Homesick - Part I

Posted on Sat Nov 30th, 2024 @ 10:39pm by Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami & Lieutenant JG Zai

1,320 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Adrianna and Vance's Quarters | USS Arcadia

ON:

Adrianna Baciami tapped the screen of her screen for what felt like the millionth time, her brows knitted in frustration as the connection failed once again. "Signal not available," the cold text flashed back at her, as if mocking her homesickness. She sighed heavily, dropping her head against the edge of her desk in defeat.

The USS Arcadia was cruising too close to the dead zone, leaving her cut off from the one thing she craved most: a call home. The sight of her mother’s warm smile, her brothers’ boisterous laughter, and the comforting chaos of the Baciami household felt like a distant dream.

Adrianna traced her fingers over the edge of her screen, her thoughts drifting to the bustling streets of Rome, the smell of fresh espresso, and her eldest brother Giovanni’s deep, grounding voice. She missed them terribly—their teasing, their protectiveness, even the way they bickered. Out here, among the silence of space, the loneliness was starting to seep through the cracks of her carefully composed façade. She may have been surrounded by people and with Vance, but she still felt alone.

Vance walked into their quarters looking like he'd been in a fight with some slimy monster. "I'm home," he yelled. "And disgusting."

Adrianna looked up and almost did a double take. "Merde," she chuckled softly, but her smile didn't quite reach her eyes, even though she was amused, "please may you tell me that is oil or lubricant and not what I think it may be."

"It's plasma discharge. Horrible stuff. I'll be right back after I shower it off and scrub clean." He said.

She nodded and gestured for him to get to the shower instead of kissing her as a greeting. She returned her gaze to the screen and tried a few more times, but the same message kept popping up about not having a signal. She almost whimpered every time the screen told her that it couldn't connect.

Vance showered and changed feeling like a new man. The gunk was off his body and out of his hair and he was happy as clam. He walked out of the bedroom wearing his comfy pants and a t-shirt. He looked over at Adri and noting that she was down he walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sweetie you alright?"

Adrianna sighed, shaking her head, "we're too close to the dead zone. I can't get a call home." She looked to the screen, the words 'no signal' still mocking her, "I'd forgotten what it would be like to not be able to communicate-- this is only my second ship. I've mainly been on bases or on earth. Before that-- intel: so no calls home until I had space."

He sighed. "Those are the unfortunate parts of space. Lucky you have a man who is not only handsome but smart."

She looked up at him, "why? Did he find a solution that means I can drink whilst on duty? Ode to being a head of department means no days off when we're this close to danger." She turned around and put her arms around him, resting her head on his chest, clearly miserable.

Vance wrapped his arms around her. "No but knowing where the ship was headed he had a backup plan the evil genius he is."

She pulled her head away from his chest and looked up, clearly confused, "what did you do?"

He threw his head back and laughed. "Used Starfleet's holo tech to create an I miss family kit."

As sweet as it sounded, she still looked ridiculously confused, "explain, amore mio."

He took her hand and lead her to the sofa. "Sit, close your eyes and I'll be right back."

Adrianna sat and closed her eyes. Whilst she trusted him completely, she didn't want to get her hopes up. She was feeling homesick, and not much could cure it.

Vance returned with a small octagonal box. He placed it on the table and smiled. "Open your eyes."

Adrianna looked between him and the box. She scooched to the edge of the sofa and looked at the box, a bit more carefully, before teasing a little, "let's pretend like I know nothing about engineering..."

He laughed. "Well most of them don't know about this either." He sighed. Pressing the red button a grid popped up into the air. There were rows of pictures of her family under what he'd titled Level 1, then again under Level 2, and again under Level 3.

"So I had each of your family do a body scan. Each level has a different message from each of your brothers, sisters in law, parents and even the kids. You can click on a photo and their message will be displayed. Ie...me." He pressed his own picture.

The box vibrated and a life size holo image of him popped. "Well hello sugar plum! It's me your incredible and wonderful Vancy. Enjoy the show." The hollow started to dance in an embarrassing display."

Ade's jaw went slack. It was so terrible, but she couldn't tear her eyes away. "Madonna, you are a clown," her eyes finally went back to the real Vance, "did you forget that I told you that I would beat you if you ever called me sugar plum again?"

He laughed and pressed the blue bottom which took them back to the menu. "Now then I don't know what's on the messages but I've merged them to the holo image so you can click on them when you get lonely."

Adrianna looked back at the holo and selected a message from her sister in law, Lenore. The woman appeared in the holo, pregnant belly and all. "Hi Auntie Adie! We just thought that you may want to meet your niece whilst you're out having an adventure." The woman seemed to move out of the way, a sonogram in the background. The fast heartbeat of the baby girl could be heard. "Seems like she doesn't want to stay still, but I hope you managed to see her. Don't tell the others, but you're my favourite in-law. Love you Ade."

The call cut, returning to the menu. Adrianna put her face in her hands, shaking her head, silent.

He placed an arm around her. "You alright?"

She looked up, her eyes wet. She sniffled and nodded.

"Why don't you watch some messages and I'll go get us some dinner from the mess hall?"

Before he could even move, she wrapped her arms around him, murmuring between silent tears, "I'm so glad that you're my evil genius."

He smiled giving himself some time to hold her. "Always. I also sent that holo of me to your family so they can see what it looks like. Your brother Gio said something in Italian I didn't understand but he said he would say it to you in the level 1 message and you can translate if you want."

Adrianna suddenly chuckled between tears, sitting up and releasing him, "you mean, my family have a video of you doing a ridiculous dance?" She wiped her tears away with the edge of her sleeve.

"Yup. Pretty much. I had to show them what it would look like so I took a video of me standing next to the dancing holo...I may have danced with it."

"Oh gawd," she sniffled and just gazed at him for a moment, "and you think they won't like you? Amore mio-- look at what you did for me. This is--" Adrianna took a breath, unsure how to put it into words, "I love you, thank you." She leaned in and kissed him.

He kissed her back. "Okay Watch your messages I get some much needed food and booze and we can decide what to do later." He smiled and kissed her one more time before he left.


To be continued...

 

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