The Joining of Houses

Posted on Tue Oct 27th, 2020 @ 2:42am by Consul Josephine Carlyle-Cragen & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar

Mission: Season 4: Episode 2: Rest And Relaxation
Location: Pacifica. Private House
1607 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

A Mid-Aged brown haired man and Red Hairedwoman walked forward, both well-dressed, Beside them was a young man wearing a very simple yet elegant navy blue uniform of the Alindari Defense Force with service medals and a name bar on it. Nearby, an energetic nine year old red head ran forward and suddenly tackled Arrianna.

"Sis.. You won't believe this place. It's so awesome. There's like beaches everywhere. Oceans all over the place. And fun little fish too in aquariums. Well except the fangly ones. They look like they're in a bad mood with all those teeth. Oh check this out... It's called Lemonade.... Want some, I can pour some into your mouth..." Arrianna chuckled. "Kirasanna, please let me up."

Doran laughed and picked the nine-year old up. "C'mon you little terror, up."

Josephine stood back watching the group of Arri's family with a small smile. She had cleaned the villa that morning so it sparkled and had changed her clothes several times before Arri had convinced her that the dark green sun dress was fine to meet her family in. She was nervous and she tried very hard to hide it now, as she watched the exuberant child tackle her beloved.

Arrianna spoke, "Come here all of you." She brought them over.

"This is Cyrus Althean an Vantar. He's a professor of physics in the College of Scholars."

"Sir" Josephine said holding out her hand to shake his. "A pleasure to meet you."

"My mother Alethiea Salannis an Krista, Alindari Ambassador to the Klingon Empire." Arri noted.

Alethiea smiled and walked forward. "I can introduce myself Arrianna." Alethiea bowed at Josephine. "Thank you... Lieutenant... for saving my daughter's life." Cyrus bowed as well. "I couldn't imagine my daughter as a hollow shell for such evil. Thank you Josie Carlyle. Your courage humbles us."

Josie blushed. "She saved me first ma'am"

"Commander Doran Athelan an Verasan from our planetary Defense Force."

"I must thank you as well, for saving my sister." Doran noted.

"And this jumping pile of nerves is Kirasanna." Arri mentioned as the little girl examined Josie, the Girl's attention shifted to one of Josie's puppies. "Owww so cute!!" Kira moved to examine the little dog. "The animal is so adorable, what is it?"

"They are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels." Josie said with a smile.

Alethiea moved towards Arrianna, and the two were staring at each other. Alethiea suddenly gasped and put her hand over her mouth. "Blessed Tirielle!! Barbarians all of them!!! Oh my daughter." Ale hugged Arri

Doran also spoke. "Indeed... Such horrors. Pain Machines and Slavery. Hideous! Vile!!"

"Those cowards!!!" Cyrus noted. "Fighting their battles with hostages and torture. Have they no shame? Cowards all of them!!"

It was clear the family had viewed Arrianna's thoughts.

"Dear Joise..." Cyrus noted. "I am eternally grateful you were there to remind my daughter who she was during her darkest hour. You are indeed a great partner and companion for my daughter."

"She is my life" Josie said simply and it was true.

Arrianna smiled and pecked a kiss on Josie's cheek. "Told you they'd adore you. They'll even spoil you when the Human Christmas holiday comes." Arri winked.

"I don't need that." Josie smiled at her. "I have you. I am very happy with that." She turned to Arri's family. "Please, come have a seat.." she waved towards the open air seating area over the water. Her gaze focused on the puppies of which there were 5, and their two parents. A plan formed in her mind.

Arrianna smiled as Kirasanna held one of the puppies. "Kirasanna, would you like that puppy?"

"Yes I would!! But what is a pet?" Arrianna looked down. "It's a human custom. Humans have long kept certain animals as companions. pets as they would."

Aletheia spoke. "Strange custom."

Arrianna spoke. "Dogs are excellent companions mother. Cats on the other hand.. Well. I was once on my cadet cruise, and Admiral Trogar came aboard with his prized Persian. That infuriating animal then got lost in the USS Talleyrand and he had the cadets find that thing. The reward was any posting or anything the finder desired. Almost all of my class was chasing that thing through corridors and Jefferies tubes." Arrianna noted.

"What we didn't know was that it was a test for the cadets, and Captain Doryan Kox purposefully disabled the internal sensors, and as a result, we had cadets all over the place searching for that damned thing. Then Trogar added holographic cats to confuse the cadets even further. Suffice to say the ship went to the cats. I swear he was amusing himself. At this point I grew tired of the noise on the ship so I investigated the disabled senors. After getting the sensors online, I realized who tampered with them." Arri chuckled. "First we beamed that feline monstrosity into his pet carrier, then we beamed Captain Kox into the transporter room and I had a few words with him over the disabled sensors." She chuckled. "Captain Kox was the most stern man I ever knew, Ascendants he was intimidating, and there I was staring him in the eye and telling him he had some explaining to do. Admiral Trogar then came into the Transporter Room and told us it was all a test and we passed. Then he asked me what he wanted and I told him to 'mind your cat.'"

Josie listened and then turned to Arri's little sister. "Animals when you take them into your family become family. They will rely on you to make sure they have food, water, and with these puppies, they will need walks and play." She smiled. "But I am sure you can handle all of that,"

Kirasanna smiled and nodded. Aletheia spoke to Josie. "We learn at a very young age to respect life. Kira is going take more than excellent care of that dog."

Arrianna spoke. "Father... I'd like to show you something." Arri brought Her parents inside to show a custom frame that held all of her and Josephine's medals from the last mission. "I am so proud of Josie. She's everything I want in a partner. I your blessing on our union."

Cyrus nodded. "Your union is already blessed far above my ability to add and detract. I know what you've done for your crew."

Aletheia smiled. "We are immensely proud of you Arrianna. How could we even disapprove of Josie Carlyle. We'd be doing you a disservice."

Someone bounced a basketball in their private beach house. "Nice place you got here. Beach side. Real Snazzy." She spun the ball in her hand.

Josie spun to see the woman standing there and stared. "um..." She got out

"Josie. Meet Alena I Althir. My cousin and the twenty seventh Empress of Alindar." Arri stated. "And some modesty would be welcome from you Alena."

"Pfft. Just because I'm Empress doesn't mean I'm one of these prissy blue bloods. It doesn't work that way on New Alindar." She chuckled. "I'm not the King of Hiran, what a drag."

Josie had been around royals before, she was no stranger to that but this one. She studied her. "Arri darling are you sure she isn't related to the Stuarts of England?" she asked with a smile.

"No. Though the red hair is a genetic characteristic of the Althir line. She is the direct descendant of Tiriellle Althir... It's an honorary title. That and the reigning monarch of Alindar tends to study diplomacy and serve our people as Ambassadors and diplomats" Arri stated. "Our monarchs do not conduct themselves like other royalty. Alena can retire at any time and we'll just elect the next brother or sister as Emperor or Empress."

While Arri was explaining this, Alena was mouthing her words to Josie. Then Arri noticed that. "By the Ascendants, do you take anything seriously Alena?"

"Only when I have to, otherwise, nope. You should see me trying to explain that to the Erisians. All that pomp and protocol. And yet their royalty does not even see the cage their in." Alena sat down on her basketball. "So this is the woman who captured my cousin's heart. Nice to meet you. Alena Althir, at your service."

With the years at an English court in her background, Josie dropped a perfect English Curtsey. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she did so. "Your Excellency is welcome here" She said. "I am afraid that we are out of thrones, would you care to have a seat?"

"I already have my throne right here. So yeah, Honorary title, but I do have pull in the Senate. You see, the First Empress did as she pleased. She freed so many slaves from the ancient warlords, the last thing she wanted was to be chained to a throne. And so the lines of Emperors and Empresses were like this. Honorary servants of the Imperium. We exist to remind our people that greatness is found in everyone. There is no hereditary obligation to this position." Alena chuckled. "Otherwise, I would have done what your Captain did Arrianna. A rebel princess escaping her station. Romantic! The Lalors stew over Phoenix Lalor like you would not believe, some of them get all chuffed up when I mention the name. It's kinda fun to get them riled so I can see what's behind the mask of pleasantries." Alena chuckled. "Just because I'm cute doesn't make me Naive. I'm a Proctor in the College of Philosophy. Well trained in diplomacy and international affairs."

Josie just smiled and slipped off to the kitchenette for the snack food she had prepared earlier.