New arrival

Posted on 17 Jan 2014 @ 2:25pm by Ensign K'os Beaumont
Edited on on 18 Jan 2014 @ 3:24am

1,321 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Timeline: MD 01 - 1800

[ON]

K'os stood very rigid as the small, wrapped up, bundle was placed in his arms. Even with his limited touch telepathy he was still quite sensitive. It felt like small shudders through his finger tips and he silently wished he knew how to control it like his mother was able to. "He's nervous." the Vulcan/Human hybrid stated factually.

"So are you, K'os. Relax a little. You're not going to hurt him." His step-mother, Anna, returned to her spot by the window. She was taller than him, and three months younger. He hair fell down her back in large black curls. Calling her his step-mother was so far out of the question in his mind. Thankfully he wouldn't have to stay long. His leave was scheduled to start the next day and he was to transport to San Francisco to report in and then leave started right after that. Normally Anna wasn't the first on his list to visit when he had time off, he did have a new born brother that he hadn't met in person yet.

So he chose to ignore her comment as it would just make him frustrated if he focused on it and instead smiled warmly at Arthur, who had started squirming around in his arms. He couldn't stop staring at it's tiny eyes. His half-brother. Well, the half part didn't matter nearly as much as at least now his father had a full human son instead of...no. He stopped that line of thinking before it snowballed. That wasn't fair to anyone. The bitter thoughts had evaporated before his next inhalation, just as skillful as he did with all his emotional flare ups now. He began bouncing Arthur slowly like he'd observed Anna doing and the squirming subsided. "When does father's leave start Soon wasn't it?" K'os asked as he carefully sank his slight frame on to the couch. He couldn't wait to get out of his uniform and into something more comfortable. His grey-blue eyes never stopped staring at the baby's face which was easier than making eye contact with her.

Anna regarded him for a moment, thinking about his question. She was mad about something. He couldn't place what, but she was definitely mad. She was also taking a long time to answer, which meant she was thinking about her response. He wrinkled his nose and stood turning away from her as if he was returning to bouncing the baby but really it was to hide his reaction. Whatever her answer was going to be, it was going to be a lie he decided. He really was trying to be patient with her. He hoped. But time distortion was one of the things he was working on recently with the Mississippi therapists and sometimes he wasn't good at it. Finally she said, "It was supposed to be last Thursday, but now he won't get leave till the 27th, earliest. "

At least that explained why she was mad. She felt abandoned. It was unfortunate that he had such strong negative emotions associated with her. Bad first impressions with K'os unfortunately stuck more deeply with him than he wanted. Once associated with a negative emotion, he just couldn't quite shake the feeling anytime after. The Terran word, rollercoaster still makes him snicker like a teenager hearing a dirty joke because of it. Now that was a story.

Anna got up to refresh their tea and he took a moment to look around. Arthur had started to squirm again, and through a quick series of trial and errors he found the right combination of bouncing and pacing to keep him from fussing. Perhaps he was hungry? He continued to pace casually looking over the overly ostentatious furniture. Was that real Cocobolo hardwood? His father would never have decorated the space like this. He always said he liked his Mother's simple, minimalist style. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes and he turned just as his baby-faced step-mother, swooshed in with more tea. He raised his rounded eyebrows in thanks when she placed his on the coaster where he'd been sitting.

"When do you go back, K'os?" She asked sinking into a large arm chair. She held her tea in both hands and blew gently. He sensed she asked out of social politeness than interest and his intuition said her words didn't sound genuine. Perhaps he was projecting. That happened a lot too.

"Tomorrow." He said while staring at a photo of his father and Anna taken last year at a ski resort in Germany. The age difference was more noticeable when they stood side by side like that.

"I see." Anna took a sip of her tea and flinched at the heat.

She wasn't comfortable withsmall talk just as much as K'os was and their conversations always seemed to struggle unless there was a more chatty third person.

He turned back towards the picture. Feelings of jealousy and bitterness erupted, making his scalp feel hot. Not feelings he enjoyed and he swiftly dashed them from his mind before they developed into anger. He instead focused on the smile on his fathers face. He looked happy, and it made his eyes a little wet. Those were better feelings and he chose to let them linger, flooding his body with endorphin's. His mind rapidly cycling through memories associated with happiness. Holding his new brother. His father's booming voice. The harbour at sunset. His mother. He stopped what he was doing before he lost control or became overwhelmed.

Arthur, who had been comforted by his touch, now started to fuss more. Regardless of Uncle K'os' perfect blend of bounce and pace moves Arthur began to cry so he promptly handed him to a slightly bewildered step-mother. "Perhaps he's hungry." He offeredpolitely, hoping more to end the baby's cries than to give Anna advice.

As she moved off to another room to attend to Arthur's needs he walked over to the large window and peered out. They were 28 floors up, but from up there you could make out the harbour and if you craned your neck to the right you could just make out the closest transporter facility. He'd be in SF, by tomorrow. He was excited about his transfer. He spent the last couple weeks upgrading his skills and familiarizing himself with Nova class specs and wanted to start applying it hands on.

A chirp at his hip caught his attention and he unclipped the PADD from his belt. He flicked through some irrelevant missed notifications and then brought up the message that had just come in. It was Jeanette, inviting him out for drinks with Gh'lht and Travis. It would only mean a late night if he did. He seriously considered it before sending his regrets and attaching the device back to his belt. For some reason he felt there was more to Anna's frustration than she was letting on and it was beginning to nag on him enough that he wouldn't feel right leaving without helping. As much as he didn't want to, he did get along well enough with her. She wasn't mean to him at all, she just reminded him of something he doesn't have anymore. He allowed the swell of pain to flow forward but like all the other times it subsided and he let it go from his mind. Like every other emotional response brought forth by a memory, it was usually intense but over quick. They never used to be, but K'os was much more skillful now.

When Anna returned, Arthur was sound a sleep in her arms. She placed him down in his bed and joined him by the window. He smiled at her. "Would you allow me to make you dinner?"

She brightened up and returned his smile. "I'd love that K'os."

[OFF]

PO3 K'os Beaumont
Matter/Energy Systems Specialist
USS Galileo

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