Fight the Universe

Posted on Sun Jun 21st, 2020 @ 4:10am by Captain Nycolas Temple & Emilie Temple
Edited on on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 7:31am

Mission: New Moon Rising
Location: Shuttle Bay 01

Having left Commander Glyndar in charge of the Bridge while the Pandora figured out their next move, Commander Nyx rushed to the Turbolift and headed down to the shuttle bay. With the Tzenkethi licking their wounds and the crew working on a response to their current problem, the Captain was finally able to put personal problems first. An unwavering compulsion was driving him now, a single-minded purpose to see his wife and daughter were safe and sound.

After the shuttle's less than smooth arrival into the Pandora, narrowly missing a Tzenkethi phaser aimed straight for their destruction, Temple was understandably eager to ensure Katrine and Emilie were unharmed. Not since the fall of Lucis had Nyx felt such a striking fear at the real possibility of losing the ones he loved. And until he had them in his arms again, that feeling wasn't going away.

The lift took an eternity but finally opened its doors onto the Shuttlebay deck and Nyx raced out into the waiting scene. Response crews were already present, preventing the stricken runabout from combusting into a plasma fire, as were a team of Medics overseeing the shaken shuttle passengers.

Time moved slowly as Nyx ran through the crowds of people, the shuttle sending off a spray of sparks as he raced around to its side. The Captain's eyes searched frantically one by one across all the faces of the crew and passengers, looking desperately for Emilie and Katrine.

"Daddy!" Came the familiar cry of his daughter.

Nyx turned to see Katrine breaking free from a Medic's diagnostic scans and running across the shuttle bay, where Nyx swooped her up in his arms and held his girl close to him.

"My darling, are you okay?" Nyx asked, struggling to resist the tears of relief. "Let me look at you."

Nyx held Katrine out and studied her face and body, looking her over for any wounds. Her arms bore a red handprint around them, obviously where her mother had held onto her tightly as the shuttle had spun them both around.

"I'm okay, Daddy, don't be sad." Katrine replied, her blue eyes welling slightly. Nyx held her close again, putting a gentle hand to the back of her head.

"I'm just happy you're okay, my little strudel," Nyx replied to reassure her.

Father and daughter remained in their comforting hug for a few moments more, Nyx making a silent vow to never let anything like this happen again. As foolish as that might be to wish for, in this moment he would fight the universe to prevent any further harm to come to his girl.

"See, I told you we'd find Dad," Emilie Temple spoke, appearing next to them.

Having recieved her own medical check up, Emilie had left Katrine with a crew member while she helped other passengers leave the crashed runabout. She had seen Nyx arrive and Katrine run over to him, and wanted to wait for their reunion before stepping in.

Nyx lifted his head and saw Emilie, no longer able to hold back the emotions within. He reached out his free arm, his hand gently gripping her shoulder as he looked upon her with happy tears. Emilie crossed the distance and joined in the Temple family hug. Nyx leaned his head against Emilie's.

"Thank you, thank you," he whispered aloud to no one in particular. He was just thankful this moment was real.

Nyx didn't care about showing emotions in front of the crew, or allowing them to see his relieved tears over greeting his wife and daughter. He wasn't in this moment Captain of the Pandora, he was just a husband and a father, holding onto his family.

Emilie likewise held on tightly to Nyx and Katrine, grateful that after all the time and courage it had taken, even with the bumps along the way, the family were finally reunited. She couldn't now regret making the choice to leave Earth, not even with the rough landing, knowing this was the reward.

"Surprise." She said quietly to Nyx, giving a small grin.

Nyx looked to her and broke into a smile, followed by a relieved laugh, "You don't say! Maybe next time send a message first?"

"There won't be a next time," Emilie replied, kissing his forehead and wiping away the tears from Nyx's cheek. "We're sticking together from now, okay?"

"Deal." Nyx nodded with a smile.

"Deal!" Katrine shouted, causing her parents to laugh.

Nyx looked around and saw there was more to be done before the shuttle bay was clear to use again. And with the Tzenkethi still hovering not far away, it could be any moment before the red alert klaxons sounded.

As much as it pained him, he knew it was time for him to be Captain again.

"Okay," He put on a brave face, "I need you both to head to the sickbay for a proper check up. You'll go with the medics and the other shuttle passengers. That way the Engineering crews can fix the runabout and the shuttle bay."

A look of concerned passed over Emilie's face, "Are we out of danger?" She asked quietly.

Nyx shook his head slightly, trying not to alarm Katrine. He placed her own the ground but stayed crouching over her, "Now, I want you to come up with a list of everything you want in your room."

"My room?!" Katrine cried, excitedly, "My room is here?"

"Not the same room as back home," Emilie answered, "You get to decorate a new one."

Katrine thought about that for a moment before nodding excitedly, "I want it to be green."

"Green?" Both parents answered at once, neither particularly impressed with that idea.

Katrine nodded again, causing Nyx to smile. "Then green it shall be."

Emilie held onto Katrine's hand and smiled, "Alright, let's go for a walk to Sickbay."

Nyx stood again and kissed Emilie, "I'll come see you soon."

Emilie smiled and put a hand to his face, "Go be Captain."

Nyx broke into a broad grin again, "Yes ma'am."

OFF