Tying Up Loose Ends

[Annabelle O'Halloran 0]

Leaning back, Anna stretched as a waitress set their drinks down and then hurried off. The pub was busy; filled with the usual characters a trading colony like Benecia attracted. She lifted her glass of ale and smiled across the table at Jon and Wade. “In retrospect, that was really pretty easy.”

 

Wade nodded in thanks to the waitress, picking up his glass and looking at the amber colored ale inside. “I’m always a bit nervous about drinking in places like this. The atmosphere is great,” he said, looking around, “but who knows what they serve in a crowded watering hole like this?” Sighing, he set his glass back on the table and nodded to Anna. “Which part, finding a place to sit down in this dump, or catching the bad guy?”

 

Raising an eyebrow, Anna gave Wade a reproving look. “There’s nothing wrong with places like this--I was practically raised in them.” She leaned forward, lowering her voice so only Wade and Jon could hear her. “I’m talking about how smoothly it went...Jon getting clearance to load live ordnance on that ramshackle freighter we rented. Angstrom’s contact at the disposal facility swallowing it hook, line and sinker...” She took a sip from her glass and then grinned, “It made for a nice change from looking over sensor readings.”

 

“Please do not let your guard down, the potential for danger is ever-existent.” Jon surveys the area while taking a sip from his drink. “Better than the stuff I had during my post-war time. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, I guess.” He shrugs his shoulders, “Call me paranoid, but I feel that something may be out of place.”

 

“Out of place?” Wade asked, turning to Jon. “I suppose it’s fairly easy for something to feel out of place in a place like this, but if you want someone to tell you you’re paranoid, best talk to Caroline when we get back to the Reaent.” Following Anna’s example, Wade took a sip of his ale and was surprised to find that it tasted remarkably well.

 

Grinning at Wade, “If you know me for when it comes to going to sickbay, you’ll need to sedate me to get me to go,” Jon chuckles as he takes another sip. “I guess I never really settled down from the lifestyle I’ve lived for so long.”

 

Setting her mug on the table, Anna rested her gaze on Jon’s face, knowing the very severe medical issues he’d faced in the past. “No, I don’t see you heading to the Counselor’s office unless ordered,” she said lightly, and then immediately changed the subject. “Jon, how soon will it be before the Reaent swings by to pick us up?”

 

Jon checks his watch. “It looks like about another five hours, so we have some time to relax.” Setting his drink on the table, “I suggest we make the most of it, who knows when the next shore leave is?”

 

“As much as I enjoy drinking beer in this fine establishment, I’m somewhat eager to make my report to the commander and be back in my bunk. There’s a good reason why I chose engineering and not security. I’m not made for all this cloak and dagger business,” Wade said jovially, looking around the room.

 

“Well, I for one enjoyed it and was happy to go along,” Anna answered, finding Wade’s comments amusing. She had a sneaky feeling he’d enjoyed it very much--after all, he was the one who had the cloak and dagger hologram program where he occasionally battled his programmed arch nemesis. She should know--she played his always prepared sidekick. Odd how often she was stuck picking up the tab in that particular program... Giving Wade a suspicious glance, she looked back to Jon. “The triceron contract that the Juno qualified for originated out of an office within the Federation’s Department of Defense, and we have the manifest proving it that we downloaded from the Juno’s files before she was destroyed. We now also have the contact he used at the Federation approved disposal site. That has to be enough for Ridire to be able to show the higher ups for a full investigation to be launched, correct?”

 

“That’s what I don’t understand,” Jon answers. “Angstrom had an expired license and the Juno was unfit for hauling cargo of any kind. That makes it even worse to think one of our own would go outside of normal channels like that.”

 

“Angstrom liked to play it hard and play it fast. I imagine that a lot of money -- money that should have gone into some of the many repairs that were needed on that ship -- changed hands so that the Juno could get this contract,” Wade mused, rubbing his chin.

 

“I never actually had a conversation with the man,” Anna answered with a shrug. “You two talked to him and Jon, you managed to convince him that the only thing he was still able to do for himself was cooperate. He risked his own life as well as that of his crew, and in the end it cost him his ship. He’s just lucky it didn’t cost any lives.”

 

“And to think I did that without even hitting him,” Jon muses. “He had a breaking point and I went for it. I prefer the smooth transitions anyway.”

 

Standing, Wade stretched his legs and looked around the room. “Alright, folks. If you don’t mind, I’m going to go grab some fresh air. This place is way too crowded for my tastes.”

 

“We’ll catch up to you, Wade.” Anna picked up her mug, but didn’t take a drink from it immediately, her eyes on Wade’s back as he walked through the crowded bar to the exit. She looked back to meet Jon’s gaze and smiled. “So, how’ve you been? It feels like a long time since we’ve talked.”

 

Nodding at Anna’s comment, “It has been too long. I’ve mostly been busy keeping the security department going. T’Kar has been very helpful and is getting more confident now that she’s getting medic training.”

 

“I didn’t realize she's been working with Medical,” Anna started, and then frowned before setting her mug back on the table without drinking from it. “Kat Swan has been gone now for some time. And then with Angel leaving... Have you heard whether or not she’s coming back?”

 

Shaking his head, “Unfortunately, I haven’t heard a word. To ease tensions within the department, I’ve been training T’Kar to be a temporary chief of security until further notice.” Looking to at the ceiling, “As much as I would like to take the lead again, I feel it’s not my place. My time came and went.”

 

“I don’t understand,” Anna responded, looking confused. “You have more experience...you would be the natural choice. You are the natural choice.” She was aware of his past history aboard the Reaent. Jon had more past history than anyone she’d ever met. You didn’t reach the ripe old age of 2217 without picking up some heavy baggage along the way.

 

“It’s just...” He collects his thoughts briefly, “My life was one of learning and survival. After a while, you get tired, even after ‘settling things’. I feel like something’s missing.”

 

He was no longer talking about being or not being acting security chief, Anna realized. She wasn’t sure what to say. It had often occurred to her since meeting him that the long life span of a Zemun meant you would experience a great deal of loss over an extended period--unless you made your home among other Zemun. “What do you feel is missing, Jon?” she asked gently.

 

“As you know Zemuns live long lives. Most friends I’ve had were non-Zemun so I’ve outlived them. That makes it hard for me, because if I get too close, the pain from their passing becomes tough to cope with.” He lets out a long drawn out sigh as if getting a weight off his chest.

 

“You can’t live your life always standing aloof.” Anna folded her arms and rested them on the table before leaning forward, an earnest expression on her face. “That’s not you. I know that. This is the second time you’ve served on the Reaent and someday your path might take you off her again. But for now, you’re where you should be, Jon. Don’t you feel that?”

 

“I do and don’t get me wrong, I consider the Reaent my home away from home. As for other matters, lets just say there are questions best left unanswered.” Jon tries to keep his composure while answering Anna’s questions.

 

“I can take a hint,” she answered, a little wryly, though no humor reached her eyes. He was complicated and it was almost impossible to understand how much loss and loneliness could be endured by a being whose life expectancy at this point exceeded most of those around him by almost three hundred years. “If you ever want to talk about it...anything...you know I’m around, Jon.”

 

Looking down at the table he says the three words that dwell within his mind. “I was married.” He immediately went silent as he waited for Anna’s response.

 

There was no reason to be surprised--he’d lived a very long life, but she was. He’d never mentioned it before in any of their previous conversations, and there’d been many. And it was the way he said it; like dropping stones in a pond, and she could still feel the ripples. “You’ve never mentioned being married,” she responded gently. “How come?”

 

“It goes back to when I went missing. During that time I was labeled ‘K.I.A.’ which as you can tell was very upsetting. Due to what happened, she did what I asked her to do. To be happy; not to mourn for my passing but to rejoice in the happiness I gave her. She remarried shortly before I returned to Federation space.”

 

“How long were you gone?” Anna waved away a waitress, keeping her gaze fixed on Jon’s.

 

“Two years...” he said somberly.

 

“That...that’s awful,” she stated, her heart breaking for him. “She thought you were dead...but oh, Jon...I am so sorry.” The timing was tragic. “Did you see her again? Does she know you survived?”

 

Jon nods slowly. “Shortly before I returned to active duty, I went to see her. She moved on. I cannot blame her for I wanted her to be happy, even if it meant her leaving me. I know it may sound selfish to even think that...”

 

Anna opened her mouth, on the verge of saying that two years wasn’t very long, but she bit the words back. She thought of what she would do if something happened to Will and then immediately pushed the thought away. She couldn’t stand to think along those lines. She knew that a pilot’s job was dangerous--a fighter pilot’s even more so. She’d decided quite some time ago that if she thought about the what if’s she would go crazy and end up pushing him away in trying to protect herself. “It doesn’t sound selfish,” Anna finally said, giving him a slightly disbelieving look. “It sounds the exact opposite of that. It...well, it doesn’t make it hurt less, Jon, I’m sure it doesn’t, but you allowed her the chance to be happy, not knowing if you would be able to return for her. You were generous to let her go.”

 

“I think we should change the subject; granted, those feelings needed to be let out. Perhaps we could discuss other topics if that’s okay with you?” Looking around the room, he said, “It feels rather weird talking about myself without letting you talk about yourself in return.”

 

“Of course, it’s ok with me,” Anna replied gently, her eyes meeting his. “And it’s not as if you stopped me from talking about anything I wanted to. We haven’t touched base in a while and it’s just nice to not be in a hurry and get a chance to do that. Once we get back on the ship, you’ll be busy trying to keep Security running and it’s going to fall to you to give the major report to Commander Ridire.”

 

“The report on our mission, I’ll make sure the commander sees it right away. You are right though, we haven’t talked in a while given the circumstances. How’ve you been lately?” He looks into Anna’s eyes. “I bet your life has taken some interesting turns as of late.” The way he said it seems to hint that he knows something but not sure as to what it is.

 

Meeting his gaze, she shrugged, an easy smile brightening her expression, a sign of obvious happiness. “I’m good--things have been going well in the department and Will and I--we recently decided to try sharing quarters. We haven’t moved in yet--still deciding on a configuration, but hopefully, it’ll be soon. It’s getting so I can never actually find anything; once we have everything in one place, it’ll be that much easier.”

 

Nodding with a smile on his face, he replied, “That’s good to hear. I’m glad to see you with a smile on your face. I hope everything works out for the best. By the way, I heard you had a pet bird, is it a handful?”

 

Jon’s question surprised a sudden shout of laughter from her, and Anna glanced around, realizing it was too loud in the pub for anyone to have even noticed. She nodded her head, still chuckling. “He’s a sweetheart, really he is--he’s a cockatoo---parrot family, originally an Earth species, and he’s an armful, size-wise. He uh...he has some jealously issues. Will has been very patient,” Anna understated. “Actually, I’ve tasked poor Wade with designing and building him a structure that will be safe and have the added benefit of having a latch that Chauncey--that’s his name, can’t open himself.”

 

“Sounds like a clever fellow. ‘Never underestimate the potential of those around you.’ The scribes within the Order would say that all the time. I never knew what it meant until the first time I met a human.” The story about Chauncey even has him chuckling.

 

“Oh, he is,” Anna stated dryly, “Diabolically clever.” Picking up her ale, she took a long swallow before setting the glass back on the table. “He destroyed my couch--not that it takes a genius to do that, but he also has figured out how to open his cage no matter what I’ve tried. He has alarming problem solving skills. I am hoping that the mighty mind of a Starfleet Engineer is equal to the task.”

 

“Wade knows what he’s doing so I doubt there’ll be any problems. I trust him to keep the Reaent together even though that’s part of his job description. I’d help him there but maintaining a fighter is slightly different from an actual ship,” Jon responded, stretching out in his seat to relax.

 

“Just slightly,” Anna teased, adding, almost to herself, “The only problem will be if Wade underestimates his opponent.”

Edited January 4, 2011 by Annabelle O'Halloran