Ensign Rayek tr'Lhoell[Katra Station - Deck 2 - s'Lhoell quarters](the evening previous)Lt. Cmdr. Tess t'Lhoell (6 months pregnant)
[Katra Station - Deck 2 - s'Lhoell quarters] (the evening previous)
With the rather spontaneous decision made that they would now check their baby's gender had Tess' pulse rise in excited anticipation. After returning Rayek's kiss she left him briefly to retrieve her PADD from the table. She accessed her medical file in no time before she returned to her waiting husband with an excited smile. "Okay, here's the picture of yesterday's scan."
When Rayek moved to stand behind her and peek over her shoulder, his hands wrapped around her lovingly, she leaned back against him a little, the smile never leaving her lips. The murmured words from Rayek had Tess nod her head in agreement. Indeed, this was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The gender however was not visible on the picture. Tess' gaze automatically moved to the side where some of the data was noted. She scrolled through it, looking out for specific data.
When she found it she started to grin widely even while Rayek prompted for that information. Lowering the PADD she slowly turned in his embrace so she could face him. Her cheeks had turned a bright shade of red. Locking eyes with him she held up the PADD again, the picture visible. "This is our boy. Nnearh faelirh!" (*Your son). She couldn't help the tears of joy that filled her eyes. Somehow, knowing the baby's gender made it all the more real to her. "You were right after all", she chuckled, even as a tear of joy rolled down her cheek.
She looked at the picture again, taking in all the little details. "He's got pointed ears", she pointed out, still overjoyed while she looked at the soft features of the little fetus. "He's going to look so much like you." She smiled at Rayek.
Rayek tipped is head a bit puzzled when Tess lowered the PADD without answering him. But a moment later she turned about in his arms to face him. She was flushed with excitement and Rayek so desperately wanted to share in the news. When she looked at him, he met her gaze with anticipation. He was about to prompt again when she lifted the PADD for him to see. It was impossible for his eyes not to be drawn to the image. Then she spoke - saying 'This is our boy. Your son'.
A son? A son! Rayek was overwhelmed with joy at the news... later he would tell Tess that his reaction would have been the same even if it had been a girl, however only time could that. Time and a second pregnancy sometime in the future. But for now, Rayek was overjoyed at the news of a son.
He carefully tightened his hold on Tess even as she commented that he had been right. While being correct was good, Rayek needed to express somehow just how ecstatic he was. So he lifted Tess and spun them about, laughing! A son! They were expecting a son!
Caution about becoming dizzy and dropping Tess had Rayek cease his spin after just a turn or two but he continued to hold Tess close.
"E'lev, thank you... for allowing us to know. Knowing.. means... so much to me." His words barely seemed able to express his gratitude and joy at the moment. So he opted to try with kiss. Tender, and loving and joyous, yet even that seemed barely able to share it adequately. He lifted a hand to brush at her hair, moving it away from her face, before gently settling his long fingers into a very familiar position overtop of her psy point.
He held her eyes seeking permission.
"Share with me?" he asked.
He'd long ago read that Vulcans when they were betrothed a mental bond was formed. At the time when he'd read about it, the bond seemed a terrible thing. Now Rayek found he was envious. He felt most complete when melding with Tess. To have the feeling all the time would have been such a blessing. But while Rayek had telepathic abilties, it seemed it didn't seem capable of forming of a mental bond with Tess.. unless that was something that a Vulcan priest was needed to do. And if that was the case.. it was likely to never happen.
So Rayek cherished the times Tess would allow him into her thoughts.
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Ensign Rayek tr'Lhoell[Katra Station - Saucer 1 - Cargo Customs]Ens. Roberto Padrini
[Katra Station - Saucer 1 - Cargo Customs]
"Will she?", Roberto replied back promptly, pausing in his treatment briefly to look at Rayek. Now that the other lost his rank, Roberto was less hesitant to show him what he thought of him. "You don't know anything about what a woman like Tess wants and needs. You are only interested in fulfulling your own needs, isn't that right?" Roberto put - or rather tossed - the things aside he had used to finish up the treatment. In his opinion the 'delusion' the former Commander had was very telling about his character. "You probably don't care what I think, but I tell you this: You should have taken advantage of your position while you have been XO to get rid of me, because once Tess will have enough of your egotism, I will be right there to comfort her."
With that he turned his back on Rayek and didn't even bother to acknowledge the Romulan's announcement of his having to leave in any way. He just finished his job and then left to head back to sickbay and pick up on arrangements what to do with the birds.
There was a sharp edge to Padrini's initial question that drew Rayek's full attention. When the medical officer then went on to say that Rayek knew nothing of what Tess wanted or needed, Rayek was surprised at the man's outspokenness. Padrini was wrong of course. Rayek had insight into Tess' thoughts, her wants and desires - in ways that the likes of Roberto could never manage. Still it rankled to have the man accuse him of only having interest in fulfilling his own needs.
Rayek's expression soured at Padrini's words and while he could argue his point of view, Rayek could read enough of the man from his tone and words that the man had his mind made up. The Romulan pulled his recently treated hands back as if the medic might suddenly try to undo the work he'd done.
His alert reaction to the man from earlier, didn't seem so paranoid now. Rayek started to turn away. He would not let the fact that the man disapproved of his relationship, to prompt him into any physical confrontation. Though such a confrontation would be ridiculously one-side. Former Tal-Shiar and now highly trained Starfleet Security against what ?? A medical officer?? The man could be holding a phaser and Rayek knew he could disarm him in under 5 seconds.
'If you wanted to you could snap his neck in four...', came the unprompted thought. Rayek scowled at the thought know Tess would not appreciate such thoughts from him.
But as he was turning away, Padrini spoke more and his words struck a nerve. That the man would dare say such things to him and not expect some manner of retaliation was ludicrous! He was about to turn back and deal with the man that would dare to suggest that he could comfort Tess, when Tess' voice sounded in his mind. 'This can never happen again.'
The words gave Rayek pause. It wasn't the same thing! He silently argued with the voice trying to guide him away from a physical encounter. But it was the same. Fighting to protect her - being the one to swing first. He grimaced and forced himself to turn away.
That's when the urgent message was sent to his PADD and Rayek coldly stated that he needed to go.
His review of the mission brief, pushed all thoughts of the encounter to the back of his mind. He'd deal with Padrini later, some other way.
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Ensign Rayek tr'Lhoell[USS Healy - Deck 1 - Bridge] "I did and thank you, Hrafn, we can use some of your magic. I'm on my way now and will be on the Healy shortly. t'Lhoell out."
[USS Healy - Bridge]
When Tess stepped out of the turbolift on the bridge she was found the bridge crew already complete, including Rayek, Hrafn and Ensign Stewart. However, her gaze lingered on Rayek a little longer as she tried to get a feel for if he was happy or unhappy in that position. Her chest clenched a little. They would need to make this good. Taking one deep breath Tess moved to sit in the command chair, the chair of the XO remaining vacant.
Thumbing a button at the chair, she opened a ship-wide channel. "This is Commander tr'Lhoell. We have received a distress call from a Karemma freighter, they are pursued by the Wanderers. We are going out to assist the Karemma. All departments report status."
She then passed on the Captain's orders to the bridge crew. "We are looking for the Karemma freighter Obladai to help them. We try to avoid the Wanderers, but if we encounter them we won't risk a battle. In case of confrontation evacuate as many Karemma as we can and then return to the station."
Checking her display at the chair console she saw that all departments had reported readiness. When she checked medical she recalled that the computer program had selected Saqa7 for sickbay. Tess knew that she was a capable doctor, but her license had been revoked last year. But she couldn't bother about that now. She surely was content with her in medical.
She then turned to Jessica Stewart. "Ensign, as soon as we have the go from Katra take us out. Set course for the source of the transmission. Tactical, keep an eye out for the Wanderers when we're out, I don't want to be taken by surprise by them. They have a preference for boarding ships, I wouldn't like a repetition of that."
No sooner had he hoped that it would be Tess than he overheard from Hrafn comm, Tess stating that she was on her way. A mix of elation and worry warred in him. An opportunity to work near her again after a month and a half was something to look forward to, but the mission could become dangerous. Rayek's first thought was that someone else should be put in charge. It wasn't that he didn't believe in her capability to lead, it was just that his over-protective nature wanted to keep safe both her and his son.
But there was no one else to take Command of the Healy. The Captain was needed on the Station. Saxon wasn't of rank to be assigned command yet. Becker had left ... there was no one else. He sighed a bit in resignation. Perhaps he should just be grateful to the Elements, or the Captain... for having him assigned in a role that could help keep his wife safe.
When she came aboard he would need to be sure he did not give her cause to doubt his presence at tactical or her role as Captain, that could have her hesitate at a crucial moment. So Rayek buried his fears deep and prepared to support Tess.
When the lift doors opened, Rayek glanced back to see Tess arrive on the Bridge. He smiled towards her and offered a nod as she looked over her bridge crew. The nod was one such as he would have given Solluk - respectful, alert and ready. She seemed to pause on him longer than either of the others, assessing. He hoped she wasn't considering on switching him out for Saxon or some other like Saalik. As the moment dragged, worry started to build.
But then she took in a deep breath, seeming to center herself and before moving to take the command seat. Rayek let out the breath that he'd unknowingly been holding. As she began her announcement, Rayek turned back towards his station, but not before offering a relieved nod to Hrafn.
At the request for report status Rayek was prepared, answering the call almost immediately.
"Tactical reports shields are currently offline yet the gravimetric shield generators are primed and ready. Armaments consist of Six Type X Phaser Arrays with ACB Jackets for superluminal engagement, and two rapid fire torpedo tubes - one forward and one aft."Others also reported in their departments readiness. He heard Saqa7 call in for Medical sounding a bit confused. Flight also called out all systems green. Yet when it came to Engineering the voice that came through was neither Rhade nor Goodspeed but rather tr'Hava. An interesting crew dynamic. Rayek wondered what Tess thought of it.
Tess informed the bridge as to their expected role... and Rayek was relieved to hear that the Captain was no expecting Tess to go toe to toe with a Wanderer vessel.
Then she began issuing her orders getting the ship ready to go. Hearing her call on Tactical, Rayek straighten attentively while he continued monitoring his status board.
"Acknowledged, Commander." he called out showing her the deference that she was owed. But a moment later as she reference his own unfortunate experience, he felt obliged to add
"Agreed. Let's learn from past mistakes." He glanced back to Tess briefly to offer a nod, then set to getting the sensors set up at their most optimal.