Star Trek: Erin

Part 63: Chips on the Table

     Gabriel found us a new table on one of the station's less-busy thoroughfares. Hands were shaking. From rage or nerves, I couldn't tell. Either way, most rattled I've seen her since she got back from Starbase 14. I seated myself opposite her. "So, your mom."

     "By blood only."

     "Gathered that much." I folded and then refolded my hands. "Bit of an asshole?"

     "She left us to 'see the worlds.'" The last part was accompanied by a grand gesture. "We were always moving around anyway for my father—that's Alairyx—for my father's work, but it wasn't enough." I sensed the unsaid part. I wasn't enough. "And now? Now she's suddenly decided she wants to know what we're up to. My name was mentioned around her and 'oh look, my kid's a Starfleet officer. Time to get involved.'" Gabriel took a second to breathe deeply. "And it's just when my father finally got over her and started to let himself live again. Married Sibris, who actually gives a fucking damn about my father and I." Gabriel's voice cracked at the end. Avoiding my gaze, she pulled up the cowl of her tunic to angrily dab her eyes.

     What do you say, Cobos. I didn't have the slightest clue. I wanted to say something, something that would help her. Make it a little better. The silence was stretching. I swallowed hard. "Hey." Stop doubting yourself. No hesitation, remember? Follow your instincts. I took the hand nearest to me. "Hey, look at where you are. I know assholes randomly showing up messes with your head, but we both know you're better than her."

     Gabriel wrung out her cowl with her free hand. While there wasn't enough moisture to emerge, it did wrinkle the fabric.

     I gave her hand a squeeze and released it. "So tell me about the people who matter. Your dad and Sibris. Any siblings?"

     "Not that I know of." She rubbed her nose. "My father's brilliant but he's always had an aversion to teaching at the same place for too long. 'Outliving our welcome,' he calls it. Sibris is... sweet." A small smile built despite herself. "It annoyed me when we first met. I really thought it couldn't be real, especially after Kith left, but he's the kindest soul I've ever known."

     I smiled, watching the way her eyes crinkled at the corners as she remembered.

     Gabriel refocussed on me. "Extremely off-topic, but I've wanted to know something. When we were on leave together, you said you wanted to be impulsive again. And you want to advance, but the higher you go, the less true freedom you have. Are you afraid to lose that?"

     I had a vague memory of those words. Being drunk does that, idiot. "Right. I mean, I've always loved bothering people and having the freedom to do that, but what I want much more is any shred of glory. The first bit makes life fun, but the second makes all of it worthwhile." Gabriel's head tilted. I tried to read her expression. Failed miserably. I felt a flush creep into my cheeks and got to my feet. "Time for us to be healthy and stop living on coffee." Look at me, I'm socializing. Who would've thought I'd manage to be a normal person? I patted Gabriel's shoulder. "You need fish and chips."

     She grinned up at me. "Why not."

     Walking the station's rim, we passed a nervous-looking Klingon in merchant garb. While small groups of Klingons seemed to be appearing, they were all decked out in the sparkly gold vests of their military. The other difference was this one bore the forehead ridges of earlier Klingons. While not unheard of, it was rare. Second odd person today. I nodded to him, muttering, "NuqneH, joHwI' QaQ," in passing. Good day. He startled but didn't deviate on his path.

     So, we found a place that sold fish and chips. It was run by two members an octopedal species I'd never encountered before that stood just over one foot tall. The place's already low ceiling was further restricted by clusters of vines that turned out to be highly sensitive wind chimes that made a series of whistles like high-pitched wolf howls when we got within ten feet of the spot. The path to the counter was also too narrow to accommodate more than one customer. It was decided that Gabriel would enter because I was more frequently an ass.

     I retreated a distance away so as to not set off the chimes, which was when I noticed Kith watching me while leaning against a nearby support. I swear—I squared my shoulders and approached. "Stop following us."

     She didn't waste time. "Look, I know my daughter won't listen to me, but perhaps you can tell her something."

     "Ma'am, with all due respect, piss off."

     To Kith's credit, she showed no sign of being intimidated. "The Gilden is coming for her, and they have a tendency to find those they want. Whoever assigned her and all those others to Starbase 14 knew what they were doing, which means this goes far up your command structure. I don't know much more than that, but the people I was just shipping for were bad at whispering."

     I waited until she had finished. A part of me felt that this was important. The other part wanted her to leave before Gabriel returned. "I'm not going to repeat myself, ma'am."

     Kith nodded. "I'm glad you're so protective of my daughter. Good day, junior lieutenant."

     Gabriel returned in time to notice Kith's departure. Her hands gripped the food package a little tighter. "What did she want now?"

     "Some sort of cryptic warning. I told her to piss off."

     "Good. Let's enjoy this."

     We did enjoy it. Turns out she shared a fascination I've had with Blyven weaving, and suddenly the fish and chips were gone, and we were due to return to the Enterprise. Around then the private communicator channel I shared with Nowak pinged. I stepped away from Gabriel to answer. "What's up?"

     "Could you speak to Michael about Lieutenant Whitting? Whitting himself was rather dismissive, but I found that Michael works directly under him, and you have a fair relationship with her."

     "Talking about the munitions requisition? Or general attitude, possible mutinous leanings?"

     "The latter. Thank you, Erin."

     "No problem. Out." I put it away. "Got a thing to do."

     Gabriel nodded, slowly twisting the black metal ring she wore. "Thanks for listening, Erin."

     "Anytime, lieutenant." I gave a loose salute and headed off.