A Time To De-stress

Posted on Tue Mar 3rd, 2020 @ 2:43am by Admiral Deela T'Lar & Commodore Alexandra Harrison & Commander Kisha Ventar (Maab) & Lieutenant Tameara Romaine & Lieutenant JG Janelle Sykes

1,401 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 104 - A Glimmer of Hope...
Location: T'Lar's Office
Timeline: MD2 - 1040

Deela sat in her office feeling a little less stressed thanks to Alex. She remembered how her quarters felt when she walked in from the battle. She thought about how she felt and how her friends helped her to cope with the quiet.

The moment she got back from the battle....

She was so used to having kids under her feet and a tiger as well. But the place was empty. Earl was dead and the kids were staying with her parents. It was so eerily quiet. Usually she would embrace the quiet but after everything that went on, she really wanted to hold her kids and hug them. She tried to stick around her quarters but the quiet had gotten to her so she decided that work would keep her mind from thinking about the kids. Before she could leave, the doorbell chimed. When she opened the door, Alex was standing there but she was not alone. Kisha was there, Tameara and Janelle were also there.

Alex smiled, "So, are you going to invite us in or should we take the party somewhere else?"

Deela smiled, "Come on in." She motioned to her, "Have a seat. You are just in time. I was just about to leave."

Alex feigned a frown, "Well, I'm sure that whatever you think you need to do, can wait. After today, we need to de-stress so we brought some real booze." She looked at Deela's expression, "Don't worry. We aren't talking about getting blasted. We just need to relax a little."

Deela smiled, "Okay, okay, I will admit that I could use the company."

Kisha agreed, "Yeah , I figured that." She put her hand on Janelle's shoulder, "I hope you don't mind but Janelle here I think needs it more than we do. She looks a little pale, don't you think?"

Deela nodded, "What we just went through, I do not blame her. "

Janelle rolled her eyes, "That isn't it. I just hate the fact that there are people out there that want to kill us. I'm sure that there are a lot of people who feel like I do."

Tameara put her few cents worth in, "I feel the same way and I've been doing this longer than you have kiddo."

"And some of us even longer." Kisha added, "What is that saying? It's a doggy dog world? Whatever that means."

Alex stood up, "I'll get the glasses. Kisha, you get the cheese and crackers. Tam, you get the popcorn and Deela? You just sit there with Janelle."

After a few minutes, they all had a drink in their hands and the food was on the table. Alex sat down and so did Tameara but Kisha remained standing for a moment. She raised her drink, "Here's to those who gave their lives up so that we may live."

Everyone answered in agreement, "Here, here."

Deela stood up and di the same, "To Janice, may the winds of heaven whisper hourly benedictions over her hallowed grave. May you rest in peace."

The room fell quiet as they remembered those that died. Deela finally broke the silence, "I feel so bad for Bremer and especially the kids. I know what he is going through. I have lost a few husbands and what goes through your mind when your spouse passes away. You think about how you are going to get through life without him or her. The kids, they don't understand. All they know is that mommy or daddy is gone. I was fortunate that my kids were young when they were killed."

Alex put her hand on Deela's shoulder, "Yeah, it's going to be hard."

Janelle sighed, "That is why I am never getting married. It's bad enough that I have to worry about myself but to have to worry about someone else, I can't handle that. And kids, why would you even think about having a kid while you are in Starfleet? No thank you."

Tameara looked at the others, "She says that now but she'll find that certain someone and fall over heels."

"After Jim died, I thought that I was never going to get married again but then I did it a second time. You would think that after number two, that I would not want to do it again." Deela shook her head.

Alex thought about Lee, "I couldn't imagine not being married. And not to have any kids? I know that being in Starfleet can be dangerous but I can't see not having any. In spite of what we are going through, I am glad that I have them."

Kisha was starting to feel depressed, "Speaking of getting married, when are you and Jack going to tie the knot?"

Deela shrugged, "Not sure. Every time we start to set a date, something comes up. We were going to do it a month back but there was another wedding and Bremer can't be in two places at once. And now with everything going on, we will just have to wait a little longer."

Kisha added, "I don't think it's over, not yet. They're just going to keep coming back until we kill them all, every single one of them."

"That's harsh." Tameara huffed, "But it's the truth. They are going to keep coming back until either we are dead or they are."

The room got quiet again. Janelle spoke up, "So, do you think that we are going to have to fight some more? Because I don't want to die."

Tameara scoffed, "Nobody wants to die. But if I do die, I'm taking down as many of them as I can with me. I'll show them that I am more than a biologist."

Alex stopped them, "Hey, come on. We are supposed to be de-stressing and this isn't what I had in mind. Can we change the subject now?"

Deela agreed, "You are right." She thought for a moment, "We could watch a movie or better yet, we can play poker."

Kisha laughed, "Poker, now that is something I haven't played in years."

Tameara nodded, "Me neither. I'm up for it. How about you Janelle? Poker?"

Janelle's expression told them that she didn't know how to play, "I've heard of it but my parents didn't let us gamble."

Tameara nudged Janelle, "Then girlfriend, we are going to teach ya. Deela, prepare to be beat!"

Deela chuckled, "You beat me? We will see, we will see."

Kisha laughed about how confident they were, "Yes, we'll see."

Alex just smiled, "Let's do this."

Deela got up, grabbed some cards and poker chips and they all gathered around the table. They spent fifteen minutes going over the rules, how to bet and how to play. Janelle was confident enough now to play.

They were almost finished with their first hand when Janelle announced that she was betting all of her chips, "I'm all in." When they finished their bets, Janelle exposed her royal flush to everyone.

"Are you kidding me? Really?" Tameara threw her hands up, "No way!"

Kisha smiled, "Yes way." She smiled at Janelle, "Are you sure you've never played poker?"

Janelle shook her head, "Nope. Never. I have to say, I really like this game. Shall we continue?"

Deela shuffled the cards and they continued to play. Janelle obviously had a knack for numbers. At the end, Janelle had everyone's chips except Deela's few. Kisha and Tameara were scratching their heads, wondering how someone who never played could win like that. It didn't bother Deela at all.

Janelle stood up, "It was fun but I need to get back to my quarters. I'm tired."

Tameara stood up too, "Hey, you can't win and run. One more hand?"

Janelle frowned, "Sorry. I really need to go."

Alex stood up as well, "Let me walk you out." When they got out of hearing range, Alex whispered, "One of these days, I'll have to take you gambling. Okay?"

Janelle shrugged, "Maybe." After that, Janelle walked off.

Deela looked at Alex when she came back, "Nice kid."

Alex nodded, "She is." She sighed, "Okay, Who's up for another game?"

They all sat down, poured another round of drinks and continued to play.

Present....

Deela smiled as she was thankful that she had friends on the base to hold her up when she was down. But soon, there would be another battle of a different kind.

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