I Remember Black Skies - Part One

Posted on Mon Mar 2nd, 2020 @ 4:22pm by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky

Mission: Mission 42: A House Divided
Location: Runabout Delta One Five - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1000Hrs September 1st 2391

It was about ten hundred hours and two hours after Zara was kicked out of sickbay, since then he had almost kidnapped her by force with the god, the Andean mountain cats and the Capuchin all secured aboard the runabout along with their bags.

Lt Commander Tom Lasky regarded Teval. "The Runabout I booked is ready and our bags are packed. Any last minute details for me?"

"Nope nothing important," Teval answered. "Though keep in mind, I'll be leaving in a couple of days myself, and probably will be gone for several weeks."

"Fair enough.. Zara and I should be back in about thirty days or so." Lasky explained. "Permission to depart?" he already knew what Teval would say as the man wasn't big on formalities but regs were the regs after all.

"You don't want me flying, do you?" Zara asked mischievously as she caressed Cleo's back therapeutically.

"No." Lasky responded. "You're going to lounge around and bond with her." he added with a smile.

"Oh I think we're just understanding each other," Zara smiled joyously as Cleo rolled on her back for Zara to rub her belly. "...I never thank you and the others for saving me."

"You would have done the same for any of us." Lasky responded quietly as he gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Go on ahead. I'll catch up to you in a moment.." before he turned back to Teval. "If all goes well, we'll see you in about a month.... Have a good time on your time off Teval.."

Teval nodded, " Yep, now get out of here Tom."

"Okay.." and with that he turned, before he followed Zara onto the Runabout. he stepped over to the pilots chair as he regarded Zara who was with the dog nearby. He closed both hatches and then he commed the tower. "Tower this is Runabout Delta One Five. We're outbound, do I still got clearance for departure?"

Zarloos's voice came back. "Runabout Delta One Five... you're clear... Proceed at your discretion... You're cleared to leave."

"Roger." and with that he activated the ships engines and departed from the Roanoke, a few minutes later the Runabout was in open space and at warp. "Next stop... Deneva... we hope." he commented as one of the Andean mountain cats hopped up on the chair as Lasky engaged the autopilot.

He gently picked up 'Fives' as he gently cooed at her. "Hey girls... you looking for some love?" he inquired as he gently sat back while he gently cradled the cat in his arms. "Merrooww.." the cat responded.

Lasky rose to his feet as he went into the back, wanting to check on Zara and Cleo. "Hey Zara.... you okay back there?" he inquired.

"Oh yeah. We're right at home," Zara laughed as she squeezed a dog plushie in front of Cleo.

Fives regarded the dog as she blinked her large eyes in silence, clearly unsure of what to make of this creature as Echo and Typhoon were curled up next to Shadow, the four animals were still working on their relationship as Shadow lifted her head, blinking her eyes as she woke up. "Meow?" she inquired.

Fives responded a moment later as this caught the attention of Cleo.

"So what's our ETA?" Zara asked with excitement.

"About this time two days from now." Lasky responded. "Assuming nothing goes wrong... like subspace sinkholes and time distortions." he gave her a look. "you and me come back in ten years with three or four semi feral kids and four wild cats, I can't forget Cleo in that mix. Wouldn't that be a fancy feast?" as Lasky turned to the replicator next to him, he tapped the display and out came two glasses of water, he then handed one off to her. "Does Cleo want anything?"

"Maybe a half-cup of dry puppy formula," Zara guessed as she began to rub Cleo's tummy.

Lasky replicated the dish Zara requested. "Zara... have you ever had a dog before?" he inquired as he handed her the requested dish.

"I've never had a pet in general," Zara answered both sadly and honestly. "I just know Cleo makes me feel... safe. And I don't know why."

Lasky regarded Zara and the dog before he nodded his head. "Fair enough..." he paused. "Well the autopilot is on... so I'm gonna go take a nap... you wanna hang out with the dog or come with?" he inquired.

"I'll come," Zara smiled. Happy to have another distraction, and even began to undo her pants and shirt as she followed him to the bed.

Lasky regarded her. "You don't need to do that." he commented. "I don't want you to feel you must.."

"Oh!" Zara relaxed upon hearing that, and instead of fulling undressing, she went to her bag to put on her PJs. "It's just I'm used to... well.... ya know..."

"I know." Lasky explained softly. "I don't want your body Zara.... Its... too soon." he admitted.

Once Zara had her PJs on, she curled up in Lasky's arms. She wanted to be held and cuddled - Cleo did the cuddling mostly as she curled up behind Zara's back.

"But you do want me... which is a rare thing. Something I'm very grateful of." Zara was teary-eyed when she said this. "You're the first one I've fallen for, and not for sexual purposes."

Lasky gently held Zara against him. "I do want you Zara... But there is more to a good relationship then bad sex... you know?"

"I'm eager to learn how you relax with someone you adore," Zara smiled happily. "I don't want to be a sex toy anymore."

"That's easy." Lasky responded. "I don't expect sex..." as he gently rubbed the dogs ears. "I'm something old school like that.."

Cleo wagged her tail and climbed over Zara to get in the middle of the two lovers. She rolled to her back so both Zara and Lasky could rub her belly.

"I think she's used to you now, Dear," Zara winked at him.

"She sure is used to getting her way with you." Lasky responded as he gently rubbed the dogs chest. "You are such a cute, dog."

"I can put her in the dog bed, if you just want to lay here and cuddle with me," Zara offered.

"Sure." Lasky responded. "I sometimes read when I'm in bed... Nothing beats reading a good book and a soft light with a cold drink on the night stand... Non-alcoholic of course."

"Bed," Zara commanded gently with her dog as she pointed to the dog bed in the floor. Cleo curled up in her bed, and once Zara got out of bed, she puled out a baby-sized fleece and pulled it over the dog to tuck her in.

Zara poured two glasses of iced green tea and sliced open an apple with a blob of peanut butter in a small bowl. She carried the snack and drink to the bed moments later and handed Lasky his drink.

Lasky accepted his drink before he took a sip of the drink. "Mmm." he smiled.