A Call From Home

Posted on Mon Dec 27th, 2021 @ 9:41pm by Lieutenant Kennedy Ryan Walsh
Edited on on Mon Dec 27th, 2021 @ 10:04pm

Mission: Starbase Shoreleave
Timeline: Mission Day 7 at 1000

[ USS Sojourner ]
[ Main Sickbay ]
[ Mission Day 7 1000 ]

Kennedy had plenty of tasks he needed to do along with finishing his entry for a medical journey on his autopsies of the Chameloids. He wanted the Captain's approval before submitting the paper. He typed away.

The Sojourner presently docked at Pathfinder Station he had taken the opportunity to formulate a to-do-list, while the first task was to unpack and settle into his new room in his quarters and hopefully meet his new roommate the Aurelian Chief Science Officer. He decided he would do that later in the day, he wanted to focus on doing the final touch-ups on his first paper for a medical journal on the autopsy of the Chameloids. He had put Doctor Andrew Munro down as a co-author, which he hadn't spoken to him about as he wanted to get the Captain's approval before submitting it. Along with allowing Doctor Munro to have peer review.

His second task wasn't his primary focus as he had pulled up Starfleet Medical records on the Aurelians. He was unfamiliar with the species and was curious. He hoped that his roommate Lieutenant Mothim-Ril wouldn't mind him to ask him anywhere from a dozen to a few hundred questions about his biology and similarities with avians on other words.

"Bridge to Doctor Ryan Walsh a voice came over the comlink.

Kennedy tapped his commbadge, "Go for Doctor Ryan Walsh."

"Sir, we are receiving a communique for you from Earth," the voice on the comm notified him.

"Earth?"

"Yes Doctor."

"Uh..." he straightened his uniform up. "Yeah put it through."

Lieutenant Ryan Walsh sunk into his chair while he waited for the connection to be made through to his terminal on his desk. There would be a long delay to establish the connection but he dreaded this call. He never received calls from Earth since he graduated the Academy. He was worried that it was his mother but he knew that it dawned upon him to reconnect as she wouldn't make that connection.

Once the connection was made and the imagery on the screen made the way it revealed his sister. He hadn't seen her in eight years since he joined Starfleet. Only his brothers Frank and Quinn made it to San Francisco to visit him in his mother's attempt in luring him back home to Ireland. She wasn't the kid he remembered, the same freckles donned across her face. Her once curly auburn hair was now straight blond with faded purple tips. She was beautiful and she was clearly upset.

"Kenny..." Saorise held her head down, "Kennedy. I know you've always hated being called Kenny. I'm sorry, Kennedy."

"You don't need to apologize," Kennedy told her.

"I do Kennedy, I do..." Saorise frowned, "I was just a kid when you left home. I knew Mam and Pa were angry with you. I was angry with you but it was for all the wrong reasons. I didn't know what happened between Mam and you. But I know it had to deal with you leaving to join Starfleet and it was... it was wrong of her... all of us to keep you away from it, Kennedy. I'm... I'm sorry... I'm sorry I never stayed in touch with you after you left..."

"It's fine Saorise," Kennedy gave her a reassuring smile.

"No. It's not."

"Saorise, I never stayed in touch with you either."

"I know... but if Mam found out she would have been furious with you and I didn't want to stir anymore trouble there," Saorise continued.

"How are your uni studies?" Kennedy asked wanting to change the discussion away from the childhood trauma he experienced. He saw the pain in his sister's face.

"I dropped out of uni last week," Saorise blurted out.

"Why?" Kennedy gave his younger and only sister a look of grave concern only a loving brother could give.

"I... I met someone... I fell in love..." Saorise cheeks turned a level of bright pink.

"You fell in love? That's wonderful Saorise," Kennedy smiled he held his hand out to the screen wanting to touch his sister's face and hold her hand. He wanted to tell her he had found someone too.

"Yeah... she's wonderful Kennedy, you would love her."

Kennedy was surprised at this revelation. He smiled at her, "What's her name?"

"Her name is Sophie," Saorise's face continued blush, "she's enrolled in a joint university-Starfleet engineering programme here at the University of Limerick. I... I can't be that far from her. I don't know how to explain it but I know... we're both on Earth and I can be in San Francisco in less than thirty minutes. But that's... that's too far for me. And since her and I started dating, she reminded me so much about you... how you always looked up to the stars after talking with Uncle... and dreamt... she's a dreamer, and a keeper. And I'm going to ask her to marry me.

"Kennedy.... do you have someone? Please tell me... you have someone?"

Kennedy slowly nodded his head. He was proud of his sister and how passionately she spoke about her girlfriend, "I am dating someone."

"Oh?" Saorise's eyes lit up, "I was always worried that you would never find someone. What's her name?"

"Irynya," He smiled.

"She sounds exotic," Saorise winked, "Is she... human? Not that it matters."

"She's Risian."

"My brother is dating a Risian? Is there... a story there?" Saorise's once mournful eyes were now sparkling.

"Not the type of story you want to hear, sister. Her and I met on Risa before being posted together on the Sojo. She quickly became my best friend. She's so compassionate and caring. I've been through a lot on this ship, I've changed a lot since you last saw me eight years ago."

"That's for sure.... you have some gray hair popping in." She only was teasing.

Kennedy's fingers trailed through his hair worried she wasn't joking.

"Only teasing. She sounds perfect, Kennedy. I don't want to keep you for much longer," Saorise continued, "but do know that I love and miss you so much. Please write me? Call me?"

Kennedy nodded, "I definitely will. It might be delayed as we will be heading deeper into the Delta Quadrant. But I will try my best to write you back."

"Good," Saorise smiled.

A brunette woman swung her arm around Saorise's shoulder, "Hi! You must be her brother, Kennedy. I'm Sophie."

"Nice to meet you Sophie," Kennedy replied.

Sophie turned to Saorise, "I thought your brother was a Lieutenant junior grade? Judging by his collar he's a full lieutenant now."

Saorise blinked and looked at Sophie quizzically.

Kennedy's heart sang a happy tune as tears of joy sprinkled down his cheeks. It was heartwarming to hear that his sister spoke about him to her girlfriend, "I was promoted a couple of days ago."

"Congratulations brother," Saorise replied. "I'm proud of you."

"Thank you," Kennedy smiled and looked up as Nurse Lal by the door, "Anyway I've got to run. Talk with you both soon. Kennedy signing off."

Kennedy pressed the button to disconnect. He took a moment before waving Lal in. Relishing in that he spoke with his sister for the first time in eight years.

Lieutenant Kennedy Ryan Walsh
Chief Medical Officer