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EThan Call Home

Posted on Tue Mar 17th, 2015 @ 7:49pm by Commander Sinek & Lieutenant Commander Ethan Chaparral MD

Mission: Temporal Kickback
Location: Ethan's Quarters
Timeline: Current

Dylan hadn't moved his things in yet and was still on duty some place on the ship. Ethan had left his shift early, since technically he didn't need to be working at all. He didn't feel like going to the work of changing, it was just too much effort, so he was still in his uniform.

He'd done some calculations and figured, hopefully correctly, that it was about eleven in the morning, back home.

He knew he had to call his folks and let them know what had happened before they heard about what had happened from other sources. They had always been nothing but supportive of him in the past, and he had no doubt they would be now. But still a part of him was still dreading doing so.

Nonetheless he opened up a subspace channel and made the call.

Ulani was deep in thought. Several things had changed for her at home. All the kids were grown and pursuing their separate careers. Jaime was working hard at the local Medical Center. The empty nest just didn't seem to be all that it promised to be.

The Elasian had just finished a workout in her form-fitting athletic suit. She had kept in shape with martial art, even though she had not used it since retiring from Starfleet Intelligence to raise her family. Ulani looked in the mirror; one strand of her auburn hair hung loose from the rest and swung in front of her eyes. She was forty-nine and still looked good. A cocky grin came to her face at that thought. Not just good, but damn good.

The computerized voice in Jaime and Ulani's smart home announced an incoming subspace message. She missed her children, had dedicated over half her life to raising them, even moved from Intelligence to Security so as not to bring harm to them. Inwardly she had hoped the message was coming from one of them.

Turning to a large screen, Ulani commanded, "Computer, show subspace message on screen."

Ethan let out a long breath as the connection was made and his mother's face started to coalesce on the screen. He tried to adjust the screen so she wouldn't see his missing arm. Or at least she wouldn't see first thing. The act of adjusting the screen triggered a memory of a happier time. Of when he had been to slow to adjust the screen and she had seen much more of him than he would have liked. A bittersweet memory.

"Hello mom," he said trying his best to keep his face impassive, but not sure how long he could.

Ulani knew her son; knew that impassive tone attempting to cover something up. Ethan had always used it when he didn't want her to know how he truly felt. But she was his mother; mothers always know. He had used this tone the first time he had ended a relationship. Only this time, it seemed more hopeless.

Her face full of concern, Ulani asked, "Ethan...what's wrong?"

"Mom, I. I, mom, I need you. I damn, this is hard. " He paused then and adjusted the screen so she could see all of him. He blinked back tears, "I was attacked. kidnapped like before, but this time, well look what they did to me."

Ulani's face went from concern to rage. Anyone witnessing a mother grizzly protecting her cubs from danger would recognize the look.

"Who did this to you?"

"A man named Ian," he replied, "I should have been stronger, I should have escaped. Hell, I shouldn't have even let him get to me. But he got away and I'm scared he's going to come back and do something worse."

"You are you, Ethan," Ulani replied. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

Inside her head, Ulani's mind was clicking away. Her life was at a standstill. Jaime was spending so much time at the hospital, the kids were gone, one seriously injured by some maniac. Her eyes narrowed. It was her job to protect her offspring. In that nanosecond, Ulani made up her mind. She was going to be there for this cub.

"Ethan, I want you to transmit to me a file of everything you know about this person. Everything your ship's computer may have on him. Where he calls home. Where he sleeps. Where he eats. Where he relieves himself. Who his close relations are. Who he is having relations with. I want to know everything."

"I don't think we know much. Only his name, which he carved into my chest, Ian. If that is really his name. He got aboard the ship, i was foolish enough to meet with him, and, and I'm going in circles aren't I? Anyway, about the only real lead is his picture. I am sure the ship's security camera captured him. You could probably run that through database somewhere.

But it's not all bad. I am getting a new arm, might be even better. And do you remember Dylan from the Academy.Well he's on board here and he... uh we made up and he, well he asked me to marry him."

"Send me what you have, Ethan. It will be a start."

The look on her face soon turned from anger to confusion. "I thought you were with Kyle?" From confusion to surprise. "There's another love interest?" Then, registering what Ethan had said from surprise to elation. "Did you say marry?"

It was good for Ulani to know that all wasn't bad. Why didn't he start off with this news?

"Yes, I did say marry," Ethan replied smiling for the first time and yes, I did say yes."

"Did you say Dylan?" Ulani's mind raced back to Ethan's academy days. "The strong, muscular boy?" Where was he when my boy was losing an arm?

Ulani seemed to also remember that Dylan's track was Intel. "Pass on to Dylan that I would like to speak with him, dear." She gave a reassuring smile.

It never ceased to amaze him, that his mother could still make him blush,"Yes mom, the strong muscular boy. The very cute, strong muscular boy. You'll have to come for the wedding. I'll let you know when we set it. And I will let him know you want to talk to him.'

"Thank you, Ethan," Ulani expressed with love. "You can be assured I will be there for any important events in your life. Don't forget the info I need."

"Thanks mom, I'll tall to the Captain and get the information you need from the ship and I'll have Dylan call you. I am going to be okay, thanks to you and Dylan, and well I guess the rest of my shipmates as well. I'm glad we talked. I feel better now. I love you."

"I love you too, Buttercup!" She couldn't resist one last chance to see his cheeks flush. It was her nickname for Ethan. If his lover only knew.

She knew she had to protect Ethan. He was loving and caring, much more like Jaime than the others children. The others shared more of the daring, careless and action seeking of their mother. I will be there for you, Ethan.

"MOM, really, please don't call me that in front of himHer attempt to get him to blush was working, but he was also smiling.

"I'd love to see you and dad sometime, maybe even before the wedding. You have any time off?"

"I have some things demanding my attention," she told the half-truth. Of course, with her training in intelligence, her face did not show it. She was not revealing the things demanding her attention dealt with the information that Ethan would be sending her.

Her plans were to involve her contacts, with whom Ulani had kept in touch with over the years. Someone should know something about this Ian fellow. Then she would get personally involved. Ethan would see mommy dearest sooner than he thought. He knew her love for him, but would he think that love knew no bounds when it came to doing what needed to be done to protect him.

"Okay mom," he said trying to hide his disappointment. He knew she still kept a hand in things even though she was just supposed to be in the Reserves (OOC We can change this if you want). "Well I'll have Dylan call you. Just try to keep your drilling to Ian and not about the wedding, he's kinda shy."

"Good-bye, Buttercup," Ulani said with a tease. "I need to go freshen up. Always remember that I love you!"

Ethan was past blushing, but not past rolling his eyes, "G'night mom, I love you too."

A joint post by

Lt. Ethan Chaparral
ACMO
USS Hera

Ulani Chaparral
Citizen
Retired Starfleet

 

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