A Friend in need

Posted on Sun Dec 11th, 2016 @ 9:16am by Splendora Sage
Edited on on Sun Dec 11th, 2016 @ 10:58am

2,416 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 93 - Warrior VS Warrior
Location: Over Coms on Starbase 400 and USS Pelvric
Timeline: MD04 1215 hours

[ON]

*****MD04*****

Splendor sat at her desk smiling. She watched Ryan writing. Today they were going to meet up with his dad. She'd enjoyed having him around. It had been a joy and a pain as she'd often wanted a child of her own but was afraid it would never happen nor was she convinced she'd be a good mother. She'd buried her hopes and dreams and hadn't thought about them until Ryan showed up.

As she sat there reflecting she thought back to he other day.

***** Memory: MD03 *****

Splendora had returned to the station early. She now sat in her office going over files and getting ready for her many appointments that were set to start in three days. She sighed and put down the PADD she'd been reading. Tired she took a sip of coffee and just as she was about to get back to work he coms chirped.

William sat at his computer, waiting for one friend to pick up so he could arrange a favor for another friend. He didn't exactly care for being the middle man, but when you knew someone in most every port of call and those friends needed help with something, they knew who to call. In this case, a former squadron mate had gotten a new assignment and got shipped out as soon as he got there. Not good when his kid was only three days behind him and he was going to be gone for probably longer than those three days...

Splendora hit the coms button and watched the image shimmer from her company logo into the smiling face of William. She grinned. "Well look who finally decided to call." She chuckled.

"Hello yourself beautiful." Will chuckled. "You know, calling is a two way street, you could call me once in a while." He teased her before his mood sobered and he cut to the heart of the matter. "I've got a friend who could use a friend and a favor out there on 400. He just got assigned there, arrived and got deployed to support 19tb MEU. He's a fighter jock with the One-Eighty-One."

She smiled. "Why is it you always call when you need a favour." She laughed. "Okay, Okay, tell me about your friend. What can I do to help?"

"Name's Ed Maxwell, he's the new Deputy CAG. Recently his son's mother was killed in a shuttle accident. The boy chose to come live with Ed, hence his request for reassignment. He wanted to be somewhere a bit safer and more stable for the boy. Kid is supposed to be three days behind him, but with how things are, that could mean anything from hours to a week behind. Either way, he probably isn't going to be back from Arcanus by the time the kid gets to 400. He needs someone to look after him until he gets back from the mission. He got in touch with me since I know people just about everywhere and besides him, you're the only person I know out there." Will explained, making sure she had as much of the details as possible.

Splendora loved bugging Will, "So the only reason you thought of me was cause I was your only option? I think I should be insulted."

Will rolled his eyes, he had blundered straight into that one. "That's not what I meant and you know it."

She laughed. "Just kidding. Sure If you send me the shuttle info and ETA I can help."

"Ship's name is the Burrell. Supposed to be arriving in a couple of hours unless it was ahead or behind schedule."

"Oy! It's like pulling teeth, and the name of the person I'm looking for?" Splendora said.

"The kids name is Ryan Maxwell." Will chuckled. "You didn't expect me to make this easy for you, did you?" He teased.

Splendora grabbed a pen and notebook and wrote down the name. "Okay anything I should know? Food allergies? Medical conditions?"

"Nothing that Ed mentioned." Will shook his head. "It's gonna be a helluva change for the guy though." He commented. "He's been living the life of a bachelor fighter jock for years and now he's gonna be switching to single dad."

Splendora smiled. "Lucky for him he has an excellent counselor!" She studied her friend. "Now, how are you doing?"

"Oh I'm surviving." Will said with a smirk. "You know how it is, people always want information. And my vast network of friends and contacts keep me well informed on things. I'm actually looking at buying a summer house on Risa at the moment."

She smiled. "You've been talking about Risa for years, I'm not surprised. Well my friend" She said, "I wish you well. I'll go and pick up Ryan. You owe me, you know. Maybe a bottle of Sarian brandy?"

"You take care of my wingman and I'll make it two bottles." Will promised. "He saved my life more than once, this is the least I can do for him."

Splendora smiled. That was Will for you. Never leave a debt unpaid. "Okay. Well I better head out. We'll talk later then."

"Thanks for doing this, it's a big relief for Ed."

==Shuttle Bay==

Ryan followed the crowd of people leaving the ship. It was a big place, this new station Dad had gotten assigned to, he'd seen that through his window. It hurt that Dad wasn't going to be able to meet him though, he'd been sent away as soon as he'd made it to the station. Uncle Will had talked to a friend of his though and made sure there would be someone to meet him and had even sent a picture of the woman along so he'd know her when he saw her. Even with that reassurance, it was still a bit on the scary side for the seven year old Ryan. Not that he was going to let it show of course, that wouldn't be right for someone to see him scared... As the crowd thinned out abit, he began looking for the woman who was going to be watching him until Dad got back from his assignment.

Splendora arrived just in time to see a herd of people ambling out of the shuttle. She waited until the crowed thinned. Turning the PADD on she looked at the picture again. Her eyes scanned the room briefly and locked in on Ryan. Smiling she headed towards him. She could sense his fear. The station was big and unfamiliar and his dad wasn't here...but she could also sense his resolve to be brave. There were times when she loved her Betazoid side as it helped her read things like this. She approached slowly and smiled. She waved when the boy looked up. "Ryan! Hello!"

Ryan compared the woman who spoke to him with the picture he'd seen that Uncle Will had sent and relaxed slightly. This was the woman who was going to watch him until Dad was back.

"Hello Miss Sage." He said politely, still a little nervous.

Splendora smiled. She could sense his nervousness. "Splendora or Dora will be fine young man." She pointed to his bag. "Can I help you with that?"

"I can carry it, thank you." He said as he pull the straps over his shoulders. It was really just his favorite things, a few of his toys, pictures of him and his parents together, him and Dad and some of him and Mom. Plus a few things of his mother's he'd grabbed up before her belongings were gone through by his Aunt Mel.

She smiled at the boy her heart braking for him. "Aright then. You must be hungry. How about some food?"

"If you'd like." He nodded. "Where did Dad have to go? He didn't say when I talked to him last."

"Well he's had to make a little trip off base for work. I'm not sure where but he'll be back soon." She hoped. "What do you like to eat?"

"Depends on how I feel and whose cooking." Ryan popped off, showing much the same sense of humor as his father. One of many traits he'd picked up from him.

She smiled. "Well how do you feel now and a restaurant is cooking." She chuckled.

"I'm okay, I guess anyway." The young boy shrugged, though honestly he really just wanted to see his Dad. It didn't seem right to talk about Mom to a stranger. "I can usually find something to eat at a restaurant."

She smiled. She sensed something. The boy seemed to have gone through much. "Well how about a burger dinner?"

"I like burgers." The boy said with a smile as he adjusted his backpack.

"Me too! Let's go then." They walked over to the promenade area and found the Burger hut. It looked like a place out of a story book. Fake trees, and burger themed furniture. There were spin stools and French fry legs on chairs. It was quite charming and all the wait staff had hats that looked like burgers. They were seated in a booth and a waiter rolled over on his skates.

He placed the menus down and introduced himself and left them to pick.

Ryan looked around and shook his head slightly as he picked up the menu. "Strange place." He commented.

Splendora smiled. "But good food!" The waiter came back after a few moments. "What can I get you?"

"A bacon cheeseburger, medium well, with onion rings and a glass of ice water please." The boy requested with a small smile.

Splendora grinned. "I'll have a cheese Veggie burger with onion rings and a chocolate milkshake."

He waiter walked away and Splendora focused on her young friend. "This must be hard for you."

"Well I wouldn't say it's easy." He quipped, trying to put on a brave front, before looking down at the table. "I miss Mom a lot. I was supposed to meet Dad when I got here, but he called me when he got here to tell me he was being sent on a mission. It'll take getting used to, living with Dad now. Him and Mom never got married, so I only saw him in person every couple of months or so."

Splendora's heart broke for the boy. "I'm sorry honey. Tell me about your mom."


"Mom was... Mom." He said, struggling to find the words he needed. "Her hair was kinda like yours, but red and not quite as long. She loved to laugh, I didn't see her look sad or cry very often. Usually not unless Dad had left after one of his two week visits."

Splendora nodded her head and listened. The boy needed to talk, that was obvious, the last comment she would file away and deal with later. "Your mom sounds like she was a strong woman. Laughter is important to the soul. Tell me more about what it was like growing up with your mom."

"It was pretty normal I guess." The youngster shrugged. "She'd drop me at school and go to work and pick me up after school. We'd eat together, play games, watch movies. On the weekend we took short trips or visited friends."

Splendora smiled. She noted the love in his voice as he spoke of his mother. They were fond memories for sure. "Short trips can be fun! Where would you go?" She asked as the food arrived.

"Depends on how much time she had." Ryan shrugged. "She was a teacher, so it was after she'd finish her work for the weekend. Sometimes to the zoo, or the park. Sometimes a museum, or just to friends houses."

She smiled at the boy. "Sure you don't want a chocolate milkshake." She held up the cold glass smiling. "Come on.....chocolate is always fun."

"I had some chocolate a little while ago." The boy admitted. "Too much and I get sick."

she smiled. "Good to know. I'm the opposite. There is never too much chocolate." She turned back to the little boy and studied him in silence. "You miss your mom a lot don't you?"

"Yeah, and Dad too." He said looking down at the table. "It just wasn't fair. She dropped me off at school, she had a meeting to go to for the day and then she was gone."

Splendora's heart broke for the young boy. She finished chewing her food and then sighed. "Ryan, honey. I know it isn't fair. Whenever we loose someone it isn't fair. But you have to know your mom loved you and she would have never left you if she had a choice. But also know she never really leaves you. She is in your heart and you are the best part of her and the best part of your dad. You are going to miss her always but her spirit and her heart is with you." She reached out and patted his hand. "You are a strong boy but it's okay to cry and mourn. It will help."

"Maybe at home." He said drawing a ragged breath, trying to keep control of his emotions.

"I'll tell you what, how about we finish our food and then we'll go to the holodeck. I want to show you something."

"Okay." The boy said with a shrug.

They finished their meal and headed out. Within a few minutes they arrived at the Holodeck. "Computer Activate Splendora Program delta one."

She looked over at the young man. "Ready?"

"As ready as I can be." The boy confirmed with a nod.

They entered the holodeck and were met with a beautiful azure sky with cotton ball clouds. The beautiful emerald grass surrounded them. Trees and flowers of all kinds sprang up everywhere. Splendora paused and inhaled the sweet almond scented air.

"Where are we supposed to be?" Ryan asked as he looked around at the scenery.

Splendora smiled. "It's a memory dome." She gestured around. "This was on Betazed, on our land." Within a few seconds a holo image of a man appeared, one that looked a lot like Splendora. He just stood there smiling and motionless. "That was my brother. When he passed I made this memory dome program. Would you like to make something similar for your mom?"

"Can I?" The youngster asked looking up at her.

She smiled at Ryan. "For sure. Let's get started."

*****MD04*****

She snapped out of her memory. "Come on then Ryan. Your dad's ship should be here soon."

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