The Boys Reunited

Posted on Thu Mar 26th, 2020 @ 9:37pm by Brigadier General Kaden Ross & Lieutenant Commander Nicholas Coleman

1,525 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 106 – Stalemate
Location: SB24 Promenade
Timeline: MD 02 1200 HRS

It had been a month since everyone abandoned Starbase 400 but Kaden had spent most of the time trying to walk again. He had made huge progress and able to walk but had to use a cane to help get around. He been released to go home but was not still cleared for duty yet so he time on his hands.

So for the past few days Kaden had been helping Vox look after the valuables from his shop. But when he arrived Raekwon had something wrapped up waiting for him when he showed up to lend a extra set of eyes. Kaden looked around and noticed Rae was not around. "Hey, Rae, you here?"

"Give me a moment, I'm in the store room" he shouted back.

Kaden took the wrapped item and set it down carefully on the table next to him before taking a seat. He didn't want to open it as he wanted Raekwon to be there to watch. So he set his cane off to the side and sat silently waiting watching folks pass by.

Walking the Promenade of Starbase 24, Coleman was in his own thoughts about the past few weeks. The crew of Starbase 400 were scattered across a galaxy that Coleman had come to know as home. But, with the war slowly coming crashing around him, it reminded Coleman that nothing was ever permanent, no matter how hard he wanted it to be.

Walking by an open shop, Coleman peered in and saw Kaden in a shop that looked eerily familiar. Walking in through the open door, Coleman stood behind Ross and just waited, not wanting to ruin a moment that he was experiencing. It was Vox's old shop from 400, but only moved to another Starbase.

Coleman smiled before speaking up. "General, you're look rather well. Up and walking, I see," Coleman said, hoping he didn't frighten the General.

Kaden was more surprised than frightened to see the science officer lurking in the corner. "Nick!" He exclaimed. Kaden noticed he had some beverages with him. "I see you brought some cold ones this a party?"

"Well, I bought it all the way from DS6. Real stuff too because that replicated stuff isn't the same. Since I'm doing some runs between the two stations, I thought I'd come by and see how Vox was doing. So, it's good to see both of you!" Coleman said, walking more into the shop.

"Gentlemen, welcome to my shop. Forgive the mess, I still have not got everything where I want it and not all of my items have been unloaded yet." He noticed Kaden eyeing the wrapped box. " You can open it Kaden, it is for you."

Kaden grabbed the box and like a kid on Christmas morning opened the box. His eyes widened and jaw dropped what Vox got him. "No way, Vox, is this what I think it is?" He pulled out a framed comic of the very first edition of Major MACO signed by the creator Robert E. Kane himself. "How did you come across this? Only three of these exsist."

"Yes and that is one of the three. I know a fair number of people in the collectors field and I called in a favour to one who owed me one. I hope you like it. " Vox said smiling.

"Like it? I LOVE it!" Kaden exclaimed as he hobbled over and gave Vox a hug hoping he didn't find it weird.

Vox didn't mind at all as Kaden hugged him. Validation that his gift hit the jackpot.

"I forgot how much you loved Captain Federation and Major MACO. Marvel comics from Earth's 20th and 21st Centuries are where it's at, Mister General, sir," Coleman said, putting the two six packs on the table for the guys and opening one of the bottles up.

Kaden looks at nick as he took a couple of bottles out and opened them handing one to Vox. "Nick, no need to call me General." He motioned to his civilian attire. "I have a rule no uniform no orders just an average Joe like everyone else."

"What beer have we got here?" Vox asked.

Handing Vox one of the bottles after having opened it, Coleman said, "It's actually cider. Old Earth Company called Bold Rock. Thought you guys might like it. As for you, how about if I give you a nickname? How about Brigadier? Formal, yet not. Also, it's from an old Earth show called Doctor Who that I like to play in the holosuites."

"Kaden will be just fine for now, Nick." The large man said as he took a drink. "Gotta say, this cider certainly is different from what I usually have but it's good." Kaden added setting the bottle down.

"Ah made from Apples right? We have something on Trill like this. Its made in the same way but from a fruit called a Sayam. On average its alcohol percentage is around 12%" Vox replied.

Kaden looked at the Trill next to him. "Really? I like to try some sometime could use change from my usual Saurian Brandy I tend to drink." He confessed.

"Are we sure the Trill aren't the partiers of the universe? They seem as though they would be the life of the party!" Coleman said, popping open one of the bottles and chugging it within a few gulps. Coleman looked over at Kaden and said, "Fine, Kaden. You win this round."

Coleman stuck out a tongue out at him and laughed for a moment.

Kaden took a drink from his bottle. "Not sure if, Rae, is a party animal but he has rather odd choice in women." He teased referring to Varena.

Vox took a swig from his cider. "The Trill aways like a good party or social gathering. As for Varena, well, we share similar interests and she's, erm, exciting. Plus she has some exceptional assets " he added with a smirk on his face.

"She nearly started a war, Rae, not once but twice my MARSOC unit I was in had get her ass out of one of those jams. Took the Federation six months to smooth things over after that." Kaden told him.

"As I said..." he pauses with a smile. "Exciting"

Kaden merely rolled his eyes as he took another drink. "Good lord." He replied not sure how to respond to his infatuation of the woman.

"I haven't always been a goody-two-shoes you know. There was Torbin Vox " He said with a wink.

"Dare I ask?" Kaden asked raising his eyebrow at Raekwon.

"That all depends upon you. I am surprised that you haven't heard the name before. Perhaps you've heard of his nickname, Pilot-T?" Vox asked as he took another swig from the bottle of cider.

Kaden shook his head. "Not really, care to enlighten us?" He asked.

"He was quite the ladies man as a test pilot. People said he had more women than flight hours. I couldn't possibly comment on that." Vox said smiling.

"Always the pilots..." Kaden said as he took a drink. "Never understood that really."

"Maybe we should ask Commander Paris of the Starship Voyager when we see him again," Coleman chimed in as he took another swig of his cider and giving a small smile.

Kaden shook his head. "True, but to each their own I suppose after all I sort of met Freya on a whim at the beach." He said leaning back in his seat.

"At least I get to look back on those days, reflect and know what I can and can't get away with tomorrow." Vox laughed.

Kaden took another drink of cider. "Look, I just want to say thanks for this you guys after what I been thru. Almost dying out there I really needed this." He said.

"No problem Kaden. That's what friends are for. There's an old Trill saying 'Good friends are like stars. You don't always see them but you know they are there. ' "

Kaden recalled Raekwon saying something like that before as he smiled. "Well, I hope to be back up and around soon not that I don't enjoy helping you keep on eye on your valuables in your shop. But I should be out there helping Admiral Bremer try to get Starbase 400 back." He said.

"How long do you think we will be away from Starbase 400?" Coleman piked in and asked, wondering how long they'd be away from the Starbase.

Kaden shrugged his shoulders as he took a drink. "Not sure, have to remember I am still on the sidelines due to my injuries but personally I hope not too long." He replied.

"Yeah, I would like to get back to my experiments and continue them on Starbase 400. I just don't feel like myself when I'm away from home. But, you guys do help!" Coleman said, with a smile and took another drink.

"Missing growing your mold again?" Kaden teased.

"Yeah, the mold specially made for you, big boy," Coleman teased back with a small chuckle.

Kaden stuck his tounge out at Coleman as he grinned taking a drink of his Apple cider enjoying the time being with friends.

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