A Chilly Expedition

Posted on Mon Dec 29th, 2025 @ 12:11am by Lieutenant Fang Lee & Commander Kelly Kerrigan

1,278 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Shore Leave - Starbase 1
Location: USS Arcadia | Captain's Quarters
Timeline: Three Days Prior to Current Day

ON:

The corridor outside Commander Kelly Kerrigan’s quarters felt unusually quiet, Arcadia’s systems were muted beneath the weight of his thoughts and amid the upgrades while docked at Starbase 1. He paused with his hand on the access panel, steadying himself the way he would before stepping onto a hostile away mission. This, somehow, felt more difficult than even that.

The doors slid open to the familiar warmth of the shared space. A half-finished schematic was glowing on a padd, the faint scent of engine lubricant clinging stubbornly to everything the chief engineer owned. Fang was home. His boots had been kicked off, jacket draped over a chair, home after a long shift in engineering.

Kelly watched him for a heartbeat too long. “Hey,” said Kelly. He smiled at the lieutenant that he was dating, that he had asked to move in with him not too long ago. They were still taking things slowly and Fang had not entirely given up on having his own quarters, but he was spending more time in Kelly's that they were practically shared.

Kelly crossed the room and set his own PADD down, more carefully than necessary. He drew in a breath. “Fang… there’s something we need to talk about" prefaced Kelly. "It's not an issue with us. I... this is working for me, but I have put in for a transfer and it was recently approved."

The words settled between them. Kelly forced himself to continue. “Andoria. A research station. I’d be leading an expedition team.” He met Fang’s eyes. “I don’t want to go without you. If you’ll come.”

The day had been long and the station teams were annoying. They seemed to disagree with everything he proposed. Finally he'd broken down and called Sabastian on Vulcan only to be given news that had pretty much shattered him and sent him out of Engineering not really caring what they did. He'd come back here. He'd hoped to go to his quarters but he felt safe here. It was the first time he'd felt safe going somewhere.

He patted the sofa beside him and when Kelly slid into the seat he put his arm around him and pulled him close. "Andoria is a great place. A tad cold but there is so much beauty there and I think I know which station you talking about. If that's the one then I figure they could use an engineer." Gods knew he needed a new start. "What about your brother?"

"He might get called 'pink skin,' but I have called him worse," replied Kelly. "Andoria has some respectable boarding schools. It's a Federation world. I am sure they would not mind him being enrolled at one. He has become increasingly annoying anyways, some time apart would do us both some good, but he would be welcome to visit on holidays."

"Well we should discuss the boarding school. You are the only family he has but I think we all need a new start." He took Kelly's hand. "If you go I will follow."

Kelly reached out and took Fang's hand. "No, I am not the only family he has. I have you. He has you. We have each other, Fang. I am not asking you to consider coming along just because I know they need engineers. I am asking you along because I fell in love with you, and I am not walking away from this chapter of my life."

"I know." He kissed Kelly's hand. "I have fallen in love with you too. I'm saying yes because I would follow you to the ends of the universe."

"The ends of the universe can wait, but the frozen hell of Andoria will have to do for now" teased Kelly. "Thank you, Fang."

"We have one more duty before we leave if you are up for it."

Kelly scoffed. "Add it to this list," he said with a bit of a sigh. "One does not get to walk away from commanding a Constitution class starship without 'duties' to perform. What is it that you had in mind, Fang? I am sure we can make it happen before we leave. Arcadia still has several days before it needs to be space-faring again. Plus, the new Captain will need to arrive. There's no way they are sending this baby back out there with Sebastian in command."

"He may not be in any condition to command." He sighed. "You will probably get a report but...I spoke to Sabastian a few hours ago. He's being released from hospital in the next day on Vulcan...there's been an accident. Zai is dead."

Kelly looked at Fang with concern. He cared that Zai had died, that his First Officer, Sebastian was in the hospital, but Kelly immediately focused on Fang. "How are you?" There needed to be no discussion why he was asking that in the way that he was. Anything that affected Sabastian and Zai affected Fang. There was no way around that.

"I...I don't know. It feels... It hurts but I'm more worried about Sabastian. I feel like I'm ... in shock. I.." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I'm still hoping it's a bad joke. I wanted so much for Zai to be happy and now he... He's gone."

"He had Sebastian, Fang. I think they were happy" consoled Kelly. "You can't place any blame on what happened on yourself. It was an accident. I am worried about Sabastian too."

He looked over at Kelly. "I don't blame myself I just...wish I'd been better to Zai. I don't know how I feel. I've lost a man who has been my friend for a long time. I do wish to pay my respects to both Sabastian and Zai. I understand that the body is to be returned here. Perhaps we can...do a memorial?"

"Does not look like you are really needed in Engineering, Lieutenant. Starbase personnel are taking care of the upgrades to the systems. I suppose that makes you available for an assignment... a favor. See to it that Zai receives an appropriate memorial service."

He gave a nod. "I will. I think Sabastian will need us all." He looked over at Kelly. "How safe is this research station we are going to. I don't want the possibility of you hurt in anyway. I have recently learned how to use bubble wrap and I shall employ it with some engineering alternations."

"I wouldn't have requested the assignment if it wasn't safe....or safer than most things" replied Kelly. "It's Andoria. Federation world, tucked well enough into Federation space. The cold is going to suck, but it beats getting shot at with disruptors regularly, and the likelihood of encountering Gorn is extremely low."

Fang took his hand and kissed it. "Good. Cold I can deal with. Trust me." He looked at Kelly. "Let's do this. I...I want a family with you Kelly."

"And I want the opportunity to explore that and to give my brother the ability to have a somewhat normal childhood. A Federation starship trekking through charted and uncharted stars with the Gorn breathing down our neck isn't what our parents would have wanted for him."

"I agree." He sighed. "Well I should take a shower and then go and prepare things for Sab and Zai's return."

Kelly nodded. A shower sounded nice, but work called even when off duty. "I'll be back later. I have some calls to take and make. I'll be in my Ready Room if you need anything."

"Kelly?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

Kelly smiled. "I love you too."

OFF:

 

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