Returning to the cosmos

Posted on Thu Nov 28th, 2024 @ 5:19pm by Commodore Ledeya ‘Ed’ Ehestri (*) & Commander Christopher Mitchell

Mission: Cosmos
Location: Technology Expo
Timeline: 2398
1254 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Ledeya scanned the bustling café, the quiet hum of conversation filling the air as she searched out the man who had been absent from duty for far too long. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the subtle scent of something a lot more unique filled her with a sense of familiarity that she had missed being out in deep space for the last couple of months.

She spotted him sitting by the window looking out at what she suspected was the Cosmos. She could not help but smile at the thought as she wove her way through the tables and chairs, skilfully avoiding brushing against any of the other patrons.

When she reached him, she paused, observing him quietly. Time had etched itself into his features—subtle lines of weariness that she could not remember being there the last time she had seen him being manhandled into a shuttle for Starfleet Medical assistant. "Is she as clean as you remember?" she asked with a playful smile, referring not only to the stars he was lost in but also to the ship they both knew he was about to return to.

Christopher looked as though he was startled by her comment, only to relax quickly when he realised who it was. "Cleaner. Think it's some new paint they're using." He smiled faintly. "You look like you've been climbing the walls yourself," he noted. "Sorry it took so long for me to get medically cleared. I know you could have headed back out with the ship and crew without waiting for me, but...I appreciate that you didn't."

Ledeya chuckled softly, sliding into the chair across from him. "Cleaner, huh?" she teased. "That'll make the engineers happy." She smiled and looked at him carefully. "You have an experience, Christopher. It was going to take you time to get over being the god that you were." She reminded him as the waitress came and took their orders.

"You're saying I'm not still wonderfully god-like anyway?" he asked with a good-natured smile. "They had me speaking to three separate counsellors, a scientific research fellow, and a strange guy in a black uniform asked me a bunch of really weird questions." He shrugged. "I think I'll be okay. As long as you still trust me?"

"Oh, I do not want to assume anything about you old friend," Ledeya said gently. She had an idea who the strange guy in black was but she did not want him to dwell too much on Section 31 and their motives for the questions.

"That's something, at least."

Ledeya grew silent as the waitress returned with their drinks. She waited till the woman was out of ear shot to answer him properly. "But to answer your question yes I still trust you. But I think you might have issues with one member of the senior team." She hinted quietly picking up her tea to smell the steam coming off of it.

"Yeah." Christopher's brow creased. "I've not been able to speak to her since it all happened. Not that she was particularly talkative most of the time, but..." He sighed. "Maybe I should try to arrange a conversation."

Ledeya smiled at the frown lines on his face. "She was your friend and what happened hurt her despite her best defences." Alexis could be as deep as the oceans of Xindi or as cold as the ice fields of Andoria there was no between in her opinion. "What is the worst that could happen?"

"You're kidding, right?" Christopher chuckled. They both knew Alexis well enough. "Probably sell me to Orions or something." He crossed his arms, a semi-nervous action. "I'll talk to her. Although I'd appreciate if you revoked her access to the airlocks in advance."

Ledeya gave him a patient smile but she would consider her access just to be on the safe side. "I do not believe she has any Orion contacts. They have never been top of her friend's list after what they did to her ex-husband so I believe you will be safe and she had no access to the airlocks on the base." She decided finally to say.

"Yeah..." he sighed, the reluctance still etched into his brow.

"Christopher... she was the one that rescued you. Godlike you thought she would not hurt you because of how much you had put us all through and she took you down with a punch so we could cure you. She then dragged you kicking and screaming to the shuttle to make sure you got there and we could get you to Starfleet Medical." Ledeya admitted thinking of the security officer and her sleepless nights watching over him. "If she did not care she would not have done any of that."

He didn't respond to that at first. It wasn't new information as such, but a reminder of his need to at least apologise and likely thank the woman that had pulled him back from whatever experience that was. "I know." There were no more jibes this time, just a quiet acknowledgement. "I'll talk to her, I promise. And you...you need to get going if you're going to make that Technology Expo, Commodore..."

"I have an hour. I would like to hear more about your adventures with Starfleet Medical and your leave." She encouraged with a soft smile. Anything with technology expo could wait a little bit in her opinion. She was there as a guest and not a speaker or anything official so as long as Minawara did not need her she would be okay.

His attempt to at slyly direct her towards the prior engagement didn't seem to be working, so Christopher just shook his head again. "Hardly an adventure. And I thought you were planning to mingle again? You know they're overdue to give you that promotion to Admiral by now, and if you don't schmooze and do all the political things they'll continue to overlook you."

“I am not going to make Admiral any time soon.” She chuckled. She had only been Commodore for the last 3 years and that had been in a state of emergency. She shrugged. “I do not believe mingling would do myself any good right now.” She shrugged. “But if you are wanting to get rid of me I am happy to leave you to the view.” She teased a little.

"No..." He held out a quick hand, touching her shoulder momentarily. "That wasn't my intention at all. Trying to give back, if anything. You could easily have replaced me while I was off getting un-deity-fied." A faint smile crossed his lips at the expression. "I dunno, I figure I should pay it back by making sure you're not sidelined while Cosmos is in dock."

"Sloan was temporary. We both know any longer and we would have ended up in an alternative universe where day is night with our chief medical officer as my right hand." Ehestri commented thinking on one of her oldest friends. There was only so much either of them could take before the woman needed to go back to her science lab. "I am going to be sidelined either way but that does not bother me in the slightest. I work hard and no matter what I do it will not be recognized and I am okay with that." She touched his hand gently. "How about a walk then?"

"A walk. Well, I think that'll probably do as a compromise," he agreed, offering her his arm.