Beta Fleet Security Advisor | RAdm Sidra MacLaren | "Cooties"

Posted on 241708.07 @ 9:01pm by Rear Admiral Sidra MacLaren

Mission: Non-Plot Log
Location: Ship En Route to Cold Station Theta
Timeline: 241708.07

Her feet crunched the gravel and her breathing was labored, sweat rolling off her forehead, everything in her screaming for her to stop. Sidra was struggling, she’d been doing this every day since they boarded the ship taking them out to Cold Station Theta, it wasn’t getting easier as fast as she wanted it to. She loathed running, but it was the best way to into good cardio shape fast. She had booked the same time daily in one of the holodecks, torturing herself as she worked on getting her stamina back.

Her partner next to her was near silent, a soft pant from his open mouth, but his feet didn’t really sound like a plodding elephant as her own did. The black and white dog didn’t even look like he was exerting himself. He was just here for a quick stroll, trotting along with no cares in the world. Sidra kept going, if for nothing else to help wear the dog out.

A border collie on a ship was a horrible idea. Especially one that usually had free range of his property. They would figure out how to make it work, Buddy was her son’s dog and she couldn’t fathom leaving him behind. Sidra couldn’t stomach the hurt in Will’s eyes if they told him Buddy couldn’t come. For his part, Will had been stepping up to the plate, taking the dog out for walks and bio breaks just as he was asked as part of his new household responsibilities.

The holodeck chimed and let her know her distance and pace and Sidra grumbled. She was slow and it was torture. She’d get back to where she wanted to be, but it was taking more out of her than it would have the last time she was in uniform.

She slowed up her jog and stopped, Buddy ran in front a ways and then stopped and turned back to look at her, wagging his fluffy tail at her with a grin flashing on his white canines. “Yeah I’m done, but thanks for making me feel bad about only running three miles.” Sidra shook her head and smirked at the dog, “End program.” She gave the dog a hand signal to come heel and grabbed her towel and water bottle, wiping her head and taking a drink.

The dog trotted right next to her, sitting when they stopped for a turbolift and watching her every move for his next command. She scratched behind his ears, he was a little restless but Buddy was doing ok with shipboard life.

She headed into their quarters, releasing the dog from her control he happily ran over to his best friend, licking his face and making the boy giggle. The dog settled down as she came over, “How’s your school work coming along?” She asked him, lifting his chin with her finger to bring his eyes up to hers, smiling at him. He looked just like Stephen the same jade colored eyes and smile, he had Sidra’s fair skin and his hair wasn’t as brown as his father’s, but he wasn’t a full ginger either.

She smoothed his disheveled, typical 8 year old active boy, hair back into place and waited for him to answer. Will never had any trouble with school, other than the occasional reminder to get back on task. But he sighed heavily, a rare expression for the young boy who didn’t normally have many worries. “I don’t understand why I have to go to school while we’re traveling.”

Sidra listened, but knew the protest was a diversion away from the issue. He could be very convincing and persuasive and she wondered if he’d be a lawyer like his Da, then again, he did like to explore everything on land, intensely curious about all animals. They’d be living in a zoo if their pets were up to him.

As much as she wondered what he would become, she also wanted to desperately cling to his boyhood. She already missed toddler Will, three and four years old who would cuddle with his mom at every chance, she was his security blanket then, like a lot of toddlers who were figuring out their place in the world. Now days his eyes turned to adoration at his father, Stephen was their son’s hero and could almost do no wrong in his eyes. Will soaked up everything his dad had to show him and tell him. She’d been catching him lately, when she said something that was new to Will, he’d turn to his dad, seeking confirmation as if Sidra had been making it up.

She picked him, it wouldn’t be much longer when she wouldn’t be able to and even now she strained. Sidra sat on the couch and settled him in to sit across her lap, her arms circled around him, resisting the urge to fix his wayward hair again, knowing it drove him crazy. Surprisingly he didn’t fight her now, didn’t protest being held. “School is very important, it's going to be a big part of your life, even when we are traveling.”

“This is a big change for us, for you especially. I know you’re only going to be at this school for a short time, but you still need to do your best. So why don’t you tell me what the problem is and we’ll see about working out a solution.”

He nodded at her, but she waited patiently as he tried to figure out the words in his head before saying them outloud; another trait he definitely didn’t get from her. “It’s not the lessons mum, and teacher is nice. It’s the kids, they won't hardly talk to me during our breaks.” She watched him hesitate, but then he blurted out, a concerned look on his face “It’s you and Da.”

She raised an eyebrow at that and tried to figure out what he could possibly be talking about. Her own upbringing on a ship came back to her and a realization hit her. “Ah… I think I know what you’re going through.”

“I don’t think you could mum.” He protested, shaking his head sadly. Sidra chuckled then, “How about I try and understand? You know that I didn’t grow up on Earth like you have. Your grandpa Alec, he was Captain of the ship I grew up on and your Uncles were older and in different school levels than I was. And when I first started at the school, when kids learned who my dad was, they didn’t talk to me either. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but they are weary of you because of something you can’t control.”

Sidra considered how to proceed but knew this was a problem he’d have to figure out for himself. “You’re going to run into this frequently my boy. Not just because your parents have some rank on their collar, but your family connections as well. Your Da’s cousins have a reputation, you are by birth associated with them and will have to overcome people judging you for this. You can’t control what you’re born into, but you have the ability to change how people see you.”

“That doesn’t really help me at school does it? I just wanna play tag or ball with the boys. They asked all these questions about where we’ve been stationed and what ships I’ve been on. The kids don’t understand I’ve only been in Scotland and haven’t lived on a ship or station. They think I’m a liar mum.” Will’s words hurriedly spilled from him, so fast Sidra had trouble keeping up with his 8 year brain and speed. He practically pleaded for an answer, his brows knit together. Sidra kissed his worry away at his temple and put her cheek against his forehead. “I can see why that would be confusing for them, can’t you Will?”

Sidra looked at him and smiled softly, “You need to figure out how to get them to trust you, maybe start a game and invite them. Don’t wait around for them to come to you. Be a leader son, change how they see you.”

She searched his face for understanding and he shrugged, “I guess so. I need to find a game the boys will want to play.”

Sidra smiled, satisfied that he’d find a way to resolve his problem, she teased him. “And the girls?”

A disgusted look came across his face and he wrinkled his nose and stuck his tongue out, “No way mum, they’re so weird!” She squeezed him as she chuckled and then let him go, putting him back on his feet. “I’ll be sure to remind of that in about 6 years.”

RAdm Sidra MacLaren
Beta Quadrant Security Advisor
En Route to Cold Station Theta