A Change of Venue - Part Four

Posted on Sun Jun 30th, 2024 @ 8:40pm by Captain Samantha Walking Bear & Fleet Captain Heather Walking Bear & Colonel James "Gryphon" McTaggert

Mission: Mission 120: All Along the Watchtowers - Part Two
Location: Various Locations - Planet Surface, Utgarde IV
Timeline: 1400Hrs - January 26th, 2394

B'Elanna stepped into the bedroom that was her new space. Her home away from her home and she let out a long but soft sigh. She was here at Utgarde not even an hour and already she was thinking of her mother. Their farewell but been short and simple. Straight to the point as both women had not expected to see the other again for a long time yet to come. K'Tar had even asked her daughter not to return to her when the trouble was over, instead encouraging her to go on her own life's journey, as she was almost an adult in her own right. However, this did not mean that B'Elanna needed to like being parted from her mother.

B'Elanna gently placed her duffel down on the dresser, she then opened it as she began unpacking. While she did so, there was a knock at the door. She turned her head. "It's open!" she called out in Klingon.

The door remained closed. B'Elanna paused a moment. "Oh right." she then sighed. "It's open!" this time it was in English. As if on cue, the door opened and in walked a teenage girl. She looked a lot like Heather Walking Bear which was no surprise. This had to be one of her daughters as Heather had informed her of a large number of relatives who were presently living with her.

"Hey. I'm Marie. I wanted to meet you and see if you were settling in alright." the teen explained herself, but rather than rush over her words. She was clear and exact with her wording. A refreshing change from the usual that B'Elanna was used to handling. Those people were either impatient or tended to rush their speech. Sometimes they were panicking for whatever reason, and their wordplay tended to be all over the place as a result.

"Hello, Marie. Your Aunt Samantha said I would be able to fit in here if I could tolerate all of the noise and the demands of needy people." B'Elanna paused. "Her words. Not mine. Since you are the only person I've met outside of your parents. I think I will be just fine." she explained.

"Needy people. I will need to deal with that one. Wow. I think I'm insulted." Marie responded in a light tone of voice.

B'Elanna turned her attention back to her unpacking. "Not my words. I prefer to know my companions before I pick fights with them. Besides. I am sure she meant it in jest. I hope she did anyway." she then finished with the first duffel back before she picked up her second bag. She placed her first on the floor next to the dresser.

"You look to me a talented unpacker. How long did it take you to pack all those clothes?" Marie inquired.

"Five minutes. This is everything I own in the universe. Except for a ring which I left with my mother. A reminder." B'Elanna then sighed. "Look, Marie. I don't expect any of us to get along, so I am only here until I come of age and can get my academy paperwork sorted out," she explained herself. "I am here because your aunt promised me protection." she then sighed. "I had not planned on telling you."

"I kinda figured," Marie answered after a moment of silence. "You are expecting battles and wars while you live here... Well. I can assure you thats not what going to happen. Mom and Dad don't permit it." she explained. "Besides. I have enough problems in my life. I don't need any more." she then sighed.

"It is what it is," B'Elanna answered in a quiet tone as she opened the second duffel. From within, she produced two Klingon dak'tags. "Marie. I have asked your father for certain things." she paused when there was a second knock at the door. "Come oin," B'Elanna commented.

In walked James Taggert with a crate in his hands. "Hey, B'Elanna. Where'd-" he addressed his guest. He then looked over at his daughter. "Oh. Hey Marie. What are you doing here?"

"Marie is welcoming me to her home," B'Elanna answered with a gentle smile. "It's a big house, and I have never lived in a house of this size or scale. I am used to properties with six rooms at most. Not one with three fully furnished floors with over a dozen rooms per floor." the Klingon woman explained. "Marie offered to give me a tour of the house when I was finished."

"I did?" Marie inquired, though she tried to sound sure of herself. She didn't realize that she had not been expected to be found here by her father.

James too, was also confused. He glanced over at Marie as she had never been the type to be overly concerned about the feelings of others. But he hoped that this was a change that was for the better.