The Plagues of Night

Posted on Thu Feb 27th, 2020 @ 7:07pm by Department Master Chief Petty Officer Stephen "Orthos" McKnight & Major Daisy Rohr-McKnight
Edited on on Tue Apr 7th, 2020 @ 4:10pm

Mission: Mission 24: Open Secrets
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1400Hrs - January 30th, 2391

Music Soundtrack: Armageddon - Astronauts

Master Chief Petty Officer Stephen 'Orthos' McKnight was sitting in his office as he was processing paperwork. he closed his eyes as he slipped off his uniform jacket as he plucked the PADD that he had been working on.

He finished tapped on the display as he sighed it, not realizing that his day was about to turn upside down as his door bell beeped. "Come in!"

Daisy entered with her head low to the ground. She let out a soft and quiet "hello" before taking a seat in Orthos' office. She sat with both her legs together with her hands on her lap. She stared down at her hands and clenched her hands together tightly. Daisy looked slightly up at Orthos. She bit her lower lip. "We need to talk." she nervously told him.

Orthos regarded her. "Who died?" he inquired with a concerned look. "Daisy... you look like its the end of the world."

Daisy gave a nervous laugh before returning somber. "I thought I knew what I was going to say to you but now that I am here I can't find the words." Daisy told Orthos in a weak voice.

Orthos rose, then he came around the desk. "Y'know I've been in this position before... several times when Vanessa thought she was telling me that our world had collapsed into a little black hole."

Daisy looked up at Orthos. "Wasn't Vanessa your wife?" She asked him. "I'm just your girlfriend."

"She was." Orthos responded. "and that... makes no difference whatsoever." he responded. "That is... if I think you're telling me what I think you're telling me...." he then smiled. "It won't be that bad... I'm not going anywhere... and neither are you. Unless you're about to tell me you're being transferred too." his grin widened.

Daisy was still too uneasy to return Orthos' smile. "Yes, I am pregnant," she told him. Tears started to roll down Daisy's cheeks. "Right now I'm a little scared." she told him somberly.

Orthos sat down on the desk next to her before he gently tugged her into his arms. "Don't worry... Everything is going to be alright." he responded with a smile before he gently wiped away a tear. "girlfriend, wife, significant other.... It doesn't matter... I'm not going anywhere.." he added.

Daisy wrapped her arms around Orthos and put her head against his chest. "Your an amazing comfort to me, thank you."

Orthos gently held her close to him. "It'll be okay Daisy.." he responded as he smiled down at her.

Daisy looked up at Orthos. "This child wasn't planned. I am glad though that of all the men, you are its father."

"So I am the father..." Orthos paused. "Then the child was planned... just that it came a little earlier then I had considered.." he regarded her. "But... now that we're going to have a child.."

"I'm glad you are taking this so well." Daisy told Orthos.

Orthos regarded her. "I've been told far worse in my time." he responded. "Vanessa was a ball of nerves the first time she brought me the news of our son, Iason.... He was unplanned but... we managed." he slowly grinned at her. "So I might be forty years older then I was then.."

"Thank you Orthos." Daisy told him. "I need to figure out how much longer I can have an active command before I need to be at a desk."

Orthos gently kissed her on the lips. "I'll leave that between you and your doctor, to decide between yourselves... I won't act like the overprotective dad-to-be."

Daisy giggled. "So I guess drinks are out then. I need to find another past time for the duration."

"We'll think of something..." Orthos responded. "Besides... Its not like you bring me bad news.." he then smiled at her.

Daisy gave Orthos a long hug. "Your wonderful." Then gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

"I do have a reputation to uphold." he responded as he regarded her. "So.... you still up for one of my omelets?"

"Oh yes." Daisy replied. "I'm very hungry all of a sudden."

Orthos regarded her. "Whenever the subject of my cooking comes up. you get really hungry...." he then shrugged. "Alright.. lets go eat."

Daisy laughed. "I'm thinking it's the stress of our situation but I'll follow you to food anyways." Daisy told him while smiling and a little relaxed now.

"Come on... I'll cook us lunch.... and you can tell me what you need from me now that you're expecting.."

"I'm thinking your probably going to tell me what I need seeing as you've done this sort of thing before." Daisy told Orthos.

"Yeah but that doesn't mean that I get to tell you what you can or can't do." Orthos explained. "The first thing about this that you should remember is.. that's its your choice in the matter."

"True but right now I don't have enough information to make a constructive decision." Daisy told him. "That's why I need your advice."

"Well the best thing I can say is to take it a day at a time.." Orthos responded. "You'll wan to go and see the medical staff, get yourself booked in for various appointments as they will want to poke and prod you a lot."

"Sounds prudent. I'm sure things will more complicated as we go on though." She told Orthos.

"Oh it will." Orthos responded. "It'll be educational for everyone..."