[ Greg in his quarters ]
Greg had wasted little time returning to his quarters after the Valkyrie had docked with the MLF. As Greg entered his quarters, he unzipped his duty jacket, and removed it. He then draped it on the back of a chair close to the doors.
Greg walked into his bedroom, and pulled out a bag. As he opened the closet door, he briefly looked at the uniforms of his past hanging neatly at the right side of his closet. It was a tradition with Greg to keep the uniform last worn before a major event in his career had taken place. He ran his fingers along the shoulders of them. First a Teal uniform, then gold, then maroon, back to the last three gold uniforms. Each of them had the pips of the rank he held at the time.
A lot has happened over the last few years. Greg thought.
Greg then focused on packing. He removed two duty uniforms, and a dress uniform and placed them in a bag. He pulled out an iscolinear chip and put it in the bag as well, the one that contained his size patterns. Greg didn't like to pack too much when traveling, preferring to rely on the replicator if needed. He stood back and looked through his closet and stroked his chin. There was a realization that outside of uniforms, Greg didn't have any other clothing that he wore. No swimming suits, no shorts, no casual ware.
It has been too long since I have been away from duty. He thought as he closed the doors.
Greg took the iscolinear chip out of his bag and walked over to the replicator, and inserted it. He tapped a few buttons and make some selections. He then downloaded his choices to the chip and removed it. Greg then placed it back in the bag.
That ought to do when I get to Risa. He thought feeling better about his selections.
Greg then heard a familiar voice over the comm.
=/\= "Captain Ross, it's Chief Parsons Sir." She said allowing a slight pause. "I have a comm for you from a woman." =/\= The Chief said.
Greg looked a little puzzled. "Who is this woman?" Greg asked with slight annoyance.
=/\= "She says she is the former Catherine Ross Sir." Chief Parsons said shakily. "She said you would understand what she meant Sir." =/\= Parsons finished.
Greg had a wide smile cross his face as he spoke. "Put her through immediately Chief, and make sure she put through to me from now on right away." Greg said as he made his way to the console.
=/\= "Yes Sir, I've made a note of that," =/\= Parsons said just as confused as she did when she had first called.
Greg watched as the screen filled. On the screen was a blonde haired woman with a crooked smile on her face, her bright blue eyes focused on the center of the screen.
=/\= "Greg, you really need some people with a sense of humor there. I thought the Perseus was bad." =/\= Catherine said jokingly.
"This is a pleasant surprise, how are you doing? How is Abby?" Greg asked anxiously.
=/\= "She is doing quite well, and pestering me because you haven't called in a while." Catherine said in a digging way. "I'm doing well, bored, but well. Trent is packing to leave on his last assignment before the dissertation. He is off to look at some comets or something again." =/\= Catherine said with slight annoyance.
"Ah the busy life of a scientist." Greg said with a chuckle. "How long will he be out?" Greg asked with concern.
=/\= "Two months this time, maybe three." Catherine said as the smile diminished. "I don't want to sit here waiting for him. I don't know anybody here, I'm just stuck here in our quarters, or at the arboretum with Abby." =/\= Catherine said.
"Sorry Catherine, doesn't sound like fun at all." Greg said with his smile fading as well.
Greg watched as her face started to light up. =/\= "I could come and visit you for a while? Abby has been asking for you ever since Earth. you two could catch up." =/\= Catherine said with her coy smile returning.
"I love the idea, but I am preparing to leave the station for Risa." Greg said in a let down tone. "I will be leaving within the day." Greg said.
=/\= "Risa isn't far from here, I could meet you there." =/\= Catherine said twisting a lock of blonde hair in her fingers.
"Why yes you could, and you two can come back with me to the MLF on the Valkyrie." Greg said with enthusiasm.
=/\= "Will that be ok? You won't get in trouble will you?" =/\= Catherine asked.
Greg chuckled as he replied. "I'm the Captain, I think it will be fine." Greg said.
=/\= "Careful Greg, you sounded a little too much like Ryan for a minute." =/\= She said with a smirk.
"Yes it did." Greg said. "Smack me if I do that again." Greg said with a smirk.
Greg then heard another familiar sound.
=/\= "Mommy, who are you talking to?" =/\= The voice asked.
=/\= "It's Uncle Greg Abby." =/\= Catherine said as her finger pointed towards the screen.
Greg then saw the top of a small blonde haired girl pop into the view of the camera for a moment before she spoke.
=/\= "Mommy lift me up, I want to talk to him. =/\= Abby demanded.
Greg's smile widened as the small blonde haired girl came into view.
=/\= "Uncle Greg, Uncle Greg. Where are you? When are you coming to see me?" =/\= She asked excitedly.
"I'm not coming to see you Abby, you are coming to see me." He said.
He watched as Abby clapped her hands. =/\= "I get to see your ship?' =/\= She said while bouncing on Catherine's knee in excitement.
"Not quite yet, but you will soon enough sweetie. You are going to meet me for vacation, then I will bring you back to my station." Greg said as he fixated on her face. "So go get ready and I will see you soon." Greg finished.
=/\= "Ok Uncle Greg, love you." =/\= She said as she disappeared from the screen.
"Love you too Abby." Greg said as Catherine turned to the screen.
=/\= "I'll get packed and we'll leave soon then." =/\= Catherine said.
"Sounds good, I will comm you when I arrive." Greg said.
=/\= "Mommy, come on let's get ready." =/\= Abby said in the background.
=/\= "Great Greg, I wasn't going to tell her until later. Now she is going to pester me until we leave." Catherine said with a grimace on her face. "You had better be on time, or you are going to get it." =/\= Catherine said.
Greg chuckled as he replied. "I wouldn't dream of being late. I will see you soon Catherine. Hug Abby for me, and tell Trent I said 'Hi' and hope to see him soon. Love you sis." Greg said.
=/\= "Will do, see you soon. Love you too. Bye."=/\= Catherine said as the screen faded, then returned to the emblem screen of the MLF.
Greg folded his arms for a moment wearing a smile that he hadn't had in a while. He was really excited now. He hadn't seen Catherine and Abby since the Ross family gathering on Terra before the inaugural launch of the Perseus-A. Greg was excited to see his sister again, growing up they had a special bond that he hadn't had with his other siblings.
Now he would have them here with him for a month at least, Greg was truly happy for the first time in months.
He grabbed his bag, and headed for Station OPS before leaving on the Valkyrie.
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OOC: Sorry for the long post, work kicked my trash this week. So I posted all in one post to move things along. Try to move your characters to the Valkrie over the weekend if you haven't already.
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DO Lieutenant T'Saylar
Valdivian Station / USS Trinity
Mike Schell
actd (at) mugatu (dot) com
