Hello Auntie Audie
Posted on Tue Feb 17th, 2026 @ 6:52pm by Sergeant Audie Fitch & Lieutenant Junior Grade Stefan Zamfir
Edited on on Wed Feb 18th, 2026 @ 8:25am
2,497 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: SS Wyvern - Trivas Sector - Cardassian Space
Timeline: MD002 1600 hrs
Stefan was checking his personal mail, seeing if there were messages for him. To his amazement there were several from his brother. Then one in particular it was from his niece, Annie.
"Dear Uncle Stefan, Hope you are doing well. Can I please talk to Auntie Audie? Daddy says that you'd be able to do that. Please I want to talk to Auntie and Mindy is wanting to see Buster. Urgently. Love Annie." there was a pause from the little blonde girl with big blue eyes. "Oh yes hugs and kisses for you."
Stefan gave a out a fond chuckle, he had better make certain to speak to Audie.
A message was sent to Audie, "Audie, its your brother Stefan, we've got a sweet little girl who is truly wishing to talk with you. Are you up for it?"
Audie was still aching a little from her encounter with those nasty bug-things, and now they were setting out on another mission, a dicey one at that. Not that she particularly minded, but she was trying to regroup and center herself emotionally, and the call from Stefan was just the thing she needed.
"Annie? Of course! Let me grab Buster!"
Stefan gave a bit of a smile, when he got Audie's answer.
On the entrance of Empok Nor, Stefan gave a warm smile. "Hi sis, hey Buster." reaching out to give Buster a scritch under his chin. He looked around to make certain that there wasn't anyone watching.
"Hope you don't mind going on a shuttle ride, gotta indulge in a slight form of cloak and dagger. Just to protect a certain family." giving a bit of a secretive smile. "I'm glad that you brought Buster." Stefan leading the way to where a shuttle was waiting for them to board.
"Shuttle ride? Not at all!" It added a bit of mystery and intrigue to the whole thing! Holding Buster in her arms, she followed Stefan onto the shuttle.
Seated in the pilot's chair was Max who turned with a bit of a smile. "Hey sis." a huge grin as he saw both Stefan, Audie and Buster.
"Max!" Grinning widely, Audie let Buster down, then crossed over to hug the man. "A real family reunion!"
A warm embrace, Max having stood up to pull Audie in for a bear hug. "And surprise!" giving her another squeeze before releasing her.
"Okay, buckle up people, we're going to go meet up with a Wyvern." Max called out as he resumed his seat.
Stefan gave out a laugh, "You know there aren't seatbelts-"
"Check again." Max shot back.
Stefan looked, then gave out a laugh. "Hey, there are seatbelts."
"When it comes to safety, gotta have them." Max replied. "Got a place for traveling furry companions as well. Mindy seems to like it a lot."
Once everyone was settled, the shuttle lifted off.
"Audie, be warned I've got the feeling that you might find yourself glomped by Annie." Max giving a laugh.
"If we survive the trip," Audie muttered dryly, "since you are so insistent about seatbelts!" She laughed, then added, "I'd be honored to be 'glomped'!"
Max chuckled, "We'll be alright."
A half an hour later, the shuttle arrived where the Wyvern was, hidden near an asteroid. The shuttle settling inside the bay.
"Welcome to the Wyvern please make certain all the trays are folded up." Max teased.
The hatch opened, allowing them to disembark, the shuttle powering down. The door swooshed open that led into where the bay was.
A bright chipper voice sang out. "Uncle Max, did you bring them? Uncle Stefan? Where is Auntie Audie!! You better not have left her behind!"
With her was the tortoise shell cat, Mindy, letting out a loud meow.
The short flight was refreshing, and Audie was in good spirits as they arrived at their destination.
But, as they entered the Wyvern's bay, she slipped in right behind Stefan, hidden by him and moving with him.
Buster, however, wasn't so subtle, and bolted out to meet his BFF!
Annie hadn't noticed Audie hiding behind Stefan, she watched as Mindy literally leaped upon Buster with a happy meow. Then proceeded to purr loudly.
Looking at Max first, then Stefan, Annie narrowed her eyes. "How could you leave Aunt Audie behind. This wasn't supposed to be a play date with Mindy and Buster. Where is Auntie Audie?" not having noticed Audie behind Stefan.
Stefan had a poker face, and the same with Max, who could scarcely contain his amusement.
Stefan spoke up, "Annie, do you know some magic words that could make Audie appear?"
Annie looked suspiciously at Stefan, "What do you mean?"
"Has Auntie Audie done some magic tricks for you?" Stefan queried.
Annie nodded her eyes shining slightly at the memory.
"Well what if you need to say magic words to make her appear, you know like a magic trick, but you will need to close your eyes. Max spoke up. He had stepped up next to Stefan to help hide Audie.
"Okay I'll do so." Closing her eyes Annie said, "Abracadabra, ala kazaam!"
These people truly were family, Audie thought as she hid behind her 'brothers', grinning from ear to ear. When Annie said the magic words Audie tapped the men on their shoulders and whispered, "Now you disappear!"
Once they had slid behind cover, she threw up her arms and shouted, "Tah Dah!"
"Auntie, Auntie Audie!" Annie squealed with delight, literally running and leaping into her arms half laughing and half crying, as she hugged her tightly. "I've missed you so much!"
Stefan and Max quietly came from their hiding places, smiling at the reunion between their niece and their new sister. Both of them being moved by the scene, wiping away a tear that trickled down their cheeks. They snuck a look towards each other, catching sight of the emotions that they were displaying and giving a quiet smile.
"Aaannnnieeee!" Hugging the girl tightly, Audie spun around then kissed the girl on the cheek. "I missed you, too! It's so good to see you!" She set the girl on her feet, then took a step back. "Look how big you are! You need to stop growing!"
Annie giggled, having an ear to ear grin. "Mama has been threatening me with a book tied to a hat and making me wear it to quit growing so fast. I told her it wouldn't work. That was to help me to learn to walk like a princess." she grabbed Audie's hand, "Come on! Mama, Daddy and Marcus are waiting to see you in the mess hall."
Audie laughed, willingly letting the girl drag her around.
Mindy went to the door which led out, she was wanting treats and wanted to share them with Buster. She looked back at Audie and Annie and meowed loudly.
Annie laughed, "I think she wants her treats and I'm sure that Buster would like some treats as well."
At the word 'Treats', Buster perked up, head-butting Mindy, then trotting along beside her.
"Are there treats for us too?" both Max and Stefan said in unison.
"I don't know... have you been being good?" Annie replied then looked at Audie. "Have they been behaving?"
"Oh, well, I don't know about them," Audie mused, "but I've been a perfect angel!" She used her fingers to make a halo over her head!
"Of course you have been perfect angel!" Annie nodding energetically towards Audie. She turned to gaze at Stefan and Max as if putting them on judgement. crossing her arms across her chest, an index finger touching her lips as she thought things over.
Stefan and Max clasped their hands together with hopeful looks. hiding the smiles that were threatening to show.
"I have come to a decision, yes you can come and get some treats as well." she turned and took Audie by the hand and said. "Okay lets go!"
A few moments later, they stepped inside the small mess where Annabelle, Lucien and Marcus were there.
Annabelle came running up, enveloping Audie in a heartfelt hug.
"Hi sis! I've missed you a lot!" Annabelle sniffling a little bit.
"No doubt, in this testosterone infested family!" Audie quipped as she hugged Annabelle back, fully embracing the concept of 'family', and realizing how much she had missed them. Something she had been missing for most of her life was suddenly there, and she didn't want to lose that again.
"Annie promised us treats if we were good!"
Annabelle looked over at Max and Stefan they nodded.
"Yup got treats, dinner if you are hungry." Annabelle smiling.
Lucien waited until Annabelle had released Audie. "Hi sis." grinning.
Then Marcus came up from behind his dad, scrutinizing Audie, for a moment. Then he gave a quiet nod. "Hi, I'm Marcus." a small smile appearing.
"Marcus...it's good to meet you." She gave the young man a smile and a nod. "I'm glad there's someone to keep an eye out on Annie, to keep her safe...and keep her in line!"
Marcus gave a small smile and a little snicker.
"Yeah she needs watching over."
Annie turned to face Marcus. "Hey! I don't need watching over." giving a little bit of a scowl.
"Aww Annie, its okay. I've missed out on things" Marcus replied walking over and giving her a hug. He then shyly went to Audie. "So do I get a hug from you, Aunt Audie?" becoming brave as Annie seemed to approve of Audie.
Lucian watched with a smile, paying attention to the interaction of his kids and Audie.
"That depends," Audie commented, a bit sternly, but then she smiled, "if Buster approves." The one-eyed cat had come over to sniff the boy, then rubbed on his legs. "There it is! The Feline Seal of Approval!" She opened her arms. "You may give me a hug now!"
Marcus had reached down to give Buster a scritch under his chin then looked up with a smile. He straightened up to walk over to Audie giving her an embrace. "Gosh you give good hugs." smiling.
"I learned from the best!" Audie quipped, giving Annie a wink. She returned the boy's hug, then grinned. "It's so much better when it's family you're hugging!"
"That is true." Another embrace from Marcus, his smile lighting up his face.
Annie piped up. "See what did I tell you, big brother. Auntie Audie is magic." just beaming. "And I adopted her!" she squealed out.
Stefan and Max couldn't help but chuckle fondly towards their niece's glee.
Lucian cleared his throat. "Well, I am feeling rather jealous. Don't I get a hug from my new sister?" Flashing a teasing smile.
"We need a hugging line!" Audie laughed then embraced Lucian tightly and whispered in his ear, "I'm glad you're back for Annabelle and Annie." It was good to see the family whole again.
Then, as she stepped away, she produced a silver coin from behind his ear and held it to Marcus. "See? Magic!"
Marcus took it and grinned, "That is awesome! Thank you!"
Lucian felt his eyes sting with tears. "Thanks Audie, I'm glad to be back with my family as well."
Annie squealed out "Marcus, I want to see that magic coin will you let me see it? "
Marcus held it away from Annie's reach. "No its mine." playing keep away from Annie with a smile.
Annie gave chase after Marcus, them disappearing from view.
Annabelle, gave a slight chuckle and shook her head. "That is something very nice to hear, sibling teasing."
"It's nice," Audie commented, looking after the pair, then shaking her head. "Not something I ever had to worry about." There were advantages to being an only child, but there were drawbacks as well. And, if she had a chance, she'd teach Annie the trick!
"So, someone mentioned food? I'm famished!"
"Yes food!" Annabelle giving a grin. "We'd better go get some before the brothers three eats it all."
Motioning towards Stefan, Max and Lucian.
"Also you've got to tell me about how things have been with you. Are they treating you well on the Pioneer?" Annabelle linking her arm with Audie and drawing her to where the table had food, sandwiches pizza.
"Yes, so far so good," Audie said, leaning close to Annabelle, then she suddenly tugged her sister's arm. "Run for the food! I'll cover you!" With that, she turned to face the men, taking up a defensive stand!
With a laugh, Annabelle made a dash towards the table which had the food. "I've got dibs!"
"Wait, What? Now come on Audie!" Max motioning for Lucian to head to the other side of Audie.
"You can't keep us from the food, and we're really hungry" Stefan giving out a playful growl. "I wonder if you're ticklish." moving towards Audie his fingers wiggling. "Camelia is, I know of that."
"Good for Camelia!" Audie snarled, shaking her head. "Not ticklish!" Well, that was a lie, but she doubted they'd figure that out. "You forget, I'm a Marine, a trained fighting machine!"
"That's right and don't mess with her." Annabelle spoke up, "Lets get to eating. Don't know how long Audie and Stefan have for visiting."
Stefan looked at the two other men. "Okay... I am not messing with the two of them. And I am hungry."
Lucien and Max both nodded.
"Alright, you win."
Annie and Markus came out just in time to hear Annabelle's words.
"Aww aren't you going to be able to stay for a little bit?" Annie asked coming up to Audie reaching up to take her hand.
"Well, I do have to get back to duty sometime," Audie admitted, taking the girl's hand. "But we're closer now, so hopefully we can visit more often. And you can sit beside me now, I want to hear all about what you've been up to! And Markus, you can sit on my other side, if you want to, protect me from all these men!"
Marcus smiled and happily sat down on the other side of Audie, and soon set to eating, quite happy to be sitting next to Audie.
Annabelle and the three men took their seat as well, the mood lively and filled with telling stories and catching up on life in general.
Stefan was quite happy to see a family coming together and connections being made. The one thing that he was missing and wished that his sister, Camelia, was here to meet Audie. Hopefully that can be arranged sometime.
While it was a little overwhelming and would take some getting used to, Audie was excited to have a real family, and the support that came along with it.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Stefan Zamfir
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
Sergeant Audie Fitch
Corpsman Team 2, The Cure
USS Pioneer
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