To Follow That Star
Posted on July 30th, 2015 by Alexis Wright

It had been an emotional day – they’d confessed their feelings for one another and had become a couple, Lexy had met Kate’s parents, they’d learned the news of the President’s death, and consequently, Kate had dropped the bomb that she’d accepted a position on a dangerous S.T.A.R. mission. It was a lot to process. After some time of tearfully holding one another and the tenderest of kisses, Lexy excused herself to get ready for bed, while Kate went back to the main house to talk to her parents.

In the guest house, Lexy washed her tear-streaked face in the bathroom before retiring to one of the bedrooms and closing the door. She wearily changed her clothes and unpacked her rucksack, settling in. Flopping onto the bed in her pajamas, she noticed the light flashing on her PADD and picked it up.

As she flicked on the screen, she was startled to see that the waiting message was a classified communication from Starfleet Command. When she opened it, her eyes widened in surprise; it was an invitation to join the very same S.T.A.R. team that Kate was on, with a mission to retake Station Sigma Rho.

Initially, Lexy was elated at the idea of getting to go with Kate, and helping to make sure they both got home safely. But after a moment’s thought, her heart sank. It would mean willingly going back into battle… and she didn’t know if she was ready for that. She frowned, weighing her options. The message had compelling reasons why she was the right person for the job, but she was filled with doubt. Could she really do this?

She spent several minutes reading and rereading what would be expected of her as the mission’s Logistics Officer. There was a large part of her that was afraid, but logically speaking, she had to admit that she could do the job as it was described – even being a gun arm, if necessary. It had been a long time since Basic Marksmanship at the Academy, but Lexy thought she could still be a pretty good shot, especially if it meant protecting Kate.

With grim determination, and before she could change her mind, Lexy accepted the mission. She would prove that she was strong enough to do this. She would do this for Kate.

During her deliberations, Lexy had heard Kate return to the guest house and close herself in the other bedroom. She started to get up to go tell her the news, but paused… How would Kate react? With a sigh, she sat back down on the bed. She wouldn’t blame Kate for being furious with her. The last thing she wanted to do was ruin the few days they would have left together on Risa as a new couple. After a long moment of debate, honesty won out as the only possible foundation for their fledgling relationship. There was nothing else to do but to tell her and hope that Kate would understand and accept her reasons.

Her decision made, she padded across the hall and knocked softly on Kate’s door.