This is Yours Now...

Posted on Thu Oct 20th, 2022 @ 6:47am by Kyle Cragen [Reece] & Vice-Consul Josephine Carlyle-Cragen

Mission: Season 5: Time Warp
Location: Cragen Estate, near the town of Shegra, Northern Scotland
Timeline: MD 23/8/2397 / 1230 Hours (local)
2717 words - 5.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Per the instructions given to the shuttle pilot, Josephine was brought to a picturesque Scottish Estate, up in the North Country. As they approached, the pilot did a slow circle around the keep and manicured surrounding land.

Josie was silent as she looked out the view port. She was doing this for Liberty, she knew.

As the shuttle finally came in for a landing, a single woman was waiting outside the landing area, watching the shuttle come in. As soon as the shuttle had landed, she started to approach the opening hatch.

Josephine exited the shuttle, dressed warmly and comfortably. She was weeks away from having her child but she moved with purpose.

"Miss Carlyle," the woman said with a soft smile as she reached her. "Good morning. I hope you had a safe trip?'

"Ms Donaldson, Yes I did thank you." Josephine replied with a small smile. "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me"

Henrietta Donaldson had been Kyle's estate lawyer for the past twenty years. While she knew that her boss and client was not always a good man, he had never disrespected her once, so she had stayed with him, though, only to cover his assets on Earth.

"Of course!" She replied with a grin as she turned and indicated the direction they should move in. "As you now the owner of Lord Cragen's entire estate, you are also now my client and employer. And," she added with a grin, "In accordance with ancient Scottish law, as you now own land, three hundred acres, to be exact, you now hold the title of Lady." She curtsied respectively.

"Ah thanks but I won't use it. My child can use it but I won't. You can call me Josephine. "

The lawyer smiled politely. "Then you must call me Henrietta." She raised a finger in warning, her strong German accent flowing with her words. "We will be friends, ja?"

"Yes." Josie smiled back. "So, can you show me around?"

"Ja, of course!" The two women then began to walk the grounds. Henrietta pointed out the extensive gardens, the ornately designed hedge maze, which had been growing since the mid 1670s. Next was the stables, complete with a dozen expertly cared-for horses.

As the tour continued, they entered the keep itself. "There are twelve bedrooms, ten bathrooms. The master suite has a fully appointed ensuite, the only room with its own bathroom." Henrietta continued. "There are three formal dining rooms and one private, a ball room. One master library and two smaller ones. Sir Cragen built this home after King Charles II rewarded him with the land. Construction began in 1665, and finished in 1680. Then, throughout the centuries, Sir Cragen continued to update and refurbish the home."

They came to a large, ornate door. "And here is your private study. Sir Cragen specifically asked that you be shown this room."

Josie tensed She was unsure what was within.

Inside were several drawings, paintings, even a bust of Josephine, as she had looked, back in the 1660s. "Sir Cragen worked on each of these, after you disappeared. And," she indicated a rectangular object that was covered by a blue silk cloth. Henrietta carefully pulled back the cloth, revealing the book that Cragen had promised to hold for her, back when they had had their first dinner.

Damn the man, Josie thought as she studied the room and then the book. She couldn’t help the tear that escaped but she dashed it away. “Thank you Henrietta.” she said softly.

Henrietta smiled softly and nodded. "I'll give you a few moments alone, ja?" She then stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her, leaving Josephine alone in the room.

On the inside cover of the tome, was a dedication:

To My Dearest Lady Josephine,

May you always find your way home.

Eternally Yours,

Sir Kyle Cragen

Josie sighed and let her fingers linger on the words. Double damn the man. She would make sure the room was kept locked, Arri would not be happy with this. But she needed this room, closure after the years since she had known this man, and the months spent with him as Sephine. The IFs, Buts, and maybes of life flooded her but she held true to the truth, their child was the good that had come of the events. And Liberty would show them all.

Henrietta looked up when the door opened and Josaphine came back out. "He really can be a good man, sometimes," she said softly.

"I know" Josephine replied "It will be hard to explain him to someone who never knew the good side."

Henrietta nodded sadly. "And now, no one will ever know. No one but the two of us."

“His child will know.” Josie said softly, firmly. “She will know the truth.”

"As it should be," the lawyer replied, nodding in agreement. "She should know who her father was, good, bad and in-between." She handed over a man's signet ring. "It was his, he also left this, like the book, specifically for you, Josaphine. Down in the wine cellar, on the north wall, you will find a hidden depression that this will fit in. It will unlock a secret access way to the sub basements. These are not on any blueprints. I have not been down there, so I am unaware of what is there. Sir Cragen left explicit instructions that, whatever is down there, is for your eyes only."

“Thank you.” She took the ring, weighed it in her hand. “Best see it now.” she said softly. And with the directions given headed down to the Wine Cellar. She found the depression and slid the ring into it.

As soon as the lock was depressed, a soft click could be heard from the door at the top of the stairs. Suddenly, the section of flooring that she was standing on began to sink, transporting her to the sub basement below her.

Lights started to switch on as the platform continued to lower slowly. She was in a large cavern, roughly an acre in size. It was filled with racks upon racks of shelving units, each one filled with crates of various sizes.

The platform continued to lower down into a comfortably-appointed study. There were a few bookshelves along one wall, a modern computer on an intricately-carved mahogany desk, plus a couple plush, wing-back, leather chairs. On the wall behind the desk, was another portrait of Josephine, as she looked back in 1661. It was the one portrait that Cragen had asked her to sit for. It was painted by one of the Dutch Golden Age painters, Jan Steen. Needless to say, it was not only an original Steen, but the only copy of the painting to exist.

Josie walked up and stared at the painting “Oh Kyle..” she murmured. It had been a lovely time back then. She touched the frame and sighed.

Upon hearing her voice pattern, a holorecording of Cragen suddenly appeared.

"Hello Josephine, if you're watching this, then I am either dead, or incarcerated and have bequeathed all of this to you. I'm sure, by now, you have already cursed me a few times today. I hope this will be the last time.

I have made this recording while you are sleeping in our bed, back on Erisia. You are still under the programming that you are Sephine, a creation of my own weak, hurting heart. I can never take back what I have done to you. I do hope that you are able to live comfortably here, with our child. I don't know if it's a boy or a girl when I recorded this. What I do know is this. Everything good and pure that will be in our child, will come from you. I only hope that my…darkness completely avoids him or her.

While the property that you have seen upstairs is certainly a large collection of wealth, down here, is the real material wealth that I accumulated, here on Earth, and what I managed to save from my homeworld, before the Borg destroyed it. Nothing you find down here was gathered through ill-gotten means. It is all legal, with receipts, where applicable, in the computer on the desk.

Also, if it is important, are the complete remains of the destroyed ship and tech from our time, that was back in the 1660s. I found it after you left, and spent the next fifty years finding and retrieving the rest of it. It wasn't until after you were gone, without a trace, that it occured to me just who you might have been.

Why did I do this? Why am I even telling you this?" his image gave a sad grin. "I knew that, if any of the future tech was discovered and used by the wrong person, then there would be a very good chance…that you would never exist. I couldn't stand to live in a universe where that is a reality.

You have always been the one woman that I loved with my whole heart. Yes, I have had other lovers and wives but, you were the one that each of them was measured against.

Do with this wealth as you see fit. I know you will do the right thing. You always did.

I love you, Josaphine Carlyle, and I always will. Be safe, be happy."

The recording ended and the holoimage faded away, leaving Josephine alone in the underground study.

While he spoke she had sunk to the floor and sat there, tears rolling down her cheeks as she tried hard not to cry. She sat there for ages letting her emotions out before pushing herself to her feet, and wiping the tears from her face. She moved to the desk and brought up the listing he spoke of. Once she confirmed it, she had the information downloaded to a PADD and once completed she put the PADD in her purse and then turned to the painting. She took it down off the wall carefully, and wrapped it carefully in packing so she could carry it. She then placed it on the platform. She would have to plan to take time to go through this room but not today. Once she was back on the platform, she set it to rise and headed back to the wine cellar.

When Josephine moved back into the front of the keep, she found Henrietta speaking to one of the staff, an elderly woman in a dark suit. "Ah, Josephine!" Henrietta said happily. She noted the large, covered item, clearly a painting, but said nothing. "I trust all is satisfactory?"

“Yes, thank you.” Josephine said, pausing. “Are there problems?”

Henrietta glanced back at the other woman, then back at Josephine, and she'd warmly. "Oh! No, no, not at all. Please allow me to introduce you to Missus Harrison. She is in charge of the day-to-day running of your estate."

The other woman bowed slightly to Josephine. "Your Ladyship, it is a pleasure to meet you, Ma'am."

“Please call me Josie,” She said with a warm smile holding out a hand to shake the woman’s.

"Then you may call me, Clara, Josie." She took Josephine's offered hand and gave her a firm, but friendly shake. "Most of your staff, here on the estate, have worked and tended the grounds and home for generations. My ancestral paternal grandfather, Micheal O'Connell, was Sir Cragen's first Head-of-the-House and Butler."

Josie nodded. She bit back the words ‘I remember’ instead she said “And I see no reason to change that. That said, I would like to make sure you are all acceptably compensated.”

Clara nodded. "Oh, we are, Ma'am. Sir Cragen ensured that each employee was fully taken care of, with excellent wages, health benefits and a full retirement pension." She grinned and added. "It's the reason that most of the workers here are generational employees."

“Good.” Josephine replied with a smile. “I am very happy to hear that.”

Henrietta smiled softly as she started to pull out a PADD. "If you are ready to take full, legal, ownership…?"

Josie wanted to scream no at the top of her lungs but she nodded. “Yes”

"Then, please put your thumbprint here," Henrietta held out the PADD and indicated the space.

Josie did so.

Henrietta then turned to Clara. "And yours please, as a witness."

Clara nodded and pressed her right thumb to the screen.

"Good," Henrietta commented. "And now for mine, as the legal representative for the estate." She pressed her thumb to the screen. "Done! Congratulations, Josephine! The estate, and all of its holdings, are now legally yours to do with as you wish."

“Thank you. I won't be making any changes, that I can be sure of. I have downloaded information and will review it.” She looked at Clara, “If you could ensure that everyone maintains their jobs and such, it would be greatly appreciated.”

Clara nodded respectfully. "Yes, Ma'am." Then she asked, "Will you be taking up residence, Ma'am? Your rooms would be ready within the hour."

“Unfortunately not at this time. I am on active duty with Starfleet, and my ship is due to leave in 48 hours. But after its next mission I intend to return, to show my child their home.”

Clara brightened. "Oh! It's been far too long since there were the echos of wee baby laughter in these halls! Do you know the gender of the child? The staff would be very honored and excited to get a few rooms set up and decorated specifically for the little Lord or Lady."

“It's a Girl” Josie said with a small smile. “Liberty, will be her name”

Henrietta and Clara both aww'ed at the mention of Liberty. "Well, Ma'am, you send me instructions on how to decorate the rooms, and, when you and little Lady Liberty return, she will have her own little kingdom waiting for her." Clara seemed to be practically vibrating with excitement.

“As nice as that sounds, when she is old enough, she will have chores to do. I am not into raising a pampered princess. This,” here she waved a hand to the estate. “Is not free by any means, it is a responsibility I will take seriously and teach her to do the same.”

Clara nodded in understanding. "I agree wholeheartedly, Ma'am. I was only meaning that she would have her own spaces properly decorated for the young Lady that she will grow to be."

Josie nodded. “Very well. Thank you Clara, and thank the rest for remaining, I Know this is not normal.”

"Ach," Clara guffawed softly. "Don't worry, Ma'am. The staff is well used to it being years between visits by the Lord…and now the Lady. We will carry on, just as we always have, Ma'am. The estate and all that is contained therein is yours. We simply ensure that everything is kept in good condition for you when you do arrive."

Josie gave a warm smile. “Thank you. I should head back to my posting. Any concerns or issues you should be able to reach me on the USS Elysium”

Both women nodded in understanding. Henrietta walked Josie back out to the shuttle, while Clara stood and watched them go.

"If you need anything, here is my private contact information, Josie." Henrietta handed over a small card, which had her name, the name of her firm, and all the comm channels that she could be reached by.

“Thank you Henrietta” She placed the Card in her purse. Carefully she placed the painting in the shuttle and turned to Henrietta. “”Thank you again for your assistance in this matter, I would be grateful if you would maintain your role as you are."

Henrietta nodded once. "As you wish. Should you ever have any legal issues, my services will be available." She then extended her hand in farewell. "Safe journey, Josephine."

Josie gave her a smile and entered the Shuttle and moments later it lifted off.

~OFF~

**Author's Note: below are the descriptions for above NPCs**

lawyer is Henrietta Donaldson. Looks like Brigitte Nielsen (when she played Red Sonja)

Clara Harrison looks like Angela Lansbury (when she was in Disney's "Bedknobs and Broomsticks")