Unlocking the past - CFO and CAG

Posted on Tuesday 10 January 2017 @ 20:16 by Captain Melody Jones & Commander Save'ena (Sav) Tillatix

Mission: Intermission
Location: Melody's Quarters
Timeline: MD9 Evening
2190 words - 4.4 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Sav and Melody had just finished a very good meal in Melody's quarters. Melody had invited Sav over for a dinner to say thank you for the Previous night of helping her through it. And, just before the meal, Melody announced she would open the box of belongings of her parents given to her by Starfleet.

While Melody was cleaning up, she let Sav doze at the table while playing classical music in the background. With that task done, she had woken Sav. Sav thanked her, then eyed the box of belongings.

Sav churred gently, "So, ready to open your blast from the past?"

Melody looked over to the box and hesitated. She had no idea what was inside. She was nervous but some part of her needed to know "Ok" she finally said "Let's do this thing."

Sav grabbed Melody's hand, then drew the very beautiful Terran into a hug. "Hey, there, Girrl, it's okay to be nervous and wary. These are what Starfleet had of your parents that they deemed not classified, and it is a reminder of your life before the Borg. Cherish it now that you're free from them, mmm'kay?" She giggled, "Besides, there could be a lingerie pic of your mom for your dad in that box... not sure if you really want to see that one, eh?"

Melody gave Saveena a squeeze. She was glad she was here. She could pilot a massive starship at speeds faster than light without breaking a sweat, but this gave her a knot in her stomach. "I don't think we'll find anything like that" she said, managing a smile. She picked up the box and set it down on the table. She ran her hands over the top and stopped at the control panel. She took a deep breath, a slight tremble running through her.

Sav sat down beside Melody so they both could see the contents and Sav could watch and comment when the items were drawn out. Besides, being this close made it personal to both of them so that Sav could share with Melody besides giver her courage and support, like now. She shifted to be more facing Melody, holding her arm. "Hey, I'm here with you. Common, you can do this, you know you can."

The top opened and Melody and Saveena peered inside. The box contained:

A photo of a newborn Melody in her mother's arms.
A Christopher Pike medal of valour awarded to her father.
Her mothers reading glasses.
A case containing 2 isolinear chips - one is a unreleased holonovel by her mother, the other is a recording for Melody.
A Model of the USS Prometheus
A PADD with early schematics of the multi vector assault mode (Her father was on the design team)
A small stuffed bear with gray fur and a blur nose (Melody 1st teddy)
A Pair of Earings that were Generational from her Mother
A Locket for two pictures, both mission, Generational from her Mother
A PADD with Mother's book collection and her Favorite Recipes
A current 'What to expect when your expecting' book
An isolinear chip with repicator data for baby cloths and linens based on ancestry

Melody looked up and her hand shot out and grabbed Saveena's arm, hard. The color draining from her face. Her breathing was coming in short, rapid, shallow breaths. Standing behind Saveena was..... her mother. She was there only a moment..... Then vanished.

Sav churred gently as she looked over the items. Some were ones just put in, others were the start of a Hope Chest. Sav's mind jumped a bit as she wondered where hers was. It was taken from her when... she threw that chain of thoughts behind her and focused on Melody. That is when she noticed that Melody looked like she had seen a ghost. "Melody? Are you okay? Are the memories too overwhelming? Do I need to.." Sav motioned to the box indicating closing.

"No" Melody stopped her closing the box. "It's just....... I though I saw my mom standing behind you."

Sav blinked, her ears and tail flicking once. She turned her head quickly to look behind her, then back to Melody. She nodded, "It's okay. Remember the dream, she is just proud you opened the box. Okay?" Sav was not sure what was going one, but hoped it was Melody's mom being there for her, through whatever means she was able to contact Melody.

A shiver ran through her. "I'm ok" She said as she forced herself to breath slower. She picked up the picture of her mother holding her tiny form. "Sometimes I miss her so much" she said as she drew her fingers down the picture.

Sav churred gently, beginning to relax now that Melody was talking about missing her and not about anything negative. "I know you do. I miss my mom as well." Sav gurgle laughed gently, "Say, something we have in common. My mom writes Romance Novels. She liked living in the swamp as it gave her ideas for them. Common, see what else is there to help you remember them."

Placing the photo back, Melody picked up the small case and opened it, revealing the two isolinear chips. One was marked 'for Melody with love'. She placed the chip into her desk terminal "Computer identify what's on this."

The computer responded "This chip contains an audio/visual recording for Meldoy Jones."

She paused and took a deep breath.......... "Begin playback."

On the monitor, her mother appeared and started speaking.

"Hello sweetie, We've just put you to sleep on your first night back home. This is going to be the first of many recordings. This was your fathers idea. He want you to know what kind of people your parents are now, just setting out with their new family. Hopefully your father will help make the next one. For now, we just want you to know that you will be loved and no matter what happens we will always be here for you. Speak to you again soon sweetie."

The screen went blank, leaving Melody sat there with tears running down her face.

Sav gently gathered Melody into a hug, then brought her tail around to enclose Melody's backside. Now cocooned into a full Mephetian hug, she said, "So that is what Mom looks like. She is so pretty, and her love for you shown through her eyes. It is nice to have parents who love you, no matter what." Sav began humming the tune to 'Hush Little Baby' as she gently rocked with Melody. The music just seemed appropriate.

Melody had no idea that this was in there and it took a minute for it to sink in. If Saveena hadn't been there, she would probably have crumbled to the floor. Also she regretted not opening the box sooner. Melody had kept these feeling locked up for a long, long time but seeing her mother broke down the protective walls around her raw emotions she had built up over the years.

Sav gave Melody's forehead a kiss, "Whenever your ready, Little Miss, whenever your ready."

Melody took a deep breath and looked up at her, wiping her tear stained cheeks. "Give me a sec. it's just......... I waited so long to open this and now I wish I had opened it sooner. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad you're here it's just...... I suppose I didn't want to do this alone....... and I can't think of anyone else I want to share this with" as she brought her hand up to Saveena's face and gently drew it down her cheek.

She whispered "Thank you. Oh, I bet I look a right state"

Sav blushed at the gentle stroke down her cheek. She churred gently, glad to be helping out someone who was also trying to be there for her. It felt, good, very good. Sav moved forward to gently kiss off a tear as she said, "Nah, you look just like yah should, ana I don't mind at all." She did not release the hug, not yet, just keeping Melody enclosed in her embrace until she could become emotionally stable enough to continue. "I'm glad I'm here too, little Missy, to share with you, and be here for you." She tucked Melody against her, stroking over her hair, whispering, "I've got yah, I've got yah." Rocking a bit, she said, "Relax, ana when yer ready, yer ready."

Melody felt safe in Saveena's arms......

Sav waited till the trembles went away in Melody. She softly kissed the top of her head, "Hey there, Missy, common, finish unpacking the chest. We haven't found your obligatory naked baby pic yet."

Melody chuckled "I really hope there isn't one of those in there." She continued pulling out items and putting them on the table. "This must be my dad's" she said, referring to the Chrisopher Pike medal. The model of the USS Prometheus came out next. "I'll put this and the picture of my mom on the table over there." Melody was thankful there was no nude baby picture of her.

Sav churred, chuckled, and awed as items were drawn forth. She recognized what many were, the start of a hope chest. "You're parents really loved you. These here are the start of a hope chest, items for you when you marry." She picked up the 'Expecting' book and began leafing through it. "You know, we need to get you a cedar chest and continue the tradition, you know, put in items that remind you of your life before the Mekhanii and would help you with your own kitlings. I think it would be fun, and a way to bond with your parents. What do you say?"

"That sounds like a great idea. We'll have to see if we can pick one up somewhere rather than replicate one. Do you have one of your own?"

Sav's ears, whiskers, and Tail flicked in surprise at the question by Melody. Mephetians always had hope chests, but, with hers, the items inside were methodically destroyed and her hope chest was dismantled piece by piece by Mr. Thompson and Mistress Elizabeth in their training dungeons. She opened her mouth to speak of it when the psychic overlays clamped down. Her voice seemed to lose vibrance as she said in a rote voice, "Mine was lost in an incident in college." In her mind, she backed away from what she wanted to say and the grip upon her eased. She continued, her voice sounding more natural as she now said, "We definitely need to pick one up, or get someone to help make one. Replication doesn't hold with tradition. Let's see what, or who, we can find, mm'kay?"

Melody frowned as she heard Sav's voice change tone. "Hey, you ok?" She looked searchingly into her friends eyes for a moment.

Sav's eyes seemed to have lost their sparkle with hints of darkness around them, their depths showing like pictures of war zone survivors. She swallowed, then nodded slowly. "Yeah, I am." She sighed, "I lost many, personal, things during that time. It's just hard on you, losing personal stuff like that." Sav closed her eyes, banishing those memories trying to overwhelm her. Then, she smiled, opening her eyes as she nodded towards the items on the table, the sparkle of life returning to the windows of her soul. "And here we are, yours having returned, no longer lost. This is a joyous occasion."

Sav churred gently, giving Melody a hug, and then added, "So, really, I should be asking you, how are you doing? Feeling better? Do you need me to stay?"

Melody stood up, picking up her glass and downed the content in a single draft. "I'll be fine Sweetie, I'm so glad you were here for me. You've helped me so much and I am so grateful. I just hope I can return the favor sometime. If you ever need me, you just call me any time, OK?"

Sav stood up, then took Melody into one more hug. "You got it Girrl Friend, you got it." Releasing Melody from the hug, she said, "Thank you for this night. It was special, little Missy. Catch you tomorrow after shift, okay?"

"That sounds great, I look forward to it" she said as she placed a gentle kiss on Sav's cheek.

Sav blushed lightly, enjoying the kiss, as she whispered, "Yah only want tah smell me musk some more, Ah'll bet." She moved her head to bring her muzzle closer to Melody's lips and nose, pleasant thoughts of marking Melody as a friend with that musk running through her mind.

Melody pressed her nose to Saveens and rubbed gently in an Eskimo kiss and she sighed almost involuntary.

After giving Melody a nose bump with whiskers stroking over Melody's cheeks, she made her way to the door. She shyly waved to Melody as she went out as the doors shut before her.

OFF:

Lieutenant Melody Jones
Chief flight control officer / Second officer
USS Merlin

Lieutenant jg. Saveena Tillatix
CAG / Uroboros Squadron Leader
Bridge Command Specialist
USS Merlin