The day of...

Posted on Wed Sep 4th, 2019 @ 2:05pm by Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD

1,288 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 99 - Exordium / Epilogue
Location: Kalani’s quarters
Timeline: MD3 0115 hours

Traditionally, the night before the wedding was a time when the bride and groom were forbidden to see one another. Doing so would bring bad luck, which naturally nobody wanted when beginning a new life together. While neither bride or groom were human - therefore having no reason to believe in such superstition - Carolyn has offered to keep Kalani company while Hades tended to the last minute preparations.

Which was why, well into the early hours, she had been camped out on the floor as the worked through classic chick flick, mostly wedding themed, movies while eating chocolate covered strawberries and rating the cast by looks and then acting ability. And, of course, the slumber party staple of manicures and nail painting.

It was by far the tamest unofficial bachelorette party but the bride was hardly in any condition for a wild night out.

“... this guy must be Dr Mendez’s hero,” she commented drily as the actor was drenched in champagne by a jealous lover. “He is dating two of the nurses, the idiot. It is not going to end well. Do you want anything, food drink, something to save you from bad movies?”

Kalani smiled. "No but. I'm happy with that is here. They aren't bad movies just....in need of a few changes."

“Like plot, acting ability?” Carolyn suggested with a grin. “I would take you to Kitty’s but I think I like not being put out an airlock. If you get too tired just go on to bed. I promise I won’t be offended.”

She laughed. "I am fine and Hades won't put you out the airlock." She smiled at Carolyn. "He cares for you too much."

“Ha! Disappointed more like. And I am not testing the airlock theory, he’s obsessed with them. It’s concerning. Especially on a space station. Okay ... this movie is too bad. I vote for another pick. Your turn. Any movie you want.”

She grinned. "Ohhh how about that one about passing wind...farting right?"

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Carolyn laughed. Kalani’s habit of muddling her words was just too funny. In the most adorable way.”

"Oh you know the one about the girl and the curtains...Passing with the Wind?" She shook her head. "No that's not it. It's really long. It has an old Earth actor...I think the character name is Rat Butman? The girl was Scarlett No Hair?"

Tears of laughter were literally in her eyes as she finally figured it out. “Oh! You mean Gone with the Wind!” She laughed, shaking her head as she dabbed her eyes with the back of her hand. “Oh lord, that was crazy. You are some girl Kalani.”

She blushed a little making her complexion lighter green. "Sorry. I went through the academy but I still get words messed up. I think in Orion and speak Standard Federation." She felt a bit miffed. "Hades never fixes me. He just says I know what you mean." She smiled again then. "Yes Gone with the Wind. Let's watch that one. I like the Rat Butman character. Sometimes I want to throw stuff at him. But it's a love story!"

“Don’t feel bad, I love it,” Carolyn assured her friend, “and I’ve never actually seen it so points for originality.”

She smiled, "Okay then! I have an emergency stash of chocolate. I'll go get that."

“You were holding out on me?” Carolyn retorted in fake outrage, getting to her feet, “I’m supposed to be looking after you. Tell me where and I will bring the chocolate to you.”

Kalani smiled. "No no. It's alright. You set it all up and I will go get it. Besides I have something I want to show you so I'll grab that."

More than happy to cut short the current movie, calling up the media library to find and queue up Kalani's choice, Carolyn picked up her drink and took a long sip as she waited for Kalani to come back. Orange juice sadly, but then they could hardly have Hades on call when it was his wedding day. He probably would find a way to do everything, but not today.

Instead she would be on call, in the unlikely event she was needed. "All set," she promised as she heard footsteps heading back in her direction.

Kalani set down an impressive tray of chocolates. Everything was organized and even had little cards as to what the filling was. She then held out a box to Carolyn.

“Is this a way to cure death by chocolate?” She teased as she took the box, curious.

"It's an Orion tradition. It is usually given to someone that you trust with your life. It is something that is passed in families and I would like you to have it."

“I’m honoured, Kalani, really. But isn’t your sister more family material?”

"Go on! Open it." She smiled.

Relenting she sat down as she carefully opened the box, eyes wide as she saw what was inside.

Inside the box was a glittering stone on a platinum setting. It seemed to change colours as a rainbow did while seeming to glow in its beauty.

“It’s.... beautiful,” Carolyn breathed, knowing she was not doing it justice at all. “What kind of tradition?”

"It is a long story. " She laughed. "Are you sure you wish to hear it?"

“If you want me to take it, then yes,” Carolyn grinned. “It is much too much. So tell.”

She smiled. "Have you ever heard of the Crysteline Entity?"

“Enterprise’s Crysteline entity? Picard, Riker ... I think everyone knows just about every mission they had. But Orion wasn’t involved ...”

"There are many of them. They went after Orian once. Half of our was taken. One of the brake warriors, a young woman named Elamine, was able to take the Crystal entity down. As it fell it broke into shards and each of the leading families had a part of it. This was left with me at the orphanage which meant that I was from one of the Original founding families. This is given as a gift to remind the giver of our warrior past and the person receiving it that no matter what they come against they can be the victor. I know you are facing some things and I want you to know you are stronger then anything that comes against you."

“It’s a beautiful gesture, but I can’t,” Carolyn said as she closed over the box, putting it in Kalani’s hand. “It is part of your family. Yours and your sister. I’ll be fine, I promise. Keep this. For you. Wear it today, your something old.”

"Something old?"

“An Earth thing. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”

"I have heard of that but I want you to have it. Please." She said handing it to her friend.

“Kalani -“ her protest stopped when she saw the woman’s expression. No would not be an answer. Taking the box she offered her friend a very gentle hug, hoping this was just a side effect of too much drink, creepy engineers and a lot of talking. “Thank you.”

Kalani's face brightened with a smile. "Thank you! Now I do have a question for you."

“Oh?”

"The Left with the Wind story...why is it about passing wind? Who's the gassy one and what does that have to do with the love story?"

“Gone with the wind,” she corrected with a grin. “And I don’t think ... never mind, let’s watch and find out. These chocolates are not going to eat themselves.”

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