Going Home

Posted on 11 Aug 2017 @ 10:32am by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Greg Mitchell

1,303 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Starfleet Spaceport-San Francisco, CA/ Wilard Spaceport-Savoy, IL
Timeline: MD-28

[ON]

Greg settled down next to his dad and his brother on the shuttle transport back to Illinois. It was great to finally be able to relax and head back home after a year of being away. He had stowed his luggage above and rested his head back. The last few weeks, the recovery, the surgery, the trial, the getting in trouble running the simulator at Starfleet HQ, everything had been rough and he was looking forward to being home. Jessica had left to get back to work the day before, and as much as he hated to admit it he was already missing her. Her smile, her laugh, her blue eyes, her no nonsense responses to his smartass remarks, her...

"Finally!" Came a voice to his left, across the aisle. It was his dad, who was reading a news story on a PADD.

After a few seconds of no response, Greg finally spoke. "Ok, I'll bite. What's going on Dad?"

"After a year and a half, the closer is finally getting strikeouts. We almost lost to Kansas City today, but he was able to stop them from getting anymore runs in." Tom responded.

"Ah yes." Will said, sitting next to him by the window, "This has been the talk of the town for the last few days. One he won't shut up about."

"What, you don't like the Cardinals anymore?" Greg asked.

"No, I do. It's that he has been obsessed with how poorly we have been doing this year."

Greg replied, "I've been out of it, obviously. We can't be doing that bad though..."

"We lost to the Indians 5 to 14 a few weeks ago." Will answered.

"How is THAT possible?" Greg asked, shocked by this turn of events.

"Don't ask me. Ask the Cleveland pitcher who I'm still convinced is on steroids."

"Maybe we can actually make some progress this year." Tom stated.

"Dad, if we couldn't beat the Cleveland freaking Indians, St. Louis aint going to the World Series this year...wait." Greg looked back at Will, "Why did we inter-league play Cleveland? We usually play Kansas City the most."

"Again, don't ask me. Ask whoever booked that game."

The discussion was interrupted by the speaker going off. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is you captain speaking. We are just about to take off in a moment. At this time, we ask that you make sure your seat belts are fastened and your tray tables are locked. Flight time once we are airborne should be about fifty minutes after we reach atmosphere. We are seeing no weather delays and it should be a smooth flight. Now we ask that you please turn your attention to the flight attendants as they give you the pre-flight safety announcement. Thank you, and have a pleasant flight."

As the flight attendants at the front and mid part of the shuttle did the stereotypical hand gestures while the recording played overhead, Tom put his PADD down. "Sam should be here in a day or so. He'll be meeting us at home."

"Good. We should plan to go out to eat." Greg said as he looked around for the emergency exit. He was one of the few to always check for exits whenever in a situation that he may need to make a quick escape. Especially if the shuttle decided it wanted to crash.

"We should, but we think you should probably take a day to rest at home." Tom stated.

"Dad...I've had a full month's worth of rest. I think I'm fine."

"I know you were on duty while at San Francisco."

Greg rested his head on the head rest. "How did you find that out."

"Will told me."

"Damn it, Dad." Will said, laying down the PADD he started reading.

"You know I don't lie to you boys." Tom said to Will, "And watch your language around other people. Greg, rest means you aren't needlessly going around doing things that could get you hurt."

"It was Starfleet Headquarters, Dad. In San Francisco. That is the safest place to be aside from the Capitol." Greg responded.

"You've always been like this. Never listening to advice anyone has given you. One of these days it's going to get you killed, and none of us can handle that thought." Tom stated.

"He's right, Greg. You've been acting different lately too." Will stated. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there had been a change in Greg's personality. Like he was hiding or running from something.

"Look, can we please not talk about me. At least until we are off the flight?" Greg asked, rubbing his eyes in annoyance.

"Fine, but we aren't done. I'm going to get to the bottom of this, one way or the other." Will stated.

As the shuttle took off, Greg turned to his brother who was looking out the window. "And why do you get the window seat? What are you, four?"

Will laughed at Greg's subtle attempt at dodging the issue.

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One Hour Later
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The shuttle touched down in Savoy, Illinois where Wilard spacepoart was located. It was a small port, run by the University of Illinois and created in the 20th century, at the time an airport. The last time Greg flew out of here was on his way to San Francisco from basic. The three Mitchell men got up, grabbed their bags, and followed the crowd off the shuttle.

As they made their way through the terminal, Will spoke up. "So, is your girlfriend meeting us here or..."

He was cut off by Greg elbowing him in the stomach.

"Your mother should be out front with the car." Tom stated.

"How much does she know?" Greg asked.

Tom just looked at him. "What do you think?"

Greg sighed, but he had no way to protest. He knew that his father never lied to his mother either. He followed the two out the front door, where Jennifer Mitchell stood. The first thing she did was run straight past her husband and her eldest and hug Greg. "Are you ok? How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine Mom." Greg responded, hugging her back.

"You aren't in pain or anything?" She asked.

"No, I healed pretty well at the hospital."

"Good." Jennifer stated. She then proceeded to follow her comment up with a slight slap to the face. "Don't you ever scare us again like that again, do you understand me?"

Greg sighed, slightly embarrassed as his brother chuckled next to him. "Yah, I guess I had that coming."

"Will stop laughing. This concerns both of you. I told you two it was dangerous to go to Starfleet. But neither of you listened to me."

"Mom. It was...an unexpected circumstance." Greg answered.

"You are in space! Everything is unexpected." Jennifer stated.

"Yah, but in my defense, I didn't expect the small science ship I was on to go into battle with heavily armed Klingons." Greg answered, "Wasn't exactly my call."

"I think we can finish this discussion at home, don't you?" Tom responded.

Jennifer looked at Greg one more time, as if to say something, then hugged him again. "It's so good to see you. Both of you."

"It's good to see you too, Mom." Greg answered.

She turned and hugged Will.

"Hi, mom." He said, hugging her back.

As they put their things in the car, she kissed Tom as she walked around to the driver side. "How was your flight."

"Pretty uneventful. Got to catch up on sports." Tom responded.

Both the brothers moaned.

"Oh, dear sweet mercy, I will put myself back into a coma if you bring that up again." Greg answered.

The car drove off, away from the spaceport, and North to Champaign. Back home.

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CWO3 Greg Mitchell,
Security Officer

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