Ties that Bind
Posted on Tue Jun 15th, 2021 @ 2:56am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Remal Kajun
Mission:
Gamma Quadrant
Location: Bajor
Timeline: Before Launch
Snip - “Perhaps, what did the Prophets show you in your last vision with them?” She asked, “ I don’t have a gut feel yet either way” - snip
“What would you prefer? Do you have a gut feel?” She probed, knowing that sometimes he saw things and felt things that couldn’t be easily explained.
It took a moment for him to formulate a response, mostly due to the sensitive nature of the subject. “Here, among the stars, the beach rhythmically crashing into the shore in the background. Here is where I saw us bringing our child into the universe. But…”
She smiled softly at him “ There’s always a but and I think I understand why.”
“But you know as well as I, I no longer trust the visions the wormhole aliens give us anymore. It’s true, the cabin was built once more, and you were delivering the baby and then for some unknown reason you cried out and then died, at least that’s what I was shown. But since I denounced them, they have relied upon you to be their divining rod, not me.”
“ Something I didn’t ask for I might add” Rhenora smirked sagely, recalling the times she felt the Prophets were ‘meddling’ in one way or another. She wanted to believe her path was her own to walk, not be predetermined by someone else.
“Besides, we came here to relax, not dwell. I thought you wanted to move past what may or may not be, knowing we have as much control over our fate as we have the ability to change the course of the Bajoran tides.”
As he spoke Bajor’s second moon rose, the tide ebbing and flowing just a little different than before as though a subtle sign or message.
“ You were saying?” She snuggled closer to him, feeling the warmth of his body next to her in the cool night air.
He wrapped his arm around her, sharing the warmth of their space. “All I want to think about is being a good husband and father. Sometimes, even that seems too much of a burden to bear. Dealing with fanatics who want to see me dead is not something I’m prepared to worry about.”
He didn’t say it out loud, but he was thinking that if those fanatics came looking for him or his love, they would regret breathing.
“ That’s plenty enough to think about for the time being, let’s focus on what we can control, not what we can’t” She resolved, feeling warm and protected within his embrace. One of the few times she allowed herself to be vulnerable.
Several minutes passed before he asked, “So, one thing we can control, baby names. Anything come to mind?”
She rolled that particular thought around in her mind a few times before replying “ To be honest I hadn’t thought too much about names yet. I’m still sort of getting used to the whole idea of having a child in the first place” She admitted, embracing his warmth. “We do however have a few months to think about it. Did you want to find out if it's a boy or a girl? I can ask Sarah next time I go in.”
“I have to admit, I’m partial to a spirited little girl. Call it bias towards her mother. But, I don’t feel the need to know in advance. Besides, a little surprise now and again goes a long way.” The fire flickered at a nice even keel. It would only burn for another hour or so without more fuel. Just long enough to enjoy its comfort.
"A surprise it shall be then" she smiled and snuggled in, a yawn escaping unbidden from her mouth. "What a day, tomorrow's gonna be chaos."
“Hmmm. I can imagine. Between the move, getting settled, and shipping out in the course of only a few hours. There’s going to be more than a few rattled individuals who won’t know right from left.” He shook his head in earnest. “The only thing that would make the situation worse is if you threw in a pop quiz in the form of combat drills or something.”
"You are truly evil and yet utterly brilliant at the same time" she snorted before a round of sneezes followed by a yawn that one could park a shuttle in, escaped her.
"We should get some sleep" she admitted, wanting the peace of this night to last forever. They were unaware however of the eyes watching from a distance.
Nodding, he stood up slowly and stretched before helping her up and off the log. The weather served to be calm, the skies bright and open. They lay together for countless minutes in silence until he heard her snore first and then her leg jerked, hitting his shin.
This was his signal to roll over and hold her, to alleviate her discomfort and help her sleep more soundly. There was no place under the stars he would choose to be than right here in this moment with her. And so it was.
The next morning it was the sun that roused them, not the computer, not some ship threatening emergency, not some urgent call to action. Just the sun, making its daily trek across the Bajoran sky as it had for millennia.
"I could get used to this kinda morning" she rolled over so she could see the sun over the waves. It truly was idyllic.
He grumbled as he rolled onto his back. “I take it you had better accommodations than I during the Occupation? For me, this was almost every morning. Aside from the distant screams in the night, and the crying, most nights were spent under the stars.”
"Really? Caves, dark, dank, musty caves that were freezing in the winter. No natural light" she recalled her experience of the Occupation and realised just how different it had been for her.
“Darktur is a warmer province I suppose. The Northern end of the lake at the foot of the mountains is wooded and well protected. Especially this time of year.” He sympathised at how rough she had it growing up.
They stared at the sky for a while until the rumbling of her belly raised more important concerns.
"Breakfast?"
“Famished. I’ll warm the griddle. There’s eggs and some pre-chopped veggies in the travel cooler. And because I didn’t forget, a fresh loaf of bread should have been delivered from the local market by now.” He stood from the bed, stretched, then moved over and began the task of reigniting the flames.
As they emerged from the tent there was a loaf of fresh bread as ordered, still warm beneath its fabric covering, its smell making Rhenora’s mouth water with anticipation. Remal was swiftly onto the eggs and vegetables and soon the smell of a cooked breakfast added to the aroma of the bread.
“Smells amazing, how did I get so lucky as to find a man such as you?” She leant over the pan and took a deep breath in.
"All I have to do is be better than the next man in order to keep you happy. If I fail at my duty, life would not be worth living." He slid the egg and vegetable mixture onto her plate. "We should get back soon I think. Lots to do." He looked around.
" Though I must admit I would love to stick around and get some work done on the cabin. I'm torn."
“ There will be time for that, hopefully the mission to the Gamma Quadrant won’t last too long and we can spend a week or two back here building” She mused, watching the meal cook over the open fire. There was something about the flickering flame and the smell of the smoke that was almost intoxicating.
They spent the better part of the next hour cooking, cleaning up and packing away their camping gear for next time. Remal made sure to pour out the drain water onto the campfire, just to be safe. They chatted off and on about old times, people they missed, etc. All the while they pressed on until finally they came together at the edge of the house.
“Every time we leave, I get this feeling like everything will be different the next time we return. I know it’s silly, but the more we’re away, the more we change, you know?”
“The more we change, the more we stay the same” She echoed ruefully as she looked at the slab that was to become their new cottage. It wouldn’t be the same as the cosy cottage that Remal had built with his bare hands, but it would be something for them to grow into, to retire and live out the rest of their lives with their family in. Well that was the hope anyway.
