Jonathan and K'Lara sat at the table finishing their meal. It had been a long time since the two of them had had a chance to sit down and enjoy each other's company ever since they returned to their own time period. The wake of time travel seemed to have made the two of them weary but giddy like school children and Jon liked that feeling. He rose from the table and gently put his napkin down. Quietly he walked over to the closet, his wife' s eyes following him wondering what was he doing. He bent over and returned to the table, the item he had reached for in the closet was hidden out of view in the soft candlelight that illuminated the room.
"Jon," K'Lara whispered smiling trying to see what was behind his back. "What do you have there?"
Instead of answering Jon simply raised his index finger to her mouth and softly said, "Shhh."
K'Lara just smiled as he sat down and pulled out two 20th century champagne glasses. The object behind his back finally revealed itself. She smiled as she saw the bottle of champagne. "What is this?"
"K," Jon began. 'K', obviously short for K'Lara, was Commander Lataro's nickname for his wife. "I think that we needed a break and a little romance."
"But--"
"No buts, lover." Jon poured the bubbling liquid into one of the glasses. He gently gave his wife the glass and repeated the motion. Lataro smiled and raised his glass. "K'Lara. This is for the wonderful times that we have had together. You have been by my side since the very beginning and I am so happy to see that we are together thus far. This is to us." Lataro raised his glass. K'Lara smiled and raised her and just as the glasses connected with the familiar "ting", a baby's loud cry echoed through the room. They looked over their shoulder towards T'lan's room and smiled together. "Duty calls. Is it my turn?"
"I think so, Jon."
"Ok," Jon said reluctantly. "Hold that pose. I will be right back."
"Is that an order, sir?" K'Lara replied sarcastically.
"Take it as you will, Lieutenant Commander." Lataro left the table and headed for the bedroom. There in his crib was their little baby. He cried kicking and flailing his arms. "Son. You have got to sleep." Jon picked up his son and held him close. Gently he began to bounce on his feet hoping that the up and down gyrations would sooth the frolicking baby. He began to sing softly to the baby. "I love you for-ever. I love you for al-way-s; and as long as I'm liv-i-n-g my ba-by you'll be!" Softly he sang the simple phrase with little inflections and within moments the little bundle of joy held tightly in the rough commander's arms was fast asleep. Gently he put the baby down and as he turned to the doorway, K'Lara had snuck in behind him and was propped against the wall.
"You know something," K'Lara began but was quickly hushed by her husband. Jon pointed out the door and followed K'Lara back into the dining area. "I love you. You are so good to T'lan."
"Why shouldn't I be?"
"Oh I don't know. " K'Lara turned her head and the candlelight, flickering ever so slighty, illuminated the sole tear which trickled her cheek. "I just hope that how you are with T'lan will be the same with two."
"Of course. Why shou-- Did you say two?"
"Yes."
"Does that mean you're...?" Lataro asked, his eyes wide, his smile from ear to ear. This time K'Lara didn't say a word but smiled large. Her eyes glistened in the light. "We're going to have another baby?"
"Yes!"
Lataro grabbed his wife and twirled her around. "We are going to have another baby? We are going to have another baby?"
"I know, I know," K'Lara said trying to hold her dinner down as Jon spun her around and jumping jubilantly up and down. "I was there!"
Jon smiled and put her down. She took a moment to get her bearings and when she did K'Lara grabbed for the glass of champagne. Jon quickly grabbed the glass and smiled. "I don't think so, K. When you are pregnant you won't be eating anything but good and healthy food."
"Oh come on! One sip is not going to hurt me."
"You no, but the baby yes. No drinking, no hard away mission, and definitely no more stress."
"What!!"
"That's right missy."
"You can't keep me from doing my job."
"K'Lara, Your job is anything that I tell you it is. Remember, I'm the first officer."
"I know - with a head the size of a pumpkin."
"Maybe so, but the pumpkin head is still your commanding officer."
"Okay, okay!" K'Lara said smiling. She reached over and grabbed him. Passionately she kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you, too. Let's go to bed."
"Sounds good to me."
With that, the Lataros crawled in bed and fell fast asleep.
The early morning chronometer went off- 0 2 early hours.. Actually 0500. Jon was the first to get up seeing that it did take him a bit longer then K' Lara. After all, being the first officer came with the aura of needing to look good. K'Lara was only concerned that she was comfortable at the helm. Being the Virgo's best pilot meant that she had to be there more times then most.
The sonic shower didn't always do as well as a typical water medium, but on a starship with such advanced system and for the sake of time, sonics worked better. Jon stood in the sonic shower and watched as dirt and grime evaporated into the mist. His hair was a different story. He had managed to work it out with Captain Maruu that so many gallons of actual liquid water would be rationed for Lataro to wash his hair. "Computer. Initiate water shower: Duration 3 minutes." Instantly the sonic show ceased and the sonic pulses were replaced with water. The heat of the water shocked him momentarily but then the sheer joy and enjoyment overwhelmed him, and cascaded down his face. He was just getting to really enjoy it when the computer beeped in.
<Thirty seconds remaining. > "Computer end shower," Lataro said disappointed. Just as he finished K'Lara walked in naked.
"Hi!" She said seductively.
"Hi," Jon replied just as so. He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.
"That is all I get?"
"What more do you want right now?" Jon said. "I have to be on shift in ten minutes."
"Are you going to take T'lan over to Kyoki's daycare?"
"Why can't you?"
"You don't remember? Captain Maruu asked me to shuttle some supplies to Jupiter Station at 0600."
"That's right. Well you better hurry. I guess I had better get T'lan up and ready."
K'Lara smiled and kissed Jon. Finally she started the sonic shower and entered. Jon reached in and grabbed T'lan. He squirmed slightly. "Come on son. Time to get up," Jon said softly.
"Dada. Sleepy," T'lan said in a heavily groggy voice. T'lan, like many cross bred Tanzanians develop exponentially as compared to humans. Even though T'lan was just over six months old, he had the development of an 18 month old.
"I know son. We will get you back to sleep in a little bit."
In no time at all, the Lataros were dressed and ready for the day, including T'lan. As they left their quarters, each had to go opposite ways, so Jon turned to K'Lara with son in his arms. T'lan's infant head was resting on Jon's shoulder. "Okay," K'Lara began. "Hopefully I will be done by lunch. Want to meet me in the lounge for lunch?"
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."
"Okay. Then I will see you then." K'Lara bent over and kissed T'lan. "You be good for daddy. I love you."
"Wuf you," T'lan said quietly.
"Hey. What about me?" Jon said with a mock pout.
"You be good for the dear captain, Commander." She leaned over and planted a wet, passionate kiss.
"Never!" Jon said with a smile.
The Virgo was in a stationary orbit over Ganymede, a moon over the enormous Jupiter. Captain Maruu permitted the ship to operate minimally while the majority of the crew took leave and visited friends and family. However the crew that remained was vital for the resupplying of the Virgo. As the supplies reached the cargo bays, crewmembers hastily put the supplies away.
The shuttle that K'Lara piloted was just one of the four which ferried the equipment back and forth between Jupiter station and Ganymede. On Jupiter Station, the crew of Jupiter Station was loading the rest of it on to her shuttle. From inside the shuttle the com system monitored the events of the day.
[Shuttle 3 entering landing sequence,] Lieutenant Jennifer Antilles said.
[Go ahead Lieutenant. How many more trips?] Commander Lataro said from the bridge.
[K'Lara has the last trip.]
[Good. I will see you when you get aboard. Lataro out.] K'Lara listened as she checked off the last of the supplies were inventoried. [Virgo to Shuttle one.]
K'Lara tapped her combadge. "Go ahead Virgo."
[Lt. Commander Lataro. You are a little behind schedule,] Commander Lataro said, a slight sarcasm in his voice.
"Behind schedule? What do you mean?" K'Lara said angrily.
[It is 1320. I was expecting to eat lunch at 1230,] Lataro said, the smile on his voice seem to come through the com lines.
"Jon. I am finishing up now. I will be on my way in about five minutes. However I have a question."
[Shoot!]
"Why are we transporting this stuff by shuttle and not transporters?"
[That stuff that you are bringing with you is sensitive equipment for the engines and science. The transporters would have scrambled the molecular atoms into indiscernible patterns that would have made them useless.]
"Oh. I see. Well why didn't Captain Maruu say anything about that? He just said that I was ferrying supplies."
[Well, that is what you are doing, aren't you?]
"Yeah but still...."
[I know, but you are almost done right?]
"Yeah."
[Well, get back here. I am hungry. Lataro out.]
"Acknowledged. Lataro out."
K'Lara sat down at the helm and initiated the start up sequence. The shuttle slightly jolted as it lifted up, causing one of the top canisters to fall. The casing cracked and the metagenic compound, intended for science, began to seep out. The oozing liquid inched its way along the bulkhead eating away the carbonite casing of the flooring. Gas from the chemical reaction rose from the corrosion.
"Virgo. Shuttle one lifting off, ETA 20 minutes," K'Lara said adjusting her course.
The shuttle was on its way and K'Lara sat back looking out over space. In the distance she could see the Virgo against the Ganymede moon. Suddenly her vision began to fog over, and the once-clear image became distorted in her mind's eye. "What's going on?" She said rubbing the bridge of her nose. She clenched her eyelids tight and reopened them hoping that her vision would return, but suddenly she couldn't breathe.
[Virgo to Shuttle one.]
K'Lara tried to respond but for some reason there was no sound from her mouth. The Klingon's lungs, strong and efficient, were now burning- a burning so intense that from her nose to her diaphragm seemed to be in a blazing inferno.
[K'Lara come in!]
K'Lara's head began to spin, slowly at first but now faster and faster. She tried to hold on to something, but her senses registered heat, pain! Then a massive ringing in her head drowned out the computer's collision alert. Now her vision was no longer, and the spinning in head was unbearable now. She tried to tap her combadge, but her hands would not move and finally K'Lara fell from her seat. The last thing she consciously remembered was the cold, hard floor hitting her head.
[Virgo. Shuttle one lifting off ETA 20 minutes,] K'Lara said adjusting her course.
"Commander," Benton said from Ops. "Shuttle one is en-route back to the ship."
"Good. I am starving," Lataro said from the command chair.
"Sir?"
"Nothing Commander. Just monitor her progress."
"Understood."
Lataro began to walk back into the science station. He bent over Jenara's shoulder. "Commander. May I help you?" She said slightly annoyed.
"I'm sorry, Jenara. I just needed to check the..."
"Commander Lataro," Benton yelled. "I think there's a problem."
"What kind of problem?" Lataro said walking to the tactical station that was over the command chair.
"There is a small asteroid fragment within 1000 meters of the shuttle."
"And--, Commander?"
"The shuttle hasn't made any corrections."
"Is the shuttle going to hit it?" Lataro asked.
"Yes sir."
Lataro tapped his combadge. "Virgo to Shuttle one."
No answer.
"Commander. I am getting erratic vital signs. I think she's in trouble," Benton said tapping his console.
"No kidding Benton!" Lataro snapped -- the tension now was welled in his throat. "K'Lara, come in."
No answer.
"The sensors are picking up tetrahydrace-phosporic gases in the cabin of the shuttle," Jenara commented from science.
"From what?"
"Unknown Commander. That asteroid is now 500 meters and closing at a rate of 100 meters per second."
"Tactical! Lock phasers on that asteroid frag and fire!" Lataro ordered, his voice quivering.
"Commander, having difficulty getting a lock," Tactical replied.
"Fire! Fire! Fire!" Lataro yelled.
"Firing!" Tactical responded.
The phaser burst shot through space. Unfortunately, the computer didn't have time to lock on the asteroid center mass, but rather hit in its trailing edge. The remainder of the asteroid struck the shuttle with such force that both the shuttle and the asteroid exploded in a brilliant light.
Lataro ran to the view screen and put his hands on it. He screamed. "NO! K'Lara!"
The explosion was instant, as the vacuum of space provided no oxygen for a fire so each piece that may have remained became space junk instantly.
"K'Lara!" Lataro's cries were no softer as he looked through the viewscreen and saw nothing -- nothing where his wife and the shuttle were once there. He turned, his back against the viewscreen and his slumped to the ground. Lataro put his face in his hands and sobbed profusely. "K'Lara."