Chapter 16-
Star Date 12402.07- 09:00 hours- Station Commander's Office
The door to Captain Newton Linkovich, the Station Commander's Office, opened with a chirp. Jacob had been set up for his next set of piano students when Jacob got the call to cancel all his morning classes and to report to Captain Linkovich's office.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" Jacob stood at attention when he entered.
"Yes, commander," Linkovich looked up from his desk, "Let me introduce you to Captain Torbin Varel and General of the Bajoran Army Neoman Saxona." Jacob looked to his right at the Bajoran Captain and the female Bajoran next to him and nodded. "The captain requires someone with unique skills to assist him with a mission, and my first thought was you."
Jacob raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
The Bajoran Captain smirked slightly, "Captain Linkovich tells me you have training in different cultural environments."
"I do, sir." Jacob continued to stand at attention.
"At ease, Commander." Torbin eyed Jacob. On the command, Jacob relaxed and leaned back on his cane. "Captain, would you mind if I borrow your office while discussing with Commander Holtz?"
"Not at all. Just promise me to leave my office in one piece. I am quite fond of many of the items." Linkovich smirked as he left the office.
"I will do my best, but I cannot promise about the General," Torbin called as the door shut with a hiss.
Jacob's eyes did not move from the couple. "Permission to speak freely, sir."
"Granted," Torbin stepped to lean back on the desk.
"You can bloody hell tell me what you need me for and tell your wife to put the holo of Vice-Admiral Skyler back on its shelf." Jacob turned so that he could see both Varel and the General.
"Put it back, Jazz. You know playing with other people's things is not nice." Varel smirked but didn't break eye contact with Jacob.
"Spoilsport." Jazz rolled her eyes and put the holo back on its shelf.
"Thank you, but what do you really want?" Jacob kept his attention on Torbin.
"You are quite perceptive." Torbin sighed, "Not many people can tell that quickly."
"She had your back before I even walked in the door. And you," Jacob gestured with his free hand at Torbin, "would have had me in a restraining hold if I took one step toward her after she took the statue."
"He has got you there." Jazz smirked. Torbin rolled his eyes at her but smiled at her remark. "Now, will you tell him about this mission, or will you continue wasting this fine commander's time."
Jacob couldn't help liking the couple a little bit.
Torbin crossed his arms across his chest, "There have been some rumblings from blood purists on Fomalhout Prime."
"Oh, lovely." Jacob sighed and leaned on his cane.
"Our military sent a joint star fleet-Bajoran team to investigate what trouble they were stirring up." Jazz commented.
"What did they find?" Jacob asked.
"Our team consisted of three humans, two Bajoran, and a Vulcan science officer. Their Commander was Arsi Chalge, with Allyson Cedeno as the second officer. The mission was to be a simple observe and report…."
"Only Chalge opened his big mouth and got himself killed. Cedeno is captured or worse, and the rest of the team is hiding." Jazz interrupted, annoyed.
Torbin glared at Jazz, "Xonak is hidden in the Vulcan enclave. Hiti Gluwiy, TJ, and Brodrick Holbach have taken refuge in an old farmhouse outside town."
"And what do you need me for?" Jacob asked, curious.
Torbin smirked, "To be Diego de la Vega."
"You must be joking." Jacob looked at Torbin as if he had lost his mind.
"Considering you play that character most days, I don't see why you couldn't continue to do it for this mission." Jazz playfully teased.
"And what do you mean by that?" Jacob smirked, knowing he was fooling no one.
"You are a master fencer who masquerades as a crippled noble gentleman so that no one knows just how capable you are." Torbin walked up towards Jacob. "I bet your 'therapy' includes16 miles running for the week and three hours a day in the gym?"
Jacob's eyes narrowed, "15 miles a week, 2 hours in sparing hand to hand, or fencing, and an hour in proper physical therapy."
"Does your betrothed know?" Jazz asked.
Jacob hitched his cane, "That I could give either of you a run for your money, no. That I am her gentleman pirate? Of course." Jacob gestured with his cane, "But you still haven't answered my question of why you need me. I am happy teaching piano lessons, training a few hotheads to get their heads out of their asses, and spending time with my Lady Christine and our children. So why do you want me to give that up?"
Jazz stepped up next to Torbin and intertwined her fingers with his, "I need someone to accompany me to Fomalhaut Prime who can play the part of an incompetent noble weakling and has the skills to extricate the team; from those blood purists."
"There are others that are better skilled than I. But, if it is all the same to you, I would prefer being with my family." Jacob started walking toward the door.
"TJ is our son." Jazz called after him, "Please. We could use your help."
"Goddamit!" Jacob stopped and lowered his head, "Christine will kill me for this."
At a quick pace, Jacob made his way into sickbay, bypassing the check-in desk, and went straight to the pediatric section. "I need to speak with Lieutenant Skyler," Jacob stressed Christine's rank to the charge nurse.
"Aye, sir… one moment." She quickly got up and hurried down the hall to the break room.
"Christine, Jacob is at the desk." The charge nurse indicated with her head
"I'll be there in a moment." Christine laughed as she set her tea down.
"No. He used your rank." The nurse pressed. Christine's eyebrows went up, and she followed them back to the station.
"Commander," Christine walked up to Jacob. Her thoughts were fought between annoyance and concern, "What can I do for you, sir?"
"This way," Jacob gestured for her to follow him. Christine did as he asked.
Once they were away in a conference room, and the door was locked, Christine whirled on Jacob, "What the hell, Jacob?"
"Christine, calm down."
"You just pulled rank on me. What the hell? What is so wrong that you would do that?"
"Christine…"
"Jacob, there is nothing you can say that will make this situation better. You had no right!"
"Christine, don't…." He started to take her arm, but she stepped away.
"Couples don't pull rank on each other. So, what the hell is going on!"
Frustrated, but knowing of no other way, "Red Robin!"
Christine froze in her tracks. "What…"
"I said, Red Robin, Christine." Jacob looked her dead in the eye. "Is that enough for you?"
Christine's jaw dropped, "I…."
"If you will, just shut up. I don't want to waste my little time arguing with you." Jacob begged.
Finally finding her voice, "Aye, sir, what… what do you need?" Christine looked up at him, scared.
Jacob licked his lips, "Lt. Commander Holts has been ordered by his doctors to finish the next two to three weeks at the military rehabilitation unit on Bole IV. He needs Lieutenant Skyler to watch over his son while there."
Christine bit her lip but continued, "She would be happy to do so. He should know that."
"Hence why he is asking." Jacob tried to smile at her and reached to lay a hand on her cheek.
Sighing and letting herself step into his touch, "Where are you going?"
Jacob put a finger to her lips. "To get help."
"Jacob, what is going on? Please?" Christine begged as she buried her face into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm following orders. Just as you should." He sat his chin on the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her shampoo.
"Do I have to like it?" She looked up at him sadly.
"No," He smirked at her.
"But why does it have to be you?"
"You know why," He gave her a sad smile.
"When do you leave?"
"Two hours. I wanted to spend it saying goodbye to the kids."
"What are we going to tell them?"
"The truth, I'm going to Bole IV."
"That's not…."
"Yes, it is Christine. If you can't believe that, then they won't. If they don't, questions will be raised. I can't have questions raised."
"Jacob…"
"I'm going to Bole IV Christine, and I'll be home in a couple of weeks. You can send me messages, but my responses may be delayed. For me, you must believe it."
"I know, I just…." She closed her eyes and buried her face in his chest.
He used his thumb to stroke her cheek. "There is not a day I won't think of you." He hoped that by repeating her line to her, she might understand.
Christine smiled slightly at his attempt, "I don't want to lose you."
"You won't. I WILL come to you, promise."
"What of my nightmares?"
"As you keep telling me," He encouraged her, "It isn't real and won't come true."
"You can't know that." Christine looked up at him, worried.
"Please know, I will do everything I can to come home to you and our kids."
"I know, I just…." Christine began to tear up.
"Christine, I love you. And I wouldn't go if it wasn't necessary."
Christine nodded into his chest.
Jacob took a deep breath to steady himself, "We need to put forth a united front to the kids. I need you, Christine. I can't do my job without you."
"Must you?" Christine asked honestly.
"Yes," Jacob tipped her chin up to look him in the eyes. "But please promise me something."
"Anything."
"Christine… If you don't hear from me in three weeks," Jacob licked his lips looking around to ensure they weren't overheard, "remember the name Torbin."
"Torbin?" Christine asked, confused.
"Please," He begged her, "Torbin. Rember it. If you don't hear from me in three weeks, find Torbin."
"All right," Christine nodded, tears streaming down her face, "Just… Be careful."
"Always, Love." He kissed her and leaned his forehead against hers. He finally kissed her before stepping away.
"Come on, let's get the kids. I don't want to leave without giving them kisses. It will give me something to hang onto while I'm gone." He gently tugged Christine's hand toward the door.
Christine gave him a sweet kiss, then straightened herself to her professional self. The kids needed them, and she would be there for them.
