Secret Journey

Posted on Mon Apr 3rd, 2023 @ 2:55am by Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels & Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey

Mission: Starship Side Quest
Location: Various
Timeline: Half an hour after "Unexpected Assignment"

OCC We can post this in the morning. I want to post a personal log first.

~ Shuttlebay ~

Sky arrived at the shuttlebay with her bag slung over her shoulder. She'sdidn’t think that she & Soran would be away long, but she’d packed a bag just incase. She’d already said her goodbyes to Xavier and Tal, promising them she’d take care. After all she was with Soran, she couldn’t be any safer than that, as she approached the shuttle she smiled as she saw Tony there no doubt seeing Soran off.

Tony put up a brave face. She was not happy having to miss the two people who were supporting her most right now. She came forward and gave Sky a hug. "You take care, you hear."

“Don’t worry I have Ren to watch over us” Sky motioned to the small rounded stomach she already had. “Don’t go overdoing things while we’re away okay?”

"I will try." They still had a long way to go in her treatment and Tony knew that.

“No try, make sure you relax” Sky smiled warmly. “I need you to keep watch over Xavier for me while I’m away. Hopefully it won’t be too long.”

"I will do that anyway. Remember he is still my patient as well." Tony promised.

Sky nodded and looked to Soran who was waiting. “I’ll let you two talk.” With that she headed on into the shuttle.

Tony walked over to Soran and embraced him next. "Promise to be careful, love."

"I will," Soran kissed her and caressed her face.

"I wish I could come with you. Sometimes command sucks. And look after Sky as well, you hear." She gave him a last kiss.

Soran was in civilian clothing the shuttle was a civilian model they'd "borrowed" from the station. This mission was off the books, Soran hated this cloak and dagger tomfuckery. If the brass got Kip killed he'd make sure they didn't get away with it.

After taking one last look at them, Tony turned around and left the shuttlebay.

Sky smiled as she stood in the shuttle doorway. “I guess it’s just us now Ren.”

"Yes, It's going to be a ten hour flight one way." Soran said. He adjusted his concealed holster in his waist band, he was carrying Corvallen phaser pistol. It made him nervous this shuttle didn't have weapons, they were posing as civilians... still he was uneasy about this mission.

"I doubt this thing can do warp three," he said as he climbed into the cockpit.

“Do we have reason to be worried?” Sky looked at Soran concernedly. “You’re just going to identify someone, and I’m just going along to speak with the salvage crew.”

"Without knowing more about the operation and cause of death," Soran sighed. "I will remain cautious, Kip was involved with some dangerous people."

Sky nodded. “Then I guess it’s a good idea that I brought along my phaser. Not that I like using one, but I have my children to protect.”

"Well hopefully I'll be able keep you from needing it," he eyed her civilian clothing. "Where are keeping your phaser?"

It was a weird question to ask, an important safety concern a lot people even Fleet officers fail to secure their concealed weapon properly. He didn't want to have to fill out accident paperwork on the captain's wife.

“Actually at present it’s in my bag” Sky gave a guilty look. “Like I said I don’t use one unless it’s completely necessary. Where would you suggest is best to keep it?”

"I'll replacate a proper concealed holster for you, A thigh holster would suit you best." Soran said thoughtfully.

Sky nodded. “If that’s what you recommend then I’m willing to try it.”

Wagner got permission to start the shuttle's engines, the shuttle bay doors opened and they lifted off. Soran was grateful the console had a standard federation navigation setup, he plugged in the coordinates and the ship went into warp. He got up and had moved to the replicator and programed it for the holster.

Sky watched as Soran headed to get her holster, they had the several hours to kill so it would give her plenty of time to get to know Soran even better.

Soran walked back and took his seat at controls. With the federation computer bank everything was automated, so he didn't need to do anything, this was difficult because he wanted a distraction. His past kept coming back to haunt him. Took the harmonica from his boot and began to play.

“So... are you going to tell me about this friend of yours?” Sky looked at Soran curiously. “I’m along for the duration so we might as well talk.”

"We graduated in the same Sentinel squad... We've saved each other's lives dozens of times… I carried him nine clicks through dense jungle behind enemy lines. He is one of the few Angosians I've been in contact with since I left." He took a deep breath, "His family is influential in Angosian politics. He's been working in Starfleet Intelligence, that's why they don't want to inform the Angosians till they know it's him… I fucking hate politics."

Soran hung his head, the uncertainty of his comrade's fate was triggering so many memories...

Sky nodded. “I’m sorry, this must be very difficult for you.” She paused. “I know what you mean about politics, it’s all red tape that makes things more complicated.”

"He can't be dead, not like this." Soran shook his head. "Every time we had a close call, Kip would just laugh. He'd smile and tell us 'I'm planning to die of liver failure with an ale my hand, that will teach these Reds!"

"He got attacked by a jungle cat," Soran be began to chuckle. "When he woke up he was pissed we didn't take any of the beast's meat because he wanted to eat it. To show it who's boss."

Sky smiled as she listened to Soran’s stories about his friend. “He sounds quite the friend, and soldier. This could all be a mistake, at least we can hope so.”

"Last time I saw him in person, we were drinking like old times." Soran smiled, "Kept trying to get me to rub his head for luck."

“Rub his head for luck?” Sky grinned. “Why on earth would you do that?”

"It was during our survival training. We were handling our morning hygiene on a riverbank so we didn't have our clothes or equipment. The guy that was supposed to be standing guard was distracted watching the ladies around the bend of the river." He paused. "I guess I can't blame him, Thatha was there. Anyway this huge primate dropped out of a tree and landed in front of us and began pounding his chest and howling. Kip got up yelled in the ape's face and headbutted the beast."

Soran laughed, he hadn't talked so much about his time in the Angosian Military in along time. "The ape backed off and Kip had a gash in his head and a nasty concussion. I was the medic so I had to treat him. After that every time I had a close call he'd say his luck had rubbed off on me. Thatha started the head rubbing thing."

Sky had to laugh at the image it conjured up in her head of a naked man wrestling with an ape. “It sounds like you had some happy times together, I won’t go as far as to say fun times given what you used to have to do.” Sky smiled, her automatic reaction to place her hand on his made her stop and pause, her hand hovering above his before she withdrew it.

"Kip and Thatha kept me sane though some of the dark times." Soran stared out the viewscreen. "After Kip was discharged and Thatha died."

He swallowed hard, "things went to hell."

“Maybe they did, but you’ve got all of us now. Tony loves you, hold onto that love it’ll see you through your hardest times.”

"Yes," Soran said. "I do. You might want to get some rest, before we arrive."

Sky nodded. “For once I agree, carrying twins is definitely wearing me out!” She smiled.

Soran waited until Sky left cockpit and reclined his seat, he closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. Another advantage of his training he can sleep almost anywhere.

Lying down to rest Sky couldn’t help but wonder just what would be awaiting them at their destination. She was missing Xavier & Tal already.

{OFF}