06-08-2024, 07:50 PM
Deep Space Nine drifted slowly past the viewport in Robin's quarters, and she turned to look at it idly, putting her book down. In the past (and not so long ago) she would have spent her time off happily playing tourist along the Promenade, seeing the sites where so much history took place. Now? She felt little except a vague distaste.
So Cardassian.
She paused.
What is wrong with me?
It was pretty obvious to those who knew her. Robin's mother had called a couple nights ago and had immediately sensed that something was amiss. And the nurse hadn't even been able to give any details due to the classified nature of the mission. They'd talked for a good hour and it had helped her mood, but the feeling hadn't lasted and she was right back to the same funk she'd been in for the last couple days.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a chime from the terminal, a sound indicating a message had been received. She got up, carefully placing the blue cloth-bound book of Mark Twain's Mississippi writings on the coffee table, and went over to it.
[From: Katerina Donovan-Grolik, Lewisburg, West Virgina]
Aunt Katy? Why would she be contacting me? And she lives on Earth now?
Robin hadn't seen her mother's sister since she was maybe four, and she remembered nothing. It wasn't just her age, it was because of the genetic condition that had ravaged the child's body and mind. She had almost no memories of anything before her enhancement, and by the time her family had returned from Adigeon Prime her aunt had moved away with her new husband, going with him to Denobula.
With a slight hesitation she pressed the 'play' key.
[Hi, Robin. I know you don't remember me, but this is your Aunt Katy.]
Her voice had the same musical southern twang than her mother's did and the nurse could instantly tell they were related.
[I spoke with your mom last night. We've been catching up ever since the colony upgraded its subspace communication system, making up for lost time. Anyway, she said that you had been goin' through some stuff and though you couldn't talk about it it was pretty clear that it was affecting you. She's worried, and I think I know something that might help. You're on shore leave, right? At Deep Space Nine? Well, I'd like you to come visit on Earth.]
Robin was surprised but intrigued. Getting away might be just what she needed.
[We bought a farm here a couple years ago and we'd like you to stay with us, but it's more than that. Your mother thinks you've been spending too much time in space. When was the last time you had an actual home? That freighter? The Academy? The Artemis? You need to get your feet on solid ground, 'touch grass' as they say, reconnect with nature, and spend some time away from a metal tube surrounded by vacuum. Sonjia said you loved camping and the outdoors when you were young, and we've certainly got that here. But more, we may have a real home for you.]
A picture appeared on the monitor. It was a small house, painted a cream color with dark red and brown trim, a gabled roof made of metal, and decorative shutters on the windows. Simple, but pretty. It sat partially up a forested hill, and in front was a small river with a bridge that led to a road.
[This is about a half kilometer from our house, and it belonged to a family friend who left it to the Starfleet Home Settlement Program when she passed on.]
Robin had heard of that but hadn't given it much thought. It was a program enacted after the Dominion War to help provide homes for Starfleet personnel. Serving in the fleet was risky business, and many Federation citizens wanted to do something to show their gratitude. They could donate homes or other property to the SHSP who would find interested personnel to live in them.
[Now, keep in mind we don't live close to anything. Probably why no one's been placed int he home yet. There's a transporter and a town replicator here in Lewisburg, but we don't have much more than a small shuttle port. The house isn't wired to handle a home replicator. Hell, the power grid around here can't handle anything of the sort, so it'd be strictly old-fashioned living. And we know you'd be away most of the time so Grolik and I would make sure to take care of things when you weren't here.]
Robin smiled. That was how she'd lived her early life. Having a replicator in her quarters was a luxury to her, not a necessity. She was intrigued at the idea. Very intrigued.
[Anyway, dear, let me know what you think. At the very least we'd love to have you. Love, Katy]
The message ended and Robin stared at the house on the screen for a moment and then tapped the 'reply' button.
So Cardassian.
She paused.
What is wrong with me?
It was pretty obvious to those who knew her. Robin's mother had called a couple nights ago and had immediately sensed that something was amiss. And the nurse hadn't even been able to give any details due to the classified nature of the mission. They'd talked for a good hour and it had helped her mood, but the feeling hadn't lasted and she was right back to the same funk she'd been in for the last couple days.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a chime from the terminal, a sound indicating a message had been received. She got up, carefully placing the blue cloth-bound book of Mark Twain's Mississippi writings on the coffee table, and went over to it.
[From: Katerina Donovan-Grolik, Lewisburg, West Virgina]
Aunt Katy? Why would she be contacting me? And she lives on Earth now?
Robin hadn't seen her mother's sister since she was maybe four, and she remembered nothing. It wasn't just her age, it was because of the genetic condition that had ravaged the child's body and mind. She had almost no memories of anything before her enhancement, and by the time her family had returned from Adigeon Prime her aunt had moved away with her new husband, going with him to Denobula.
With a slight hesitation she pressed the 'play' key.
[Hi, Robin. I know you don't remember me, but this is your Aunt Katy.]
Her voice had the same musical southern twang than her mother's did and the nurse could instantly tell they were related.
[I spoke with your mom last night. We've been catching up ever since the colony upgraded its subspace communication system, making up for lost time. Anyway, she said that you had been goin' through some stuff and though you couldn't talk about it it was pretty clear that it was affecting you. She's worried, and I think I know something that might help. You're on shore leave, right? At Deep Space Nine? Well, I'd like you to come visit on Earth.]
Robin was surprised but intrigued. Getting away might be just what she needed.
[We bought a farm here a couple years ago and we'd like you to stay with us, but it's more than that. Your mother thinks you've been spending too much time in space. When was the last time you had an actual home? That freighter? The Academy? The Artemis? You need to get your feet on solid ground, 'touch grass' as they say, reconnect with nature, and spend some time away from a metal tube surrounded by vacuum. Sonjia said you loved camping and the outdoors when you were young, and we've certainly got that here. But more, we may have a real home for you.]
A picture appeared on the monitor. It was a small house, painted a cream color with dark red and brown trim, a gabled roof made of metal, and decorative shutters on the windows. Simple, but pretty. It sat partially up a forested hill, and in front was a small river with a bridge that led to a road.
[This is about a half kilometer from our house, and it belonged to a family friend who left it to the Starfleet Home Settlement Program when she passed on.]
Robin had heard of that but hadn't given it much thought. It was a program enacted after the Dominion War to help provide homes for Starfleet personnel. Serving in the fleet was risky business, and many Federation citizens wanted to do something to show their gratitude. They could donate homes or other property to the SHSP who would find interested personnel to live in them.
[Now, keep in mind we don't live close to anything. Probably why no one's been placed int he home yet. There's a transporter and a town replicator here in Lewisburg, but we don't have much more than a small shuttle port. The house isn't wired to handle a home replicator. Hell, the power grid around here can't handle anything of the sort, so it'd be strictly old-fashioned living. And we know you'd be away most of the time so Grolik and I would make sure to take care of things when you weren't here.]
Robin smiled. That was how she'd lived her early life. Having a replicator in her quarters was a luxury to her, not a necessity. She was intrigued at the idea. Very intrigued.
[Anyway, dear, let me know what you think. At the very least we'd love to have you. Love, Katy]
The message ended and Robin stared at the house on the screen for a moment and then tapped the 'reply' button.