Reunion

Posted on Tue Oct 24th, 2023 @ 9:05pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Remal Kajun & Patin

Mission: Repairs and Retribution
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: Enroute to Starbase

They had been kept in sickbay for 24 hours as their bodies were healed and renourished. Rhenora had spent most of it asleep, her body needing to rest as fluids and nutrients were pumped into her bloodstream. She was aware that Remal was nearby, and Patin had refused to move from the chair in between them since they'd been rescued.

"Alright you two, you're free. Back to your quarters and I don't want to see either of you on active duty for at least 3 days" Sarah gave them both a disapproving glance that knew she actually expected otherwise.

"Thanks, Doc." He smiled towards Sarah then looked over at Rhenora and could see the wheels just a turning inside her head, masked only by the golden and silver locks upon her head. They had both been through the wringer and were both desperately in need of a shower.

Rhenora levered herself out of bed and headed over to Remal, keenly aware of Patin's watchful gaze..." let's blow this joint" Rhenora smirked, giving Sarah a look that meant she was only joking with her choice of words. They walked out hand in hand, shadowed by their protector. Rhenora wondered what would happen when they got back to their quarters.

The doors parted admitting the worn-out pin cushion and the woman he loved so much followed by Patin who immediately fell into a sitting position in the nearest chair, one leg draped over the arm. "So I have a question Nozzie." She stated before launching into her question right away. "I thought Starfleeters were all about exploration. New life and all that boldly going places crap." There was a question in those words somewhere anyway.

Rhenora looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Of course it is, what makes you ask that question?" She flopped onto the lounge and kicked off her footwear.

"Yeah, but, I've been with you all of a month, give or take and so far we've crashed your pretty ship, tangled with dinos, been knappered, shot at, and tortured. First off, if you'd have told me it would be this interesting I might have joined you long ago. And Second, when does the boring stuff happen?" She was now playing with the nearest object she could find which just so happened to be one of her stink bombs.

Remal had retired to the bedroom area in order to strip out of his jumper, or what was left of it. He had claimed dibs on the shower first, non-verbally of course.

Rhenora gagged as the gas leached out of the device before the ventilation system swiftly dealt with it. "Ugh, what the heck was in that thing?" She clamped a hand over her nose and mouth. It took a few moments for the air to return to normal and for the Captain to resume normal breathing without fear of expelling what was in her stomach. A few deep breaths later she continued "You're more than welcome to join us you know" She decided not to comment on their perpetual bad luck that more often than not led them into crisis.

Patin stifled a giggle as her friend endured the smoke grenade or the little bit that had escaped. She hadn't meant to set it off, well, maybe a bit. She thought briefly back to the vision she had seen, or been given, or whatever you want to call it. Responding in a somber tone, "I'll be with you..." Then she livened up, "Till the end that is."

Patin suddenly stood up as if a shift in tone and conversation were needed. She headed behind Remal's bar and rooted underneath until she came up with a bottle of something red. "Care for a cuppa?" She asked as she began to pour without waiting for a response.

"Do you really need an answer to that?" Rhenora laughed as she accepted the glass of whatever was in Remal's stash. Whatever it was it was now down a bottle.

As Patin plopped back into the chair she caught a glimpse of Remal sauntering out of the shower area with a short towel around his waist. She licked her lips without shame, then spoke clear enough for them both to hear, "So, what did that bitch want with the two of ya anyway? Besides getting her hands on meat bag?" She joked while indicating Remal.

"Oy, eyes up here" The Captain smirked as she caught her friend in the act of perving on Remal. "She was the wife of Gul Maccett who tried to kill us a year ago and ended up dead himself in the process. Revenge tends to run in the family I guess"

"Revenge huh? And personal at that. You, uh, got any others out there wanting to see you laid low, I should know about?" Patin asked while already knowing the answer. They were already running from the Brin and Faro characters who reared their ugly heads on Bajor.

Remal stepped out of the bedroom, fully dressed, and spotted the bottle in Patin's hand. "Oy, not the red. I was saving that one for..." But he realized it was too late and the bottle was already open. Defeated, "Where's mine?" Then as he sat down next to Rhen he leaned over and sampled her glass and added, "Shower's free."

"You snooze you loose" Rhenora quipped as she downed the rest of her glass, levering herself to her feet and pouring one for Remal before bee-lining for the shower. She couldn't remember the last time a shower had felt so good. The warmth washed more than the dirt from her body, the lingering vestige of the Mrs left also, swirling down the drain to be recycled into something else. If only that was more truth than metaphorical. Whilst she assumed The Mrs was dead, she hadn't been able to verify for herself.

As the water cascaded she mused over the turmoil of the past few years. There were more than a few on Bajor who wanted them dead. The Brotherhood had spawned more fanatics than she could count. The Pah-Wraith movement was still strong, clashing with the faithful of the Prophets at intermittent intervals. Not to mention those she had made enemies of during her tenure in Starfleet. A long career generally led to a long list of those who would rather blow the Sunfire out of the sky. This wasn't how she'd planned her life to turn out. Where had it all gone off the rails?

Some time later the water was shut off and she used a towel to dry, wringing the moisture from her hair and wrapping it on top of her noggin to finish drying. She dressed in a comfortable robe, bare feet, sash tied around her middle. There were no airs and graces around family.

They continued to chat and drink until the bottle was empty. The company was good, the drink was sweet-ish. Then Remal yawned which spread and Patin realized they had not slept in days other than their brief medbay stay. "Alright, alright, I get the message." She said while swinging her leg back into a normal position before standing up. "I know when the party is over." She smiled devilishly, "At least my party, you two, carry on, by all means."

Remal could only glance at Rhenora and imagine. "She's your friend." He proclaimed while laying the responsibility solely on her shoulders.

"That she is" Rhenora couldn't help but stifle a yawn that she didn't have the energy fully complete. Dragging her body towards the bedroom she flopped into bed with the grace of an oversized whale and was instantly asleep. Patin as always would take care of herself.