New Beginnings pt.2

Posted on Sat May 30th, 2020 @ 12:00am by Second Mate Quinton Beck & MERCHANT RANKS Kas Shar’zhen (NPC)

1,828 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: The Proving Ground
Location: Captains Quarters
Timeline: MD2 0200

Previously...

Quinton looked it over, “I don’t know what any of this is. But it’s pretty, so, thank you.”

The steward was far too professional to show disdain, but Kas liked to think expressing it nonverbally was part of their skillset. She gently shook her head, “No, that will be all thank you.”

Kas was also daunted at the depth of the tray. She had mixed a fair drink in her day, but this was a form of science. She grabbed the Bajoran honied wine, pouring two small glasses. She gave one to Quinton, and offered a small toast, “To the Second Star, past and present.”

And now...

Quinton was looking into her soul with his eyes. For the friendly and avuncular nature he exuded, one could assume this was a safe person, a goofy older brother. She remembered how intense he was, the tumult that was the multitudes within presented in a palatable “aww shucks” package. She remembered why she followed him and not the other way around, there was something inside there that came out occasionally, and when it did, worlds turned. Like now, as they pioneered a whole new division of the Federation Starfleet.

He offered no toast in return, clinking her glass and holding a steady gaze. After they took a drink, he finally spoke.

“I admire you, Kas.”

It was such an odd statement and seemingly out of nowhere. She furrowed a brow his way, “You’ve only had one sip, keep it together man.”

He chuckled, their kinship returning slowly, as they became comfortable again. Quinton returned to the food prep, Kas brought him the glass to prompt him.Quinton was no drinker, and her role in this affair was to push him. He did the same, forcing Kas out of her shell, making her live a full life despite her crippling guilt and anxieties.

She asked him something he wasn’t ready for, “So have you had any company over?” A coy grin cleverly hidden with her drink didn't fool Quinton. He knew what she was asking, and replied, “Only just got the lighting right, it looked ghastly before you wouldn’t have believed it.”

His aversion to talking about himself could get trying, she didn't bother with further subtlety. “We have just committed to a four week journey, will you be writing your next action novel the whole time, or a harlequin romance?”

She got him, he blushed. “Kas, please I can’t think like that right now, we are… there is… so much…”

She pressed him for more, “The Steward who sets the conference room for us, Ashland I think was his name, I seem to recall you two having a very long conversation after the ‘Krissening’ of the new name.”

He gave up, she was on a path for answers. “Totally heterosexual, we get along great but if you want to talk “company” I’m out of luck.”

Kas didn't quite understand Human emotional nuances, but Andorian customs were so far out of standard norms she didn't ask further. Same sex pairing was part of her biology, so this was outside of her understanding. She did understand loneliness, and poured more wine for both of them.

The music playing changed to a sad song about a spaceman floating away into space, or so Kas tried to follow. Human Music was occasionally morose and bizarre. Quinton picked up the slack in conversation this time, “Has Inia come to a better understanding with you two?”

Now Kas didn't want to answer him. She watched as he stirred, strained and set plates down before replying. “Inia, has distracted herself. When she… after the school was attacked, we all had a moment where we forgot. We just held each other, and that was nice. Since then it has been... detente.” She finished her drink in a swallow, and prompted him to do the same.

Quinton let the noise fill the silence for a second. He plated the meats and greens, piled the peas, laying a salad plate and immaculate service before her. He took his plates to the table, where two chairs sat at right angles to one another. She looked to him with bemusement, “Oh so we do entertain then.”

He had a genuine laugh, “Yes, Fala is quite the piece of company.”

She made a fake face of concern, “I thought I smelled Chitin and talcum powder.”

He almost spit the drink out laughing. She cheered him on. She took a few bites, the food was savory, an odd choice of flavors, but she presumed that was due to them all being separate omens of good fortune. As she chewed she grabbed another bottle, Galessian Honeymeade. Rare, expensive stock like this meant Othor knew what Kas was doing and wanted it to go well.

She accepted his benediction with grace, “I admire you too Quinton. Othor and Fala, Vicente… We have quite the team here.”

Quinton finished chewing before he said, “You. I couldn’t imagine this working without you.”

It was her turn to blush a rosy white under the blue bristles.

He continued, “Kas, when we met my ambitions were to inherit my dad's stuff and try not to break it. You saw that I could do more and never stopped pushing me to be better. Our friendship is legendary, at least to me. When I didn't have the chops to command, you gave me time to buck up. Now that we are here, and there is a whole ship to run, I am right back there, needing you to buy me time to figure it out. You, Kas. You are what keeps the faith for me.”

She was overwhelmed again by emotions, he gave her a chance to breathe by changing the song again, a much higher tempo and upbeat song, simply titled, “Spaceship.” She poured the meade, tried to think of something to say but just held her glass out again. Quinton picked his up, returning the gesture.

She finished her draught in a single swallow, Quinton stared in awe. “I’ll never forget how cocky I was that time.”
She smiled at him, “You had bad information.”

“No, all the information in four quadrants is at our fingertips, I had no excuse to believe Andorians had a special intolerance for alcohol. I was dumb, they goaded me into a bet, I threw up in a corner and you took all my cash.”

She saw his I’m so humble smile, “I used that cash to buy my drinks for the next few months, you really over extended yourself.

He laughed, relaxed in his seat and enjoying the memories. “Yes, that was most of my backpay from a year long stint, gone because you can swallow beer like its water and I was too stupid to realize that.”

She felt the heat rush in her face, she was getting there, so he had to be further along. His lack of ability to drink had been a teasing point for her all their lives together. She was only teasing, and wanted to make sure he knew, “I put ten times that amount into our current operation, so you know, it’s come back to you.”

He was feeling something, his face was flushed and he was speaking openly. He usually modulated his words, but this was not the time for that. He finished his drink finally, setting it down gingerly. “Kas, I’d pay that again gladly, for the benefit of knowing you. A hundred times that.”

Kas smiled, accepting the compliment. “You pick this time.” She had done her part, he needed to walk with her, not behind her.

He chose a crystal decanter, it was filled with an odd word neither of them recognized, but Quinton finally clicked at some of the other words on the label. It was Spanish, Terran classical Romance language, “Tears of Llorona.”

“Othor doesn’t mind evoking sad tales, this is a dark brand, my lord.”

Kas looked at him expectantly, and he answered her, “Llorona is a ghost thing, a woman who steals children and drowns them I think.”

Kas let her bemused expression do the talking, Quinton continued, “Well let’s toast to better fortunes then.”

He poured two small shots, Kas held his hand down though whe he lifted it right away. “”Must breathe first,” she said.

“There you go, knowin stuff.” Quinton gave her a wink, using the opportunity to steal a bite of cornbread. She signalled the time by grabbing her own, “To better fortunes Captain.”

Something had been lost up until now, but at the rediscovery of one another's company, a weight was now shared. The meal was fulfilling, the drinks were silky smooth, but for both of their recollections of this evening a soulful melancholy had become a wellspring of joy again. An hour stretched into two, and quite a bit of drink later found them both looking at the time.

“Gods, Quinton.. We have duty in three hours.”

Bleary eyed and more than a little lethargic he slurred, “Just need a nap, and some coffee will do me fine. You ok to get home?”

Of course she was, she knew the way, even intoxicated. He cared, so deeply it was instinctual to ask, to make sure she didn't need to stay and be safe. She helped him up from the table, and he managed to stand and walk her to the door.

“I missed these nights Kas, not the mornings after, but I missed this. Next time… Your place. I wanna meet your family.”

Kas didn’t know what to make of this, she wasn’t so private as to reject the idea but it was not something she expected anyone to ask.

“Aye Captain, See you soon.”

For a moment, lucidity came to him, “Kas, I fully expect you to run this show one day, and you’re children will run the halls of this ship, and your family name will be known everywhere. Give my best to them okay, you are an amazing group of people.”
He hugged her, a breach of their stations but in character with who he was. He defied standard conventions and for what flaws it periled, the successes also spoke for themselves. In terms of strength he was only Human, but the earnest nature and full body embrace of his whole being conveyed warmth and love in such vigor as to return her to youth in the bosom of her fathers embrace.

She returned the affection, the need for words had passed. They held each other and shared the burden of their emotions, the guilt, loss, and gut wrenching agony. They shared in simple joy of one another. After leaving, there was a lightness to each step carrying her home. Somehow, she now had an easy smile, one that was given to her just by being here.

-End-

Austen

 

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