Posted by Fleet Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Deck 4 Garden- A Picnic

Posted by Civilian Sair Songz (Counselor) in Deck 4 Garden- A Picnic

(snip)

“Oh a couple weeks or so. Depends. I’m trusting my motherly instincts on this one,” Kel said lightly.

“Uh huh,” Sair said as she carefully reached for the container with drinks. “Help yourself to water or lemonade.”

“Is that that sweet and sour drink?” her mother asked. Sair nodded and Kel shuddered. “Detestable stuff.”

Alex cooked an eyebrow at her and said “Easy, there. My ship, my rules. And on my ship we don’t yuck someone else’s yum.” and he smiled. “You are on a ship with almost two thousand other individuals representing well over a hundred different species and double that cultures and religious beliefs. Negative statements about things like food, drink, or even color can lead to arguments and even physical altercations. So on most Federation vessels the rule is if you don’t like it, don’t eat it. But never make a comment unless its a positive one.” and popped the last bit of his pastry in his mouth.

Suitably chastised, Kel nodded, realizing only just then how her comment might have sounded. It truly was a different life out here, so far from Kobliad. “My apologies,” she said sincerely.

Kel focused on Alex again. “Anyway, I’ll stay as long as I’m needed and not overstaying my welcome. To be honest, I haven’t had a proper vacation in a very long time and in my books, being here is just that.”

~Sair & Family

Cochrane nodded and swallowed. “Well, you are welcome as long as you’d like. But please keep in mind that the longer you stay, the greater the odds are that we get called to do something. And if that happens, we can’t stop to accommodate travel arrangements.” and he wiped his fingers on a napkin and chuckled. “Not saying you are not welcome. I just don’t want to get stuck here linger than you want.” and he laughed.

Cochrane, CO

A flicker of conflict passed through Kel’s eyes and she shifted her eyes to Sair, who met her mother’s eyes. “I forget. What it is out here, I mean.”

Sair studied her mother for a moment, trying to decipher what she meant. “It’s no different than working in a hospital. You can be on one case and that be your focus, and then suddenly there is a code and you go running. Your focus shifts and you’re elsewhere. The only difference here is that the the ship with all the crew goes where it’s called to.”

“But there is danger out here, so far from home. It’s beautiful, yes, but I can see what the reality could be.” Kel couldn’t help her sad expression but she took in her daughter and grandson before looking at Cochrane. “You’ll have to forgive a mother her worry, Captain. But you have to understand that for Kobliads, our children are the most important thing because for far too many adults, having children is either not possible, difficult or very dangerous. So every child is precious to us. And until the cure was procured and developed, each generation was having fewer and fewer children. Koro is nothing short of a miracle. One of the first few children born free of this terrible disease. I want Sair and him to be happy, but the thought of something happening to them out here is more than a little terrifying. So… I worry.”

Sair honestly didn’t know what to say to that and so just nibbled on her food. It was hard and she knew it would never cease to be.

~Sair & Family