Getting to know more about you

Posted on Sun Dec 18th, 2022 @ 8:01am by Lieutenant Commander Kara Starr {Kelea-Salik} & Lieutenant JG Elijah Carmichael

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Prior to disaster
2025 words - 4.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Kara stood in-front of the sickbay replicator, She was mulling over what she wanted to eat. She was only doing half shifts due to being in her seventh month of pregnancy. It was either that or take early maternity leave and go stir crazy in hers & Malakai’s quarters. She sighed as she couldn’t make up her mind what to choose.

Entering from one of the storage compartments Elijah spotted Kara across the room looking at the replicator, her baby bump clear to see. He commended her willingness to work whilst also showing concern from a medical point of view that the stresses of work could have on the baby's development. Ultimately it was her choice, “Cravings Commander?” he asked smiling and making his way across the room fancying something himself. 


“Just hungry!” Kara offered a smile. “That old saying about eating for two is very true, my appetite has shot off the scale, but I do watch what I eat. I just can’t make up my mind what I want right now. Any suggestions for something light yet filling?”

Eli smiled wondering what he could suggest, his own stomach calling out for something. "How about some Hummus, Cucumber, pepper and toasted wholegrain pitta? Ok so Hummus isn't the healthiest but balance it would with some fruit and you have a recipe for a really nice light snack!" He gestured to the replicator offering to input the code to one of his own shortcut orders.

Kara nodded. “That sounds lovely, thank you. I think I’m entitled to a not so healthy snack every now and then.” She sucked in a breath as a strong kick from her son. “I swear ... my son has one hell of a kick!”

Eli had stepped closer but backed off when she exclaimed how her son was kicking. "Perhaps he likes Hummus?" He joked, "Maybe I can get the snacks and you can take a seat Commander?" The doctor and empathic nature inside him kicked in as he gestured to the biobed, which, when empty could act as a makeshift picnic bench when needed with two stools on either side.

Kara nodded. “I think that is a good idea.” She walked across to the biobed and pulled over a couple of spare chairs, then sat down while she waited for Eli to join her. She had to admit she was tired, plus her ankles were permanently swollen.

Quickly placing a replication order for two portions of Toasted Pita, Hummus, cucumber and Mixed Bell peppers (sliced of course into sticks) Elijah carefully carried the plates over to the makeshift bench and placed them down. “The Pita is a little warm so go a little careful” he sat down opposite the her. “Besides the hunger how are you doing Commander?”

“Apart from the swollen ankles, permanently aching back, and tiredness?” Kara grinned. “I’m fine, thank you.” She picked up a piece of cucumber and popped it into her mouth, letting it savour for a few moments before chewing and swallowing it. “I’m only working partial shifts, I’ll go stir crazy if I have to sit around in my quarters all day!”

Finishing his mouthful of red pepper and hummus he swallowed and then continued their conversation. "Yes well, I am sure soon you'll have plenty to keep yourself when the baby comes. Have you considered the delivery method yet?" The advancement in technology meant that there were now several methods of delivery each with its pros and cons, of course, there were the more traditional methods such as water births.

“Malakai and I discussed it briefly but I need to get it officially checked off so-to-speak” Kara offered a warm smile. “I’d like to give birth naturally where possible, but I know that’s not always the way things go. If anything happens then whatever is needed to bring my son safely into the universe will be fine. I just want my son to be okay.” She helped herself to some hummus and a piece of red pepper.

"I am sure he'll be just fine, we have great facilities here as you well know and Doctor Sthilg is a well-aged physician" He chuckled, "You know Elijah is a nice name," He said raising his eyebrows and popping a small piece of pita dipped hummus into his mouth and smiling incredulously. "How are the other minions doing? Connor and N'vea right?"

“Alicia’s children” Kara nodded. “They’re fine, from what I’ve read it was touch and go for Alicia when she had her daughter. Massive haemorrhage, but luckily she had her father on hand to deliver and save her life. At the price of not being able to have any more children.” She looked at Elijah curiously. “Did you know Doctor Sthilg is Alicia’s Father? She adopted him into her family, which I think is very sweet.”

He nodded, "I did yes. I think it's a testament to him to take on someone else's daughter as his own. If only there were more people like him we'd have far fewer orphans in the world." Elijah crunched a piece of cucumber. "I'd like to to think if I were able to offer such a relationship I would." Elijah smiled, "Luckily I have a very loving family, I think people can take that for granted sometimes, at least your little ones have a loving father and mother and a very large family" He chuckled hinting at the fact that being a child on the Elysium meant you had hundred of friends and adoptee parents.

“Indeed, the crew here are all one big family. Mal and I are new arrivals onboard, we decided to settle here, my brother Mattias is married to Commodore Lalor.”

Eli always found it humorous when people referred to living on a starship as 'settled' but didn't express his humour verbally. "And how is that being a family relation to the commodore and not just any commodore?" He enquired taking another dip with his pepper.

Kara smiled. “I’ve known Commodore Lalor for a while, we served on a... covert mission together. I’m glad she and Mattias are finally married. I’m adopted into Mattias’ family, his family took me in when I was young but we’ve always been close. Actually, I recently discovered that my genetics include El Aurian. It’s a whole new learning curve for me.”

A lot of what the commander had just said intrigued him, "That's a lot to digest!" Elijah exclaimed, tilting his head. "I think I'll leave the covert mission door closed for now so tell me more about finding out about becoming El Aurian? What does that mean for you?" He was genuinely interested, it wasn't every day someone found out something new about themselves especially on that scale.

“I can’t divulge all the information as it’s classified, but suffice to say I met my grandfather many generations removed. He’s classed as a criminal of great magnitude, but he’s done nothing but protect, and look out for me since we first met.” She paused. “I must admit the thought that I will most likely outlive my husband and those I know disturbs me a great deal, but I refuse to dwell on the matter. It’s all... like I said a learning curve. El Aurians generally heal faster than others, go into some sort of cocoon when badly injured, or every so many years though that has never happened to me.” She paused to eat more of her food.

"Oh I wouldn't ask you to say anything that might get you or me in trouble Commander" He flashed a cheeky grin, "Or worst, killed." The later was a joke, he knew the federation and Starfleet were past killing insensitivity. "How about your Husband? I'm sure he has reassured you no doubt." He often wondered since the achievements of mankind to travel to distance planets and meet new species how interspecies relationships worked, especially those where one of the partners would outlive the other life times.

“Mal is my rock, he keeps me grounded” Kara grinned. “We spent years in an on and off relationship, and finally decided to get married. I’d be lost without him.”
She picked up another piece of pepper and some hummus, savouring the food as she ate.

Elijah was warmed by the comment, "I'm glad that you have found someone like that. You seem very happy" He smiled taking another crunch on his cucumber. Elijah, was a bit of a hopeless romantic, being a painter it was almost a default setting. "Are you going to stay on the Elysium? Or do you have other plans? I know some families opt for starbase postings or leave Starfleet altogether. Though I think I know the answer to that already."

“We’ve decided to stay onboard at least for the foreseeable future” Kara smiled warmly. “That might change in the future we’ll have to see what it holds for us.”

He nodded, listening intently. "Well, I suppose the Elysium isn't a bad place to settle down. I don't think I have ever seen or even imagined a ship to be quite like it. I mean we have a full promenade with a stream flowing through it." Elijah wasn't lying when he said he was in sheer awe of the ship. It had figured he'd spend another few more rotations on the Togo, maybe serve on a galaxy class but to be assigned to the Elysium was a dream come true. He finished his last mouthful and sat back rubbing his stomach, "That hit the spot."

Kara smiled as she finished off the last of the food on her plate. “Mmm it certainly does!” She picked up her drink and sipped it before putting it down again. “This is an amazing ship, in the short time we’ve been onboard I’ve come to like it very much.”

"I think I can grow to like it, to be honest, I think I already have." Elijah looked as if he was reminiscing. "That's not to say that the Togo didn't have its quirks, a small ship mean everyone knew each other and we were like a family. Here it seems like I'm a single cog in a very large city." He explained.

“We’re all cogs in that large city” Kara grinned. “I’ve heard great things about this ship, hence why we asked to be assigned here.”

"Asked? I didn't even realise that was an option!" Elijah commented whilst chuckling, "I always thought Starfleet sent us where we were needed most, I guess it's different after a while?" He asked, they had been asked at the academy but Elijah didn't even get his top 3 choices not that he minded being assigned to the USS Togo.

“Well we arrived here after working black ops... no details I’m afraid. Phew... Commodore Lalor grantee our request to stay onboard the Elysium. You could say we earned it.” Kara smiled warmly.

"That's fair, maybe one day you'll be able to share those experiences but I suspect it will be one of those if I tell you I'd have to kill you instances and I fancy my life right now." He joked, "Well I best get back to it Sthilg runs a tight ship and I still need to earn my place here" He smiled, "Ill take your plate for you." He added standing up with his plate in one hand.

“Thank you” Kara smiled as she rose gracefully to her feet. “It’s been nice talking with you, you’ll have to come to ours for Dinner with us one night. It would give you a chance to meet Malakai.”

Elijah took the plates and sauntered over to the replicator to recycle them. "I'd like that opportunity, let me know when you might be considering and I'll deconflict my duty shifts to match!" Every opportunity for Elijah to make friends on this ship he was, he wanted to make this ship every bit as home as he could.

{OFF}