asking for help

Posted on Tue Jun 7th, 2022 @ 12:21pm by Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels

Mission: Free write
Location: sky's quarters

The com screen on Sky's nightstand started to beep softly indicating that there was an off ship transmission waiting for her.

Sky was a light sleeper so the beeping of the comm soon woke her. Gently sliding out of bed so as not to disturb Tal or Xavier she put on her robe and moved into the living area to take the call.

The man on the other side of the screen seemed to have ages years since she had briefly seen him on a screen just such a short time ago. Richard Stoffels looked tired and worn out. He also looked extremely sad.

"Lt Jansen." He blinked. "Did I wake you? I am so sorry I forgot the time difference."

Sky smiled. “It’s alright Sir, is there something wrong?”

"I...I need your help to break some news to Tony." He wiped a hand over his eyes. "As you are the chief counsellor I thought it might be best coming from you."

Sky nodded. “Of course, not just that Tony is my friend. What’s going on?”

"My son.. Nick...he's missing in action."

Sky nodded understandingly. “I’m so sorry, if you don’t mind me asking what do you know about his disappearance?”

"It was somewhere in your sector of space." The general said. "Nick was part of an away mission and his whole party vanished without a trace." He heaved a deep sigh. "My wife has taken off disobeying my orders to go and look for him. And I don't want my daughter to do the same. She has inherited the Sorrel gene for impulsiveness. But I don't know how to stop her. I could not stop my own wife."

Sky nodded again. “You said he went missing in our sector of space? I may need to bring Xavier in on this, what is the name of his ship?”

"The USS Grant. My son is a medical officer." Richard sounded so tired and defeated. "I have no idea where my wife is right now."

“If she’s enroute to this sector then she may end up finding us” Sky paused to think. “Don’t worry I’ll see what I can do from this end. I’ll need to talk with Xavier and Tony. Give me some time and I’ll see what I can do.”

"Thank you. I can't get away from Earth myself." He said.

“I’ll keep in touch that’s a promise, now go get some rest” Sky smiled warmly before closing the comm. Getting up she headed back to the bedroom, writing a note she left it for Xavier so he’d know where she was. Throwing on some clothes she headed for Tony’s quarters.


~ A little while later ~

Sky arrived at Tony’s quarters, being off duty hours she was wearing a comfortable dress so she could undress quick again when she got back. Pressing the chime she waited for a response

Tony stumbled to the door still half asleep. She was just wearing a long sleep shirt. "Sky? What's wrong are you ok?"

Sky offered an apologetic smile. “I’m fine Tony, actually I need to talk to you about something important though you may want to sit down.”

Suddenly Tony started to be very afraid. It was not good news when a fellow officer came to your door in the middle of the night and told you to sit down. "What...who?"

Walking inside Sky waited for Tony to sit down before she took a seat herself. “I had a call regarding your brother Nick, I’m sorry Tony but he’s m.i.a. Your father called me, he also said that your mother has gone looking for Nick.”

"No no no, not Nicky. Oh god, not Nicky." Tears started to stream from her eyes. "Please tell me it's not true." She didn't even hear the part about her mother.

Sky offered her friend a comforting hug. “It’s okay Tony, we’ll figure this out!” She moved them both across to the sofa to sit down. “He’s listed m.i.a at present, he’s in this sector of space... somewhere. I was thinking we could ask Xavier if we could help with the search.”

"You think he would agree? Otherwise I would have to ask for a leave of absence. I ... I couldn't leave him out there on his own. Nicky is not really a soldier at heart. I only joined starfleet to please granddad. His only grandson. He's just a kid, Sky. If he is still alive he must be so afraid."

Sky offered her friend an understanding nod and smile. “Your mother has already gone looking for him, your father couldn’t stop her leaving. He doesn’t want you risking yourself.”

"Mum? Tell me she didn't go awol?" Tony groaned.

Sky nodded. “I’m afraid so. Your father wanted me to make sure you didn’t do the same.”

"No... oh no. He is her boss. He will have to take action against mum." Tony rubbed her face. "I can't let dad down. But I won't let Nicky down either."

“I know you won’t Tony.” Sky offered a warm smile. “I suggest we start by talking to Xavier, we can plan our next move from there.”

Tony just nodded her head was too full with emotions to make a logical decision now.

Sky placed her hand gently on Tony’s hand. “I know this is a lot to take in right now, all I ask is you don’t do anything rash.”

That made Tony smile a little it was a tactic she knew only too well. Therapists used it to make someone who was suicidal promise not to do anything stupid and it often worked. "I promise I won't do anything until we have talked to Xavier."

Sky nodded. “Thank you Tony. How’s about we meet first thing in the morning, It’s still pretty early so I’d like to get what rest I can.”

{OFF}