Sun and Souls

Posted on Sun Dec 1st, 2024 @ 1:40am by Commander Jenna Ramthorne & Remal Kajun & Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Lieutenant Sarah Wilson
Edited on on Mon Dec 2nd, 2024 @ 1:30pm

Mission: Character Development
Location: Bajor

Several days passed with the gentle rhythm of a new family, their energy waxing and waning like the moon. They settled into a routine guided by the needs of the family's youngest member.

The sound of footsteps outside interrupted their morning breakfast, the smell of coffee wafting out the open front door to great the newcomer. There was a knock at the front door and a friendly voice followed.

"Hello! Can I come in?" The voice of the Sunfire's CMO echoed from the front door.

"Sarah! Please, join us" Rhenora smiled warmly, rising and meeting the other woman half way, wrapping her in a hug. She'd been expecting a visit at some point, and wasn't shocked when Sarah appeared unannounced.

"I thought I'd drop by to see how you were all doing for myself. Not that I don't trust the local medical staff or anything" Wilson added hastily as she sat down at the large table to set her medical kitt on the floor.

"Morning Sarah, would you care for a drink? I've still got your recipe for your favorite tea." Remal piped up from the kitchen area.

Jenna entered the front room from the dining area, cradling Patina and rocking as Remal had shown her. Patina, was cooing gently. The moment Jenna stopped, Patina started to cry. She interrupted with a hushed whisper, "How long until she stops being fussy?" The concern was evident on her face.

Zio snorted then gave up trying to hold back the chuckle. "Ohhh about 18 years or so" she grabbed a mug from Remal and returned to the table, placing it in front of Sarah. "There you go, none of that starfleet coffee here, Remal only has the best beans."

"I'm sure he does" Sarah replied with a smirk before taking a sip. It was delightfully bold yet subtle in all the undertones. As they chatted she ran her eyes over everyone in the room, checking skin colour, eye brightness, clear speech and anything that would outwardly indicate anything other than fatigue.

"Stop it, I'm fine" Rhenora grumped when she caught the CMO in the act.

"I'll be the judge of that" Sarah retorted with a smile that showed she had all the cards and would play them if necessary. "Have you been taking your herbs?'"

Rhenora grimaced and said nothing.

Remal raised his brow, "She has been 'given' her herbals on the daily." He said with the admonishment she had not actually taken them, any of them. "She's been in good hands." He added knowing the doctor would likely refute his claims.

Jenna meanwhile had gone pale at the thought. And through her gullible concern questioned Zio under her breathe, "Really? You're kidding right?" There was no way in hell she remembered being this fussy as a young girl. Although she had many other concerns to deal with as a child. Hers was a messy upbringing. "I expected a few weeks at best."

Zio chuckled at Jenna's discomfort before feeling the need to explain herself. "They're always fussy. This one is currently either hungry, has a dirty bum, or is tired. Babies are easy like that. It's the teenagers, holy bless the Prophets sideways. No one can figure out teenagers." She rolled her eyes for exaggeration.

Sarah meanwhile sipped the coffee and listened to the banter as it rolled around the room. Here were 4 people in an exceptional circumstance who seemed to be coping pretty well by all outward signs. "No herbs then? This should be interesting" She looked at Rhenora with a raised eyebrow. Rhenora replied by poking her tongue out in a most uncaptain-like manner.

"So, how do you know which one it is?" Jenna asked, unsure before shifting Patina so she could check her bum and finding it clean. "Nothing there, bit red maybe." Patina started to whimper louder. Jenna looked to Zio who looked like she was about to laugh. "Now what did I do?" she asked.

Rhenora chuckled and reached for the young one. "Then we offer her food, and if she doesn't want that, then we offer sleep. If all of the above doesn't work then you get down on your hands and knees and pray for mercy" There was good-humoured laughter that rolled around the room. She excused herself from the table and took Patina to the bedroom to feed, conscious of Sarah who followed her.

"Go on, get your scans done with" the Captain grumbled as she settled into a position that was comfortable for both her and Patina. The fussiness stopped instantly.

"So she's feeding well then. That's a tick." Sarah quipped, taking her readings on both mother and child. A few minutes later there was a furrow on her brow.

"Well that's never a good sign" Rhenora mused out loud and Sarah tapped on the small device.

"There's some kind of protein maker in your bloodstream that wasn't there before. I can't yet identify it, Remal said your body was inhabited by a Prophet, then hit with an energy stream..." She left the rest unsaid.

"I don't remember much after that" Rhenora shrugged. "What does it mean?"

It was the doctor's turn to shrug. "No idea, it seems somewhat inert, but it's there. Other than that you seem to be recovering well. You'd be recovering better if you take the herbs...you know they're good for you. Your body needs them"

The Captain had the decency to accept the lecture. "I promise I will try"

"Good, I'll leave some nutrient boosters to help with the fatigue, but you're both doing well, or as well as can be expected. When you're ready to return to the ship we can do a full work up" Sarah smiled and patted the Bajoran on the arm. "You're doing great, seriously. Relax, rest when you can, and eat ALL the food"

As Sarah exited the bedroom area she stopped next to Remal, a sign of worry upon her face. He knew it well and decided it was important to be in the know. "What is it Doc.? You look like there is something amiss." As he said this out loud, Jenna and Zio stopped talking baby butts and looked in their direction.

"There's a protein marker in her bloodstream that wasn't there before. It seems inert from what I can see but when you guys return to the ship I'll run some more tests. Other than that they're both doing well" Sarah smiled, schooling the concerned expression from her face. "Rest and good nutrition will do them both wonders."

Remal couldn't help his thoughts from becoming intrusive but held his reservations as he considered Sarah's better judgement. Worry never solved anything. "We've got both in spades here Sarah, thank you." He commented simply.

Jenna stepped forward, "Mind if Zio and I hitch a ride back to the station? Gotta check in and let everyone know we're doing okay and..."

Zio finished her statement, "And my kids are there waiting to see me. Besides it's time to give the Ma and Fa five minutes of private time, if-in ya know what I mean?"

Rhenora couldn't help but smirk at the remark but understood that there was only so long that living in someone else's house could be comfortable. She rose and gave Zio and then Jenna a hug. "Thank you both for coming. I don't think we could have done this without either of you"

They each took the hug in turn. Jenna made sure to give Rhenora a long look afterward, "You know I'm coming back right? You make it sound as though we are parting for good. You're not sick are... " She looked at Sarah and then back again. "She's not sick, right Doc? You said she was fine, not delirious."

"Don't pick, I thought the hug was a lovely gesture," Zio said sarcastically. "The thank you for saving our bacon part, now that was completely uncalled for." She shot Rhenora a crooked smile.

"You better be coming back, otherwise I'm gonna have to hunt you down and drag you back by your ass" Rhenora retorted at Jenna before giving Sarah a look. "And I'm fine, I'm not going anywhere except back to the ship when it's time to ship out." She then turned her attention to Zio. "You get it, go be an awesome parent to your children. And if that young one of yours needs a taste of life in space, we could figure something out before he decides to join the Academy"

"You got it Momma Kaylen." Zio replied before they each shuffled out of the broken cabin and it's sturdy foundations.

And then there was silence. Not even Patina, now fully fed, and asleep in her bed, was a sound to be heard. They each reflected for a short time, neither one wanting to break the moment of silence, but allow their souls to soak it in ever so briefly.

For a few moments they didn't move, and then Rhenore allowed her shoulders to drop a little and the stubborn determination to leave her features. Away from the eyes of even their friends, she could finally let her guard down.

"Well, that was a ride" she quipped as she flopped onto the couch, reaching for a plate of fruit that was the centerpiece of the low coffee table.

Their ordeal it seemed was over, or was it only just beginning?

TBC

Submitted by

Captain Kaylen Rhenora
Commanding Officer, USS Sunfire

Commander Jenna Ramthorne
Chief Flight Control Officer & Mission Advisor, USS Sunfire

Lieutenant Sarah Wilson
Chief Medical Officer
USS Sunfire

Remal Kajun
Counselor Aide, USS Sunfire
Husband of the Captain

Played By Commander Jenna Ramthorne