<FWG> Re: (USS Meridian) "All My Little Words"
- From: Jason Ziredac <ziredac@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: fwgalaxy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 00:29:01 -0800 (PST)
From that opening line, I thought we were suddenly in a Final Fantasy IX sim.
Good log, guys.
Brad Ruder <kylepiercecpa@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: From the USS Meridian...
"All My Little Words"
by Rear Admiral Kyle Pierce
& Lt. Commander Vivica Christian
"Vivi!"
She heard her mother calling her. Vivica turned to look over her shoulder,
squinting in the sunlight. It was just beginning to make its descent for the
evening, hovering in that moment as if deciding whether or not to procede
toward the horizon. A grimy hand brushed across her forehead, pushing back the
scarf that held her hair off her face, the mass of curls that she vainly
attempted to keep in check.
Her brow furrowed as she made out the figure of her momma and another making
their way down the garden path. Vivica patted the dirt around the Bisinian
violet in its new home and stood, dusting the dirt off the knees of her jeans.
She pulled off her gloves and flexed her right hand out of habit, attempting to
alleviate the numbness of her old Starfleet injury as her mother approached.
Vivica looked up just in time to gather the familiar impression of the
visitor. And in that moment her heart stopped. Kyle? Her former captain? Her
almost... lover? The one who shunned her over appropriate behaviour between an
officer and subordinate?
She hadn't spoken to him in over four months. A very painful four months.
Just as she was moving on, learning that a heart can mend, forcing herself to
accept her disability and know she'd never play piano again... Here he came
dredging up those memories in a split second, a moment wrenched from time and
suspended indefinitely within her aching spirit.
"Vivi!" Her mother smiled, "You have a visitor, dear."
Momma, don't you realise who this is? Don't you know this is the man I cried
over, gave my heart to? Oh, momma...
Kyle's bag hung delicately on his hip. The one lone item that he packed in a
rush to make the shuttle on time. It carried all his essentials, but the most
essential thing of all to him was standing just meters away from him now. God,
she was beautiful even covered in grime and muck. She managed to pull it off
magnificently.
His words caught in his throat, the malicious lump lingering there not
allowing him to form any words. It was just like the first time, it was just
like Alondra. After what seemed like an eternity he managed to gain a breath.
"Hey," he struggled out, "It's been a long time."
"Aye, that it is, Captain." She managed a small smile, unable to imagine why
he was here.
"You'll have to join us for dinner," Vivica's mother insisted. "I'll be
inside if you need me, darlin'." She gave Vivica a quick hug conveying the
strength of years and began her walk back up the path toward the house.
"She likes you. Not everyone gets invited for her renowned pot roast."
Kyle nodded with a chuckle and watched as Vivica's mother disappeared back
into the house. There was another moment of eternal silence, and then he put
the bag down on the ground. "I love a good pot roast."
Where was he to start? Should he start by telling her of his love for her and
apologizing for making such a horrible mistake? Or would it be better to talk
of work and Starfleet and leave the complexities of their relationship - or
current lack thereof - until later? "So, what have you been up to?" He
continued, unable to decide on the best course of action.
"Healing," she said simply.
"Yeah..." his voice trailed off, the uncertainty of the situation ultimately
present. "I see you're doing some gardening. Azaloni Orchids? Rarity in these
parts."
"New pasttime. The doctors were quick to suggest a new hobby since piano
wasn't exactly my forte any longer." Vivica nodded towards the path and they
started down it side by side.
"I have to ask... why are you here, Captain?"
Kyle smirked in his own glory, the humble stature that he had so thoroughly
maintained through the years slipping away momentarily. "Admiral, now,
actually. Meridian was bumped to the flagship of the second fleet near the
front lines. We lost a lot of people in the last skirmish so we're in orbit of
Clarion IV receiving new supplies and personnel."
"Congratulations." A well of pride bubbled in her heart.
The path weaved up around a tree and down a small embankment. A narrow brook
ran steadily with the musical accompaniment of water rippling lightly off the
rocks that made up its sides. He stopped on the foot bridge and leaned on the
cold wood. "We need you, Vivica. Engineering just isn't the same anymore. Don't
get me wrong, Lieutenant Langston is doing his best, but he is no Vivica
Christian by any means."
"I appreciate the compliment, sir, but circumstances haven't changed. It's
still a medical issue." Silence descended as they watched the brook. "And a
heart issue," Vivica added softly.
"As far as your hand is concerned, Vivica, it isn't an issue. We're gaining
Lieutenant Ethan Chastain from the Lovisa. He's one of the most accomplished
neurologists and nerve specialists in the fleet. I've already talked to him
about your hand. His exact words were 'She'll be tickling those ivories by the
end of the week'."
A thrill of excitement coursed through her veins at his words. Hope filled
her for the first time in months.
He looked out over the horizon and took in the scene, letting the words and
their impact slowly set in. He had more aces up his sleeve, but he hesitated to
use them. On some level, Kyle partially wanted her to return upon her own
volition, but he was determined nonetheless to have her return.
"I'm... unsure what to say."
"Say that you'll leave with me in the morning."
A laugh burst from her lips. She chuckled while looking out over the horizon.
"I'm sorry... it's just so much like you to swoop in and expect everything to
fall into place in twelve hours. End of mission." Vivica continued to chuckle
lightly. "I love you for it," she sighed.
He leaned over, attempting to make eye contact, smiling as he did so. "So,
is it mission accomplished?"
"No." She shook her head loosening some curls from her scarf. "It's not that
easy. I may be a curious creature, but I'm not curious enough to jump in head
first to a tar pit. It's not that simple, Kyle."
Vivica took a deep breath and moved over to the tiny wooden foot bridge to
lean against the rail. "I can't accept a job knowing that my feelings for you
are going to interfere with that job. We dated, me under the impression that
our rank wasn't an issue. We took months to get to know each other. I respected
you, your spirit and dedication... I fell in love with you. When that love was
tested... well, it didn't pass the "It can't go any further than this because I
outrank you" test."
She turned and stared down the stream as it gurgled and tumbled by, oblivious
to the pain of those around it. "You know I don't play games, so I just have
to lay it out for you as I see it. I'm sorry."
"I know that..." he stopped, unsure of what to say. She was right at the
heart of it. His dedication to duty was never the problem, but it was his
excuse. It was his excuse to detach, to forget about his feelings, to lay it
out as neither of their problem. It was professional duty. "I'm sorry. I am.
And I was wrong. I allowed the feelings I had for you to scare me into making a
decision that I've regretted for four months. But please, for Starfleet, don't
let that affect your service to the Meridian."
"I don't work like that, Kyle. You know me. You know that every emotion I
have plays across my face. I don't compartmentalize. I'm not that girl. I'm
sorry. I just can't accept your position under those circumstances. However...
I know what status the Fleet is in. If this doctor of yours is as good as you
say... Well, I may be inclined to accept a commission on another ship."
He shooked his head vehemently. "No, it's the Meridian. We need the best
engineer the fleet has to offer, and that's you. What do you want from me,
Vivica? Do you want me to throw myself on the mercy of the court and beg for
forgiveness? Do you want me to confess my undying love for you? I can... and I
will... if that's what you want."
"I want to be your wife." Vivica blinked as soon as the words left her mouth,
eyes wide.
Kyle stopped dead in his tracks, and that was saying something as he wasn't
moving at all. He blinked, his mind racing to comprehend the words that had
just said. "W-what?"
"It wasn't a condition or an ultimatum. You asked what I wanted and that's
what I want." She looked down. "At one time I thought you may want that as
well."
Vivica chuckled sadly. "You see, I was always taught that you don't give
your heart to just anyone. I've never loved anyone else in this way. I've never
slept around. I waited and waited for something special. I knew that's what God
wanted for me. This felt right. Even now, after all we've been through, to me,
it feels right.
"I could be entirely off the mark here and it wouldn't be the first time. But
that's how I feel about you, Kyle." Another moment of silence. "I'm not asking
for you to feel the same way. Do you understand now why I can't accept this
job?"
"I do."
She nodded once. "So, you ready for dinner?"
"No, that's not what I meant. I want that too. I want to be with you."
Vivica turned to face him as she had began walking away. "You what?"
There was a pregnant moment as he gathered his thoughts. He looked down at
the babbling brook, taking a momentarily solace in their simplistic nature,
and then looked at her. "I want to be with you," he repeated in a quieter tone.
Kyle took a step towards her, taking her soft, delicate hands in his and kissed
them. "Regulations be damned. Come back. Stay with me."
Vivica wanted to ask what that all meant. She wanted the terms of this
arrangement in perfect calculations for the engineer she was. After too long a
moment, she realised all of those thoughts had just played across her face.
"Momma won't like that one bit, you know. Me leaving that is. I suspect she
likes you just fine. Except you'll probably be getting some sort of talking
to." And now I'm babbling.
"It's worth it." Kyle smiled, not letting her hands go and staring deeper
into her eyes than before. "There are so many things to say, so many things to
share, but the only thing that is important now is my love for you."
She looked into his eyes as she had so many times in so many dreams... "I
keep waiting to wake up and pee." The absurd statement was accompanied by an
embarrassed chuckle.
He laughed, brushing a lock of hair away from her eye. "It's not a dream.
This place, this perfect haven, is just a sanctuary from the growing war out
there." Kyle stepped away, motioning to the sky as if it were a playground from
which he was taking a reprieve. "We need to go. Let's eat and say our goodbyes.
The Meridian is waiting for us."
"Do you always get your way?" she asked as they walked hand in hand toward
the house.
"Usually. It tends to happen more and more as you get promoted."
It felt good to laugh again. "Well, just wait 'til Momma has her talk with
you..."
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