<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:garamond,times new roman,serif;font-size:large"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-33bbd301-7fff-a8e2-329b-22455894144d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Mission: Space was cool before it mattered</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Day: 1</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Stardate: 2446.04.25</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(USS Exeter -Ready Room - CO, Captain Trip Williams and Morale Office, Ensign Ash Williams - 0957)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“You mentioned Ronnie?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Trip looked at his wife with a sad smile as he got up from his desk chair and walked over to this sitting area. He sat down in the armchair and waited for Ash to be seated.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“So, on the bridge, Ronnie mentioned flying the ship. She mentioned that she wanted to do it, which isn’t the odd thing, what kid doesn’t want to fly a starship. No, it was how she mentioned it.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ash nodded gently, a look of concern on her face, saying little to nothing more than simple understanding, offering a safe place to talk. She knew Trip all too well, but on top of that, all her training over the years plus her intrinsic nature tended to let people open up. “How so? She asked gently.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“She said she had a dream that she was a big girl and she flew the ship, and that she and I, when she was a big girl, flew a fighter together and fought pirates.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Could be remembering stories, could be residual clutter.” Ashlyn looked at her husband deeply into his eyes, judging his feelings.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I know Ailynn mentioned there would be memory glances, like dreams, but I’m just worried. This is the first time I've heard her mention them. Has she spoken of these dreams to you?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ash shook her head, “just the normal ‘dreams about a unicorn’” she intonated the last. “Nothing that has rung alarms, I’d have told you.” She looked at him, her eyes deadly serious, “Your thoughts?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I don’t know, I guess I was hoping she wouldn’t have these dreams or I just could be out of sight out of mind.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Any specifics?” She paused, holding her husbands hand, enclosing it in hers.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Just want I told you.” Trip replied.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I mean anything significant, or even insignifiant. You know,” She tilted her head. “Details, that stick out.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I mean, just that she was a big girl, and that we were in a fighter and fought pirates. I didn’t ask for any follow up. Ya know. I kind of came straight here and called you.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Okay.” Ashlyn nodded</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I mean for all I know, a big girl means like 5 right. And it could have been sea pirates in space right?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Absolutely. She hears enough stories, and people just chatting fires her imagination at that age.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“But the thing is, we did fight pirates together. She was my flight officer, my copilot. We had plenty of battles that we fought pirates. I guess….I’m just worried if some of those memories resurface. They are harsh, brutal, and if she remembers them without having the emotional maturity to weather them. I am afraid of what might happen. Even in dreams. Those memories still give me nightmares.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I know, it scares me every time you sit bolt upright after having one.” She replied gently, holding her husbands hand with a gentle squeeze.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Ash, what if she remembers every detail of the Second Battle of Wolf 359?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ash nodded and sighed. “Yeah I know. It’s constantly on my mind believe me.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Ronnie and I, we took care of a number of enemy fighters and ships. Believe me, the Thunder Ducks were surgical. Ronnie and I personally took down enough enemy craft to gain Flying Ace status. I proved to everyone then and there, that I deserved to be the FSCO. Enough medals to make my dress uniform count as weight training.” Trip sighed. “And then our fighter got clipped.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">" You've mentioned this briefly, but never spoken about it." Ash said gently, a look of concern on her face.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“We had an emergency beam out, and made our way to the wreckage of an old saber class we took down. Huddled there with an emergency beacon. Honestly, Trinity is here because I trust her with my life. Her Honey Badgers search and rescue squadron were efficient in finding us. But…”</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"But…?"</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“But before they did, in the wreckage, we were best upon by a pirate. Came at us. Ronnie, in the frenzy of it all, drew her survival knife, stabbed the pirate. She thought he was trying to attack, but he was trying to surrender, so he too could be rescued. Ronnie acted on instinct. The first life she took outside of a fighter. She asked me not to tell you. It took months of counseling before she would get back in a fighter. She and I both had nightmares about it. The look on both their faces as Ronnie accidentally took the life of someone who was surrendering. It shook her, shook her bad. I don’t…. I don’t want her to relive that….EVER!” He said as he took the pillow he was gripping and threw it at the wall.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ashlyn pulled him towards her, pulling his face into her shoulder. "Hey…" she held him firmly. "You have got to learn to lean on me more. Sometimes 'don't tell Ash' isn't the best option. Anyway, that aside." She released him, but held his hands. "It could be a number of things, or none of them. It could simply be the Imagination of an intelligent little girl who hears stories."</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“That’s true. Besides, back then. I didn’t know you were her mom. I figured it was because she didn’t want the daughter of her mentor to know about it.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Fair point.” She conceded.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“But yeah, it could be us versus pirates in Pirate Ships in space. I just…Ronnie has a second chance at a happier life, free of the trauma that she endured, as a kid, as an adult.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“She does, and she’ll be given every chance.” </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“She’s an intelligent child, but a little girl doesn’t need to have memories of taking a life.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ash sighed. “There was a moment recently that I was considering being more insistent on us leaving this, you know? Moving the family to Mars, or Texas or wherever, so we could be a transporter journey away from hospitals, and experts and things.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“And now?” Trip asked</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Now? I don’t even know anymore, but it calms my worries that Ailynn is back on board. Want me to speak to her?”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“She has enough to worry about. I don’t want Ailynn to feel like she has to rush back because we are being paranoid parents.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“No, I know, and you’re right. Are we getting her back as FO at all? Not that I have a problem with Alex, of course.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I want Ailynn to come back of her own decision, will. For herself, not for us.” Trip said with a sigh. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ashlyn nodded, “that’s fair.” She said, then smiled, “she comes back too quickly she’ll end up on Maternity Leave as soon as she moves her stuff back in.” </span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Besides, now we know what to look for with the little rascal. If we hear it again, then maybe we let Ailynn know.”</span></p><br><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“You watch, tomorrow it’ll be a dream about Professor Sparkles the magic chocolate pooing unicorn.” She giggled, half wondering to herself if there wasn’t a book somewhere in the oblique idea that had just blindsided the sillier parts of her imagination.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Yeah, it probably is nothing. Maybe I’m just so bored, I’m manufacturing drama to keep myself entertained.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I remember mum, Kadaya I mean, had a phrase, ‘Don’t go borrowing trouble’ she had so many like that. Ashlyn smiled shyly as she remembered her foster mum.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“I just…no one said that being a parent came with so much irrational worry.” Trip laughed.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“You think Ronnie is a handful?” She kissed him warmly. “Wait until your son grows up a bit.” She smiled cheekily at him.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Drew? Nah, he’ll be easy. I understand boys. No amount of Empathic abilities has ever prepared me to be a girl dad.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ash smiled. “You may be right.” She let go of her husbands hands.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Anyways, let’s get back to work. I probably shouldn’t have left a two year old on the bridge.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“No…possibly not, though we don’t seem to have crashed into anything yet…” She giggled as she followed the Captain out of the Ready Room.</span></p><br><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(reply none)</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Garamond,serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(posted by Will and Mark)</span></span><br></div></div>