Oh Canada - Part II
Posted on Thu Dec 25th, 2025 @ 2:57pm by Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble & Lieutenant Mira Jayna
Edited on on Sun Dec 28th, 2025 @ 7:40am
1,821 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador, Terra.
Timeline: MD025 0830 hrs
"Deck," Neil corrected amiably. "You know we're always supposed to call it a deck. What are you. Some kind of savage?"
Hugo flipped a bird at Neil, trying to keep Renae and the kids from seeing. "I'm a simple mechanic, and it's only a deck on something that floats. Or in marine jargon cause they can't remember a floor is a floor."
"Boys," Gwen called out, understanding the brothers were bantering. "We have a guest. And she doesn't need a replay of your time in the zoo."
Renae set her glass down and stood stepping over to prod the two children forward and they approached Jayna and Neil. Holding out one hand lightly, she eyed Jayna and said, "Down Hugo. Good boy." With a grin of perfect white teeth she said to Jayna, "I don't know who's worse the dogs or Hugo. I'm Renae...do you hug or would you prefer a handshake?"
She was not much of a hugger--or hadn't been before Neil. But Jayna threw caution to the wind and responded with, "You're Neil's family, so whatever you prefer is fine."
"We'll ease into it," Renae said, offering her hand. "And these are Hugh and Hecate." The children, rather shyly mirrored their mother, offering hands to Jayna though the girl said, "I'm Kate!"
Jayna took her hand and smiled. "I'm pleased to meet you and your children." Her husband...well...she would have to see.
Then she shook hands with both the children. When she shook the girl's hand she whispered, "If my name were Hecate, I'd go by Kate, too."
Shyly, Kate brought up the toy she'd been carrying with her and said, "Uncle Drew sent us these. Is this you?" The little blonde held up a likeness of Jayna in battle armor that she'd been busy removing.
Neil stepped up and knelt next to the kids and poked at Hugh. "Whatchya got there, Bob."
"It's HUGH, Uncle Corny," the dark haired boy retorted. "Uncle Drew sent us action figures...yours even has a removable leg!!"
Jayna looked at both dolls and chuckled. First a calendar and now this? "Yes. That's me," she told Kate. "And Neil's looks just like him." She would have to get her own one of those when she got back to the Pioneer. At least, she assumed that's where they came from.
She then looked down at Neil. "Uncle Drew?"
"Sergeant Shy," Neil told her as he examined the figure his nephew was presenting. "The armor is removeable," he asked with enthused curiosity to Hugh, but it looks like you've been altering..." He stopped as he saw the drill mark on the figure's backside."
"That was daddy," Hugh told him proudly. "He said it wasn't quite ac-r-rate, isn't that right daddy?"
"Accurate," Hugo said with a smile, patting his son on his son's dark hair. "And you're right Hugh. He wouldn't be your uncle without a stick up his..."
"Hugo," Gwen cut her oldest off, warning and amusement both in her voice. "That's enough. Now then, we're getting a bit of a late start so we'll get to it. Jayna, as our guest you get to choose activities. Regardless of that, I believe Renae and the kids will be going skiing at the Horstman Glacier in BC. Hugh, Jacklynn and I were going to take out the Sylvester. The Cod are running further out and I'd like to add some fish to the larders. We'll be having some charters coming in next month too, so."
Neil grinned at Jayna and stood as he punched at his brother's arm, ignoring Hugo's wince. "Both have a lot to say for themselves," he told her. "I've done both so you get to pick where we go. The boat can offer fish, but on Horstman you can ski and work on your tan at the same time." Winking toward his brother’s wife, he asked, "You still skiing in a bikini Renae?"
Renaee lifted her chin, but pouted a little and said, "No tourism business today, so no. Not unless Jayna would like to join me...or us, I guess. You going to wear yours again, Neil?"
Glancing then wrapping on his leg, Neil said, "I would most likely have to watch or try a snowboard with this."
"That's so cool," Hugh enthused. "Can I see your leg uncle Corny?"
Neil obliged, hoisting the leg of his jeans to reveal the hardened transparent leg he'd chosen. Of course, it now bore chew marks."
"I've never been skiing, and I don't tan." She might turn a darker shade of green, but she'd never really tried. And the idea of skiing in a bikini wasn't appealing. At the same time, she wasn't sure she wanted to spend a day with Neil's brother, either. "Do you have a preference?" she asked Neil.
Neil covered his leg back up, ruffled his nephew's hair and saw his mother watching them out of the corner of his eye. "Fishing I think." Then he looked at his mother and said directly, "I wondered when I'd get to meet Jaclyn. So, we might as well..."
Now it was Gwen's turn to color just slightly as she fixed her middle child with a look and nodded, "Pop would have said you need the brine in your face more, Neil. But I do like the idea. And yes, she wants to meet you. Hugo??"
"Boat's warming up now," Hugo confirmed. Neil's brother walked over to give his wife a kiss and then picked up his children for hugs. "Ok you lot. Have fun on the glacier. No making your uncle look bad out skiing him this trip. He set them back down after noisy kisses which made the two squirm. "I'll go comm Tell." He tipped the kids upside down and their protests turned to laughter as he took them into the hallway and Renae followed after. This time she gave Jayna a brief hug and one for Neil as well as a kiss on the cheek.
"Have fun out there and watch for the sharks. If you can break away we'd love for you to have supper with us one night," Renae said as she moved toward the hall. "Mom, we'll be in touch."
"Brine in my face?" Neil asked his mother after the farewell hug from his sister in law. "Ask just about anyone and they'd tell you I'm salty enough."
His mother harrumphed at that and said, "Meet outside in eight minutes. I'll go comm Jacklyn and we can walk to the harbor. There's coffee and pastries in the kitchen if you want them, since you two...slept in late."
Neil wagged his eyebrows toward his mother as she took her turn walking toward the hallway. Then he stepped over and took Jayna's hand. "I could use both coffee and something to gnaw on. You? And are you overwhelmed yet?"
"I refuse to be overwhelmed," she replied primly. Then she grinned. "Besides, I'm here with you, and that means a lot." However, if she was here alone, it would definitely be a bit much. But this was Neil's family and she was determined to enjoy the visit. "And yes, I want to eat something first."
Taking her by the hand, he led her into the kitchen, their joined hands moving to the small of his back as they moved through the swinging door. A carafe sat near travel mugs on the kitchen island and a box of doughnuts flanked the service. Neil let go of her hand to pour coffee. "Seriously," he said, "You’re ready to meet a fish slightly bigger than you?"
With a straight face, she replied, "I already met your brother." She waited two beats, then shook her head. "I'll get used to him. But to answer your question, yes. This is what your family does, and I want to learn more." She wrapped an arm around his waist. "And this is part of who you are, so...yes. I'm ready to meet some big fish." Jayna kissed his cheek, then let go of him to see what sort of doughnuts were available. She selected two and set them on a plate.
"Sounds good. And feel free to bring a bikini if you brought one," Neil said cheekily as he tasted the coffee, it was black but there was more going on there too.
Flashing him a saucy grin, she replied. "Too bad it's not just the two of us or I could forego the bikini altogether." She took a bite of her doughnut, then went back to their room to put on her bikini under her clothes.
She was back in five minutes, ready to go--once she finished her doughnut.
Neil always welcomed Jayna's arrival, but he also loved to watch her go as she departed and returned within minutes. That gave him a moment to take in the kitchen and speculate on his mother and her newish partner. He knew his mother and Jaclynn had been together for a couple of years, but he'd not met the woman as of yet. He'd been surprised when she hadn't been at the house last night. When he'd asked, his mother had said something had come up but not elaborated.
And he'd let it go at that.
He smiled as Jayna bustled back in and finished the Bavarian he'd chosen. "Hey sunshine," Neil said, "We'll catch up with the others at the dock. Then it's about a three hour run to where the fish are hitting out toward the Seamounts. Might be a long day."
The expression in Jayna's eyes softened as she looked at Neil. "We've had plenty of those." She raised an eyebrow. "As long as we aren't just sitting around." She paused. "Are we? Should I bring a PADD?"
"It's going to be both warm and chilly," Neil said, "There's space to lay out and get a little of the sun, but the wind might get up. You never know with the sea. Bring your PADD," he remarked, chuckling. "I will do my best to divert you though. We've been in oceans. Under them and camped nearby before. Have you been aboard a small ship in the middle before?"
"No. This will be my first time." Jayna held up her cross-pack. "I have my PADD, and I'm wearing my bikini. The rest I leave up to you."
A Joint Post By:
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Battalion Commander, The Cure
Lieutenant Mira Jayna
Intelligence Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
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