Posted Aug. 30, 2022, 3:37 p.m. by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) (Lindsay B)
Typing the final words into the report, Eela Dasca let out a sigh of relief. She didn’t mind reports, but sometimes trying to gather all the nuances of diplomatic work into a report that would mean something to people who hadn’t even been there was a frustrating task. She was also starting to lose count of how many of these reports she had done. Was that a good thing or a bad thing? At this point she didn’t even know.
Sitting in an office in Paris, on Earth, she winced slightly as she shifted in her seat. She’d been sitting too long and her body was starting to complain. Time for a walk. Rising to her feet, the tiny whir of her skeletal brace beneath her clothes was audible usually only to her and anyone right next to her. Even then it tended to fade into the background as a subtle white noise.
The console at the desk beeped and with a sigh Eela turned to answer the incoming call. “Dasca,” she said as the screen shifted and the man on the screen made her frown and roll her eyes.
“Nice to see you too, El.”
“Lies already and we just started talking, how original,” she said dryly.
“Can we not?” he said.
“To what do I owe this annoyance?” Eela said, trying her best not to sigh. She wanted to be civil but if there was anyone in this galaxy that could push her buttons, it was her ex-husband, Cory Fletcher. Or soon-to-be-ex-husband, in any case. The divorce finalization couldn’t come fast enough.
“I wanted to make sure you’d be there for ‘Dee’s party.”
“Of course I’ll be there,” Eela said, arching her brows.
“That’s what you said last time,” Cory replied.
“That was different. There were circumstances.”
“There’s always circumstances.”
“I was damn well in another quadrant, Cory, which you knew. So cut the crap. I promised Caridee I’ll be there, and promises are something I do keep.” Cory looked skeptical and like he was going to comment on it, but Eeela just raised a finger. “Don’t you dare. I’ll be there for my child and I will tolerate your presence and not be the one to make a scene.”
“Nice…” He really looked like he wanted to say something snarky at her but instead he just exhaled. “On a side note, I was told the petition was filed. We should get something official in a couple months.”
“That’s good,” she said, her tone softening. Sometimes reality caught up with her and her mind still hadn’t processed that the man soon would not be in her life at all except where their grown children were concerned.
“El…”
Eela shook her head, adopting a mask of confidence that had proven so useful in command and in diplomacy. “Don’t, Cory. I can’t. Not anymore. I’ll see you at the baby shower.” With a quick swipe, she ended the call, her chest heaving.
A few minutes later, Eela was walking outside in the Palais gardens. In a different wing of the building, the President of the UFP was working away trying to keep this gargantuan alliance together. Better them than her. Eela was used to smaller, more focused diplomatic work. She was good at it too. Walking along a dense planted border, a figure in a Starfleet brass uniform was heading in her direction. Not unusual in these parts, all told, so she almost didn’t look closer. But she did and the feeling of delight from them hit her before she recognized her dearest friend. Eela planted her hands on her hips and grinned as he approached and he threw his arms around her. She embraced him warmly. “Roger, whatever are you doing on this side of the planet?”
He chuckled as he pulled back and Admiral Kellen eyed his oldest friend. “You know about those fandangled things called transporters, don’t you? They make travel across a planet instantaneous.”
She playfully swatted him. “Don’t be an ass.” That just made him chuckle more. “So, is this a social visit?”
Kellen considered her for a moment. “Business, but it’s always good to see you, Eela. You’re one of my favourite people. I just hope I’m one of yours after you find out what I did.”
“And what is that?” she said, amusement etched into her features, even as she was trying to assess how bad the situation was.
Roger grabbed her hands, holding them securely in hers. “I dropped your name to the Senate as a candidate for something. And several people think it’s a fantastic idea. I’m hoping you will too.”
“Details would be great,” she said.
“Well, you’re used to deskwork, and you work with people all day anyway. This seemed like a natural extension…”
“Roger, spill it. Good gods man!”
“How would you like to be the Lieutenant Governor of a colony?”
Whatever he had been about to say, nothing came close to reality. Colour her surprised… and speechless.
~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.
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