Chapter Three: Running Away
"I'll meet you on the surface. Harpin, out," finished Captain Harpin as the view screen's image of the Starfleet ambassador disappeared and went dark.
He marched his way up the Bridge and towards the turbolift door.
"Serea, you have the Bridge," he commanded as he began his exit.
"Sir, I must disagree with this course of action," Serea said as the captain strode past her.
She had learned how to keep her voice low enough so that only those in close proximity to her, and not those elsewhere on the Bridge, could hear what she said. The captain sighed deeply and glanced at her, and then at his crew, who in the meantime had noticed something had been questioned, as they watched from around the Bridge for his next move.
"Fine, we will discuss it on my way to the Transporter Room," he grumbled. "McKinley, you have the Bridge."
The command pair stepped into the turbolift as Captain Harpin spoke out commands to the computer, "Deck 10."
"You know you aren't supposed to challenge my command on the Bridge," he spoke after a moment of silence.
"I know, Jon," she said with a sigh. "But in the basics of command, the captain is not to leave the ship on any sort of Away Mission."
"I know the protocol. Give me an exception this time," he said with a chuckle. "You have all the fun as first officer. Always getting into phaser shoot-outs, the old diplomatic runs that I used to love so much . . ."
"It was your choice to take a command, so don't try blaming it on me," Serea countered, cutting him off with an amused smile.
"Aw, thanks, Jeanne," he said with a caring tone. "It's always my fault."
"You know it," she said with a smile but after a moment, it slipped away. "Computer, halt turbolift."
"What are you doing that for?" Captain Harpin questioned in a fake surprise. "You know I am needed on the surface."
"Just promise me you will be careful, ok?" she asked, meeting his eyes with hers. "I have a bad feeling about this. I should be going down there, not you."
"I promise," he spoke softly as he came closer, wrapping his arms around her, and kissed her on her forehead. "I will be back to see you this evening for that dinner you have planned for us."
She felt more reassured with his comforting voice and sweet musty smell, but she still felt the insistent feeling in the back of her mind.
"Transporter Room 3 to Captain Harpin."
He sighed, "Harpin here."
"Sir, Ambassador Jonas and Head Minister Kiloc are hailing us and asked if you are on your way down," came the young crewman's voice.
"I'm on my way," he said with a commanding tone. "Tell them I will be there shortly. Harpin out."
Serea lifted her head and their eyes met. He lowered his head and kissed her gently while his hand cupped her cheek softly. Her heart fluttered as she felt his lips touch hers delicately. She did not want him to stop and he could feel that in her touch, but he had to. After a moment, despite wanting to stay in the warmth of her presence, he relinquished.
"I've got to go," he said.
"I know," she said as they parted to a more professional stance. "Resume turbolift."
The Transporter Room opened up in front of them and they proceeded to the transporter pad where Lt. Raleigh, Lt. Cmdr. Kaufmann, and Lt. Rolando, two of the best security officers on the ship and the ship's counselor joined the captain on the transporter pad to be beamed to the surface.
"The Callahan will be waiting for you when you get back," she promised with a small smile to her crewmates and captain.
"Don't have too much fun with her, you might not want to back down when I get back," Captain Harpin snickered. "See you soon."
The four figures then disappeared with a shimmering flash then followed by nothingness.
Serea awoke suddenly and shivered despite the warm temperature in her guest quarters. She felt her breathing coming hard and quick at first but was finally able to calm herself while untangling her legs from the twisted sheets of the bed.
"Why don't these nightmares stop?!" she said harshly from her raspy throat.
Once again checking her chronometer, Serea found that the ship would be arriving at the station in the next three hours. She slumped out of bed and wobbled on still sleepy legs to the sonic shower where she could wash away the terrors of the night. In just a few hours, she would have a short meeting with the Mandalay's captain and then take her few belongings to her new home.
Three hours later . . .
"Commander, if you would like to see DS13, you can look out the view port and get a good look at her," commented a young ensign who was helping Serea move her small carry-on bags to the Transporter Room.
"Thank you, Ensign," answered Serea.
Glancing out the lengthwise view port on the way, Serea spotted the three upper pylons of the structure against a deep aqua-green colored ocean with dark burned land with no more than a few patches of green. As the ship took a starboard turn to meet at one of the upper pylons that was not occupied, a better view of the circular docking ring and habitat ring appeared.
Not much different from DS9, thought Serea to herself and then spoke out loud to the ensign. "We should continue moving."
"Yes, sir," said the young man as he carried one of her bags along with them.
Taking one more look out the window, Serea tried to imagine what Jetal might have looked like a century ago, not long before the Cardassians ravaged and raped their planet.
"It would've looked as beautiful as Earth," whispered Serea as she made her last few steps to the Transporter Room.