Queries
Posted on Sat Oct 25th, 2025 @ 6:48pm by Sergeant Audie Fitch & Lieutenant JG Stefan Zamfir & Petty Officer 1st Class Kaylara Loran
Edited on on Sun Oct 26th, 2025 @ 12:16am
2,184 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: The Quarters of Audie Fitch - Deck 4 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 1400 hrs
Stefan looked down at the package he had brought from the shelf in his quarters. It was from Annie, the little girl, his niece. She had been rather insistent as to him making certain that Audie got this package. He wasn't certain as to what all was in there, she assured him that Auntie Audie would be very pleased and the same for Buster.
Well Miss Annie, her wishes will be granted he decided. He though wasn't going to go by himself. He hoped that Kaylara would like to accompany him in delivering the package.
He tapped on the combadge "Kaylara, are you busy? I'd like to come visit you." Stefan winced, that really sounded awkward, oh well better to ask than to just show up at her quarters.
The message surprised her. None of them were very busy right now while they waited to hear from the Marines on the planet. There was no data to analyze and no information to gather, so she kept herself as busy as she could with menial tasks. "No. What's up?"
"I'd like you to come with me to make a delivery to one of the marines. Her name is Audie Fitch. I've got a care package for her, and I don't know if you've met her before. I'll be at your quarters soon." Stefan closing up his combadge.
Okay. Kaylara was dressed in her uniform pants, a black tank top, and her Goth jewelry. She figured it was good enough for a visit to a Marine.
Stefan arrived, rang the chime to Kaylara's Quarters, when the door opened, he smiled seeing her. "Hi, thanks for coming with me."
He was glad that he had dressed casually, blue jeans and a dark grey tee shirt. "You look great." Stefan giving a warm smile.
"Thanks." She didn't agree, but she appreciated the compliment.
[Deck Four]
Outside of Audie's Quarters, Stefan reached out and pressed the chime.
"Are you expecting company?" Rising slowly, Audie scratched Buster's ears as she hobbled to the door. Her wound was pretty much healed by now, but it was still sore, especially if she'd been sitting for a bit.
The cat just blinked at her, then went back to his nap, although his ears were cocked toward the door, showing he was curious.
Opening the door, she smiled at the pair, recognizing Kaylara in passing. "Hi, can I help you?"
Kaylara just smiled, as this was Stefan's visit.
"Hi uh, Audie" Stefan began, clutching onto the package he held against him, and glancing over to Kaylara. He hadn't said much to her as they came to see Audie. Just having Kaylara with him was helping him to deliver this gift.
He directed his gaze back to Audie. "May we come in? I've got a gift for you from a cute little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. I believe you know her, Annie Parker?"
"Oh, yes, please come in." At first, Audie was a bit confused, until he mentioned the name -- Annie Parker -- and not only she, but Buster as well, perked up. "Annie! Yes, of course! She's my niece, and her cat Mindy is Buster's best friend! How do you know her?"
"Well--that is something we have in common, she is my niece as well." He paused.
"Have you met Kaylara?" Stefan felt like he was being rather rude.
"Met? No. Seen? Yes," Kaylara said. "Hi. Nice to actually meet you."
"Yes, good to actually meet." A bit distracted, Audie shook Kaylara's hand, then looked at Stefan, frowning. "So...does that mean you're my brother?"
Of course, there were other 'family' members who could share a niece, and she had no real idea about Annabell's family, but it was an intriguing idea!
"Kaylara could be considered a sister as well, she's my girlfriend." Stefan giving a warm smile towards her and reaching out for Kaylara's hand.
"No. Girlfriends don't count as family," Kayara corrected. "We'll just go with friends."
Stefan nodded, "True that is very true." giving a sheepish smile.
He looked at the two ladies, "How about we go have a seat and you can open the gift sent from Annie." Stefan nodding towards the nearby table.
"Yes, of course!" Audie was intrigued, and happy to hear any direct news of Annie. She gestured to the table. "Please, come in and sit!" Buster had moved by now, and was sniffing at the company.
He made his way over taking a seat, at the table to where he set the box down upon it.
"Annie's mom is or was married to my older brother. They have two kids, Marcus and Annie. And since Annie and Annabelle have adopted you as Auntie and Sister, welcome to the family. And as you asked, in essence, you have been adopted as my sister."
"Oh, well then, aren't you the lucky one!" Grinning, Audie winked at Kaylara, then back to Stefan. "I knew there was other family, but we never really talked about it. So, I have a nephew, too?" There really must be some story there, but she wasn't going to push for it.
Kaylara didn't know much about Stefan's family, but she was enjoying watching him talk with Audie. She also looked around for the cat to say hi.
"Indeed you do." Stefan responded with grin. "And I can say I don't mind having my family grow. Okay so-I can't wait for you to see your gift package. Annie was rather particular in what was included."
"You'll have to write everyone down for me, so I can keep track," Audie requested as she slowly opened the package, anxious to see what was there, but also wanting to savor the moment. It had been a while since she'd gotten anything that could count as a present, and to be from Annie made it all the better.
First to be extracted was a bundle of chocolate chip cookies, homemade and a little worse for their travels! Audie handed one to Kaylara and Stefan, then took a bite of one, sighing happily. "These are perfect!" she declared, but then, they could taste like cardboard and she'd still be happy!
Kaylara took the cookie with a "Thank you" and took a bite, smiling at the flavor. She rarely had a chance to eat homemade cookies.
"Oh, goodness, Buster, look at this! It's you and Mindy!" The one-eyed ginger kitty sniffed at the toys, then started to rub against Kaylara's legs, purring loudly.
Next was a necklace of pretty colored beads and sparkles that Audie draped around her neck. "I'm going to owe that girl!" Of course, she'd send a package back, and she had some ideas, but it would take some time.
Finally, there were the drawings. "These are really good!" Annie always had had an artistic streak, and she was making good use of it. "So...that's you?" She glanced at Stefan. "Who are those with you?"
Pointing at the man, "That is my brother, the oldest his name is Lucian. And the woman there, is my sister Camelia. She's an operations officer on the USS Majestic. Oh also, I've got an image of my mom, well she's my aunt but I've only known her as my mom since she's raised myself and my siblings as her own." he then turned the image to Marcus. "And this is your nephew, well our nephew."
He then bit in his homemade chocolate cookie. "Thank you. and these are good."
Stefan's gaze went over to where Buster was buttering up Kaylara. "He sure likes you."
"I like him, too," Kaylara said, scratching the cat under his chin.
"Aunt and Mom..." Audie chuckled. "Seems like your family is fond of adding new members willy-nilly, and I'm glad, whether I'm Willy or Nilly!"
She glanced over as Buster boldly jumped into Kaylara's lap and made himself at home. "You can just scooch him off if you want." She knew that not everyone was comfortable with cats, especially up close, so there wouldn't be a problem just coaxing him down.
"Now, then," she focused back on Stefan, "tell me about the Mom-Aunt, and how Annabelle fits into all this!"
"Okay so, quick synopsis. My aunt took us in when all three of us were born in prison. She was at our birth before our birthmother died in a prison. Mom was framed for murdering our father, she was murdered as well. Fast Forward, Lucian disappeared, apparently he got married to Annabelle after she graduated from college. He had saved her from being killed, her cabin had gotten blown up. They left the impression that they were dead. " Stefan giving a grimace.
"Fast forward, according to Max he hadn't known that Annabelle was alive until he came across her on Poseidon Station. So, following the squiggly lines of connections, we found about all of this in a reunion about a month or so ago. Oh, and I've got an image of your nephew. He looks like me and Lucian when we were his age." Pulling up the image of Markus to show Audie and Kaylara.
"Oh, and a handsome young man!" Audie could easily see the resemblance between Markus and Annie. "It's good the family is together again." She glanced at Stefan. "They're safe now, right?"
"For the most part, but now that Lucian is with Annabelle and their children, I think that Mom and Max will be with them for a little while. With Max being in security, and Mom being a capable woman herself I would say they are in good hands." Stefan giving a smile.
"So, are you planning a family reunion?" Kaylara asked. "Where you can all get together, including Audie?"
"There is a good chance that will happen, just need to figure out where it can be. Maybe when we get to Earth, that can be set up." Stefan turned to Kaylara, "And I'd like you to come to it as well, please?"
"Of course!" Audie chuckled. "Buster thinks you're part of the family, so why not?" She glanced at Stefan. "Maybe we can arrange some sort of conference in the mean time? At least with as many of us as we can? Kinda missing Annie and Annabelle, and I know Buster would like to see Mindy."
Funny, she'd been most of her life without family, and now she had one to miss!
"I will work something out." Stefan having a huge smile. "and I can't wait to introduce Kaylara to the family."
"I can." Kaylara wasn't sure if she was ready to meet his family just yet.
"They're not that bad," Audie declared, then she frowned. "Well, at least Annabelle and Annie, they're the only ones I've met, well, besides Stefan." And then she had the same sensation that Kaylara was...it could be overwhelming to meet so many people at one time, especially if they had some sort of expectations.
"Or maybe just a few at a time?" she suggested with a chuckle.
" A little bit at a time would be a better thing to do. My family can be a bit much, maybe?" Stefan responded. "And maybe you can get to know Markus as well. He's been through a bit and would like to get to know you."
"It would also depend on their availability," Kaylara added. "And yours."
"So, there's planning to do?" Audie shrugged. "I'm sure we can coordinate something, and a little at a time before the massive reunion sounds like a great idea!" It would be the best way to ease both Audie and Kaylara into the mix, and make it easier to actually get to know everyone more personally.
Stefan nodded towards Kaylara. "That is indeed a good factor there."
He turned to look at Audie.
"Well, sis, we definitely do have planning to do. Right now, Kaylara and I should probably be going now. If you ever want to talk, since we're on the same ship, just give a call, sound good?"
"It was good to see you again," Kaylara said, smiling at Audie.
"Yes, and thank you for bringing all this to me, it means a lot." Audie smiled. "I'll have to make up a care package for Annie and Mindy." Stepping forward, she gave Stefan a big hug. "Good to meet you, brother!" Then she glanced at Kaylara. "You, too. We should schedule something on the holodeck some time. Or just a good game of Free-Style Golf!"
"That sounds like a good idea." Stefan answered also rather surprised with the embrace from Audie but he returned the hugs, having a huge smile. "Thanks sis, glad to have another family member."
A Joint Post By
Sergeant Audie Fitch
Corpsman Team 2, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Stefan Zamfir
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
Petty Officer First Class Kaylara Loran
Data Systems Analyst, USS Pioneer
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