[Jaxom/Meyers/Doctine/Gilohesh] Detour On The Way Home, Part 4

[Clifford]

“Detour On The Way Home, Part 4”

Reluctant Captain Jaal Jaxom

Ensign Joann Meyers

Lieutenant Commander Tale Gilohesh

Lieutenant Commander Diane Doctrine and her son Toby

And the Effervescent Admiral Houhah

==Starbase 55==

Addressing Houhah, Jaal spoke up, “We really haven’t determined much more than some kind of portal opened and these people were spit out of it. I don’t think anything else other than that initial fact can be certain without examining the sensor readings our two runabouts recorded.”

“Captain Jaxom is correct,” Diane spoke up as well, “Any other assumptions at this point are quite premature. Also, when we left the area, the anomaly was dissipating and will be gone in less than sixty hours. If we want to examine it we don’t have much time.”

"Fifty-eight point three hours before complete dispersion." The computer said in a familiar, but not quite familiar voice. 

Tale thought about how awful she was at this sort of thing, but tossed in. “Less if the decay accelerates exponentially… if that is the case.”

Houhah paused mid-stride, his dramatic coat swirling about his legs. "My dear scientists," he intoned, suddenly serious as a supernova, "are you suggesting this cosmic hiccup might be on a timer?" His eyebrows performed an elaborate dance of intrigue.

A large number of snarky replies flitted through Jaal’s mind but this wasn’t the time for that. “It would seem so,” he answered out loud, “In my experience, anomalies like this often have limited lifespans.”

Houhah pressed a hand to his chest, closing his eyes. His voice suddenly took on a rich intonation: 

“Like fireflies in a winter’s grasp—

Or bubbles rising from the greatest deep

All cosmic wonders fade too fast

While we fools try to count to sleep!”

He blinked as if to shake off a trance. “What is to say, we’ll need three teams to work in shifts around the clock on this conundrum. Someone should probably warn the Vulcans,” he turned to Diane. “They hate surprises.”

Tale leaned into Diane with a small smile. And terrible poetry. She added under her breath.

Diane silently agreed.

Jaal did his best to keep his eyes from rolling at the poetry that he didn’t feel they had time for, at least Houhah was willing to devote some resources quickly instead of waiting for Starfleet Command to do something. “Yeah, Vulcans are like that,” he agreed, “When are we getting started?”

“Already underway!” Houhah sang out, spinning toward his desk with a flourish that sent his coat out swishing like a matador’s cape. His hands danced across his computer display with remarkable deftness. “Science Team Alpha is prepping the sensor array as we speak; Team Beta is analyzing your shuttle’s data logs, and—” he paused and held his finger over the blinking comms button with dramatic poise. “--Team Gamma is on standby with some very delicate temporal probes.”

Tale muffled her laughter behind her hand as Houhah continued.

"Transport shuttles are being prepped, temporal containment fields calibrated, and—" He produced a silver pocket watch from his vest with a magician's flair, checking it with exaggerated concern. "—the mess hall is serving spaghetti bolognese in precisely eighteen minutes. I suggest we reconvene then with preliminary findings." His gaze locked onto Jaal's. "Unless our good captain believes we should skip the carbs and dive straight into the space-time continuum?"

“I admit, I’m impressed with your initiative and promptness in this matter,” Jaal told Houhah in a sagely tone. He wanted to go on with before meeting you, I didn’t have much of an opinion on starbase commanders, while remembering the traitorous admiral that gave Deep Space Five to the Hydrans at the opening of the Triad War.

After the recent, harrowing affairs at the Academy, the Trill didn’t, at first, want to participate in this sudden adventure, but now, after talking to Tale, Diane, and Houhah, he could feel his old captain instincts re-asserting themselves. His desire to explore and solve conundrums was now receiving a jump start with this current mystery.

“Seems like we have a lot of work ahead of us. I think some carbs are a good idea.” Jaal looked at Toby, “You hungry kid?”

Toby only offered a vigorous nod to the affirmative.

“You know me,” Joann added, “I haven’t met a pasta I didn’t like.”

“It will go a lot further than just caffeine,” Diane joked in a serious manner.

Houhah clapped once, the sound echoing through the ready room like a starting pistol. "Magnificent! A crew that appreciates both science and carbs is my favorite kind." He swept toward the door, his uniform coat billowing behind him. "To the mess hall! Where the mysteries of the universe shall be solved between bites of garlic bread!"

As they followed the admiral's dramatic wake, Tale leaned toward Diane and murmured, "I keep waiting for him to burst into song."

“It’s bound to happen,” she replied in kind, “I wonder if everyone is like that in this timeline?”

Jaal, bringing up the rear of their little group, exhaled louder than he expected to, “No, they’re not… thankfully,” he added with a silly grin on his face. 

Ahead of them, the admiral pivoted on one polished boot heel, arms spread wide. "Tell me, friends—does your universe have a tradition of singing for your supper? No? What tragic deprivation!" His laughter twinkled like a wind chime in an ion storm as he resumed leading the charge toward culinary and scientific glory.

Tale looked at Diane wide eyed. “I think he’s onto us or incredibly self aware.”

Diane’s eyes narrowed as she watched the admiral, “I’m guessing a little bit of both… but I’d rather have him self-aware rather onto us.” She did like having a certain amount of anonymity.

Jaal merely shook his head from side to side. “I just wish that instead of wasting time we should be trying to gain more information about the anomaly that brought you all here.” 

“You mean you’re not hungry at all?” Joann asked, “You haven’t eaten since we left Earth. Don’t you think you should live up to that honorary membership in the Adventurous Eaters Club?”

Jaal’s expression and rolling eyes spoke for him. He could, in fact, use a meal. Fine.

Ahead of them, Houhah pirouetted without breaking stride. "Fear not, time-pressed explorers! I've instructed the replicators to prepare nutrient-dense garlic bread!" His wink carried the weight of a man who'd clearly overheard everything. "Fortified with all the B-vitamins for optimal vitamin absorption!"

The private dining chambers opened with the adequate amount of frippery and flourish as one would expect at this moment in time. Houhah bowed with his hand extended, his nose nearly touching the deck plating. Tale marveled at the way the points of his shoes were directing them inward ever so politely. 

“Admiral,” Tale whispered in what she considered equal politeness, since they were guests at this dinner now. She reached into her cardigan pocket and produced an isolinear chip. “I took a moment and gathered myself, Diane and Toby’s dietary restrictions, different times doesn’t call for dramatically uncooperative stomach problems, am I right?”

The Admiral looked at her like he was genuinely touched. “My dear Doctor, this is what would separate the mere adequate hosts from the exceptional ones I would think.” He snapped his fingers and a steward materialized from seemingly nowhere. “I know just the thing! Chef’s personal replicator. Real butter. Hydroponics has some of the best greens or you can call me a liar and vent me to space yourself.”

“That’s not really necessary—”

“Doctor Gilohesh, my esteemed guests, I would never lie,” Houhah said with his hand over his heart. “Least of all about the quality of carbohydrates.”

Jaal pursed his lips at the admiral’s behavior and demeanor but he had to admit some real food would go a long way to putting him in a better mood.

“Carbs, yes,” Diane quipped while unknowingly mirroring Jaxom’s thoughts, “Some carbs will do well to feed our brains as well as our bodies.” She knew they’d all be able to think clearer after a hearty meal. “Right kiddo?” she asked her son.

“Right!” Toby answered enthusiastically.

—--

As the last vestiges of bread vanished into their mouths as fast as it had arrived, Houhah leaned back into his chair with the air of a belly full and knowledge of his compatriots' well-being met that only good food could make. “Captain Jaxom,” Houhah said with a hearty grin, picking up a brandy snifter full of some drink that was not brandy, yet for the sake of all theatrics, the man still had a damnedable snifter. Don’t hate the player. “Have you considered how dreadfully dull your life has become without active duty?”

Jaal’s chair spun a degree to the left, then to the right before he answered out loud. “No… but it really hasn’t been dull if I say so myself.” He had an inkling of what the Admiral was about to propose. Truth be told, he’d been thinking about the possibility since they’d come aboard the starbase.

"Pish-posh!" Houhah's hand sliced through the air, nearly upending a salt shaker. "That brilliant mind of yours? Wasted on… on… whatever you’ve been doing.."

The Trill was not exactly happy about the insinuation that he’d been wasting his time. He had, in fact, been quite busy since being rescued. This comment from Houhah led him to believe the admiral didn’t know everything he thought he knew.

“For your information, Admiral, I’ve been helping out on my family’s vineyard, that’s not a waste of anything,” Jaal answered while trying to stay amicable. He had an idea what Houhah was trying to do.

Houhah leaned forward, suddenly serious. "Do you know what Cadet Kirkpatrick wrote in her tactics exam last week? Suggested negotiating with the Gorn by mailing them fruit baskets!" His shudder sent his epaulets quivering.

Jaal’s mouth twisted into an amused half-smile. “I really don’t think that would work… unless the fruit was exchanged for some raw meat.”

"Take the Montgomery," Houhah barreled on, producing a PADD from seemingly thin air. "Fresh from spacedock, twice the phaser banks of your old ship, and…” his voice dropped to a stage whisper. “The chef makes real jambalaya on Thursdays.”

“You’re serious?” Jaal asked, “You must be the only admiral in the fleet willing to offer me a ship right now…” He wasn’t one hundred percent sure of that fact, but he had to call Houhah’s bluff. Jambalaya aside, the allure of commanding a starship again tugged at his heart in a way it hadn’t since his recovery started. He was suddenly faced with the decision to return to command or keep waiting. His body froze as a chill went up his back and the hair on his nape stood up. 

Was he ready?

"Of course you're not ready." Houhah's interruption was uncharacteristically gentle as he answered the unasked question. He tapped the side of his own head where Jaal's spots darkened. "The Breen took things from you that don't grow back. But Starfleet?" He slid the PADD across the table. "We rebuild better."

Jaal took a glance at the PADD without picking it up. The Montgomery was a Nova class science vessel outfitted specifically for data gathering in dangerous situations or environments, hence the added firepower and other upgrades.

“He is getting better,” Joanne piped up focusing her attention on Houhah, “I’m guessing this could be considered a trial run?” She turned to face Jaal, “You won’t be alone, I think what Admiral Houhah is offering, at this moment, is a temporary assignment. If anything happens you’ll have back up. I’m sure there’s an experienced crew aboard,” now she faced Houhah again, “Right?”

Houhah placed a hand over his heart, his theatricality dialed down to a sincere simmer. “But of course! Commander T’Vrel is her XO, cool as an ice cream cone and sharper than a bat’leth. She’s been briefed. The entire crew are volunteers, specifically selected for their discretion and… empathy regarding certain… operational nuances.” His eyes flicked to Jaal, acknowledging the unspoken; the crew knew his history and were willing to support him, not just follow him.

He leaned forward, his voice losing its boom and gaining a rare, gravelly seriousness. “No one is throwing you into the deep end, Jaal. This is a lifeboat, with a full crew, sent to investigate the very mystery that literally landed on your doorstep. The mission parameters are simple: take the Montgomery, analyze the anomaly before it vanishes, and get our new friends,” he gestured to Tale and Diane. “One step closer to home. That’s it. A clean, defined mission. A good ship. A good crew.”

He spread his hands, a final, open gesture. “All it needs is a captain.”

Jaal swallowed hard. He thought he’d know if he was ready for command again when he could jump on the ancient Ducati he had stored at home and ride down the road. Here, Houhah was offering a ride of a different sort. There were no baby steps here. He was being offered a direct dive into the deep end of the pool.

Pool, he thought, shit, this was the ocean.

The Trill could tell there was no screwing around. He sat with a resolute expression on his face. His brow furrowed deeply as he rubbed his palms together and ended up squeezing his left thumb with the opposite hand. This all seemed too perfect. He could feel his hands beginning to sweat.

Houhah was serious. But why now? Jaal wanted to ask. Was this some kind of coincidence? Was Starfleet command that sly as to set up this sudden test of his readiness? This all seemed too perfect. Those and many more questions flitted through his mind.

He then became acutely aware of the two ladies and child sitting on the other side of the table. They did their best to not stare at him but he knew they were watching him intently. They were anxious to hear his answer. They each looked like they had a long list of questions as well. They were suddenly misplaced in time and space and feeling their entire existence rode on the next words from Jaal’s mouth.

What if this whole mess wasn’t set up by Starfleet Command.

And if Starfleet Command had not set it up? How could he not help? Reminding himself he had not, in fact, resigned his commission, his sense of duty was tugging at his core. Even if he had resigned as he’d threatened, he would not be immune to aiding someone who needed help.

A few questions formed in his mind but he would ask for their answers from someone else. He wasn’t entirely certain Houhah would answer in a straight forward manner.

Joann put her hand on his shoulder. Breaking the seconds-long silence she softly asked, “Well? What do ya think?”

His body tensed at her contact. He looked at Joann, then at Tale and Diane, then, finally at Houhah. He replied in a quiet but firm tone. “I’ll do it.”

For a heartbeat, Admiral Houhah was perfectly, profoundly still. The constant energy that seemed to radiate from him condensed, pulling inward. The grand gestures vanished, the dramatic posture softened. He didn't cheer, whoop, or launch into a soliloquy.

Instead, a slow, deep breath filled his lungs. A look of immense, almost paternal satisfaction settled on his features, his eyes closing for just a moment as if in silent gratitude. When they opened, they held a warmth that was entirely genuine, devoid of any performative flair.

"Good," he said, his voice low and rich with an emotion far more potent than joy, respect.

What did I just get myself into? Jaal thought suddenly

(TBC... we're not done yet...)