Oh, It's You...

Posted on Sun Jul 18th, 2021 @ 11:10am by Petty Officer 2nd Class Halla Dezom (*) & Commander Maxun Spello

Mission: Cosmos
Location: Starbase 47, USS Cosmos
Timeline: NYE 2396
1137 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

The station was abuzz with activity. Between performing overhauls on two other starships, they also had to do a full resupply on the Cosmos, during the shore leave stopover.

Maxun was standing in one of the many dockside observation points, looking over the sleek lines of the Intrepid-class starship. He had accepted the assignment before he had known the entire crew compliment. She was here. The woman who still owned his heart and soul. The woman he had hurt when he suddenly left on special assignments. And to make matters worse...she apparently was in a relationship with the Marine CO for the detail attached to the Cosmos. He really was being tested.

Halla was staring out the quiet observation lounge watching the ships moving back and forth around the shuttles. It’s was part of her mindfulness that she was practising after the telepathic flu to get herself back to normal. Like most of the crew she was still struggling with the after-effects that were leaving her tired and pale. She lay her head against the window wondering what the next assignment would bring them after the last year. She could celebrate surviving that was for sure when the clock struck midnight that night.

Maxun suddenly felt that he wasn't alone. Looking around, he saw her, Halla, over at the other end of the lounge. Strange how neither saw the other already. He knew that he would have to do this, sooner or later, so after a few beats of thought, he decided on sooner. Stepping away from his section of the viewport, He moved around the large, decorative, planter and slowed when he was a few meters away. Swallowing hard, he said, "Excuse me, where do I find an excellent hand-tossed pizza around here?" He remembered them saying it to each other a few times in the past after he had made her an excellent hand-tossed pizza.

Halla ignored the presence that was nagging at her as other people were in the lounge but the voice was unmistakable as she turned taking in the man who had been there one moment and then gone the next. She glanced him over slowly taking in the uniform for a moment before her eyes settled on the Commander pips. "So Commander now huh? Real or not real?" She wondered settling on just staring at his face, trying to gauge what was going on.

Maxun tilted his head slightly and gave a slight sigh. "It's real. I received a battlefield promotion during the mission, and now another one," he paused before saying, "as I'm the new Intel Chief for Cosmos."

“Ah.” Was all she said for a moment before glancing at her reflection for a second before back at him. It was hard to form words when everything suddenly felt like it was loud and in surround sound. “It is good to see that you are safe. I worried that you were in trouble but I couldn’t… you left again.” She finally said trying to not make it sound angry just disappointed.

Maxun's face took on a pained look. "Halla...I told you that I did undercover work. Part of the job, unfortunately, is to get called away, a lot of the time, with no advance notice. Did you read the letter I left for you?"

"No letter. No answers and then we got attacked within a day or so of you leaving by pirates and dragged to the in-between." Halla murmured softly trying to not think about everything that had happened the night before he had disappeared again. She had told him how much she loved him, how much she wanted him in her life and then he disappeared.

Maxun moved right up to her and knelt before her. "Halla, I left the letter on your desk, I swear! In it, I wrote that I hated having leave you so suddenly. You were, and still are, the one person that makes my life mean anything. Before I met you, I was content to just live my life in service to the UFP, protecting her from all enemies."

"Then, I met you in that bar, and a whole new reality opened up to me. One where I wasn't alone any more! The job changed too. I was no longer doing it just to protect the Federation, I was doing it to protect YOU."

Halla took a step back as he knelt beside her. "No note and it has been a year and a half. A lot has happened. Zombies, telepathy, pirates." She said with a sigh.

Maxun looked as if he had been kicked in the gut. "Oh, Halla! I am so sorry! If I could go back and change things, I would do so, without hesitation. Please know that I didn't contact you out of desire. I had no choice. I was so deep under, there were days that I wasnt sure I knew who I was. The only thing that I knew for certain, was how I felt about you! The love you showed me, when we were together, kept me hoing through some very dark days. Should you ever chose to give me a final chance, I will do everything in my power to show you just how important you are to me!"

Halla ran a hand through her hair wondering if she should tell him something. "I was interviewed by Starfleet Intelligence after the pirates and they mentioned me and you. Maybe whoever it is that you work for did not want it." She shook her head turning away from him to look out the window contemplating everything. She was meant to be meeting Levi for New Year's eve which was why she was dressed so formally, in a long white dress and her now long hair curled so elegantly. He had been invited to a Marine formal Party and had asked her along.

"Well, that part of my life is over. No more spying from the dark corners of some pirate world or government buildibg. I've informed Command that I'm staying out of the field for the foreseeable future."

“I cannot do this Max right now. I spent a year worrying about you making myself ill to the point I was given weekly counselling sessions. I have to go and meet someone.” She whispered patting her self in a reassuring gesture.

Maxun's eyes finally took in the beautiful dress, he had been so focused on her beauty. Then it connected. Of course she had moved on. He couldn't blame her. Slowly standing, he nodded, trying to be brave. "I...I understand. I'm sorry. I hope I didn't delay you. I...I hope you have a wonderful evening."

That said he excused himself, leaving before she saw the tears start to fall.