USS PATRIOT: Various (“Welcoming Home the Troops???”)

From: V. Rahul Chandra (vrccan_at_gmail.com)
Date: Sun Jan 28 2007 - 19:28:30 PST


 

 

==========

“Welcoming Home the Troops???”

Con’t from Naomi’s “Marshaling the Troops”

==========

Location: USS PATRIOT

Stardate: 2422 [2.7] 0128.2138

Scene: Transporter Room

 

Three figures – Daniel Clarkson, Mel Harris and Priest Palthainon –
materialized on the transporter pad, Kyle and Cindy having both been beamed
to sickbay.  Upon materialization, Daniel was pleasantly surprised to find
his wife standing their waiting for them, but all thoughts of pleasantry
were wiped from his mind upon seeing the expression on her face.

 

She wasn’t happy.

 

He coughed, a little guiltily, before stepping off the pad.  “Cath, this is
Priest Palthainon,” he said.  “One of the thirteen, who was formerly based
in Belial City.”

 

He turned back to the priest.  “And may I present my wife, Lieutenant
Catherine Sterling-Jade.”

 

“I am very pleased to meet my good friend Daniel’s wife,” Palthainon said,
bowing slightly.  Catherine, who’d prepared a tirade for Daniel’s ears, was
caught off guard by the presence of the other two and thrown off even more
by the Priest’s greeting, his tone of voice completely belying the
circumstances he’d just been through.

 

She smiled shyly at the priest.  “It’s nice to meet you,” she said, before
turning to Daniel and firmly grasping his arm.  “We need to talk.”

 

Catherine practically pulled the already exhausted marine out of the
transporter room behind her, and Daniel was only just able to instruct Mel
to take Palthainon to the Captain before he was dragged out of the room.

 

 

==========

Time Index: a few minutes later

Scene: Catherine and Daniel’s Quarters

 

“Cath, what on Earth…” no sooner had the doors slid shut behind them than
Catherine turned around, pressing her lips to his and kissing him
passionately.  Now hopelessly confused, the marine slipped his arms around
her, before feeling her push him back against the wall, breaking the kiss
and causing him to let out a slight ‘oomf’ sound at his back colliding with
the wall.

 

He looked up once he’d caught his breath and saw her glaring at him.

 

“You promised you’d be careful,” she said.

 

“I was careful,” he replied.

 

“Then how come you ended up in a cave with no food or water?” she demanded.

 

“It was either that or fight an army hundreds strong with just Mel for
help,” Daniel replied.  “We’re good, but we’re not that good.”

 

Catherine ignored the joke.  “I’m being serious here!” she complained.

 

Daniel sighed.  “So am I Cath,” he said.  “Believe me, there was no other
choice than dying.  I had a job to do and I did it.”

 

“And while you were doing your ‘job’, I was left completely out of the
loop,” she added.  “Do you know how I found out that you were missing?  Mav
accidentally told me, when he thought I already knew.”

 

Daniel was silent, sensing that she wasn’t done, and he wasn’t disappointed
in that regard.

 

“When I thought you were dead, that I’d never see you again…” her voice
broke slightly and she sighed, shaking her head and staring at the ground.
Daniel took a few steps forward, trying to hug her, but she shrugged out of
his grip and walked over to the couch, sitting down heavily.

 

The young marine walked over, sitting down beside her.  He sensed there was
something more going on here than just what had transpired on the planet,
and not knowing what it was, didn’t know what to do or say.

 

“I’m the second in command of the marine regiment on this ship,” he said
gently.  “Away missions are part of the job.  You know firsthand how
dangerous my job can be.”

 

“Ugh, I know, I know!” Catherine said, standing up.  She sounded frustrated.
Daniel watched her pace back and forth a couple of times, totally confused.

 

“Is there something else you’re not telling me?” he asked.  She paused,
looking at him.

 

“What makes you say that?” she asked.  Was there a trace of hesitation on
her part?  Daniel was mystified.

 

“Well,” he said, getting up.  “It’s not like you to get so worked up over
something like this.”

 

She shook her head.  “I’m fine,” she said, sitting back down on the couch.

 

“Then I don’t know what else to say,” he replied truthfully.  A few moments
of silence passed between them, before he continued.  “Look.  I’ve got to go
to sickbay to get checked out and then go file my report on what happened
down there.  If you want to talk more about this, it’s going to have to be
after that.”

 

“Fine,” Catherine said, crossing her arms and looking up at him.  

 

She didn’t sound happy.

 

 

==========

Time Index: 15 minutes later

Scene: Sickbay

 

Daniel entered the medical hub of the PATRIOT, his mind still troubled over
the conversation he’d just had with his wife.

 

“Daniel!” the marine’s attention was taken by someone calling his name, and
seeing that Palthainon was on one of the biobeds he walked over, pushing the
conversation to the back of his mind for the moment.

 

“What are you still doing here?” the marine asked.

 

“Your Doctors wished to run some kind of decontamination analysis,”
Palthainon explained.  “As such, I have not yet been to meet with your
Captain.”

 

“I’ll take you there once we’re done here,” Daniel volunteered.  “I’m sure
you two will find lots to talk about.”

 

He looked over at Kyle and Cindy’s forms, noting that they’d been put under
sedatives.  He turned back to the Doctor, asking if anyone had informed
Maverick about Kyle’s return.

 

“I believe a note was sent to his terminal,” the Doctor replied.

 

“Good,” Daniel said, nodding his head.

 

 

=========

NRPG: Just moving things along.  All the missing people are accounted for,
either recovered or dead.  Now we’ve got some crew still doing relief
efforts, the city in the hands of rebels, and a surviving priest on the
PATRIOT.

 

In other words, one big mess to clean up ;) – have fun!

 

Alix/Naomi -> TAG you both!

==========

 

 
==========
V. Rahul Chandra <vrccan_at_gmail.com>
 
Playing...
 
Lieutenant Commander Jeffrey Gorman, MD
Chief Medical Officer/2nd Officer
GATEWAY STATION, GS-2
 
&
 
Captain Daniel Clarkson, MD
Executive Officer - Marine Contingent
USS PATRIOT, NCC 5781-A
 
&
 
Lieutenant Sevlock
Junior ACT Instructor
Starfleet Academy, EARTH
 

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