal: Response

Jaran: It was made my job to guide us back, and I'm going to follow through. This way, everyone.

Vito nodded and stepped up.

Silveira: That’s it Doc, lead us home.

Storm:  Not long now, little one.  We’re going home.

 H’aal: Response

~*~

Tags / End Scene for Storm

~*~

Lt Alex Storm

Tactical Officer

USS Artemis

O240103SK2