On To Better Things.

Posted on Sun Feb 4th, 2018 @ 5:02am by

1,929 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: The Emerald Road
Location: Earth To Utopia Planetia

Ediras was out shopping for some last minute things since news reached the crew they were being reassigned, with the list he'd obtained from Anika about things she wanted or would need from the local Market he visited a variety of shops to get just the right things but gradually he was ticking things off the list.

So far the Leave on Earth with Anika was a little bit of a roller coaster with her family, her Father nearly suffered his wrath and yet he put on a massive measure of control to restrain himself all due to Anika. He respected her and even if offence and insult had been dealt to him several times, striking the Father would not have aided her situation.

As she packed up the hotel room into their satchels, occasionally a tear would roll down Anika's cheek and be absently wiped away. She was appalled by the behaviour of her family towards Ediras. Even if she wasn't attracted to him she would have been appalled by it, but the judgement on their part of her was beyond compare. Her father had been about to call her a whore. First man she'd had in years and all of a sudden she was a whore. Her idiot brother- who could have caused a diplomatic incident- actually brought a whore to the part and he was still the golden boy in her father's eyes. Fury warred with depression, for she knew that the only way she'd be worth anything to her parents was to pop out a passel of children. Though the idea of adopting a child had crossed her mind a number of times over the years, and again now as she settled the last of her belongings into her satchel. Next was the desk...

It took a while to find the last item on the list but he'd found it, now with it tucked under his arm he made his way back to the transport system which would ferry him back to the Hotel, and Anika.

Her PADD she set aside, there was a number of new personnell that she had to go through on the way back to the starbase, and make final approvals though she didn't anticipate any issues as far as that was concerned. Opening the drawer she lifted a number of books and notepads out of it. Opening the cover of the first one she found a yellowed sketch of what had to be Betazed. It featured a young boy and his mother, smudged and yellowed with age but still beautiful.

Transfixed, she turned the pages, and followed the trail of his life through planets and starbases. There were andorians and vulcans clearly depicted but, there was something flat about the drawings as if his heart really wasn't in it. The rising of a planet over the apogee of a moon base was exquisite and she lingered on that page wondering where it was that such beauty existed.

The next page however rocked her back in her seat as if she'd been struck by a physical blow. If she'd looked in a mirror it wouldn't have been as perfect a depiction of her as what looked up at her from the crisp white page. It was delicately shaded, and he must have spent hours just shading in the lights of her eyes. Breath struck from her chest she whispered "Oh Ediras...is this how you see me?" Her fingers caressed the page not wanting to turn away from the gripping image.

The wait was brief for the transit to the Hotel but the eyes he could feel on him considering he was with ease the tallest in the passenger shuttle were numerous. Even armed with several bags of things he'd purchased he tried to ignore the gazes and stares. When the shuttle landed and he plus several other passengers exited he made his way into the lobby.

She heard the door, or rather the key in the door but she could not drag her eyes away from the drawing until the door was actually open and Ediras was standing silhouetted in the doorway. Warmth overtook her at the sight of him.

"I'm back." He replied armed with bag and goodie alike. He saw her looking at his sketch book, he knew what she was looking at because he not only could see it from the doorway but feel her emotions from it. "I hope you didn't mind." Drawing her without her knowing, or permission.

Her eyes flickered from him to the book and back again. "When did you...?" She flicked her fingers at the book before placing her things in the carrysatchel when she saw the time. Her hands were decorated now with intricate henna up to the elbows.

"In the gardens when we first met. You had drawing materials too but you had not started at the time to draw." He replied wondering how she'd feel about being drawn and not asked or that he'd not shown her yet.

"I had no idea you noticed...but we have to go or we'll miss the transport. I cant report for duty late." She closed the satchel and handed him the book after closing it.

"Of course." While it was not the reaction he'd expected the emotion he felt from her was at least warm to seeing what he'd done. He moved about the room to gather a few things that were left and waited for her to lead the way as she knew where they were heading next.

She entwined her fingers with his, and the Wonder and warmth that shed felt crossed between them in that instant though she didnt know. Leading him down the street she ended up at the shuttle terminal minutes before their shuttle was supposed to leave. she flashed her credentials to get them aboard and into their cabin.

"Must be handy being the First Officer of a starship. I think thats the fastest I've ever been able to board a shuttle." Remembering old times when he'd spent an hour or more waiting to board to get to his next project or assignment.

She laughed at that and nodded her agreement. "They wouldnt dare detain a commander in starfleet unless they had a reason."

"I dare." Ediras boasted when the door to the cabin closed. "So do you know where we are going?" He doubted it was back to the Dreadnought given the stories, images and rumours going around the civilian circles.

Her smirk over her shoulder was clearly a challenge for him to try and detain her. "We're going to a new ship...her name is in the log but ill be damned if I can say it."

Ediras saw the smirk and was not one to let that gauntlet go untouched. He walked up behind her wrapping one arm around her waist while rotating her around with the other almost like a dance move to face him. "I recall no complaints last time..."

Her arms snaked around his neck and chuckled "Are there supposed to be complaints when we were so occupied?" She teased as she rested her head on his chest and listened to the beat of his heart. "Did you want there to be complaints Ediras? You are worried?"

"No, no complaints is good." He held her in the room and enjoyed the moment. He wondered what the future held and how things would go for then and his career since it had taken a hold while the Dreadnought was being repaired. His boss was not overly happy that at the delays.

"Why can i feel your emotions Ediras?" She asked softly wondering a great deal about the answer. His drawing spoke to her, the devotion hed shown in drawing her. "I don't have a high psi rating for a human...but...i like it."

"Because I'm projecting it to you." Ediras replied. "I can stop if you wish." He offered since he didn't want to overwhelm her.

"I dont want you to stop. I...its comforting, i just want to understand. "

"If we feel a connection to someone we are able to share how we feel, even if you can't reply I can talk to you without verbally saying a word but given what has happened and recent events and you saw the picture I think its obvious now my feelings for you." Ediras explained.

She raised his hand to her lips and kissed the palm. Then she pressed her cheek into it. "So why are you anxious?"

"Well, I was not sure how you'd feel about being drawn without permission." That was partially the truth. "But given what has happened between us I was not sure what to feel that comes next because I don't want to feel pressured or pushed."

Her smile was gentle as she gazed at him. Anika then curled herself against his side and kissed his fingertips. "I chose to be with you. There was...and is no pressure."

Ediras calmed and it was evident him doing so with the breath released that he'd been holding. Being Betazoid meant he had less restraint on certain aspects of life that others might have. That said he wanted to make clear... "Do not worry, I am no expecting you to invite me to reside with you this early."

She laughed softly and rested het head on his chest. "I am not the easiest person to reside with, and I understand the need and desire for ones own space. Worry not."

"Our time on Earth at the Hotel was an eye opener, most enjoyable." A mused smile on his face as he remembered the times they shared together, and each other.

"It was rather. Any regrets?" She asked referring specifically to their dallainces.

"Not in the least." He replied as he watched the stars and installations fly past. "You?"

"I quite enjoyed myself. I hope I made that clear to you." She answered with a rich chuckle. "I especially enjoyed the look on mothers face..."

"I must have missed that.." Must have been a time when he was focused on the Father. "What was it like?"

"Shock, to start with and then a smug almost pleased, im going to hold this over him forever kind of look."

Ediras smiled as he clearly must have missed that look. Even with her facing him in his arms regardless of the height difference she seemed happy with him, content and at ease. "Have you heard from the Brother?" There were many occasions where he was away from Anika or while he was shopping prior to leaving since it was known by most she'd be leaving again.

"No. And i likely wont. Hes not going to contact me after i knocked him in his ass in a room full of people."

Ediras held the smile even as the notification came through that they were getting near to the destination which would see them arrive at the Indefatigable. "Have you ever been on a Prometheus Class before?" He knew of the class name but beyond that not much else or its capabilities.

"Once when they were just being built. I have a friend at Utopia Planetia that i went to visit. Theyre...impressive"

A notification sounded that all off boarding passengers should head towards docking lock 2. Ediras remembered seeing other Starfleet officers board when they did. "We should grab our things."

She slipped her jacket over her shoulders and closed it with a click. Commander Yashui grinned briefly at Ediras before grasping her bag.

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