Four Times Missed Christine's Story Prequel Chapter Four

Number Four

The continued volunteer assignments on the USS Hope seemed to be just the thing that Christine needed to get her thoughts in order. Fortunately, the continuing missions were not ones fraught with dangers or emergencies of any kind. The ship was on course to visit several colonies to run tests that would validate that these colonists were adjusted to their new homes. The rest of Christine's missions would be completed within eight months.

The fact that no stress was involved, allowed Christine to think deeply about her future. She had wondered if she should strike out and seek a new home, maybe a new planet. But actually, her greatest pull was toward San Francisco, besides her home state, Louisiana, she had spent the greatest amount of time in that city. And, she could not help but think of Nyota, her best friend. She had talked to her every week while away. Nyota had explained on the holo-vid, she was not going to allow Christine to see her body until they could be face to face. Christine was not sure if that meant she had gotten huge, or if surprisingly she still had a remnant of her wolf whistle eliciting figure.

The co-pilot of their earth bound shuttle had just put on the 'Engage Safety Harness' sign and it was flashing its usual red warning. She just reached over and secured her belt. The USS Hope was in supply dock, all of the medical staff was being transported to earth.. Thankfully, on the last trip there had been no need to bring patients onboard. So departure was simple. When visiting the last settlement their ship's medical staff had quickly contained and then immunized the planet's populace against a troublesome virus. Upon return to Terra the medical staff was given two days leave. This allowed two things, the non-medical crew could inspect the ship thoroughly because areas normally off-limits to all but medical would now be assessable. Also, supplies could be brought aboard for stocking for the next trip with little hindrance. Christine just wanted to take a real shower, a really long one, to lie down in a queen size bed and be left alone until it was time to board the ship again. As she slipped between the sheets she remembered, she had forgotten to contact Nyota…..

`0`0`0`0`0`0

Lo'vaak, had finally contacted Lars, "Is the offer still open?" Lars quipped, "I've had your room waiting for weeks. Once you get settled there are plenty of apartments available. Just one question, bro.. "What took you so long?"

Lo'vaak looked away from the screen, " It's a long story" .

Lars then wiggled his eyebrows and said, "You never did fill me in on your flight with the Deltan.

"Yes, Yes, I know." He had a faraway tone to his voice. "You'll get that tidbit when we are in a quiet place, with drinks in our hand.

Lars chucked, "That good huh."

"I don't want your brain to get a sepsis infection, so take your mind out of the gutter," was Lo'vaak's response.

"Touché," Lars said. "Get back to me with your flight schedule. You know I'm going to meet you, my melancholy friend, to get a head start on all your activities during my absence from your life."

After the transmission had ended, Lo'vaak stayed seated before the com unit. Lars was correct. He was adrift. The only thing he was certain of was he was being drawn by a force he didn't understand, drawn to Terra. Why? He remembered his father's declaration, "Your life is without real purpose. With that direction you might as well be somewhere mining dilethium" In that instance he had agreed with his father. That is how he ended up on Direidi. He had been to every god-forsaken planet this side of the galaxy, had been aimless now for years. The few planets of merit he had visited did not address his need. Why the pull toward Terra?. He had experienced this feeling twice in his life. Once on Star Base 25 when he was drawn to that specific place, Chuptak's Bar and Grill, before his fling with the Deltan. Well he wasn't going to go there.

The second time he vaguely remembered the strangest experience while he was on the USS Hope, in his healing trance. At that time, it was as if there had been resolution, the answer was there with him, as a matter of fact, right by his side.

When he was finally brought out of the trance by the repeated slaps of a Dr M'Binga, he had looked about for the answer that he knew had been there with him and it was not there. That experience was like a few fleeting wisp of fresh air experienced by a miner trapped in a underground Hades that had given momentary hope.

He was unaware that when Dr M'Binga arrived Christine had been transferred to the doctor's ship. M'Binga would stay until Lo'vaak departed just to make sure everything with him had been restored to normal. This doctor and a Dr. McCoy of the Star Ship Enterprise were the two humans who were considered experts in all areas of Vulcan and Betazoid physiologies

Lo'vaak returned to the mines for his pay, his contract had expired while he was in the trance. In an effort to avoid legal proceedings, all the injured were given exceedingly generous bonuses. Of course, the families of those killed were guaranteed the deceased's salary plus bonuses for twenty-five years. That appeared to be an offer that the deceased's families could not or did not wish to refuse. Although it was the mining company's wish that some seasoned workers would remain as supervisors for the next group of workers, but that was not part of Lo'vaak's plan. From a monetary point of view, it might appear enticing, but Lo'vaak's whole view of things had changed. Life threatening experiences can have that affect on one-the realization of ones mortality can indeed be sobering. The one positive was that all of Lo'vaak's burn injuries healed perfectly. The only physical remembrance of the event was the scar on his right hand which had faded from the angry red mark to now a faint ridge of keloids.

He wished Lars was with him, he was truly a soul in search of something, a person adrift in a sea of doubt and uncertainty. He needed level, stable ground upon which to rest his feet. Is that not what Lars had offered-a stable job, his companionship, and a listening ear. Because of what he perceived as the first time his life would hold some personal unselfish focus, and because of something else, not clearly identified, he knew he must go to Terra, just as he knew he was suppose to be at that seedy bar on Star Base 12 those many moons ago.

The next non-stop flight to Terra would not leave for three days. He debated with himself, did he want to stay on Direidi for three more days or should he hop the shuttle that would jostle him around in space for five days. The decision came easier than he thought, his inner self demanded, 'Get the heck off this piece of rock,' at least he would be heading in the direction of his final destination and perhaps where he would find some answers.

He contacted Lars, explained his plan and his friend interjected, "I suppose you couldn't wait to get off that piece of rock."

Lo'vaak simply nodded and answered, "ETA is Thursday at 0900 hours. It did sound immature and uncharacteristic, but he said to his friend, "I can not wait to see you." Before Lars could respond with a more than witty come-back, Lo'vaak terminated the transmission. He was sure that Lars had all in readiness for what could best be described as a 'Welcome Home Party,' even though he had never been to this' home' before.

`0`0`0`0`0`0

Once his patient was discharged, M'Binga stayed a while with the USS Hope, eventually he was transferred back to his post and Christine returned to complete her tour. It had been almost eight months since she had volunteered for these assignments. Within just a few days they would be back at Terra. She hadn't exactly mapped out her plan, but she knew she was faced with decisions, and more decisions. One thing she knew she wanted to do was visit Fisherman's Wharf. She felt that it was there she could reconcile everything. She thought about Gaila, she knew that Nyota thought of their friend often also. She had mentioned it a few times. But fortunately for Nyota, she had things to fill her voids, a husband, a Vulcan one, and two boys on the way.

But in her case, the void, the feeling of not belonging to anyone to anywhere, still remained. As she told Nyota any number of time, "I am jealous of you in a good way…" She thought, maybe it was envy, it was Nyota's life of perfection that she wished for herself.

Well, she did know that the ship would arrive at the docking stations and by the time she secured whatever she was going to take with her perhaps twenty minutes would past. A shuttle would then take the medical staff to the terminal it was just a short flight. Once she got into San Francisco, she would secure lodgings at the Academy's housing. Everything she did not take would go into the storage facilities provided for active and off duty fleet officers. Since the rooms were furnished, even providing linens and kitchen needs, she was not in a hurry to unpack boxes and boxes of her belongings.

`0`0`0`0`0`0`0

Lo'vaak was fortunate. The unappealing nature of this chosen transportation allowed him to stretch out his legs across several seats, or even make himself a sleeping area, he presently was the only passenger in the section. He had chosen the superior class seating, after all, he could afford it and meals were included.

He could look out of the portal and view the continuous streaks of light that was an indication of the speed this vessel was traveling. This fed his anticipation and allowed him to reason on his current emotional state. The reason the trip on this transport would take five days was that they would make several stops as they followed their prolonged trip, freight was delivered and picked up for delivery. He was so familiar with that routine. Now on the non-working end of that activity, he did appreciate the hard work involved.

He was amazed that he continued as the solitary passenger in this class. Maybe the solitude was good for him or maybe not. That feeling, that unmistakable pull toward Terra continued to intensify as they got closer to his final destination.

When they approached Terra, their flight registration and ultimate destination had to be checked and as they slowed a fast moving shuttle passed them, Lo'vaak's stomach lurched and his head spun and the pull to earth was the strongest he had ever felt, it was visceral. The one thing that that experience granted him was that he was now at the right place, at the right time.

The feeling stayed with him as he disembarked. His ship, a large transport docked on the upper level of the station, that aforementioned fast shuttle docked at the lowest. As Lo'vaak exited the air lock doors he spied Lars, blond hair askew, grinning wildly and waving a small sign. "Welcome Home". Lo'vaak shook his head and uncharacteristically sighed.

On the lower level Christine was bustling out of the door to catch transportation to the Academy, while Lo'vaak was being hurriedly led to the parking lot by Lars who was babbling like a teen age human.

"Do I have plans for us. Don't think you are going to sleep tonight, by brother"

Once at Lars' vehicle Lo'vaak stowed his luggage just as a public ground transport, stating its destination, 'Star Fleet Academy' passed them. His eyes involuntarily followed it as it sped down the highway and he felt his stomach knot.

A/N Well, you have now read of the four failures. As you have been able to observe in these postings, both of these two characters are searching. Of course Christine's Story gives us the happy resolution. But, these stories help us to see that for these two persons the individual search was of long duration..