Phone Home

Posted on Fri Jun 26th, 2015 @ 3:32pm by Ensign Corrine Steiner

Mission: Pandemic [Incomplete]
Location: Quarters, USS Carthage
Timeline: Late evening

[ON]

As USS Carthage streaked across the stars, there was ample personal time amidst preparations. The covert fleet operative was now safely a frozen spycicle. Quarantine plans had been detailed. And just as important, subspace messages from Starbase 332 indicated that all was reasonably normal.

Corrine spent time preparing herself in her quarters. She rehearsed conversations in her mind and anticipated the waves of pent up emotions to be soon released. At the scheduled time, she went to ops and sat down at a long range communications console. Given the mission situation, her communication couldn't be fully private, but that was okay this time.

The Com technician quietly announced, "Channel open."

On the mid-sized screen in front of her, the image of Corrie's parents appeared. Their expressions were a mixture of hope, joy, fear, and caution.

Corrie chuckled at seeing their eyes widen in surprise, "Hi Mom, Dad!"

It took a few moments for the shock to soak in. Her mother smiled in near disbelief, "Corrie! You look... you look wonderful!"

The daughter shook with laughter as tears misted her eyes, "I am feeling so much better, now! We stumbled across some extremely helpful... solutions for my problems."

Her mother gave a nod, understanding that Corrie didn't feel free to elaborate at the moment. Her father shook his head with a smile of disbelief, "You wearing a Starfleet uniform... I'm still having trouble believing it!"

Corrie relaxed a little, sighing with wide eyes, "I'm still trying to get a grip on that one myself!"

"You're at Starbase now?"

The daughter gave a pursed-lipped smile, "Chief of Ops! But... I'm off base right now." She shrugged lightly, "Can't spill details. You know Starfleet."

Her mother settled a bit, "As long as you're safe."

"It's... interesting work."

The mother tensed, reading her child's body language and tone well. There was some kind of danger present, but she couldn't ask about it.

Dad smiled, "You look gorgeous, angel. I bet you're beating off suitors with a stick!"

Corrie cleared her throat nervously, to which her mother reacted, "There IS someone!"

"Now, now Mom... Let's not get... premature, here!"

"Who is he?"

Fighting back a blush, Corrie forced the words, "It's a... little bit... complicated."

Maintaining eye contact, Dad turned his face aside, "As in...?"

"Well, we're just friends at this point, but there is this Caitian."

Both parents eyes widened with shock.

"He's... the prefect gentleman, annnd, we're getting to know each other."

Mom and Dad still couldn't find words immediately. Dad eventually tipped his head and stared off, "They say love is blind... and not xenophobic."

Corrie chuckled, tears misting again, "I don't know if it's love yet." She tensed again, forcing the confession, "I also have a new... I guess BFF is the ancient term?" She then muttered, "And the F really does appear to stand for 'forever'!"

Mom tipped her head, "Oh?"

"She's... Shokirian."

"I don't think we've ever heard of that. A species?"

"Very PFH. The best way I can describe her is part little sister, part pest, and all handmaiden."

Mom became worried, "Corr... What do you mean?"

Corrine sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "Shokirians are symbiotic... in more ways than I realized."

"Is this going to cause problems for your Caitian?"

"Oh trust me, Jasmine has already caused us both problems." She tipped her head, "But, she's already saved my life."

Dad nodded, "I'm going to have to research these... Shokirians."

Corrie's eyes lit up, "Would you please? And also Caitiani? I seriously need help understanding what makes these species tick!"

"We'll do that. We are so happy there's something we can do for you. Anything else?"

Corrine squinted in a growling sigh, "Post bail money after I push some Ferengi out an airlock!"

"Oh, honey, we're so sorry. They made it all the way out to where you are?"

"It's a cosmic race and contest, Ferengi and cockroaches." She shook her head, relaxing a bit, "I'll be fine. Just as soon as I get the little surrats sentenced to a penal facility, all will be well."

Dad asked, "Corr, any idea when you'll be able to come home, even for a visit?"

The daughter shook her head with solid eye contact, "Can't. Same old issues."

"Hopefully someday we can visit you, then."

The screen began to snow a bit. Corrie nodded to someone off screen, "Mom, Dad, we're leaving booster relay range. I'll have to close out for now." She touched her fingertips to her lips and then gestured towards them, "I love you."

[OFF]

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Ens. Corrine Steiner & Parents
USS Carthage, Starbase 332
Pegasus Fleet