Commander Lataro had all ready spoken to the captain and arranged to take a few days off around the new year, but the search for Solacetta called him back to duty and proved fruitless. Lataro looked and looked, however with a hangover and grogginess, and with little to no sleep, he fought fatigue as well. Finally the search was called off. Lataro was now able to concentrate on what he was wanting to do for days, ever since Christmas night. He tried holding out a little bit longer but with the feelings now on the table, he couldn't wait anymore. He went to the holodeck to prepare something so special, so perfect that it could never be surpassed. Finally, Lataro turned to the program he had just written and thought, Perfect. She should be surprised.
On the bridge, Lt. Commander K'Lara was at the helm. The Proteius Nebula the Virgo encountered had to be circumvented but the gravimetric disturbance kept pulling her towards it. This star system that the Virgo was travelling through was filled with different nebulae. It had been baptized the Antilles Star System. This particular one was only a parsec from the one they had hidden in yesterday and it was keeping K'Lara busy constantly adjusting course.
"Commander K'Lara, about another five minutes and we should be out of the wake of the nebula," Maruu said looking at his con panel. "As soon as we clear it, set heading 332 mark 2. Lt. Tara, prepare a class five probe and a beacon warning off passers-by."
"Aye, Sir," K'Lara and Tara said simultaneously.
The Virgo passed the nebula, and immediately sensors picked up a few planets, one Class M and two Class N. Class N was the category given to planets that maintained a hydrogen/oxygen atmosphere but temperatures were about plus or minus 20 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit beyond tolerable levels for humanoid life. Life was possible, but unlikely, at least life as Starfleet considered.
"Is that Class M planet within sensor range?" Captain Maruu asked.
"At the present we can just determine the makeup. Life signs can't be determined at this distance." Lt. M'Terrn said from the science station.
"Very well."
"However sir, the N planet closest to us is registering with life signs. As a matter of fact, it is teeming with it." M'Terrn said.
"Okay. K'Lara set a course for that N Class planet and establish a standard orbit."
"Aye, Sir."
Seventeen hundred hours came faster than realized, but it was end of the duty shift. Alpha shift began leaving their stations as Beta Shift came on. Finally Lt. Valdago came on the bridge, at 1703 to relieve the captain. "Captain. I will take charge whenever you are ready."
"Fine, Lieutenant," Maruu said getting up. He quickly briefed Valdago of where the ship was and what was happening. "I will be in my ready room if you need me."
[Commander K'Lara,] her combadge said.
"Go ahead."
[As soon as your shift is finished, come to Holodeck One.]
Holodeck One? Why? "On my way."
In Turbolift One, K'Lara wondered what was going on. Why did Jon want her at the holodeck? Maybe to work out? Hardly, for the baby had just started to show, and Dr. Nori had warned her to stay away from strenuous activity. So why did he want her there?
Just outside the door, K'Lara ran her hands down her uniform to take out any kind of wrinkles that might have formed. When her hands reached her stomach, she smiled as the hands sort of framed the little pooch that was forming. With the pooch and her pregnant state she still wanted to look her best for Jon. Finally she stepped forward and entered the holodeck.
In the holodeck, she immediately saw Jon sitting in a little canoe in a middle of a large lake filled with crystal blue water. The lake was surrounded with trees of different species except a small section that had a small pier and animals that she immediately recognized as a squirrel, rabbit, and even a doe. Some of her native animals from her home world were also present, flying in the cloudless sky. The holographic sun was at its 1745 position as the gentle splashing of the oars were heard.
"Watch your step K'Lara," Lataro said. "I don't want you to fall in."
"That wouldn't be good," K'Lara said. "Jon. This place is beautiful. Where is this?"
"Well, it really isn't anywhere. As you can see, I kind of intermixed a few of our native lands together to give us a taste of home. Most of it though is from a lake I used to spend time at in the Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee on Earth, but the animals well I just had to think of them. You like?" he said as he climbed out of the canoe and on to the small pier.
"Like I said," she said embracing him. "It is beautiful. But what do you want?"
"Come on." He grabbed her by the hand and led her to the canoe. Jon first got into the boat and made sure that it was stable before helping her into it. "Be careful. You can tip it very easily."
"Okay," she said, finding a spot and sitting down.
Lataro began to pedal away from the pier and out into the middle of the lake. The birds overhead chirped as it flew to the sanctity of their homes. K'Lara still wondered what was going on. "So Jon, what is this all about?" Without saying a word, Lataro slowed the canoe down and finally stopped in the center of the lake. He threw overboard what looked to be a small weighted anchor.
Finally he spoke. "K'Lara. You know that I love you. I have loved you for a long time and I know that I just recently told you how I felt."
"Yes," she said smiling. K'Lara lowered her head and smiled even more as she looked outwards on to the water. She thought she saw something but shook it off.
"You are the most wonderful woman I have met and think will ever meet. The days, and nights, we have been together has been the best times of my life. You have helped me through much, being there at the Klingon battleship, our conflict with the Kirusans, and on Meridian. I owe you so much. Even though now you are with my child, you have always been someone I have deeply admired. I can't think of anything more then to be with you always." Lataro reached into his pocket and pulled a diamond ring. One that he had in his personal belongings for something, just not knowing it at the time. The ring wasn't replicated and would have easily cost him a fortune had money been relevant, but this ring was the real McCoy and was about to be placed on K'Lara's finger. He reached over and grabbed her hand. K'Lara's eyes had now widened to its greatest extent. She looked at Lataro with glazed over eyes. This time her Klingon side was not allowing her to cry, but she was trying, but as Jon put the ring on her finger, the walls and barricades fell. K'Lara began to cry.
"Lieutenant Commander K'Lara. Will you marry me? Be the object of my desire for the rest of my life. Become Mrs. Jonathan Lataro?"
She looked at the ring and smiled. "Commander Lataro. I..."
The ship shook violently. The canoe vibrated roughly as Lataro and K'Lara both grabbed the sides to help stabilize it.
[All senior staff to the bridge!] The klaxon of red alert resounded through the ship.
"Damn. K'Lara you will have to give me an answer later. Computer, save program." Both Lataro and K'Lara ran out of the holodeck and into the halls.