Home By Any Other Name

Posted on Tue 3rd Jul, 2018 @ 10:56pm by

962 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Oblivion
Location: Riko's Quarters on USS Samurai
Timeline: MD1, 2000

As they stepped off the lift, Riko looked around the corridor. "It doesn't look so bad. Is this your work, Henry?" In the distance, she heard a muffled banging, and then something that buzzed. "Oh, I'm taking you away from something important."

"Nothing more important than this, my friend." Henry pulled Riko's arm, trying to get her to come faster. "Usually, when repairing a ship, you go system by system. And then you start with the most important systems. But, when I found out you were having some problems adjusting since the incident on Samurai, I knew I had to do something to help."

An even bigger smile had crept up on Henry's face as he realized Riko didn't recognize where they were yet. "From here on out, I need you to close your eyes and walk with me," the engineer said.

McCord closed her eyes and said, "I trust you, Henry, but if you run me into the wall, I'm going to have to hurt you."

"HA HA HA HA!" Henry's laugh bellowed in the hallways of Samurai. "I wouldn't do that you, or would I?" Henry pulled Riko along the corridor until he reached their destination.

"OK my friend. Open your eyes," he said with a huge grin on his face.

She opened her eyes, and looked around. "We're ... we're in my old quarters, aren't we?" she asked in puzzlement. "But I thought this was completely destroyed!" She walked over to a table set against the wall, under a mirror. On it sat an antique teapot and one small cup, nothing more. Her eyes teared up, and she blinked rapidly before speaking. "How in the world did you find these? Even though they were in a box in a drawer, I would have thought ...."

After a moment, she picked up the cup almost reverently and said softly, "This was brought from Earth in 2076. The whole set. I should have left it at home on Broken Drive, but I wanted something of home here. There were five cups still, and a creamer." Gently, she put it back down and turned to Henry. "Thank you for saving this much." She was determined to be grateful for what she still had and not grieve for what was gone.

Henry's heart skipped beats when he saw how happy his friend was. "I know things have been rough, and sometimes it takes a little familiar space to bring things into perspective and to figure other things out. You are more than welcome to stay here aboard Samurai while I fix her up. That in itself will take a while. Take that time to figure things out."

Henry took Riko's hand again and held it out in front of the two of them. "What I will say is this. I hope you decide to stay in Starfleet. You are a very good scientist, commander and person. You still have so much to offer and share with others in the fleet and the universe. There are others here who need you and want you around. Look at Hikari. Although she was ordered to take command here, this is her new home. Heck, I have even thought about asking for an assignment here. If you decide to stay, I bet we can find you a home here as well."

McCord smiled at his enthusiasm. One thing about Henry was that he didn't let things stop him or slow him down for long. "I don't know yet, but I'm less likely to leave now than I was a couple of weeks ago. All I wanted then was to go home and curl up under the security of my family's love. Of course, Ojiisan Watanabe would have been poking at me in no time, reminding me that I wasn't allowed not to participate in life, and all the McCords would have been frowning at me when they got past sympathizing ... about the second day I was home."

She looked around the familiar quarters that were yet somewhat unfamiliar. "Maybe. Being here might be an answer. The captain has been most gracious, and I really do feel welcome, as if I'm not imposing. Athena is a wizard child, and Sarah is such a delightful combination of mother earth and scientific curiosity. Yet, it might be nice to have my own space. I'll think about it, Henry, and I'm grateful to you for making my place a priority. I hope yours is finished, as well. Is anyone else living aboard? I know there are workers, we heard them, but who else is here all the time?"

"Well, I have been living aboard Samurai. Actually, my quarters are just down the hall there." Henry pointed down the hall about four quarters down from Riko's. "There are a few workers who have taken up residence in the crewman quarters a few decks below us. Other than that, it will be just us. Occasionally there will be Vangaurd personnel who are helping out, but they come and go."

Riko nodded as she wandered around the quarters touching things, mostly new things, but occasionally something that had been there before the disastrous meeting with the raiders ... or pirates ... whatever they were. Did anyone even know? Finally, she turned to Henry. "You've done an amazing job here. Thank you for even thinking of doing this, let alone actually accomplishing it. Considering you only had brief glimpses into my life here, you've done really well. I cannot tell you how much it means to me that you found part of my family tea set. Perhaps I can use the artwork on these to replicate new pieces, though it won't be the same, of course. It's something, though, and that's more than I had when I walked in here."

 

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