Arrival Part II
Posted on Sun Jan 19th, 2025 @ 5:01am by Lieutenant JG Stefan Zamfir & Petty Officer 1st Class Kaylara Loran
Edited on on Sun Jan 19th, 2025 @ 6:56pm
2,311 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Various - Empok Nor & USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 1300 hrs
"I've missed you, too." She leaned against him, still a little in shock that he was actually here. "I thought you were well entrenched on Pioneer Station. But I am glad you're here." She was both happy and sad about Jayna's transfer. Happy because she seemed to like working with the Marines, but sad because Jayna had been her only real friend in the department. Until now.
"I am glad that I am here as well." Stefan turning her around to gaze into her eyes one thumb running along her cheek then leaned in for a kiss, the two of them against the backdrop of the stars.
She wrapped her arms around his neck to prolong the kiss. When it finally ended, she laughed with happiness. "Enough of that or I'll lose my appetite for food." She took his hand so they could keep walking.
Stefan softly chuckled at her comment. Kaylara was right, his mind was drifting elsewhere besides food. Stepping through the doors which led onto Empok Nor, Stefan gazed around, looking for a kiosk which would give them directions to a place to eat. Plus, the shops that were available there. "Restaurants...hmmn. there are a few here to select from. Let’s head in the direction of the food places." having not let go of Kaylara's hand. "though I did spy a tea house which has a food selection as well. Still though we follow our noses." giving a laugh.
As they traveled in that direction, the different scents could be detected and signs that were indicative of what they offered. Some had pizza and wings, another had Bajoran food, one had a mixture of different racial cultures. One thing that drew Stefan forward was catching a scent near the tea house he had noticed on the Kiosk. "Too many good smelling things. Maybe look at the ambience as well with a splash of romance?"
"There are definitely a lot of choices. I don't know about romance. You did well enough on a pirate ship." She grinned, referring to their first date. "But it should be some place interesting."
"I have heard about a club called Never Winter, and it looked interesting. It though would be a bit loud for us to converse." Stefan mused. "How does the tea house sound to you. Are you up for some tea or wanting something stronger to drink?"
"Tea is fine. I'm sure they'll have a variety to choose from." She hoped there would be more than the usual variety. It would be fun to try something new. It should also be a good place to talk.
"It certainly looks like they do, from Cardassian blend, to Bajoran, Romulan, Earth style and eight different teas from Japan and China. Jestral Tea from Betazed." Stefan reading off the teas that were being offered.
"And there is food that goes with it." Stefan's mouth watering as to the selection there.
"Yes to the food." Kaylara grinned. "Food must definitely accompany tea." She looked at the menu. "I think I'll pick a tea to go with the food. Do you have suggestions?"
"I do, Kaiseki which has soup, rice, fish and some grilled beef. For dessert, Doriyaki a sweet bean paste between two small pancakes. That is something that I enjoy or even some green tea mochi" Stefan answered.
She looked over the menu. All the food here was new to her. "I'll have to take your word for it. I'll go with the Kaiseki and Doriyaki."
"I do plan on having the matcha green tea, what sort of tea will you be having? " following after the hostess who led them to a table, near a small waterfall feature, with a good view of the stars. Nearby weas a planter with lemon grass growing. A screen made of bamboo was there to provide some privacy. Stefan thought it a perfect spot for them both, the scent from the lemon grass adding a lovely ambience.
"Vulcan spice tea, if they have it." There were a few tea houses on Mars, but she and her family didn't frequent them, and none on the colony, so this was all new to her.
"I recall seeing it there. "When the waitress arrived, and Stefan gave her their orders, after she left, he gazed upon Kaylara, with a fond smile. "I am in awe just being here with you, difficult for me to bring it to words. Just that, seeing you before me and not just in my dreams, amazing!"
While she thought he was exaggerating, she wasn't going to say anything about it. "I've missed you. More than I thought I would."
Stefan thought he saw a brief flicker of something in her eyes, he wasn't certain what it was, he just filed it in the back of his mind for a future perusal. Right now, he was with her in a quiet place, away from the hum and buzz of things that would distract him. A quiet smile did surface once more. "When our food arrives, then, I will tell you what happened."
It wasn't long before their server brought their meals and teas. For Kaylara there was Vulcan Spice Tea as she wished.
Kaylara nodded her thanks to the server, then took a sip of tea and set the cup back before turning to her food. She'd give him some time to eat before asking him again. Or she'd ask him later. Right now, she was curious to try the food.
Right now, Stefan was famished, he had planned on letting Kaylara know as to what happened as he had said, but the food's aroma made his stomach growl, and he concentrated on his food, trying to make certain he savored the flavors instead of inhaling it. It took concentrated effort to do so. His hunger appeased for the moment, Stefan took a sip of his tea before he spoke. "I had thought to talk about where I have been, during our meal, and perhaps it won't be a good idea. Since it may be considered somewhat sensitive, I feel it would be better to talk about it, in more private area."
Kaylara had been amused by his stomach rumbling and had no problem focusing on her meal until he was ready to talk. "Okay." As he was now stationed here, there would be plenty of time to catch up. At least, she hoped so.
Stefan did keep a wary eye on those in the teahouse, subtly. There was much he would like to tell Kaylara, just... he wasn't familiar with the station, even though it looked like DS9. He concentrated upon his meal looking up every now and then to smile at Kaylara. Once in a while, a pensive expression would surface, then disappear. "I am sorry for not being scintillating conversationalist during dinner. " after eating his last bite of dessert.
"Conversation isn't necessary." Although she wondered what was going on as Stefan wasn't normally this quiet. "Do you want to go somewhere else and talk?"
"Actually yes, my quarters where I feel things are more secure. Anywhere else, not comfortable. Though your quarters could be thought of being secure." He closed his eyes for a moment. "Uh perhaps that will happen when you feel it secure for me to be there?"
She chuckled softly. "I stayed in your quarters on the station. I'm fine going there if you prefer. Or my quarters. Honestly, either one is fine with me." She wasn't sure why he felt it necessary to ask the question. Unless it was that on Poseidon she was a visitor and here they were both part of the crew.
"Well, this is actually your home turf as I am a newcomer on the Pioneer so... you know, I am asking your advice. The shoe is on the other foot." Stefan giving a self-conscious chuckle, before he finished up his dessert.
Kaylara grinned. "That depends. Do you want me to help you unpack, or do you want to see my spartan accommodation?"
Stefan gave a bit of a smile. "You know, I would like to see where you sleep. You've been to my place when I was on Poseidon Station. Are you willing to let me into your inner sanctum?" reaching out to take her hand.
Some of the tension she'd been feeling loosened. "Of course. Although I don't have much." She led him out the door and to the turbolift.
When they arrived at her quarters, she walked in and stepped to the side. A poster-sized print of Mars before it burned and another of Pallas IV sat on the wall behind the black couch with silver accents. On another wall hung a bow and quiver of arrows.
There was a small bookshelf with books about archery, communications, and a couple of spy novels. Through the open bedroom door, the bed had a black bedspread with a silver skull in the center.
Stefan, once the door closed behind them, moved forward to the center, taking in the ambience of her quarters. "This is stunning, Kaylara, I love how you have it decorated" turning towards her with a smile, "And that image of Mars is beautiful."
She looked at the poster and nodded. "It is. I was born there, but we left when the politics grew...heated. I prefer to remember it that way."
"I do not blame you for wanting to remember it that way." Stefan walking up and wrapping an arm around her. "I've seen a couple of planets which had been ravaged by wars. It wasn't a pretty sight at all." pulling Kaylara close to him holding her for a few long moments before he released her. "Now for what happened and why I dropped contact with you." he drew in a breath and let it out slowly. "I well that is, we found my older brother. He is alive."
"That's great news." She looked at him. "Isn't it? Where was he?"
"It is great news and was lovely to see him. My sister Camelia was quite happy to see all of us even though it was just for a short time. It was on a civilian ship called the SS Wyvern. My brother had with him his ten year old son. The reunion was bittersweet. He couldn't tell us much as to what had happened to him, as the reunion ended up being brief. The ship he was on had to get moving. Aunt Tatiana and I had to make the meeting we had for another transport to Akaza Station. " he chuckled slightly. "I found out I have a niece as well. cute little girl named Annie. I had no idea she had been on Poseidon Station. Who knew? Makes me a rather uninformed Intelligence officer."
Kaylara shook her head. "That's a lot to take in. I understand how you didn't know about your nephew, but how did you not know about your niece?"
"Apparently my brother got married, we had no word about it. . He and I had gotten into a fight, and it wasn't pretty. He left and with his knowledge of being in Intelligence besides being in Science, he has been able to be a ghost. And, his wife or ex-wife, widow.. it’s quite the Gordian Knot. However, she kept quiet and our paths never crossed. There is still quite the puzzle where everything is concerned."
"That...is quite the soap opera. I'm glad you finally worked things out."
"Kinda sort of, from her reaction when she saw me next to Lucien, Annabelle told me that if she had seen me, she would have thought that she was seeing a ghost. You know that station is huge. And it does happen that a person wouldn't even run into another person even if they were related by marriage so to speak." Stefan shook his head. "Just glad that I know he is alive and relatively well."
"Yeah. And you can stop worrying about him and looking for him." She couldn't help grinning as she added, "And making passes at women to see if they'll slap you."
Stefan gave an exaggerated look of shock when Kaylara said that, then he threw his head back and just laughed when his laughter died down, he gave Kaylara a kiss.
"Very nice one there Kaylara, very nice. This is true, I hopefully won't need to worry about that anymore. " Stefan giving a wink, "Now, to get myself acclimated into ship life once more. I feel though that things are going to be mighty interesting to serve on this ship."
"On this ship? Definitely." She gave him a cheeky grin. "I think the Pioneer might be as unique as Poseidon Station. But since you're used to interesting, it shouldn't be take long."
"I would ask you about your perceptions as to your fellow crewmembers in Intelligence but I think that it would be better for another time. Plus, I could do some observation watching how people work." Stefan gently caressed Kaylara's cheek looking deeply into her eyes. "Do you have an idea as to how the rest of the day can be spent? I am open to ideas."
Kaylara just chuckled. "I'm open to all sorts of ideas."
"Oh, I love the sound of that answer." Stefan playfully growled pulling Kaylara in for a passionate kiss.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Stefan Zamfir
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
Petty Officer First Class Kaylara Loran
Data Systems Analyst, USS Pioneer
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