The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Posted on Thu Dec 9th, 2021 @ 3:23pm by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Lieutenant K`Wor & Ensign Luke Conway & Ensign Becca Bremer & Christopher Bremer

1,826 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 111 - Merry Christmas from Starbase 400
Location: Various
Timeline: MD1 - 0900hrs

ON:

Mike walked through the Promenade of Starbase 400. Christmas trees and other decorations were going up everywhere and Frank Sinatra was singing 'The Christmas Waltz' over the comm. While Starbase 400 had as diverse a crew as any in Starfleet, and civilians from all over Alpha and Beta Quadrants...even a few from the Gamma and Delta Quadrants, Earth's Christmas times had become an unspoken tradition on the Station over the years.

Now, with the Typhon Pact War over for several months, an official peace treaty signed, and POWs and Starfleet personnel home, it was even more of a time to celebrate. Of course, Humans did the most decorating, but even a few non-Human businesses got into the swing of things with trees, wreaths, or other decorations...most also embodying their own culture.

Mike had a smile on his face, he loved Christmas. As a kid, and as an adult, it was something he looked forward to all year long. Even through the years he spent living on QonoS or aboard Klingon ships, he always had the Christmas Spirit this time of year.

Bing Crosby started to sing through the air, 'Christmas is a comin'', another one Mike enjoyed. As he walked passed 'restaurant row' Mike heard people talking about their Christmas plans. Some civilians were planning to travel to see family and it got Mike to thinking....

...this would be his first Christmas after Janice's death.

Mike's mood changed and sadness feel upon him. He walked on and moments later found himself in the 'Promenade Circle', the unofficial 'entrance' to the Promenade. The big Christmas tree was standing there, shining bright from the lights and ornaments. Beside it was a sign, "Home for Christmas", a tribute to all the men and woman that had served in the war and were finally home. At the same moment, Perry Como came over the comm, 'I'll be home for Christmas' and Mike had a thought. He would go home for Christmas.


Less than an hour later Mike was aboard the Pegasus-C. K'Wor and Becca were on board as well, and Mike had arranged for an all Human crew for the trip to Earth, so they could also spend the holiday with family and friends.

The big Odyssey class vessel undocked and departed the station. Minutes later she was at warp, then slipstream for the flight to Earth.

Suddenly, a beep was heard at Tactical.

"Admiral, a ship just entered our slipstream tunnel and is following." Conway reported.

"Confirmed." K'Wor added from Ops. A moment passed and he smile, "It's the Yorktown, Admiral K'Temoc is hailing you."

Mike smiled. "On screen."

The screen flashed and K'Temoc and Danielle were looked back. "Not giving us an invite huh?"

"I thought you were tied up still with that patrol assignment from Commodore Oh." Mike replied.

"It's been months since that request come down, and she's not once asked for an update. Now, if she wants one, she can wait." K'Temoc smiled.

Mike nodded. "Good. See you at home."

K'Temoc nodded and the channel closed as both ships continued on toward Earth.


A few short hours later, the USS Pegasus-C and USS Yorktown-F docked within drydocks at the Norfolk docking facility above Norfolk Virginia. Crews of both ships beamed down to all areas of the Earth, while a few took transports to Luna.

On Earth, Mike, K'Wor, and Becca materialized inside Mike's home on the shores of Lake Murray in South Carolina.

"Dad!"

Mike turned around to see his youngest son Christopher, now ten, running toward him. Mike scooped him up and gave him a big hug. It had been nearly a year since he'd seen his son in person, having sent him to safety on Earth during the heat of the war.

"Grandma Em just left." Christopher said. "She said you'd be here soon."

Mike knew Janice's family blamed him for her death, and had already come to terms that they wouldn't be warmly welcoming him home. They had never gotten over the fact Marc and Emmaline had been killed by someone who hated Mike and only wanted to hurt him in 2389. Marc and Emma, Mike and Janice's first two children together, were unfortunate casualties in a blood feud that never should have happened, and even though Mike wasn't even there when any of the three were killed, they Fultain family still blamed him solely.

"I've already had out Christmas decorations beamed in from storage. The boxes are all in the garage." Christopher said excitedly.

"Wanna help me with the outside lights?" K'Wor asked his little brother. Christopher replied with a big smile and the two headed off.

"I'm going to start on the tree." Becca added. "I think over in the order, near the fireplace, beside the window would be best."

Mike nodded, "Good idea." He looked around, "I'll work on the other decorations then help you, but first...I need to make my report."

Becca smiled as Mike looked around for a moment before flashing a smile of his own.

Mike walked out the back door and toward a corner of the property. Under a big, old Oak tree just back from the waterline in the cove was a small cemetery with a black wrought iron fence around it. As he approached he glanced at the names of some of the headstones. They included Brian and CJ Bremer, Starfleet Captains from 22nd century, Walter Bremer, Captain of the USS Pegasus NCC-1702, Constitution Class during the 23rd century...who had passed away from natural causes a few years ago at the old age of one hundred and fifty-one. To the side, was the grave of Mike's first wife Rebecca and a few feet over was Janice's headstone. Mike took a seat on the ground between the two and started talking to them. He told them what had happened over the last few months since the end of the war, including things that were bothering his soul.

Some time later, Mike arrived back in the house. He looked out to see K'Temoc had arrived and was helping K'Wor and Christopher while Danielle was helping Becca. The tree was up, fire glowing in the fireplace, and music filled the air.

"I didn't think it ever got this cold in South Carolina." Danielle commented.

"I've never see it like this, but it's great for Christmas." Becca replied.

Mike smiled as the started helping with the lights on the tree.


As the day went on, more people arrived. Cousins and friends. Many brought food and the kitchen and dinning room were full of great tasting seasonal treats and foods. Everything from turkey and cranberry sauce to biscuits, ham, fruit cake, and egg nog.

Music was in the air, so was convocation and laughter. Mike say in his favorite chair while talking with his uncle on one side, and a neighbor that came by on the other. With all the help, decorations were all up. Greenery with white lights was around the fireplace and mantle. White lights were also on the tree, with more lit up pine greenery was around doorways and on the stair railing though out the family room area. While in the adjacent den, similar decorations were hung but these had colorful lighting instead of the more classic white of the bigger room's decorations.

K'Wor was talking with an old friend, Madison. They two had gown up together, living about a mile apart. She had always caught K'Wor's eye, but until this moment he had only seen her as a friend. Madison was a beautiful woman now, with black hair and dark blue eyes, and K'Wor gazed into them as they talked.

K'Wor then heard a sound, "Did you hear that?"

"Sounded like someone knocking on the door?" Madison replied.

K'Wor stepped away to see who it might be. Most everyone that had already arrived had just simply walked in, they knew they were all welcome, so it was odd for someone to knock.

K'Wor opened the door and was surprised by who was standing there.

Conway looked up at K'Wor for a moment while standing on the steps. "I...I didn't have anywhere else to go."

K'Wor good a deep breath as he eyed Conway. They two hadn't spoken since the Pegasus-C's training flight, or at all since finding out they were cousins and K'Temoc was Conway's father.

"Sure, come on in." K'Wor finally said.

Conway tried to smile as he humbly stepped inside. K'Wor walked with him to the family room. When K'Temoc and Mike saw him, they both stood up. Conway froze for a moment, looking at the room full of people, most he didn't know. After a moment, he walked toward K'Temoc. Like he and K'Wor, Conway and his father hadn't spoken since finding out about their lineage.

"I, I umm...I didn't have anywhere to go." Conway said to K'Temoc.

Mike looked at K'Temoc and nodded.

K'Temoc took a moment, then smiled before giving his son a hug.

Conway wasn't sure what to do at first, but he did hug his father in return. He then looked around the room again, and other than Nat King Cole singing 'The Christmas Song' it was silent in the room.

Danielle walked over to Conway and put her arm around her new step-son, "Come on, let's get you a drink and something to eat."

Smiles and a few hushed comments crossed the room before everyone went back to their convocations.

"Hey Mike, since you're going to be here passed New Years, you going to throw one of those famous Bremer Christmas parties this year?" Nathan, one of Mike's old friends of childhood asked.

Mike nodded as K'Temoc smiled, "I think that's only appropriate. How about the Saturday before Christmas."

K'Temoc then added, "Invitations will go out tomorrow."

"And everyone here is invited." Mike added.

"Everyone?" Conway asked has he walked back into the room.

"Everyone." Mike said

"Thank you sir." Conway replied.

Mike and K'Temoc sat back down and returned to their conversations while Conway struck up one with 'Old Man Jameson'. Mister Jameson was one hundred and twenty-one years old and enjoyed being called 'Old Man', he thought it added character. He himself was quite the character, and was a beloved member of the community and owned the only other house in the cove with Mike's. He'd been friend's with Mike and K'Temoc's parents, his Mother's parents, and their parents before them. He'd also served with their ancestor Walter Bremer aboard the Constitution class USS Pegasus NCC-1702 right out of Starfleet Academy and later with Jonathan Roebuck IV's ancestor Jonathan Roebuck when he took over command of the Pegasus in 2297 after Walter Bremer retired. The 'Old Man' gave some of his downhome fatherly wisdom and Conway seemed to take it to heart.

As the night went on, everyone looked forward to a quiet and peaceful holiday season and also looked forward to more time with beloved family and friends.


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