[USS Renaissance] Snapshots
- From: TKilyle@xxxxxxx
- To: renaissance@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 05:38:47 EDT
Snapshots
by Patrick, Daniel, & Zachan Kabuki, Pila & Andy Maluhia, and Li Nalas and
Vilya
Except for the few days she spent with Ming before she was posted to the
Avalon, Vilya never truly had the experience of living in a normal Human
community. Starfleet was not, she told herself, normal. Then again, she had
no idea
if anyone would call the community Ming's brother lived in 'normal' but it
certainly seemed considerably more domestic and simply more homelike than
shipboard life.
They were outrageously friendly people, the evidence of that starting with
her greeting on the beach by the oldest boy of one of the larger families.
The sweet faced boy led her up to Daniel's house, which he called the
parsonage, happily describing the people and places they passed. When they
finally
got there, it was to find Ming seated on what was called the lanai of the
house, talking to a slightly older Human who was obviously a native of the
area.
"Wow, you really do look a lot like Reverend K," Andy announced as he caught
sight of Ming.
"That, my young friend, is because the other Reverend K is my brother," Ming
said, smiling brightly as Andy handed the baby to him. He glanced at the
other man then reached to muss the boy's hair. "Except, Analu Maleko, I'm the
youngest and your dad tells me you're the oldest."
Andy grinned as his father slipped an arm around his sturdy shoulders. The
resemblance was obvious to Vilya. The boy not only had his father's smile,
but was built like him, too, promising to be a large muscular man when he
reached adulthood.
"Vilya, this is Pila Maluhia, one of the committee members in Daniel's
congregation," Ming said as he drew her closer.
"E komo mai, Mrs. Kabuki," Pila began, taking one of her slender hands in
his large ones as he offered a crooked smile. "Or is it Mrs. Li? I met your
dad, who, by the way, is out fishing with my dad, and he wasn't quite sure."
"Li is for Starfleet and Kabuki is for home so it's Lieutenant Li and Mrs.
Kabuki," she replied, bemused over the thought of her father out fishing. "I
want you to know Andy here was a great help in escorting us up here. You've
got yourself a fine boy."
"Thanks, I like to think so, too. He says he's joining Starfleet once he's
old enough," Pila stated.
"Oh really? You're only ten, Andy," she said, smiling at the boy who was
now hanging over his father's shoulder. "So sure already?"
Andy nodded, even upside down. "Oh yeah but I want to be a Marine. Little
Z-Man can be regular Starfleet if he wants."
"Z-Man?" Ming asked dubiously.
"Our son, at such a tender age, has acquired yet another nickname."
~~~~~~~~~~
Vilya picked her way down the packed dirt path, working her way to the
beach. Ming's sister-in-law Sarah said her husband would be down on the
beach,
taking a break, things Vilya knew Daniel's physician required he take daily.
The family had just returned from Sarah's sister's the night before. Daniel
wasn't at breakfast, prompting one of the children to inform her that 'Daddy
sleeps late sometimes.' Finally, she spotted the man, looking so much like
his
youngest brother, leaning up against a tree with his long legs stretched out
in front of him.
"Daniel?" she called softly. Are we disturbing you?"
Daniel put away the book he'd been reading and waved her over. "Never,
especially since I see my new favorite nephew is with you. Come have a seat
and
enjoy the view."
She put down the basket she was carrying but, before she could sit, Daniel
sat up further so that he could take Zachan from her. "Thanks," she said
simply as she patted the basket. "Lunch for you. Sarah said if you don't eat
then she's going to tell your mother."
Daniel snorted in outright amusement. Tickling his nephew under the chin,
said, "A bit of information for you, Zachan: Grandma K hates when people skip
meals. You, my boy, have that adorable baby chunkiness so she won't pick on
you. I know she's got t'be just loving you."
Vilya laughed brightly at that. "You got it exactly so eat lunch with
us--or me really since the little prince has already eaten."
"In a minute," Daniel said softly. His blue eyes were drinking in his
nephew's every feature. "He's beautiful, Vilya. God's blessed you and my baby
brother."
"Very true." There was no reason to argue her Prophets or his God. The
intent was the same and she knew he and Ming preached that. "He's such a
sweet
baby, already used to so much attention."
"I wouldn't worry about that, Vilya. He'll stay a good boy. His parents
are too sensible to let what he means to Bajor get to his head," Daniel told
her. He pressed his nose to the baby's wispy red hair. "Lord but I love that
smell."
"Why do you think Daddy's stayed with us?" she asked. "Bad enough to be the
Narvach when he just wants to be Grandpa Nalas but he says it's not fair to
put that pressure on his grandson, on a teeny baby. He adores this boy."
"Your dad's funny, Vilya. He doesn't seem to mind that my bunch is calling
him 'Grandpa', too." He laughed as he reached, one handed, into the basket
to see what his wife packed. "And they already have two full sets of
grandparents."
"Here--hand him back so you can eat," she fussed as she reached for the
baby. Settling him so that he could see his uncle, she added, "I noticed
that,
too. I know the whole way Daddy returned to us makes you and Ming
uncomfortable but it came down to him wanting to see Zachan grow up. He says
if he's
going to be a grandfather then he's going to be a grandfather."
~~~~~~~~~~
"You know," Daniel cajoled, "you four could just stay here with us on
Kauai."
He was walking them to the ferry dock. They'd take the ferry to the
mainland and head to the Fleet transit area, from which they'd head to Vilya's
new
assignment. ' Renaissance', both her father and Daniel agreed, had good
portent attached to its name. Of course, the man also made it clear that he'd
miss
them mightily.
"Think about it, little brother," Daniel continued. "The folks here have
taken a shine to you, you and I work well together, Dad and Mr. Li get on like
old friends..."
"We'll be back to stay one day," Vilya told him. "All of us."
Her father chuckled at that. "After all, how could a man not visit six
grandchildren he never had before?"
"Better make that seven, sir," Daniel said, clearing his throat lightly even
as his face flushed with pleasure and pride.
"Daniel!" Vilya exclaimed even as Ming hugged his brother. "Sarah never
said anything."
"That's because she just told me," Daniel replied, still grinning like an
idiot, "a little happy news to start your trip."
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