Kin

Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 12:50am by Captain Nycolas Temple
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:21pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: After "Subterfuge Most Helpful"

A Mission Post by Captain Nycolas Temple
Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: After "Subterfuge Most Helpful"
Wed Nov 7th, 2018 @ 5:15am

Nyx was sitting in his office, not particularly doing anything. Paradise Station was a few hours away, all of the necessary tasks had been delegated and followed through. Now it was just a waiting game to see what happened when they arrived. Still, he had this nagging feeling that he was forgetting something. He couldn't quite place what it would be; in that annoying way in which one's mind knows something hasn't been done but cannot tell you what it is. So the Captain sat at his desk, checking and re-checking his lists, reports, and tasks, trying to figure out what he was forgetting.

That's when his console came alive with an alert message, "Incoming Subspace transmission from Earth". Reading the details, Nyx at first worried it might have been his mother, with whom he hadn't spoken to in a while. But he was deliberately avoiding her so that couldn't be it. Finally as he saw the call was coming from the Palais De La Concorde, he remembered what he had forgotten.

"Min bror!" Nyx smiled as the screen changed to show his brother, Magnus Temple. "I was just about to contact you."

"Løgner!" Magnus smirked as he shook his head. "You sent one of your officers to get in touch with me instead."

His brother's Danish was always much stronger than Nyx's, given how much longer he spent back on Earth. Nyx missed hearing that strong accent. While Nyx had gone off to Starfleet Academy, then out into the quadrants, Magnus had mostly remained in Federation government circles - typically in Paris and Europe. Although the two brothers were brought up in the same little townhouse in Copenhagen by the same parents, Nyx's accent had smoothed out to the more typical Federation standard, while Magnus kept his trademark elongated inflections in his voice. When the two spoke, however, Nyx always found himself starting to bring back the Danish into his accent, and Emilie could always tell when he'd been in contact with Magnus afterwards because of this.

"I was a mere screen tap away from getting in contact myself." Nyx replied, giving an obviously fake shrug.

"Well I've saved you the trouble, min bror." Magnus sighed. "And I'll have you know I have approved the Diplomatic credentials for your meeting with the Irokari."

"Thank you, bror, it will help expedite our mission." Nyx nodded.

"Ugh, you even sound like a Captain now." Magnus joked. "So how have you been?"

"Trapped in an alternate reality version of my ship without any escape for a year. You?"

"Council sub-committee meeting on Alpha Quadrant Trade resources."

"So, you know I felt then?" Nyx smiled.

"Pretty much." Magnus nodded. The two brothers laughed for a moment before Magnus looked down, his face turning serious. "Ems was keeping me updated on everything, but we only received all of her comms at once. One minute you had disappeared, then you were back but in a coma, then you were awake. It was a whirlwind of messages. Are you okay, Nyx?"

"Now I am, yes." He replied, his face also turning forlorn. "It was a horrific experience, more so for other members of the crew who went through absolute hell. But we've bounced back and we're focusing on the next mission. All I can do is try to move on."

"Ja. Unfortunately the Alrakis Pact aren't going to give you much time to recover." Magnus remarked, running his fingers through his hair.

"Yeah about that, shouldn't you people in the Palais have known that was coming?" Nyx stirred. "Isn't that your job?"

The two brothers had never been at odds with each other, there was never a sibling rivalry. But in so many ways Nyx and Magnus were utterly different people. Nyx was the adventurer, the explorer, the one who saw a large fence and just had to climb over it to see what was on the other side. Magnus was the politician, the Diplomat, the one who would walk around to the front door and ask questions first. Magnus had been dedicated to his political career and it had seen him rise to the position of Secretary of the Exterior - head of external affairs for the Federation, leader of the Diplomatic Corp. Nyx had dedicated himself to his Starfleet career and he now captained his own ship, on the ultimate mission of exploration and discovery. Neither brother could do what the other had done, or would be happy in the other's career. But they were kin. Of course, that didn't mean they couldn't still tease each other about their roles.

"It took us by surprise." Magnus explained carefully. "We had heard some rumblings, especially in the Tzenkethi camp with their political assassinations but a formal alliance between the three Inconnu powers was totally unforeseen."

"Us too." Nyx sighed. "I was really looking forward to exploring the Expanse more, seeing what was out there."

"We have to take the threat seriously, Nyx." Magnus warned. "I can't say much on an non-secure channel but we know the Alrakis forces mean business. The sooner you complete your mission on Paradise Outpost and return to Federation space, the better. That's not just the Secretary talking, that's also your brother."

"We'll be safe." Nyx replied, giving a warm smile. He knew his brother was just looking out for him. "We should be home again at Carnwennan Station in a matter of two weeks."

"Good." Magnus firmly nodded his head. "That'll give you time to figure out what you're going to say to mother."

Nyx's palm met his forehead. "She doesn't know?"

"No." Magnus frowned. "Ems and I agreed to... edit... what we tell her."

"Lie, you mean?"

"Selectively represent." Magnus shrugged nonchalantly.

"Ugh, you even sound like a politician." Nyx shot back. He took a deep sigh and shook his head. "To be honest with you, Magnus, I've been thinking of taking some extended shore leave once we return to Carnwennan Station. We might even head back to Earth and visit you guys."

"Oh that would be wonderful." Magnus beamed. "And it'll give mother a chance to throw Emilie a baby shower, too. How far along is she now?"

"Almost six months." Nyx replied, the talk of his future child giving him a reason to smile.

"Aw, how is little strudel taking the news?" Magnus asked, referring to Katrine.

"Well, she's excited at the moment of being a big sister but I don't think it's sunk in quite yet that she won't be an only-child anymore." Nyx replied.

"Poor thing." Magnus nodded. "She'll have to adjust."

"Tell me about it." Nyx remarked, looking deadpan into the camera. "I was the one who had to start accomodating your presence, remember? I had to give up my old toys and room."

"You're not going to bring up Mr. Fnug again are you?" Magnus groaned. "Every time you bring up that damn bear."

"Mother and father took him off me and gave him to you and you dropped him into the canal!" Nyx cried, raising up his hands as if this event happened yesterday and not thirty years ago. "Will never forget that."

"I was a baby!" Magnus retorted. "I had very little motor skills and if I remember, you didn't even play with Mr. Fnug anymore."

"He was mine!"

"Get over it!"

The two brothers stared at each other for a moment before breaking into a laugh. How is it that even through all this distance between them, and all the years that had passed, they could still tease each other and laugh about it like nothing had changed. Even with Magnus' big important job, or Nyx's history in Starfleet, the two talking together was still as comfortable as ever.

"Well, I now have to speak with the Director of Starfleet Intelligence." Magnus replied, rolling his eyes.

"Oh good. You can ask her to find Mr. Fnug for you." Nyx retorted, smirking.

"You're a røvhul." Magnus shook his head. "But it was good to see you're alright."

"Good to speak with you, too, min bror." Nyx replied, smiling.

With that, the call was ended and Nyx stared at the blank screen for a while. He thought about their back and forth and laughed again. He could only hope his children would get along as he did with his brother, that they felt the same kinship that the Temple brothers had. Even when they were in their thirties and life had taken them on two completely different directions. It was essential.

OFF