The Trouble with Families

Posted on Thu Jul 16th, 2009 @ 12:19pm by Captain Elsie Halliwell

888 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Behind the Mask of Familiarity
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: Current

Coltan Lane stood between the door frame of his quarters and sighed heavily. Taking in a deep breath, he contained the oxygen in his lungs before expelling the spent air through his cheeks with a huff. The past few days had weighed heavily upon the Trill. Both his mind and his heart sank with every flickering thought that entered and whipped through his brain. Lucy, Turoc, Rowena, the mission… It seemed as though at every opportunity to advance the Federation’s interests, a brick wall stood firmly before him. Set to it with a chisel and toffee-hammer, he felt as though he was chipping away at his very soul.

However, as much as a commanding officer of a Starfleet vessel never takes off the uniform and the golden pips that are forever tightly fastened about his collar, when the doors to his quarters sealed behind him, he always left his rank and work at the door. It was hard enough to raise an eleven year old with the support and care of a “nuclear� family back on Earth or Trill, but on a Federation vessel tasked with dangerous and important missions bouncing about the stars? The issues just seem to compound.

As the doors did in fact shut behind him, the patter of feet reverberated about his own, signalling Rory’s rush to jump on him. As she tore around the corner, her hair pulled back in a ribbon, whipping about her shoulders, her face beamed with a smile that settled his heart and calmed his nerves. This is not the life she deserves he thought to himself as she sailed through the air and clasped her little arms around his neck.

“Daddy,� she screeched, jumping down as quickly as jumped up. “Nana said that you’d be back earlier today. We kept supper for you. It’s on the table. I said I wouldn’t have my tea until you had yours.� She smiled defiantly and proudly at her revolt to her elders but without malice.

“Then, I guess we had better sit down to eat, hadn’t we?� he replied, bending down to her level and giving her a kiss on her forehead.

Without a second glance, Rory turned on her heel and raced over to the dinner table. As his eyes followed her, he lightly flicked them upwards as they settled on a dark figure stood in the doorway of the bedroom, a sullen look resting upon her brow.

“Coltan,� she said with a dark tone that straightened his face. “She’s waiting longer and longer these days. It’s not fair on the poor child.�

“Yvaine,� he said in a sigh, as he kneaded his temples with the ball of his knuckles, “I know. But you know how it is for me right now.�

Yvaine then walked the short walk over to him, and encased his frame with her frail arms. “I know, Coltan… but she doesn’t,� she replied, her voice weighted and thick.

Lane took a step back from her and dropped his voice to a whisper. “Let’s not talk about anything now, Yvie. Let’s have a family dinner and we can sort about the coming weeks from there.� He paused a little and hesitated on telling his next train of thought. “Her second cousin back on Earth contacted me a week ago, getting in her monthly report on Rory.�

“Yeah?� Yvaine questioned, raising her eyebrow and lifting her creased face into a smile.

“I’m thinking about sending her back to be with them. Just until this all dies down and we get past the blackness of this mission.�

Yvaine’s smile suddenly dropped and a wicked scold fell upon her brow. “What this girl needs is her father, Coltan. Not to be shipped off and out to people she only shares a name with. She needs you.�

His face matched hers in its intensity and venom but before he could snatch back at her, she cut in. “We can make this work, Colt. We have to make this work. For Rory’s sake.

He backed down and his face fell to the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces around their feet. “I know,� he said, in an almost defeatist tone. “I just don’t want her hurting unnecessarily.�

“But that’s what you’ll be doing should you send her packing to Earth. She has everything she needs right here on the Archimedes. You, me, Catherine. And the other children on the ship.�

“You’re right,� he replied after a sigh. “I just worry about her.�

“That’s your job, Coltan. And mine. And I happen to think that we make a great team,� she added, an air of brazen pride about her.

“We do,� he smiled, admitting defeat to the old woman. He looked over toward his daughter climbing up on the chair, and tucking the table cloth neatly down her front. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?� he asked, more to himself than to Yvaine.

“She does you credit, Coltan,� the woman replied with a smile. “She does us both credit.�


OFF:

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Captain Coltan Lane
Commanding Officer

AND

Mrs. Yvaine Gray (PNPC)
Captain’s Daughter’s Governess

Lorelai Lane (PNPC)
Captain’s Daughter

 

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