I’m almost there, Jakk.

We’re dancing to different rhytms again. Classic us, right?

I shoulda stayed with the crew for shore leave. If I guessed this assignment was coming, you know I would. But I got quest fever on Caldos. I couldn’t hold back. And I figured I still had years more as your X-O.

Well, I still do.

It’s just one week. Spartan’s taking a quick spin around some weird starship that’s drifting out of the Briar Patch. From the scans, it looks like a mega space terrarium full of trees and plants. Maybe I’ll see a feather-squirrel? Don’t worry. I won’t even be there long enough to build a treehouse.

Just don’t take the Almagest back to the Delta Quadrant without me, okay? Be right back.

Kel.

He flexed his right arm, raising the hatchet to the level of his grey eyes. He bent his wrist, tilting the hatchet back. He squinted and held his breath.

Then Kellin breathed out, hurling the hatchet across the botanical garden. Despite the vines and flowers growing beyond their hydroponic shelves, Kellin’s aim struck true. Not a singles stray leaf was disturbed by the spinning hatchet. The blade sank directly into the target board with a satisfying ‘thunk’ of a sound. That sound was the only thing satisfying.

Kellin stepped closer to the circular target, where the hatchet had struck into the outer circle rather than the bullseye.

“Jagged,” he muttered at the missed target.

“If you have to throw things, at least hit your target.” came Brennan’s voice from behind him. He hadn’t noticed her – a circumstance that was by design rather than coincidence. The woman offered a somewhat forced smile and preened a stray leave from her uniform.

Four pips. Today, she was more aware of them than ever before. She’d never admit that she had hoped for an eventual reunion long after they had stopped talking, but she hadn’t imagined it aboard the Spartan. It didn’t make the situation any easier, but utterly inescapable.

Shrugging helplessly, Kellin sulked, “That’s what the practice is for.”

And then he rolled his shoulders back, turning his slouch into an upright posture. His broad shoulders tensed. A moment of recognition. Kellin spun on his heel and his face lit up at the sight of Brennan. Bounding towards her, he swept his arms open wide to offer a hug.

“Cress!”

‘Oh please no’ was all Brennan had the time to think before unsuccessfully dodging the bear hug, and offering an award pat on the back. Kellin made it exceedingly difficult for people to be mad at him – but Brennan was excellent at holding grudges.

“Yes, in the flesh.” she answered nonchalantly. “Welcome to the Spartan, Commander. I look forward to working with you.”

An attempt at distance.

Shaking his head at Brennan, Kellin spoke through a fond grin: “You won’t even have to look that far, captain. We’re here right now.”

He cast a hand about, reaching for the branch where he’d flung his uniform jacket earlier. Once his hand connected with the black fabric, he languidly shrugged it on over his turtleneck undershirt.

“We are, evidently, not working now.” Brennan commented, and just about managed to convince herself that the addendum ‘smartass‘ would serve exactly no one. Which probably also applied to the “Unless you call this work” she did add.

Shrugging on his jacket, Kellin said, “Last time I got lost in the woods, a giant mushroom tried to eat half my away team.” His eyes widened excitedly and he spoke through a toothy smile.  Just saying it out loud, he sounded awed more than dismayed by the creature that had threatened the life of his crew.

“Sometimes phasers don’t work,” he said, eyes on the down. He patted closed the front flap of his jacket and smoothed it out. “And you need something more reliable.”

“I didn’t think I’d see you again.” she admitted after a moment of hesitation. “Least of all here. But it’s only a week – two at best. I’m sure we can manage.”

“We’re going to manage this crew to excellence,” he said with a clear gaze and a warmth that communicated it was already a foregone conclusion. “Dream team all the way. Destiny isn’t through with us yet.”

Blegh! Brennan’s brain had just projectile-vomited in response to the phrase.

“Right.” was all she could muster before taking a breath to regain her composure. “And I will see you on the bridge in twenty minutes. We are due to arrive at the dome in four hours, and I want us to be ready.”

“I’ll be there, captain,” Kellin affirmed. But even as he said it, he was already staring up through the transparent overhead, watching the warp-streaked stars fly by.

Brennan just about managed to not give a sigh. Kellin hadn’t changed at all, and she was unsure if this was a good thing or a bad thing. And if it mattered.
Their story, such as it was, had ended a decade ago. Not dramatically, but in the slow fade of presence, and the gentle uncoupling of attention.

This wasn’t a reunion.

Or, perhaps, Brennan simply didn’t want it to be.