Raktajino and Recon

Posted on Mon Feb 25th, 2019 @ 8:42pm by

Mission: Season 2: Episode 3: Determination is not always a good thing
Location: DS9-Replimat
Timeline: day after No Perfect World
2022 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

Jessica returned from Deep Space Nine’s cargo area, having just worked a shift as a cargo handler, replacing a sick member of a freighter’s crew. It was hard work but some pay, and it was something to do. A quick shower and change later, and she was back at her favourite place, the replimat.

Commodore Cheline Halliwell, CO of the USS Pearl Harbor, had been deeply annoyed when her vessel had been diverted to Deep Space Nine, especially since they were removed from a first contact mission to the Gamma so the Pearl could receive two new crewmen and an inspection of its environmental systems. When Chief of Staff Grogan informed her why she was wanted there, the annoyance remained, but there was promise of a strong payoff in the end. She walked into the replimat, looking over the menu, when she saw part of the reason she was there wandering in, ~Well, well, wonders never cease.~ She thought as she looked over the woman, Zhukov’s martyr, from a distance, ~Pretty enough, the kind people will take pity on. Grogan’s right, this could be bad for him.~

Getting a raktajino and a medium spicy hasperat, she walked over to the other woman, “So many choices, huh?” She began, “Enough to drive you nuts.”

“Oh, I’ve got used to this fairly quickly”, Jessica smiled as she replicated a mug of raktajino herself, along with a wholegrain sandwich. “Much better than what I got elsewhere.”

“Yeah, I’ve eaten in some sorry places myself.” Cheline replied with a smile, it was true, plus her girlfriend wasn’t much of a cook, ~One of the few time when I miss Anje…~ “Anyway, I forgot to introduce myself, I’m Cheline Halliwell, it’s a pleasure.”

Jessica put the food down at a free table. “Jessica Clarke”, she said, shaking the officer’s hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Admiral.” She hadn’t expected such a high-ranking officer to frequent the replimat, but maybe she was there for the company?

“Commodore, actually.” Cheline replied, “But hopefully Admiral is coming soon. Jessica Clarke… Oh, I know your name now! You’re the lady who escaped Turkana.”

“Well, who got abducted from there and with luck survived a space battle”, Jessica said. “But yes, that’s me.” She wasn’t surprised, her face had been on all the news, even though she’d looked a lot less like a civilised human being then, and hadn’t had her missing ear covered.

“Your courage is amazing.” Cheline complimented, one of the very few things she’d ever said that she meant sincerely; Grogan and his ambition and his promises to her be damned, this woman was impressive, “So, what are you doing with yourself now?”

“I’ve done a shift moving cargo today”, Jessica smiled, sitting down. “I enjoyed that. But for now, I’ve applied for a job as waitress on a Starfleet ship, the Elysium. If they’ll have me, I’d like to hold down a steady job.”

“The Elysium?” Cheline raised an eyebrow, that was Anje’s ship, no doubt it would be in Zhukov’s plans, “That’s a big, beautiful ship. I’ve heard they have several restaurants and lounges aboard, so finding a job shouldn’t be an issue. Ready to see the galaxy, huh?”

“That’s certainly a benefit, yes”, she smiled, taking a bite. “I’m going to try to enjoy myself. I’ve been told I deserve some.”

“You do.” Cheline agreed, “You’ve definitely paid for it in advance, I believe. So, what do you do for fun here? Made any friends yet?”

“A young woman, a cadet”, Jessica said. “She’s also going to the Elysium. She’s a clever one, that girl will go far.”

“I suppose she’ll be going to the Academy there on Elysium.” Cheline nodded, “I’ve looked at adding one on the Pearl Harbor, think it’s a good way to find new home grown talent. Plus the added benefit of having deep space experience from the first day in, that’s the sort of thing we should’ve been doing for years now, don’t know why we waited so long.”

Jessica just chewed and nodded. She didn’t know enough about how Starfleet did things to have an opinion on it. “I’m certainly hoping I can avail myself of some training opportunities. There’s a lot I need to catch up on.”

“Well, there are lots of opportunities available.” Cheline informed, “Guess it all depends on your aspirations for your life. And there’s no such thing as too late, when I went through the Academy I was in there with a woman of sixty Earth years old, decided she wanted to do something different with her life after her husband died and her kids were grown.”

“I didn’t know they took on people older than 20”, Jessica said. “Though in this world, I guess nothing should surprise me any more.”

“Oh, yeah, it’s not all kids.” Cheline smiled, “I mean, it’s pretty open as long as you can meet the qualifying standards. People are living longer now, different species that age on different scales, age isn’t even a thing anymore. Why? That something you think you might want to do?”

Jessica shook her head. “No. I’m behind on so many things… if it wasn’t for my parents making sure I learnt how to read and write, or speak in full sentences, I don’t think I’d stand any chance at all in this world.”

“Always time to catch up.” Cheline said, “Don’t give up on yourself. You’ve already come so far.” That was true, she remembered seeing Jessica on every monitor she passed for days weeks ago, the woman was a skeleton then, now she looked attractive and healthy, someone who would really get noticed and would really engender sympathy; she’d be trouble for Grogan for sure if Zhukov had her way, ~That damn woman is the bane of my existence….~

“I’m just not sure”, Jessica said. “I mean, on the one hand, you’re right. But on the other, I don’t want to spend too much effort, I want to make sure I’ll have strength left to try and get my people freed.”

“That’s an admirable goal.” Cheline commented between bites of hasperat, “Though, you might want to focus on yourself first. I know that sounds selfish, but if your people are freed, they’re going to need people like you, trailblazers and role models are what every population needs, especially an oppressed one.”

“I have no illusion about turning Turkana around”, Jessica said. “But we need to get the civilians off this world, somewhere safe. Beyond that, they won’t need me.”

“You see, that’s where you’re wrong.” Cheline said encouragingly, “They’re going to need you more than ever. Getting them off of there, that’s not the end, not even the beginning of the end. At best it’s the end of the beginning. You’ve got to think about this in the long term, Jessica, because your job, the duty you’ve taken on to your people, won’t end once transports start leaving Turkana.”

“Why not?” Jessica wondered. “They can then go wherever they want. They won’t need me. They’ll have the entire Federation to pick opportunities from.”

“Opportunities that they’ll be confused by, the same way you no doubt were at first.” Cheline continued, in this case the truth was far more useful to her, “Remember the first time you went to the replimat? I imagine all the choices became overwhelming, even if only for a second. Your people are going to be facing that same situation, only on a much grander scale. Instead of choosing what to eat, they’ll have to choose how to live their lives in a world like nothing they’ve ever imagined. Like it or not, you are going to be the leader of the Free Turkanans, Jessica, better get used to the idea.”

She shook her head. “No. I got used to it, they can too. Probably easier than me. I’m no leader.” Jessica was hardly able to take care of herself most of the time, seeing as she didn’t quite understand how everything worked yet.

“Don’t sell yourself short.” Cheline smiled, “When the time comes, you’ll know what to do, and you’ll do it. I have faith in that.”

“I haven’t got faith in anything”, Jessica admitted. “I’m a realist. Which, I guess, is just a different word for a pessimist, except I’m not absolutely certain that it’s going to go to shit, there is always hope.”

“Always believe in yourself, Jessica.” Cheline said softly, taking Jessica’s hand and touching it in a comforting way, “You’ll never go wrong that way.”

“I’ll do whatever is necessary”, Jessica said. “And when it’s done, I’ll go somewhere quiet.”

“Settle down, maybe have some kids?” Cheline inquired, “Live a peaceful life somewhere natural maybe? Bajor is nice.”

“Maybe”, Jessica said. “Though, having children? I don’t know. Kinda takes having to do something I’m not keen on experiencing again.”

“Oh… I’m so sorry.” Cheline stopped, genuinely sorry for any pain she was causing Jessica, “Look, it’s not always that bad. You’ll find someone and move past the pain of the past, enjoy some true happiness. You deserve that and more.” ~I’m starting to wonder if this is worth it… She doesn’t seem to know too much, might be she really is just the traumatized victim she seems to be. Grogan better pay off huge on this….~

Tears were welling up in Jessica’s eyes, and she pushed her plate away from her subconsciously. “I don’t know”, she said. “I’ve got nobody. People here are nice to me but everyone I’ve ever loved has been dead for years. All I want is to go somewhere quiet. I just can’t. Not yet.”

Cheline immediately rose from her chair, coming around the table to put her arms around Jessica, “Hey, it’s okay, you’re going to be okay.” She promised, “You’ve got a lot of great new opportunities in front of you and you’re going to shine, I know this.” Compassion for another person, genuine compassion at that, was an almost entirely new feeling for Cheline, who was fighting not to cry along with this broken woman, ~Remember, Academy Commandant under President Grogan, Cheline. Eyes on the prize. You can make it up to Jessica later…~

“Could I ask you for a favour?” Jessica asked. She felt bad asking for favours, but she figured she’d have to.

“Of course.” Cheline smiled warmly, genuinely ready to help Jessica any way she could, Grogan be damned, “Just ask.”

“There’s a Vulcan ambassador, she’s trying to get Starfleet and the Federation Council to support a rescue operation”, Jessica said. “You’re an important officer in the fleet. I’m sure it would mean a lot if you could show support for the cause. Not for my sake, think of the millions of lives that could save.”

“Oh, which Ambassador?” Cheline feigned ignorance, “I’m happy to do anything I can for you and your people.”

“Zhukov”, Jessica said. “Not a Vulcan name, I don’t think, but she lives there.”

“Oh, Ambassador Zhukov, of course.” Cheline smiled, “We’re acquainted, she and I. I’m going to call her as soon as I get back to the Pearl.”

“Thank you”, Jessica said, giving the other woman a hug. “That means a lot to me.”

“The chance to help you means a lot to me.” Cheline answered, squeezing tighter; not only had Jessica given her information, she’d also given her an in with Zhukov, guaranteeing that, no matter who won on election day, she was going to win.