A moment alone

Posted on Sun Apr 20th, 2025 @ 7:53pm by Lieutenant Zara Kingston Ph.D.

Mission: Those who are left behind
Location: Zara's quarters

Part of being on a new starship meant that she was required, or at least encouraged, to meet so many new people. She came into her quarters after what seemed like so many meetings and so many reports—it felt good to just have a moment alone. She immediately took a sonic shower and changed into an off-duty outfit. Walking to the replicator in her room, she put her hair in a high ponytail. "Chardonnay," she said.

She grabbed the glass of wine and walked over to her couch, and sat down. She picked up her PADD as she was in the middle of reading a book her colleague from the Daystrom Institute had written. It was about nanotechnology and ethics, which was mostly out of her realm, but she wanted to be supportive. She let out a sigh. "Wine...a book...and quiet. What could be better—"

The monitor in her quarters beeped. "Incoming subspace communique from Arianna Kingston," the Computer chirped.

"Ugh," Zara groaned. "Open the channel at my desk, Computer."

She brought her glass of wine with her but left the PADD. On the screen was her mother with a wide smirk.

"Oh, look, my precious daughter," said Arianna. Her face scrunched a little. "I expected you to be in a Starfleet uniform now that you're serving aboard a starship."

Zara looked down at herself. She was dressed in a black dress. "Well, I'm off-duty now, mother," said Zara. "I was trying to enjoy a nice, quiet evening. I've been pretty busy since I got here." She gestured with the wine glass in her hand.

As always, her mother seemed unable to read the room and continued talking. "Oh, your father would be so proud that you're serving on a starship. Of course, it's not the Klingon Defense Force like Ra'Kar did, but I suppose in Starfleet, you could still die an honorable death in battle and make it to Sto'Vo'Kor. It may be a little more difficult for you since Starfleet is so passive when it comes to battle, but I think you have a much better chance now that you've given up teaching completely—"

Zara choked on her Chardonnay. "Mother! I have not given up teaching!"

Arianna was confused. "What? Well, wasn't that the whole point of you leaving the Daystrom Institute? That's why you're on the USS Resolution."

Zara took a deep breath. "Mother, I'm simply on sabbatical at the Institute. My position is still there and will still be there once my sabbatical ends. This is only temporary. My superiors at the Institute recommended this Sabbatical because I was teaching a lot of...Starfleet officers, and they felt it was...imperative that I gain field experience. Once my sabbatical is over, I have every intention of leaving the Resolution and returning to teaching."

Of course...that was the plan, but after meeting with the Captain, she didn't know if she wanted to return to teaching or if that was just something she was telling herself and others because it was partially true. Her job was technically still there, and she could return to it after her sabbatical ended...but it was also true that she could remain on the Resolution for as long as she wanted.

"Do you honestly think your life is going to be more fulfilling in a classroom instead of exploring everything" she waved her arms to symbolize space, "out there?" Arianna shrugged. "You're not going to find a husband at a school, and you're certainly not going to get to Sto'Vo'Kor by teaching."

"NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT STO'VO'KOR, MOTHER!" She yelled and accidentally shattered the glass of wine in her hand.

"Now look what you've done, Zara," her mother replied.

"Sometimes I swear it sounds like you have simply fetishized Klingon culture, mother," Zara said, wiping up the mess she had made.

"Oh, nonsense!" Arianna replied. "That's just your academic side talking."

Zara rolled her eyes. She knew her mother had no idea what her research was about.

"You know, when Ra'Kar was in the Klingon Defense Force..." she started up again.

"Mother," Zara interrupted. "I really appreciate the call to check in on my first few days here on the Resolution, but I really would just like a moment alone. I've had quite a busy day. Could we chat another time?"

Her mother sighed. "Sure, I suppose we can, but Zara, I really want you to think about this. You have an amazing opportunity. You can move up in rank, you can see and experience things now that you couldn't at an institute. You can finally experience all those things that you write about in those books. You don't have to give up your research. I know you like teaching, but...maybe it's time to try something new. I mean, that's why you went to the Academy and became a Starfleet officer, isn't it?"

They both stared at each other quietly before Arianna broke the silence.

"Well, I'll contact you soon. Hopefully, you won't be busy. Love you, daughter."

The subspace call ended, and Zara let out another groan and walked over to the replicator to synthesize a new glass of wine. She picked up the PADD to continue reading the work from her colleague, but now couldn't focus after the conversation she had just had with her mother. She tossed the PADD on the coffee table. Maybe her mother was right.

"Computer dim lights by 75%." She leaned back on her couch and closed her eyes. Now wasn't the time to contemplate her future. She'd save that for another day.