Commander Lataro sat sobbing into his hands for the longest time. No one on the bridge said anything nor did the subtle beeping sounds of the consoles break the intense aura of sorrow which permeated the bridge. Finally, Lataro rose from his pitiful state and walked to the back of the bridge. All eyes were upon him as the puffy-eyed commander entered the turbolift. The doors shut and the bridge crew just looked at one another.
"I guess I had better take command," Benton finally said a few minutes after Lataro left. "Open a channel to Captain Maruu."
"Channel open," Jenara said.
On the viewscreen, Captain Maruu appeared. [Yes, Commander Benton?]
"Captain. There has been an accident," Benton said softly.
The turbolift doors opened to a long corridor. Fortunately there wasn't anyone there. Seeing their first officer walk as in a zombie state, oblivious to the world around him, is not a sight that Lataro wanted to portray. However at this time, he didn't care. He just lost his wife. Lataro continued down the corridor and turned right into Kyoki's daycare. There on the floor was T'lan playing with some blocks. He giggled as Kyoki played with him gently running the block along his chin and face. Commander Lataro stood there momentarily; a sole tear welled in his eye. Kyoki looked up from T'lan and noticed Lataro. "Commander?" She said surprised. "Is it that time already?"
Lataro couldn't say anything, but forced a fake, tight smile.
"Jon. Something the matter?"
The emotion massed within him, and he could take it no longer. Again, Commander Lataro burst in to tears. Quickly, Kyoki shot up and ran to Lataro. Her quiet, soft voice filled with puzzlement and concern started to crack. Again she asked what was wrong. "K'Lara's dead," he finally said.
"My god! What happened?" Kyoki asked.
"Shuttle accident. I don't even know exactly -- just that she is gone," Lataro said quietly.
"Dada!" Little T'lan said noticing his father was there.
Jon walked over to his son and picked him. He looked deeply into T'lan's eyes, the eyes that could turn violet like his mother's when he gets angry. For a moment, he saw K'Lara in them and pulled his little son to him and cried again, ever so softly into the infants clothing.
"Jon," Kyoki said softly and reverently. "Why don't you go to your quarters and relax. I will take care of T'lan?"
Lataro cried softly, T'lan looked at his dad and in his infantile way wondered what was going on. He took his small hands and baby-patted his father's head. Kyoki grabbed T'lan. Lataro let him go reluctantly.
"Go home, Commander. I will bring T'lan home eventually. Basically when I think that you have had enough time. Now go."
"Thank you, Kyoki."
T'lan went back to playing not caring as to where his father went.
Lataro went to his quarters and as if hit by a wall, the immensity of what had transpired knocked down on to a small armchair near the door. He sat there and again cried, this time cried so hard, that tears would not come out. "K'Lara!" He screamed out.
Looking around he saw a picture that sat on their table. It was him and K'Lara on their honeymoon, a time where Captain Maruu was able to get in the ceremony and a quick picture. They immediately had to go to duty for the time needed them, but that night, well.... they had a good night -- a wedding night!
The room matched the heaviness in his heart; its aura that K'Lara was there hit him. He got up and ran out the room.
"Where is he?" Maruu asked as soon as his pattern rematerialized.
"Sir?" The transporter chief asked puzzled.
"Commander Lataro."
"Oh. I am sorry sir. The last I heard he was in his quarters."
Maruu left the pad and headed for the Lataros' quarters. He understood just how hard this must be on him. Now Lataro was a single father, widower, and second in command to the Virgo. Anything that he was to do would not surprise the young captain. Maruu walked down the corridors milling in his mind the different condolences, and which one would be appropriate to the commander, his friend.
Lataro went to the Day's End Lounge and walked up to Lazarus. He needed a drink. The entire days' events was more then he could take. "What can I get for you, Commander?"
"I want the strongest things that you have and not that synthehol stuff. I want the entire effect," Lataro replied.
"Well Commander, the only thing I have is the Romulan ale."
"Perfect. Let me have it, and Mr. Cox -- leave the bottle."
"Be right back!"
Lazarus returned with a bottle of greenish-blue liquid almost translucent. He set the bottle down in front of Lataro and poured him a glass. "Commander. I am sorry to hear about K'Lara. She was a wonderful woman."
"Thank you. If you don't mind, I would like to be left alone."
"I understand."
Lataro grabbed the bottle and headed for a table that was in the furthest corner of the room. Ironically it was nearest to a window as well that looked over the exact location of the shuttle accident. He grabbed the glass angrily and swallowed the liquid. The booze hit him hard and his brain couldn't register the introduction of the spirits. Immediately he felt light-headed. Grabbing the bottle and the glass in both hands, he threw the bottle across the room. Fortunately it didn't hit anyone, and the few people that were there looked at the commander and shrugged their shoulders for they surely understood what had happened and his feelings. Laz said nothing but walked over to the broken glass and cleaned the mess.
About fifteen minutes later, the Chees walked into the lounge. With a quick glance around the room they saw the first officer and headed for him. Lataro looked up and saw them and managed a fake, half smile. "Welcome back, Johnny," he said. "How'd you end up in Starfleet?" Lataro asked, noting Johnny's change in uniform.
"A long story, involving some idiots at BuPers and Richard Wallace. Best explained over a few drinks, or a meal," Johnny said.
"I'm sorry; I'm just not in the mood right now," Jon said. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, but this is going to take some time..."
"Listen, we're here for you. All you have to do is say the word," Johnny said. "After what you did for Jenara while I was missing, it's the very least I could do. I also brought this for you." Johnny handed Jonathan the blessing feather. "It's to bring luck and protect you and T'Lan from evil."
Jonathan took the blessing feather. "The thought is greatly appreciated, Johnny. We could have used this protection a week ago..."
Jenara looked down for a moment as if gathering herself emotionally. She then looked up at him and reached out to him, taking his hand. He was surprised by this and raised and eyebrow. "I understand how you feel. Not because I'm an empath, Jon... I understand death... If you ever want to talk about it, you're more than welcome to come talk to me..."
"You're like family to us -- you're the true father of my daughter, and one of my best friends," Johnny said.
"There's not anything either of us wouldn't do for you or for T'Lan. You need to talk, you need someone to help with the little one, anything at all -- all you have to do is ask."
Jonathan thought for a moment. "Maybe I could use dinner. I've already stood a double watch; Antilles can handle the bridge for Gamma Shift. I can't live my entire life up there. Days' End Lounge sound good?"
Jenara smiled. "Sounds good to me? Do we pick up T'Lan on the way or is he good at the sitter's?" she asked.
"Let's go pick up T'Lan. He's with Kyoki. I'm sure he'd love to see Adrianna again."
Adrianna squealed in delight as she said, "Lan!" Everyone had to smile at that as they headed off to sickbay.
On the outside, he tried to be happy, but in the inside he was dead or dying slowly like a roasted pig over an open fire.
The next day, Lataro went to the bridge for his shift. It was just not the same not seeing his wife at the helm, but his duty must go on. It was his shift, but he couldn't let his feelings leave his mind, the memories, the pain, everything, just hurt.
"Commander," Crewman Burrows said from Ops. He was taking care of it while their skeleton crews returned after the accident. This was his first time and quite inexperienced but he tried hard. "Shuttle bay reports all is clear for landing sequence." Lataro's mind rested on the memories and as he sat in the chair he rubbed the stubble that formed on his chin. His mind wandered.
"Commander?"
"Very well, lower the forcefield," Lataro said after clearing the slight mental fog.
"Aye sir. Decompressing shuttle bay."
In the shuttle bay, a small engineering team was unloading a shuttle. The shuttle was located just by the forcefield and things were moving slowly.
"Let's go ensign," Lieutenant Garies said as he picked up a container to move it.
"I am sir," Holloran replied. "It is just slow moving."
"I know, but we have got to get finished like really soon."
Suddenly the forcefield lowered without any prior announcement. The rushing wind of the decompressing bay started to suck items into the vacuum of space.
"What!?" Garies yelled as a canister that rested next to him suddenly shot towards the bay doors.
"Lieutenant!" Holloran yelled as he was sucked into the vacuum of space.
"NO!"
Captain Maruu came out of his ready room
[Bridge, what are you doing?] A frantic voice yelled.
"Who is this?" Maruu asked.
[Ensign Johnson sir. The shuttle bay just depressurized. We lost two men.]
"What?!" Maruu said turning, looking a Lataro whose face dropped.
"Burrows, repressurize the bay."
[No disrespect, but there is no point now.]
"Understood. Bridge out," Maruu said turning to look at Lataro. "Jon! What are you doing?"
"Captain?"
"Come to my ready room," Maruu said sternly. They walked into the forward ready room. "Jon. Have a seat." Lataro sat down. "Jon, I am concerned. You haven't been all there today. I am sorry about K'Lara, but you must be here. I need you."
"I know, Stephen. But I can't get her out of my mind."
"I understand, but this behavior has to stop. You just killed two people."
Lataro turned and looked out the starboard window. "I am so sorry."
"If you were all there, then you would have remembered to have given them time to get out."
"I know sir."
"What am I supposed to do now?"
"I don't know sir."
"You know that I am going to have to note this in your record."
"I understand."
"But I am not."
"Sir, if you have to, then do it."
"I am going to call it a freak accident."
"Thank you," Lataro turned from the window. "Sir. I think the best thing for me is to transfer out."
"What?"
"I don't want you to second-guess your decisions or your obligations, so I think that it would be best if I left. Besides, this ship is filled with too many memories."
"I know how you must feel."
"But I am dealing with the problem internally. So I need to get out of here."
Maruu looked at his first officer. He sat back in his chair. "If that is what you want."
"I do sir."
"Fine. I will work on it immediately, but I don't want you to go, for the record."
"Thank you Stephen. I feel that I should probably take myself off duty 'til the transfer comes through."
"Fine. Computer, effective immediately, Commander Jonathan Lataro is hereby relieved of all duties until further notice. "
The computer beeped in compliance.
"Thank you, sir." Lataro said turning and leaving the ready room.