Another Christmas Away From Home (Roll Call)

Posted on Wed Jan 10th, 2024 @ 10:01am by Lieutenant JG Damien Blackford

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: USS Elysium
603 words - 1.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Damien sighed, staring up at the ceiling of his bedroom. Try as he might, he just couldn’t sleep. Glancing at the Chronometer beside his bed, he let out another soft sigh. 1205, 25th December. It never got any easier, not being home for the Holidays, but this year, given the current state of affairs on the ship, it somehow felt extra daunting. At least in previous years, he’d been able to contact his family in some way, shape, or form. But this year... Had Starfleet even told the families of the people onboard what had happened? Or were they under the impression they were just on some sort high security mission?

Sitting up, he swung his legs over the side of the bed, slipping his feet into the slippers placed next to it. Stretching slightly, letting out a groan as he did, he stood up, grabbing the dressing gown that he’d thrown onto the nearby chair, and pulling it on. Sure, he could just instruct the computer to raise the temperature, but part of him didn’t want to. There was some small part that wanted to try his best to replicate a Christmas at home. If he couldn’t be at home, then he was damn sure going to do the best he could.

Heading out of the bedroom, he stopped in the small living quarters, smiling as he looked around the room. He’d done his best to replicate some basic Christmas decorations. Lights were strung around the walls, giving the room a soft glow. Some tinsel had been hung around most door frames, and there was even a small sprig of mistletoe hung in the middle of the room, There was, unfortunately, no tree, but, there had to be some limits to what he could do. Not that it mattered. A tree wasn’t important to him. What mattered more was spending the day with those that he cared about. He’d have to try and find some time to see Vira. That was currently his number one priority. And then he’d have to look into finding Myne and seeing how she was doing. Sure, she probably didn’t celebrate Christmas, but he was sure she’d be happy for the company either way.

Pushing off of the wall he’d been leaning on, he tightened his dressing gown and stepped into the kitchen. Heading over to the cooker, he grabbed a small saucepan from the cupboard, turned the hob on, and placed the pan down. Whilst it slowly started heating up, he went over to one of the other cupboards and grabbed a small tin of hot chocolate powder that he’d managed to snag during their last shore leave. Grabbing a small mug at the same time, he placed the powder in the mug, before walking over to the nearby replicator. “Computer, one small jug of milk.” A few seconds later, the small jug materialised in front of him. Picking it up, he walked over to the cooker and poured it into the waiting saucepan. Sure, he could have just ordered a jug of hot milk, or even a hot chocolate itself, but it just wouldn’t be the same.

It didn’t take long for the milk to warm through, and when it was ready, he slowly, and carefully, poured the milk into the waiting mug. Giving it a quick stir, he took a tentative sip and smiled as he did. “Merry Christmas, Mum and Dad.” He said softly, raising the mug in a quiet salute, before walking back through to the living area.