Not in Kansas Anymore...

Posted on Wed Apr 5th, 2023 @ 3:54pm by Lieutenant Nicholas Reece [Reece] & Lieutenant Cassia Cavendish

Mission: Season 6: Episode 2: Survival
Location: Popsicle One, Cave Camp, Reece Tent
Timeline: MD 2/ 1754 Hours
1561 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

After returning from a repair shift up on the ship, Lieutenant Nicholas Reece stopped by the mess tent, and grabbed a few ration packs, and two thermoses, one with hot water, for tea, and one with apple juice. He then made his way to where the tent was that he and Cassia were sharing with his baby brother Liam, Samaire, Skylah and they little cat, Seraph.

Entering the tent, he carefully kicked off his boots, then stepped through the next flap, into the main space. He saw Cassia right away and smiled warmly. "Hey," he said quietly, unsure if his brother was awake or not, over on their side of the separated tent.

Cassia smiled and walked over to him. The flap to where Liam, Samaire and Skylah were staying was down but not zipped. "The doctors just left." She said softly. "They say Liam can stay put from now on, he is healing well and they will do house calls. Samire is in with him. Skylah is over at the common tent area with the other kids," She filled him in as she gave his cheek a kiss.

Nicholas smiled warmly, then returned the kiss before replying. "That's great news!" He shifted the food over to his right hand, hen wrapped his left around Cassia, holding her close to him. "How are you doing, Imzadi?" He asked quietly as he held her.

She leaned into him. "Keeping busy. And it's better than the last time I was on a ice world..."

Nicholas gently kissed the top of Cassia's head. "So long as we are together, we can accomplish anything."

Cassia nodded. "Well.. I have volunteered to go up to the ship tomorrow." she informed him.

"That's a good idea," Nicholas nodded gently. He turned them slightly and put down the food and drink. He then wrapped his free arm around Cassia as well. "It'll get you out of here, for a bit at least. I'm going up as well. Going to up as well. Going to be helping piece the Intel systems back together."

Cassia nodded. "Samaire is going up in a couple of days, something to do with the computer system and Avalon."

Nicholas nodded again. "I've seen some of her work. She is definitely in OPS for a reason. She is smart as hell."

Cassia nodded. "And she is kind." She added. "Makes it easier to like her, speak with her."

"Yeah, she certainly seems to be," Nicholas agreed. "Of course, she would have to be a good person. Liam wouldn't have fallen for anyone who wasn't. He's got a better soul that Kyle or I do. He doesn't have the darkness we do, never has."

Cassia looked up at him. "Because he is in a different department?"

Shaking his head, Nicholas replied. "No. He's always been a nicer person. Kyle and I have a temper that can be explosive if we get pushed too far. Liam, however, always seems to have an unending supply of patience."

"He will need it with Skylah as his adopted daughter, I hear she is a handful."

"From what I've seen, she is just as smitten with him as he is wrapped around her little finger." Nicholas chuckled softly, then started to move them to their section of the tent, sitting down on the side of the double bunk they were using

She sat beside him on the bunk. "That is true. And she is a sweetheart, but he will have to deal with her as a teenager. And that will be fun to watch."

Nicholas started to chuckle. "Imzadi! Are you actually looking forward to seeing my baby brother go through the hell that is teenage girl?"

"Hmm maybe," she smiled and shrugged. "I am sure they will handle it. Even when she brings home Hendor as her boyfriend."

This made Nicholas chuckle. "Yeah, I think those two are gonna be glued to the hip for many years to come." He then grew quieter. "Considering the horrors they both experienced, I'm glad they have each other to lean against."

Cassia nodded at that. "At least Liam will not be surprised when it happens."

"This is true," Nicholas agreed. "Those two certainly seem to be in the cute stages of young puppy love." He got quiet and smiled at a memory. "I remember feeling like that once."

Cassia leaned into him. "Oh? Do tell " she encouraged softly.

A soft smile from a happy memory crossed Nicholas' face as he put his arm around Cassia and held her close. "First grade, her name was Maria, Maria Kissinger. She had shoulder-length black hair and the bluest eyes I had ever seen."

"And she broke your heart?: Cassia asked with a smile.

Nodding, Nicholas replied. "Yeah. She laughed at me when I tripped one day, when Ryan Conners tripped me down the school steps. She had always smiled at him more." A slightly evil grin crossed his face. "Kyle broke his arm later the same day."

"Ah pay back, sibling fun" she smiled. She never had those memories but she liked that he did.

Nicholas nodded again, still in the memory. "That's what we did, still do. The kids learned really quick, you mess with one Reece, you mess with them all. Hell, by the time Alexandria was born, we practically had our own gang going. No one messed with any of us boys. A few thought they'd get lucky with Alexandria." Another evil grin. "She was worse than Kyle, Liam or me!"

"She sounds like a lot of fun Nick," Cassia smiled. "I think Samaire has met her."

"Yeah," he chuckled as he replied. "She keeps us all in line, just like Ma does." He then thought for a second and nodded. "Yeah...I think I remember Liam telling me that they spoke via subspace right before he and Sam went and got married."

Cassia nodded "She mentioned something about being killed if the three of you were not returned in once piece."

Nicholas chuckled again. "That was a bit if an exaggeration. Though, Mama and Papa did instill in us boys the dangers of us not protecting baby sister."

He was lucky, Cassia knew. She leaned against him and said, "We will see them again. "

Nicholas sighed softly. "I know we will. There's no way we don't get home. Not this ship. Kyle always told me that she has more lives than a cat."

Cassia just hoped those lives had not run out. But she kept her doubts to herself. She closed her eyes for a moment. "We should get dinner for the family."

Nicholas nodded in agreement. "That sounds like a great idea, Imzadi. Especially for Sam, Skylah and Liam."

Cassia pulled back and stood. "I'll get my gear." She said and headed to their sleeping section.

Nicholas turned back towards the small mud room and started to put his boots back on.

Cassia came back in pulling on her jacket and joined him in the mudroom to put on her snow boots. She sat beside him and pulled them on. "I cannot wait to get back to the ship. No needing to change footwear."

Chuckling softly, Nicholas nudged her with his shoulder gently. "Not unless you wanted to put those heels on. You Remember the ones I'm talking about?" He grinned happily at her as he spoke.

"Oh those heels?" she smirked back at him. "Well if you want to see if they survived the chaos, when you go up there. I like those heels."

A hungry grin crossed Nicholas' face. "Your wish is my command, Imzadi!" He gave her a flirty wink, then stood up. Turning to face Cassia, he offered her his hand, once she was done with her boots. "I really am a very lucky man, my love." He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.

She smiled as they kissed and nodded "Hmm I think we both are. Now onto the job at hand." she laughed and pushed him to the tent flap.

He yelped playfully, but allowed her to direct him out and onto their mission.

They walked together to the canteen tent and Cassia used the time to look around the people as they did so. No laughter, just sullen looks and frowns.

Nicholas saw the same looks. He felt that something either had happened, or was about to happen. While most everyone here was trained to be Starfleet's best, even the best could crack under enough pressure and pain. He made sure to stay close to Cassie, using his size as a shield for her, if required.

"No Command crew around," She whispered. "Guess it's time to loose the positivity." And they entered the canteen tent to more of the same. "It happens. And its normal," she knew it was. She had been through it before.

"Still," Nicholas replied softly as they moved to get the rations. "Discipline is something everyone should keep up for themselves. The sooner we are back on the ship, in the familiar and comfortable settings there, the better."

Cassia nodded. "One hopes" she said softly. They moved in the line getting the items they needed.

Moments later, after both having their arms full, Nicholas and Cassia made their way over to his baby brother's tent, bringing them dinner and a few sweets for dessert for Skylah.

~OFF~