Alexandra's first move...

Posted on Sat Feb 24th, 2024 @ 4:43am by Civilian Alexandra Winters & Lieutenant Commander Nash Winters & Civillian Sara Winters

1,672 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Character Backstories
Location: USS Arcadia
Timeline: 5 years ago

Sara waited for Nash to return home. It was about time for his shift to end, and they had some news. They'd been on the Arcadia her whole life, but Nash had been given an opportunity to take over at a Station as Chief Engineer, and the adults had decided it was the best move for the family at the time. Alex was finishing homework while Sara finished making dinner. "What are you working on, Alex?" She asked.

"Nothing really," Alex said. She was studying a picture of a building on Vulcan and trying to draw it with colored pencils. Not really homework but mom wasn't looking and she had gotten bored.

Nash entered the family quarters after a full day’s work and looked forward to unwinding with his family. “I’m home!” Nash exclaimed.

“How are my girls?” he asked as he bent down to kiss his daughter. He then greeted his wife. “Hi, beautiful,” Nash said as he kissed and hugged Sara.

Sara kissed Nash, and then placed some plates, bowls and cups on the table. "Time to eat," she said. She dished out food, and then settled in. "Why don't you tell her?" Sara spent most of the time with Alex, and was kind of tired of being the bearer of bad news.

“Alexandra, Daddy needs to tell you something. Can you put your coloring down for a minute? I know you like it here on Arcadia and you and your mom have made friends here. I have friends, too. I have news, sweetheart. I’m being reassigned. A better job, more responsibility. I’ll actually be one of the people giving orders. Do you know where Starbase 515 is? That’s where we’re going. We still have time. I have to report in two weeks. Do you understand, Alex?”

Alex slammed her colored pencils down on the floor. "Two weeks!" She exclaimed, tears welling up up in her eyes.

Nash immediately picked her up and wrapped Alex in his arms. “Sweetie, I know it’s sudden, and I’m sorry about that. But we’re explorers, remember? Don’t you want to explore new places like Starfleet does? Instead of a ship flying around the galaxy, different people and ships will come to us at the Starbase. 515 is actually on a planet, Alex. Parts of that system are still uncharted and unexplored. Sara-a little help here?”

Sara sighed. "Look, Alex. I know it's not the best news. Auntie Remy and all the others...they'll miss you, too," she said. "But think about this way...you can meet NEW friends. And learn new things. Have you ever met a Caitian? They are people who look like cats!!" She said. "And it won't be for long. Maybe we'll be reassigned back here," she said. "Also...mom can go back to work at the Station. They have many opportunities for civilians that ships don't. I miss working. I love spending time with you, but while you're at school or spending time with your friends, it gets too quiet," she said. She had put down her silverware, and was facing the child now.

Mentioning Remy just made the little girl more upset, the tears now falling, Alex unable to hold them back anymore. She wiggled back and forth in her dad's arms until he couldn't hold on to her anymore and when he finally let go she ran to her room and grabbed her stuffed puppy and hid under the covers. Her parents could hear her sobbing from the next room.

Nash rubbed his eyes and dropped himself onto the sofa in the living area. “That didn’t go as well as I would have liked. Did we do the right thing, Sara? Telling her about the transfer now? Damn it. Should I go talk to her again? She probably hates me,”

Sara sighed, dinner abandoned. She'd use the replicator later. She followed Nash to the couch, and settled in next to him. "Yes, we made the right decision. It's just...she's been here her whole life. Born here. It's all she knows. She'll be OK. We're resilient people," she said. "Maybe I should go talk to her first. But she IS her daddy's girl. It's up to you. In an ideal world, we'd stay here for your entire career. But it wouldn't be fair to you, or anyone else, really. You need the upward mobility. Maybe Captain someday, who knows?" She smiled. "What do you think?"

“I think being Captain is not my cup of tea. But, yes, please, you go first. Break the ice for when I go in to see her. I hope she understands that moving around comes with the territory. I’m hoping we can get a posting that can be long term. We’ll just have to wait it out and see how the assignment at the base goes. I just want her to be ok with this.”

Sara nodded.. "We could always go back home after a while if she doesn't adjust," Sara said. "I can get a teaching position or something," she said. She stood up. "I'll be back. You should eat while it's still mostly hot and fresh," she said. "And make some coffee." She headed for Alex's room, and knocked on the door. "Alex, it's mom. Can I come in?" She opened the door, and closed it behind her. She didn't get the girl out of the bed or anything, just talked. "I know it's bad news for you, but you have to understand. This is what your father has been working hard for. I know that someday, you'll understand. In the meantime, you need to trust Mom and Daddy to make the right decisions. As I said, the Starbase will be a good chance! You'll meet SO many more people, there's more to do!!" She tried to sound excited herself. "And you have two weeks. We can focus on having fun and saying goodbye to all of our friends," she said. "Can you come out and talk to Daddy if I send him in?"

Alexandra peeked her head out from under the covers, her eyelashes still wet with tears. She took in a shaky breath before she spoke. "I-I don't wanna say goodbye to my friends, mom," she said shaking her head, the tears welling up once more.

Nash could hear Alexandra in her room from the kitchen and it broke his heart. But he was a Starfleet Officer and he wanted to keep his family together. They would get through this. He knew they would. Nevertheless, seeing his daughter so upset was unsettling and it bothered him. Nash made coffee for himself and Sara, but was not in the mood to eat.
He left two steaming mugs of the bitter drink on the table and walked back to Alexandra’s bedroom. He peeked through the door and said, “Allie, can I come in? I know you’re upset and I’m sorry.”

Sara smiled at Nash as he appeared at her doorway. "I know you don't, sweetheart. I don't want to say goodbye to my friends, either. So..maybe don't think about it as goodbye, just a "see you later," she said. "Because you likely will. A starbase is where people go when their ships need repair, or people need R&R. Plus, there's always the phones and computers, and the Relay system." She stepped out to let Nash take over, and went to the kitchen to clean up. She sipped at the coffee. Maybe it was a mistake. She sighed deeply.

Nash kissed Sara on her way out of the room and stepped in to sit on Alex’s bed. “You know….the only question I have is… how did you become so popular that everyone would miss you so much? Come here, baby girl.” Nash wrapped Alex in his arms and held her tight.

Alexandra's face looked sullen. "You and mom don't even play with your friends like I do mine," Alex started rubbing her right eye with the back of her hand as she pouted.

“Mom’s right about the base, by the way. It’s not the same as a starship. You can watch the ship’s dock and see all the people come and go. Bet you can’t count all the species I’ve met. Go on-try. You’re an explorer, too, sweetheart. Just in a different way. One of my new jobs-I’ll be in charge of the maintenance bays of the base. When ships come in for repair, I will be responsible for getting the ships fixed. Do you remember what you used to love doing with me? Picking out the right tools, right? Would you like your very own repair kit? I’ll be a senior officer and I can get you one. How does that sound? Plenty of daddy/daughter time.”

"But I won't have anyone to play with anymore," Alexandra persisted sadly. "All of my friends are here."

“You can still be friends with them. And you’ll make some more. You’re very good at that, Allie. Look, I know this is hard. I’ve made friends here, too. Really good friends, like Remy. I will miss them terribly. I’ll meet new people and make new friends. So will you, little girl. Believe me, your mom and I knew it would hard telling you. But we’re not going to sugar coat it and try to hide the truth from you. We’re a family and we talk about stuff. The good and the bad. I’ll let you think about all of this. If you want to talk, your mom and I are here. I love you, Alexandra,” Nash said as he turned to leave.

Alex felt her dad pull away and latched on to him harder, clenching her small arms around him with all of her strength trying to pull him back as she buried her face in his stomach.

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