Old Friends, Old Loves - Part Six

Posted on Wed Nov 30th, 2022 @ 6:14am by Fleet Captain Heather Walking Bear & Commander Patricia Walking Bear & Commander Jennifer Pravdin & Lieutenant Commander Korenna Walking Bear & Colonel James "Gryphon" McTaggert

Mission: Mission 118: The Christmas from Hell
Location: Various Locations - Utgarde IV
Timeline: 1540Hrs - December 18th, 2393

Commander Jennifer Pravdin regarded her older sibling. "You think I can't come back from this?"

"No. I don't." Heather decided that the direct approach was best here, the time for subtlety had passed, as had the time for half-assed measures. She knew that she would need to be careful but she was tired of this matter coming up. "Jen. If you're gonna be commanding your own ship then you need to be clear-minded and free of any distractions." Heather commented.

Patricia nodded in agreement. "She's right. Jen," she commented. "Commanding the U.S.S. Aquarius will test you in ways you've not seen or dreamt up yet," she commented. "I get away with some real shit because I got her." she indicated to her spouse who was finishing her drink. "Korenna tolerates my insanity with her usual skill. But in all fairness. Jen. I get away with it because I talk to my family. But don't lose sight of the fact that My four kids are remaining behind too."

"Yeah. You got her. I'm alone." Pravdin answered in a soft tone.

"But you don't have to remain alone. Don't shut your new crew out. Don't let them see you hurting alone and not being able to accept their help." Patricia answered. "That's a very good way to destroy your relationships with them. They either demand reassignment or your ship's Councillor and Chief Medical Officer will stiff you with a bad review and then you'll lose the U.S.S. Aquarius."

Korenna opened her mouth and waded back into the argument. "Then you'll get reassigned to another ship. Demoted back to First Officer, at best or worse. Being a senior officer and department head. You may even get reassigned to a Starbase where you'll effectively become a nobody all over again." Korenna explained. "What's worse Jen. Is that it will all be your own fault," she commented with a sigh. "Oh, you'll be able to raise your sons but the resentment will build up and will destroy that relationship as well. What do you think happened to me and Torenna?" she explained. "Torenna is a playgirll. She gets off on partying and sleeping with random people. Our father took exception to this and sent us both an ultimatum. Either clean up the act or find ourselves houseless."

Patricia regarded her spouse. This was all old news to her but she had no idea that Korenna was going to bring it up here and now.

"So what happened?" Pravdin inquired.

"About what you would expect. Torenna paid no mind so dad kicked her and me out of the house. It was about that time I was assisting your mother with Esher and Emmet. When she heard what had happened. She all but demanded I move in with her. Our relationship started there and that's what led to my two coming along a year later. Our marriage came a year after that." the Betazoid woman simply spread her arms wide, palms up before she shrugged as if to say she did not care. Which she did not.

Pravdin sighed. "Well. I'm not sure of what to say?" she admitted.

"Jen, Your family has taken me in and made me one of their own. I wear your family name to honour that. Walking Bear is a much better name than Cel anyway." Korenna answered with a smile. "They have been good to me, same as they were good to James and also to Lee as well," she explained. "So in closing. Let me just say that you need to go take your first officer into the ready room and tell him that you just had a death in the family and you'll be leaning on him or her to help you through it."

"Okay," Pravdin answered.

"I'd recommend selecting some old friends for your senior staff. Starting with a pile of newbies is not how you wanna start this assignment off. You want an Exec you know well. Preferably someone who knows how you think. It should be someone from the assignment you just left. But that's me." Patricia explained. "You want someone who also knew Ryan too if it can be arranged," she added.

"I don't want my Exec to be mourning my husband at the same time that I am," Pravdin admitted.

"No. That's perfectly understandable." Heather answered with a gentle smile. "But you do need to talk to someone. preferably someone who you can relate to, or someone you can drink with." she paused. "There is also nothing wrong with." she paused a moment as a rather pained look across her face. "Seeing someone new."

"Casual sex," Pravdin answered. "Heather. I've only just started processing the loss of my husband. I am not ready to see anyone new." she admitted.

"I know, honey. I know." Heather answered. "That's why I said, leave your sons with me so when you go out into the field, You will be free of issues and distractions."

Pravdin nodded. "Alright. You make all make good points. I'll take them on board..." she turned to the teenagers in the kitchen. "Yes Marie, what's up?"

"The first load of pizzas is ready. Will we be eating now or no?" the ten inquired.

"No," It was James who answered his daughter. "We still have everyone else so we need to collect your two from the Starbase. Everyone else needs to be rounded up. We'll all eat together. As a family should because it could be a very long time to come before we get to do this again,"

The four women all traded looks, all clearly were in agreement.