Perhaps Love to Some Is Strong As Steel - Part Four

Posted on Sat Mar 21st, 2020 @ 8:25am by Commander Tienn Iteela & Tienn Jaina

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Tienn Homestead - Planet Utgarde IV
Timeline: 1000Hrs - September 14th, 2393

Tienn Iteela smiled as she stepped out of the shuttle that she had borrowed from the Starbase ground facility. She looked around as the tall Bajoran looked down the long road before her, as she closed the hatch behind her, she then started walking down the long road in silence, the gentle breeze washed over her as she smiled, she was tired as it had been a long night looking after Vanguard's hospital but someone had to do it. She came to the end of the driveway as she noticed the Cardassian husband of her mother as he approached her. "Hey, Iteela. What's up?" Pettar addressed her with a jovial smile.

"I just got off watch not long ago and I thought I'd drop by..." Iteela answered.

"Of course, my home is your home," Pettar answered. "Mom is in the main living area, I'm not sure of what she's working on... I never asked her, to be honest," he commented with a smile. "Today, I do what I enjoy best, making things work around the homestead," he explained what he was doing. "What of you?"

"My new assignment came through... It was to the assignment I expected and wanted... The Second officer on the Cassini." Iteela explained with a gentle smile on her lips.

"Oh, nice," Pettar answered. "So you'll be able to find what you seek... As you don't seem happy here..." Pettar explained in a quiet tone of voice. "Your mother knows she can't help you."

"What?" Iteela was not expecting the answer he had given her.

"Iteela. You never found what it was you wanted here." Pettar explained. "Your children and your dogs are settling in well except you seem to have that restless drive for... Something but you know not what..."

"I thought Vanguard could help..." Iteela admitted. "It didn't help me with anything."

"That's not true." Pettar answered quietly. "It helped you reconnect with your kin... and with yourself. Now you can go seek greater challenges out there," he explained. "Your children and kin will be safe here. I will see to it."

Iteela slowly smiled as she was now seeing what Pettar was trying to tell her. "I understand," she responded with a gentle smile on her face. "Thank you, Almar..." she paused. "I'm going to drop in and see mom okay?"

"Sure. Take care of yourself Iteela." Pettar turned before he moved off, he had work to do and she moved into the house, she then slipped off her boots before she went into the kitchen where she found her mother reading from a PADD. The older woman suddenly grinned as she rose to her feet and hugged her daughter. "Iteela. It's great to see you."

"Hey mom, it's nice to see you as well," Iteela answered.

"Come on in... Can I get you anything?" Jaina inquired of her daughter.

"No... I wanted to let you know the news..." Iteela explained as she slid her lithe form into one of the chairs near her mother.

"Oh... Your new assignment came through?" Jaina inquired of her child. "I can see it in your eyes..."

"Yeah. The second officer on the Cassini. My next assignment after that might be to my own command." Iteela slowly smiled. "Then I'll be the one making the deeds instead of telling the deeds of others."

"I am happy to know that you know where you wish to go, I'm proud of you for having the conviction of your actions and deeds. Also, your children will be safe here, your dogs love it here too, Jaina is out back with the girls and I think Kelassa is asleep in her little house," she explained with a gentle smile. "They are settling in well." she paused. "Benice seems to like living here too."

"Good... Yes, that's... that's great to know..." Iteela answered quietly. "I was concerned about things," she admitted.

"That's very understandable Iteela. You've been through a lot in the last couple of years, some good, some bad and some you still need to resolve for yourself." as she gently rubbed her daughter's shoulder. "You will find your path Iteela. I have faith that wherever you go, you'll find your way..."

"Thanks, mom, that means a lot to me." the younger Bajoran answered with a soft sigh on her lips.

"So I assume you don't want to cause major dramatic waves with your impending departure... So we'll have a major family get together to celebrate your promotion." Iteela slowly grinned. "Koll will be there... Will that be an issue?"

"No," Iteela answered quietly. "It will be fine." the younger Bajoran added with a soft smile. "Koll seems to be adjusting well to his new situation, I should encourage him wherever possible."

"That sounds great..." Jaina answered with a smile. "Alright, when do you leave.?" Jaina inquired of her daughter.

"The morning of the twentieth, my last day working on Vanguard will be the evening of the Seventeenth. Doctor Dvald all but demanded I take a couple of days off to reflect, to meditate on my choices, to consider the past and prepare to face my future." Iteela explained evenly. "I was not expecting the time off., to be honest."

"Well, that's awfully nice of the good Doctor." as Jaina picked up a second PADD, this was empty as she began jotting down notes. "Alright, so the night of the eighteenth, you'll want to pack out those quarters on the Starbase right?" Jaina inquired of her daughter.

"I do... Anything I don't bring with me. I'll leave here... Are you okay with that?" Iteela asked, having a moment of insecurity.

"Iteela, you are my daughter, my home is yours for as long as you deem fit," Jaina answered her daughter's insecurity with a statement of her loyalty. "It'll be fine."

"Thanks, mom." Iteela smiled as she answered her mother's statement with her own.