Insomnia Club at 300hrs Backpost

Posted on Sat Nov 26th, 2022 @ 7:41pm by Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels

Mission: Evacuation
Location: Ten Forward

OCC I think this is ready to post

ooc we have to say it takes place before Tony gets the news about her family ≈ok

Soran's eyes snapped open, he'd had a particularly vivid dream. He took a deep breath, it took him a moment to register his surroundings. He could hear Tony breathing softly next to him, he was in her quarters. It was the middle of the night, he got up silently and moved out of the room. He was awake and he knew from frustrating experience that he wasn't going to fall back asleep. So he left for Ten‐Forward.

Something woke Tony up. She was a pretty light sleeper and by now she was getting used to having Ren in bed with her and not waking up when he took a bathroom break but somehow now she did come fully awake to see he was not there anymore. "Computer locate commander Wagnor, please."

Soran entered Ten-Forward and moved to the window. He sat down and took out his harmonica and began to play. The woman working the bar nodded and continued her duties.

Nobody gave her a strange look in the almost deserted bar when Tony entered in her pyjama and a robe. She walked towards Ren and just sat down opposite him, listening. it reminded her of nights they had sat like that at the rehab facility all those years ago.

The woman at bar brought two mugs to the table and walked away. Soran turned to look at Tony. "Couldn't sleep?"

"Nah I worried when I saw you were gone. I remember these nights."

Soran nodded, "playing to stars is cathartic, I was dreaming about some old friends."

He took a sip of the tea.

"Want to talk about it?" Tony asked.

He paused for a moment, but saw that Shery was walking over.

"Can I get anything else for the insomnia club?" The barmaid said.

"No Sherry," Soran smiled, "I don't know if you've met the ship's first officer, this is Tony."

Like any good barworker worth her salt, Sherry was fully up on the ship gossip grinned at Tony.

"Please to meet you love." She put a hand on Soran's shoulder, "I'm glad he's not alone, he pretends to be a lone wolf. But…"

"He is not." Tony smiled. "I know, that's why I am here."

Soran gave Sherry a weary look, "Thank you Sherry."

Sherry nodded and moved back to the bar and Soran turned back to Tony.

"I haven't told you very much about time in my people's army." He pulled a PADD out of the pocket of his pajamas, he pressed a button and and a picture appeared on the it. It was of a small group of young people in green uniforms. Soran was smiling the edge of the frame, the was a young woman with emerald green eyes and ginger hair. She had an arm around Soranin an affectionate way.

"I was nineteen when that was taken." He explained.

Tony looked at the picture. "Nice picture. And she looks gorgeous. What is her name?" She had had some short relationships of her own but she was not going to get emotions about something that was in the past.

"Yes she was, that's Thatha."

"Ah." Tony said. That was a name she had heard before but not often and that had always led her to beiief there was more to the story. "Do you want to talk about her?"

"Yes she's the first one to call me Ren, we were sixteen when met and we were in a relationship for four years. We weren't supposed to fratronize with each other in that way at defense school but things happen." His voice faltered. "She died in my arms…. I really haven't tried for a long term relationship since her. My last relationship lasted a year, but..."

She leaned forward and covered his hands with her own. "Have you ever really grieved for her?" She said softly. "Allowed yourself to feel the pain?"

"When I play to the stars, I'm playing for her. "I don't think I've forgiven myself." He looked out at the stars.

"Do you think she blames you?"

"No, of course not." Soran said quietly. "I feel guilty for surviving, I know Thay wants me to move on. It's still hard. I think the two of you would have been friends. She was one of the strongest women I've ever known."

"From the little you have told me I am sure I would have liked her. Not that I am that strong." She smiled. "I know it will be slow going and I know I can never replace her. I am me. And I don't begrudge you what you had with her. Is that what is worrying you?"

Soran paused, "it's not that."

"I try not to take partners into battle," Soran said. "It was so hard to see you go with Capelly, I guess I'm not as brave as I used to be."

"Oh love." She had not expected this and squeezed his hands. "You can't protect me around the clock. I could fall down the stairs and die." She smiled. "My father made sure I can defend myself, you know this. And I chose to be in the fleet."

"I didn't say my fears were rational, I know you can take care of yourself." He looked her in the eye. "I still struggle with thought of losing those I love."

"You are not the only one. I almost lost my brother and it does not help there are still people after my father. It is scary as well. I think we all struggle with that question."

"I still dream about her," he sighed. "I never stop loving the people I've lost, my heart has just grown enough to love others as well."

"I won't ask you to stop loving her. I would never do that. If you are up to it I would like to know more about her."

"Yes it might be nice to talk about her," he smiled. "Seems like since that night that Sky was in my head all the memories have come back stronger than they've been. Thatha had voice of an angel and loved to dance, most people were surprised she joined the army. She was one of the few women to make it into the special forces. Her optimism and jokes balance my pessimistic nature."

"She sounds lovely." Tony said as she just sat there next to him letting him talk.

"We were sixteen when we met at the Planetary Defense Academy, I had a hard time there. There's a large faction of my people who aren't kind to orphans, Thatha would stand with me against the bigotry. Our relationship was very similar to the one we have." Soarn smiled and caressed her hand.

"I am glad. And I am so glad you found our families after all you went through. We adore strays and orphans."

He leaned in and kissed her. "When Wain found me I was both."

"Now he is an expert at helping young people in trouble. I heard most youngsters at the academy adore him. He feels like he is not making a difference in that position but he is doing so much good work."

"He helped a lot of people," Soran smiled.

'So if he comes on board." Tony said. "Would you be cool with it?"

"Of course, it would be good to see him," Soran smiled.

"You are not intimidated by having him stay on the ship you are working on?" She had mixed feelings about her parents vistiing.

"How long are they going to be on board?" He asked.

"I had the feeling it could be a while. Nick is going to take some time to heal. and the same goes for Tasin and Wain. And uncle Wain is a terrible patient."

"Wait are they going to do Wain's rehab here?" Soran said surprised.

"Yes, nobody told you? They don't want to move Tasin I think. So Denise is going to look after Nick. I think Wain feels more at home on a ship and it is all about keeping his stress levels down."

"This will prove interesting," Soran smiled.

"He will be a royal pain in the ass." Tony said. "But I have some other news. Kay may be coming with him to serve on the Resolution and she's got a boyfriend as well that will be coming as well."

"Really have Kay's brothers meet this boyfriend?"

"Nope I don't think so. It is all very recent. Why do you ask?"

He laughed, "I guess I've just gotten used to playing mediater between you, Kay and those well-meaning dunderheads. I think I saved you from a double murder charge the time they thought it was a good idea to spike Nick's punch with bloodwine."

Tony snorted. "Oh that. Yeah, it could get pretty wild in our households. I just hope they are not going to smother Kay in advice and worry. She's never brough home a boyfriend before and especially Tasin is very protective. He knows too well how men can be." She laughed.

"What will be, will be." He shrugged.

"Don't you dare get overprotective as well! Remember that time she kicked Tasin in the balls. I am sure you don't want that!"

"We don't get physical with each other,"Soran said quietly. "We have an understanding about that."

"Are we talking about the same Kayleigh?"

"Yes our only fight involved broken bones and a overnight stay in a psych ward for me." He sighed. "I don't get triggered near as easily as I did back then but neither of us are willing to take a chance."

"What?" She had to keep her voice down. "What the... I have never heard that story? Kay usually tells me everything."

Soran paused, he didn't realize Kay hadn't told Tony about that. He took a long sip of his tea to give himself a moment.

"We were on a pub crawl and I was trying to de-escalate a situation we got ourselves into. When I try to get her to go outside, she didn't appreciate that and hit me in the face. She fractured my nose and broke four bones in her hand," he dropped his gaze. "I punched in the throat and bruised her trachea, thankfully the doormen intervened. We'd both been drinking and were off duty so we didn't get in any official trouble. Funny thing was I thought Wain was gonna kick my ass, but it seemed he was angry with both of us. I don't think she told her brothers or if she did they haven't mentioned it to me. Denise seemed to think it was her fault for starting it, but... I could have killed her."

"Wow! Ren." She was speechless for a little while. "You punched her in the throat? I thought you liked Kay?" This was something that was hard to process. "Who put you in the psych ward?"

"Me," Soran said. "My combat reflexes took over for a moment, In my inebriated state I resorted to my old training. They had me sober up at the hospital. Kay and I have been care about keeping our disputes verbal and as civilized possible."

"So it wasn't Denise who did that. You know I was never sure if you like her or not." Tony said honestly. "I never noticed anything between Kay and you. I do know she likes to brawl and drink. I bet Wain gave her a good talking to."

"He did and Denise and I get along fine." He said. "She was a little more concerned about me going into Starfleet, I think she's been keeping tabs on me."

Tony blushed a little. "She used to be my supervisor so she knows more than you think. Don't worry she can't even share that knowledge with uncle Wain."

"Wain knows more than you guys think."

"Honestly Ren, I have never shared private information with him and I am sure Denise won't have either. I promise you. We are both very careful that way."

"I believe you, Wain's Intel skills give him an edge is such matters."

'He would not read your file." Tony huffed. "He would never do that!'

"I said Intel skills not connections, of course hes not snooping in the files." Soran explained. "I believe it's referred to as soft interrogation, wasn't he always a step ahead of you and Kay when you were up to mischief? How do you think he managed that?"

"He was usually and it drove us mad. How does he do it, do you know? Because he is way worse than my dad."

"That man has never asked an 'innocent' question it is adult life. When he asks you about the weather hes actually gaging what you're planning to you're to do on your time off, for example." Soran sighed. I have done a slightly better job of guarding myself against his inquiries, but he sees through me as well."

"But he does not look the type. He is always so friendly so gentle, so not what you expect a starfleet officer to be." Tony had never thought about it this way.

"He's the kind of officer the Fleet needs," he said simply.

"I know. He has to survive and if he could only return to more active duty. He hates it at the academy. He is brilliant there but it is not his true calling."

"I'm sure he's in good hands," Soran smiled

"Yeah." She said still worried. "And what about you, think you can come back to bed?"

Soran smiled and kissed her on the cheek, "yes."

"Good. Let's go. I admit that I need my beauty sleep." Tony said with a smile.