Updated – November 5, 1998
NEW BEGINNINGS
Chapter 1 - Part A
The Café Cochran is one of the most popular dining establishments in Nuevo Francisco on Mars. Open twenty-five hours a day, it is usually bustling with Starfleet uniforms. This comes from its topnotch cooking staff and its being annexed to the subdivision of Starfleet Headquarters in the city. Lunchtime is especially riotous. People rush in and out, grabbing quick meals in route, while others congregate for informal meetings.
With all the noise and people rushing around, Katherine Moore was already regretting her choice of a meeting place, especially for this meeting. For the past few months, with the coming "special deployment," things were even more hectic. Usually she loved the rush, but today it felt like all the rapid movement was sucking the life out of her. She didn’t know why, but she’d begun to feel increasingly tired and drained over the past two weeks. She was used to having stores of energy and vigor, which tended to annoy those around her, but now she could barely pull herself out of bed. So far her fiancé, John Samarra, hadn’t taken too much note of it, as she distracted him or justified her fatigue. Now though, it was getting hard to stay focused all day. She’d take some time to have it checked out, later. But even with meetings all afternoon, over the final run through of her ships, she just wanted to stay focused on now and get this just right.
Looking at the wall chronometer, she saw her fiancé was indeed late. This didn’t help her anxiety and concern. She took in a few breaths and tried to enjoy her cup of black coffee.
Ten minutes late, John Samarra came running in. Spotting her, he quickly walked towards her, pulling his coat off as he reached her. Moore loved him in his blue science specialty uniform, but always thought he ought to stick with command red. As for the new beard, she was still undecided on that. Sitting down, he put his gray coat on the back of his chair. Looking over at her he smiled, brushing his brown hair off his forehead, and apologized. “Sorry I’m late. The Director wouldn’t let me go until I had double checked some figures with him.”
Pressing a smile through her growing fatigue she put her hand on his saying, “Oh I understand, with Operation: Reconquest about to begin, everyone is on edge and trying to be sure their aren’t mistakes. It’s hell for everyone.”
Holding onto her, he stared into her dark brown eyes and gave her a curious look, “Are you okay? You don’t look well.”
Sarcastically, she replied, “Well thank you. I’m fine.”
Pushing passed it, he said, “Are you sure? You’ve been a little off for awhile. You aren’t coming down with something?”
Firmly, she spoke. “No! I’m fine. Their is nothing wrong...that a long vacation won’t fix.” Turning on her charm, she said, “Besides, I’ll be fine, as long as I’ve got you. You worry way too much sweetie.”
“You always give me reason.”
“That’s unfair John. I don’t…” Pausing, she looked down at the table and took a breath. This was taxing her. “Listen, let’s not talk about this now. Maybe you are right. I am feeling a little tired. Just don’t start getting too worried about me.”
“Me?”
Smiling a little, she gave him a loving look and nodded, “Yes you. You’d probably go ballistic if I had a hang nail.”
Sighing, he looked concerned, but lovingly at her, saying, “Just take care of yourself and I’ll be okay.”
“It’s a deal. I’ll be done with my meetings and work by early this afternoon, then I’ll stop by and see Harry and get checked out. Okay?”
Nodding along he responded, “I’ll meet you at home then and have dinner ready, meaning I'll order out. Then we’ll see if I can help you relax.”
Seizing onto a good idea she agreed and gripped his hand tightly. “Okay, how can I resist that kind of offer? I could really use a quiet night at home. Since you are so late, we can talk then.”
Reluctantly going along, he said, “Alright then, we’ll talk then. Are you sure you’ll be okay? Nothing that can’t wait?”
Exasperated, she said, “No, and I can handle myself.”
Mustering her will and strength, Moore stood and began to leave.
Getting to her before she reached the door, Samarra put his arms around her and quietly spoke. “I know you don’t need my worrying, but I can’t help it. Too many times I don’t know where you are inside.”
Not looking into his eyes, she quietly said, “Just don’t worry.” With that, she slipped out of his arms and out the door, heading back towards Starfleet Headquarters. John Samarra stood mutely and watched her go.
Reaching the transporter terminal, she paused and slumped against the wall. Why had she been that irritable? Was she mentally sick, as well as physically sick? All she wanted were a few minutes to spring her grand plan on her fiancé, the man she loved, and she just went defensive.
Softly muttering to herself, she said, “Say honey why don’t we just get married in a couple of week, before everything goes to hell and everyone is called away.”
Looking around the large empty room, she growled. She had the plan, the people, the words, now she just needed to tell the guy. She had to break this habit and just get this over with. Of course their was tonight, that would do. A quiet night and time to work her way into the subject. Hopefully it would be the perfect night with just the right moment for her to.
Satisfied with her new plan, she looked up at the room’s chronometer. She quickly jumped away from the wall seeing she’d been standing there thirty-two minutes. If she didn’t hurry she’d miss her first meeting. Running up to the console, she punched in her authorization and the coordinates for the Design and Execution Section on Utopia Planitia. Stepping onto the pad she muttered a promise to take a very long nap after she set everything in motion.
*****
<-- BACK NEXT -->
Return to New Beginnings Main Page
Return to Star Trek-esque Main Page
