JP Stacey, Astrad & Keehani Ukinix, Vaxa Ral - Renuionogram (Part 1)
Tony Colella
((Holodeck 4, “Millennium Holosuite” - Fremantle, Australia, Earth - Stardate 239608.22))
In keeping with the policy to preserve the heritage of Fremantle, the building that was once a small movie cinema centuries ago in Collie Street had been refurbished into a holosuite. Not of the “leisurely” type, however, like the seedier versions on the Esperance. This was used mostly by business people, artists, family and Starfleet officers as a means of communication with areas of the galaxy where subspace interference didn’t get in the way.
Astrad Ukinix stood nervously in the waiting room outside of the doors to holodeck 4, pacing a little. His wife Hayley was busy looking after their vineyard in Tanunda, and couldn’t make it. Instead, he had asked his daughter in law, Stacey Ukinix, to join him.
Stacey, for her part, knew she shouldn’t snap at her father-in-law -- either as family or as an officer -- but she was finding it increasingly hard not to do so.
S Ukinix: Astrad, what are you so nervous about?
Astrad: This is the first time I’ll have seen Vaxa in… 50 something years
His nerves caused his normal Australian/Betazed mixed accent to suddenly sound more Betazed than normal.
Astrad: Look, this might not work out.
S Ukinix: And if it doesn’t?
She waited for a moment, and let the question hang rhetorically.
S Ukinix: Then you’ll be no worse off than before, and I suspect you’ll actually be better, since you’ll have the satisfaction of trying.
Astrad: (Nodding, sighing) OK. Oh, and - thank you for being here.
Stacey smiled for the first time since they’d arrived.
S Ukinix: You’re welcome.
Astrad: After what happened to Wil, with the Maquis Reborn - should we be worried?
Stacey gave a quick shake of her head.
S Ukinix: Can’t say anything about it, I’m afraid.
The waiting room’s computer spoke with a localised accent.
Computer: =/\= Subspace link stable, environment rendered and running. Please enter when ready. =/\=
S Ukinix: Acknowledged.
She glanced at her father-in-law, to see if he wanted to enter before her.
Astrad: (Nervous smile) After you, Stacey.
The doors slid open as they walked into the holodeck, revealing a remarkably beautiful scene. Astrad smiled seeing the recreation of the beautiful lush green surrounds of the outskirts of Araraniax Village in Arandel - the village that was the closest to the former Ninth house Estate. It was something he’d thought about over the years, but hadn’t seen since he had left Betazed all those years ago. Of course, he knew it wasn’t real - it was all a recreation, with a link to a similar holodeck somewhere on Betazed.
A bench located in the middle of a nearby park was the meeting point. As they walked towards it, the doors to the holodeck closed behind them. In the distance coming in the other direction were two females. An older woman, who walked slowly. She had her arm in that of a much younger dark haired woman, who was smiling.
Astrad: Here we go…
S Ukinix: It’s all right. You’ll be fine.
Astrad and Stacey made it to the bench first. They stood and waited for the other two to to join them. When they finally arrived, there were some awkward smiles from the three family members - but in the awkwardness, no-one began to speak. So it was left to the in-law to break the silence.
S Ukinix: Thank you for agreeing to this meeting, Madam Ral.
The elder woman looked, for a moment, as though she didn’t understand why Stacey was talking to her, before understanding broke across her face.
Vaxa: You must be… Sss… Sar-
Keehani: “Stacey”, grandmother.
Vaxa: Stacey. By the Four, it’s a pleasure to meet you. And it was a pleasure to meet your son. (To Keehani) Thankyou, teardrop.
S Ukinix: It’s a pleasure to meet you, Madam Ral. (beat) But, forgive me, I’d forgotten that you’d met Wil.
Vaxa: (Smiling) You can just call me Vaxa. I may have the title of “Matriarch”, but it is only that - a title.
Keehani: This is why we are meeting with Astradem, remember. To restore your control of the Ninth house.
Astrad: (Clasping hands) It has been many years, Vaxa. I am sorry that my wife Hayley and my son Anacem aren’t here to meet you today.
Stacey nodded sagely, though she cringed a bit on the inside. Tholian movements across two quadrants she knew intimately, but when her son met the forsaken matriarch of a Betazoid House, she forgot about it. Given what was happening here, and how she’d agreed to help her father-in-law, she was definitely giving herself a bit of a mental shake.
S Ukinix: Well, quite. I’m sure he would’ve liked to be here today. But here I am, and I’m happy to help however I’m able.
Vaxa: “Anacem”, that's a lovely Betazed name for a male. He must be proud to be married to a Starfleet officer.
S Ukinix: (calmly) He is.
Keehani: (To Vaxa) Grandmother, take a seat. (Offering hand) Commander, Astradem, I am Keehani Ukinix, Vaxa’s granddaughter. (Smiling) As of one week ago I am a Ukinix and no longer Ral, the Registration Administration of Betazed has finally approved my name change.
Astrad: Please, call me Astrad.
As Vaxa slowly took a seat, there was a slight smile on her face.
Vaxa: It is amusing that you have adopted the name that was used by Reayi and Teaxixa to tease you.
Astrad: And used by you too, Vaxa. I find it just as amusing that you call them “sisters”. We were never a real family.
Vaxa: They were of the same blood. Even though I was cast out of the house, I attended their memorials after the Dominion War. Which is more that can be said for *you*, Astradem.
Astrad: I left that life behind me when my title was removed and I left Betazed. I had no reason to return.
Vaxa: (Glaring at Astrad) You are a child of Betazed and have noble blood running through your veins.
Keehani: Well this is going great.
S Ukinix: Perhaps it could be more…
She glanced from Astrad to Vaxa and then back again.
S Ukinix: ...productive. Hm?
Vaxa: (To Keehani) This was a waste of time, teardrop.
Astrad: (Crossing arms) For the first time since our teenage years, I agree with you Vaxa.
Keehani: Please stop. (Holding back tears) Please…
Stacey’s jaw locked. She loved her father-in-law, and she was very much here to be on his side--but, and while she didn’t have as much riding here as Keehani, or anyone else, she could still see that this was going nowhere quickly. She glared at the elder pair.
S Ukinix: (commandingly) Let’s return to the point, please.
Keehani: (Rubbing hand through her hair) Much time has passed. You both have an opportunity to have a legacy. There are others on Betazed that would see the Ukinix name consigned to history.
Astrad: It is *not* consigned to history. It is alive and well, and respected in our little corner of Earth. We are not noble, and we don’t need to be. I have a daughter and a son, and he married (gesturing to Stacey, smiling) a wonderful woman. Two people carry the name in Starfleet, one of them my loving grandson.
Keehani sat down next to her grandmother, and held her hand.
Keehani: Then why would you deny us - me - the opportunity to have a similar sense of pride and achievement as (looking at Stacey) Commander Ukinix. And Wil.
Vaxa: Astradem. You are right. Mother and Father ensured we were raised to be assets for the Ninth house. We were never a true family. It is not too late, brother.
S Ukinix: Are you--
But Stacey cut herself off before she could finish the thought. Despite Astrad’s invitation, she was there to observe. And to intervene, if she didn’t like what she was hearing--but that was her prerogative, and she didn’t think that time had come just yet.
TBC...
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Commander Stacey Ukinix
Tactical Liaison to Tholian Relations Mission Command
Starfleet Headquarters
V238208LV0
&
Astrad Ukinix
Manager
Terra Tanunda Vineyard
V239511WU0
&
Vaxa Ral
Matriarch (in absentia), Ninth House
Betazed
V239511WU0
&
Keehani Ral
Exopolitics Student
University of Betazed, Medara campus
V239511WU0