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Too Long Between Visits

Posted on Thu Nov 21st, 2019 @ 1:20pm by Commander Rita Paris & Hera & Baroness 2nd Class Schwein von Alcott
Edited on on Sat Jan 4th, 2020 @ 2:38pm

Mission: Neutral Zone Neutrality
Location: USS Hera, Deck 8, Commanders Paris and Sonak's Quarters
Timeline: 2396

Shopping in the wharf district had produced some rather remarkable purchases, and Rita was officially stocked up for the holidays. While she didn't know if all her shipmates celebrated the winter holidays, she was prepared with gifts nonetheless. As well, a few shuttle stops across the globe had produced gifts from a variety of cultures, and she felt prepared for some of the less conventional celebrations in which she might be involved as well. Some surfing in Maui, some skiing in Vale, some hiking in the Black Forest and snorkeling in the Mediterranean had satisfied her need to reconnect with her home planet, and Commander Rita Paris was returning to the USS Hera refreshed, renewed and rejuvenated.

The lean muscle she had picked up on Kathoom was starting to soften without daily exertions, and she was fine with that. Being buff was fun, but a lot of work, and the busy executive had too much to do to keep up an exercise regimen that would put her to the test quite like running and fighting for her life on a daily basis. She still ran and would maintain her fitness, but she saw no need to work at chiseling her physique. her curves, after all, were part of her charm, and she saw no need to leave them behind. At least, not at this stage of her life, when she was still quite young by human standards.

The shuttlecraft had been parked and transporters could unload the goods directly to her quarters. While Rita herself eschewed the use of a transporter whenever possible- which was surprisingly often, even in their modern beam-happy society- she had no compuncti9ons about others using them. Or having them used on goods and materials. Thus her packages would be waiting for her to sort them when she arrived at her quarters, which she traversed the starship Hera in her outdated and sexist uniform.

As the first officer, appearances and the maintenance of them was important, and Rita had to give the crew something to respect. So no coming back aboard looking like a merchant marine dragged home from shore-leave in shorts and a t-shirt declaring her to be 'Anomaly bait'.

Traversing the starship on foot, she took a barometer of the crew as she moved. As first officer, she was feared by some, as the rank intimidated them. That was understandable, although it generally meant to her that they had something to hide, so likely their quarters were slovenly or they were skating by on duty or just turning in poor performance in their duties. By contrast, those who were overly friendly were often social climbers and status seekers, brown-nosing the superior officer to ingratiate themselves, hoping that would reflect positively on the for evaluations or advancement. her father had been such an unctuous man to superior officers while treating those of lesser rank like dirt, and she had little respect for such crewmen under her command as well. Although she never condemned them for it outwardly.

The crew who just acknowledged her presence, or offered a smile as she passed- those were the ones doing their jobs, upholding their duties, and understood that the woman wanted them to succeed- those were her favorites. Like Goldilocks, there was a middle ground she sought as equilibrium with the crew, and she accomplished it often, took her wins and worked on the rest.

Arriving in Officer Country, the forward section of Deck 8 where the senior staff quarters were located, she took a moment to appreciate the quiet and the peace of the starship at dock. Everyone would be returning soon, and they would shove off again, for parts unknown. But for now, the mighty starship was low population and quiet- a rare moment of peace. Approaching her quarters, Paris paused to appreciate the touchscreen nameplate beside her quarters.

PARIS, R CDR
SONAK LTCDR

It brought a smile to her face that while the powers that be had seen fit to test Sonak, the Vulcan possessed of infinite patience cared not for his rank nor climbing the ladder of advancement. He cared for science and discovery, for exploring the universe and keeping his wife out of trouble, then rescuing her when that failed. He cared for enriching and enlightening minds and helping others achieve their potential. But it still made her happy to see him succeeding in this universe as he had in the last, and knowing that he would continue to advance, and succeed in the endeavors that mattered most to him.

"Life is good," she murmured to herself as she entered their quarters.

Decorated in the style of their era, it was a stark contrast to the tones and shapes of the rest of the Hera. In here, it looked like an apartment one might conceive of if a designer from 2260 were to be given the space of modern quarters and was asked to design an apartment. Metal mesh screens acted as room dividers, making the spaces not absolute, but suggestions. The walls were hues of greyish blues, while the carpeting was a deeper shade of the same, yet the overhead was an orange-ish red. The screens were a dark metallic green, while most of the fixtures were black, chrome or shades of dove grey.

To others, it looked anachronistic and terribly outdated. Which was accurate.

But for Rita, it was home.

Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly, reconnecting once more with the space. It was glorious to visit Earth, and it always energized her. But returning to her quarters was a return to the business of exploring the universe. Sonak would be back soon- while he had accompanied her on some of her jaunts, he also had business and duties to attend to, as he was representing Vulcan in much of the reunification negotiations, which made her that much prouder of him. Once upon a time, he had been the last Kolinahr. Now, with Vulcan still intact and going strong, he was but one of many. However, he was brilliant even amongst geniuses, and wise beyond the experience of most. In their native reality, he had been a great man, and here he was no different. Knowing that he was stepping onto a larger stage made her that much prouder of him, for he was A Vulcan whose name would be spoken in the company of legends such as Surak, Sarek and Spock.

Wed to a legend, she chuckled internally, not seeing the irony.

When the comm whistled in her quarters, instead of the chirp of the modern comms, she had reprogrammed it to make the three-note whistle of her era, as it pleased her to hear it. "Commander Paris, you have an incoming call,"

"Put it through to my desktop please, Mr. Pratzl," Rita asked, as she seldom issued orders. Curt and direct may have been fine for some, but she always maintained that she wanted her subordinates to feel respected, as she had so seldom felt that way as a junior officer. As a senior officer, she was determined she would be better than that, and give respect to receive it.

"Aye aye, ma'am," the comms officer replied with a mild note of surprise. The man hadn't expected the Commander to know who was on comms right now- but while she was no supra-genius, Paris worked hard to ensure she knew what was going on, and particularly who was the voice of the Hera at any given moment. Stepping over to the desk she maintained in her quarters, which was littered with PaDDs and flimsies, she sat down to see who was looking for the gal in the golden oldie uniform.

Then the screen came up and showed a familiar one-eyed, platinum-haired pirate smiling at her. "Rita! It is good to see you again, mein fruend! I trust you received the wedding attire safely?"

“Baroness!” The pretty pilot’s smile sprang into place, that million-watt smile that lit up a room and made her joy abundantly clear. The platinum pirate had been one of her first friends on the Hera when she was struggling to find her place, and she had consistently been a good friend to Rita Paris. While she couldn’t bring herself to call the woman Schwein, her given first name, seeing her face onscreen reminded her of just how much she missed having the perennially pleasant pirate around. Rita had literally faced off against Death herself for Baroness Schwein von Alcott, and she counted her amongst her dearest friends.

“I just got back aboard, so I don’t know… was it beamed in on a manifest or did your groom send it by way of Bifrost?” While that might have been a sarcastic remark, in this case, it was actually a reasonable question. Betrothed to The Mighty Thor, the Asgardian god of thunder of legend, he would occasionally deliver goods and people thusly, which amused Rita to no end to see living mythology… beyond Hera herself, down the hall. The fulsome first officer had been the one to encourage the Baroness to pursue the handsome heroic figure of myth, and the fact that the Baroness had found love with him was bittersweet for Rita. She missed her friend, but was happy that she had finally found the love of a man-god who could withstand her aggressive passions and treated her like a queen.

"Actually, this time it was Heimdal that delivered the attire to everyone over the Bifrost." Schwein's eye lit up like a kid at Christmas as she went on. "Seventy boxes of Spear Maiden and Shield Maiden armor made specifically for our wedding, and seven are specially made for those that will stand by my side. Yours and the Prinzessin's are of the highest quality, however. I cannot wait until you see it. I believe Heimdal said Dedjoy would make sure they were delivered to your quarters."

“Well, then they’re here somewhere if the All-Seeing One delivered them and Yeoman Dedjoy was in charge of… ah.” Against the bulkhead in the ‘living room’ of their quarters, Rita spied a rather large somewhat coffin-shaped box, intricately carved with Nordic runes, along with depictions of Yggdrasil, Thor, and Schwein, and the assembled gods of Asgard arrayed about them.

“Well… if the box it came in is that impressive, I’m a little afraid to see what’s inside,” Rita remarked, then she turned the conversation a bit. “So yes, I have received my… Asgardian shieldmaiden raiments and I am very excited and honored to stand by your side for this event. When is it coming to pass, and more importantly, how are you? Are you ready, are you excited, are you going crazy trying to keep up with it all?”

At Rita’s own wedding, she had avoided a spectacle and opted for a small Starship chapel wedding, which meant that very few had been in attendance. Chief amongst those had been the Baroness, who was now preparing for her own nuptials, which sounded like the exact opposite of Rita and Sonak’s little private ceremony.

Marry a living god, things tended to get a bit elaborate.

"I just hope they fit perfectly. If not, there's adjustments that can be made, ja?" Schwein closed her exposed eye in an attempt at a wink. "I also have something else that we discussed and would prefer to deliver in person. Before that, I want to know how you are and how things are going there. Please, tell me what is up?"

The ‘something else they had discussed’ was something vital to the survival of the goddess Hera, with whom Rita shared a complicated relationship. But the thought that she might yet be saved from extreme old age brought a very happy smile to the face of the old-school officer, and her eyes misted up a bit.

“Baroness, you are truly one of a kind. I can’t thank you enough… and yes, I will anxiously await your next visit. As for me, I have stories to tell and time to tell them. Can you come now, or are you otherwise entangled? I can explain over a comm line, but it isn’t the same as seeing you in person,” she asked hopefully. It was selfish, but Rita missed the cheerful corsair who would soon be a demigoddess, if she wasn’t one already.

The one-eyed pirate grinned knowingly. "I needed to know when a good time was and where to go, ja? I can be there in a few minutes. Shall I meet you in Hera's quarters or in yours?"

“How about my quarters, then we can go see Hera. I’m greedy, and I want some time with just us to catch up,” Rita grinned sheepishly, but it was true. Their lives had grown apart, and while she cared deeply for Hera, some time with just the two of them would be nice for a change of pace. “Plus, I don’t want to startle Hera. Demigods popping in out of nowhere have seldom come bearing good news in her life, and I don’t want her to think someone swearing vengeance upon her has somehow found her.”


"Ja, I will be right there," came the reply as Schwein moved back from the view of the transmission for a moment before poking her head back in. "Give me three minutes, ja?" Then with a grin, she cut the transmission.

Chuckling to herself, Rita rose and made sure the quarters were presentable- which as career Starfleet officers, it was. While Rita’s workspace tended to be somewhat organized chaos, their actual quarters remained inspection ready through teamwork with her logical spouse on a daily basis- yet another bit of routine that she welcomed in her life.

With the Baroness von Alcott on her way, Rita debated the beverage of choice. Dark beers were always a good plan, and mead would likely be on her palette these days. But as Rita wasn’t much of a drinker, and she suspected she would get more than her share at the bachelorette party, instead she opened a few bottles of root beer, and replicated a pepperoni pizza. When in doubt, go with hospitality from your own background instead of trying to match your guest, she reasoned.

True to her word, three minutes later, a rainbow glow formed through one of Rita's windows and in a bright flash, there stood the former pirate in all her Asgardian glory - gold and silver armor, blue cape, and a cudgel at her hip, she looked like a demigoddess already. In one had was an ornate platinum box the size of a large book.
"Rita! It has been too long!" Without hesitation, she went in for a hug, doing her best to be gentle with her still mortal friend. As they were both around the same height, as Schwein swung Rita off her feet, she laughed gaily and returned the hug, clapping her well-traveled friend on the back.

“It has indeed been too long, my friend. Let me get a look at you,” Rita requested, and as they parted, she looked the former pirate adjutant to the Artans over, then twirled her finger in place to indicate to the woman to turn about. “Well look at you… every inch the dignified demigoddess now! I daresay your old pirate crew wouldn’t recognize you. And look at that smile! You’re practically glowing, Baroness! Ohhh, I am so happy for you!”

The wide and brilliant smile Rita wore was one born of genuine happiness for her friend, to see her so happy and contented. While she had seldom been anything but cheerful outwardly, Rita had known of her loneliness and her desire to share her life and her bed with someone. With Thor, the mighty God of Thunder, it seemed she had found that fulfillment, and Rita couldn’t be happier for her.

The pirate turned Asgardian couldn't help but giggle like a schoolgirl as she modeled her new attire like some runway model. "Ach, nein. Not glowing right now, but ja, I am happy. Danke schoen for pushing me to it. Odin says that after the wedding we are to have a great battle alongside each other, but will not say who we will be fighting. I look forward to it, nonetheless. Your attire has a few surprises built into it for that reason."

That got her an upraised eyebrow as Rita considered. "Well, after you've come all this way, I suppose it would be rude not to at least take it out and make sure it fits? Even if you are crossing half the galaxy in no time these days..." As she spoke, Rita stepped over to the cabinet holding the Asgardian rainments that had been gifted to her by her friend. Running her fingers over it, she took in the details appreciatively. More than likely said rainments would likely live in the cabinet they'd been delivered in, save for special occasions. But if the cabinet was this intricate and masterfully crafted, she was a bit intimidated by what it might contain. Peeking back over her shoulder with a smile, the Baroness made an exasperated shooing gesture to encourage her, so Rita opened the wardrobe.

Inside was a gold and silver Valkyrie themed armor set with a rather unique shortspear with a half meter blade and a half meter pole. On the spear was a tag with simple use instructions on how to collapse and extend the weapon to the full two meters. The armor itself was ornately detailed from the sabatons to the helm. Even the artifacts on the breastplate looked over made and seemed to glow with an inner power. The pauldrons were lined with a golden fur, and a crimson cape hung from one shoulder almost defiantly. This was paired with a golden capelet that hung from the tasset.

The thing that really stood out though, were the bracers and the helm. Rather than the breastplate setting the tonal lines of the rest of the outfit, it was those that dictated the pattern of knotwork. The helm was a simple golden headband with silver woven into it as you would vines and leaves, but in the middle it was clear that a simple double W was left in the center to protect the wearer's forehead.

Then there were the bracers. They were clearly of superior craftsmanship to the ones Rita had gotten from Hera's former Amazons, but rather than the scenes of craftsmen, the sun, the moon, etc... These were solid gold with large blue opals embedded into each, and with the same silver rope banding at either end with the same double ‘W’ emblem as was evident on the headband, woven into them as part of the overall design.

“It’s… breathtaking, Baroness,” Rita gasped, taking in the ornate craftsmanship and intricate detail. Then she turned and, pointing to the repeated sigil, smirked. “This one… someone definitely went to old Earth history for this one, and color me flattered. And… this rune here, over the heart… is that the rune for Freya? The goddess of, ahh… fertility, beauty, magic, war and death?” Given the life she was leading, Rita had boned up on mythology- after all, when they were living and breathing and you had to deal with them often, ignorance would serve no one.

"Ja, she looked in on you and was quite impressed. She was muttering something about Aphrodite's blessings as she and Diana were crafting..." The silver-haired woman blushed lightly as she looked away somewhat sheepishly.

“Well, you did say I needed to make sure it fit, so,” Reaching behind her, Rita grasped the neck of her uniform and tugged it over her head, shrugging out of the garment with practiced ease before unclasping her bracers, to set them down atop the discarded uniform. Like a superhero stripping down to the costume beneath, Rita Paris divested herself of her antiquated uniform quickly, leaving her clad in a neutral beige yet lacey and pretty set of matching bra and panties. It was clear she was unabashed about it, just as it was clear she’d been working out a bit.

“I might need a little help with this… I’ve never worn armor like this before,” Rita explained as she began taking the pieces of the armor out of the cask and laying them out on the couch.

"Ach, ja... The first time is the hardest as you train the artifacts to you. Once they are bonded, you will be able to summon the armor from the Bifrost." Schwein started with the breastplate as it was the central piece, picking it up and laying out the inner workings... Or seeming lack thereof. "Every seam is completely sealed when worn so grip it tightly facing away from you. Then give thanks to Freya and the back will open and you can slip it on. Easy, ja? After that, the other pieces will fall into place."

Following the instructions given to her, Rita held the breastplate- which she noticed was quite generously cut for her rather prodigious bosom- out at arm’s length facing away from her. Then she looked up and asked of the cosmos, “Freya be thanked and praised?”

As if on cue, the back of the breastplate opened up like some sort of hyper-advanced tech and all but flew onto the busty bombshell. Once it had sealed itself and adjusted its fit, the rest of the pieces started to stir, tiny grav-plates hauling them into the air and performing the same opening and closing action around the rest of Rita until only the headband remained. It silently hovered in place in front of her rather than slapping into her forehead - apparently detecting that it may cause a concussion if it hit too hard.

A few doors down, Hera looked up from her Jackie Collins book and crooked an eyebrow.

Reaching out, she gingerly took it in her fingers and slid it into place, making sure the overhang of hair that she was perennially sweeping out of her eyes was not caught in the headband. Flexing and feeling the fit, Rita stretched out a bit, twisting and reaching to feel the fit. “That’s remarkable,” she observed. “It fits like it was made for me- which, well, there you go.”

Grinning at the sensation of the Asgardian armor, Rita reached for the two spear halves, reading the tag to figure out how it worked. “I mean, I may as well go all in. Particularly if Odin expects me to stand in battle with it When the one-eyed Allfather with cosmic awareness warns you in advance, you’d better be ready.”

"It is collapsible. This piece fits into here and you twist until it locks. To engage the blade guard, twist further up. Simple and... Cool... Ja?" As Schwein pointed out the various functions, she had a wide grin on her face. She then pointed out the various markings on the blade guard. "I had some pull on the design and insisted on Hera's crest. I admit some amount of schadenfreude."

"I appreciate that... wouldn't want Hera to think I was tossing her over for some Asgardian goddess of a different folio," Rita wisecracked distractedly, as a few doors down the goddess chuckled and returned to her book. Putting the two halves together to twist and lock them, Rita's questing fingers scanned for the grip to engage the blade guard. When it sprang into place, she nodded, eyebrows upraised in the middle. "It's a lot lighter than I would have expected."

Hefting the spear experimentally, Rita tossed it back and forth between her hands, then levered in on her palm to find the balance point. It was where she would naturally choke up on a polearm this size, and she was duly impressed. "This is... one hell of an heirloom, Baroness. I'm not really sure how to show proper gratitude... I mean, this is armor and weaponry of a hero of legend, and for me it's my bridesmaid's dress for your wedding. I almost feel guilty accepting it."

"Ja... It is actual Valkyrie armor..." Schwein waved one hand in the air for a moment before continuing on. "Seven sets were made... The rest are more symbolic leather armor with shields of Valhalium. You, Enalia, Ethel, Mnhei'sahe, Thex, Sarika, and Hera. Though if you want to return it after, you may."

"Computer, tri-mirror reflection please, show me the angles," Paris called out, and the computer complied with a chirp to produce three holographic representations of Rita from various angles. For a moment, as she turned a bit and eyed her reflection, Rita was a bit awestruck at just how she looked. Then she forced herself back to the moment, and she nodded to the pirate turned power.

"Thank you, Baroness. It's... a bit beyond words, really. I think I'll keep it, though... I imagine it would be rude to return such a generous and magnificent gift. After all, it being my life, I suspect someday I might just know a heroine who needs supernatural aid in the form of a gift from the gods to enter the land of the strange and mysterious. Which Rita Paris happens to have in her closet..." The buxom blonde laughed at her own joke, but she had to admit- she genuinely looked like a Valkyrie of Norse legend in this getup. After all, she was blonde-haired, blue-eyed and built like a brick house, as the old saying went. With the great spear in her hand, all she lacked was a flying horse to finish the look.

"Ja, such things do happen," Schwein replied with a nod. She couldn't confirm it, but things like that did seem to happen around Rita. "I took the liberty of having the bracers modeled after your old ones a bit, with some elements added by Diana. I hope you like them. They have the full power storage, unlike the Amazonian ones that were confiscated. That way you may hide a shuttle if you wish. Yours are the only ones with that feature."

"A shuttle?" Rita looked at the bracers thoughtfully. "Or an army... well. That's... again, amazing. Thank you, Baroness." Eyeing the spear, which was a bit too big to be lugging about the starship, Rita move to lean it against one of the interior bulkheads, then thought better of it and laid it on the couch. "I'll have to take you to the holodeck after this to try all this out... I actually did a bit of spear work recently, and have I got a story to tell you. But for now, we should probably pay a visit to our patron goddess." Looking over the armor, given that it was essentially seamless, Rita furrowed her brow.

"Uh, so... how do I get it off...?"

"The same way you store things in your other bracers," Schwein replied with a chuckle, tapping the new pair that Rita now wore. "Just remember that you can't store compressed space like these within each other without a... Umm... There are rules to it, but suffice it to say, if you walk into an Asgardian ship that's bigger on the inside, you're fine. You just can't store active bracers inside other bracers."

"Oh, but without the bracers, it comes off by thanking Princess Diana," Schwein quickly added.

“Mmmm, extradimensional space can’t exist within extradimensional space, because it inevitably implodes, taking as much of the local matter with it as it has energy available to it… I’m reasonably certain that was Sonak’s warning to me about dealing with such phenomenon, but duly noted for future reference,” Rita observed, shunting the armor into the extradimensional space of the ornate and beautiful bracers, which glowed briefly with a golden light before fading to normal. Eyeing the great Valkyrie spear, Rita shunted it as well, for safekeeping until she was ready to practice with it.

“While you’re here today I’ll have to tell you my little tale of adventure and we can spar some in the Holodeck. Show you that I’ve learned a few moves, and that your lessons were far from wasted- they saved my life on more than a few occasions, and every time I thought of you with gratitude,” Rita explained somewhat mysteriously. But given her life and the unlikely nature of it, she suspected it wouldn’t faze Schwein, as she was quite familiar with the weirdness of Rita’s life and experiences.

"From the sound of it, I assume you do not mean the recent trip to ch'Rihan, ja?" Schwein chuckled softly, wondering what adventures the universe had thrown at Rita this time while she'd been away. "I will have to tell you of the adventures Hilda and I have had as well."

“Ohhh, we are definitely sharing some stories then,” Rita grinned as her mein turned more somber. “So… as grateful as I am for the magnificent gifts you brought me, you brought something else, I see. Is that for Hera?” Rita had been shoving that particular concern aside for quite a while, but she was actually desperately hopeful that this was good news for her favorite reformed goddess.

"Ja, the dwarves of Nidavellir have outdone themselves in this." As she spoke, she held the small ornate chest before her. "Inside is the smallest of the power supplies they have ever created. It is far from powerful, but it will be enough to sustain Hera and perhaps occasionally turn water to wine."

“That sounds like it should be perfect,” Rita declared, relief obviously written all over her face. The emotional executive wore her heart on her sleeve, and as she shrugged back into her outdated uniform, she considered. “If the dwarves had to craft it, then somewhere along the line someone paid them, which means that there is a debt owed somewhere for this favor of the gods. Whom is owed and what, if it isn’t rude to ask? Because you did this on my behalf, and if there’s a debt to be paid, it should be my burden to shoulder.”

The silver tressed woman nodded slowly, her features turning a bit grim. "Ja... They did demand a fair price. And it has been paid for now by Loki. For now, he insists that it is a wedding gift, but if you insist on paying off that debt... Thankfully, he has... Matured... Over the years."

Laying her hand on the shoulder of her dear friend, Rita smiled, a wry expression. "It's only fair, Baroness. This is something you did because I asked, and I'm responsible for Hera... Thor made me her keeper, so she's my responsibility. I can't just let her waste away, any more than I could let her die any of the other times she's courted the reaper. So if Loki is the one I owe, then I suppose I'll have to take it up with him. God of mischief and deceit... I can't imagine that's going to be an easy price to pay, but I can't let you shoulder that burden."

"Ja, you are a good friend and sister," Schwein replied, placing one hand on Rita's shoulder in turn. "Now we must get this to Hera and save another of our sisters."

"I guess for you she is a sister of a sort, now that you've joined the Norse pantheon. Which, I have to say," Rita made to pick up the case Schwein had casually carried earlier only to discover that it was far heavier than it looked, and realized it was out of her league as the pretty pirate hefted it effortlessly and they began walking. "Ah, yeah, I guess you need to get that. But really, you always were larger than life, and somehow you and the Norse gods just... fit. I mean, it seems like you never really fit in... at least, that was how you put it to me. But you seem like a perfect fit with those Teutonic gods of the longboats and feasthalls."

The rosy blush on the corsair's face was plain to see as she hefted the small box with ease. "Ja, there has been talk of adding me to the order as a lesser deity as Diana was. Something about compassion, mercy, and the strength of mortal women." Then she blushed harder as she realized she was getting some odd looks walking through the halls dressed as she was. "It is good to be back aboard the Hera, but I do not recognize any of the crew so far. Have there been that many transfers?"

"You are quite a strong woman, my friend, and it has nothing to do with muscle," Rita patted the pirate on the shoulder. As for the transfers...some... you know how it goes. Times change and the faces around you change. I think Sonak once said that change is the only constant of the universe, so one must adapt in order to survive. As for the crew... still plenty of familiar faces, just not many on this deck. Asa was reassigned to Starfleet Medical- apparently, their work in gene therapy is quite revolutionary, and they are quite the big deal now."

"But we still have plenty of familiar faces... case in point." As they came around the bend in the circular corridor, Petty Officer Second Class Jablonski and Petty Officer Lu snapped to attention. The two-meter and change hulking mass of farmgirl muscle was a bit bulkier across the shoulders than Schwein remembered her, while the stocky but short Liu seemed eternal as she was inscrutable.

"At ease, ladies. How's our guest today?" Paris acknowledged the formality then offered the command that released the enlisted NCOs from said formality. She seldom required it- the Captain, for instance, did not wish to have everyone brought to attention when she walked onto the bridge. But for honor guard duty, it was good military discipline, and Paris had instituted it as a regulation. Just down the hall, guarding VIP Quarters 13, Phillips and B'jou had also come to attention, and accepted the 'at ease' command as well.

"Quiet, Commander," Jablonski reported. "She isn't baking today, so I think it might be reading, or..." checking her wrist chronometer, the security officer the called 'Big Ethel' nodded, then lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Or she might be asleep on her fainting couch with a book. She naps a lot this time of day, so... y'know, we give her privacy, but she likes for us to check on her around 1500 so she can go take a walk. These days she's usually asleep." There was no judgment in the woman's voice, only an underlying current of concern.

Schwein nodded her own concern as a gilded scroll appeared in her free hand, offering it to Big Ethel. "I have been told that sleep is a late stage of extreme old age for her race. With luck, we will be able to begin to reverse that today. As for this, I have told Hilda of you, and she has written a letter expressing her desire to meet you on the day of my wedding. I believe the two of you have much in common. The... ah... portrait may not be the most accurate. Asgardian art is stylistic, ja?"

Eyes flickering to the Commander for a nod of permission, the hulking petty officer accepted then unrolled the scroll, then her eyes went wide and she blushed furiously. "Ah... well. Golly. That's, ah, I'll, ah, hafta... gee. Ohhh m'gosh. I, ah..." she stammered, as Paris chuckled.

"You're welcome to come if you've been invited, Petty Officer Jablonski. I assume Hera was invited as well, so of course she'll need her honor guard," Rita reasoned. "So you can answer later if you-"

"I'll go!" blurted the easygoing and sincere young woman who had grown over time into the massive maiden of muscle she was today, slowly absorbing the magic of Hera's domain aura that had not dimmed and waned as had Hera's power. Patting the somewhat flustered young woman on the bicep, Rita led the way into Hera's quarters, as behind her, Jablonski shared the image on the filigreed scroll with her cohort Liu, whose eyes opened wide at the sight.

"I will let her know that you accept her proposal, ja?" Schwein chuckled softly as she gave her larger friend a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Now, let us deliver this last gift and see to Hera's continued health."

Entering the spacious VIP quarters that had been customized by it’s occupant, Rita and Schwein paused in the foyer, as Rita called out to the quarter’s occupant. “Hera? It’s Rita. Baroness von Alcott is visiting, and she has a surprise for you… are you decent?”

The only real response for a moment was a gentle snoring as they entered. It ended quickly at the question of decency as Hera awoke from her nap and dropped her current book on the floor. "Oh my... Dearest me... I was asleep a bit longer than I expected, wasn't I? Please, come in."

Getting up from her fainting couch, Hera left the abandoned book where it was and went to wash her face to make herself presentable, finding it much more difficult to replace the glamour that she used. "I'll be there in a moment. Please make yourselves at home and help yourselves to the cookies on the table."

Stepping over, Rita smoothly knelt down to fetch the book on the floor, then picked it up to place it back on the end table next to the fainting couch. As she heard the water running, she suspected that hera was having difficulty summoning the energy to ‘put her face on’, and she debated saying something to that effect. But while Hera maintained her illusion for the benefit of others, Rita suspected it was also a component of her own vanity at work. After all, what woman wished to surrender her beauty to the ravages of age if she could help it? While the goddess of women, motherhood and family was comfortable appearing as a striking middle-aged matron, it stood to reason that she still wished to at least be perceived as able and eternal. Particularly in the presence of another power, which, whatever title Schwein was moving into adopting, would certainly qualify.

Taking a couple of cookies, Rita sat down in one of the receiving chairs Hera kept by her fainting couch for visitors. Offering one of the cookies to the pretty pirate, Rita silently indicated to the Baroness to take a seat. If they stood, Hera might feel the need to do so as well, and she did not want to tax the elderly and weakened goddess. So she set the stage for a casual encounter instead, and nervously nibbled at the cookie in her hand.

The pirate turned demi-goddess was also a bit subdued as she too nibbled on one of the cookies. Hera had reformed amazingly well during her time on the ship with her name and for Enalia and Rita's sake, she was determined to see the woman live well.

It was a few more minutes before the water finally turned off and Hera returned from the lavatory, walking slower as she did so, but with a bright smile on her face as usual as she resumed her seat on her fainting couch. "It's good to see both of you. Baroness, I've heard that your wedding day is fast approaching. I look forward to seeing everyone in their wedding attire. I'll have to see if I can petition access to my old bracers so I can wear one of my nicer dresses."

"I would very much like to see that, Hera," Schwein replied with a warm smile as she moved to offer the box to Hera. "But before then, I have something that should help considerably with..." She glanced to Rita for help with her words as she was running out of them.

“I’m not sure how all of this works, but… I believe this is a small scale version of the power generators your people use to sustain yourselves. Given that the number of faithful you have these days are few, and you don’t receive energy from sacrifices as you used to…. Well, we’re hoping this will help?” Rita smiled a hopeful smile, as this was her ‘hail mary’ play. She had one more card to play if this failed, but it was one she was loathe to use if at all possible. Already she was in debt to the Trickster god, which couldn’t possibly go well for her.

But she had to try… while she was acutely aware that her relationship with the matron goddess would likely be viewed as inappropriate, the reformed goddess had a place in her heart. One that Rita would fight for just as determinedly as she would any of her friends or loved ones.

Schwein then opened the box to reveal two egg-shaped objects. One was the size of an ostrich egg and ornately crafted in a Victorian steampunk style out of what appeared to be gold, silver, and platinum, but glowed with an inner light. The smaller egg was the size of a sparrow's egg and was fleshy pink with a bronze band.

For a moment, Hera gazed at it longingly before picking up the smaller egg and holding it gently in her palm. It then sank into her palm and though it seemed to cause some mild discomfort for a few moments, the immediate relief as a gentle light radiated softly from the larger egg and seemingly filled Hera for a moment quickly surpassed whatever discomfort she felt. In fact, after less than a minute, the light had faded to its previous state and the matronly goddess had visibly let her glamour drop to reveal that her aging was quickly reversing to not only the face that she had been showing, but perhaps a little younger.

"Thank you. Both of you. I owe both of you my life. If there is anything you wish of me, please... Just ask." With her head bowed, the now restored nearly immortal woman now humbled herself before Rita and Schwein.

Taking Hera's hand in her own, Rita spoke gently, eyes glistening. "Remember what I asked of you, all those months ago? 'Be a goddess I can tell my kids about someday.' You have become that, and more... all I ask of you is that you continue to do as you have done. Be better, a little bit every day. Because you HAVE become a goddess I'll tell my kids about someday... and I hope they get to meet you. Because you're part of the family... just like the Baroness here," Rita nudged the shoulder of the silver-haired demigoddess fondly. "Now, as for what boon she might ask, I wouldn't deign to speak for her..."

The silver haired woman blushed bright red as Hera took the box, closed it up, and set it aside on her in-table. "If it is not too much to ask... I am still... I can't..." As she turned brighter red, she bowed her head and blurted it out. "Hera, please bless my marriage! I want a good family!"

With a knowing smile, Hera reached out a hand that seemed to glow with a golden light and rested it on the Baroness's shoulder for a moment. "Consider it done. Your wedding night will be extra magical, I think."

With surprise and delight, Schwein looked up at first Hera, then Rita, then back to Hera. "Thank you. Thank you."

"Just like that," Rita beamed at Hera, then wrapped both women in a hug. "Just exactly like that."

A price would still likely have to be paid, but in the here and now, to see the look on Hera's face as she wasn't facing a slow decaying death by old age, and the look on Schwein's face as Hera blessed her to bear Thor a fine son... whatever the cost later, for now, it was worth it.

 

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