Lieutenant JG Calahan walked into her quarters, and dropped her duffel down on her bed. They’d only been gone for about 5 days....but it seemed like a month, considering all that had happened. She shuddered. At least Jepoth’s threat was neutralized. For now. She only hoped his brother or friend or something wouldn’t take up Jepoth’s fight, and start hunting for her. She doubted that would happen, but, you never know.
‘No.....its over.....I won, Jepoth lost. That’s all there is to it.....I’m safe now.’ Keely thought to herself. But somehow, she didn’t believe it. She would never be safe, it was virtually impossible to be safe. She also couldn’t help feel that she was forgetting something...no, that she had forgotten something that.......
“Oh no......” Keely said, sinking into a chair. She slapped her forehead with her head, and sighed. Christmas. It was an old Earth holiday her mother seemed to insist that they spend together. This was the first year Keely had forgotten....all the better, she figured. Her father probably would have been there, and her sister.....and Brenden.
She missed him, and she hadn’t talked to him in months. He was the only one she ever did talk to. She wondered if her family even was all there this time......probably. Hopefully, they all thought she’d fallen off the end of the earth- it would certainly make her life a lot less complicated. The only problem, was that they had probably tried to contact her, and when she didn’t respond or try to contact them, her mom undoubtedly freaked, and called people. Starting with Dr. Danforth, she guessed, then.....Mack? Probably. Hm.....what should she do now?
Forget about it....it wasn’t one of her major concerns, now. It was becoming able to fight and work, with her left arm in a sling. It would be that way for the next week at least, so she had to figure out how to do emergency operations with one hand, should the need arise on their next mission. And since they would be going through the wormhole, she had to be prepared.....for anything.....
She stood up, and moved to her bedroom, where she started getting ready for her next shift. She knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep, and she wasn’t even that tired, so there was no point in trying.
A long shower and a clean uniform later, Keely was replacing her daggers in the special places, being sure to add the new one that Jepoth had slipped to her, without the counselor’s knowledge- she hoped. It was a smaller dagger, one that she could easily hide in her sleeve- but she put it in her other boot instead. Last, she put on her sling carefully, wincing slightly. She didn’t want to take in any drugs in her system, even though it would be the best. If something happened and she couldn’t get to any painkillers, she wanted to be able to take the pain. Something K’Tlath had taught her- supposedly, it made you more resilient and stronger.
Looking at the bat’leth she’d replaced on the wall, she thought something else needed, no, deserved to be there. The cord....where had she put it? Ah....the shelf. She reached over, picked it up, and hung it under the bat’leth.
It was a silk cord, left by her vicious attacker who’d originally wanted to kill her on the spot. She should be honored- a silk cord was traditionally how some ancient Asian kings were killed/committed suicide after something happened to them or to their government. Obviously her attacker or Jepoth thought she deserved to be killed like old royalty.
She rolled her eyes, and walked over to her desk. Sitting down, she turned on her desk computer unit and brought up messages that she’d missed while away. She sighed, and couldn’t wait to leave again, maybe for good.
Savar walked back into his quarters. Wish I could have stayed longer on Vulcan, visited my family or old friends, he thought. Then he decided it was better that the trip had been quick. The return to the station was in good time.
Hopefully, Keely will be better now. He should inform Doctor Arman to watch for an improvement in Keely’s condition. In addition, she might not have to come back to the Counselor’s office for a good period. Dealing with her has been one of the most trying situations he has ever been in. Perhaps Doran was right, and Savar should have stayed on Vulcan to develop his mental techniques.
A call from the other room breaks his concentration. “Savar? Savar, is that you?”
“Logically. Who else would come into these quarters?”
Amber laughs as she steps out from the kitchen. “Of course. How silly of me to forget. How was your trip? Vulcan same as always?”
“No, Vulcan was different. The shifting weather patterns, atmospheric conditions, and the…”
“Forget I asked. How was the trip? You were gone pretty long to just run to Vulcan, you know.”
“I know. There was other business to take care of. On the Klingon Homeworld.”
“Oh, I see. Everything’s okay, right?”
“Of course.”
“Good. I did not know you would be coming home, so I was only cooking for myself. Something my mother used to make me.”
“I just ate not too long ago. Besides, I have paperwork, and the Captain has surely left me a message since I’ve left.”
“I see. I’ll be here when you finish.”
Savar moves into his room, and goes over to the console. Sure enough, there is a message waiting, but it is from Dock Control. “Lieutenant Savar Dickinson. Acknowledged return of runabout Nexia.”
Now to inform the Captain of the situation. “Computer, record message for Captain Morgan. Captain, the situation with Lieutenant Keely Calahan has improved greatly. I have certified her fit for duty. I will suggest that she see Doctor Arman to check on her physical condition. Computer, send.”
The computer sends the message, and Savar relaxes, glad the entire situation is over… for now.