There's always one in the family.
Posted on Thu Sep 24th, 2020 @ 9:49am by Lieutenant JG Ryan Kade III
Mission:
Season 3: Episode 5: Shoreleave
Location: Earth
Timeline: Shore leave
800 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure
A sparkling light showered the vicinity in blue. Phases of layered energy started two meters above the ground, then cascaded towards the dirt.
Ryan could feel the transition as the cool, stale air of the station was replaced with a wash of hot, dusty grit. He knew this feeling, even enjoyed it as it brought back the feelings of nostalgia from his youth. Hot summers and warm winters. Definitely Texas.
His right eye twitched a bit from a speck of dust flittering into his eye.
“Son?” A voice called out. It was muffled by several meters of distance and by the walls of their home.
“Dad?” In an attempt to clear his vision, Ryan used the back of his wrist to brush his eyes.
“Ah!” The voice declared, sounding more clear now after crossing the threshold of the front door. “I knew it was you!”
The little rebel in his eye was finally brushed away and Ryan blinked several times just to make sure. “Hey, Dad.” He could finally see his father as his vision refocussed. “Of course, it’s me.” He chuckled, “who else actually teleports here on purpose?”
“No one good, I tell ya!” Ryan Kade the Second, Ryan’s father and namesake, couldn’t help but smile as he repeated the same words they always shared when his son came to visit.
A hearty handshake was exchanged as his old man pulled him along towards the entrance of their family home. Another shift in the wind brushed along his face and skin, bringing with it the smells that wafted out of the front door: food. Ryan’s stomach protested in reaction with a growl of discontent.
“Hungry? Good!” The old man spoke merrily, leading the way inside. “Emeil has been preparing all morning. She made your favorite, beef and noodles with mushroom!”
His mouth was watering in reaction. “Mom’s the best!”
“I’d better be!” Her voice called out from the kitchen. The smell of salt and pepper was stronger now, almost palpable. “We’re celebrating something special, you know!”
“It’s not that special, mom!” Ryan called in her direction.
She appeared from around the corner, a white apron about her torso and a spatula in her right hand. She waved the spatula towards the two men, “You two finish setting up the table.” She said, “and I’ll be back in a moment.”
The table was already set with a flowery sunset design skirt about its’ edges. There was a stack of clean plates and utensils waiting to be arranged. The two of them began spreading the ceramic and stainless steel pieces, four sets of each.
“So, is she coming?” The old man asked as he handed Ryan the fourth and final set of dishes, the one meant for Kandiss.
“No, she…” Ryan’s hand reached reflexively for the back of his head as he continued, “well, you know, she’s really, really far away and she’s busy.”
“Too busy for your big day, huh?” A knowing and slightly sad smile appeared.
“I’m sure she has her reasons.” His response was slightly flat. He wasn’t sure if his dad was buying it, but they both shared a knowing nod before the smell of dinner suddenly grew stronger.
His mother burst through the kitchen doorway, a pot in either hand, perfectly balanced. “Is the table ready?”
“Yes, ma’am.” The ever dutiful son replied. He was eager to change the subject, anything was better than talking about Kandiss. “I’m starving, and that smells so darn good.” He admitted.
She was beaming, of course, always ready to accept praise from the two most important men in her life. “Anything for my successful little man, who’s got himself a shiny new commission from Starfleet!”
“Yeah,” His father added, “I heard it was the Elysium. Really top-notch ship, none like it in the whole sector!”
As the three sat down at the table, Ryan couldn’t help but turn and look out the window. It was starting to get dark outside, at least a little bit, and the horizon was beginning to turn a sickly purple hue. His parents were beaming and their words of encouragement and praise were food for the soul. He began filling his face with food, his mind glazing over as he thought once more about his sister- about how much his folks would worry if they knew what she was really up to so many lightyears away.
...
“Uh, guys, what does it mean when the lights start flashing red and all the beeping?”
Kandiss froze in her tracks, double-checking her sanity with a palm slap to her own temple. Yup! That hurt. She was definitely not dreaming. “Say again, Lucas, what did you just do!?”
