Second Chances (Part VII)

Posted on Tue Aug 10th, 2021 @ 5:27pm by Lieutenant Bobbie Sue "Bobcat" Hunter & Lieutenant Soren Dillinger 'Speedy'
Edited on on Tue Aug 10th, 2021 @ 5:37pm

1,610 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Operation Romulus Return
Location: Rio de Jainero
Timeline: Immediately after "The Wrong Foot"

[PREVIOUSLY]

[PREVIOUSLY]

"He's both really cool and really scary," she said. "And yes, he can manipulate people and situations. He got us here, tonight, and he sent us the message." She turned to face him, "But if he didn't think you deserved his help, he wouldn't give it. Not even for your mother. Oh, he might have gotten you out of a penal colony, but not into Starfleet. And he wouldn't tell you all that he did if he didn't trust you."

[CONTINUED]

There were still surprises, even for Bobbie. She didn't know about this place, or Rafe, or Soren's mother. She didn't think her uncle considered her part of Paladin, either, because she was just a pilot. That made her smile. But she had more to say. "As for the other." She was not going to blush, she told herself sternly. "Max might have set this up--did set this up--but that doesn't mean you and I are supposed to get married and have little intel babies. He said we were compatible, but he didn't know if we'd fall in love or just work well together. Nobody can dictate who you fall in love with. And this is a date--or just a race--at this point I'm not sure. It's not a shotgun wedding and I'm not a commodity for my uncle to pawn off on the first male he wants to woo into the family." She started the car and headed for the hangar to give Soren time to think. She also needed time to cool off. She wasn't sure if it was his comments about Max, or what he implied about her, that set her off.

Soren wasn't sure what he said, or did, but obviously Bobbie was upset. He decided not to do anything to distract or anger her further while she was behind the wheel and just leaned back in the seat. He looked around, opening the glove compartment, when he saw the photo. Soren pulled it out and looked at it, noticing something else inside. He reached in and took out a second photo. This time it was of his mother and a young Max standing in front of a sigh that read Happy Retirement, Diana. She was obviously pregnant with him and on the other side was his father. He couldn't help but smile before turning over the picture. It was then he raised a brow, confused, as he saw the words Open the PADD, Soren.

He put the photo down and looked to Bobbie Sue. "Bobbie? Give me the PADD, please."

"What is it?" she asked, handing him the PADD.

Soren took a hold of the PADD and looked at it, instinctively, putting his thumb on the reader. The same flickering sequence happened, but instead of Max on the screen, it was his mom. At least, she looked like she'd been crying.

"Hi Sweetie." She smiled, looking at the screen, blowing a kiss. "It's mom. I just came from the medical facility after your accident. I want you to know how sorry I am about Tammi. I know how much she meant to you and that losing her is going to be very hard, but we're right here for you when you wake up. And me, and your father, will always be here." She wiped her eyes a bit, smiling still, like she always did to keep a strong face. "Our friend Max says he can help you get your legs by talking to an old friend. Your father and I were so happy, and thankful, to hear that. It's going to take time, so Max thought it would be a good idea to leave you this message, but I don't know what to say except I love you and I'm here for you. When you get better, I am going to tell you everything. I think you've reached the point, in your life, where you're ready to know all about what I do and why. Well, the why is easy. It's all for you. It's always been for you. Every step. Every mission. Every time I left to do my work you were my first and last thought."

Soren paused the message, wiping his tears away, as he didn't like to see his mother cry. All of this brought memories back to him he hadn't thought of in a long time. Memories of Tammi and the accident. Memories of how he was after. How he distanced himself and just took off. Never seeing this message. Never hearing her voice and offering to explain. He just took off and ran out on her, like he thought she kept doing when he was a kid. Except, he never came back. He unpaused the video.

"You and your father were always in my mind and my heart. If you ever meet Max, and he may be a little intimidating at first, just remember he never pushed me. He never forced me. Max always gave me the choice, always offering to go to someone else, but I decided to do it because I chose to. So don't blame Max for choices I made, Sweetie. He never forced me. My knowledge of alien languages and operations training was always need to break codes and data. Get into systems. Break down syphers and even get into technology no one understood." She smiled a bit, turning her head up playfully. "These boys don't have your mother's finesse."

Soren laughed, sniffing a bit, wiping away a tear.

"You don't have to go into Intelligence, like me, because you will make your own mark in the world. I've seen you fly. You're amazing. I can tell that you have your own finesse when you're in that fighter. So go where you want to go and set your own path. If flying makes you happy then you find a way to make your mark with that. Don't think that you have to follow my path to make me happy. I will always be happy and proud of you. Both your parents are." She smiled again, clearing her throat a bit, before saying. "I remember when I first told about being pregnant. You're father and I didn't expect it. We thought our work would be all we needed, so we were afraid. It was Max who reminded us how important you would be to us. He reminded us why we do the work we do. It's not for us, because our century will come and go, but it’s for your future. Your life. And, eventually, your own family. We work to make this world safe for those who come next, to move them forward so they can do the same down the line, should they choose. Maybe, one day, you'll see this message and understand why it was all worth it. Hopefully, you understand why I wasn't leaving you for me job. I could never leave you behind, Soren. You're my little bird." She kissed her hand and gently put it on the screen. "I love you, Baby. Be safe. Be brave. Be happy." The screen finally shut off.

Soren put the PADD down and leaned his head back, still a bit teary eyed, but not as much as he was at first. He was angry because he thought Max was always taking his mother away, but she was going because she knew how important it was. It was something only she could do. She always meant to tell him the truth, but he never gave her the chance. He took off because of his anger and sadness for Tammi that his mother never got the opportunity to let him into that work. To bring him into her circle like Max did for Bobbie and now she for him. He wondered if he stayed, instead of running off, would it have been different.

He finally looked to Bobbie and said nothing. It wasn't a face of sadness or disappointment, but one of apology. Although, he couldn't find the words, he was still sorry for jumping on her at first. Being so suspicious. Finally, he said softly. "Your Uncle at work?"

"Probably," she said quietly. "He must think a lot of you to set this up." Max loved to help people, to be a Fairy Godfather of sorts. But for Soren he went to a great deal of effort so that he'd know about his past.

As Rafe said, she'd been programmed into the security. The door opened and she pulled into the hangar. "I like your Mom. She sounds like a fixer. Like Max."

She parked the car back in its stall and turned off the engine, then turned to face Soren. "Sorry if I overreacted back there."

"It's okay." Soren replied softly, smiling a bit. "He's family, right? You knew what I didn't and, given what I know now, it makes sense you would hold it back as much as you did. I don't blame you. It's my fault. If I stuck around long enough, we both would be on the same page. Except, I ran off and didn't give my mom a chance to explain." He leaned against the cushion of the seat and looked straight ahead. "She would like you too. My mom always had a way about her that's hard to explain. Maybe it was something she picked up from your Uncle or Rafe. Maybe it was just how they all were from their work, but she had a way of doing things that always made me feel special."

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant Soren Dillinger 'Speedy'
Squadron Leader
USS Tokyo

Lieutenant Bobbie Sue Hunter 'Bobcat'
Squadron Leader
USS Tokyo

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