Liberty Bibberty

Posted on Mon Sep 18th, 2023 @ 8:12pm by Cadet Senior Grade Toareth Darqa

673 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: **ARCHIVED** 0 - Assignment Day
Location: Starfleet Academy Shuttle Port
Timeline: Current

“You couldn’t just beam me onto the ship?” Toareth asked as her and Lynch strolled through the concourse toward the processing point.

“Directly onto the ship?” he repeated the question with a sound in his voice as though the action was distasteful. “No. We have to go through official channels.”

“You? Official channels?” Toareth did not try to hide her sarcasm.

“Of course.”

Lynch arrived at the processing checkpoint and did a retinal scan at the computer console. Toareth did the same.

The warrant officer behind the desk stood and refocused his attention from the computer to the two before him. “I see a Mister and Miss Darqa.” He looked between the two.

“Yes,” Lynch spoke up. “Each time my little girl heads off into the unknown, I have to be there to give her that little final push.”

The warrant officer looked to Toareth.

“Yes,” she said finally, flatly. “Dad has to make a spectacle of it.” She faked a smile.

“Well, I wish you both luck.”

“A thousand thanks,” Lynch said and started away after shouldering one of her duffels. “Come along Sweetums.”

“Uhg,” Toareth let out a clearly audible and displeasing sound.

“Parents,” said the warrant officer.

“You haven’t the slightest idea,” she said. She shouldered her other duffel and started after Lynch.

He had stopped in the middle of a populated area, dropped her duffel and looked around until she caught up to him.

“You do realize I am old enough to be your great-grandmother right?” she said.

“But you appear as though you could be my daughter. So, this is where I shall leave you. It seems the Stardancer is still…”

“You should have told me it is an Excelsior Class.”

“Well what do you expect for a bunch of cadets,” he shrugged, “a Galaxy Class? Sovereign? Besides, weren’t you rescued aboard an Excelsior Class? I figured you would jump at the chance.”

Toareth only stared at Lynch. She was certainly not jumping. “You do realize there is a log of your arrival. As my father no less.”

“Oh that record will auto delete in a day or two. Replaced with you arriving alone.”

Toareth sighed and took in her surroundings. One quick survey was all that was needed. “Just when I think I understand you, Lynch, I realize I understand you less and less.”

“Nature of the job. Oh!”

Toareth almost took a defensive posture as he rushed upon her and squeezed her in an embrace.

“I am going to miss my little sweetums so much,” he said. Lynch then whispered into her ear. “Remember, no talk of Romulan spies on Earth or of me or what do you for me. In fact, forget about me entirely.”

“Believe me, I’m trying,” was all she said.

He released his embrace and held her at arm’s length looking at her. She only gave him a stare as though wanting to end his life right then and there…or for her life to end right then and there. Either way, she wanted death to take either or both of them rather than for this moment to continue.

“Do good work, find out what you can, report back to me anything of interest. I hope you get a Changeling alone so you can do what you do best. You have the liberty to work as you see fit. Just keep that nose of yours clean.”

“Liberty,” she replied. “Right.”

Lynch turned and started away toward parts unknown and toward work unknown. In reality, Toareth did not even care to know though she figured it was more manipulation and subterfuge. She stood there with both her duffels lying on either side of her.

“Liberty.” She sighed and picked up her duffels. “Liberty bibberty.”

In the stead of finding billeting, Toareth decided to venture toward the shuttle landings to find the one departing for the Stardancer. Perhaps they would allow her to embark, especially since she was the CMO. She needed to get her Sick Bay in order.

 

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