Goodbye to my Partner in Crime

Posted on Sat Feb 21st, 2026 @ 6:10pm by Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami & Lieutenant Commander Oscar McDonald MD

1,651 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Forgotten Wounds

There was one person on board the Arcadia that Adrianna had to say goodbye to. Someone she had made friends with and enjoyed the company of, with a mutual interest in making lower deckers cry. She'd struggled to find him, and she needed to get to the transport. Finally, Adrianna thought: perhaps hes on base, enjoying the bar.

"You are a very difficult person to find," Adrianna slipped into the barstool next to the doctor, "I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to my accomplice."

As preparations for Arcadia to ship out had begun, McDonald had abandoned ship (so to speak) to secure some additional supplies. For medicinal purposes only. He had no sooner finalised for a delivery to the ship stores - which would then make its way to his quarters - than he found himself with unexpected but welcome company.

“Ah, yes, well, the unfolding crisis has necessitated some stockpiling. Some tastes of home … until I actually do get there.” He turned to face his companion, “the fact neither of us are enjoying a single malt right now is criminal. But what a reason! I know the captain stole your moment but I must confess I suspected - and then was able to verify - the happy news.

It saddens me to see you leave the ship ,” he added, “but by the gods do you deserve every possible moment of happiness. And with you as their mother… there will be nothing these and any future children you may have - cannot do. Enjoy every damn moment. That’s my advice.”

Adrianna smiled and ordered a class of alcohol free whiskey. She looked at it, sniffed it, "it's not single malt... It's no malt, but it's as close as it will get."

She took a breath, "in truth, I had hoped to tell you the news myself, both leaving and the why's, but unfortunately captain dipstick decided it was not meant to be. So, I propose that I tell you as I would have right now, because the captain doesn't know everything." Adrianna sipped the drink and made a disgusted face, "gawd, it will be a long few months."

Adrianna chuckled and playfully started again before getting more serious, "ah, Doctor, there you are. I was wondering if you had a moment."

Oscar’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Always.”

"Thank you, I wanted you to hear from me before rumours get out. I will be leaving the Arcadia and Starfleet. You see, I've been keeping secrets. Whilst on my honeymoon, both of my parents passed away. My parents had been hiding that my mother had a form of brain illness, and my father soon died of a broken heart next to her," Adrianna cleared her throat, taking a moment, "as per family tradition, the youngest gets the vineyard, the business and the ability to be matriach, or patriarch. So, I am leaving." She paused, "it has come at a good time though, as Vance and I have begun to start a family. I am expecting twins later this year."

So much loss among this crew… McDonald understood now. The missing pieces which had been bothering him. “My apologies. I feel as a friend I have been most neglectful,” he confided. “My condolences. Such a loss is ….”

He had no words. Which was most unlike him. “We all have secrets. Some good some bad. Some tragic and some wonderful. As long as leaving here is what you want, what you truly want, then I wholeheartedly support your decision. How could I not? Besides, I know from experience how terrifying a pregnant woman can be so I do not envy Vance the months ahead,” he chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood.

Adrianna waved him off, "I didn't tell many people. In fact, I think only four people know about my parents. This was... Most unexpected. I will admit that it was never the lifestyle I thought I'd have. But dreams change. I once thought I'd run away with Vance, then I he seemingly got killed, then I thought I'd just work to death, then I found Vance again, but he had a contract that wasn't easy to get out of, so I thought I'd work with him by my side. But now, in a weird way, I've got my original dream, just without the running bit. I just get to live as Adrianna Baciami-- not Adrianna Regimmi-- no lies, no danger-- just life. I mean... Vance may die if I smell his socks one more time with this morning season, but life. A normal, non Starfleet life."

She paused and nudged him, "I'll miss you. There will always be a room for you at the Baciami Vineyard. And I expect for you to not be a stranger, or I will come out of retirement just to hunt you down."

She smiled, "that leads me on to my next point: Elyse. I was in the academy with her. She's a woman of very few words, but she also enjoys being mean to lower deckers. She'll seek you out. She too likes a good malt. But she's easier to buy with beer. You'll like her."

“I shall try but she has big shoes to fill,” he pointed out. “And of course I will visit. After Rho passed, our daughter and her family are rebuilding and plan to stay on Earth. Rho has… had… kept our house at Lake Como. Menaggio, actually. It is beautiful and most importantly it is safe. So don’t worry, I will be visiting Italy often. And I arranged for some gifts to be awaiting your arrival home. I wasn’t sure we would have a chance to see each other so I thought it best to plan for worst case scenario.”

Adrianna smiled, but remained quiet. Then she chuckled, "to think, our friendship started with a kiss and then developed into a mutual understanding that bullying lower deckers was fun."

“A lot of fun,” he agreed with a chuckle. “And be grateful, I’ve been accused of proposing to every woman that I ever kiss! Speaking off, I don’t suppose you need a lounge manager to help run things?”

Adrianna chuckled, "well, I feel honoured that I would be your first 'kiss but not propose'." She tilted her head and thought on his question, "there is a bar on site sibrgat people may try before they buy. I wouldnt mind the extra set of hands as manager there. Gilly is about to retire. Who were you thinking? Or you?"

“As much as I would rather not spend time in a confined space with my ex wife,” McDonald sighed, “I was actually thinking of Jynx. She has a clean bill of health but she is quite on her own. I have a feeling she could do wonderful things with the right people around her. And that is not my other ex wife. The first one. The worst one…”

Adrianna cringed at the idea of the ex wife. But then she thought about Jynx. "I mean, if you think it's wise. She doesn't remember me still. If she does, I'm not sure how she'll handle it."

“Confidentiality prevents me sharing too many details,” McDonald said quietly, his voice barely a whisper, “but young Ms Jynx remembers a great deal. And few people living on Earth can even imagine the upbringing she had. Or, I can have her join me here. Maybe it will annoy Walker enough for him to stop acting like a Vulcan robot claiming he has no emotions.”

Adrianna nodded, "give her the choice. You're closer to her. But I will gladly take her." Adrianna then snorted in amusement, "even a Jynx cannot stop Walker from being Walker."

“I suppose asking her is the best place to start,” he admitted with a rueful smile. “Sure you don’t want to take him with you? He needs some alcohol and maybe a bar fight or two. In my strictly professional opinion.”

"Hm, strictly professional," Adrianna chuckled, "no, I've spoken with him. I wrote him a letter too. He's... He'll be ok. He just needs the initial shock to go."

“Ah, but when one is pretending to have complete mastery of his emotions it means he first needs to accept that he is no different than us mere mortals. There is no damn manual, especially for those with mixed heritage which creates unique physiology. What I’m saying is, I hope it’s a damn good letter cos he is not really listening to anyone else.”

"When have you ever known me not be listened to?" Adrianna asked smugly, "but yes, I'd like to think I did a good job. But it's all on him now. I've told him that if he needs an escape, we have plenty of room too. My dad's family were the largest to live there-- 17 children, mainly twins and triplets. So, we have 18 rooms plus spare. I can assure you that two will be quite enough for me... Maybe four."

"To two or maybe four," he toasted, raising his glass of water. "Maybe six? Seven is also... unexpected.,, but the number is not important. Any child is a blessing."

Adrianna chuckled, "I do not wish to have a football team like my mother." Adrian a toasted and then made a disgusted face, "si, here's to 9 months of sobriety and then one hell of a party after."

“Save me a seat, and I’ll be sure to bring you some real whisky,” McDonald vowed.

"One of the many reasons that we're friends," Adrianna spotted Vance with a duffle and smiled. She downed her drink and sighed, "I have to go. Let me know about Jynx." She stood up and kissed the doctor on both cheeks, as per Italian custom, "take care of yourself. Don't let the captain bully you into staying even longer."

 

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