Another New Place [Back Post]
Posted on Thu Oct 25th, 2018 @ 4:09am by Ensign Callan Armidale
Edited on on Mon Mar 11th, 2019 @ 2:14pm
1,455 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Mission 1: The Return to Faltan
Location: Faltan Station
Timeline: MD16 - 1800
Jonah stepped off the transport and set foot on an expanse of black tarmac, still holding the heat of the earlier sunshine. It had taken a few days on a transport, but he and Callan had finally arrived at their new posting. Despite being planetside, the base itself was underwhelming. Typical Starfleet buildings, nothing special about the place, until his boyfriend stepped off the transport behind him. Jonah turned back and smiled gently, holding out his hand to Cal.
"This is gonna be okay, right?" he asked of their new assignment and his transfer out of Intelligence.
Callan gave an almost confused look as his fingers intertwined with Jonah's. "Of course it is," he said, squinting slightly against the glare of the sun. "What do you mean?"
Jonah shrugged absentmindedly. "It's a lot of change. I'm not in Intel anymore. I'm a department head for security and tactical. We're planetside." Jonah cocked his head a bit. He breathed in the fresh mountain air with a huff. "Maybe it's just that bit of anxiousness still hanging on since the Potemkin nearly killed us both."
"Yeah, maybe..." Callan murmured, his voice trailing off a little. But he picked up and moved closer to Jonah, giving his partner's shoulder a reassuring rub. "I like planetside a lot more anyway. Especially after that holiday we've just had. I won't miss being stuck on a ship for months on end."
Jonah wrapped an arm around Cal's waist. "Just wait until you see what we've got as officer's quarters," Jonah responded. "Our old quarters could fit into our bedroom here." He laughed as he pulled Cal closer.
Callan tilted his head, as if thinking. "Hmm, larger quarters are definitely nice. But I'm looking more forward to open spaces and exploring what's outside," he suggested. "Real air, trees, the breeze... Can't get any of that on a ship! And holodeck simulations are a little different..."
Jonah smiled. "Maybe we'll get lucky and have a pool," he suggested with a smile. "Though in these mountains, we might want a heated pool."
Cal gave a funny look, one of doubt. "I really don't think we'll get a pool, at least not a private one," he said. "We're Starfleet officers on assignment, not holiday-goers." He tapped Jonah on the temple, "Still on vacation mode up here, aren't you?"
Jonah chuckled before turning his head to kiss Cal's cheek. "Can't blame a guy for dreaming." He continued walking with Cal. "I imagine we'll have a nice view of the mountains and we can go rock climbing in a natural environment. Who knows... we might even find a private place to swim in the summer."
"See what I mean? Someone's mind is still stuck on holiday."
Jonah shrugged. "There's more potential here. That's all I'm saying." He smiled before giving Cal a gentle shove. "Look at you, all business... It's kinda cute."
Callan rolled his eyes a little. "It's just called being mature," he said smugly.
"Boring," Jonah responded, pulling Cal close against him again. A central path led them between the six main buildings of Faltan Station. The grounds were clearly freshly cleared and planting beds appeared newly planted with local trees and mountain wildflowers. Faltan had an almost campground-like appearance and the mountain air was fresh and even a bit cool.
Eventually, they ended up at their destination, a good walk from the landing pad to their quarters. It was already later in the day and both would be reporting for duty on their next shifts. They were in no particular rush. Jonah and Cal entered the residential hub, taking a turbolift up several floors before being deposited on their own. Another short walk and they were ready to enter. "Would you like the honor?" Jonah asked, indicating the access panel beside the door, already keyed to their lock codes.
Callan nodded and tapped a thumb over the panel. The doors slid open to reveal a rather well-appointed, open-plan living/kitchen/dining room. Sunlight poured through the wide windows that offered a decent view of the station, as well as the distant green mountains, some of which were tall enough to be slightly capped with snow. Modern furniture had been placed perfectly throughout the apartment, the design of which Callan thought was quite stylish for Starfleet standards.
"I didn't know Starfleet hired interior designers," he said.
Jonah let out a low whistle. They had definitely upgraded. Even with officer's quarters on the Nova class starship, they wouldn't have had half as much space. He moved into the living room and dropped onto the couch, flopping down and spreading out. "This couch is almost as big as that baby bed you had on the Archimedes."
"Yeah, looks it," Callan agreed with a nod. "Have I told you already that I much prefer having my feet on solid ground, rather than on some enclosed deck in the middle of a vacuum?" he smiled, sitting down next to Jonah, after bringing their baggage in.
Jonah smiled, reaching to rub Cal's back. "Less risk of explosive decompression," he said as a lame joke. "If you're more comfortable here, than I think we made the right choice. A pretty planet for a pretty boy."
"Oh, stop with the flattering stuff," Callan stuck his tongue out, although he did secretly enjoy the compliments. "Yeah, I think we've made the right choice... Hopefully we don't run into as much trouble here as we had on the Arch... Now that you're a department chief, I'm sure you'll be spending a lot more time with your bum on an office chair. And then you'll get fat."
"And then you'll leave me for someone younger and thinner," Jonah joked. "I hope you understand... I'll have to kill him." Jonah dug his fingers into Cal's ribcage, tickling him playfully and having a good laugh as he did.
Callan nodded once he stopped laughing. "Oh gee, you took the words outta my mouth. I didn't even have to say it myself," he joked. Then, "Anyway... how long does your roster give you before you have to actually start work?"
Jonah sat up, wrapping his arms around Cal and resting his head on the younger man's shoulder. "I'm back to work tomorrow. All business then," he answered. "It's why my head is still on holiday. This is our last free night together and I suppose I'm still not ready to give that up yet." He sighed before placing a gentle kiss on Callan's cheek.
There was a small period of silence between the two, before Callan said, "So you think we'll be safe here? Or at least... safer than what we've experienced on the Arch?"
Jonah shook his head. "I wish I could say yes, but I honestly don't know. This place has a history of anti-Starfleet sentiment. The people don't like us and they don't want us here. Faltan Station might be safe, but Faltan City... no, I don't think it'd be safe for us. At least, not wearing the uniform. Not waving the banner."
Callan's face fell a little, but he wasn't going to let the idea ruin his day. He gave Jonah's thigh a gentle slap. "Well, we've got a heap of things to unpack before we can officially call this place our 'home away from home'," he said, using air quotes over the last few words. He stood up from the couch.
"Grab that bag over there and being it to me, would you?" Jonah asked, indicating a small metallic, black case that looked almost indestructible. "I've got the first thing to unpack and it's a surprise," Jonah answered with devilish lilt in his tone.
Callan appeared rather clueless as to what it might be, and handed it over as requested. "What is it? Another one of your intel trick devices? When I first met you, you seemed to have a new one to show off every other day."
Jonah took the case with a smirk and opened it. "Nothing tricky about this," Jonah answered, pulling the frames picture of him and Callan from their holiday. Handing it to Cal, he added, "This is the first thing we have for both of us. I thought it should be the first thing we found a place for."
"Aww, look at us," Callan smiled, holding up the picture frame. It immediately brought him back to that evening with Jonah, sitting at the small, private dinner table right at the edge of the beach, the sun making its way down towards the horizon.
"Thanks J, I love you," he wrapped his arms around Jonah's shoulder in a tight embrace.
Jonah wrapped his arms around Cal's waist. With a smile, he responded, "Love you too."
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