Sacrifice Can Be Stupid

Posted on Mon Mar 11th, 2019 @ 5:40pm by

1,193 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: What Stalks The Night
Location: Hacienda de Sandoval, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Earth

The ancient drive snaked its way up the hill surrounded by New Mexico's contribution to the Rocky Mountains.

The original house, built in 1531 by Juan Francisco de Sandoval still stood resolutely against the winter winds. The stucco bathed in orange from the setting sun.

Patches of snow skirted the north facing sides of rocks, sage, and prickly pear cactus. Rebecca inhaled deeply. She had an nostalgic smile as the scents of damp earth and gama grass, and sage wafted off from her surroundings.

From the barn, a much newer building built in 1929, a horse snorted, and stomped its feet as it nosed through the hay trough.

At the back door she grabbed the handle, and pushed it open. Once again the scents of home assailed her nostrils, but this time the homey smells of a pine wood fire in the hearth and delicious scents of cooking food.

"Hello? Dad?"

Jonathan Sandoval looked up from his stove and turned to see Rebecca standing there. Smiling he crossed the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her.

Fighting back tears he kissed to top of her head. "Welcome home," he said simply. He pushed them apart and examined her, "Your mother would be so proud. "

It was at that point he saw a pair of green eyes peer around her mother's leg shyly. "What's this?" Jonathan said amusement in his voice. "Do I know you?"

Aimee smile, "It's me, Grandpa."

The little girl's grandfather knelt down so that they could see eye to eye, "That's a weird name for such a pretty little girl. How are you Grandpa?"

Aimee giggled, "I'm not Grandpa! You're Grandpa!"

Jonathan laughed, and stretched out his arms, "Well, does Grandpa get a hug?"

Aimee grinned and fell into his arms, which promptly closed around her, and he growled like an bear, and she screamed like a banshee between delighted giggles.

After the initial greetings Jonathan stood and went back to his cooking. Several steaks were sitting on the counter.

"You knew we were coming?" Rebecca observed.

"Admiral T'ver told me."

"It was supposed to be a surprise," she said and sat down at the bar and plucked a baby carrot from the bowl and bit into it. "Almost forgot what real food tastes like."

Jonathan grunted, "I told you not to join Starfleet."

"You did, but it's not bad. Just not as good you know?"

"You told me that too," Jonathan agreed. "And so did your mother."

"See," she said vindicated. She plucked another carrot from the bowl, but this time she dipped it in the nearby ranch.

"She would be proud of you to be sure." He stirred a pot and then turned to face her wiping his hands on a towel. "I invited Kat to come."

Rebecca laughed, "You invited my friends from the Academy?"

He shrugged, "I check on them now and then. Asked Nick, Jenny, and Tony too."

"Nick's on the Tigris out in the Omicron System, Tony is busy setting up his tech company on Terra Alpha Colony. And, I haven't talked to Jenny in years."

Jonathan smirked, "Yeah, that's what they told me too. Julie's in Washington D.C."

"Um no," Rebecca said with a frown. "You know Mrs. Nick Ryder and I don't get along. Like oil and water."

"More like gasoline and matches," her father teased.

"That too."

"Do you talk to my friends more than I do?"

Her father glanced over his shoulder, "Best way to fund out what you are up to. You never call, or write."

Rebecca sighed, "I know. I get busy, and forget, or it's too late to call so I put it off to the next day, and well the cycle repeats itself."

"Your mom was the same way. It's scary how much you two are a like."

There was a knock on the door, but before either of them could answer a female Marine entered. By all accounts the new arrival could have been Rebecca's sister. They were both lean, with green eyes, Nordic features and a fiery mane. Thanks to their shared Celtic heritage. But, unlike Rebecca's soft wavy curls, the other woman had a wild mess of kink that was haphazardly pulled into a messy ponytail.

"Kat!" Rebecca exclaimed and hugged her friend. "Look at you a captain now!"

"Och aye!" Captain Katherine Donovan replied in a thick Scots highlander accent. "I just kinda fell in'ta it y'know. An' how are you lass?"

"Chief of Operations, USS Dreadnaught. Finally made Lieutenant."

"About bloody time too! Yer other CO's were daft! But, the Dreadnaught? You ken what folk are saying?"

Rebecca sighed, "Unfortunately."

"Why don't ya transfer? I'm sure the Admiral will vouch for ya."

"She already did to get me on the Dreadnaught. I don't know, it feels like I would be taking a step backwards. There weren't any Chief positions that would take me. The captain of the Enterprise wanted to put me on third shift Engineering. I know I'm better than that," She sighed and the duo sat down at the big oak dining table. "These captains and XOs take one look at my Academy record and see someone who is unmotivated. Lazy even."

"Aye lass. It bloody stinks that this is haunting ya now. Tell ya what. I need someone ta' lead 2nd Platoon. Get ya transferred over and ya can be me XO."

"Thanks, but I'm an engineer, not a grunt."

Overhearing the conversation Jonathan shouted over his shoulder, "It sounds like your captain is a bit irresponsible. I heard they tried court martialing him."

"They did, and as far as I know he was acquitted."

"Still sounds like a loose canon. You know Tony told me the other day that that position at AlphaTech is still yours if you want it."

"Well, you can tell Tony Ryder, and his brother Nick to mind their own damn business. "

"All right geeze," her father said giving up. With a pair of tongs he set the first steak into a frying pan. The butter popped and sizzles as he tossed in fresh thyme and garlic.

"You do bloody know what that means," Kat said with a sigh. "I have ta' transfer to the Dreadnaught so I can look after ya."

"No, I can take care of myself."

"I have no seen it yet lass," Kat said with a grin. "It'll be fine. It's not like I have a position that cannae be replaced."

Rebecca sighed, "Fine."

"Yer still a wee daft bisom."

Rebecca feigned insult, and slapped her friend on the shoulder, "I am not of loose character!"

"Aye you are. We both are. Two wee peas inae pod. Going to the Dreadnaught is a daft decision to be sure."

"No one is making you," Rebecca said dryly.

"Aye," Kat said with a frown. "I ken that well enough, and that makes it all the worse."

"Not that my opinion ever matters," Jonathan added, "But I agree. It is stupid. Becca you can do what you've always wanted at AlphaTech."

"Yeah, but it's not the center chair of a starship, and sometimes you have to do something monumentally stupid to get there."

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