Vincent wondered what new fancy would drive the King's Fleet now that they had Federation and Starfleet support to operate in the Delta Quadrant. Vincent had never felt such a relief in his recent history of command. He thought to himself, "Nothing can stress me out now."
Famous last words... Vincent finished up with some reporting related to the destruction of the Krenim Imperium Dyson Sphere and then headed up to his quarters. He opened the door to find Monday Coren sitting at the table.
Vincent gasped. He recognized the outfit immediately from pictures of Loiza and Illyan Coren or Hulanen and Alexander Laree. Monday Coren was wearing the Betazoid Alliance matrimonial garments. Vincent looked at Monday, "What are you doing?"
"I have made us tea.", Monday started to tear up as she poured the tea into a single cup. Vincent knew the tradition. The couple would drink from the same cup and be forever bonded.
"Monday, I am too old for you.", Vincent stated the obvious. He was a friend of her families.
Monday would not be deterred. She sipped from the cup and handed it to Vincent, "Will you take drink?"
Vincent's hands were trembling. He should have run kicking and screaming from the room. He should have. He was a leader who had made the decision that could have sacrificed his best friend and his own daughter to the Krenim Imperium and here he was struggling to figure out what the hell to do. Vincent reached out and then dropped his hands to his side. He started to cry.
Monday started to cry. Her voice quivered badly as she repeated, "Will you take drink?"
Vincent looked at the beautiful Betazoid. He remembered Elora Vasa. A million memories of Tania Branson rushed through his mind. He had known the sheer majesty of love but he had also known the sorrow of losing a loved one. Vincent slowly reached out both his hands. He held Monday's hand with both hands holding the cup between them. There was magic in that touch.
Vincent felt it right to his heart. He knew that for centuries lifetime pair bonding has been tried in multiple species with less than a 50% success rate. He was an officer. He was always calculating the success rates of any and all actions. He knew that this was a gamble. He knew that the likelihood of success was very low. His hands trembled. Her face showed the fear of rejection in her eyes.
Vincent played the walk away scenario in his mind. The result was horrible. He would be heartbroken. She would be destroyed.
Vincent looked into her eyes and slowly wiggled the cup from her fingers. Vincent stared at the cup, holding it on his own for the first time. Monday sucked on her bottom lip. She was so beautiful.
Vincent looked at the roof, "Ah... What the hell?"
Vincent sipped the tea. Monday leaped into his arms. Vincent held her tightly. She whispered in his ear, "Ambassador Monday Viceroy."
Vincent had been a prisoner in an Alternate Universe prison. He had faced genocide at Cheron VI and Reykja Penthe. He had ventured into the Delta Quadrant when few else would. All these things should scare a man but nothing scared Admiral Vincent Viceroy, Commander in Chief of the King's Fleet more than the words Ambassador Monday Viceroy.
Posted by:
Admiral Vincent Viceroy
Commander in Chief
King's Fleet
