K'Tel presents: Nijil's Greatest Hits...

[Erich Jaenke 0]

K'Tel presents: Nijil's Greatest Hits...

(with Jylliene, Annisha, and Nijil)

 

Nijil laid in the bio bed covered in blanket and sensors all over his head and body. Everyone stared in a moment of odd silence, then Nijil laughed.

 

"Well, here I am again. The doctors told me that if I have one more visit I get a free sandwich at Blubby's." He shot Annisha a smile. Her eyes blinked at the restaurant's mention.

 

“Should just have your name on a bed here. Reserve one for you,” Jylliene suggested with a grin. With a more serious demeanor, she took Nijil’s hand and continued, “You had us worried about you. Let’s try to do that less often?”

 

Jylliene's hand was warm to the touch and sent a pleasant shiver up his arm. "This was purely an accident. It went to check on me thinking I'd suffered a real injury during the drill." He started. "If this was not the entire station participating in this I'd have used the safe word to grind it to a halt. I figured I could garner more information from it if I played the role and explained we were merely practicing. I twisted to prop myself up against the wall when my sleeve brushed against it. I did not even feel the initial contact, but by the elements I felt the aftermath."

 

Nijil turned to his daughter, making sure she was looking at him. "I have a new appreciation for what you likely went through as a slave to those people." Annisha pursed her lips and looked at him directly, her big eyes reflecting the lights above. "The pain was so intense I lost the sense of time passing." He reached out and took Annisha's hand. "I couldn't tell where the pain was coming from or where it was going to next. I don't think I stayed conscious very long from what the holo-recording showed."

 

A tear dripped from his eye. "Annisha, I'm so so sorry I did not catch you before those people took you. I hope you can forgive me."

 

Annisha for her part was pretty good at hiding her feelings when she needed, her own parents off for months on end. She diverted her eyes, trying to hide her own reaction. "Eneh, you had no way to know. I didn't know either. I got away and somehow the elements allowed you to be there in space when my stolen ship went by. I had no idea how that crazy thing worked if it was not already running. They were after me and I only had minutes left. You saved me." She buried her head into the back of her hand.

 

Jylliene gave them space, stepping back slightly. She wondered what would have happened to Annisha had Nijil’s experience come to the worst possible outcome for him. More than ever, she wanted the stability and formality that their upcoming wedding would bring to their family.

 

The scene had turned a bit emotional for all of them. Nijil smiled and propped Annisha's chin up. "I hear you have been accessing the subspace network making calls across the sector."

 

"What? Who told you?" She frowned. "I bet it was Alexis, that blubbermouth." Her brow rose in mock revenge. She pulled back and stood next to Jylliene. "Well, since you know, I've been calling around for your bonding. I sneaked a peek and saw your choice for music."

 

"What's wrong with the music?" Nijil thought he knew the right people.

 

"Well, a group named after a bug is not going to cut it. Tragedy! A Bee Gees tribute band made up of an Andorian, Caitian, and Bollian. Boy did they name that band right. Let me see, the famous Tellarite Elvis impersonator. I looked up the old old photos of this Elvis person and that guy is closer to a Horta than a human."

 

"Hey," he interrupted.

 

"Wait, there's more. Raptors, the Romulan Eagles tribute band. I mean they are okay, but does every song have to be about the homeworld, like they wrote it?"

 

Nijil sat up a bit. "And I suppose you have someone."

 

"I'm glad you asked. The Ferengi at the shops, along with being a crook, can also book musical acts and he suggested the group Pure Logic."

 

He wrinkled his forehead so much it looked painful. "Pure Logic?"

 

"Yeah, six Vulcans who claim they can play any song after hearing it only once, in any style they choose. They even have holographic costume changes. They can play the new hotness or that old stuff you sing to in the sonic shower."

 

"Hey, I sound pretty good."

 

"Keep thinking that. Anyway, they are going to be here in a few days on a transport. I used your signature and expressed your passionate interest, though I don't know how much they value that."

 

“Perhaps we should let you have your rest,” Jylliene suggested, stifling chuckles at the discussion between the two. “Annisha, why don’t you go on ahead, and stop by Blubby’s on your way. I’ll be along shortly.”

 

Before Annisha left sickbay she tapped her necklace to call her friend Alexis, proclaiming that a tall Blubby burger was back on for dinner. The door opened with a hiss and closed with one, leaving Jylliene and Nijil alone.

 

"Should have let her plan the whole thing, but I think the park would have been full of animals." Nijil smiled. "We are having it on the station, in the park, right?"

 

“Yes, e’lev,” she agreed, taking his hand again. “The park will be perfect. My parents are looking forward to seeing the station.”

 

"Good, because mine are bringing an entire feast on that cargo vessel of theirs. They said the wine is strong this first season."

 

“Perfect,” Jylliene grinned.