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

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in A Day Off

Posted by Commander Zef Rollo (Counselor) in A Day Off
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
“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

Zef hugged him back and took his words to heart. It was probably one of the nicest things anyone had ever said to her. Reluctantly, she pulled back from the kiss. “If we don’t get out of here now, we might not make it to the holodeck. I could be talked into a nap very easily but I want to have a day out of bed with you.” She blushed just the tiniest bit. In bed was wonderful, but it couldn’t be all that they did.

—Zef

Alex smiled and said “Well, if you insist.” and he laughed. “Lets go talk to Harv and maybe we can get some food to take with us? Picnic somewhere, if you like?”

Alex

“Let’s not just picnic. Why don’t we take something we can eat on the go? I’m feeling the need to move, Alex. I want an adventure with you, not just another meal.” It was an odd thing to say to him, but she couldn’t help what she was feeling. She needed exercise, movement, to get her heart rate up but not from being naked with Alex. Things she’d been told about Bajeen women during pregnancy started coming back to her and mood changes were high on the list. Something else for him to deal with—would it be alright?

—Zef

Alex grinned and said “Done. We’ll need backpacks. Stop by the Quartermaster’s office is in order. We can do that on the way. C’mon, let’s go get you moving.”

A few minutes later they left the Quartermaster with backpacks and assorted equipment for exploring caves and jungle environments being readied and sent to the holodeck. They then went to the Mess. Harv was surprised to see Zef, but it turns out the man just wanted to get approval for some ‘special ingredients’. Soon, they were standing on the holodeck in the base black room with yellow grid.

Alex looked at Zef and said “Okay, my love… your call. Where are we going?”

Alex

With the entire universe to choose from, she wasn’t sure where to decide on but eventually her mind landed on a nature park from Earth. She’d wanted something that would be more physically challenging than walking around a star ship, but that would also allow the two of them to talk and enjoy each other’s company. Once she’d spoken the order to the computer, a beautiful vista appeared before them. They were surrounded by the browns and greens of a natural, woodsy area. Tall trees and enough ground growth that they couldn’t tell what was ahead of them after one hundred feet.

“Oooooo, this is gorgeous!!! I guess we just start walking and see what this particular nature has to offer.” Zef slipped her hand into Alex’s, excited for what the day might bring. She was glad she’d worn comfortable pants and sturdy boots though.

—Zef

“This is beautiful… excellent choice, my love. So let’s see whats here!” and they began walking.

The ‘path’ was nothing more than a natural game trail, so they were moving through actual woodland, not some hiking trail. The woods were cool and shady, but the sunlight filtered through the canopy sending intermittent shafts of light through in places. Alex looked at her and said “Have you ever really been here? I haven’t, but I think I might be adding it to the list.”

Alex

She was just as entranced with the place as Alex was. “No, I haven’t. I pulled up ‘natural wooded programs’ and chose randomly from a list. It really is beautiful though.” They continued walking hand in hand, until Zef decided to broach a subject. “Ummm…I want to ask you about something but I don’t want to take a chance on ruining our day, so you need to tell me if I can talk about the pregnancy or not.”

—Zef

bump