Posted by Fleet Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Bridge- Post Dinner

Posted by Civilian Sair Songz (Counselor) in Bridge- Post Dinner

Posted by Fleet Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Bridge- Post Dinner
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Alex smiled without looking at Sair and said ” I didn’t say anything about your mother, but I told the crew about your people. The general consensus was that we felt your people had dealt with impending doom for so long; perhaps having a reminder that endings can be amazing and wonderful and beautiful… and that the lessons we learn from those that have gone before us stay with us… so they are never really gone.” and he turned his head and looked at Sair. “We will send all of this to the Federation Diplomatic Corps, and they will present the discovery and the naming to your government.” and he turned back to look at the screen. “I hope this helps your mother, and you, truly understand that no matter our pasts and current circumstances… the universe is an amazing and beautiful place. And that beauty is something we should strive to find every. single. day.“

Cochrane, CO

Today had been an emotional day and it seemed it wasn’t going to change before she went to sleep. But Sair was more steady than earlier and was able to hold back her urge to cry just now. Sair nodded with gratitude and returned her gaze to the screen and to her family. Leaning back in the chair she actually smiled, despite it all.

“I can’t wait for my father to get the recording. I guarantee you by the time he gets here he’ll have a piece written for it.” Sair returned her gaze to Cochrane, speaking softly. “I told my mother about your offer and we had a good chat about it. She wants to stay, even though it’s hard for her to imagine not being on Kobliad. But we both know my father too well- he’ll be on the first transport out he can get. We’ll talk to him hopefully tomorrow.”

~Sair Songz, CNS

“Good.” was all Cochrane said in response. He was silent for a few moments longer and then said “Lights.” and the bridge lights came up to normal levels. “Alright, everyone. We have work to do. Science, please begin cataloging and sorting data into their respective categories. Engineering, get me a read on the gravitational pull of the monster out there and let us see if we can modify another probe for a better look as far inside as we can. Operations, please prep a quick notification to all crew that if they are free, they really should try to get to the observation deck for the show.” and the bridge crew began moving once again. Cochrane looked at Kel and Koro and said “Well? What do you think?”

Cochrane, CO

Kel set the small boy down and turned back to gaze at the captain. “I… am not sure I have adequate words,” she said softly, even as her facial expression was closer to her usual stoicism.

“Not an unusual response at all, Madame.” Cochrane said with a smile.

Meanwhile, Koro ventured closer to the screen and was watching intently, wide-eyed. “It’s eating it!” he said in Kobliad.

Sair laughed, delighted as usual by her son’s exclamations. “Yes, in a way it is.” She got up and joined her son, crouching on one knee. “It’s called a black hole. The same thing that holds us on the ground is pulling those stars inside, except the black hole is so much stronger than what we feel.”

“Where they go when inside?”

She shrugged. “We don’t know. That’s the mystery,” she said with a smile, watching the scene for a moment longer. “Come on Koro. We should get you back to bed,” Sair said, rising to her feet and lifting the boy. “I want to stay!” he protested and Sair just shook her head. “Bed,” she said firmly despite the pout forming on his face. “You should get some rest too,” she said softly to her mother who was also watching.

Kel nodded slowly, eyes still fixed. “I will. I’ll go back to my quarters and come around in the morning.”

Sair reached out and rested a hand on her mother’s shoulder. “Take your time. We’ll call father later.” She leaned in and kissed Kel’s cheek, making the older woman smile. “Sleep well.”

“You too,” Kel said.

Sair moved away and gave Alex a smile and a nod. “Good night, Captain.”

“Counselor.” Cochrane said with a smile and nod.

After Sair slipped off the bridge, Kel looked over at Cochrane. “Would I be in the way if I stayed a few more minutes?” she said, even as she felt the fatigue creeping over her again.

~The Songz Family

Cochrane reached over and patted the seat next to him and said “Stay as long as you wish.” His comms chirped on the arm of his chair and he read some of the latest data. “I swear I should have paid more attention in celestial mechanics class… or been a scientist.” he said and laughed softly.

Cochrane, CO

As she took a seat Kel offered him one of her rare smiles, even if it was small. “You’re still doing better than I am. I have an in-depth knowledge of Kobliad physiology and a firm grasp of genetics, but stars and planets and the like? Not a clue. But is most definitely pretty.”

Kel gazed back at the screen and shook her head slightly. “You know, a long time ago our people did explore. Before we got ourselves into trouble, of course. We had the capacity and the desire, or else we never would have achieved warp drive. But Sair was always curious about everything. It got her into trouble too, but she was just plain delighted by anything and everything. I would sometimes joke with Sal that giving birth to a Super-Celler was like giving birth to someone from a different species. Some days I swear Sair came from a different generation entirely, that she harkens back to those days. It’s pretty rare for any Kobliad to venture too far from our world, for concern of running out of deuridium. But a few people do, for different reasons. A part of me always knew that Sair might be one of them.”

She looked back at Alex, dropping her voice a little so they weren’t overheard on the quiet bridge. “She feels everything very deeply- it’s always been one of her strengths. But on our world, in medicine? You have to inure yourself to a great deal in order to remain standing, to keep fighting for everyone, even when losing ten patients day is pretty normal. And her generation has has it the hardest. They collectively have the worst rates of everything, both mental and physical health related. I know that’s why she had to come out here, I do. I just… I worry. I can’t help it. I’m her mother. She’s used to seeing people die, Captain, but it’s different when it’s someone you love. Promise me you’ll look out for her, and for Sal too however long as he decides to stay?” The stoic expression she had maintained slipped a little, her eyes all but pleading.

~Kel Songz