<USS Avalon> Akhla Skyler, shulama la (Without Skyler, my love) by Ensign Mehdi Idrys

"Akhla Skyler, shulama la (Without Skyler, my  love)"
by Ensign Mehdi Idrys
The sun was setting, painting the San Francisco  skyline an iridescent red, 
as Mehdi Idrys walked down the streets of Fisherman's  Wharf, his mind reeling 
from the recent turn of events. 
They just came and took James and Lyryn. Our  friends. Now what's this news 
about another Captain? Ketchum being taken away  from the Avalon? He knew that 
somehow they would adapt to the situation but  it wouldn't be easy. And now 
Skyler had gone off to speak to the new  Captain.
Alone. I don't like it at all. I mean sure  there are people as far as the 
eye can see, but still ... akhla Skyler, shulama  la. Hmpf, lapsing into my 
native Trill again. Guess it's symptomatic of  downtime. Something I've never 
understood ... if we're supposedly so damned  egalitarian and all in Starfleet, 
why the hell do they foist English on us as  though that's better than any 
other 
language? Sometimes I wonder if all this  talk about IDIC is really worth the 
powder to blow it to hell.
He stopped and shook his head. It just doesn't  feel right without her. I'm 
just not right, not whole, without her.
Familiar footsteps sounded from behind and then a  pair of soft hands slipped 
over his eyes. "A paisa for your thoughts,  Mehdi."
For the first time since Skyler had left, he had to  laugh. "Rupa. I'd 
recognize that voice anywhere." He turned around. "Just be  careful, though ... 
if 
Skyler had come walking down the street just now and  caught you like that, 
there would've been j'halnaa (hell) to pay  for the both of us."
"Oh, are you that sure? Anyhow, you looked like you  could use some company. 
How's your leave been so far?"
"Mph ... could be better, could be worse. Right now  I don't know what to 
think. You heard about the new CO?"
She nodded. "Here think Lakshmi Nurse, Flubb  Captain odd very seems."
"Telling you're me." He shuffled nervously. "So how  has your leave been?"
"Oh, I felt so at home here. I just came from  having a wonderful dinner over 
at Lotus Cuisine."
"The Indian restaurant over in San Rafael? Good  Lord, it's been ages. I 
didn't know the place was still there."
"Oh, yes, business is booming. Same fine food, fine  wine and excellent 
service as ever. That's what made the place a permanent  fixture here in the 
city."
He nodded. "I must go there with Skyler sometime. I  was going to recommend a 
trip to Scoma's but ..." He shrugged. "Oh well."
"You miss her, don't you?"
"Absolutely. It's just not the same without her. I  just wish she'd return."
"Then why didn't you go with her? Or did she  'order' you to stay here?" 
Lakshmi gave an impish grin.
"Ensign Rupa Priyadarshini Lakshmi, you are SO out  of line ..."
"What, are you going to call Commander Sierra and  have me thrown in the brig 
and court-martial me for insubordination or  something?" She stuck her tongue 
out at him.
He sighed and mentally rolled his eyes.  Rushta'a (Gods), but this hal'ma 
(nurse) was such a living  zal-mukh (trial). "No, she didn't tell me to stay. I 
did sense,  somehow, she wanted to handle this herself. You know what it is 
with some  people, men as well as women ... 'Thanks very much for the support, 
but I'll  fight my own battles.' And I think that whatever she's up to, right 
now she  wants to do just that. After all," he sighed, "if she does need my 
help, she can  always comm me."
She nodded. "Well, say hello to her for me when she  gets back. I hope for 
your sake that isn't long. Until our leave's over, and see  you in Medical?"
"Until then. See you in Medical."
Lakshmi walked off to wherever her journey might  take her next and Idrys 
kept walking on his own route through the wharf area,  gazing upward as the 
stars 
gradually became visible in the ever-darkening sky  above as twilight 
gradually yielded to night. Akhla Skyler, shulama la,  'illa su qan, 'illa su 
qaf'laran (Without Skyler, my love, I am nothing, I  am incomplete), he thought.
The twilight turns from  amethyst
To deep and deeper  blue,
The lamp fills with a pale green  glow
The trees of the avenue.  
The old piano plays an  air,
Sedate and slow and  gay;
She bends upon the yellow  keys,
Her head inclines this way. 
Shy thought and grave wide eyes and  hands
That wander as they list --  -
The twilight turns to darker  blue
With lights of amethyst. 
The familiar words resounded in his mind as he set  off, he knew not towards 
where. 
Ensign Mehdi Idrys,  MD
Imzadi and husband to Commander  Skyler-Idrys
Assistant Medical Officer, USS Avalon  NCC-27926-B
Captain Joseph Flubb, Commanding  Officer
Celestial Prime Alliance Sim  group
Admiral Gem Rhee, Founder /  Commander-in-Chief

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