=/\= Aeran III - Sea of Tranquility =/\=
This was the first time in about six months that Athena had been anywhere other than on the base. At least since her shopping expedition with Anya. She stood on the shore looking out over the smooth surface of the water as the wind blew against her. {I've been on a short leash.} She let her thoughts flow threw her mind in whatever random order she wanted as her toes curled in the cooling white sand. {I'm a white dove that yearns to fly but every time I spread my wings; I find that they have been clipped ... making flight impossible.} The sun was beginning its decline in the afternoon sky as she let it warm her skin.
{Dr. Jacobs, chief counselor of the base, wants help... but reorganizes everything I do ... including reassigning all the evaluations.} She uncurled her toes and then wiggled them in the sand enjoying the feel. {I haven't seen Vik since...There hasn't even been a note for..} She sighed and lifted her face to the sun. {Do I believe the bits I've heard here and there.} She bowed her head and ran a hand over her face before looking out over the water. {Is he shacking up with the high-powered blonde official during the negotiations I've been banned from or is he missing in action trying to retrieve intel from a Romulan outpost .... or is that he's died in a border battle.} She shook a little bit and fought back the tears that threatened to flow like a river feeding an ocean.
<<Flashbacks>> Shooters Pub - "Don't get me wrong Viktor's a good guy and I count him as one of a few good friends but he does have a tendency of going too far at times." Anya shouted to the waitress "Tequila, a bottle of it and plenty of glasses, salt and lime."
"Here's to change," Athena said and downed the shot she was holding.
"Seriously though all of the people focusing on him will now focus on you as well. Viktor's just helped kill a shit load of Romulans you don't think they'll not be looking for revenge do you? People will try to get to him through you and people will try and get to you through him."
Charos III - Besides as you're marrying Vik you do know there's going to be much more than just yours and his demands sitting at the negotiation table. You have the Alliance to deal with for a start. They'll want to turn the wedding into a national spectacle...hell they'd probably end up having you married on the steps of Parliament or in the Cathedral." Anya spouted as she finished off the dregs of her beer.
Anya's words had Athena finishing her drink an ordering another one. "Even Generals are subject to the whims of politicians in the Alliance not to mention the time scales involved are all dependant on the level of enemy activity at the time. Trust me he's smarter to not commit to a date at this point than to commit to a date and cancel because of enemy activity or a subversive plot," Anya stood and let Athena lead off.
SB 234 - "Well I hope you enjoyed your shopping trip Miss Xerxes. Your flight clearance is temporarily restricted to local system only with escorts from the security department and Commander you shouldn't wander around by yourself your fiance wouldn't like you getting hurt." With that Lernen turned and limped off.
"Maybe so but don't think even the sight of you naked would put a smile on his face. His son was my former squadron CO and Lernen disowned him for not jumping to his tune and he didn't even show up for his funeral." Anya scowled deeply.
"Maybe so but don't think even the sight of you naked would put a smile on his face. His son was my former squadron CO and Lernen disowned him for not jumping to his tune and he didn't even show up for his funeral." Anya scowled deeply.
Days later SB 234 - "Mimi, relax," Athena said afraid that she'd get jittery just from the strength of the other woman's emotions. "I wanted to thank you for filling in for me when I couldn't get back to the ship and I've read your report and its satisfactory."
"Well, I'd been doing extra studies specifically on children when I was ...." the younger woman's words fell short when she tried to think about how she felt when the orders to report to the Chimera had been given to her.
"When your life was abruptly interrupted by with a new direction and challenge," Athena finished for her. "The truth is I requested you from your academy scores and the studies you were doing. I needed a counselor that could relate to children.... wasn't afraid to work with them and made them feel comfortable." Athena sighed and took a couple sips of tea while that information sunk in. "Believe it or not sometimes when working on a ship ...like the Chimera, you forget how to just be." << End Flashbacks >>
Athena wiggled her toes some more burying them even further into the cooling sand. {How long could this take...one ... five.... ten years?} She took a deep cleansing breath of fresh air and let it out slowly. There was a rustling in the foliage behind her and her head whipped around only to see a small animal scurrying back to where it had come from. {Damn... all those warnings from.... Everyone... are getting to me.} She closed her eyes {Vik... where are you...} She opened her eyes and focused on the mountain in the background on the other side of the water.
{Be positive} she encouraged herself as the breeze fluttered about her shoulders. {Why do we have to have some big affair? Deep breath in...... Don't think about it...... out slowly...} She moved a bit closer to the water and more into the sun and sat down. {IF ... I bothered to listen to any of them I'd .... I'd have to believe that.... that... Don't think that way} she tried to redirect her thoughts. {Deep breath in....} she coached herself {out slowly.} Her lips pursed and she let the a breath out slowly.
{Is he hurt.... no ... stop... he's fine...} A small sigh shuttered out of her lungs and hung in the air. {MIA.... KIA.... or just disinterested... busy.... will I ever see Vik again... has he found someone else ... it could explain why he hasn't contacted me at all in the last 3 months....or is he dead...Stop.... its what you believe.} She took a deep breath in and focused on the mountains, then closed her eyes again taking a picture with her as she began to meditate. {Picture the mountains ... cool and crisp.... breath in .... breath out.... again...} She repeated the steps in her head until finally her breathing was slow and soft. She was as still as the trees and her hair rustled like the leaves on the branches.
=/\= End Log =/\=
Commander Athena Wellington
Chief Counselor
USS Chimera-C (maybe?)
