JL| Adm Archer, Cmdr Archer, Miss DiAngelo - "A new home, fresh start"

Posted on Thu May 14th, 2015 @ 12:49am by Ensign Amelia Diangelo & Commander James Archer & Vice Admiral Sabine Scholtz-Archer

2,027 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Agua Mala
Location: Deck 07 Shuttlebay

It had been nearly over two weeks since the court had given the verdict and Amelia had been separated from her mother, she felt relieved that the nightmare was finally over, but Amelia was also quite anxious as she had been traveling for more than a week, changing onto a new starship everyday so she would eventually reach the U.S.S. Vindicator her new home.

Before the long journey Amelia was living in a centralized foster home along with several other children, a few older and a few younger than her. A few of the children had tried to open up to and play with her, but Amelia kept refusing and wanted to be left alone because she hated it there, having to share everything, the toys, her room and had to go to bed at the same time as the 3 and 4 year olds.

Amelia became tired of her new home only after having spent one night there, the next night the girl tried to run away from it, packing her backpack with some clothing, her tooth brush and taking her pink teddy bear under her arm she sneaked out of the building but didn't make it very far. She managed to make it to the play ground which just a few yards away from the main building where she fell asleep in one of the playhouses and wasn't noticed until one of the nurses was out having one of her nightly walks.

The next morning Amelia woke up in her bed to much of her surprise and noticed that her roommates had already left the room and assumed they were eating breakfast downstairs, Amelia hopped out of her bed and walked out of her room, down the stairs and into the dining area while still in her pajamas and stopped in front of the dinner table. "I want to go home!" Amelia shouted as all the kids and caretakers had stopped eating and looked at the girl, "well good morning to you too sleepyhead." said one of the female caretakers named Alice with a smile as she stood up, walked towards Amelia and kneeled down before her, looking the girl in her eyes. "My dearest girl, I know you don't like it here, but come I have a surprise for you." Alice said softly to Amelia knowing that an urgent request to transfer Amelia to the Vindicator was laying in the office and carefully nudged her into the direction of their offices. Reluctantly Amelia followed Alice to the office and climbed onto a chair once they had entered the room. The smiling woman walked over to her desk and picked up a PADD while holding it up and turned to face the young girl sitting on the chair.

"What's that?" Amelia asked curiously looking at the still smiling woman holding the PADD.

"It would appear someone has his or her eye on you Amelia." Alice replied she was still wondering where the request came from, as it had an official Starfleet signature embedded in the document so it was a legitimate request, or so Alice had thought but to be sure of it she personally wanted to be there when Amelia was transferred. "This document means we get to go on a trip to meet your new parents, isn't that exciting?" Alice replied with an exciting tone in her voice.

Amelia wasn't as excited as Alice was, though she did like the thought of having a permanent home but it was the idea of a meeting total stranger that she has to get to know and vice versa that didn't quite sit right with her, "You mean I get to get out of here?" Amelia asked Alice wanting to make sure that she wasn't playing a mean game and as soon as Alice nodded the girl yelled. "Yes! When do we go?"

"Tonight, but it's going to be a long trip though."

Sliding off the chair Amelia shrugged and ran out of the room to get packing.

-One week later-

"Amelia, Amelia come it's time to wake up, we're nearly there." Said Alice to the sleeping young girl a, who was in her seat on the window side of the small transport snuggling against her teddy bear. Amelia softly groaned as she opened her eyes and blinked to let her eyes adjust to the lighting of the cabin and a few seconds later Amelia looked out of the window and saw the ship that was going to be her home and even though their transport was a few thousand kilometers away she knew it was a monstrous vessel. "It's huge!"

"Yes, yes it is, and we'll be docking in a few moments." Alice replied as she downed the last bit of her drink, and it wasn't long before they had docked and passengers started to disembark from the small transport.

Convincing Sean that this had been the right decision had taken a bit of fine tuning and heavy handed painting of an especially pretty picture. Saddling their son with the charge of a young girl seemed hardly fitting and more like a punishment than a gift, but ultimately she'd won her way. The child's parents had been close personal friends and the news of such a horrific death had truly rocked their social circle to its very foundation. Foster care, Sabine knew, was hardly a fitting place for any child -- worse than being raised by a clueless and cocky Intel officer.

"I trust her journey was smooth?" The aging Admiral asked at first sight of the child and her care taker, "Vindicator is preparing to disembark. Her Commanding Officer has been made aware of her impending arrival."

"Yes it was. Thank you madam, I am Alice Springston of the child protected services earth department." Alice replied and gently shook the Admiral's hand with a soft smile then took a step aside revealing Amelia who was wearing, light blue sneakers & dungarees, a striped blue shirt and holding her old and worn pink best friend under her arm while looking around her, distantly hearing the two voices talk and actually recognized the Admiral's voice despite all of the stimulus around her. Amelia could not believe the sheer size of this shuttle bay let alone the ship. It was certainly the biggest one she had ever sat foot on.

"Admiral Archer." Sabine introduced herself and eyed the child over with a small measure of scrutiny and a large measure of care. "My son, Commander Archer, is tending to some business at the moment but I've been made to rest assure that everything has been taken care of. If you wouldn't mind walking with us to Amelia's new quarters, I'd be much obliged."

Alice gave a nod toward the Admiral, "Why yes of course madam, I actually would have to inspect her new home before I can release custody of the child.., Paperwork right?" She replied laughing slightly as she'd imagined that the Admiral was all too familiar with it. Alice then patted Amelia on her shoulder and motioned to follow the Admiral.

***

James found his way to his new quarters where there were still Crewmen moving his belongings. "There has to be some sort of a mistake," James asked inspecting each room of his new living space. "Why the fuck is there a room full of children's toys? Why does this place look like something out of a 1950's sitcom? What the fuck is going on here?"

"James.Maxwell.Archer!" Sabine bellowed from the kitchen and made her way through the living room, tossing down a dish towel as she did. "You have a lot of nerve running your mouth! I didn't raise you to speak like that!" She scolded him, casting an apologetic look towards Alice and the young Amelia. "Now. Clean yourself up and come meet Amelia. You remember Ron and Sarah DiAngelo's daughter, right?" She smiled, gesturing towards the young girl.

"Yeah, I remember her," James said brazenly, "Do you mind telling me what the hell is going on and why is she here?"

"Because she's staying with you from here on out."

Amelia let out a soft sigh as she sat on the couch when she watched the Admiral talk to her son. Then Amelia forced out a smile and a slight wave of her hand when she turned her head towards the apparent pissed off adult who Amelia hoped was only angry because this sudden adoption had taken him by surprise and would come around when a few days had passed. That little bit of hope was better than the alternative. It had to work, it must work.

"No. No. No. Nope. Nope. Nuhuh. Mmmmph. Mom, No. This can not happen. I have a career and responsibilities here and in Starfleet," James aruged. "I don't have time to play babysitter to a..." James paused as he looked at the small human.

Alice stood up from the couch and waved her hand down from side to side. "Play babysitter to a what, some snot nose child who lost both of her parents, one to insanity and the other to a fire? What's the matter is giving your life to an organization who will easily replace you and forget about you when you die more important than taking care of a child who will god forbid be swallowed up by the gangs and criminals?" she replied to the man taking a defensive stand against James, as she saw how close Amelia came to bursting into tears. "Because that is exactly what will happen to her Mister Archer. So please find it in your heart to accept her." Alice added with a calmer tone and was disgusted by the idea that James represented.

James didn't even see this strange woman in his quarters until now. "Yeah, Hi. Commander Archer," James' head ticked to the right, "and you are? Doesn't matter anyway. You may leave now, thanks. Crewman, can you please escort her to the quarterdeck?"

"Exactly, hide. Just hide behind your crew and let them throw me out, another good example of how much a weak person you really are."Alice replied and took out a PADD from her bag. "You can throw me out but nonetheless you are legally bound to Amelia, as this is your signature and thumb print after all?" she added with a raised eyebrow before she threw the PADD to James' feet, showing the adoption documents on the little screen then gracefully walked towards the exit of James' quarters. "Good day mister Archer."

"Well..." Sabine said after a moment of silence, "Wasn't that exciting." She sighed and ushered the young girl over to her, "James... You'll thank me one day."

"Mom, you and I need to have a serious talk," James demanded. "This is highly inappropriate."

James stooped down to Amelia, "Hi, I'm James. Let me show you to where you'll be sleeping for the next couple of days until we get this figured out." Glared back to his mother, "I'm serious, Mom. We need to talk."

"I get my own room?" Amelia asked letting her anthusiasm run it's course and looked at both adults for a moment before sliding off the couch, "where, let me see, is it a big room?" Amelia rambled on as she walked towards a room, James' room.

"I'm serious as well, James. You'll thank me eventually, but seeing as I have no intention of heading to Apsha with the Vindicator, I must be off. Your father's waiting to do lunch back on the promenade." Sabine smiled brightly and waved to the little girl, "Be good, sweetheart. He has a big bark but no real bite."

"Mom, don't you dare," James exclaimed, "Amelia, your room is over here." He watched in horror as his mother left while he was trying to herding the 7 year old into her room." James followed Amelia into her room and sat down on her bed. Letting out a big sigh he muttered under his breath, "What else can can go wrong?"

---

Commander James Archer
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS VINDICATOR NCC 78213-E

Vice Admiral Sabine Archer
Retired

Amelia DiAngelo
Civilian

 

RSS Feed