The Parting - Part One

Posted on Sun Jul 31st, 2022 @ 8:01am by Tienn Jaina & Almar Pettar

Mission: Mission 108: Grains of Sand
Location: Various Locations - Daedalus Battlegroup / Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 0915Hrs - November 15th, 2393

Anthony Fordragon appeared on the transporter pad before he walked forward, stepping off of the transporter pad as he did so. He regarded Raelynn and Jasmine as he walked towards them. "Hey ladies." he nodded to Raelynn. Then he nodded to Jasmine a moment later. It was no secret that he greatly prefered Raelynn's company.

Raelynn grinned at him. "Hey, Tony. It's good to see you."

Anthony nodded as he noticed the older lady standing between the two ladies before him. "Hello." he addressed her. "I'm Anthony Fordragon." as he offered her his hand, in the human manner.

Tienn Jaina smiled. "I'm Tienn Jaina. It's good to meet you." with that, she gently shook his hand in the human style. "My daughter spoke of you," she commented. "She told me a lot of good things about you. But she also told me of your rather specific situation. So I will foster you while your mother is handling looking after my daughter." the older woman smiled. "Personally. Nobody should be coped up on a ship for too long. So you will have wide-open spaces." she smiled. "Are we waiting for anyone else?"

Fordragon gently shook his head. "No ma'am," he answered quietly. "Just me."

"Alright," Jaina answered. She smiled. "Walk with me, young man and you can tell me about yourself," she commented as she turned and departed from the transporter room. The two teenage girls followed several feet behind. Jasmine smiled as she turned to her sibling. "Do you think he'll settle in?"

"No," Raelynn answered quietly. "He already misses his mother."

"What?" Jasmine asked. "How can you tell?" she asked her twin.

"Because of his body language. Not to mention the fact that he and I are friends. He doesn't know you the way he knows me." Raelynn answered quietly. The two slowly dropped back as their grandmother was letting Anthony do any talking. That was if he felt like it. Raelynn had to give her grandmother credit. It would let Anthony bond with her but on his terms, rather than hers.

Jasmine and Raelynn quickly caught up with the others as they entered a turbolift. Anthony stood in silence as the turbolift was sent to hanger twenty-two. Jaina turned to Anthony. "Alright. You've been in Starfleet shuttle bays before, right?"

"Only a couple of times. I recall them being noisy and unsafe." Tony responded. "Mom did not like me being anywhere near them."

"Your mother is a very smart woman. You do heed her council, right?" Jaina inquired.

"I do," Anthony answered with a nod of his head. He then let out a soft sigh.

Jaina smiled. "It'll be okay. Anthony. Not today and not tomorrow but you will be alright. It's just gonna take a while." She commented as the doors opened. The small gathering walked out into the hallway and then into the hanger in question. Anthony followed with Raelynn and Jasmine bringing up the rear.

Jaina lead the small gathering to a shuttle that was presently being checked over by two Starfleet technicians and a Cardassian civilian.
The three were in conversation as Jaina approached. "Is everything alright?" she asked of the gathering once they stopped to address her.

"We were asked to give your shuttle, the once over ma'am." the older of the two Starfleet techs. "Mister Pettar here asked us if we wouldn't mind," he added.

"Will she fly?" Jaina suddenly grinned.

"Yes, she will. Other than the usual minor maintenance details. She's in great shape." the petty officer answered as he handed Pettar a PADD. "We can book her in and handle all her outstanding concerns. If you want."

"Sure. Go ahead and slot her in." Pettar answered with a gentle smile. "I can use the chance to pick up some supplies at the same time."

"Alright." The petty officer tapped a few keys on the PADD. "You're slotted in for two days from now, at ten hundred hours, local time."

"Nice. Thank you, gentlemen." Pettar answered with a smile. "Is there anything further we should discuss?"

"Nope. That's it. Have a safe flight home." as Jaina boarded the shuttle. She went to the co-pilot's chair. "Tony. Why don't you come on over here," she commented. "Have you ever been inside a shuttle before?"

"I have." Anthony smiled as he sat down next to the older woman in the co-pilot chair. He took a seat in the pilot's chair. He gently ran his fingers along with the console. "Starships were meant to fly..." and with that, he turned to the older woman. "May I?" he asked softly.

Pettar was the one who answered. "How many hours in shuttles. Son?"

"Two hundred and nineteen in the simulator. But I've never handled the real thing." Fordragon answered.

Pettar gently touched his wife's shoulder with his hand, she turned and smiled at him. "Today... You will," he commented. "You are fortunate then that I can show you the ropes..." he commented. "However, I know of a human woman named Walking Bear that can teach you... If you want to learn how to fly."

"I do." Fordragon paused. His first response had been way too loud.