Posted by Captain Julien King (Captain) in Quarters - La’kia

Posted by Lieutenant Riley Dekker (CNS & 2O) in Quarters - La’kia

(snip)

Riley watched, and listened, to the two former lovers as they spoke and shared. It was an intimate conversation, but years of training and experience allowed the counselor to approach the situation analytically. While the emotions in the room were intense, he was practiced at compartmentalizing when needed.

“I’m hearing a lot from both of you, but I hear certain things that are more concrete. Correct me if I’m wrong, but La’kia, you’re destiny is on Zahara, likely as Chief Elder. I can sense the excitement you feel at this opportunity. Julien, you want an exclusive partnership. You’ve both said more, but those are what I’ve heard as absolutes in your desires. Julien, you can’t ask La’kia to decide if you go to Zahara. That decision is yours. And La’kia, you have to decide if you can accept Julien on your world on his terms.”

Riley marveled for only a moment at the unexpected nature of their discussion. Julien King, Starfleet Captain and reformed ladies’ man was willing to give up his commission, but not his commitment to marriage, and La’kia who had dutifully, if reluctantly, moved into the Captain’s Yacht on the former Genny now stood firm in her prioritization of career. The two friends with whom he sat had long been an exemplar of opposites attracting. At least that hadn’t changed.

Dekker, CNS

Julien looked at Riley with something close to awe. Yet again the counselor had proven his excellence at his profession. Julien knew literally noone who was able to verbalise the underlying truth of a situation so well. The same surprise now dawned in him. Yes, they had both changed so much in those years… away from each other. He looked at La’kia. Would she finally .... finally after all those years make a definite statement about how she wanted her partnership to be? He almost held his breath awaiting her answer.

• Julien King, CO

“I can’t marry… anyone, really, and I don’t ever see that changing,” La’kia said softly. “You’re right Riley, my place is on Zahara. It, and my children, are my life and anyone who becomes a part of my life has to be willing to give up a great deal in order to make it work. I sacrificed much to be who I am now and I just reached a point where everything started to fall into place. I don’t know how I’m going to work everything out”-she placed her hands on her stomach-“and goodness knows everything is going to be in flux all over again when this girl joins us, but I’m just taking it one day at a time.”

She looked at Julien, trying to hold back a profound sadness deep within her. “Gogi- my grandfather Nafisk”-she clarified for Riley’s sake-” passed away just before I left Zahara. At least I got to attend his life celebration, unlike my mother’s and somehow it gave me closure. I didn’t have him in my life all the time, but he was a presence more than most Zaharans have for a male family relation. And I truly am grateful for him.” She gave Julien a deep look. “I want our children to have that sort of relationship with you and I know we can find a solution that will work. But it will take time. It will get easier as each child gets older and doesn’t need to be with me so much, but you’ll have to be patient.” La’kia shook her head. “I’m not asking anything of you that you can’t give Julien. And I need you to understand that I need others to do the same for me.” She was fighting her emotional control at this point and her hormones weren’t helping much. “It’s been… hard, these last couple months. And A’naad didn’t understand that you weren’t coming back. And then I lost Gogi. I just… I can’t give anything more personally, not when I have a whole planet who needs me too. I’m truly glad you have Marishka and it’s actually a relief because I can worry about you a bit less. Because if I have to constantly factor in a mate’s needs constantly too I think I would fall apart from the weight of it all. I’m barely holding it together some days as it is. Part of it is the hormones, part of it is grief, and part of it feeling like I’m being pulled in too many directions. Be with Marishka, if she will make you happy. I won’t lie and say I’m not lonely some days, but right now I need to focus on me, and Zahara and our children. The rest will just have to wait.” Her golden eyes were shining with tears and her words had been heartfelt and sincere. She wanted him to be happy. If that wasn’t with her, then she was okay with that. There was no jealousy- but then again, there never was where a Zaharan was concerned.

“I do want us to at least be friends, for our children’s sake, but you have to stop avoiding me. We can’t work anything out if you hide away from me and can’t even have a conversation with me alone. A’naad and our girl will sense the awkwardness and it will make things that much harder.”

~La’kia, Ambassador