Commander Lael Rosek-Skyfire, Dr. Chythar Skyfire & Kadain Skyfire: Transfers Abound, Pt. 2
Lael Rosek-Skyfire
(( Rosek-Skyfire Family Quarters, Deck 6, USS Astraeus ))
L. Michaels-Rosek: ::shrugs:: So what if we are? ::grins:: I’m not staying a full quadrant away while my husband takes his first posting.
K. Rosek: This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I’m not turning the Brass down.
A. Rosek: ::shrugs:: Business opportunities, my dear. Business opportunities.
M. Brice: Mom gets it. ::grins:: A whole new quadrant to explore. And I can do the rest of my studies through distance learning.
Chythar said nothing for a bit, his attention focused on the two little children and trying to keep Devlin away from the chocolate. The beagle was looking longingly at the bowl of ice cream that Lael didn’t want to eat, tail wagging behind him.
C. Skyfire: Were you planning on eating that, love? Or should I eat it to keep Devlin out of it?
Rosek-Skyfire: ::glares at him:: You eat that and you may make it aboard the transport with a couple less fingers.
C. Skyfire: A bowl full of chocolate ice cream won’t kill me, love. It’s Devlin I’m paranoid about. He hasn’t taken his eyes off that bowl since you left it untouched.
Devlin: Raff?
Rosek-Skyfire: ::expression softens:: Then just move it out of his reach.
Despite the fact Devlin was 10 years old, he could still hop up onto a coffee table. There weren’t really a lot of places that were considered out of reach, really. So as he kept an eye on the kids, he reached over and grabbed the bowl. He knew the best way to keep it out of Devlin’s reach was to eat it.
Rosek-Skyfire: ::sighs:: So when do we leave? I assume since we’re taking private transportation, we’re not on a schedule. Though the rest of our things have already been shipped ahead. I might need to send a message to Commander Ukinix to let him know about the change in plans.
A. Rosek: We can leave whenever you’re ready. ::looks at the chronometer:: We’ll probably want a stopover for lunch. The replicators are still under repair. I was able to stock up on some things, but the children might like something a bit more fresh. I hear there’s a new restaurant several lightyears from here that’s to die for. I stopped there on my way here.
Food did sound good. Especially since she doubted Chythar would let her take the half-melted ice cream with her. Sleep was a higher priority, though, and she imagined she would have less trouble than usual coercing Kadain to take a nap.
Rosek-Skyfire: ::tiredly:: The sooner the better. I hardly slept last night. And the only time Maddy has left her room is to get ice cream. ::brow furrows:: I thought I heard her messaging someone this morning, but she’s been very secretive about who.
C. Skyfire: I haven’t figured it out yet either, Lael. :: He cast a glance over at his brother-in-law. :: Mind if I ask what field of medical practice you’re delving into?
She watched Kadain’s face light up, and the pair began talking animatedly about all things medical. However, most of it went in one ear and out the other. Her mind was too focused on the laundry list of reservations she’d need to cancel to get refunds. A couple of the providers wouldn’t give their money back, but she was fine with that. They had enough of a rainy day fund from her investing in private Engineering firm stocks and Chythar’s work with the Brew Continuum franchise that they wouldn’t be lacking anything.
While their careers in Starfleet provided for their basic needs, they also had enough to pay a caretaker to keep up their home on Earth and to purchase a new home on a family-friendly colony or world in the Delta Quadrant for when they needed a planetside recharge. With her mother’s news, she’d likely ask her mother (for a fee) to upkeep it between her deliveries and client meetings. It would also give Maddy, Kadain, and the twins a consistent home to visit with their grandmother. She knew little about the Delta Quadrant and wanted a safe nest egg in case it wasn’t family-friendly.
((Aboard the merchant vessel Euphoria))
{{One Week Later…}}
It was late and everyone was asleep. Well, everyone but her. Clutching a hot cup of Al-Leyan spiced tea in her hands, she stared out the viewport, not focusing her thoughts on anything in particular. Her attempts at meditation had failed, so she was stuck seeking solace from the stars streaming by the window.
Kadain was awake, and made his way into the living room of the transport. He reached up toward his mother and spoke quietly.
K. Skyfire: I can’t sleep, mama.
She jumped in surprise, wondering how she hadn’t heard him coming. Likely the extra neural inhibitors she’d needed to quiet her mind today. She knew Chythar wasn’t fond of her taking them, but she was so on edge that her mental shields were weak and every emotion had her on the verge of tears.
The scolding on the tip of her tongue melted away, and she sighed, setting the tea aside and lifting him into her lap. For long moments, she said nothing, only holding him. On days like this, she couldn’t miss how similar they were. His stress reaction–well, her genes had contributed to that. Some things, though, he got from his father. Like his natural curiosity. She wouldn’t be surprised if her son grew up and entered some sort of science field, just like his father.
Kadain tried to relax in his mother’s arms, though the notion of actually trying to sleep aboard this strange place was not actually processing in his head. The toddler looked over at his mother’s tea and was curious about it, but didn’t say anything.
She noticed the direction of her son’s gaze and smiled wanly, reaching for the mug to offer him a sip. He’d had other teas, but she’d never been sure how he’d feel about this one. His taste buds seemed more sensitive than hers (if his picky-eater tendencies were anything to go by), but she’d never denied her son the opportunity to explore reasonable preferences.
Rosek-Skyfire: Do you want to try some?
K. Skyfire: Daddy said I wouldn’t like it. Something about staying up later…
Rosek-Skyfire: ::chuckles:: Well, what your daddy doesn’t know won’t hurt him. This is the version with very little caffeine, the stuff that makes you stay up, or Mommy would be a zombie. Besides, too much caffeine isn’t good for your siblings.
She laid a free hand on her abdomen, feeling a rush of emotion as she felt her children stir momentarily before settling again. It was the one thing that had kept her grounded through all the chaos. She’d grown up in a small family and never in her wildest dreams (though she’d hoped) had she thought she’d be a mother to four or more children. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about more than four. That would require some serious discussion with Chythar.
For now, though, she was content with what they had.
Kadain looked at the cup again, then at his mother, then back to the cup. After serious consideration, he gave a nod. He did want to try some. It sounded tasty, and his father was a bit overprotective sometimes.
K. Skyfire: Yes, please.
Thankfully, the drink had cooled a good bit in the time she’d been holding it, so it was highly unlikely to burn him. She supported the mug as he leaned his cute, angelic face down for a sip, his tiny lips closing around the rim.
He took a sip, slow and steady. Once she pulled the mug away, he nodded slightly.
K. Skyfire: Tastes good.
Rosek-Skyfire: ::chuckles:: The joke is on your daddy, then. ::taps him on the nose playfully:: This proves that you got more of me than you did of your daddy.
K. Skyfire: Daddy doesn’t drink tea, does he?.
Rosek-Skyfire: ::smiles:: I’ve persuaded him sometimes. But he likes coffee. Mommy’s brain and body don’t like too much coffee.
K. Skyfire: Why we leaving Cap'n Twibble’s ship?
She knew he was going to ask sooner or later. Neither she nor Chythar had thought Kadain was ready to hear it at first, and, truth be told, she wasn’t ready to talk about it. The Astraeus crew (even more than the ship itself) had been her and Chythar’s home for so long. Yes, there had been that brief stint on Shemsh. But Mei had always been just a warp jump away.
Now, things were different. Mei had been promoted to Commodore and transferred to work at the Academy, about as far from the Delta Quadrant as one could get. The Astraeus was in drydock indefinitely for repairs, and the rest of the crew had been spread among the various ships of the fleet. Everything familiar had vanished overnight.
She set the mug aside and took her son’s hands in hers, meeting his gaze.
Rosek-Skyfire: ::thoughtfully:: Well, honey, lots of reasons. Captain Twibble is Commodore Twibble now, and people back on Earth need him to help teach more people how to be Starfleet officers. He’s really good at his job, so they gave him a more important one. ::pauses:: Our ship? It’s broken, and it’s going to take a lot of work to fix. They don’t know how long it will take, and it’s not fair to make people wait and do nothing. So the big bosses decided it would be better if our crew went on to other places to help other ships.
The boy nodded slightly but didn’t know how to feel about all of it. He did ask, true, but also didn’t know how to process the emotional aspects. He didn’t know how to ask more questions, but also didn’t know what questions to ask.
Rosek-Skyfire: ::smiles::I know it’s a lot, baby, but there will be more kids on Amity. Do you remember Ms. Elina and Mrs. Dassa?
K. Skyfire: Godmom and Elina? Yeah…
Rosek-Skyfire: They and your cousins will be on the Nightingale, which won’t be far away. And I’m sure you’ll meet more new kids your age, too.
He was still learning vocabulary, so the word “sector” hadn’t come up in his line of hearing that he knew of. However, the word was just on the tip of his tongue. Well, a synonym for it, at least.
K. Skyfire: Same…um….area?
Rosek-Skyfire: ::nods:: Yes. Maybe a few days away at most. Unlike our trip to our new home, which will probably take about 45 days. We’ve been going there for 7 now, so it will be at least another ::pauses:: 38 bedtime stories before we get there.
Kadain nodded and yawned slightly, the sip of tea he’d had starting to put him to sleep.
Rosek-Skyfire: ::chuckles:: All right, you. Bedtime. Can’t have you sleeping all day tomorrow. Oma will want to play hide and seek with you.
K. Skyfire: Okay…story?
Rosek-Skyfire: ::sighs:: Only one. And not until you’re properly tucked in.
She left the mug of tea where she’d set it and set Kadain down, encouraging him to stand, then offered her hand. The two ambled from the room and toward the room Adelynn had set aside for him. She didn’t bother to look at the chronometer.
The boy nodded and stood, then made sure to grab his thranta plushie from the living room before taking her hand.
((END))
===
Head HCO
Amity Outpost
I238110RH0
&
PNPC Lieutenant Commander Chythar Skyfire, MD
Medical Researcher
Amity Outpost
O239002CS00
&
PNPC Kadain Skyfire
Civilian
Amity Outpost
O239002CS0