Infinity's Arrow - Part Eleven

Posted on Thu Apr 15th, 2021 @ 4:35am by Captain Sarah Horner & Commander Kolar, Son of Magh'tor & Commodore T'Shaamet 'Runt' Antilles

Mission: Mission 108: Grains of Sand
Location: Various Locations - USS Infinity
Timeline: 1330Hrs - October 21st, 2393

Commander Sarah Horner was sitting in the lounge, she was busy sipping on a large tankard of vegetable soup, her favored lunch of choice when she was wanting a few minutes to mentally wrestle with an issue or a problem that she was dealing with, she was also waiting for Kolar as she knew that he was saying farewell to his spouse of over thirty years, he would not be rushed in saying and making his farewells and Horner wasn't interested in rushing him either, it had been the same with her and Kayden earlier this morning when the two of them had ended up sharing a round of sex, which had been educational for each of them in their own right.

The barkeep regarded Horner. "You act as your date has stood you up," he commented

Horner blinked as she mentally pulled herself together. "What, I'm sorry I missed that," she admitted.

"I know, you seemed like you were a million light-years away... Penny for your troubles?"

"I am waiting for my date to come and share a meal with me," Horner commented with a smile. "Before I depart for the Farragut with my date," she added, a wide smile on her lips. "I wanted Kolar for my exec for a while now and I've had my choices... So now I'll go and see what he brings to the table." Horner explained, her smile did not fade.

"Well, it's nice to know that someone believes in him." as the Bartender places a glass of orange punch before her. 'To your health Captain."

Horner smiled. "Thanks." as she smiled at the bartender, she turned her attention back to her soup, she drained a large mouthfull of soup as she enjoyed her lunch. "Mmmm..." Several minutes went by as she finished her soup when suddenly the door opened and in walked Commander Kolar, he swept his eyes across the mess hall as he located his quarry before moving towards her. "Captain." Kolar addressed her.

"Oh my, so formal Kolar. Take a seat and join me for lunch..." Horner commented with a smile. "I'm sure lunch won't kill you but food deprivation most certainly will... Even if it takes a few weeks..."

Kolar said nothing as he sat down and nodded to the barkeep. He placed an order for a simple dish of food. Two cornish pasties, extra-large. The bartender nodded his agreement to the request and went to fill it with the kitchen staff in the back while Kolar regarded the human woman seated next to him. "When do we leave?"

"In thirty minutes or when we finish here..." Horner answered with a gentle nod of her head.

"Ahh.." Kolar saw the lunch break now, for what it truly was. A last chance for himself and for Horner to say a last goodbye to the ship they both had come to call home and to the crew that both had come to call kin. The dish came back fully prepared and ready for Kolar to eat. The Bartender placed it before the large Klingon along with a fresh drink. "To your health sir. Take care on your next assignment, Kolar."

"I will do so Bruce, you look after yourself alright," Kolar answered with a nod of his head.

"I will." and with that, Bruce the bartender moved off to see to another customer, leaving Horner and Kolar alone. "Don't you Klingons have any traditions for leaving a place?" Horner inquired.

"Not really... I thought you humans did..." Kolar answered the smaller human female.

"Well, my family tells a tale of when we leave a place, a part of that place goes with us... and a part of us remains behind... Go anywhere on this ship when it's quiet and listen... Soon you'll be able to hear every thought and conversation that ever echoed throughout these walls, long after we leave this room..."

Kolar found that he was impressed. "Poetic. Sarah... A good tradition..."

"I'll admit though Kolar... The part of me that's leaving will greatly miss the part of me that's remaining behind..." Horner admitted.

"I know... I share those feelings..." Kolar admitted. "I suspect that I shall miss my wife greatly... The same as she shall miss me, as we've been working together for almost twenty years... and now for the first time, we will be parted for an extended period... I confess... I do not like it." he admitted. "However. I will accept it..." his tone of voice indicated that he did not fully agree with what he was saying.

Horner nodded, in acceptance and in agreement. "Let's eat, big man..." she sighed softly. "and get this goodbye over with..."

Kolar turned his attention to his food, rather than respond as he began eating his food. A short time later he was finished, he turned to the smaller human female beside him, she picked up her bag as he cleared their plates, recycling them in the nearby replicator. Horner handed him his bag as she hefted her own.

Kolar looked around the lounge for what he knew would be the last time. "DaH jImej choQoylaH'a', jup." he muttered softly but what everyone else heard was "goodbye old friend." as he turned and departed the lounge, Horner followed in silence. The last goodbye was mercifully fast and within minutes, both Kolar and Horner had departed the Infinity for their next assignment.