Old Friends - New beginnings

Posted on Thu 21st Jun, 2012 @ 2:52am by Lieutenant Adam Keller & Commander Jasmine Collins-Keller & Lieutenant Colonel Cara Karikkar

1,613 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: http://sb109.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/missions/id/2
Location: Courier Ship Magellan

Devynn stepped into the Raven class ship, his hand wrapped around a leash which was attached to Max. He had his bag slung over his shoulder and Nyx's bag in his other hand. Nyx followed behind him carrying a small satchel that they would live out of for the next few days while on the ship. Neither of them were looking forward to the cramped quarters they would be living in but Nyx was glad when Devyn requested they bunk together for the trip. At least she wouldn't be holed up alone. She smiled at the steward when he pointed them to what would be their room.

They'd have access to the lounge, the holodeck, and a small observation area but would spend most of their time in the small room they were assigned by their boarding pass. Max would be restricted to his leash except in their room and when they could arrange it, on the holodeck.

The decision had been made to leave Max in their quarters to get acclimated while they familiarized themselves with the small ship. There were five decks to the small ship and since three of those were off limits to passengers, it would be quite easy for them to learn their way around.

Walking into the room provided them, Kell tossed his bag on the top bed chamber and set Nyx's on the bottom. He removed Max's leash and let the dog explore.

"Wow, I'd forgotten how small some quarters could get." Kell shrugged. "At least its only a few days. Max should be okay huh?" He asked Nyx who stared unimpressed at the size of the rooms.

"It looks like my closet."

"Do you want to put Max in stasis?" Kell asked ready to disagree. It wasn't his dog but he thought the process very unfriendly to larger animals that traveled. They were put in a stasis pod and sealed up until they arrived at their destination. Depending on the duration, many animals took days to recuperate their muscle tone and appetite. However in long trips on small craft, it was sometimes more humane than the travel. In this case, Max would be fine the way he was.

"Never." Nyx's eyes glowed with anger.

"Hey, I wasn't suggesting it. Just letting you know the option was there. I think Max is just fine in here." He put his hands up in surrender. "Now, let's go find the mess hall and the holodeck."

****

Walking into the mess hall, Devyn's eyes went right away to a young blond with a small child. The voice had caught his attention almost instantly. "Nyx, can you find us a seat and I'll join you in a few minutes." He didn't take his eyes off the woman. "I want to look around for a minute and I think I see someone I might have known a few years ago."

"I'm going to get a light snack and see what I can get for Max." She shrugged and went toward the food counter trying not to feel jealous.

Kell walked over to the woman, "Cara?" He asked wanting to be sure as he touched her shoulder lightly. He didn't want to startle either of them.

Cara had been talking to Jess when she heard a voice she hadnt heard in months ... the last time was when he helped her rescue and hide Jess. "Kell?" Looking up she dove into his arms to hug him "Oh my god ... what are you doing here?"

"Heading to a new assignment." He grinned. It felt good to hold this woman. He hadn't seen her in almost a year and they'd nearly been killed the last time. "You heading to Protector too?" He asked.

Cara nodded against his chest still hugging him tight "Yeah I've been offered a role as Chief Tactical there ... Oh god Kell ... last I saw you ..." Kell was like a brother to her.

His eyes met the young girl sitting with Cara. "I remember. Is this Jessica?" He gave her one last squeeze as he saw Nyx watching curiously. He grinned that she was trying so hard not to be angry. "Hey, I've got someone for you to meet." He looked up and caught Nyx's attention. "Remember that fireball I told you I was dating on and off?" He asked before Nyx could get close enough to hear.

Laughing Cara grinned "The one that threatened to castrate you if she saw you with another woman?"

He laughed. "Something like that." He nodded to the young woman carrying a tray with two meals on it. "That's Nyx and at this juncture, we're exclusive." He waved Nyx over to them. "I want you two to finally meet. She still has doubts that we were on a mission for a week...just don't tell her anything okay? Let her stew about it." He wanted her to promise.

Nodding Cara gave him an impish grin and said loud enough for Nyx to hear "Did I ever thank you for that week? Without you I wouldn't have my daughter."

By now Nyx had reached the table. She stood watching the two and holding their food. She wasn't smiling. "I got us some lunch. Where shall we sit?" She asked in such an over polite tone it was easy to read her discomfort. Kell took the tray from her and set it on the nearby table. Although he wanted to tease her, he didn't want her to become upset. He knew where and how to draw the line. Wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his hand on her bottom, he introduced the women.

Nyx, this is my very dear friend Cara and her daughter Jessie."

Cara smiled at her taking her cue from Kell "And don't forget your also Jessie's godfather."

"Nice to finally meet you. I've heard so much about the two of you." Nyx smiled. She was being polite and friendly. She was also filing away a barrage of questions and comments for Kell. She'd hold them there until the pair were alone again. "Its very nice to meet you too Jessie." Nyx loved children. "Max would adore you."

"Max is an Akita from Earth." Kell explained. "He stands about this tall." He raised his hand to almost his hip which was just about to Jessie's shoulder. "And he's a big old teddy bear."

"My father gave him to me after a very trying time in my life." she explained.
Jessie smiled at Nyx shyly as she said "Does he growl?"

"My father?" She asked confused and then realized what the girl was asking. "Max? No Max doesn't growl unless something frightens him." She grinned. "My dad used to growl all the time. You sort of confused me when you asked."
"Sorry ... My dad was a bad man."

"Shame. My dad is a wonderful man. He wasn't my birth father though so maybe that's why he was so good to me." She touched Jessie's hand and got an intense surge of the girl's past from her. "My dad is like Cara." She smiled. "I was rescued and raised by very good people too." She didn't say that she was rescued from a crash site or that her parents were there and had died protecting her.

"Like Marine Cara or mommy Cara?"

"I'm not sure." Nyx laughed. "Which one growls the most when you do something they don't care for?"

"Marine Cara ... then mommy gives me a big hug if it scared her ..." Jess grinned.

Nyx leaned in to whisper to the girl. "I usually get the hugs first and the growling later...even from Kell." She looked up to catch Kell rolling his eyes. "But Max, he doesn't ever growl, or judge." She looked back at Jessie. "He does a lot of cuddling and he barks when he's happy...but he never growls."

"Okay, so if you two are done. Nyx and I have to eat and take Max for a walk. He's gonna be cooped up in basic quarters for the trip." He picked up the tray of food. "Well doc, you coming?"

"See there he goes with the growling." Nyx made a funny face as she mimicked Kell.

Jess giggled at the two of them and Cara gave the other two a grateful look of thanks. "I think the munchkin and I are should eat and have a nap."

"It was good to see you again Cara." Kell smiled and kissed her cheek. "We'll get together later and catch up." He slipped his free hand into Nyx's as he spoke. He didn't want any misunderstanding about what he was saying. Nyx could quickly misinterpret things and her jealousy would rage for hours. ~Nyx is a touch telepath. She knows Jessie's story. Right now she's searching my mind to see what our relationship is.~
Cara chuckled "He's a brother to me Nyx. We've never been more than that. He saved Jess when her dad tried to shoot her."

"Good to know." She almost smiled the woman. She'd found the same answer from Kell but that didn't mean things couldn't change. She'd just have to keep watch. "Have a good day." She pulled Devyn toward an open table.

"I apologize for Nyx," He winked at Cara. "Next time I'll leave her at home and bring Max. He behaves much better in public." He laughed out loud when Nyx yanked his arm harder almost causing him to almost lose the tray of food he carried.

Cara just laughed at the antics.


END:

Lieutenant Devyn Kell
Security Officer/Investigations
Star Base Protector

Lieutenant Nyx
CMO
Star Base Protector

Major Cara Treia
Strat Ops Chief
Star Base Protector

 

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