Reacquaint

Posted on Fri Nov 11th, 2022 @ 7:29pm by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Lieutenant Commander Melanie D’BrooNi- Haistro & Lieutenant JG Osil Haistro

1,821 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 5 - Objects In Motion
Location: Haistro Quarters
Timeline: Mission Day 6 @ 0900 Hours

ON

“I’ll get it,” Charlie yelled. First up, her hair wet and freshly coloured with some pink streaks a la Minka which neither her mum, nor Keiben had seen yet and dressed in a T-shirt that would hackle Connor Horn, she pressed the chime for the door. It was Osil and ….

“Morning uncle O and I guess your're my new grandmother? Welcome.” She had been told. Half a story most likely.

"Hey kiddo," Osil smiled as he ruffled the teenager's wet hair. "Love your hair kiddo...pink suits you. Can we come in?"

“Only if you stop calling me kiddo,” Charlie said seriously standing aside to let them in.

“Mum, Keiben,” she yelled. “Guests.”

Keiben emerged from the bedroom, having only just finished in the shower and having just started to dress in his uniform. The black trousers in place and the grey undershirt vest with his maroon turtleneck and grey black tunic in hand.

"Os, Mother... I thought it a good idea that we all sit down for breakfast in private!"

"Get dressed first," Osil chuckled, playfully covering Charlie's eyes with his hand. "There's minors in the room here."

Maeve "Thank you." she said to Charlie then raised an eyebrow at Osil's actions towards what would be her grand daughter. Her eyes looked over towards Keiben when he walked in. "Osil what is wrong with him coming out mostly dressed?" she looked back at Charlie. "Does it bother you that he is half dressed? You are almost Fifteen or Sixteen years old?" Direcing her question towards Charlie.

"Almost 15 and I've seen him naked at the wedding. That," she indicated his level of clothing, "Is much more comfortable for me. Would you like a drink .. erm Maam. Sorry what should I officially call you? Im Charlie."

"It- it depends on your parents, but for now you can call me Maeve or Grandmother. Though Grandmother has such a odd ring to it. I've not been around for a very long time." Maeve casting a look towards her two sons. "I've missed so much time."

Osil nodded quietly. "The question is why," he answered, a little harsher than intended before grinning at his step-niece. "You saw everyone naked at the wedding," he chuckled, "doesn't mean it's normal for someone of your age and errr species. Trill don't do naked in public do they?"

"I feel we need to bring this subject away from rampant nudity and back on topic!" Keiben chuckled as he sat at the table, a full spread of Earth, Trill and Betazoid dishes ready to be eaten as well as a very specific plate placed ready for Mel. Mopa Fruit Pancakes with maple syrup for Mel... Osil and Charlie fully aware that it would be a death sentence if either went near them given Mels pregnancy cravings!

"So I think we need to hear the story Mother... In full. Where have you been, what have you been doing and why return now?" Keiben attempting to keep his own voice level and measured knowing that Charlie and Osil would likely be the more emotional here, and with Mel's hormones, who knew which way she would be going at this stage!

Charlie smiled as her mother appeared. "I'll get the Raktajino."

"Decaf for me sweetheart," Mel said brightly. "Morning Maeve, Osil, my lovely spouse and father to be," she said beaming at her husband spotting the pancakes. She took the seat in front of them clearly designated for her. She felt as awkard and curious as Charlie no doubt did, but this woman was family now and Keiben, her brother-in-law and likely Maeve needed their support. For once her hosts were quiet. Probably just as curious.

A swallow, and emotions could be felt coming from Maeve and she could feel their emotions as well. Hurt, some anger of which she didn't blame them for feeling, as well as confusion. "You see your father and I got a chance to do a dig in an area that we couldn't take you with us. It was a difficult decision to make with all of you being so young." she was worrying part of her hem of her shirt as she spoke. "It wasn't a long trip though, it was only supposed to be a week but, that didn't happen at all. It was much longer, way too long." a shuddering breath from Maeve, and swallowed down the lump that rose in her throat.

"The ship we were traveling in, got caught in a geomagnetic storm when we were travelling through a system. It actually shut down the ship's systems leaving us to drift until they were able to get it back up and running. Or so the crew had said would happen. During our drift we got caught into the gravitational pull of a planet, couldn't break out of orbit due to no power and, the ship crashed. We had been told to get into escape pods to minimize any loss of life before that happened. That was the more clear memories that I have, before my memory became fractured. Fractured after your father died." her voice low and the feelings of grief were there.

Keiben found a lump developing in his own throat at the news but he held together knowing that the news had been likely coming even before she had started recounting the tale.

"Please go on!"

Mel gently reached out and squeezed her husband's hand.

Charlie looked at Maeve. "So, fractured and confusing memories started coming back. How did you end up here?"

"It is rather strange to be honest. I went back home and didn't find anyone there. I reconnected with some old colleagues and they told me about a place that was rich with archeological finds out in what was called the Briarpatch. Most importantly of all, I heard some small reports, of some events that took place. I dug around to try to piece more together and found that my children had grown up, they had found their own path to follow. I came here, not certain if I would find you, Keiban and you, Osil. Everytime I felt I could catch up with you, you three had gone to the next part of your life's journey."

She gave a slight sigh, "Before I was able to even come here, they put me into an extensive interview, asking me all sorts of questions. I sort of felt like I was being interrogated, just to make certain i was who I said I was."

"Couldn't they have just made a DNA scan to confirm who you were?" Osil asked quietly, his voice still heavy with emotion. The very idea that his mother had been put through all kinds of hardship to even get to a reunion, weighed heavy on him.

"They did, but still preferred to do questioning as at times a person can be duplicated illegally but memories and certain key factors can not truly be completely copied." Maeve responded. "There was one comment that I had 'overheard' they wanted to make certain I wasn't a Romulan in disguise, then they brought in another telepath to check out who I am."

Charlie found herself wondering what the comment was as she busied herself replicating some pastries and bacon. She decided it was probably wise not to ask.

"The comment was, "Make certain she isn't a Romulan in disguise, they have been tricky as of late." Maeve continued having picked up on the sense of questioning from Charlie. No mind reading though. "I do not know what was up with that. It was very strange indeed. Is there something going on that I am missing?"

Keiben had an inclining given the reports he had been seeing of late about their new Romulan neighbours. Something he intended to speak to Commander Horn about in due course.

The older Haistro Brother was pulled the whirl of emotion around himself as if using it as a shield to hide what he was really feeling from the others in the room but he could already feel Mel cutting right through his barriers.

'We need to get her to sickbay and Lieutenant Alessa needs to spend some time with her... The last thing we need is a Romulan sleeper agent... discreetly though!'

Mel nodded towards her brother-in-law. The smallest of movements. She would speak to Maeve alone. When there was less emotion flying around.

"All that matters is that you are here now and you are safe... Have you been assigned quarters yet?" Keiben asked reaching out a hand to squeeze his mothers.

Maeve gratefully squeezed Keiban's hand, having a sharp intake of breath. A memory flashed in Maeve's mind that of her doing the same thing with him before she and their father had left. The pleading of a boy asking them not to leave the tears trickling down his cheeks. A final squeeze then she let go of the hand. She was so selfish. Her pure white lock of hair drifted down over one eye. She brushed it back. "No I haven't been set up with quarters yet, I was waiting to find out if you wished me to leave."

Mel looked back and forth between both Haistro siblings waiting for them to respond.

"Well if I get a vote," Charlie said bluntly. "It would be nice to have a grandmother around. And for squidge too when he shows up." She nodded her head towards her mother's belly. "But Keiben's the boss of this here station," she nodded at her stepdad.

"Of course you can stay... as long as you like!" Keiben added as he turned to Charlie. "Could you speak to Security and get some quarters allocated... maybe take her for a tour of the promenade?"

Maeve was feeling rather grateful and definitely happy that a granddaughter, Charlie was wanting her to be around.

"Sure thing. Come on gran, we will get you all fixed up," She smiled at her.

Keiben, Mel and Osil watched the other two leave, giving a beats pause after the doors closed before addressing the other two.
"Call me paranoid but something feels... Off!"

Mel nodded. "It does seem an odd story. I mean surely, they would have called you the moment someone found her as next of kins. Don't worry, I will ensure we get some very thorough scans."

Osil nodded slowly. "I find...it hard to trust her," he admitted, "something isn't right. If what she says is true, surely... someone would've told us years ago? Why now, of all times? And why the secrecy?"

"I'm glad we are all on the same page... I know we had a run in with Q coming back to our own time. I can't help but wonder if this is another one of their games!" the Commodore added, the three sat in silence afterwards, an unspoken understanding existing between them all.

OFF

 

RSS Feed