[USS Juno] Dad at First Sight

Posted on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 7:53am by Captain Harrold Anderson & Carla Wilda

1,060 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: [USS Shanghai] S1, E3: Down Time
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: 05/17/2394, 1200 Hrs

Carly sat in a family conference room in the child services office on a couch, she was biting the nails on her right fingers, anxiously awaiting the moment where she'd see what her father even looked like for the first time. The social worked had offered to show her pictures but she didn't want to see them she just wanted to see him when they could talk for the first time. She had a picture of him and his mother together back when they were in high school they seemed happy and she didn't understand what happened. She was worried that he would be just like her deep down even if she knew it must be irrational given his position. The best part of her father was that he was going to be her escape from Earth.

"Mr. Anderson," the Social Worker said, sounding excited when he appeared on her screen. "I hope this isn't a bad time."

Harry opened the channel from child protective services, in his ready room. Same as the day before. The same case worker that called him yesterday, had called him again today. "Not at all, just going over a few reports. Nothing that can not wait till later, to be completed." He said, as he tried to keep his enthusiasm down. In his mind, Carly was going to be a young optimistic girl, like Kerja was. He imagined her being polite and well mannered.

"Alright well, then I guess it's time for you to meet," the social worker said. "Carly?" the woman called, looking for her attention. The woman stood up and disappeared from view and then some in audible speech was heard.

A few moments later the young girl sat down at the desk and looked at him, she looked tired, she had a bruise on her face around her right eye, a fat lip, some redness on her neck and chest, and on both arms some bruising some of it looked in varied degrees of healing. She didn't make eye contact with him she just sort of looked at him, normally she was blunt, normally she was up front with what she felt. Right now she just needed to escape Earth, her mother, her associates, and she just didn't have the energy to act out.

Harry's first reaction, What in the hell happened to Carly. She looked like she went through hell and barely crawled out alive. He kept his emotions in check. He noticed she was not really making eye contact. "Hello, Carly, I'm Captain Harry Anderson of the USS Juno, Looks like you are moving in with me." He said, trying to impress the case worker. He hated sounded like a corny man. It was clear to him that he was over compensating his politeness. He wanted to say, What in the hell happened to you. Why did you get your ass handed to you. Do you need me to teach you to fight? But he was trying to turn over a new leaf. Ever since he met Kerja.

When he introduced himself as Captain Anderson she did make eye contact with him, why did she care that he was a captain? She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. She just nodded a little in answer to his statement about her moving there.

"Sorry I can not come to Earth to pick you up, we are transporting survivors of the New Bajor attack to Empok Nor. I will meet you on the station." He suggested. He noticed she was very quiet. Just like Kerja. This was a big relief for him. He was hoping she was well adjusted, like Kerja was. He felt bad that he was not able to pick her up. But he had responsibilities to the Federation and to the survivors as well.

"They said I was leaving tomorrow..." she said, looking down at the ground before back up at him. Her voice was soft when she spoke almost as if she were unsure she should say anything at all.

"I'll see you in a week, but feel free to call whenever you like before then. I have no doubt, you probably have a ton of questions for me." He said, recalling what Kerja had asked him, when they first met.

She looked disappointed, she expected more of a discussion, but again she reminded herself this was her escape from Earth. She hated Earth and vowed to never return to the horrible planet where her non-existent childhood was ruined.

"You seem disappointed, sorry I can not pick you up directly. If I could I would. I would love for you to meet your grand parents." He said, with a sad look on his face. This was another child he would have to explain to them. But at the moment, he was in traveling to Empok Nor, it would be faster for her to meet up with him.

She opened her mouth to explain why she was disappointed but then stopped herself, she took a breath, "it's okay. Thank you, Captain," she said, uncomfortably wondering if that's what he expected her to call him on the ship.

Hearing her call him captain, was a bit awkward for him. Kerja just called him Dad or father. He could not recall a single moment, where she called Harry by his rank. Yes he was the captain of the USS Juno. But he hoped that Clarly would be able to call him, Father, Papa or Dad, anything but Captain. He wanted to have a relationship with his children. He was sad that Kerja was leaving. But he now had a chance to make things right with Clarly, and he was going to take full advantage of it.

Carly terminated the communication herself by pressing the button, she'd only called him Captain because that was how he introduced herself. She was disappointed he had nothing more that he wanted to say to her, to ask of her, maybe he was just like her mother after all? But it had to be better than Earth still right?

When the social worker approached her she shook her head, "I don't want to talk about it. I need to get to my transport anyway."

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Part 1: A Surprise Call
Part 2: Dad at First Sight

 

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