Best Foot Forward

Posted on Tue May 9th, 2023 @ 8:21pm by Commander Naois Mercy MD & Lieutenant Amara Naidoo

1,252 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Prelude: Getting Ready to Depart
Location: Earth
Timeline: Prior to launch

ON

The sea breeze jostled the light, crisp white drapes as the sun began to rise over Hout Bay a short distance outside of Cape Town in South Africa. Amara stretched as the sun began to rouse her as its rays started to warm her skin. She had decided that the personal leave back on Earth at her own home had been exactly what she had needed as the last part of her recovery.

The smile couldn't be stopped as it tugged at her lips, the view from the open terrace door directly into her bedroom was part of the reason she had chosen this location for her convalescence. Green trees, emerald waters and crisp white sands and the gently scent of salt lifted from the shoreline.

"Computer" she called, swinging her leg over the edge of the bed, yawning as she pulled herself to a sitting position. "Orange juice with pulp and a fruit salad please!"

The soft hum of the replicator the first sound other than bird song and the breeze to permeate the tranquillity as she brought her other leg round to the edge of the bed, a stark reminder of her time during the Dominion war.

It had taken some time but the sight of her now healed wound and lack of lower leg had initially caused her upset but time was a healer both mentally and physically and she was adjusted.
Quickly she secured the prosthetic leg before pulling on a white silk dressing gown. Moments later she was on the terrace, her bare foot soaking up the cool feel of the terracotta tiles, the juice and fruit salad helping her to wake.

Briefly savouring the sunlight before it became too warm to be out, and allowing the breeze to gust through his hair, Naois hesitated at the door before pressing the chime. He was visiting an old friend, though one could hardly call the subject of his visit old as she was well over a decade younger than he - even if he probably still looked younger than she did.

The Vulcan stood back a pace or two as he studied the private residence, now recalling that this was actually the first time he called here. Under his arm, a single PADD was tucked away, just out of immediate view, his bionic hand twitching ever so slightly as he waited. He barely noticed it these days, it was part of his life now and it was actually getting better day by day. He knew that eventually he wouldn't notice it at all, when he would fully accept it. He had come a very long way since losing first his wife and then his hand, and he knew the woman he was calling at right now, had done the same.

Amara heard the chime at the door, she considered ignoring yet still she stood. Instead of traversing the house, she descended the steps at the side of the house, curling round the edge until she was at street level, that same smile returning when she saw her caller.
"Look what the sehlat dragged in!"

Turning his head at the sound of her voice, Naois offered a smile. "A very needy first officer," he admitted, "I am afraid this is not just a social call. But first things first, how have you been?"

She waved her tritanium leg in his general direction, a lopsided wry smile taking the place of her usual warm and welcoming one.
"Its been rough but I think the war hit all of us a little hard... I heard about Valeia... I'm sorry!"

Amara waved him over, starting to ascend back up the steps to the terrace. "I'm just having breakfast, do you want anything?"

The smile vanished as soon as Valeia was mentioned. "My wife passed away eight years ago," he answered as he approached, following her up the steps, "so I have been balancing a return to duty with raising three children that are anything but Vulcan. Did you...find anyone in that time?"

"Between Wolf 359, Deep Space 9 and the Dominion War I've not had time for a personal life!" a light laugh escaped her lips as she dropped back into the chair, picking up the juice. "Starfleet kept me busy after I was reassigned from Deep Space 9 and then the war landed... What about you and how are the kids?"

"I never found time for personal relationships either between getting my doctorate and raising three children on my own. I was further injured in the line of duty when assigned to the Gemini and my recovery time allowed me the time to continue my studies." He held up his right hand. "As unreal as your leg," he told her, "but I am learning to accept that this is a reality now. It took time." He paused as the PADD dropped from under his arm as he raised his hand, as though it'd been completely forgotten about. "I have an assignment for you, if you are up for it."

"I didn't think this would be just a social call!" she said playfully placing the glass back down before picking up the offered PADD. Her eyes started to skim through the orders, pulling key bits of info. USS Britannic, Captain Fredricks, Nebula Class and so forth. "What don't the orders tell me. Whats the ships mission?"

"I already said it was not," Naois reminded her, "we do not have specific orders just yet but priorly we have aided a Cardassian colony and exposed a plot where Federation prisoners were held captive on said colony. Can you handle that type of mission? Because we are likely to be sent to help Cardassian refugees in the future. We even have a single refugee on board, who is currently in the captain's care."

"I have no beef with the Cardassians. Turns out they made a bad choice which made them as much a victim of the Dominion if not more so" she looked at Naois directly, weighing things up. "I've not been clear for full duty yet and i'll need to see my Doctors before I go but I think I need this as much as I needed to be back in Cape Town!"

She leaned back in the chair, looking out towards the ocean, the impressive expanse of rolling waves that lapped against the sands of Mouille Point Beach.
"As much as I love this place I miss the stars... I'm in!"

Naois nodded in agreement to her statement. "I agree that they are, at least the great majority of the civilians. Very well, report to the Britannic tomorrow, so you have time to get your affairs in order." He cast her a small smile yet again. "I believe I will have that offered breakfast. My children are all settled on the Britannic and enjoy roaming around."

"I'll go get you something to eat in that case... Its so good to see you again Lieutenant... I mean Commander!"
She moved off to the replicator, something weighing heavy on her. Perhaps it was the injury and getting back onto duty or perhaps it was something deeper than that. She did miss being in space but her time back on Earth had changed her, she no longer had that same drive to explore as she did before, possibly a remnant of the war. She decided to give it several months, allow her heart to discover what it wanted now that her body was healed.

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