Lt. Jona ch'Ranni - BACKSIM: Chill of the Wind, Part 2

[Jona ch'Ranni]

((Spaceport, New Sheras, Andoria))

zh'Lev: How long must we wait?

ch'Ranni: Not long I think.

::Jona proved correct as he heard his name shouted by someone from far behind them. He turned and broke into a wide grin as he spotted his shreva waving wildly from across the spacious room.::

ch'Ranni: There she is.

:: The middle-aged Andorian woman jogged toward them and threw her arms around Jona's neck, hugging him close. Vexa stayed a few steps back letting mother and son have a private moment in the crowded terminal.::

Nota: I've missed you, Jona.

ch'Ranni: ::tears welling up in his eyes:: Me too.

::The older woman took a step back and touched her forehead to Jona's until her eye caught sight of the petite girl standing a few feet away.::

Nota: Who's this?

ch'Ranni: My shreva, this is Vexa zh'Lev. Vexa, please meet Nota sh'Ranni. Vexa is a scientist assigned to a research base in the region that my ship is assigned to explore. ::beat:: She's my girlfriend.

::Nota raised her eyebrows for a second and then her face softened. She held her arms out to Vexa and embraced her lightly.::

Nota: Welcome. We're so glad you could come. Please, let's gather your things. Mir is preparing a meal back at the house. We shouldn't keep her waiting.

((Ranni Clan, New Sheras, Andoria))

((Time Index: An hour later))

::The winding tunnels leading to Jona's boyhood home were as familiar as they were worn. These particular passages were hundreds of years old. Where they occasionally broke through the ice and rock to the surface, forcefields kept the inclement weather away. Jumping thalaas frogs licked up ice mites along the walls of the spacious corridor, unconcerned as people came and went.::

Nota: So tell me about your work, Vexa. Jona said you are a scientist?

zh'Lev: Oh my, yes. My specialty is in energy fields. At Dehner Base we are studying the long and short-term effects of the Galactic Barrier on living tissue. We have some very promising results we have discovered recently. What with the Barrier contracting over the last few years, we may have a whole new region that could potentially be opened for habitation.

Nota: That's very interesting. Sh'letha sren granta lullsla. ((Andorian Graalen for "You are quite talented."))

zh'Lev: Thank you, Nota. And Jona tells me you are a linguist in the Andorian Guard?

Nota: Yes. Aboard the Marvassi. Vorka, Jona's charan, also serves aboard as the helmsman. That's probably where Jona got his love of piloting.

ch'Ranni: And you are the one I got my love of languages from. vImuSHa' SoS ((Klingon for "Love you, mom"))

:: As they continued conversing, Jona noted the recent construction that had taken place around the clan settlement. Impressively reinforced structures stretched upward a hundred meters to the ice cave ceiling above. Small patches of vegetation with artificial overhead lighting provided micro park-like areas that broke up the more austere surroundings.::

ch'Ranni: When did all of this happen?

Nota: Oh, there have been lots of changes in the past two years. We received a grant to protect the clan holdings from icequakes and the resources have gone a long way to modernizing the Ranni clan.

ch'Ranni: That's great! ::pause:: How does Spel feel about it?

::The mention of ch'Ranni's thaven, one of Nota's co-husbands, made Nota's face darken ever so slightly and the smile on her face faded away slowly.::

Nota: You know your father. He's set in his ways.

::Jona shook his head at his father's stubborness. He was a history professor but he himself was stuck in the past, just like the clay artifacts he proudly displayed in his office.::

ch'Ranni: Yes, that's Spel. I assume he's at the Military College.

Nota: You know he is. He'll be home late tonight.

ch'Ranni: oO He couldn't come home early to see us. Figures. Oo

::The trio turned left down the worn path and Jona's boyhood home came into view. Jona took a breath and let it out slowly. He turned to Vexa and grabbed her hand.::

ch'Ranni: Home.

((TBC))

--

Lt. Jona ch'Ranni

Assistant Chief of Operations

USS Columbia (NCC-85279)

C239510JC0