Ghosts of the Past - Part I

Posted on Fri Nov 8th, 2024 @ 12:21am by Lieutenant Fang Lee & Lieutenant JG Zai & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami & Lieutenant Lanna Alexander
Edited on on Fri Nov 8th, 2024 @ 7:47pm

1,108 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Observation Deck | USS Arcadia
Timeline: Day 3 after leaving base

ON:

The observation deck was oddly deserted. The crew on edge. They were hurdling through space where other ships had disappeared and nobody seemed to be in the mood to eat or just enjoy the stars. I was late evening by ship standards and Fang, Zai, Adrianna, and Lanna were meeting for a later dinner. Zai Nothing fancy, Zai had cooked. He'd reserved a small room on the observation deck where they could all sit and eat together.

He'd been the first one there to set up dinner. Fang would be a little late so he'd have some time with the ladies. There was an odd feeling in the air as if something was about to go wrong but Zai ignored it. Of course it could be the headache he'd been nursing all day but time would tell.

Adrianna arrived with a bottle of alcohol free wine, though she couldn't help but feel like school may help whatever this was. Either way, she was bracing for conflict. Zai and Fang in the same room? This would not end well. "Buonosera, cucciolo," Adrianna smiled.

Zai smiled. "Hey Adrianna. How was your day? Did you catch your chicken today?"

"I almost had to break my cadet's arm for it," she grinned, "but I did. Thank you."

He laughed. "You'll be a chicken addict before you know it." Zai motioned. "We're waiting on the counselor and Fang. I'm hoping to have a nice quiet dinner." He looked out at the stars. "What a view."

"Odd dinner guests, cucciolo," Adrianna commented, "I hope you know what you are doing."

"It's just a dinner to get us all to relax. Fang's been behaving and I think we're starting to talk so I figured why not a small get together."

"Alright," Adrianna nodded her acceptance, "as long as there's no ulterior motive. I could do with a night off."

"Honestly me too. I've been feeling off all day I need a quiet night."

"I'll invite you for a focaccia and wine night next week," Adrianna chuckled, before seeing Lanna out the corner of her eye, "Buonosera, Lanna."

"Hello counselor!" Zai smiled.

“Hello Adrianna, Hi Zai” Lanna smiled warmly at both. “How are both of you this evening?”

"I cannot complain," Adrianna replied, "nothing can help relax someone more than knowing they have a dinner to go to after a long shift."

Zai smiled. "I made plenty for everyone and there is also lots of dessert." Just as he finished talking the doors opens and Fang walked in. "Hello everyone. I'm sorry we have had issued with Sabastian's upgrades."

Zai sighed. "Starfleet's upgrades."

Fang waved. "Same thing. Anyway thanks for the report on the new intake valves." Zai smiled. "No me. All Frankie. That man is a wiz. Anyway counselor, Adrianna, how was your day?"

"You know how mine started," Adrianna nodded, referencing him calling her to his office about Jason, "it did get progressively better though."

He sighed. "Well I have wine I picked up on the station to go with dinner so that should make things better."

Adrianna nodded and smiled, taking her designated seat.

“Just the usual day for me” Lanna smiled warmly. “It’s always nice to have something to look forward to afterwards, that and going home to my beloved Imzadi. I pre-warned Jarin I might be later than usual.”

Zai smiled. "How is your son doing?" He studied the counselor. "Is it difficult to have your child aboard ship?"

Fang absently listed while he loaded his plate. Zai was a wonderful cook so he would take advantage of the meal.

“Jayce is very well, thank you” Lanna gave Zai a smile. “I don’t find it difficult having Jayce onboard, I’d find it impossible to live without him if we had to leave him with family.”

"I may not have children, but I do come from a very large family," Adrianna chimed in, "I always find my quarters far too quiet and I miss them every day. Especially since no longer being undercover. Calling isn't the same. I understand that."

Zai smiled as he looked at Adrianna. "Large families are important. I didn't have one myself but would love to have a large family." He paused. "How many brothers do you have again?"

"Eight," Adrianna chuckled, "I am the youngest and only girl. According to my mother, it started off that my father was on business trips a lot as he started out in marketing for the family-- he being the middle of 5 boys-- but then when he took over the business, my mother decided that she wanted a girl. So they just kept trying. I was supposed to be called Adrian, after my grandfather, but, I came out as a girl. So here we are."

"Wow, that is a large family." He laughed. He next turned to the Counselor. "It's always hard to be separated, I can understand why you feel comforted at having him here. Zai said. "Sabastian and I were talking about if it was better to have a family on Base or on Ship. I mean planet side would be wonderful but both of us love the stars and there is so much to be learned in space. I like ships of course but safety might be better served on base. What do you think?"

Fang, who'd been eating swallowed wrong and began to cough.

Adrianna nudged his glass of wine closer to him and placed her hand on his arm, as a silent encouragement to take a drink.

He felt Adrianna's hand on his arm and took a drink of wine. When he gained enough ability to speak. He snorted. "As if you two will last that long."

Zai pressed his lips together. He didn't want this to escalate. "Well nobody's guaranteed anything but planning is good."

Adrianna shot a look at Fang. The same one she'd given him when she 'beat him up' a few days ago.

Fang saw the look on Adrianna's face and shut his mouth.

She softened her look and turned back to Zai, "thinking many steps ahead, but I suppose for most couples, it can be a sticking point: the question of whether one wants children."

He smiled. "We both want kids but first we want to build a life together and figure out what that means.

Fang snorted again.

Adrianna kicked Fang under the table.

Fang grunted and shot her a look.

Lanna tried not to show disapproval, but she was wishing that Zai and Fang would sort themselves out. She hated to see them at odds with one another.


To Be Continued...

 

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