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"Demora!" Hikaru Sulu shouted out his daughter's name across the vast expanse of marble and granite of the Starfleet Headquarters main lobby. The younger Sulu had to search a little until she found the person calling her. Waving an arm enthusiastically, she acknowledged her father's greeting. Then she cut a path through the crowd of humanoids and gave him a big hug. "Father, how are you?"
The admiral brightened considerably. "Just great, how about you? Have you recovered from our... adventure?"
Smiling, she responded, "I'm fine, thank you. And yes, I've recovered, or at least, I better have."
"Why is that?"
She sighed, "I'm shipping out. It seems our 'adventure' has upset the Romulans. All available ships have been ordered to the Neutral Zone to reinforce the fleet in the area. Command hopes that a show of strength may postpone any plans of revenge or aggression. It's not a secret, but keep it to yourself until its official. I just wanted you to know that my leaving was unavoidable." She finished on an apologetic note.
Hikaru was impressed. His junior officer daughter knew more than her admiral father. Nevertheless, he was disappointed. "I was hoping for a family reunion."
The two stood quietly for a moment amid the sea of bedlam which surrounded them. Demora sounded disappointed. "We don't have enough of those since we lost mother. She was our anchor. Two Starfleet careers in one family creates great distances. We both knew this when I entered the Academy, with your blessings I might add."
"Guilty," admitted the admiral. "I suppose it's just as much my fault for our being apart."
"Maybe on my return, we can get together, since you'll be posted at Starfleet --"
Hikaru cut her off. "I'm taking an assignment with Scotty, rebuilding the Enterprise."
"Father, that's great! When I return, we can have our reunion."
"Depends on when you return. I'll be taking the Enterprise out for her first assignment. That's what I wanted to talk about. Is that okay with you?"
She gave her father a suspicious look. "Since when did you need my approval? Besides, I thought you wanted a posting at Command to be closer to grandmother and grandfather."
Nodding in agreement, he explained, "They told me to 'go fly a starship!'" He laughed at the statement.
She joined in, "They know you better than you think!" She looked nervous and added, "I'd better go. I've got to report in just a few minutes."
The two embraced once more. "You were wonderful on the mission, father. I am very proud of you!"
Both smiled and headed off to their respective assignments. Hikaru wasn't worried, their relationship was strong and would survive, even at opposite ends of Federation space.
On his way out of the H.Q. Building, he began thinking about another relationship. When he had returned to Earth, he had contacted Maggie and... it seemed the two would do just fine. He would divide his time between working with Scotty on the Enterprise and working on a relationship with Maggie.
On that thought, Hikaru Sulu exited Starfleet Headquarters.
Chekov sat on the bridge of his ship, tapping idly on the arm of the command chair. "How much longer?"
The first officer of the Invincible looked up from his computer console. "I would estimate another twenty minutes maximum, sir."
The Russian captain rolled his eyes. "Vere are they?" The question wasn't directed at anyone in particular. In fact, he was just thinking out loud.
However, it elicited a response from the Vulcan. "Six are in transit as we speak. One is in a hospital, appendicitis, and we're still trying to locate the last four."
"Understood," Chekov sounded genuinely annoyed. Almost an hour late, his ship was supposed to be part of the reinforcements heading to the Neutral Zone. But several of his crewmembers were still missing. First, they were recalled from Alpha Centauri early, now it was happening again. Leaves cut short due to a change in plans. He knew the crew was disappointed, but it went with the job... orders!
Right now he was frustrated, he should already be in transit. Well, another ten minutes and he would leave with or without them. "Let's make preparations to get underway. Begin our departure procedures. Perhaps ve'll be lucky and find our people in time, but I'm not vaiting any longer. Maybe they can explain to Command vhy they failed to respond to a recall notice!"
Frustrated, Captain Chekov popped out of his seat and began to pace nervously and aimlessly about the bridge. After his fourth trip around, the Comm Board sounded. The captain froze mid-step and looked at his communications officer.
"Incoming for you, sir."
Pavel's face registered dread. "Thet's Starfleet! Either they vant my hide or my command for being late, maybe both."
Jacobson sounded apologetic. "No, sir, it's a personal communication from a Miss Irinya Galliulin."
"I'll take it in my quarters in two minutes." Before he received any confirmation, Chekov hit the turbolift at a dead run. Almost as an afterthought, he yelled, "You have the conn, Mister Sotak. Continue to get under vay!" He finished just as the turbolift doors snapped shut with the customary hiss.
In one minute forty-four seconds, he tabbed the call button on his personal intercom. "Okay, Jacobson, put it through."
The small viewer lit up with a familiar face framed in a wealth of black hair, streaked with a touch of gray. "Pavel! I just heard you vere back in port and now they tell me you're leaving, again!"
So many times the pair had been brought together only to be torn apart again. But there was something not right here. Jacobson had stated the message was from Irinya Galliulin, her maiden name.
He smiled warmly, "It's good to see you again. I'm due to leave shortly. Vhat is it you --"
"Please, Pavel, you must know, I've ended my marriage to Nikita. Divorce proceedings are almost concluded and I vish to see you vhen you return. It is time ve got married and settled down!"
Chekov had a lump in his throat as big as his fist. "But Irinya, I thought --"
"You vish to argue vith my proposal, Pavel?"
He smiled at the thought and at the pout on her face. "No, no. I mean it's chust that you caught me by surprise."
"Then you accept?"
His broad grin betrayed his feelings. "Of course! Do I get a ring or something?"
She smiled back at his question, "Absolutely! See you vhen you return?"
"Count on it. Now let me get back to my duties. Are you still at your apartment in St. Petersburg?"
"Yes, just don't keep me waiting too long, Pavel."
"No, ma'm! Chekov out!"
He stood up and smiled, "Damn, I forgot to say 'I love you!'"
In another two minutes, he was back on the bridge, a changed man, smiling and somewhat care free. "How's it going, Sotak?"
The Vulcan reacted visibly by the change in his captain's mood. "As expected, sir. All but five crewmembers have returned, including Ensign Calloway who is in a hospital. Engineering reports all is ready, the dock chief has given us clearance for departure --"
Holding up a hand to cut off the inevitable dissertation, Chekov spoke quietly and cheerfully. "It's okay, Mister Sotak. Ve're ready to depart, correct?"
"Affirmative."
"The sooner ve go, the sooner ve get back."
A few members of the bridge crew turned to study their captain.
Chekov looked preoccupied and announced to the crew. "Let's get undervay." The broad grin showcased his feelings even if they were a mystery to his crew. A thought struck him, "Who are ve missing?"
Sotak didn't refer to the computer console. "Other than Ensign Calloway, transporter technician Dietrich, Nurse Lieutenant Fowler, engineering Chief Harrison, and Lieutenant B'Tara of Life Sciences."
"Very well, Mister Sotak, forward the list to Starfleet Command and inform them of our intentions."
Again, the Vulcan merely nodded, but Chekov knew it would be done.
In just five minutes, the large starship was easing out of the dock on thrusters. Chekov thought of the many other times he'd left home to 'boldly go' out in space. But those voyages were easy, no family, no home, nothing else to return to. Now he had that, a future. Not just a command and a career, but a real future.
After many years of an on and off relationship with Irinya, they were finally getting together; this time, for good!
He smiled to himself again, "All ahead, one quarter impulse."
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© 2024 Brad McDonald / U.S.S. Kitty Hawk
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