A Final Goodbye?

Posted on 24 Feb 2022 @ 5:21pm by Commander Luke Wyatt & Commander Marisa Wyatt

1,009 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Regula I - Level 16, Promenade
Timeline: MD 02, 0106 hours

[ON]

Luke had been transferred to the station with immediate effect, it was a welcome pace to the Galileo and given the recent mission he needed a change of scenery. He'd disembarked before the rest of the crew; he didn't need any goodbyes and ever since he'd slowly regained his memories, he didn't feel himself anyone especially when it came to his service. He'd been vacant from his job ever since they left the Tholians behind them and often was missing meetings, very much unlike him so when Lirha had told him there was a place on Regula he didn't say no. Currently, he was sitting in a modest coffee store waiting for Marisa, someone whom he knew he had hurt, it hadn't been entirely his fault his injury had caused him to quite literally forget everything they had but what was worse he found a deeper connection with Scarlet, another reason to leave the ship. Sitting he waited, deep in thought.

Marisa wasn't sure she was ready to meet with Luke. They needed to talk, and she was still worried about him, but the Galileo wasn't large enough that she hadn't been aware of his activities and the people he chose to spend time with. Part of her wanted to keep her distance because it hurt too much, but she knew they both needed this.

She walked into the coffee shop, her eyes immediately finding Luke. She took a deep breath and walked over. "Hi."

Standing Luke nervously scratched the back of his head where his scar now was, "Marisa, thank you for coming." With the same hand he gestured for her to take a seat, "Please take a seat. Would you like a drink?" Unlike the Luke most of the Galileo crew knew, this Luke had clearly lost his edge, having almost a year’s worth of memories slowly creep up on you did that. "You look... well."

This was going to be worse than she feared. "No, thank you," she said, pausing to look at him before sitting down. "How are you doing?"

Waiting for Marisa to be seated Luke eventually sat back down, "I have been better" he admitted which was something his counselor told him was the first steps to recovery, "Blotches of memories coming back they think I'll have most if not all back in under a month at the rate they're returning." He shrugged, "How about you?" Familiar feelings came back to him then as the memories between he and Marisa had previously returned, he remembered loving her and worst hurting her when he forgot it all.

"It's been rough," she admitted. "But I'll work through it." She smiled wryly. "The last few months have been tough on all of us. You most of all. I hope you do get back most of your memories and get the help you need." It was true. He deserved that much. But she didn't hold out much hope that she be a part of it. She'd accepted that much.

This made Luke smile, "Actually they think I've recovered most of what I'm going to. It'll never be all but it is enough." He gazed at her eyes, "I remember loving you" He explained holding his breath for whatever her reaction might be.

He remembered loving her...in the past. Knowing that he didn't care for her, and would likely never care for her, still hurt, but it was more than she had before. Humor often helped such situations, and she tried it now. "At least you remember me."

"Yes, and I remember us" He looked over her shoulder, more through her trying to recall the memories as he often did now. "I know I've been lousy and this may never work but I wouldn't mind trying to make new memories," Luke said leaving the question in the air.

New memories... Marisa let that sink in for a moment. Starting over with no expectations, no promises. With everything that happened in the Latari system, they'd both changed, even without the memory loss. Could they find their way to something new...whatever that something might be? A part of her still felt broken, and this wouldn't be easy. But could she walk away? She sighed. No. Even if they achieved nothing more than friendship, it was worth trying. No promises. No guarantees. She nodded. "Yes," she whispered.

A thin smile appeared across his face. It was the first true smile he had achieved in a very long time; it was easy to fake a smile he had learned that but a genuine smile no matter how small was always far better. "Thank you, for giving us a chance, me a chance." And Luke knew he couldn't squander it. "How long are you here on the station for?" No matter how much time they may have, large or small he'd try and make the most of it all.

"I don't know. We're making repairs and getting resupplied." She wished they could dock here on a regular basis, if Luke was staying. "Will you be coming with us to another starbase, or will you take another ship?" Regula I was a bit too far out for most and she wasn't sure if he'd stay here or move on somewhere.

"I'll be here for a while," he said, watching her.

It was her turn to smile. "Good. Maybe we can have dinner tonight and talk. I have a room on Regula for shore leave."

He paused for a moment and nodded. "I'd like that." Then he raised his glass. "To starting over."

"To starting over." Marisa wanted this to work out, but they had a long way to go. The past three months had been...hard. But she still loved Luke. Or the Luke she knew before the accident. She had every hope they could rebuild some of their relationship. What that would be, only time would tell.

[OFF]

--

Lieutenant Commander Luke Wyatt
Security Liaison
Regula I

Lieutenant Commander Marisa Sandoval
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

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