Posted by Civilian Karina Enger (Director of Education) in It’s been too long

Posted by Civilian Jordar (Director of Building and Construction) in It’s been too long

Posted by Civilian Karina Enger (Director of Education) in It’s been too long
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
“Alright Rondara, go unpack your bags and make sure that Squip has enough to eat.” Jordar said as he unslung a heavy bag from his shoulder and watched as his now 10 year old daughter and her pet Mellanoid Slime Worm made their way into the house, and quickly as said Slime Worm began to try and eat the coffee table “Get him off of that before I throw him into the sea!” Jordar exclaimed as Rondara turned and rolled her eyes at her father, “You know they evolved from aquatic life right? That would probably make him happier…” Rather than get into another fight with his tween daughter Jordar let out a long breath and said, “Just make sure you two are settled in, I’m going to go find Karina.” Rondara took off her jacket and tossed it on the couch, “Good luck dad, she’s probably already moved on. So nice of you to you know, call her or send a single letter....” She said with trademark sass, from her age and her mixed heritage it would be a wonder if Jordar came out of her teen years alive.

She did though have a point.

It had been over a year, no contact, no more an explanation than “I need to focus on my daughter” and he picked up and left. Sure he had relinquished his post and needed to vacate the colony. No use for a former captain and lieutenant governor mucking up the works. He was never an easy man to work with, especially with diplomacy or anything requiring tact. He was a proud Zaldan! Politeness and courtesy were signs of insult, not signs of kindness. He always got along with the Tellarite delegations or businessmen rather well, as they were a species he could really understand and get behind. It had taken quite a lot for him to hold down his command, his status on the colony, but it was never a good fit.

Karina? She just ‘got’ him. She understood him, and he understood her, but he was getting too close so what did he do? He ran away.

Jordar pulled a small chip from his breast pocket and rolled it across his fingers as he walked back towards the shuttle craft the two had used for the move. The chip, was an ordinary isolinear chip in which was contained a few simple lines of text. “Computer, locate and transport this chip to Karina Enger” He said as he held his palm flat and the shuttle’s computer replied, “Acknowledged” as the chip swirled out of existence in a cloud of teal energy.

It would materialize wherever Karina was, a few inches away on a flat surface conveniently close by. It had no trappings, no wrappings, nothing special to draw her attention, but if she were to put in an a PaDD or console it would read out as follows:

“I think it’s time you were the one to throw me in the pool. Care for a swim?”

–Jordar–

Where was Karina? Sitting on a bench in Sloan Square, finishing her coffee before heading back to her apartment. It was a rare thing, but she had managed two days this month of leaving her office on time. She didn’t know what time do with an open schedule.

A small isolinear disk appeared on the bench next to her. Her brow rose slightly. Before she could pick it up, her Oedian guard took it. After the attack on Attache Jones, security had been tightened.

The man scanned the chip, then plugged it into a micro PaDD he had in his pocket. Seeing the message he turned the PaDD toward her. “I know who it is from. Can you tell me the location it was sent from?” Karina asked. Could it really be Jodar? Was he back on Oed? No word, no warning? She had accepted he had to focus on Rondara, but she had still been disappointed. But to come back and not tell her he was coming?

She would do more than toss him the pool! Though that was a delightful memory. He was returning very quietly. She hadn’t seen Rondara’s school enrollment yet. Not that she watched for it. Her eyes narrowed and she tapped her foot.

The officer gave her the location. She took the disk and her coffee and turned toward the shuttle port as her shadows became shadows again.

She e tired the port and scanned the area looking for him or a shuttle that was still powered on with an open hatch.

Enger, DOE

Rondara was blasting what passed for pop music these days and Jordar meanwhile did his best to ignore the thumping through the walls. In 2400, you’d think that sound deadening would be more advanced but kids were kids, and sound was sound.

He rolled his eyes a little as Squip made its way across the living room, eyes on the plant he had just set down and Jordar gave the worm a stern look. Squip trilled and cooped before it slunk off down the hall to go curl up on Rondara’s bed.

He made his way out to the shuttle, still powered on in case Karina were to come looking. Rondara was right though. He didn’t stand much of a chance did he? But it was worth a shot at least.

He took off his jacket, wearing just his shirt and tie as he slung the jacket over his shoulder, leaning on the shuttle as if he were in an ancient earth romance movie. Truth be told he forgot that moving did indeed build heat and trying to move a household in a suit wasn’t the brightest idea.

—Jordar, DOBC—

Karina spotted him immediately as he sauntered his way over to the shuttle and leaned against it. He didn’t look quite right in a suit and tie. Jodar had always been more hands on, but, what was that saying? He cleaned up nice. She stayed in the shadows watching him for a few moments. She should make him squirm, but she couldn’t deny how her heart raced and the smile that crossed her face.

Well, he should squirm. She had gotten letters from Rondara, but none from Jodar. Maybe she had been more invested than he had been. Well he couldn’t just saunter his way back into her life like he hadn’t been gone.

Years of working with children kept her expression neutral as she walked towards him and stopped well out of arms reach. “Oed does not have enough pools to throw you in. And if my memory serves, and it does, that was an ocean, and Oed definitely does not have one of those.”

She paused and stared at him, “You would like that. Maybe I should toss you out a shuttle and you can try sky… sky diving.”

Enger, DOE

And there she was. As beautiful as the day he last saw her, and as biting and honest as ever. Why hadn’t he written? Rondara had, they had talked father and daughter enough about those letters but he never had directly. “Your memory is sharp and your words sharper. I have a shuttle here, care to join me on a flight?” He remarked as he turned to face her. It was as close to an apology that she would get, admitting that she was right and that he deserved to take a dive out of the shuttle.

Did her surprise show? An apology? He must be feeling guilty. Good, he should. She looked from him to the shuttle and then around. As if silently asking him if he really thought she was going anywhere alone with him.

it was indeed a long shot and Karina’s internal monologue was playing his tune in perfect pitch. He did feel guilty, he did hope she would go with him, if not in a shuttle but even just a walk.

“You look well.” He said a little lost for words. He had no right to just pretend nothing had happened, or that the last year and a half of silence hadn’t happened. “How is the school?”

—Jordar, DOBaC—

Karina did not look good, and she knew it. Long night’s, very little down time, meals on the go, and the stress. It showed and she knew it. Though she couldn’t help the thrill that he thought she looked good. Jodar wasn’t one to give false compliments. Unless he had changed a lot.

Whether she looked tired and worn down wasn’t the question, Jordar was always one to look past that. It was true, she had bags under her eyes and a slight slouch from one too many late night, but that’s not what he had meant. It wasn’t a false flattery to see that she was fulfilled in her work, tired because of it, but having great success.

“The school is excellent. Competitive, fully staffed, with a waiting list of applicants and students. The university is the same.”

“Why are you back?”

Enger, DOE

“I’m glad to hear it. I’m sure that’s why I haven’t heard back on Rondara’s paperwork, it was submitted two weeks ago, I’m sure your staff is busy handling it.” He stated, finding it interesting that she hadn’t seen it. Perhaps it had just been a mistake or Rondara’s streak of misbehaviors and new interest in dating (although Jordar thought her still far too young for that mind you) had impacted her performance.

“We had a colony ship of 10,000 arrive a month ago. Roughly half are children. Our admissions process has slowed down. There will always be a place for Rondara.” No matter what her attitude or behavior, Karina knew Rondara was intelligent, creative, and curious. Karina would fight for her as if she were her own child.

“I was needed. Since leaving the colony as Lieutenant Governor and resigning my commission I was asked to take on the Directorship of the Building and Construction divisions by the civilian government.” He said as he put his jacket back on and buttoned it casually.

“Also, I had unfinished matters to attend to.” He said with a slight pause. He asked the next couple of questions bluntly as always but in a rare case, he was afraid of the answer. “Are you dating? Do you have any intimate partners?” The implication was clear as day as he leaned his back on the shuttle, one foot on the ground the other on the hull, hands tucked into his jacket pockets.

—Jordar, DOBaC—

Her brows rose in that, are you serious look she got when Rondara would say something totally illogical as if everyone should just accept it and move on. Karina was an ‘unfinished matter.’ It was pretty clear it was finished. She wasn’t really angry at him, more disappointed with how it turned out. So what did he want to finish about it? “The answer to the first is, no.” Who had time for that with the demands on her time. Karina wanted to make him squirm, but he knew when she was lying so saying yes would have been no good. “The answer to the second is none of your business.” Hmmm, that should have been her answer to both. Jodar knew she might casually date, but she wasn’t into casual encounters. So given that, he had his answer didn’t he?

“And you? Is that why you called me here? To make sure I don’t make things awkward for your new partner?”

Enger, DOE

Jordar nodded happily, a smile growing on his face, knowing the biting remarks were the truest expression of her feelings and to a Zaldan that was the highest compliment he could be paid. It also set the stage perfectly. “No friend, the answer to the first is no, there has been no one besides you. And the answer to the second? Quite the same as the first. Would you join me for a stroll and a cup of tea? I read that with the new colonists there are some highly regarded cafes I’d like to try.” He said with a wide grin as he opened his arms to her, hoping but not convinced she’d come in for an embrace.

He had been given briefings on the state of the colony before he took the civilian job, knowing full well the status of the schools, the developments, and the plans.

—Jordar, DOBaC—