A Happy Reunion
Posted on Wed Sep 16th, 2009 @ 7:57pm by Commander Curtiss Drake
1,545 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
The Shining Truth
Location: Jupiter Station
Timeline: Current
The crew lounge was busy, to say the least. Officer's and crewmen of every department and of almost every rank imaginable were milling about the room, conversing and sharing a drink with their fellows and creating a din of sound that reverberated off the walls. It was the kind of ambient buzz that one often forgot about when living life on a starship. Doctor Cailean Fox stood at the viewport window of Jupiter Station's main lounge and stared out at the planet rotating below them, the swirls and eddies of the gas giant's atmosphere enthralling him to the very core. Around him the room may have been as loud as a riot, but the world within was as silent as a tomb. No words spoken. Nothing but pure, unadulterated silence.
It had been a rough few years for Cailean. After the destruction of the Imperator and the completion of the Dominion Wars, he'd had a tough time trying to find a niche for himself. He knew he wanted to remain in Starfleet, where he could put his skills to use but he desperately wanted to find the same environment that he had enjoyed on the Imperator, that same sense of family and camaraderie. It certainly stoked his ego that Starfleet thought so highly of him that they had requested his presence at several of the most prestigious research functions in the last few years as well as being asked to give guest lectures at various Federation Medical Briefings but, all the years traveling alone, or with unfamiliar faces had worn on him. It was time for a change.
That change had arrived today.
As his mind unraveled itself from the mysterious wonders of the planet below, it turned to the data PaDD resting quietly on the table in front of him, the orders contained on it still visible on the screen. Against the pleadings of the Starfleet Brass as well as Starfleet Medical, Cailean had insisted that he be allowed to rejoin the Fleet. He even turned down the prospect of advanced promotions. It just wasn't where he wanted to be, Commander or not. He wanted to feel the hum of a vessel at Warp, to sit in an office that belonged to him alone and to create and foster the bond between shipmates. The data PaDD before him offered just that; a home.
The USS Archimedes, a Nova class vessel, would be his new home. He'd never spent any time on such a small vessel, but considering their mission he had no doubt he'd find himself challenging not only his medical ability, but his scientific knowledge as well and he was looking forward to it. With such a small crew, the feeling of family that he'd been looking for would no doubt be easy to find.
As his mind began to come alive with the thoughts and prospects his new command would offer him, a voice stirred him. Looking up, he smiled broadly and stood up, embracing the newcomer warmly and stepping back, smiling at her.
"Its good to see you, Constance." he said, gesturing to the chair.
"You too, pops." she replied, taking the seat.
She was beautiful young woman, in Cailean's opinion. As her father, however, it was entirely possible he might biased. Her blonde hair was cut short against her face and she wore the same smile that her mother had; the smile that he had fallen in love with. In truth, since Constance was a teenager, she had looked more and more like her mother every day. It was hard for him to bear at first, but as the years wore on he became more accustomed to it and ultimately, proud of it.
"How's the Iowa." Fox asked, curious how his daughter was handling her new post as the Chief Surgeon aboard the Sovereign class vessel. He'd hitched a ride on a Sovereign a few years back, on his way across the quadrant. It was a massive ship and the Sick Bay was equally so. He could only imagine what could be done with such tools at his disposal.
"Its coming along." she replied, "Still trying to get to know the crew and the Medical staff." she continued, "There's a lot of people to get to know." she smiled, reaching out and patting his hand.
"So what brings you to Jupiter Station?" she asked, pausing to order a drink from the steward who was trying to navigate the throng of people as delicately as possible. "Medical Conference? Some amazing new discovery?" she asked once he was gone.
Cailean smiled, "On my way back to Earth with new orders, and heard you'd be stopping by for a quick re-fit." he said.
"Oh?" Constance pressed with a chuckle. "So... what new orders? Have they named you Director of Starfleet Medical?" she joked.
Cailean shook his head, not that it was far from what they had offered, but it was far from what he wanted and Constance knew it.
"Its a posting." he replied. "A permanent post, not a guest spot." he added.
"On a ship?" she asked, tilting her head to the side curiously.
Cailean nodded and pushed the data PaDD toward her. Constance picked it up and read it quietly before looking up at him.
"A Nova?" she asked incredulously. "Dad. You should be running the Iowa's Sick Bay, or the Sick Bay at Obsidian Command, not a Nova." she replied, shaking her head slightly in disbelief.
"I think I'll fit in nicely there." he replied, taking the PaDD back. He knew that Constance wasn't really going to approve of it, her life plans were always much grander than his own. He was just happy to go along and get along, helping out how he could along the way.
"I know some people, Dad, I can see if I can find you something else." she asked, leaning forward conspiratorially, as if anyone in the lounge could have heard her short of her yelling it through a megaphone.
Cailean chuckled, "No. That's ok. I really think this is a good move. I'm ready to have something stable, something familiar." he smiled, a flicker of deeper pain flashing through his eyes. It was something only his daughter would have been able to see.
"I saw Tanner a few months ago." she replied quietly, almost inaudibly in the din of the room.
Cailean looked down at the table solemnly. Tanner Reight had been the Tactical Officer on the Imperator and had been maimed horribly as he tried to escape the ship. Cailean had saved him in the corridor as he himself was fleeing to the escape pods with Constance in tow. He had been able to stabilize the man, but while he may have saved his life, the wounds he suffered would have been difficult to treat with a full Medical staff and the best equipment known to the Federation. To have done it with a small med-kit within an escape pod would have been one step short of a divine miracle. As a result, Tanner had lost hearing in one ear, most of his facial features on one side of his face and a myriad of other configurations both internal and external. Tanner had not taken it well, and blamed Doctor Fox for having thrust it upon him. He had insisted that he be left behind, but Fox had refused to leave him despite his injuries. Ten years later, he doubted Tanner had changed his perception of what happened.
"Did he recognize you?" Cailean asked, looking up finally.
Constance nodded, "Not at first, but he put it together."
"And?" Fox pressed.
She huffed and shook her head, "It wasn't pretty. He had me a bit cornered in the lounge on Starbase 147. Security had to escort him out." she replied.
Cailean sighed and wiped his face with his hand, "Its been ten years." he sighed, "And he still hasn't learned to cope or understand why I didn't leave him." he said. "Out of all I couldn't save, the one that I did condemns my actions...."
"You did what was right, dad. You did what Starfleet and your oath as a Doctor demanded."
"I know." Cailean replied, "I don't regret the decision." he continued, "Just the outcome." he sighed, shaking his head. "What Tanner chooses to do and how he chooses to live his life is his choice. I can't let it consume me." he replied, trying to smile back at her.
"Let's talk about you." he continued, trying to brighten the mood. "Tell me about this Engineer you've been mentioning in your letters." he said, arching an eyebrow in his best defensive father pose. "He being a gentlemen? Or do I need to make a 'medical' visit?" he asked, cracking his knuckles.
Constance laughed and blushed at the same time, thankful for the distraction brought by the steward and their drinks. After taking a sip she looked back up at her father and smiled.
"Well.." she replied, "It's a good thing you stopped by because there's something I want to tell you...
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