What are you doing here?

Posted on Mon Dec 16th, 2024 @ 12:11pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Lieutenant Commander Deanna Celes & Lieutenant Inara Senn & Jasmine Armstrong

Mission: Family
Location: USS Washington, Transporter Room

"For god's sake, Mother." Inara spoke to her mother, as she beamed aboard the Washington to make sure she and Jaz went on Christmas Leave.

"Oh, come now daughter. I have not seen you for a whole year. You do not call; you do not write. We have such fun when you're on leave."

Jaz began to smirk. "Oh yes, Inara. She seems fun."

"See, your dear love thinks so too. We are going to have a splendid time these holidays, there will be Christmas trees, food and plenty of gifts."

"You invited our cousins?"

"Yes."

"I am going to kill them, now back on the transporter pad before the annoyance on this ship senses you."

"Lieutenant, I have another party waiting to be transported aboard" the transporter chief noted.

The doors to the transporter room opened and Shran and Deanna entered in their dress uniforms. "Lieutenant, you have guests as well it seems" Deanna noted as they saw the woman with Inara and Jaz.

"Who have you brought aboard my ship Inara?" Shran asked.

"An insufferable meddler captain, a woman so vain, so manipulative. She'd drive her own daughter to madness. And the less amount of time she spends around Deanna, the better."

Shran shook his head before offering his hand to the woman, "A pleasure to meet you madam. I see your daughter is as cantankerous with you as she is with everyone else. She must have been a joy as a child."

Aletheia chuckled. "It's what happens when you raise a Betazoid on a colony rather than Betazed. She got Warp Field Modulations down in fourth grade. Of course that also caused the other kids to bully her. In which she put the whole class into stasis one time. Long story."

"Mum...." Inara noted.

Shran offered a chuckle. "That doesn't surprise me at all."

"Commander, your party is signaling again to come aboard" the chief interjected.

Deanna let out a small sigh of frustration, then quickly put on a smile. "Bring them aboard chief."

The transporter activated and to forms appeared in the standard blue hue. Two females materialized, dressed in elegant aristocratic dress and adorned in bejeweled gold and silver jewelry. They were both beautiful women and looked every bit the nobility that they were.

Deanna smiled and walked towards them as they stepped off the transporter pad. "Mother, Draghixa, it is so good to see you both" Deanna said as she hugged them both. "I believe you remember the captain. And this is our Chief Science Officer, Lt. Inara Senn and her family." Deanna looked to Inara, "Inara, may I introduce my mother, the Duchess Tove Celes of Betazed, and my sister, Lady Draghixa Celes."

"Charmed...." Inara stared at both of them. 'Sweet mother of God, these people are going to drive me to drink.'

"Oh c'mon, where are your manners, Inara?" Aletheia noted.

"Deanna, why the hell is your mum here?" She asked.

Deanna giggled softly as did her sister. "I could tell you she is here to bring me back to Betazed to fulfill my position, but I wouldn't want to give you false hope. In truth, they were visiting Earth in an official capacity. I probably should mention my family is quite influential, but I'm sure you figured that out."

"A pleasure to meet you all" Tove Celes said in that aristocratic prim and proper manner. "Captain, very good to see you. I hope my daughter has remained useful for you. I understand you recently promoted her."

"Indeed. Deanna is one of my best officers. And I had no choice but to promote her considering all she has to deal with, especially with Inara" Shran replied with a touch of snark.

"Will you join us for a meal captain?" Deanna's sister asked. "Inara, you would be welcome to join us as well. Perhaps dinner tonight?"

Shran quickly responded, "I would be happy to join you for dinner." He then glared at Inara, hoping she understood he expected her to be on her best behavior considering they were dealing with a dignitary.

'What did I do to end up in this situation. Now I'm dining with my mum, Deanna's mum, her sister who is grinning like the cheshire cat, and the captain.'

Jaz spoke again. "Don't be offended by Inara, Duchess. She's remarkably intelligent and antisocial for a Betazoid. Genius and madness are often two sides of the same coin."

"Jaz...." Inara noted.

"Now be good, Inara... be good... You don't like pomp, yes, but we are dealing with a dignitary. Be good Inara, and I promise we'll go prank those twits at the Daystrom Institute." Jaz noted. She looked Inara in the eyes and managed to tame the savage beast instantly.

Tove Celes offered a gentle smile. "No different than my own Deanna it would seem. Deanna has always rebelled against the status quo, against traditions, to go her own way. I don't take any offense to you Inara. You are very much like my daughter, though I suspect you don't want to hear such things. But I would be honored to have you, and your family join us for dinner."

"You might as well join us, Inara. It'll make the captain even more uncomfortable" Deanna quipped.

Shran turned and looked at Deanna and her sister, "Et tu, Deanna?"

"Alright." Inara noted. "But I was raised on the colonies, and I would very much like to take Jaz to the Phantom of the Opera in San Fran. It starts in four hours. Tickets must be obtained months in advance."

"I completely understand my dear. I can arrange for you to have tickets waiting for you. Seems the least that I can do for you if you are going to attend our little get together" Tove Celes said magnanimously. "Now, I believe I was promised a tour of this vessel."

"This way mother" Deanna grumbled. Deanna led the way as the Celes family and Shran exited, leaving Inara and her party in the transporter room.

*Dinner*

Aletheia told the story how she and Inara left Betazed. "So, Inara's father and I decided we had enough of Betazed." She noted. "We left for the colonies, specifically Dorvan V, later. We didn't stay there long." Aletheia began. "We had some problems with the Cardassians, as their colony began attacking our colony. I proposed defense yes, and action to reveal the Cardassian's wrongdoing to the Quadrant. I was outspoken by more passionate voices that wanted to directly attack the Cardassian Union" Aletheia mentioned. "Defense in any civilization is justified, yes. Because it would have forced Starfleet to intervene and find out what we were facing. But these idiots ruined everything. Me and Inara's father were done with our home and garden when the Cardassian's killed..."

"Quiet mom, we don't talk about Father. Let's talk about what was after." Inara mentioned. "We left Dorvan. I went to the Academy." Inara mentioned. "Then, I had to pick up a rifle and survive almost four years of hell." Inara mentioned.

Shran knew what the situation was that Inara was discuss now. The war. Not exactly the sort of conversational piece to have with such guests. "Yes, the war was difficult, especially for those of us in StarFleet. Best not to discuss it unless you are talking with Callie or one of her staff."

Deanna understood and appreciated what Shran was trying to do. "Agreed. A tough time for us all."

Tove Celes however was not quite as frail or easily offended as Deanna and Shran might expect. "The war was difficult. Those Dominion soldiers, I was on Betazed when they came, while they occupied our world. It was a dark time, but we got through it. Even managed to beguile those buggers a bit. They didn't do well dealing with a planet of telepaths." She looked over at her daughter, "You worry too much Deanna. I'm not the fragile aristocrat you think I am. You father made sure I and all of you children knew how to handle themselves. Your brothers don't treat me like the delicate flower you and your sister take me for."

"You are correct of course mother. Deanna and I, we just worry is all" Draghixa Celes interjected, hoping to diffuse the conversation.

The rest of the dinner went off with less tense topics of conversation. Inara and her family left roughly 40 minutes later to attend their event, while Shran stayed for nearly an hour before excusing himself. Deanna remained, spending time with her family.