Posted June 9, 2020, 6:13 p.m. by Civilian Alexander Michael Knowles (Head of Education and Culture) (Russell Watt)
The alarm sounded on the alarm clock on Alexander’s bedside table. 4:51 am was the time and he knew he had to get up now, even though he knew he wasn’t needed in the office until 9am. His foot got caught in the quilt cover and he tumbled to the floor. He looked over at Rassa, she still slept, and so he dusted himself off and got to his feet. He pulled on a gown and stumbled into the kitchen. He took small, careful steps, not wanting to crash into any walls or any equipment on his way, he had no desire to disturb either his wife or his son, Karlos.
He passed the bedroom of his teenage son on the way, and on reaching the kitchen, set the replicator to produce him a coffee, his cup of ambition, or joe, whichever you wished to call it. Alexander took a sip of the coffee and yawned as he tried to come to life.
The door to Karlos’ room opened, and the adolescent was dressed in his running gear. The thirteen year old stretched, mumbled a “hello dad, bye dad” and then left for his morning jog. That was more than Alexander got some days from the boy, so he was thankful for that least. He checked his messages, nothing urgent, and so he took his coffee into the bathroom to have it once he finished the shower.
9 to 5 were the official hours, but the reality for Alexander was it was more 25/7,
Karlos was pleased to be out and running. This time of morning was good for him, allowed him to think and to keep himself fit. Besides, it got him out of the house and out with friends. Early risers like him were out and about, the traffic was light, and it seemed that a shift changeover in the Starfleet facilities was underway as various people in the uniform colours were heading towards the Starfleet facilities on the planet’s surface.
School for him started at 9, and today, with sports training afterwards, he’d be there from 9 to 5, and then he’d have homework to do. Still he wasn’t out here to dwell on that, he was here to run and to catch up with the others. What a time to be alive!
Having finished the shower, Alexander heard Rassa in the kitchen. He headed there and his sense of smell enjoyed the scents that were eminating from her efforts.
Imzadi he ‘heard’ her mind say to him as he entered the room. Alexander responded by holding her around the waist and whispering in her ear “imzadi” he replied, then he kissed her.
“How is Sarra?” he asked.
Sarra was Rassa’s twin sister and Rassa had a long subspace talk with her the previous night. Rassa looked at him with sad eyes, “she found her husband Rick with his secretary, Harry in an … unusual … position. Let us leave it at that,” and a blush touched her lips.
“Oh no, how is she?” Alexander asked.
“Well, she doesn’t want to be there any more, no matter that she’s the head of our house back on Betazed, I told her that she and Tuomis can be here with us, while they find their feet, hope that’s fine,” she said.
Alexander nodded, and said, “Tuomis and Karlos will have to share a room, of course, so I guess we’d better put in safety barriers between them.”
“Didn’t even consider that,” Rassa admitted, “that could be a bit of a problem.”
“Yeah,” Alexande said, and then checked his messages again, there was one now, and he opened it.
“Oh dear,” he said, “there is a vacancy in my research directorate - the head of it has taken a job off world, and so I guess one of the assistants will get a big fat promotion.”
“Well, choose one who has worked with passion and devotion,” Rassa said.
“Guess that work will become necessary for Sarra, now,” Alexander said, “any idea what her skills are?”
“Sitting around wining and dining, hobnobbing with the elite and talking about the house.” Rassa answered.
“Not exactly a skill set in demand,” Alexander noted, “guess she’ll just have to fake it til she makes it.”
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