Missing Past (Pt. 2)

Posted on Sun Sep 27th, 2020 @ 4:37am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant Commander S'hib

Mission: Season 3: Episode 5: Shoreleave
Location: Naxea's Quarters
Timeline: After Missing Past (Pt.1)
965 words - 1.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Having packed clothes and belongings into a medium-size Starfleet Marine duffel bag, Naxea tossed the bag onto her shoulder and headed for the exit. She had to hurry as the Cerritos would be departing within the hour but the sound of her door chime sounding caught her off guard. "Enter, she called, wondering who could be visiting her.

The door had barely finished opening before S'hib started to speak, "Hey, so... I know our last holiday wasn't exactly...great." He said as he ducked under the door frame, too excited to notice the look on her face and the bag over her shoulder.

"Which is why I'm bringing a phaser with me this time." He grinned, holding up two boarding passes. "Surprise!" He added, his shoulders rising somewhat along his long neck as he shook the small white PADDs

"What are you doing?" she asked, looking at the boarding tickets in his hand.

“Taking you somewhere nice,” S’hib said softly before shaking his head somewhat. “I mean, wait... did you already know? you’ve packed your bag?” He added while inclining his head to the side in confusion, his long mane falling down over his face.

"I'm sorry, S'hib. I would love to, but I need to go to Bajor on an urgent matter. I'm hitching a ride on the USS Cerritos in a few minutes," Naxea explained.

"And I take it you weren't going to tell me?" S'hib snorted stubbornly, his jubilant smile disappearing as he folded his arms across his chest.

"I was going to en route, because I have little time at the moment," Naxea explained. "It's something I need to do."

S'hib let out a long protracted sigh as he stepped to one side, placing the boarding passes down on the nearby cabinet. "I guess we're going to Bajor then." He huffed while refolding his arms. "After all, nobody is going to question both of us leaving suddenly for a romantic getaway...are they?" S'hib added sarcastically while subtly letting her know that he knew something was up.

"This matter doesn't concern you. You're safer staying here on the Elysium," she protested, intentionally keeping the details from him.

"If it's unsafe, and you're going... it concerns me," S'hib said as his hooves slowly clicked along the floor, moving back in front of the door.

"Don't you dare to even think about standing in my way, S'hib," she snapped with an edge to her voice as her eyes bore into him.

"I have no intention of stopping you, I know I wouldn't be able to anyway..." S'hib replied, his eyes fixed onto hers with equal intensity.

"But you are my herd, and I go where you go... this is not up for debate." He snorted while resisting the urge to stamp a hoof forward, his true Sequellian pride bubbling to the surface.

Naxea let out a long sigh. "Fine, come along then. I don't have time to sit here and argue."

"You know I think you're getting soft on me." S'hib smiled as he backed out of the door and into the hallway, teasing Naxea with a mischievous glance over his muzzle.

Naxea stepped out into the corridor after S'hib. "Don't push it," she warned, waving a finger at him. "Do you need to pick up anything from your quarters before we leave?"

S'hib simply smiled, his hands moving up to defend himself from being scolded further. "Nothing I can't replicate on the Cerritos, besides... we don't want to be late." He said, extending a hand out towards the corridor.

"Alright then. As for what I'm doing on Bajor, I'm meeting with a Vedek Toral. He says he has more information regarding a lost Bajoran Colony that was established by the Cardassians during the early days of the Occupation but is supposedly inside Cardassian Territory," Naxea explained as she walked briskly down the corridor.

"I see..." S'hib said as he kept up with her pace, falling quiet for a brief moment as he thought about what she said. "My people were not involved in the war with the Dominion... thankfully, but I did learn all about it at the Academy." He explained as they rounded a corner, stepping to one side as they passed a crewman.

"Do you suspect the Cardassians of foul play?" He said somewhat quietly, leaning his long neck forward to see the reaction on her face.

"To be honest, I don't know," she shook her head. "Cardassia was supposed to return any and all Bajoran prisoners and slaves when they gave up Bajor and Deep Space Nine." They were closing in on the transporter room as they rounded another corner.

"But if there were no records of this colony on Starfleet's end... nobody would know if they did or not, apart from the Cardassians." S'hib, nodding briefly to the conning officer as they entered the transporter room.

"Records from that time are sparse and often incomplete due to the Cardassians taking over. Millions of Bajorans died or disappeared and were never seen again. But apparently this Vedek Toral has come across evidence proving otherwise. Either way, it's worth taking a look," she explained as she stepped onto the transporter pad.

"And you thought going alone was a good idea?" S'hib asked with raised eyebrows, clicking onto the pad beside her.

"No but it was the only one that made sense to me," she replied, having not wanting to endanger anyone else's life. She looked at the transporter chief. "Two to transport to the Cerritos. Energize when ready."

"Aye, major," the chief responded.

"You know this idea of yours was almost as bad as dating me, least you're being consistent though." S'hib smiled, proud of his own joke as the transport beam wrapped around him.


TBC...