Lost in transition

Posted on Sun Apr 28th, 2019 @ 8:08am by Lieutenant Commander Ariana Monroe-Wayne

1,940 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 98 - A Raid on Peace
Location: Starbase 400
Timeline: MD1, 0800 hrs (Before 'Shocking News')

Ezekiel and the USS Falcon, just arrived at the Station. His crew was little tired, after tracking down the origins of the ancient probe. Ezekiel had just finished talking to Admiral Bremer. His immediate commanding officer. "Miss Monroe, how are doing? Anna and I have been worried about you." He said, with a big grin on his face. He was so happy to see her on the station, that he missed the visual cues from her that something is wrong.

"I've been okay thank you" Ariana smiled as she rested her hands on her bump. "This little one is doing just fine too, only another four or five months to go."

"Glad to hear it, how is Marcus doing?" Ezekiel asked, as he motion for them to proceed. Shortly behind Ezekiel was Anna. She had just completed the shut down procedures for sickbay on the USS Falcon. She was eager to get on with her day. What a day she had planned too. Taking the day off with Zeke.

"To be honest I...haven't seen Marcus recently, we decided to call things a day on our romance and just be friends." She offered a smile. "I'm living with my friends Kaden & Freya Ross for the next few months until the baby is born."

"Sorry to hear that." Anna said, as she reached over to give Ariana a hug. Even if they decided to be friends, it still said to hear of a couple breaking up. Anna could not help, but be curious, why they called it quits.

"I think perhaps things were going a little too quickly between us for Marcus' comfort" Ariana shrugged her shoulders. "He was there for me when I lost my baby and I won't forget that. He'll always be a special friend. Actually...I have someone else now." She smiled.

"When one door closes, another one opens." Ezekiel said, as he put his arm around Anna. He was surprised to hear that Marcus and Arianna had called it quits, so early.

"Indeed it does. I'm not planning on rushing this time, love has a way of turning up at the unlikeliest of times and places." She grinned.

"Don't I know it, we feel in love slowly too. The big guy, does not like sharing to much of personal life, but lets just say, good things come to those who are patient and willing to wait." Said Anna with a big grin on her face.

"Indeed" Ariana nodded. "I think I've fallen for Cam because he's such an inspiration. He doesn't let the universe win, he's made something of himself and I find that inspiring."

"Cam is the new love interest?" Ezekiel asked. He wanted to make sure, he knew, who was who.

"Yes sorry...Cameron Wayne, he has a business here on the station." Her smile beamed just at the mention of Cameron's name. "

Anna had seen that, a lot in her profession as a medical doctor. She could tell that Ariana was falling for this Cameron person. She was very happy for her. "What are your plans for today?"

"Actually I don't have any plans yet." Ariana shrugged her shoulders. "Although I have plenty of free time, I'm on reduced duties until the baby is born doctors orders!"

"Neither do we, realistically." Anna said, as they started to walk down the corridors. "We were about to get breakfast, have you eaten?" Anna asked, hoping that Arianna was hungry.

"Not yet, lets go get something." She motioned for them to join her. "So how was your time off station?"

"You were once on the Falcon, as nice of a ship as she is. It's good to be home on the station. So much room, to move around." Anna said, as they started to walk around, to the station's promenade.

"Yeah it is rather....squishy isn't it?" Ariana smiled. "I much prefer the room on the station, not as claustrophobic as some starships."

"I am debating on ordering a new pillow top mattress for my quarters on the Falcon. The beds are so uncomfortable." Anna said, with a grin as she looked to Ezekiel and Arianna.

"I would support that. Those beds, are not very comfortable." Ezekiel said. They were adequate, but his long term girlfriend Anna, had him spoiled with soft pillow top mattresses.

"Now there's an idea for something I could use!" Ariana smiled. "A nice comfortable mattress topper for my bed. It's okay but it's not brilliantly comfortable, I hadn't given it a thought until you mentioned it."

"I can look at requisitioning a bed for you as well." Ezekiel said, as he looked to Anna, then back at Ariana. "Pretty sure my contact, can get us two new pillow top beds."

"Would you?" Ariana grinned. "That would be amazing! Just let me know the cost and I'll make sure you get the credits for it."

They continued to walk for a bit, trying not to go to fast. They did not want to strain Ariana. As they entered the lift to head to the promenade. Anna looked over at Ariana. "So where do you recommend we eat?"

"I don't mind" Ariana smiled. "Where do you normally go when you're here together?"

"Usually eat in our quarters, but we want to experience station life. Most of our career has been on starships." Ezekiel said. This station was massive, and a lot to take in. He was doing his best.

"How's about the Skyline Lounge?" Ariana smiled. "It's a good place to eat, drink and get a good view out of the observation window as well, or so I've been told. What do you think?"

"Let's go." Anna said, with a big grin on her face. She loved checking out new places. She knew that Ezekiel was not keen on it. But he was coming along way, since she first met him.

** Skyline Lounge **

Arriving at the lounge Ariana pointed to a table in back. "How's about we order and sit there?"

"Works for me." Ezekiel said with a nervous smile on his face. The place seemed a little crowded for his taste. He could not help, but ascertain, the room. Looking at potential targets, and the closest exit encase of an emergency. Deep down, he would have preferred to sit closer to the exit.

"Have you been here before?" Anna asked Ariana. She hoped that Ariana would be able to recommend something from the menu.

"Actually...no, sorry I know that's not much help" She smiled. "We can always get a menu and see what's available?"

"I like the way you think. Going to new places is exciting. Zeke there likes going to the same old boring place, but I love that big guy." Anna said, as she smiled at Ariana and then at Ezekiel.

Ariana grinned. "Well some people just don't like to be out of their element. There are times I just prefer to stay in and eat where it's quieter rather than be out amongst the hustle and bustle of the station." She chose her food and took her tray over to the table they'd chosen.

"I prefer that, a nice quiet place to eat and reflect." Zeke said, as he grabbed his plate of food, and took a seat with Ariana and Anna.

"Sometimes its nice to break up the mundane. And I appreciate you hunny, for coming with us to this new place. Who knows, you may like it here." Anna said, as she started to get comfortable in her chair.

"Perhaps." Zeke said. He was curious on something, so he decided best thing to do was ask. "Have you came up with a name for the baby?"

"Not yet" Ariana smiled. "I need to make a shortlist of girls names that I like. I've been busy buying a few things I wanted and Splendora bought me a few more things when she took me shopping plus Cameron is making me a crib in his free hours from his business."

"Ariana is a pretty name." Anna suggested, to her pregnant friend. Ezekiel looked to Anna, and wonder she did not suggest her name. In his eyes, Anna was a wonderful name, especially in reference to his Anna.

"Thank you but I think it would be a little confusing my daughter having the same name as me!" She grinned.

"Each their own, I believe is the correct response." Anna said, as she went on. "We have been discussing, bringing a kid into this world, just not sure with Zeke being in special forces, if that is a good thing."

"It all depends on how you both feel about bring parents" Ariana smiled. "When my husband was told he only had a short time to live he wanted to give me what we'd always wanted. He couldn't have children in a conventional sense due to his injuries so we had to attend a clinic in order for them to help us. All he ever wanted was for me to be happy." Her smile faded for a moment before she shook off her sadness and smiled again.

"That's another hurdle, marriage the idea honestly scares us both!" Anna said, curious what insights Ariana would share with her. The idea of marriage, was very frightening.

"Marriage? Frightening?" She shook her head. "What's scary about promising yourself to the man or woman who sets your heart aflame? If you are deeply enough in love and you want to be together then marriage would seem the next logical step. But in the long run its something only you can decide. If you want to be together forever then marriage will keep you that way, married couples generally get assigned together whereas lovers don't."

"I'm not seeing it, I care deeply for Zeke, and he does for me. Not seeing how the title marriage, depends that connection. It's a title." Anna said, defending her position. She wanted to know why, Ariana thought it was more.

"Not everyone finds marriage appealing, for me it was something I always wanted." She smiled. "If it's not for you then it's not for you. There's nothing wrong with that."

"I just don't see how adding a title to it, makes it more special, valuable or precious. I am trying to keep an open mind about Marriage, but not sure what practical reason it serves in relationships. Its seems more of a way for society to brand us with a name, a title." Anna said, as she went on a little more.

"Hunny, you made your point. Like Ariana said, its not for everyone." Zeke said, trying to save Anna from her tyrant, she was on.

"I see you have pretty strong views on marriage" Ariana nodded. "It's fine. If marriage isn't for you then it isn't for you." She looked at Zeke, she had to wonder if the two had really stopped to talk about it.

Zeke wondered how they went from the topic, of restaurants, to babies to wedding. Maybe they needed to talk in private about that. He looked to Ariana. "What do you think of this place?" He asked.

"It's okay" Ariana smiled as she politely sipped her drink. "The view from the window is nice if you want to lose yourself in the stars."

"The view is nice, just wish it was less crowded." He said, noticing a lot of personal on the ship.

"It is a bit" Ariana nodded. "I don't think I'd be a regular here. Nice every now and again though."

"I think we will be the same way." Anna said, as the scene starts to fade.

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