Recovery and Calls From Home

Posted on Thu Apr 15th, 2021 @ 10:26am by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Lieutenant Commander Melanie D’BrooNi- Haistro & Lieutenant JG Osil Haistro

2,087 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - Echoes Of An Empire
Location: Deck 1 - Captains Quarters
Timeline: Mission Day 12 @ 1430 Hours

ON

His head still hurt from the exertion, his body still ached from the trauma. Each of his limbs felt like a lead weight but most of all he hated this feeling of helplessness. He was the Captain and should have been back on the bridge but that task had been left to Commander Holt. He glanced out the windows, taking in the warped stars blasting past and he took comfort in that fact. It served the purpose of the mission to land Copernicus but it still did not feel right to land a Starship.

Charlie had been ministering to him after his discharge from sickbay, but he knew full well the only reason Mel had discharged him to his quarters was to maintain the illusion that Captains were indestructible. It would unnerve the crew seeing him walking the halls in his present state or convalescing in sickbay. He had come to realise however that Charlie took after her mother being equal parts domineering and terrifying so he had stayed were she had put him, and he wasn't even sure his body would allow him to move anyway.

"Your thinking again Keiben," Charlie said replenishing his tea. "Better not be about the ship, work or any mission. Mum said you were to rest."

"I wouldn't want to upset my jailer... I mean nurse! No work I promise. I was just glad to be back in space... And you have no idea how glad I was that your mother did not allow you to join the away teams!"

He put his hand out in an almost paternal way to take hers and give her a forlorn smile. "I don't think I've ever said this but you do mean a great deal to me kiddo... The daughter I never had!"

"Yes I'm glad too mum came back frightened and covered in alien goop," Charlie mused. "Okay "dad"," Charlie winked at him thinking maybe he had a little too much pain relief in him. "Now its time for you to get better. You can ground me later," she joked.

The door to his quarters opened and in strode Mel and the Betazoid couldn't help but smile, his feelings towards her radiating from him in waves, and he could sense that she could feel them. Something had happened to her on the planet, something that neither of them could understand at the moment.
'I love you!' he broadcasted to her, testing to see how sensitive she had become to telepathic communication.

She stopped. It was louder. Last time he had been in her head it had been faint but this time it was obvious he was in her head. She sat down next to him and kissed him before saying, "I love you too. But wow did you give me a scare. That whole place ... terrifying .... Charlie has he been a good patient?"

"He hasn't been a bad one," was all she said. "Am I done doing nursemaid duties mum? I want to go check in on Minka. When I saw her she said she had to knee Mr Horn in the groin."

"You shouldn't really be talking about that Charlie with her. But Peters groin is fine now trust me," the Trill said. "Go see your friend. I can take over here."

The young teen was out of their in a shot.

"Im not replicating a sexy nurse uniform," Mel chuckled. "Just so you know."

"With a body like yours, why would I want it covered!" again he broadcast to her, wanting to see if she could broadcast her own thoughts to him... testing the limits of what had happened to her.

Mel turned round and gave him an amused look. "I got body and would I want it covered. When you have your strength back mister," she chuckled. "But I am getting out of this uniform," she pulled off her top revealing a tank top underneath and headed to the replicator then ..

The intercom chirped interrupting the two. "Captain, please forgive the intrusion but we have a subspace communication for you... Its coming in from Starbase five two seven."

"Thank you L'johK. Put it through down here for me" Keiben replied. Moments later the large image of a Nova Class Ship vanished from behind Keibens work desk to be replaced by an image of a chisel jawed man similar in appearance to Keiben himself. "Osil, it's been too long. What can I do for you little brother?"

The younger man smiled, though it didn't reach his obsidian eyes. "I'm not sure, can't a little brother just call his big brother?" Of course there had been this niggly feeling at the back of his mind that he couldn't place. Yet he had just known it'd had to be his big brother, they'd always been so close.

"Hello Osil," the Trill came into view pulling a cardigan freshly replicated over her shoulders.

"Hello Melanie, it's good to see you again. Are you taking good care of my big brother? He's keeping out of trouble right?" Osil offered a lopsided grin, though the concern didn't leave his eyes.

Mel wasn't sure if she was doing this projection thing right at all. It had barely worked the last couple of times she had tried but she thought to Keiben ~Does he know about us?~

'I haven't spoken to him in a while so no... but knowing my Brother he's probably figured it out by now!' Keiben sent back to her telepathically. She had gotten stronger and he could even feel her pushing at the outskirts of his mind, not the usual prescence of a non telepath, this was the pushings of a mind expanding!

"I'm keeping a firm eye on him don't you worry," she said outloud to Osil.

Keiben tried to sit up a little straighter but could feel he was failing on looking his usual fit self so there was no point hiding it from his Brother. "Our last mission was a little tough... So what prompts the call... Its usually me trying to track you down to check in!"

"Should I go?" Mel asked not sure if she should be here for this conversation.

Osil stroked his beard as he regarded the man on the screen. It was clear something was wrong and it wasn't 'just a feeling he had'. "You've always been a lousy liar Kei. My ship seems to be headed towards you, so I thought perhaps we could meet up and you could introduce me to your warden there." He winked at Melanie, clearly referring to her.

"No, you'll be meeting him soon enough and we don't keep secrets!" he replied telepathically to Mel before looking back at his brother and beaming a grin at him.

"Have you had any transfer orders come through Os?"

Mel nodded physically and moved to sit next to him. It felt odd right now but Keiben was right. His brother was part of his life and going to be part of hers. They had met once before but she had yet to be a widow then. This was a completely different situation.

"I have transfer orders, yes," Osil smirked, "seems like Starfleet wants me to keep watch over my big brother... which is why my ship is heading towards you, as said already. You seem to be lacking some security specialists."

Mel found herself leaning forward slightly watching. Osil had very similar facial expressions to his brother. It was fascinating. She could tell he was ribbing Keiben on the security comment. Her head looked over at Keiben to watch how he responded. She had always found her in law human family fascinating and now she had a whole other species to learn about. Betaziods it seemed were just as fascinating.

"Not so much Security specialists... Copernicus is a Nova Class, we only have eight Security Officers on board... What we really need are more strong telepaths... I'll explain more when you land ship side".

Keiben adjusted, pulling Mel a little closer. He had missed this closeness with her and it was even more comfortable chatting with his younger brother.
"And you know Security is only a point and click job... If you want a real job you'd transfer to Science!" a lop sided smile tugged at the corner of Keiben's lips.

"Hah... no thanks." Osil laughed heartily, watching him draw the woman closer. "I'll be there in a day or so. Is there anything I need to know before my captain cuts me loose?"

"I don't want to ruin the surprise for you!" the lop sided smile holding for a few moments before he turned Captain mode back on. "We have lost someone and several have been severely injured so bring your 'A' game!"

"What possessed you to land the ship?" Osil asked, the teasing smile fading from his face as he too changed from brother to security officer. "You're were a sitting duck down there." Obviously some reports had been filtered through to him. "Did you get everyone off?"

"We had to land because of some ionising radiation in the upper atmosphere that prevented transporters and sensors from working... and we had five injuries and one fatality... It hits hard on a ship this small!"

His tone had turned very sombre as he thought about his friend Yelena, one of the few that had carried over from being under the command of Captain Davies. In truth it was a heavy hit no matter how large or small a crew was, it probably just hurt more because you do get to know everyone on your crew when it is a close knit as Copernicus.

Mel knew Keiben was not feeling good having to say the words he was out loud. She gently squeezed his hand that was around her trying to convey some support as the brothers talked.

"It's always hard to lose someone, no matter how small or large a crew. I'm glad you found someone to be with in this time," Osil offered supportingly, "and I hope those injured make a speedy recovery. You're not planning on going back down there are you?"

"Our orders are to move on to an adjoining sector and hunt down some illusive readings that look like they could be Iconian in a Nebula... Your guess is as good as mine. All I know is that it will be good to have you on board!"
Keiben offered a weak smile more than happy that he would have some family around.

"Speaking of which... Have you heard from our Ileyana... She's been quiet for a while now?"
He knew their sister had been assigned to a Starship but had heard nothing from her since her initial call just before Copernicus launched.

"Bossy as ever, last I heard from her. You know how she is." Osil shrugged. "I'm sure she'll tell us both off soon, you for getting hurt and me for not looking after you."

"Very true!" It was this moment that it dawned on him that Mel had been sat here the entire time and he had still to formally introduce the two. "I'm sorry, Mel this is my brother Osil, Osil this is Doctor Melanie D'BrooNi!"

"Its a pleasure to meet you, well in a different capacity," Mel said.

"What is your ETA?"
Keiben asked, starting to feel fatigued again. He just hoped this feeling would evaporate soon enough so he could finally get back to normal.

"A day or so, I already said that." Osil frowned, worry creasing his brow. "You should get some rest Kei... I'm sure Melanie will agree with me that you look like shit. You make him sleep doc...promise me, you make him sleep."

"Can always count on you dear brother!" Keiben jested but maybe he really was in need of some sleep given he had started repeating himself and had no memory of asking the question before. "I'll see you when you arrive".

"A day or two," the younger man affirmed, "and you better rest as much as you can."

He switched the line off using the small control on the table by the sofa before wrapping his arm back around Mel, wanting to stay here for a few more hours at the very least.

"He seems very nice," Mel said out loud snuggling into his embrace. "And he's right you need rest. So both doctors and girlfriends orders."

END

 

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