Video Message to Vance

Posted on Sat Nov 9th, 2024 @ 9:54am by Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

1,189 words; about a 6 minute read

The video began, and Adrianna appeared, seated in a softly lit room, her face a mixture of warmth and nostalgia. She brushed a loose curl back behind her ear, her gaze steady as she began to speak. It was clear that she'd just finished a shift, her uniform jacket hung open in a rather lazy many.

"Buonasera, amore mio. I just– well, I thought I’d send you a message. You’ve been on my mind more than usual lately, and I’ve been dreaming about you– a lot, actually. The dreams are memories really, as if the past is slipping back into my head bit by bit the closer you get. I guess that is how you feel whenever you get actual memories back. I’ll wake up, and for a second, it’s like I’m back there with you on your ship, like none of this distance between us exists and there you are– well, you-you."

"My most recent was when we had just finished a mission and we were heading back to Freecloud on your ship at the time, the Pendragon, and Lutz finally said what everyone was thinking and we almost kissed-- damn universe had other ideas though. Seemed to be a common theme-- our first kiss being delayed far too many times to count. I think we just gave up in the end, until you proposed that was-- I'm sorry. You may not even remember. I should stop."

She laughed softly, her eyes shining with a hint of fondness.

"Mamma’s been hearing all about it. I think she’s a little overwhelmed– ‘Adrianna,’ she says, ‘you’ve told me this story a hundred times already!’" The woman chuckled, mimicking her mother’s voice in a playfully exaggerated Italian accent. "But she listens anyway."

“Before I lost you, I had managed to go home to Roma. She was the only one that knew about you and the fact that I was considering resigning from Starfleet. She knew my feelings,” she paused, “she thought I was in security, like my brothers Giovanni and Franco. I don't blame the family for what happened. I was hurt, si, but they didn't know that it would kill my career– or ‘kill’ you in the process. If anything, I became closer to my family because of all of this.”

She grinned, “I won't repeat or translate what she has actually been saying. I will take it to my grave. But know that she's relieved that you are alive and well. Merde-- I do not think I would recover from embarrassment-- I suppose that's mother's for you. I remember you telling me that yours was the same.”

“My brother, the one you pushed a clown into, he's now a captain. Captain Baciami. I don't think I'll follow in his footsteps. Too much responsibility. You and I both missed him by mere days on base. He got delayed. I had hoped to see him, but never mind. I'm sure I'll bump into him when I next return to Roma. My mother is turning 70 soon and we all have every intention of surprising her with a family reunion. We haven't all been together, inclusive of wives, girlfriends and children in– must be a decade, but it appears our shore leaves may finally be in sync and no one is dead, dying or ill… at the moment.”

Adrianna’s expression shifted slightly, a note of tension flickering in her eyes.

"As for things here… ah, it’s been a bit of a chaotic mess.”

She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“Zai and Fang– well, Fang now knows who Zai is. Zai is pursuing things with Sabastian though. I'm agreeing with you now– feel free to save what I say next to memory but: you were right. Sabastian is a great man. I like him with Zai. We got off on the wrong shoe… toe… foot… foot, but he's made up for it. He's even promised to install vomit bags on the bridge after he made a few lovey-dovey comments whilst I was on Comms and Zai was doing all preflight checks.”

“As for me personally, do you remember that crewmate I mentioned the other day? Well, it's not going well. I am starting to regret not taking things further in terms of XO and Security. I thought everything had settled and then they showed up at my quarters the other night. It started ok– you know, an apologetic kind of thing, but it turned so quickly. I hope for their sake that they are seeking the help they need and will forgive me soon, otherwise this will be a very long mission. Fang has even reprimanded me for putting the crew at risk because of not reporting the latest hiccup. I'm going to hang in there for this mission– as you said: I can handle anything. I believe you."

She let out a small sigh, rolling her eyes as if in exasperation, before her gaze softened and she looked directly into the camera. A soft smile appeared on her face, proving that she was actually ok.

"But honestly? I’m looking forward to seeing you again, amore mio, even if for nothing more than for me to smack you for making me obsessed with chickens. I have started a daily ‘hide and cheep' journal-- I think that is my first ever original pun in standard and I'm pretty proud of myself."

"Till then, mi amore, just… be safe, alright? I want you back here in one piece, preferably as you… I recognise the chicken reference and the fact you're in Betazed– it's giving me a lot of hope. I'm praying it won't be for nothing. Even if it is– at least we can start again. Like it or not, amore mio, you are stuck with me- and I will be happy whether you remember or not, because it is you. I just want my future husband back-- if you don't have your full memories back, just know that you referred to me as your future wife within minutes of meeting me and it became a long standing joke. Well-- until it wasn't a joke, but that was another time."

"Now that I've found you, I must admit that I miss you when you cannot be contacted as easy," she blushed a little and looked away from the screen for a brief moment. When she returned her gaze she took a breath, "would it be wrong of me to wish that you were here? It would be nice to have my partner in crime back. You may be able to help with all the chaos."

"Anyway, I have been talking to an empty room for far too long. I do not wish for my neighbours to think that I am crazy… well, crazier, than usual. Remember, if you find yourself on Freecloud, at Bernie’s… you know the drill. No chicken..." She blew a kiss and cut the call. The video faded out, Adrianna holding her gaze for just a moment longer, her expression tender and filled with quiet hope.

 

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