BACKSIM - Ensign Kimonzi Lahl - Bittersweet Symphonies, Part 2
Nick Wilcox
((Mak’ala Space Port, Mak’ala, Trill))
The high speed courier came shooting through the atmosphere of Trill, cutting through the air currents as it approached the space port. Normally, the passengers on a ship like this would transport down, but the physics involved in stopping the ship in orbit meant it was better to land on the ground rather than stay in space.
Inside the courier, Ensign Kimonzi Lahl was laying on a mobile biobed. She was still confined to it due to the injuries to Lahl, and Dr. Nis was not going to allow her to start walking any time soon.
The back door of the courier folded down, and the heat and humidity of Mak’ala City quickly overpowered the small vessel’s environmental controls.
Lahl: Oh, that feels immediately like home.
As she said that, four Trill Guardians in their robes immediately ran up the ramp and took up positions at each corner of her biobed.
Lahl: Bezelbun’s not here is he?
The Guardian on her right hand side, pushing the bed out of the courier and down towards symbiosis commission, answered her.
Guardian Jenoria: No, Guardian Bezelbun is not here. He is attending to the newest set of Initiates.
Lahl: Oh, ol’ Beelzebub’s scaring another set of young Trill hoping to be selected for Joining?
Guardian Jenoria: You know he hates that nickname.
Kimonzi laughed briefly, before descending into a coughing fit from the pain in her abdomen.
Lahl: Of course he does, that’s what makes it fun to use.
Guardian Jenoria: Just don’t let him hear you say it. Now rest, we need to get you down to the Caves. ::looking at the vitals display on the biobed:: You and the symbiont are in desperate need of their healing waters.
Kimonzi sighed as she was floated down towards the caves.
Lahl: Can’t even swing by my parents’ house?
She hadn’t seen them since she returned to the Academy after the joining. Hopefully she’d be able to see them at some point.
Guardian Jenoria: They’ll have to come to you. We desparately need to get you into the pools.
Lahl: Well, hope springs eternal and all that.
Guardian Jenoria: I’m not Bezelbun Lahl, no need to get snarky.
Lahl: Thank the caves for that…
((Trill Symbiont Caves, Underneath Mak’ala City, Trill))
Kimonzi had a fairly boring ceiling to look at as she was floated down towards the caves. She probably should recommend some kind of art installation, maybe holographic displays. Though on second thought, it probably wasn’t too common that someone was in her predicament.
She was floated down into the caves, and then gingerly placed into one of the pools. Even with the little bit of the sacred water, as Jania called it, hitting the pouch, she could already feel a little bit better. However, she was tired, and had a lack of visual stimulation, so she closed her eyes, and drifted off…
((October 2397, Starfleet Academy Library Study Area, Marin County, Earth))
Kimonzi Nedan was pouring over a series of PADDs, looking over her engineering diagrams for her upcoming finals. She was so in the zone that she didn’t notice another person sitting across from her until a hand came across her face.
???: Hello? Starfleet Command to Engineering Cadet. You there?
She nearly jumped out of her seat, looking up at a human with a wild mane of red hair, and pale skin dotted with freckles.
Kimonzi Nedan: Can I help you?
The human in front of her, who was much bubblier than Kimonzi had been in ages, introduced herself.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: I’m Jennifer Kinniburgh. You’re Kimonzi Nedan, aren’t you?
Kimonzi quirked her head, wondering how she knew this person. She was usually better with names and faces, but this person was an absolute mystery to her.
Unless it was, somehow, yet another person who wanted to talk to her about Stephen.
Kimonzi Nedan: And if I was?
Jennifer Kinniburgh: Well, then I…
The red head took one of Kimonzi’s PADDs from her and pointed a corner of it back to her.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: Want to take you out on a date.
Kimonzi raised an eyebrow at her. No one had wanted to date her since the explosion and the rumors that followed.
Kimonzi Nedan: Why?
The other woman toyed with the PADD she had grabbed from Kimonzi.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: Because you’re pretty, and I like pretty things. And I think I want to get to know you better.
Kimonzi Nedan: The rumors don’t bother you?
The other woman laughed at her.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: If they did, I wouldn’t be here would I? And besides, everyone knows that the Academy Command Staff cleared you of anything. Anyone still giving you grief about it is being mean.
Kimonzi Nedan: Ah…welll, I guess I could…
Jennifer Kinniburgh: Perfect! I’ll meet up with you later tonight.
And as quick as she had come into Kimonzi’s view, she disappeared.
((December 2397, Inverness, Scotland, Earth))
Kimonzi’s body temperature usually ran cold, but this was a bit much, even for her. She was shivering, despite the warm coat that Jennifer had insisted she wear. Apparently Jennifer’s hometown was the exact opposite of Kimonzi’s, especially at Christmas time.
Kimonzi Nedan: Remind me again what I’m supposed to avoid and what I’m supposed to eat?
Jennifer Kinniburgh: You eat the shortbread, but avoid the haggis.
Kimonzi nodded, eat shortbread, avoid haggis. That was easy enough.
The two of them walked in, the heat of the house a big difference from the cold outside. Kimonzi could smell something sweet baking in an oven, and before she could get her coat off, she was smothered in a hug. It appeared Jennifer got her forwardness from her mother.
Sandra Kinniburgh: Hello and welcome! You must be Kimonzi, the one Jennifer’s been telling us about.
Kimonzi Nedan: I hope only good things.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: Of course dear. What else would I say?
Kimonzi was finally able to shake free from the hug and doff the cold weather gear she had been wearing, and showing off a sweater that Jennifer had assured her would be appropriate for the occasion.
Kimonzi Nedan: I don’t know, this is my first time meeting a partner’s family.
Sandra Kinniburgh: Well, it’s about time you did, come on in.
As Kimonzi walked further into the house, there was a lot of festivities going, and Jennifer’s family seemed pretty large. She wasn’t used to family gatherings this large, but Jennifer had said it was a “proper Christmas” and that she shouldn’t miss out, and Kimonzi hadn’t wanted to disappoint her.
Despite the bitter chill that had greeted her when they had arrived in Scotland, Kimonzi had found Jennifer’s family to be welcoming, and happy to share their good and home, and she had an amazing time there before the images faded back to black.
((July 2398, Starfleet Academy, Marin County, Earth))
Jennifer Kinniburgh: What do you mean you’re leaving?
Kimonzi winced, she didn’t want Jennifer to be angry with her, but she had come to this decision after a long period of soul searching. She wanted to be sure that someone remembered her, so she had applied for a position to receive a symbiont at the Trill Symbiosis Commission.
Kimonzi Nedan: I applied to receive a symbiont back home. I told you about this previously.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: You did, but that didn’t mean you were applying.
Kimonzi Nedan: I’m sorry…
She was. She hadn’t meant to hurt Jennifer…
Jennifer Kinniburgh: No, no, I’m sorry. This is an important thing for your people. I’m just going to miss you.
Kimonzi was engulfed in a hug that she returned, her cheeks wet from the argument they’d just be having.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: How will I know if you succeed?
Kimonzi Nedan: I’ll have a different last name if I receive a symbiont. We take the name of the symbiont as our new name.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: That’s good to know. You’ll keep in touch, right?
Kimonzi Nedan: As much as I can.
((September 2400, Starfleet Academy, Marin County, Earth))
Kimonzi had finally made it back. Two grueling years of training at the commission, but she was finally back with a worm in her pouch. She was still getting used to all the memories, but she was grateful for the experience.
As she approached the entrance to the Academy, a familiar red head popped up and made a beeline for her.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: Kimonzi Nedan? As I live and breathe?
Lahl found herself wrapped up once again in a massive hug from a Kinniburgh woman. This time though, something was different between them. She had tried to keep in touch, but it had been hard. Eventually, Jennifer pulled away and looked Kimonzi over.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: You’ve changed.
Lahl: Yeah….it’s Kimonzi Lahl now.
Realization hit Jennifer’s face.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: You succeeded?! Oh my god! We need to go celebrate!
Lahl: I…I think I need to check in…
Jennifer waved a hand dismissively.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: I’m helping the admissions staff before I go off to design and build starships. You’ll be fine.
Lahl: Oh…thank you.
Kimonzi was dragged/directed towards one of the many coffee shops that serviced the academy members before sitting down with Jennifer at a table with a cup of tea in front of her.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: I missed you.
She reach over and grabbed Lahl’s hand.
Lahl: I…I missed you too…
Another look came across Jennifer’s face.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: But we’re not going to be able to resume where we were, will we?
Kimonzi could already feel the tears hitting her cheek. She hadn’t wanted to cry…
Lahl: No…no…I’m…
Jennifer Kinniburgh: I understand. I read up on what I could about Joining after you left. I held out hope that maybe we would be the lucky ones but…
Lahl: I’m sorry.
Jennifer chuckled and waved her apology off.
Jennifer Kinniburgh: I’ll be fine. I just need some time.
Lahl: Me too. I…I did love you…
Jennifer Kinniburgh: And I you, but not everyone’s Academy romance works out…you know?
Kimonzi nodded, but then the memories faded to black and she was back in the pools under Mak’ala City.
Engineering Officer