Reunion

Posted on Jul 18, 2014 @ 1:29pm by Commander Jacob Crichton & Ambassador Xana Bonviva
Edited on on Jul 18, 2014 @ 1:50pm

Mission: http://thefrpg.com/sim/missions/id/9
Location: USS CENTURY

= Reunion =

(cont’d from “Cloak and Stagger”)

LOCATION: USS CENTURY
SCENE: Corridor -> Transporter Room ▼ Hide quoted text

**Why?**

That was the lone question that rang through Jake’s mind. They had been hailed again by the USS APPARITION with the message that there were 4 minors who belonged on the CENTURY to Jake Crichton:

Gavirosh Davidson Bonviva

Erika Wangel Byrne

Dahlia Alix Bonviva-McInnis

Benito William Bonviva-Crichton

“There’s only one Crichton listed here,” Captain Michael Turlough Kane commented as he walked down the corridor holding the PADD with the children’s specifics.

“Ben,” Jake nodded as they walked.

**Why?** the question rang through Jake’s mind. Why were the kids with Jaxsper? Why was Xana still terrified -- he could still feel it in his bones. Why? Why?

“Ben is my son with Xana,” the CEO offered as they turned down a gentle curve. “He will be the youngest of the children. He’s only 4.”

Kane paused at that, his mind putting together names he hadn’t in a long time. In the rush to get the DISCOVERY out on her mission, Kane had only done a cursory glance of his officers’ personal files. Clearly he missed this nugget of information; last he had seen Xana Bonviva she was still an Ambassador but McInnis had just died. He was, of course, aware of Bonviva’s political climb, but not her personal life. “I wasn’t aware that you and Secretary Bonviva were married.”

“Xana and I married almost 5 years ago,” Jake explained.

The CO re-read the PADD. “McInnis,” he said softly tapping the name above Ben’s as if the puzzle pieces were falling into place.

Jake nodded. “Dee,” he started. When Kane raised an eyebrow at him he said, “Dahlia, yes, was Xana’s daughter with Gene McInnis. She’s 9 now.”

**Why? Why?**

“And the other minors?” Kane asked. “I see another Bonviva here…”

“Gavi; his full name is Gavirosh,” Jake nodded. “Erika wanted to change her name too but I think...well Bajorans take their names seriously I doubt that’s going to happen.” Exhaling he said, “Gavi has to be about 17 now and Erika is around 13.”

They walked into the Transporter Room where Cindy Rochemonte was at the console. She wasn’t supposed to be here but she was terribly curious about what was going on with Jake and his kids. He only mentioned 2 kids but the manifest was for 4 minors and so still no wife...

“Word yet from the APPARITION, Lieutenant?” Kane asked.

Cindy shook her head. “No sir,” she murmured softly, tapping her foot.

“Byrne...Davidson…Erika….” Kane murmured as he read through the names. “Dr. Daisy Davidson?” he asked as the past was a physical being and slapped him upside the head.

Jake went to nod his head and then shook it. He held back a sigh, which was admirable considering what he knew was about to happen. This would be about the time when things always got interesting, trying to explain Xana. “Actually, sir, it’s Dr. Daisy Bonviva. She’s my wife’s co-wife. But yes, that’s who I’m talking about.”

The only sound in the room was Cindy Rochemonte’s jaw hitting the floor. “Co-wife,” she yelped.

Kane cut that short by glaring at Rochemonte with a emerald glare. In the space it took for the Irish CO to turn back his mind went whirling back to places that he didn’t let him go to...to a time when he was a young man and next to him in ACT was a young Midwestern woman with blonde hair laughed uproariously next to him...then years later on this very ship she appeared again, as if from some phantasm from his youth. But she still laughed; Daisy always smiled and laughed. She was pregnant, her heart full of love…

Full of love…so much love all of it from her…**Mommy says you're not the man she remembers…**

Then like another phantasm, Daisy was gone, Erika too...never to be heard from again until today.

Turning back to Jake he said, “Co-wife? I wasn’t aware that Secretary Bonviva….and Daisy *Bonviva* and *you*...”

Jake looked over at Specs, hoping to get an update, but she was looking over at him in total kewpie doll agog, the only thing holding in her sparkling green eyes in were the glasses perched on her petite nose. “No word yet?” he asked, stalling for time.

Cindy didn’t even pretend to look down. “No,” she replied shaking her head, clearly waiting for an explanation.

“It was an oxderlinjk; it’s a Bolian ceremony binding families,” Jake explained softly to Kane. “Daisy and Xana bonded, becoming co-wives and merged their existing families. Then Xana and I got married; Ben came later.” He paused before saying, “I’m not married to Daisy; she and I have no bond except being friends.” Jake wasn’t sure why that was important to add, he just felt he had to. When Kane nodded, Jake continued.

“But when I married Xana I became Dahlia’s stepfather, and yes I’m her guardian too. As far as the oxderlinjk...while this arrangement is recognized on BOLARUS IX and should be recognized in all Federation worlds, Xana and Daisy made sure to file papers to recognize that in the event that something were to wrong, I could act as guardian to Erika and Gavi. Once we get to a Starbase, we should be able to get them,” Jake finished up. Before Kane could ask the CEO walked over to the console. “Here, let me,” he murmured. Tapping the keys quickly he said, “Ok they’re ready.”

Kane nodded. “Energize.”

At once the quiet, calm Transporter room had 4 beams of blue light on the transporter pad then it *exploded* with the sound of excited chatter.

“JAKE!”

“PROPHETS! Jake! We haven’t seen you in so long!”

“Hey man!”

“Daddy?”

As expected, before he could fully disengage himself from the console the kids went running towards him. Dahlia beat the others to him and launched herself into his arms. “I knew you’d be here,” she grinned. Her long blonde loose curls were a mess as she clung to him. Her face still had the roundness of youth, but her long legs were starting to come in. “I missed you!”

“Missed you too, Dee,” he grinned as he hugged her back and quickly dropped a kiss on her creased Bajoran nose. Jake was very surprised when he got an exuberant hug from his otherside. Turning he saw a teenage blonde Bajoran girl; his mind went blank before he realized she was all but a spitting image of her mother, “Erika?”

The 13 year old grinned at that. “Hey Jake!” she grinned. “Is Picola Mama here too?”

“Picola?” Kane asked suddenly very confused.

“My other mom. Picola Mama means “little mom”,” Erika announced as she studied her eyes at the CO. She didn’t really remember this man and yet...

“Mom’s here too!?” Dahlia asked. “We’re all coming to live with you!?”

“We’ll sort this out,” Jake promised. “You ok, Ben?” he asked quietly to his son who was looking all around at everywhere but his own father.

“Ice cream, you told me they had ice cream on your ship,” Ben announced. Looking under the console where Cindy Rochemonte’s boots were he announced, “I don’t see it here.”

Not having the most extensive experience with 4 year old boys on the hunt for ice cream, Cindy backed up as if Ben was secretly going to implant with a Borg nanite. “No ice cream here,” she announced.

“He’s fine,” Dahlia muttered rolling her golden eyes.

“Gavi?” Jake asked.

“We need to go to Sickbay,” the teenager announced. He *hated* doctors, hated being poked and prodded, all those medical professionals who wanted to know about his Onaran roots, and how he could make electricity with his hands; it was the whole reason why he still wore black gloves. However, they spent days with that freak, and as the eldest here he felt responsible... “That man had us for - I don’t know how long,” he said softly. “I think, well Mom would make us go, so would Picola.”

“Captain?” Jake said he tried to round up the kids.

“Go,” Kane ordered.

Jake gathered up the kids, with the girls giving him lip about “We don’t need to go” and “Why can’t we just go hang out?”. “Ben, come on,” he announced.

“I’m tired,” Ben announced with a yawn.

Jake realized how exhausting and confusing for the 4 year old this was he offered, “Want a piggy back ride?”

Ben’s face suddenly lit up at that. “Mama said I’m too big,” he pointed out.

“I can handle it,” Jake grinned. The CEO knelt down and Ben scampered up his back. Once he felt the sure tight grip of his son around his neck, and adjusted where his little legs wrapped around his midsection, Jake stood up.

“Aww,” Cindy sighed. The little guy was an exact replica of his father…

“You didn’t have ice cream,” Ben muttered as he stared down Cindy with violet eyes.

“Let it go, Ben,” Jake sighed, “we’ll get it later.”

Kane and Cindy watched Jake and his entourage file out into the corridor, heading towards Sickbay. Kane couldn’t help but smile; after everything that had happened in the last few days, the sound of children ringing through the corridor was a much needed bright spot. Reality was right there, waiting to force its way back into the forefront of Kane’s attention, but the captain allowed himself a moment to reflect on happier times.

“A representation of all the things we’re fighting for,” he said quietly.

“Sir?” Cindy asked.

“Nothing, lieutenant,” Kane said. The moment passed, his expression became all business again. “Captain Kane to bridge.”

[[Bridge here,]] came the voice of Lt. Byte.

“Have we completed the software upgrade for the cloaking device?” Kane asked.

[[Aye sir.]]

“Good,” Kane said. “Signal the APPARITION that we’ll be getting underway immediately. As soon as we’re out of range, I want us back in warp.”

[[I will inform Lt. BaShen,]] Byte said. [[Bridge out.]]

Kane turned to face Cindy again.

“How long until the upgrades to the cloak are complete?” he asked.

“The software’s been upgraded,” Cindy said. “Normally, we’d want to run some tests to make sure the added power draw won’t affect any related systems--”

“No time to go by the book,” Kane said. “Monitor the power systems closely, if there’s a problem I want to know at once.”

“Aye sir,” Cindy said.

Kane noticed the way Cindy’s eyes kept going to the door.

“Do you not like children, lieutenant?” he asked.

“What?” Cindy blinked, turning to look at him. “Oh, no. I mean, yes. I mean, I don’t mind them, it’s not that.”

“What is it?”

“Jake- that is, Commander Crichton, told me he had two kids,” she said. “But now he’s got four. And two wives?”

“I think he would say he only has one wife,” Kane said. “Does it bother you?”

“No,” Cindy said quickly, eyes dropping to her console. “It’s just surprising. He’s… well, he’s so *young*.”

“The universe waits for no one, lieutenant,” Kane said. He turned to leave.

“Sir?” Cindy asked. Kane stopped and turned to her. “Do *you* like children?”

“They’re fine in concept,” Kane said. “We’ll see how they are when there’s four of them right up the hallway.”

=/\=

SCENE: Sickbay

Dr. Reardon, as well as a few officers with medical training that had been reassigned as nurses, were busy checking over the children. It was good news-aside from a touch of malnutrition, they were all in good health.

Jake took a seat next to the biobed where Ben and Dahlia sat, holding hands. Dahlia’s eyes brightened when she saw him, but Ben was too busy paying attention to all the commotion on the other side of Sickbay.

“Here,” Jake said, holding out a small foil-wrapped package. “I thought you guys might be hungry. It’s not very good, but it’s technically nutritious.”

“Thanks,” Dahlia said. She unwrapped the foil, broke off a piece of a yellow cakelike material that had always reminded Jake of drywall, and passed the rest to Ben. Dahlia took a tiny bite, and made a face that wasn’t quite disgust, but a distant cousin just the same.

“I know,” Jake smiled ruefully. “They’re not very good when they’re fresh, and these are pretty old.”

“You said there’d be ice cream,” Ben said sulkily.

“I know,” Jake said. “I’m sorry, Ben. Things… changed.”

“This isn’t the DISCOVERY, is it?” Dahlia asked, looking around.

“No,” said Jake. “This is the USS CENTURY.”

“Where is everyone?”

“We don’t have a full crew,” Jake said. “It’s… a long story.”

“I wanna hear it,” Dahlia said.

“Me too,” Ben said, through a mouthful of yellow cake. He had taken another bite of the ration, a testament to how hungry the boy was.

“Later, I promise,” Jake said. “First, I have to ask… what happened to you guys?”

“We were kidnapped,” Dahlia said. Her eyes went distant. “They put all of us in a cargo container.”

“Did they hurt you?” Jake asked. He felt his cheeks getting hot at the thought of strangers coming into his home, taking his children, the thought that they might have done something to them—

“No,” Dahlia said.

“They weren’t nice,” Ben said quietly. He took another bite and started to chew dully.

“No, they weren’t,” Dahlia said. She put an arm around Ben and pulled him close.

“You’re safe now,” Jake said, hugging both of the children and kissing the top of each of their heads in turn. “What about your mother?”

“Mom’s not here?” Dahlia asked.

“No,” Jake said. “Dammit, she must be out looking for you. She’s got to be out of her mind.”

“Swear,” Ben said automatically.

“Sorry,” Jake said. “Look… we’re on our way back to EARTH. Until we get there, we can’t send out any messages. It’s for our safety.”

“Does it have something to do with why you’re not on the DISCOVERY anymore?” Dahlia asked.

“Yes,” Jake nodded. “I’m sorry, but that means we can’t call your mom. I wish we could, I really do, but we won’t be able to get a message to her until after we get home. Okay?”

“I understand,” Dahlia said.

“I understand,” Ben repeated, probably just imitating his sister more than anything else.

“Okay,” Jake said. “We’re doing everything we can to get the ship back up to full power, but for now those rations are all we have. As soon as we get replicators back online, there’ll be an ice cream sundae in it for each of you, I promise.”

“Okay,” Ben said, still a little sulkily.

“I have to go back on duty soon,” Jake said. “Before I do, I’ll take you all back to my quarters. Gavi and Erika are going to keep an eye on you until I’m off shift. I want you to try to get some sleep, okay? When I’m off duty, we’ll take a look around the ship and see if there’s any trouble we can get into.”

“Alright,” Dahlia said. She took another piece of the cake and ate it. Next to her, Ben yawned, bits of yellow crumb sticking to his lips. “I’m glad you found us, Jake.”

“Me too, kid,” Jake said, hugging them tightly again. “Me too.”

==========================
NRPG: Sorry about any formatting issues and the truncated signatures, I sent this out from my phone. If it winds up unreadable, let me know and Sarah or I will send out a cleaner version later tonight.

A joint post by...

Shawn Putnam
a.k.a.
Jake Crichton, Commander

and

Sarah Alberttini-Bond
a.k.a.
Xana Bonviva