STF

A Day Off

Posted July 23, 2021, 10:08 a.m. by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) (James Sinclair)

Posted by Commander Zef Rollo (Counselor) in A Day Off

“Ok. I am not a songwriter or singer by any stretch of the imagination. I am decent at playing other people’s music… but I wanted to give you something that was just yours, Zef. Something you knew was just for you, so… I read this poem years ago. I never really understood it… until you. Now when I think of it, I can only think of you. So the music is yours, and only yours.” and he smiled and began to play.

His fingers danced along the strings and a soft, ethereal melody began. As it did, he started to sing:

I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times…
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,
That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,
In life after life, in age after age, forever.

Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, its age-old pain,
Its ancient tale of being apart or together.
As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,
Clad in the light of a pole-star piercing the darkness of time:
You become an image of what is remembered forever.

You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount.
At the heart of time, love of one for another.
We have played along side millions of lovers, shared in the same
Shy sweetness of meeting, the same distressful tears of farewell-
Old love but in shapes that renew and renew forever.

Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you
The love of all man’s days both past and forever:
Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life.
The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours –
And the songs of every poet past and forever.

The music carried on for a few moments and then softly faded away as his fingers stilled and the strings quieted.

Zef sat in rapt attention as the music surrounded her. She’d heard Alex sing snippets of this or that before, but never heard him in a performance. And the words…how loved and wanted they made her feel. How special… There was so much longing and admiration in the lyrics of a love that spanned all of time. She couldn’t help that her eyes misted with a film of tears to think that Alex held her in such high regard and that he felt as if they’d been lovers in other lives.

No one had ever expressed anything close to what his song said and she was truly moved. When his fingers plucked the last notes, Zef tumbled from the couch and knelt before him and the guitar, sitting back on her heels. “Oh, Fyk’iri…I don’t know what to say…it was so beautiful…”

—Zef

Alex smiled at her and leaned over and kissed her. “Fyk’iri… you’ve called me that before. What does it mean? And I’m glad you liked it.” He reached under the couch cushion next to where she had sat and pulled out a data-chip. “Here. I recorded it for you. You can have it. And I promise to only play that music for you. Never anyone else. It is yours and yours alone.”

Alex

Zef took the data chip from him and folded her hand around it. It was a precious gift. “Fyk’iri means…” She looked thoughtful as her mind sought a translation from Bajeen to Federation Standard. “It is a term of endearment for a lover when their are emotional ties as well as a physical ones. So…’my lover and my heart’ would be a close translation, but not exact. It implies a deep level of intimacy.”

Raising up on her knees now, she took the guitar from Alex and set it aside, wrapping her arms up over his shoulders and leaning into his body. “Do you have plans for the rest of the day or should we just relax here?”

—Zef

“My plans today are you and only you, my love. The only specific thing I have to do is go to the Mess around 1400. Harv has something he wants to talk about. Shouldn’t take long, but you are welcome to come with me. It didn’t sound personal.” He reached down and slid his hands and arms under her form and lifted her up onto his lap. Looking at her directly, his face mere centimeters from hers, he looked into her eyes and said “Zef… I love you. More than you could possibly imagine.”

Alex

“I love you, too, Fyk’iri.” For a moment, they sat like that, tucked in to each other just appreciating the closeness. “If you really don’t think Harv will mind, I’ll come with you and then why don’t we go to the holodeck? We can have an adventure—just the two of us. Maybe exploring caves or a jungle or anything unusual like that? What do you think?”

—Zef

“That sounds fantastic, actually. But… as I don’t have to meet with Harv for a few hours…” and he glanced at the bedroom and then back at her. “Maybe a preliminary adventure is in order?” and he grinned mischievously.

Alex

Zef laughed and kicked her feet. “Oh, I like the way you think! That’s an excellent idea! Let’s just remember to leave time for a shower and a meal!”

—Zef

Alex laughed and said “I love you, Zef Rollo. Now and forever.” and he leaned in and kissed her the way only a man truly in love can kiss the woman he wanted more than air. He stood up, swept her up in his arms, and carried into the bedroom.


Several hours later…

As they finished dressing, Alex kept looking at Zef and smiling… like he knew something and was enjoying having the information all to himself.

Alex

As Zef fastened her hair into a pony tail, she looked over at Alex. Noticing the look on his face, “What’s got you in such a good mood?” Probably having a day off together, she thought. It was why she was so relaxed and happy. Of course, making love several times that morning was also part of the equation. She couldn’t think of anywhere else she’d rather be at that moment.

—Zef

Alex dropped the pendant under his shirt and said “You do, that’s what.” with a smile. He walked over to her and put his arms around her, smiling at her. “You make me happy. Even when we are at odds, I’d rather be there with you than anywhere else without you.” and he kissed her softly.

Alex


Posts on USS Manhattan

In topic

Posted since


© 1991-2024 STF. Terms of Service

Version 1.15.9