Homeward Bound

Posted on 21 Nov 2012 @ 3:12pm by Captain Jonathan Holliday & Lieutenant Commander Evelyn Coleman

5,169 words; about a 26 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: USS Galileo - Shuttlebay / Utopia Colony, Mars, Sol System
Timeline: MD05, 0900hrs

[ON]

USS Galileo - Shuttlebay

The drinks reception after the recent round of promotions was all the socialising on board ship that John had any need to do for now, afterall, there were more pressing concerns in his life that needed his attention, and indeed there was little more he could do from his quarters; it was time for action.

Having already packed his standard-issue duffle bag with enough clothing and personal effects to last a few days, Holliday had wasted no time in requisitioning Galileo's Type 9 shuttlecraft for his personal use; one of the benefits of being the ship's Executive Officer meant that it wasn't exactly a difficult process for him to gain access. A short turbolift journey, and the green-eyed man from Mars found himself staring at the vessel that would be his private conveyance for the next couple of days. Shrugging his shoulder to move the bag strap a little further towards his neck, John strode across the empty cargo bay and inputted his command code to release the rear hatch of the shuttle and permit him access.

As he stepped aboard, the computer, having detected the presence of an authorised officer, began to power up; consoles whirring into life and lights coming on automatically as the ship prepared itself for departure. Taking no at all to deposit his bag into the personal stowage area in the aft section, John swept into the pilot's chair and began to run the standard pre-flight procedures.

Just as the shuttlecraft's pre-flight diagnostic completed the rear hatch lock disengaged and began to open. Evelyn walked up the ramp, "Good you warmed up the shuttle." She said taking the copilot seat after tossing her bag with his in the stowage, she leaned back in the chair and turned to face Jon. "you didn't think you were going to leave without me did you?"

The last thing the XO had expected was the sudden arrival of someone else onboard the small craft, in fact, he had deliberately gone to great lengths to avoid such a thing happening. Having booked the shuttle time using his personal access codes, and not entering anything more than the most basic of flight plan, and indeed restricting access to his destination to his own security level and upwards, John simply hadn't thought someone would track him down this easily.

"Lieutenant Coleman what are you doing here? I thought I covered my tracks well enough to sneak out....ugh this is why I hate Intelligence...."

Evelyn rolled her eyes at him, "When will you learn, nothing gets past Grandma, she knows all the tricks." She grinned widely at him, "So, you going to sit there and cry me a river or you going to launch this thing?"

For a moment, Holliday said nothing, instead just looking across almost dumbfounded at the arrival of his unexpected companion. Sighing, he realised that there was no way he would get off this ship without a fight, and instead, he turned back to the console and tapped the control to reseal the aft hatch, and returned to plotting his course.

"Pre-launch sequence complete...impulse and warp engines ready....shuttlebay doors are clear....launch sequence engaged...."

It took only a few seconds for the small shuttlecraft to lift itself free of the deck, and glide effortlessly out of the shuttlebay, before coming about and leaping into warp on it's way to Earth. As the stars streaked past the viewscreen in front of him, Holliday felt comfortable enough to engage the autopilot and take his hands off the controls.

"So why are you here...I'm a grown man after all Lieutenant...I don't need a babysitter. We've got a few hours in here before we reach Mars so you may as well come clean?"

Evelyn arched her brow, "I am fully aware you are a grown man, Commander, however you gave your father something most likely improved his health greatly and since you are unfamiliar with the compound, and him being a scientist, he'll have questions you cannot answer. That is why I'm here, besides I need to make a quick stop on Earth anyway." She said leaning back in the chair.

"Earth? I thought you hated being there?" John replied, not easily being able to argue with her logic regarding the knowledge of whatever magical medicine it had been that she had passed to him during their previous mission.
"Remember, full of Admirals who are no more than children etc? I recall a certain speech from a certain El-Aurian Intelligence officer of my acquaintance?"

"I have my reason." She replied cryptically.

"Now who's not being honest?" John replied, laughing for a moment as tapped a few controls to ensure that their docking permit for within the Sol system had been successfully transmitted to the Mars defence perimeter.

"I could order you to tell me you know...."

Evelyn tensed up a little, "If you must know Richard Coleman's body is buried on Earth." She confessed.

"Coleman....your husband?" John spoke after a moment, realising that he had probably hit a nerve with demanding such information from her, and if anything, he felt a little guilty for being so abrupt.

"I'm not sure if you heard of my...shock in sickbay, but I have a vision of my family performing a....ritual. A very old El-Aurian custom performed for one who reached their bicentennial." Her voice cracked however her expression was stern, "It was as if... my ancestors... my family reached out from another plane of existence and took hold of me to perform the ritual... Richard was so fascinated with El-Aurian culture, he's the reason why I...I never lost my culture. He kept the spirit alive in me when my people chose to forget it. He was in this..vision. Truth be told, he's the only family member who's...I can still visit and pay respect to."

"Well, as a fellow officer it is my duty to support the needs of a crewmate during a difficult time....if you'd like some company I'm sure I can free up a few hours?"

John wasn't entirely sure of how to reply; he was no doctor, and had no understanding of exactly what had happened in Sickbay regardless of the reports that had made their way to him through various channels, and similarly he was no spiritualist, but he was her colleague, and that had to stand for something.

Evelyn turned her head, "I appreciate it the offer, but I would rather be alone." She said softly, "Besides, I want you to spend time with your family."

Taking his eyes away from the controls for another few moments, John did nothing more than nod in acknowledgement to Coleman's rrquest. He understood her mentality in this matter completely, and was happy to oblige.

"We should reach Earth within the next few hours.." He replied simply, before closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair.

Sol System, Mars, Utopia Colony

John's dozing was brought to a halt as the computer began bleeping to indicate their arrival at the designated coordinates, and the XO could feel as the ship dropped out of warp and returned to impulse speeds. Opening his eyes, Holliday looked out of the forward hatch and took in a deep breath as he saw the red hue of Mars forming on the horizon. He hadn't been back here for a while, and with good reason.

"Approaching Mars perimeter...you sure you want to do this Lieutenant? You can always take the shuttle to Earth and leave me to do the explaining?"

"Jon, you are about to talk to you father after how many years? Tell me you don't feel slightly better with me coming with you than you being alone." Evelyn replied with a small smile.

"I'd feel even safer with a phaser rifle, but my mother has a thing about weapons in the house...a shame really."

John replied with an equally wry smile before allowing the Utopia colony computer to take over the final docking procedures of the shuttle and tractor it into the bay. After a few moments, the beam disengaged, and Holliday's craft landed with a soft jolt on the colony pad.

"Last chance to bail out?"

Evelyn looked at him, "Haven't you learn by now how stubborn I can be? We going to waste more time or we going to meet your folks?" She grinned, "And don't worry, it'll be fun."

"Fine...just don't start getting all Grandma on me, alright? I still outrank you dammit."

John finished signing off from the shuttle interface and quickly shut down main power and the engines, before jumping out of his seat and grabbing his bag before thumbing the control panel to release the rear hatch, which dutifully began to descend and allow him free access onto the Martian colony.
As soon as he left the shuttle, John felt a wave of apprehension hit his chest like a ball of fire, burning its way to his soul as he began running through dozens of scenarios in his mind. Sighing, he looked around the dock, which hadn't changed since he had last been here all those years ago. He had been nothing more than a humble Lieutenant last time he stepped foot on home soil.

"There's a turbolift system here that'll take us right to my parent's dwelling...come on this way."

Evelyn didn't say a word and simply followed him to the turbolift, she can sense the tension rising in him see how his posture straighten and she followed suit. All humor and casualness was replaced with seriousness and professionalism. She wasn't sure she could say anything to relieve his tension. So for Jonathan she remained quiet and behaved as a proper subordinate.

However as the doors to the lift shut and began to ascend, a new thought formed in Eve's head and acted upon it. In a swift move, she reached out and grabbed Jonathan's cheeks and pulled his head down slightly as she pressed her lips against his, kissing him passionately.

Holliday was simply frozen, something that he had not experienced before; at least to this degree. Holding his breathing and indeed refusing to blink, John was trying to figure out exactly what course of action he should take in this situation. Of course the military mind in him knew exactly how he should proceed; throw the good Lieutenant in the Brig for conduct unbecoming of an officer on duty, but in a civillian colony that would have been difficult.

She pulls away breaking the kiss, her eyes looking deep into his green orbs, seeing the confusion in them "Relax." she whispers confidently, "everything will alright. Trust me." Evelyn spoke softly as she lowered her hands from his cheek, and moving to stand next to him professionally.

"I..I..I..er.." John's thoughts were quickly brought back into the real world as he looked sideways at the El-Aurian stood back next to him as if nothing had happened. His vocabulary was simply insufficient to express his current mood, and indeed there was little he could do other than babble like a fool. Taking a moment to clear his throat and straighten his uniform tunic, John had no time to come up with a reply before the turbolift doors slid open in front of him.

Taking a deep sigh, the Commander left the turbolift as quickly as he could, still not sure of what to make of the events from the last few moments, or indeed how he should have reacted. His mind was awash with memories of his childhood spent in these corridors; he knew every door instinctively, and indeed who lived behind most of them, having passed by them every day of his childhood right up until he left for the Academy on Earth.

Eventually, he passed in front of a door that he knew better than any of the others, and produced a much greater sense of dread than he had felt even up against the Klingons during the Sienna mission. Taking another moment to straighten his uniform tunic, and subconsciously rubbing his fingers over the three pips on his neck as if to reasure himself, the XO tapped his hand against the door chime.

For a moment, nothing happened, giving Holliday all the time he neeeded to debate the benefits of quickly darting back to the turbolift and subsequently the relative safety of the shuttlecraft waiting in the hangar. He would not have that luxury however, as the doors slid open in front of him, revealing a face that he had not seen in the flesh since he had been a cadet.

Standing a good foot shorter than her son, and clad in stereotypical civillian clothing, albeit with an apron tied around her middle, John's mother looked like she would have been more at home on a farmstead on Earth rather than on another world. Her once brunette hair had slowly faded to grey over the years, something that she had decided gave her an air of wisdom, and refused to do anything cosmetically about, but her eyes, the same shade of green as her son's gave her the ability to pierce into the soul of anyone she saw.

"My god....John? What are you doing here? I haven't seen you since..." Instead of finishing her sentence, the dimunative woman leapt to embrace her one and only child, locking her arms around his neck before looking sideways and catching a glimpse of the XO's travelling companion, and quickly composed herself.

"I'm sorry I didn't know you had a guest with you! How do you do dear, I'm John's mother, Claire"

Evelyn smiled warmly at John's mom, "Greetings, I'm Evelyn Coleman." giving the woman a small nod, "I'm a subordinate of Jonathan's on the USS Galileo., Chief Intelligence Officer."

Holliday had to admit, he was rather pleased that Coleman had stayed professional during the start of this meeting, it made him feel far less anxious and more like this was some sort of official ship's function other than him seeing his own parents again after so long.

His mother on the other hand, was far less likely to stay in a professional setting, having never served in the Fleet, and quickly proved his point only a few moments afterwards.

"Oh! You work with my son? Oh isn't that lovely....the Galileo you say? Well at least Starfleet had the sense to name at least one of their vessels after a scientist, we're always the last ones to be appreciated around here!"

Evelyn smiled, "Actually about a third of the fleet are named after scientist from various fields with majority of the ships equipped with advance science and research capabilities. With that stated, I do understand the work from private researches goes underestimated which is unfortunate considering the joint curiosity both Starfleet and Independent Scientists share." Evelyn frowned when she thought about the disputes, shrugging, "There are wonders in the universe that are very enjoyable and fascinating that one thought could only be a product of imagination, however the horrors that are out there... beyond imagination."

The older Holliday wasn't entirely sure what to make of Eve's statement; from the look of her she was no older than her son, but the words she had said rang true of someone much further on in life, but nevertheless, for the sake of being polite, she did nothing more than smile and usher them inside.

"Where are my manners? Please come on in, sit down, would you like something to eat? A drink?"

John had to smirk at his mother's comment, she always got overly excited when she had guests even if they were people that she had known her entire life. Following her into the room, the XO looked around, noticing that very little had changed since he had been here last. There was however no sign of the person he had really come to see. Perhaps he was elsewhere, or perhaps he wasn't up to seeing visitors, John simply didn't know.

Taking a seat on the sofa, he offered a space to his Intelligence Officer.

Evelyn took a seat on the couch, making sure to keep some space between Jonathan and herself, not wanting his mother to get any ideas about them. She smiled at the woman and shook her head, "No thank you. How have you been lately, Mrs. Holliday?" Evelyn asked.

It was not often that someone asked about Claire, and she wasn't about to leave such an obvious way to start a conversation exposed for too long. She might have been a scientist by trade, but sometimes the laboratory got a little too quiet for her liking.

"Ohh I've been fine, just fine dear...this business with John's father had been a little...difficult but now that's all over and done with we're getting back to normal!"

"Dad's ok?" John chimed in, not wanting to wait for his mother to continue talking on about things that to him were probably unimportant in relation to the whole reason he had come home in the first place.

"Well of course he is Jonathan....Starfleet Medical is at a loss to explain it..apparently he just suddenly started getting better, they think that he must have started responding to something they did, but they have no idea what it might have been!"

Evelyn rolled her eyes at the mention of Starfleet Medical, but bit her tongue so she wouldn't share her opinions. She looked at Claire, "How much has he improved?" she asked curiously, "Is it significant or has his condition totally reversed?" Eve asked curiously.

"Well, they aren't entirely sure...the doctors said that the rate of genetic degradation has essentially stopped and the majority of his genes are regenerating on their own - something they didn't think was going to happen even with the best treatment the Federation had to offer...they're on about wanting to study him to try and find out exactly how he's managed to heal so well!"

After hearing how much Mr. Holliday improved, Eve was skeptical of the overwhelming success. She thought it over and turned to Jonathan, "You merely scanned the molecular compound and sent the data to him instead of vial, didn't you?" Evelyn asked him.

"How...how did you know?" John replied, trying to keep his voice to as much of a whisper as possible. Of course Coleman would have had no idea that John hadn't passed this information onto his mother in advance, and it didn't take her long to catch onto the conversation going on.

"Vial? What vial? Jonathan what's the young lady talking about?"

Evelyn shook her head chuckling, turning to Claire, "Is Mr. Holliday in? Would it be possible for me to speak with him?" Eve asks not addressing her questions.

"Yes he's in his study - down the hall, second door on the right...is there something I should know Miss Coleman? Starfleet Intelligence aren't interested in my husband are they?"

"Of course not mother" John stood up to acknowledge her giving them directions to his father. The last thing he wanted was her to start worrying that some elite unit were going to swoop in and steal her husband for testing in some secret facility somewhere.

"Miss Coleman gave me some...inspiration to suggest a course of action to father and it seems to have done the job...I think she just wants to see for her own eyes...correct Lieutenant?"

Evelyn looked at Jonathan and then back at Claire. "Mrs. Holliday, your husband is going to be fine. And there is no need to worry about the Intelligence community or anyone for that matter. My husband suffered from the same syndrome, and I shared my experience with Jonathan." She said softly to Holliday's mother. "I may be in Intell currently but I was a Scientist before, and my curiosity hasn't faded since. I am sure you understand."

"Oh! Well..it seems that with the exception of my boy we're a house full of academics. I would love to see some of your work some time!"

Evelyn smiled and turned to Jonathan giving him the hint to lead the way.

The corridors were still familiar to John even after the years it had been since he last returned home. Moving past various photographs that hung on the wall of the family during happier times, and framed certificates for various accolades that the two parents had accumulated during their career, eventually they reached the door that Claire had directed them towards, and John reached out, pressing the release switch delicately, and watching as the sight in front of him took shape.

The Commander had expected to come home to find his father on his deathbed, if not already deceased, but instead the white haired old man was happily sat behind his desk muttering to himself as he input furious amounts of data into the PADD in front of him before turning and throwing up a new set of calculations on the screen in front of him.

John was almost the spitting image of his father, with the same piercing green eyes and square frame that had made the Commander the intimidating figure that he enjoyed being from time to time. Unlike his son however, the older Holliday's hair had faded to a snowy white and gave him the eclectic "mad professor" look as it shot out around his face like a shield bubble around a starship.

"No no that base would never conjugate this way, and that's impossible...what was I thinking? This is all useless, absolutely useless...."

The old man hardly even looked up from his desk, staring into his work with a look of concentration and commitment that John himself had displayed more than once on the Bridge of the Galileo during the Sienna crisis.

"Dad..." John spoke, the words catching in his throat as he struggled to come up with a continuation of the sentence. It took a few moments for the old man to break from his concentration as he looked up, as if puzzled, before putting down his PADD.

"Jonathan? What...what in god's name are you doing here boy? You were off on assignment last time I spoke, when you gave me that replicator pattern...what in blazes is going on here?"

Evelyn was behind Jonathan, however the wall obscured her view of his father. She remained silent, not wanting to get in the middle of a father-son reunion.

"We finished our assignment Dad, I decided to come home and see how you were seeing as last time we spoke you were on borrowed time....it seems that stuff I sent you did the job huh?"

"That stuff as you put it...saved my life boy....where the hell did you even get it from? That's nothing you would have come up with - I know - I spent years trying to get you to go into the laboratory instead of onto the phaser range."

Evelyn heard the comment by his father, decided to take a step closer so she can see Mr. Holliday, and based on what she sees John will age very well. "With discovery comes danger, the Universe is a very dangerous place. There are things that are natural in the cosmos that can cure the incurable but without a phaser to defend yourself, the discovery will never be shared." Eve spoke up with a smile.

"And who the hell are you Starfleet?" The older Holliday shouted back, surprised by the sudden arrival of yet another Starfleet uniform that he was generally less than fond of seeing his son in, let alone a perfect stranger.

"Dad...this is Lieutenant Coleman, she's my Chief Intelligence Officer on board Galileo...she's the one who gave me the stuff I gave to you...show some respect." John piped up, wanting to prevent his father from doing to others what he had always delighted in doing to the Galileo's XO during his youth and battering them down with an onslaught of words.

"You mean to tell me that this...this girl was the one who put that stuff together? Bullshit! That stuff is way too clever for a girl of her age to come up with!"

Evelyn smirked, "Well, this girl, is 229 years old. I admit, i would have thought your generation would have taught you to respect your elders." She chuckled slightly, "I'm an El-Aurian."

"Ahhh one of the Listeners huh? Well that would explain a few things...you wouldn't be the first one of your species I ever met...fascinating culture, fascinating science...would take me years to figure out some of the genetics work that your people did....hmm.."

The senior Holliday stood up from his desk after a moment's pondering and headed towards the grey-uniformed Lieutenant, stopping a few feet from her and extended his hand in greeting, as if his mood had suddenly changed at the mere mention of her species.

"Doctor Robert Holliday, a pleasure to meet a member of your esteemed race."

Evelyn was surprised by him but gracefully took his hand and shook it. "Thank you, but the pleasure is all mine, Doctor." she smiled. "You should know, I am deeply impressed with your son's performance on the Galileo. He faced a difficult situation and never wavered, he even saved my life."

"Did he now? Well at least all that Starfleet training amounted to something - not that he couldn't have done just as much work in an academic field as in a military one mind you."

The older Holliday took a moment before heading back to his chair and sitting back down, sighing with relief as he took the weight off of his legs.

"You'll have to forgive me miss....the old bones aren't quite back up to speed yet...side effect of almost dying I suppose."

She crossed her arms. "I don't think an apology is necessary for that, Mr. Holliday, however as a Starfleet Officer, I feel your comment warrants one."

"Feel all you like missy, doesn't mean I'm going to be any way inclined to follow orders - that's not me."

The older man replied, before picking up a PADD and delving back into his work, rather than complying with the request that the El-Aurian had given him. The younger Holliday however was far less impressed, he was used to his father acting in this way, in fact it was unusual if he didn't act like his usual stubborn self. Stepping forward, John joined the fray.

"Dammit dad is that any way to speak to the person who saved your life? You might not like Starfleet but you don't need to hold it against everyone in uniform you meet, it's me that disappointed you, not the rest of them!"

Like a red rag to a bull, Robert slammed his PADD down onto the desk before locking eyes with his son, this was a debate that they had been having between each other for years - the decision of the son to ignore the will of his father and taken his own path.

"You're damn right you disappointed me! I wanted you to make something of your life, to contribute something to the galaxy but instead you were attracted to a shiny uniform and starships....you chose the military life over my express wishes that you didnt!"

"Contribute something??? Dad are you blind? Without Starfleet we would have been conquered by the Dominion, or assimiliated by the Borg, or wiped out by god knows how many other species that just plain didn't like us! Like it or not, not every contribution has to be down the end of a microscope!"

"No! You'd just prefer it to be down the barrel of a phaser rifle wouldn't you boy? You always hated doing what I told you even when you were a kid, and look at you now! Just because you have those pips on your neck, you think that you can come in here and boss me around? No way!"

It was all John could do to hold his tongue, usually he would have either leapt over the desk and continued the argument, or thrown something across the room to sate his feelings of rage, but instead, he knew that there was simply no point in trying it.

"Lieutenant Coleman.....we have a shuttle to catch....obviously my returning here was a mistake. Let's go."

Evelyn looked at John, "No." she said firmly before taking a step closer to Robert.

Looking into the elder Holliday's eyes. "Let me tell you something. You've been giving a second chance, I know before the compound John gave you, you were counting the regrets in your life. The mistakes you've made, the petty arguments that were fought over menial issues that pale in comparison to death. Yet here you are repeating those same arguments, making those same mistakes. Take it from someone who lives with those. The last conversation I had with my father was similar to this. He questioned my curiosity with humanity, ordered me not to return to Earth, I disobeyed. Three days later the Borg destroyed my homeworld. My family...my home, everything that I am, gone. Those scars haunt me every day. Now look." She shifted pointed to Jonathan. "Look at your son. Look at the man he has became. He has your face Robert. Same eyes, same chin. Get past your bitterness and look dammit! He has your drive, your determination. He has the same dedication for his job as you do for your science. He has the same stubbornness as you do. Quit letting your disdain for the uniform blind you to the fact that this is your son! You're a scientist. You put your heart and your soul into your work. But sometimes even a routine experiment can yield a different result. He may have rejected your work, but he didn't reject you, Robert. You are more than a scientist, stop thinking otherwise. He is more than a Starfleet Officer. He's your son. He's here. He came to see you, to talk to you, to repair things between you two. This isn't about scientist verse Starfleet, this is about a Father and Son."

The older Holliday refused still to even look up from his documentation. In fact if anything he was sinking deeper and deeper into thought as opposed to acknowledging the words being given to him by the Lieutenant. After a moment he looked up.

"We'll speak tomorrow....get some rest son. Good evening Miss Coleman."

"That's the best we're going to get Lieutenant...come on, let me show you to the guest quarters...we'll finish this tomorrow."

Evelyn shook her head and moved away from the elder Holliday, following Jonathan's lead.

TBC

[OFF]

Lt. Evelyn Coleman
2XO/Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

Cmdr Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

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