Family of Two

Posted on Thu Nov 12th, 2015 @ 11:13pm by Ensign Tybald Jeune & Crewman 1st Class Oatha Jeune

Mission: Begin with a Bang
Location: Deneva Housing for Starfleet/Earth Operations personnel
Timeline: May 12th, 2155

-ON-

[Deneva: Private Quarters- La Jeune]

Oatha was trying not to cry in front of Tybald, but as he donned that uniform she couldn't help herself. He was just too handsome, and looked just like his father would have if Starfleet had been the same organization when they were young. They had made their own way in an L class Lunar retrofit freight hauler. It made warp four though, and it had been her home for seventeen years, fifteen for Tybald.

They had been a small but proud family, but when Julius died, there didnt seem to be sense in the world anymore. Oatha had her music, and food, the occasional crazy dress, but that was it. She felt empty as though her meaning had died with Julius, but as she looked at Tybald, dashing and so charming she knew her meaning was right there.

For Tybald, he couldnt wait to leave the room, and get to the staff meeting. There was something going on in Tactical, something that had them on edge but all Starfleet personnel were supposed to be on watch shifts alternating from their duty shift. this left eight hours to sleep and live otherwise. Eight hours with his mother fussing over him and trying not to see their dead family member in his mirror.

He loved his mother, and he worried about her, she had nearly dosed herself into a final sleep when he had come to live with her. He had been curious why she was calling him so late that night...

=/\= Ty, Meeting is in two... where the hell are you?

Tybald looked to Oatha and tossed off a kiss, she pretended to catch it and pocket it. He knew she would likely go through a sad spell, then clean, then start cooking desserts for the off shift engineers. Tellarites loved honeyloaf, and she made it better than any Tellarite ever would. The foul things they said about her cooking were the highest of praises if you knew how to interpret them.

***

[Starfleet Headquarters- Deneva]

As he crossed the massive complex courtyard he marveled at the progress the coalition of planets was making in turning Starfleet into a multi-racial, multi species, representation of the galaxy's interests. This squat building they were standing in was built purely to facilitate the increased trade demands since humans had entered the market. It represented the future of what every world would have, prosperity, security, and liberty.

"Ty, over here!" A pretty young yeoman waved him over to her, she was older than him, but his equivalence exams had pushed his graduation to three semesters early for duty. As an Ensign he was well her superior, but he still found his legs stopped coordinating and his palms were suddenly sweaty.

"Look! you've been requested from a field of Starfleet candidates, There is a need for new helmsman on inbound ships, you're finally going to space!"
That she cared made his heart beat faster, he didnt know her name, but her crush was evident and he kicked himself for not being of those people to remember names.

He wanted to be happy, he wanted to be excited, but all he could think about was leaving his mother behind again. The last time she had been alone...

Swallowing hard he finally spoke to her, "Thanks for noticing, you're sweet.... I dont know If I can go to space, at least not yet."

"Ty?! Why not, its all you've talked about since the Xindi crisis ended. We all had our reasons to join but yours was always to go farther than anyone else... what is wrong?"

She was a mousy brunette with dishevelled hair over fair freckled skin. Her build showed an athletic past left behind for studies, and her accent was Denevan. This was a career desk rider of Starfleet, likely she hadn't met the cut for space assignments. The thought made Tybald sad inside, her reactions were from her vicarious hopes being dashed.

He softened in realization of this, "It's my mother... there is nobody to take care of her, my aunt won't take her back after... and my Uncle is out on a run for two years. I'll come talk to you before I decide anything Mary?" He hoped and hoped he was right about her name.

She glared at him but decided to give him a break, he was close enough and they hadn't been friends so much as peers working here. Plus she wasn't genuinely angry, he was close enough, and had a cute affect when he was blushing.

"Maria. And you better."

***

[Private Quarters- La Jeune]

"I don't know where, or what ship, I am on active duty roster so I can be recruited by any ship coming through here."

Holding back a sob Oatha tried to stay strong and not let her terror show.

"I see... And no idea when you will be leaving-" She stopped herself from saying "leaving me."

Ty heard it though, the guilt wielded by mothers was a lash that bit deep. he had to offer her something.

"I can ask and see what ships cycle through here regularly, or maybe we can get a new port of call all together? I just know I wasn't born in space and joined Starfleet for desk work on Deneva."

"You were born to a mother who loves you and father who loved his family. Your father also loved space, and the chance to explore. Go... Do not fuss over me I have much to do still here."

Tybald couldn't help himself anymore, a tear rolled down his cheek finally after held back by thin logic. How could he go off on his own knowing she would... He remembered walking in on her, the sedatives in her system slowing her heart so that when he checked her pulse... her breathing...

"Ma.... I cant lose you ma. Please can you be strong, I wont be gone long."

He hugged her fiercely, she sobbed in return hugging him tightly as well.

"My sweet Tybald, I will live for you, if there is nothing else that is enough for me... to be there for you."

He didn't know what else to say to her. They just sat with each other for a time, until a rumbling in their stomachs reminded them of life's perpetual march. Sadness and tears were a pickle for for their whetted appetites, eager for new life and vigor.

"Come, I'll make some beignets and we'll see what ships want my boy at the helm."

-OFF-