[USS Juno] Reality Check

Posted on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 8:09am by Captain Harrold Anderson & Captain Xalanth

906 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: [USS Shanghai] S1, E3: Down Time
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: 05/18/2394, 1700 Hours

"Sorry to call you into my office, at last moment. Appreciate you taking a few moments. I know how important family time is to you." Said Harry, as he motioned for Xalanth to have a seat at the sofa. This was an informal meeting between the two of them.

" There no need sir, T'para can look after the girls for a while." The rather tired lizard replied as he sat down.

"I need some advice Mister Xalanth, some fatherly advice." Said Harry. Getting straight to the point. He was a little hungry, and he wanted Xalanth to be able to get to his family as soon as possible.

" Well I'll give any advice that i can sir, but I'm not the biggest expert. Still what's troubling you? " The dragonain inquired. This was all new to him. His own people mated for life and they never abandoned any children that survived the incubators.

"This is going to sound silly, especially from a starship captain. I thought I would be prepared. I deal with transfers all of the time, first as a first officer and now as a captain. But I am at a loss on how to cope with the departure of Kerja and the arrival of Carly. I keep telling myself this is a blessing, but in honestly I am only seeing Kerja, and her personality is this normal?" He asked. He realized he was probably not making sense.

Deep down, he was thinking and had a feeling that he was just seeing Carly as a Kerja 2.0. He was not seeing Carly as an individual, he was seeing her as a replacement. And that felt wrong. He knew very little about Carly. And he knew deep down, that would change when he would meet her.

The lizard sat there for a while as he thought through what the captain was saying. " I don't really know what to say sir. My two girls have always been two separate creatures. It could just be that your missing Kerja and still haven't gotten used to not having her in your life."

"That's an accurate assessment, and it upsets me she is leaving and their is nothing I can do. You being in a mixed alien relationship, might be able to share some insight. Tera left, because she does not want Kerja being raised with human values or idealogy. She wants her raised Bajoran, is that right? To force indoctrination on a child?" The federation diplomat in him said it was wrong, but he was not sure what the father in him thought?

" That seems horrible sir. Can't the Federation courts do anything? Surely she can't just take your kid away just because she's a biogt." The lizard replied sharply. He'd never had anything like this. He and T'para had constrained on raising there two kids with a good understanding of all three groups who's DNA flowed in there blood.

I petitioned the courts, I have not been in a her life long enough to merit a custody, they believe forcing the child to live with a stranger, when she alternatives, would emotionally damage her. The Bajoran government also denied my request, at the moment I am powerless. Keeping Kerja away from me, and not allowing me to see her, has given her total control over her emotional and spiritual along with her cultural identity. I have no say. He said, feeling defeated. "Are your girls raised in one cultural or both?" He asked, realizing the question was personal.

" That's horrible sir. Could you not take it higher. She is your daughter so you should have some right to see her." the lizard replied. This was all still shocking to him. This would never happen on his homeworld. Fighting over the right to see children was unthinkable. " We raise them in all four sir. Dragonian, Human, Vulcan and Starfleet. They are part of all four so they do deserve a right to know. "

"I wish more parents were like you and T'Para." Said Harry, trying to keep himself together emotionally. "You both have the right idea. I do not want to take up to much more of your time. Is your report complete on Mister Gilmo our unwanted and snarly guest?" Asked Harry, wanting to complete business. Give this improv meeting a valid reason. He felt it would be wrong to simply ask him fatherly advise, without some form of actual work being discussed by them.

" Yes, sir. I'm glad he's off the ship. I like my wife, but being in her body just felt wrong. Trying to talk and breath felt like i was trying to bite my tounge off." The lizard replied honestly.

"Sorry you had to go through that, and hopefully we will never have to meet Gilmo again." Said Harry, who had a bad feeling that was not the last time they saw him.

" Sadly I don't think we've seen he last of him. The universe has a habit of bringing people like him around again and again. " Xalanth said bitterly.

"Agreed, at least he will not be here tonight. Have a good night Lieutenant." Said Harry, as he got up and motioned for Xalanth to follow him.

" Will do sir. I hope this mess with your daughter gets sorted out." The lizard said as he followed his friend to the door which he left nad headed for the turbolift. It was time to head home.

 

RSS Feed