BACKPOST: Reintroductions

Posted on 07 Sep 2022 @ 2:09pm by Captain Bane Plase & Lieutenant JG Christina Hartley

1,527 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: Earth, Hartley Household
Timeline: 2390 - 10 Years earlier

Amanda smiled as she took the cake from the oven, with William finishing chopping vegetables for her. "He said Fifteen Hundred hours, didn't he?" Amanda asked.

"He did. He won't miss dinner and a chance to catch up with the Sentinel underdoing the refit and resupply," William replied. "I know that the Sentinel isn't at Earth for more than two weeks, but I was thinking of taking Christina up, I know Bane will probably welcome her appearance, once he see's how much she's changed since last time Plase saw her," William replied, before hearing the door chime, and going to open the door.

When the door opened, Bane, standing in civilian clothes rather than his uniform, noticed that William had started to go gray, not something he saw last time, right as the Sentinel was being launched. He has also picked up a few pounds around the middle. It looked good on him. "Hello my friend," Bane exclaimed, extending a gift-wrapped bottle of wine. "Its great to see you."

William grinned, accepting the gift. "It's good to see you too, Plase," William said. "Thank you, this is so kind of you," he said, leading Bane into the house. Amanda had come out, and kissed Bane on the cheek.

"Plase, it's wonderful to see you again," Amanda said.

"It is truly wonderful to see you two again as well," he said, holding Amanda and looking at William with love and admiration. He then looked around. "Where is Young Mister Hartley? Er, or to be more precise, Young Miss Hartley?"

William smiled. "She's on her way back from her girlfriend's, we told her you were coming. She's been proving me wrong on the engineering challenges as well. You know that impulse engine manifold redesign that's now becoming a standard part of the fleet?" William asked.

Bane sat on the couch where Amanda had gestured. "Honestly, I do not. I know I am an Engineer by training, William, but I haven't been an Engineer for...phew, a very long time. Tell me about it?" He hoped Chris would be home sooner rather than later, and as a bonus, was excited to meet her girlfriend. That was a big step, and Bane knew it, that Chris was introducing her lover to him. He was, by all intents and purposes, a part of the family, even if not legally. Somehow to Bane, that meant more.

William smiled. "Well, I came up with the primary design, but Christina was the one who helped me correct the intermix ratio and come up with the right materials needed for it. Wouldn't have done it without her, and it's one of the upgrades the Sentinel is receiving," William said, as the front door opened.

"Mom, Dad, I'm home," Christina called out, hanging her bag up. Whilst she wasn't on hormone treatment, she was wearing a choker necklace that had a voice synthesiser on it to change her voice from masculine to feminine, and she was brilliant with make up, so she looked feminine, thanks to her girlfriend, Kin'Fuji.

"We have a visitor sweetheart. Is Kin with you?" Amanda called out.

"No, she's had to head off with her parents, they had to head back to Cait..." Christina stopped, then her eyes widened as she saw Bane. "UNCLE PLASE!" she cried out, racing to him and wrapping her arms around the man.

Bane opened his arms wide to receive her, her mass and momentum toppling him over onto his side. He was laughing as he hugged her. "It is great to see you, Young Mister Hartley, and great to meet you, Young Miss Hartley!" He meant it with love and compassion. He was thrilled she was taking hold of her life, and doing what made her happy.

Christina smiled. "It's good to see you too, Uncle Plase," Christina said. She knew it'd take time for Bane to get used to calling her 'Miss' since he'd known her for ten years, most of the time as Chris. "Mom and Dad said you were coming back to Earth, but said you might not be able to make it here," Christina explained.

"Well, we wanted it to be a surprise," William replied, smiling. "Honestly Plase, she does nothing but smile these days, no more dour moody teen," he added.

Bane looked to Chris and smiled. "That is wonderful to hear, by Prophets! Last time I saw you, you barely wanted to speak to me, and kept you hair in your face." He stroked her cheek gently, "And who would want to hid this pretty face, seriously?" He then moved direction. "The Sentinel will be here for a few weeks. I hear you helped your Dad design that new impulse drive. Pretty impressive," he said. Cris smiled and buried her face. "Would you and your Mom and Dad like to be guests aboard ship one day, and take a look at it installed?"

Christina blushed and nodded with a shy smile. "Yes please, Uncle Plase," Christina said. "I'm sorry about last time, I was... well, struggling with who I was, and now... now I'm who I want to be," she explained.

Bane made a raspberry. "Think nothing of it, Young Miss Chris, honestly. I'm thrilled to see you smiling again. And I am thrilled to hear you have a girlfriend! I was hoping to meet her," he said, trailing off and looking at the door. "But, I suppose all good things, right? How are your studies coming along? Remember all those years ago, I promised if you did well at your studies, that anyone would be thrilled about having you as Chief Engineer? That promise still stands, and we need good Chief Engineers in the Fleet, that is for sure." The cost of the Dominion War, now many years behind them, was still being felt today. "I happen to know a Captain," he said, slyly pointing at himself, "That would give the right candidate a Letter of Recommendation..." he said, trailing off again, this time playfully. He looked to William and Amanda, hoping he had not overstepped a line.

Christina smiled, as did William and Amanda. "Actually, that's what I thought you'd like to know. I've been accepted into Starfleet Prep, it's a one year course, but they'll be accepting me into the academy after. It's apparently not unheard of, but very rare, that a sixteen year old is allowed in, but what you put in your record five years ago, and when dad showed them my work on the new Impulse Engine he'd designed, they agreed they wanted me in the fleet!" Christina exclaimed.

Plase took her into a huge bear hug and celebrated. "That is amazing! Congratulations, seriously! Just remember," he said, letting her go and looking into her eyes, "Starfleet Prep, then Starfleet Academy are incredibly challenging, even to the brightest of Cadets. There is a great deal more to it than Engineering principles. A great deal more. You will be challenged like never before."

"I hope so, Uncle Plase. I love being challenged, and honestly, after what you told me that day, I decided that I had to be a Chief Engineer," Christina admitted, blushing again. "You put me on my career path. I wasn't sure about joining Starfleet until that day."

Bane didn't know if he had ever been more proud, including Liberation Day from the Cardassians on Bajor. While he had helped to liberate billions of Bajorans from an evil oppressor, he never felt like he made a difference individually. Today, he felt that way. He was about to burst with pride. "I am glad to hear it. I will be following your career with interest. And don't ever be afraid to send a communique out to me, should you ever need help. There is nothing wrong at all about not knowing an answer, so long as you know -where- you can find that answer. Now, what's for dinner? I'm famished!"

"Well, I decided to make Hasparat, we kinda got into it after your last visit," Amanda said, smiling as she got up. "With chocolate cake for desert, all home made."

"Thanks Mom, they're my favourites!" Christina exclaimed. "And I promise, I'll message you all the time, Uncle Plase, and keep you updated on how I do," she promised, feeling proud of what Bane had told her. "I know I don't know everything, but I'll always know where to go when I need help."

He looked to William and Amanda. They had done excellent raising Chris. He was incredibly excited about her next steps and hearing from her often, and was excited to see William and Amanda live vicariously through her. He would watch over her from afar, and, he promised himself, if ever he had the opportunity to make her an Engineer on a ship he was serving on, the Sentinel or otherwise, and would help her advance to Chief Engineer somewhere in the fleet. For now, he was excited about the Hasparat and the chocolate cake. They were two of his top favorite foods, too.


A JP by:

The Hartley Family

&

Bane Plase, Captain
USS Sentinel, Commanding

 

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