The Visit

Posted on 16 Jun 2024 @ 3:41am by Lieutenant Leland Hawksley

1,723 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: S04 Episode 01 Captive State Part 2 (Incidentals)
Location: StarBase 54, Promenade
Timeline: Current

[ON]

= The Hawksleys' =

=/\= Incoming Communication: Leland Hawksley =/\= The computer alerted throughout the executive quarters, half darkened with clothes strewn about. Lilliana was out, so Hawksley decided to take a nap.

"UUgghhhh…" Leland exhaled as a hardcover book was
opened and spread over his face. He was awakened
from the pleasant sleep he was having. He was still tired but still had a permanent grin, remembering the good time with Lilli earlier. The grin would not subside. He was beginning to feel whole with himself, and outer space no longer felt like the cold void it was now that he was married.

Leland raised himself from the sleeping position as he
was sprawled out on the sofa. The book slid off his face, and an according thud was heard as it hit the floor.

"Computer open com link to the incoming message," Hawksley
grunted. He immediately thought of grabbing a mug of coffee, just about now.

=/\= Subspace Communications Open: =/\=

=/\= LEEEEEE-LANNNND!!! =/\= An obtrusive, climatically toned welcome was heard. It could have almost blown out the
room's speaker system. Hercules, Leland's AI golden retriever, raised his ears at the cacophony of noise.

Just then, a thin line of sweat formed on his forehead.

It was Nicole, his sister. He had no idea why she had shown up to the station, as he had received most packages from home during prior shore leaves with no threat of family intervention.

A panic attack began to race through his heart, beating profusely. How!? Earth was lots and lots and lots of hours AWAY!

"She didn't?"

"She couldn't? Why?"

"Nicole!" Leland stated, trying to calm himself. "What… What are you doing here!"

=/\= It is a surprise visit, you silly wanker! =/\= She giggled in reply. =/\= Aren’t you happy my little brother?! =/\=

"..I.. wha.." He was at a loss for words as he looked about the room. He, Lilliana. They were both in no shape to host anyone right now. A lot was going on with the Tomcat refit and the baby on the way.

He enjoyed family. "That's the older brother to you. Don't you forget that!"

However, just not when they showed up unexpectedly or whenever they showed up at all.

=/\= I asked!! Are you happy!! I was on Caprica Prime shopping when…=/\= She started a long-winded rant as she always loved to hear herself speak.

"I.. Uugh.. NO!" Leland jumped up from the sofa. "Don't
come over! I'll meet you. I haven't seen the station yet."

It was a safe excuse. Besides, he didn't want anyone to see or meet him while he spent time with his older sister! She often rambled and told stories about nothing out of thin air to very oblivious strangers.

=/\= OoooooOOkkkkKKK!!” =/\= Nicole replied with an elongated, dramatized sigh. =/\= But don't make me wait long!!! Sitting here alone on the promenade with my luggage isn't charming. =/\=

Leland furrowed a brow, and his jaw dropped open. "Did you say luggage!?"

The promenade. Nicole had to pick the most crowded place at the station to meet him.

"Ok. I will meet you in 10 minutes…" Leland replied, cutting the comlink off short. The quicker he met her, chatted for a tiny bit, which would seem like a century. Leland then could return to the Tomcat operations, hiding in the operations facility, engrossed in his work for the rest of his base stay!


= Scene: Starbase Promenade =


The Starbase was like any time he had shore left here at 54. A station, was a station.. was a station. There were some bustling groups of people here and there. Although there was never anything 'worldly' or unique about them, they remained stationary, unlike star ships in space. That was all. They barely had engines, which he didn't like at all.

Walking down the station's concourse, Leland kept his head down towards the ground, not wanting to be sidetracked. He passed by one of the popular bars on the station. Although he liked his beer, he wasn't much of a drinker. He made a mental note to grab a drink later at the bar alone.

"Nicole." Leland walked up behind her. She was seated in what was somewhat of a 'town square' with park benches and foliage, which looked like it was from a typical North American forest on the promenade.

"LEE-LAND!!!" She smiled and turned around. Then, holding out her arms, she hugged tightly and dropped her shopping bags to the floor.

Leland had a genuine smile. He was relieved to see her and returned the hug somewhat reluctantly. He was not precisely a 'touchy-feely' type of person.

"So how lo… I mean, what are you doing here?" Leland asked.

"Well, I decided that I needed to take some time off. My doctor advised me that my stress levels were too high," she said as they began to walk down the corridor, leaving her luggage and shopping bags. We should walk to the cargo checkouts. That's where your packages are." She advised them to walk down a different hall.

"I am sorry to hear about the explosion on that ship you're working on!" Nicole shook her head, unaware of the danger it caused.

Leland furrowed a brow.

"Oh.. well, I try telling myself it is just a retrofit."

"And I am sorry to hear about your holodeck time trials with the Federation Sailing Association (FSA)." Nicole knew how Leland enjoyed his sailing racing. Suppose he wasn't an engineer but could make a professional career out of it. He was even offered sponsorship by an El-Aurian Brandy company.

"I mean, since I have been off the pressure. I had Celtius II Heat Trials, The Risean Annual Regatta, and the Olympics qualifier next week."

"I am glad," Nicole replied. "How is mom and dad?"

"How am I to know? You live with them."

"Sydney, Leland. I'm living in Sydney now. And if you read my messages!!! Have you? Have you been reading them, Leland?" Nicole huffed, stopping and placing her hands on her waist. "You would know that I am dating a MAN. I am seeing a MAN." She emphasized the MAN part.

"Ok! I know. What's his face…" Hawksley didn't remember. He wanted to remember it since it was important for Nicole.

"FAS'HA. Senator Grill Fas’Ha of Elore 4. He is overseeing a Federation Committee on Earth. So I decided to jet out to see you!!! OMG, it is you in the flesh. What has it been, Leland? Honest. It's been 3 years since we met face-to-face! My god, time flies.." Nicole's blue eyes glistened in thought.

"They were well the last time I talked to them. I haven't had much time to visit. You know how it is now that I am married!"

"Dad is working on some environmental emergency at
the polar ice caps, they think it could be another ice age or something.." Nicole scoffed. "I don't keep track of nonimportant information. As for Mom, she has been working on some bills to be passed through the Earth Council. They send their best wishes and want to know how many more years before you will be home?"

"OMG… I am white hot, ready to meet your gorgeous Wife. We've all seen the pictures from your wedding on the Tomcat Holodeck at Niagara Falls. It was touching. Well. Not touching. We. Us. Your family couldn't touch you on your wedding day. We viewed you." She shrugged. Ok. She still was annoyed that she didn't have time to fly to the Tomcat for his and Lilliana's wedding. That was not Leland's worry at the moment.

Leland shrugged and then grinned. "I'm having such a good time out here."

"Yes.." She gave a long pause. "So you wouldn't come home for some vacations or anything like that shortly?" she asked another question slowly as the conversation slowed.

"Well, I would love to, too. But that all depends on ongoing missions. Starfleet is certainly not an overnight job." Hawksley stopped and replied, somewhat sensing some resentment toward him.

"I see," she replied. Then, she conjured a silence. That was about the time they reached the station's inbound cargo facility. Leland was expecting a small box again of maple cookies, which his mother had made, along with a knitted toque hat for him to wear in the coldness of space. His mom was quirky and overprotective, but he was comforted by her consideration, which always made him feel warm inside.

"This time, they decided to send something different. There wasn't much time before I decided I would leave." Nicole grabbed some baggage below.

To Lelands' astonishment, the care package his parents lovingly sent this time included his hockey stick—his cherished one that he played with at home on the outdoor ice rink at their cottage.

He picked up the stick and eyed it conspicuously. It had all his battle scars, and the maple wood stick withstood the test of time. It was his. His glory.

"I haven't used this one in over 15 years! This came from the cottage?" He slowly said. "I can't wait to try this out."

Finally, Nicole's anger broke out. "Maybe if you were home and taking care of your parents as well, then maybe you could use it more often."

Nicole held her hand to her face, trying to calm herself down. "I just don't get it. You left off for Starfleet for years and completely disregarded your family at home."

Leland stood there, holding the hockey stick in shock at what he had just heard.

"Listen." Nicole began to rub her temple. I am not supposed to be stressed at all or anything. "I've got to go…" She started walking away.. and then stopped.

"Oh. And next time you come home. Don't leave it every three
years." And then walked off, trying to leave with an upper hand.

Hawksley stood there and ran his fingers over the hockey stick. Maybe she was right. He rubbed out the thought and then got massively irritated at his sister.

Walking back to the Starbase bar, Leland sat there near the tender. He twiddled the hockey stick in his hands and then nodded at the bartender.

"Cold mug of any kind of beer, please!" Leland rubbed one side of his face.


[OFF]

 

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