Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Elsewhere- A Honeymoon

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Daggum Hammor (Chief Operations Officer) in Elsewhere- A Honeymoon

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Elsewhere- A Honeymoon

(snip)

“Uh huh,” Faye said. And though she appreciated his protectiveness, this was not just some random Orion slavemaster. This was a man, for better or worse, that she had fallen in love with. Whatever complications those feelings had created within her, they had been real, even if their relationship had never truly been equal. Kodell had tried to do right by her. Sometimes he had failed, other times he had come through. But either way, she didn’t want harm to come to him, even if she rightfully had difficult things to say. So when she looked at Daggum again, her eyes were intense. “Just… be nice.”

Daggum grunted but patted her arm. “Always… until its time not to be.”

The comm at the gate sounded. “Master Kodell will see you.” A click and the gate slid open, allowing them to walk up to the generous sized double front door, the main walkway flanked by all sorts of plants and flowers. A tall Orion, average in build opened the door and stepped aside to let them in. Faye didn’t recognize him but it was surreal to have such courtesy extended to her. She momentarily wondered if anyone she had known before still worked here though it had been such a long time that she doubted it.

She gave Daggum a brief look and a nod before stepping up the steps and into the house.

Everything gleamed with cleanliness and impeccable care. But just as it always had been, the ostentatiousness of it all wasn’t overdone. There was texture that lent a coziness to even this massive entryway that opened up to a grand staircase that she herself had never been allowed to set foot on.

The man at the door cleared his throat and Faye turned to him. “He’ll be down in a moment.”

“Okay,” Faye said, moving further inside, her memory so visceral that she had to draw in a deep breath. It wasn’t dissociation as she was accustomed to, but she could picture it like it was happening right now. Her walking behind one of the burly security men who had been with them since the processing centre, Cam walking sullenly beside her. Brooding was not even the right word for him then but for once it hadn’t bothered her. She herself was just scared but also determined to live and do as she had promised her father. This would not be the end of her story.

Whereas before Kodell had simply walked away and left the staff to settle the teens into their new ‘home’, this time she heard his ever so familiar footfalls coming down the east staircase (from his office on the second floor no doubt). Her heart starting racing and she tapped her fingers on her thighs for a moment to remind herself it was okay. She had forgotten to bring her necklace with the scent capsule. That was a stupid move.

Kodell was on the shorter side for an Orion, and slimmer too. He had always been taller than her, though Faye had grown a tiny bit taller since she had left. The blue, grey and silver suit was impeccably cut- no surprise there- and those eyes were ever brimming with intelligence. Little escaped his attention. In fact, he took in Daggum first as his steps down the main hallway towards them slowed. And then his gaze settled on Faye, who felt suddenly frozen in place.

Confusion flooded his features until he finally stopped moving and everything shifted into a smile. “It really is you!”

Faye spread out her hands to the side a little. “In the flesh,” she said softly, breaking into a grin. But she twisted at the hips and gestured to Daggum. “Kodell, this is Daggum, my husband. Daggum, Kodell.” She focused on Kodell. “I’ve told him everything,” she said, wanting to be up front. It would (hopefully) make things less awkward with those cards on the table. Or maybe she was kidding herself.

Kodell’s smile remained and was genuine. “Husband. That’s wonderful!” he said. “It’s really good to meet you,” he added, addressing Daggum directly.

~Faye & Kodell

“It’s good to put a face with the name, Kynaz Kodell. I have heard a lot about you.” Daggum said using the formal title for those in positions of wealth and influence. He extended a large hand towards Kodell, never looking away.

Daggum

Kodell shook the hand without hesitation and with equal pressure. It was very intentional. And whether it was who Kodell was or simply because of Faye was hard to say.

“So…” Faye said. Yep, awkward! “Any faces around I’d recognize? I didn’t think so after all these years, but I could be surprised.”

Kodell gave her a warm smile. “Go peek in the kitchen. It’s almost lunchtime.”

Confusion swept across her face for the briefest of moments before her eyes widened and mouth dropped open. “Linella? No way!” Faye gestured with her head for Daggum to follow and she hurried off down the corridor. She hung a right and moved through a large set of doors.

Kodell chuckled and also moved in that direction, but much more slowly, letting Faye have this moment.

Daggum followed behind and as Faye entered the kitchen, he said to Kodell “Nice home. Familial estate, isn’t it? I recognize the crest. The family sponsored a few of my colleagues some years back.”

Inside was a older Trill woman moving about the kitchen and Faye made no small amount of noise entering, clearly startling the cook. Wide blue eyes met Faye’s grey-green ones and the two women stared at each other. But Faye moved first, grateful that Linella didn’t have a knife in hand just now they’d have to worry about her dropping. “Faye?” Faye wrapped her arms around Linella, who reciprocated tightly. “What are you doing here?” Linella said.

“Loose ends,” she murmured. The truth was that Linella had been the closest thing to a mother she had had until her own mother had a wandered back into her life and the woman looked out for and protected Faye. For that and many other reasons, Faye was grateful to her.

~Faye

Daggum smiled and said “And introductions too, I would hope.” and he smiled at Linella over Faye’s shoulder.

Daggum