The dad meets the mother.

Posted on Sun Jan 10th, 2021 @ 10:27am by Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Commander Sthilg

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Sickbay
1113 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

The night was a rather quiet one for the staff on duty in the Elysium medbay with the familiar tone of the machines off sickbay filling the room.

Sthilg sat in his office his door open in case he was needed his hand's busily carving a wooden starship model Coner. The little boy was taking a fancy to them and he didn't want to disappoint him.

Hearing his compute bleep his white eyes looked down.

" Incoming message from Deanna Kelea." the computer said as he placed the model on the desk. This was something he'd be knowing he'd have to do sooner or later. Making sure his uniform was in order he opened up a channel.

" Hello there Deanna it'sss nice to finally talk to you." he said politely as the image formed onto the screen.

Deanna had been more than surprised, infact quite shocked, when Alicia had contacted her about being adopted into the family of a Gorn Officer. She hadn’t even realised Gorn were a part of the Federation. She’d promised her daughter that she’d be polite and not give the Doctor a serious quizzing about his motives. “It is ... nice to meet you Doctor Sthilg” she nodded politely. “My daughter explained that she is, for all intents and purposes, your adoptive daughter now. I have to admit it came as something of a surprise.”

" It'sss nice to meet you as well. I'm sssorry we haven't had a chance to talk earlier, but my job is keeping me busssy. I hope you can underssstand." He replied apologetically.

“Of course” Deanna nodded and offered a polite smile. “Our careers do keep us busy. So tell me more about yourself Doctor. You've obviously made quite an impression on Alicia, she hasn’t had a father figure since my husband passed away and I have to say I’m happy that she’s found one. I just want to be sure she isn’t going to end up getting hurt.”

The gorn let out a slight chuckle. " Oh where to begin. I've been practicing medicine for most of my two hundred and ssseventeen yearsss in this galaxy serving both the KDF and Ssstarfleet as well as many numerousss other peoplesss. I have over ssseven ssspecialtiesss in medicine and thinking of ssstaring an eighth. In my free time, I enjoy reading, growing my own coffee, and have recently taken up cooking. Whilssst i'm not helping out with Conner and Alicia off courssse. What about yourself?"

“Well I certainly don’t have the years you have!” Deanna smiled a much warmer smile. “I’m a joined Trill, I’m currently the fifth host. I don’t know if Alicia has explained to you but she has the life experiences of four of those hosts in her head. An anomaly that medical science has yet to explain. The doctors on Trill find her quite the curiosity! As for myself I have a Counselling background and am currently Chief Counsellor and Second Officer of the USS Andromeda. As for free time like you I enjoy cooking and reading, I also enjoy knitting, and several other hobbies besides. I could waffle on but I’d rather not bore you!”

" I've heard about her anommily and don't worry you won't bore me. Nothing like hearing someone dissscuss sssomething there passssssionate in." the lizard replied calmly.

“Promise me something Sthilg, that you will take care of my daughter.” Her smile faded a little. “I’ve already lost my husband, I don’t want anything to happen to my daughter. My pregnancy with Alicia was a complicated one, I had problems throughout. I don’t want Alicia’s life put at risk like mine was.”

" Deanna when I lossst my wife and are daughter I made a promissse that would never lossse any children in my care again. I have not failed to keep that promissse and I intend to go to the hunting groundsss having kept that. Alicia couldn't be in better handsss." the gorn said his voice showing he meant it even with his reptilian voice.

Deanna nodded respectfully. “Thank you Sthilg, I see now why my daughter holds you in such high regard. I thought I’d lost her when she tried harming herself years ago but I’ve seen a whole new zest for life in Alicia since she married Savar, gained Connor and of course, yourself. I am honoured to have you as part of our family, I would very much like to meet you in person. I am trying to get time for when my grandchild is born but it all depends on where we all are at the time.”

" I'd like that asss well. We can ssswap recipesss. " the doctor responded with a warm smile. " I have everything ready for the birth and my team are more than prepared for it."

Deanna smiled. “That’s good to hear, Alicia did mention that she has blood pressure problems, though I’m reassured now I’ve met you that she’ll be taken care of. Who better to care for a child than her father.”

" I am conssstantly monitoring her blood pressssssure which is back to acceptable levelsss given her condation. Don't worry if it changesss i'll be there in a heartbeat." The gorn replied with a warm smile.

“Thank you Sthilg, you have put my mind at rest.” She smiled the warmest smile yet. “Actually I have plans to visit once my grandchild is born, all dependant on where our ships are at the time of course.”

" It will be delightful to sssee you when you get here. I'm sssure we'll be given a nice quite missssssion you could vissst sssoon." The doctor replied.

“I cetainly hope so!” Deanna smiled. “I haven’t seen Alicia in person in several years, more so because we’re always in different places when on shoreleave. I
plan to take some leave this time.”

" I'm sssure ssshe'll be happy to sssee you asss well." the gorn replied wth his warm smile.

Deanna nodded. “I hope so.” She turned away from the screen for a moment before looking back. “I’m sorry I have to be going, thank you for the lovely conversation.”

" Thank you asss well. I have to get back to carving a toy for conner. " The gorn said with a warm smile as she showed her the slowly emerging wooden model of the enterprise.

Deanna smiled. “That is beautiful, he and Alicia will love it! Do take care Doctor.”

" You take care as well Deanna." he replied as the channel closed. Feeling a sense of relief the lizard smiled. That had gone very well.

{OFF}