Lost in Paradise

Posted on Sun Mar 26th, 2023 @ 1:14pm by Captain Akiva ben-Avram & Warrant Officer Laena ben-Avram

Mission: Season 1 Interlude II (E5.5)
Location: Risa
Timeline: ID 4

A slight breeze blew in over the ocean as the waves lapped the shore softly. The salty air was refreshing, especially for those who spent extended periods of time cooped up on starships and stations with recycled, filtered air. The sun was bright overhead, its warmth balancing out the cool ocean air into a tepid mixture that seemed to reflect the state of Laena and Akiva's relationship at the moment. The slight crying of ocean birds were the only disturbance to the serene landscape of the private beach.

Sand squished beneath Laena's feet as she walked down the beach towards the spot she had reserved. The sheer fabric of the hunter green sarong complimented her pastel green skin and dark features. She wore it specifically for him, knowing that green was his favorite and that it would pair well with the caramel bikini that matched her eyes. Around her upper arm snaked a gold bracelet, the one he gave her on her first birthday they spent together. Her black hair pulled back out of her face, but hung perfectly behind her. He loved when she wore her hair down.

She smiled to the waiter who stood next to the table.

"Everything is as you requested, ma'am," he said with a slight accent as he gestured to the set up. There were two tables, one set up with a soft golden tablecloth, two place settings and a vase of mixed red and white roses. The other held various drinks, fruits and accoutrements that might be needed for the extravagant lunch. Closer to beach were two chairs and an umbrella, in case they wanted to swim either before or after the meal.

Warmth radiated within her chest as she inspected the scene. Everything was, as he assured her, perfect.

As Akiva hurried down the beach, he was still flicking the last of the humidity from the spa out of his hair. What was supposed to have been a relaxing, luxurious experience had instead turned stressful, awkward, and borderline hostile by the end. What made matters worse was that he was running late for his rendezvous with Laena.

"Damned Mrazak," he muttered as he came upon the scene. But as soon as his eyes fell upon the lavish placements and the even more exquisite Laena, all thoughts of Mrazak were banished. "Wow..." Akiva said with a gasp. "You look...stunning."

Laena smiled, sweetly, "Thank you," she said. She held out her hand for him.

As he accepted her hand, cool to the touch but warming to the soul, Akiva felt the stress of his awful morning begin to fade away like shadows in the day. He brushed his lips across her knuckles, then pulled in to steal a quick peck on her lips. The way the wind gently pulled at her hair and made her minty skin flush raised gooseflesh across his own body. "I'm sorry we couldn't do this sooner."

"We are doing it now," she said. She slowly pulled him along towards the various things planned. "Are you hungry or would you like to change and we could go for a swim? I brought you some things to change into," she said as she gestured to the changing tent that was a little bit off from the tables.

"A relaxing swim sounds nice," Akiva said. "The spa was far from it." He pulled his shirt off to reveal swimwear underneath. "But since I didn't have time to change, I guess it all worked out for the best." He gave her a boyish grin. "Race you to the water?"

"Before we do, you should check out what's on the menu," she said. As he turned to look, Laena giggled to herself as she took off running towards the shore. "Looks like I'm going to win!" she yelled out as she pulled the sarong from her waist, letting it fall to the ground slowly. Water splashed as she hit the surf, turning to see him running behind her.

Akiva flung the menu on the ground and made chase. Something primal awakened inside him as he chased her into the water. When she turned to look at him, he didn't stop or slow down. Instead he scooped her up and carried her into the surf, holding her tight enough that she couldn't wriggle free. "Got you," he said, penetrating her dark eyes with his own.

The laugh Laena let out was so deep and heartfelt. All pretense and hesitation had been thrown to the wind as she wrapped her arms around his neck and accepted his embrace without any holding back. The water crashed against them, but in that moment, there was nothing else but them. "Do you remember the first time we were in water together?" she asked. "Back when we served on the Vindex."

"I've never forgotten," Akiva said. "Somehow I convinced you into performing mikveh with me, the ceremonial cleansing during a holy day." He blushed a little bit. "I still can't believe that actually happened... or that we spent the night together on the beach afterward."

She brushed a finger across his cheek, "It was a beautiful ceremony that I think of often," she said. "That was the day I fell in love with you. You were so open and confident with me." She gave him a smile.

"I'd never been that close to another person before," Akiva said, blushing slightly. "It was terrifying... exhilarating... quickening. Just like every day that followed."

"I wouldn't trade any moment of it," she said.

When their lips met again, it wasn't in a quick stolen kiss. The moment of contact stretched into time immemorial, a brief eternity of connection between heart and soul that pushed away all thought of anything else. Even the tidal waves did nothing to disrupt the taste of bliss, but instead commingled with the rhythm of their quickening heartbeats in a harmony that felt almost cosmic. Passions of old began to awaken as their kissing turned wider and more fervent. Half-covered in water, it was as if nobody else existed in all the world except them.

"Captain!" called out a voice from terra firma. "Captain Akiva ben-Avram?" It was Izsal Eran, their executive concierge. "I need you to come with me to the medical center. There's been an incident, Captain."

Akiva sighed, letting out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "I'm sorry," he whispered to Laena before releasing her from his embrace.

As his arms left her body, the chill in the air quickly set in as Laena felt disappointed. But she had to remind herself that as a Captain, especially one as important as him, there would always be times when duty came first. So she nodded, giving him a smile. "Go take care of it," she said. "I'll take care of this."

Giving her an apologetic nod and an affirming hand-squeeze, Akiva waded out of the water toward Izsal. Only a few words passed between them before Akiva's face turned grave. He dismissed Izsal and hurried back into the surf as fast as the lapping waves allowed.

"Something's happened," Akiva said once he got close enough for discretion. "It's Chief Hawthorn. He's in critical care at the medical center. I need to authorize treatment since he is Starfleet and the med center isn't..." He trailed off for a moment. "I'm also told there is an added complication, but it won't be disclosed until I arrive." He chewed his lip for a moment. "Would you join me? We can pick up where we left off afterward. If you'd rather not, I understand..."

Laena's sweet smile faded as Akiva gave her the news. She nodded, "Of course, I'll come with you," she said as she placed her hand in his.

"I suppose we don't have time to change," Akiva said. "Beach clothes it is."

---

With their lunch date put on pause--a depressing microcosm for their romantic relationship--Akiva and Laena had followed Izsal to the nearest transport terminal. A line of doorways allowed instantaneous travel across the planet, though the one they selected transported them only a few short kilometers to the Yuna Tarka Medical Center. On the exterior, it had every appearance of a tropical resort flanked by exotic trees and lighted pillars diagonally leading toward the main entrance that was crowned by a flowing fountain overhead. The holographic likeness of Dr. Yuna Tarka offered greetings to any and all who passed.

"I bet the food at this hospital might actually be good." Though Akiva's face was solemn, his eyes twinkled with humor.

Laena giggled and the joke, but did her best to compose herself as they walked into the facility.

Once inside, though, the sterile environment of every upscale medical facility became more than apparent. Bright lighting reflected off the stark white walls, but Izsal escorted them right up the middle of the reception area, past the triage desk, and directly into Intensive Care. The charge nurse took notice of their entry and broke away from a small huddle in order to meet them. She was an older woman of dark complexion and dusky timbre.

"Captain Akiva ben-Avram, I presume?" Her voice drooped almost as low as her chin which she pressed into her chest as she studied him and Laena. Clearly she did not approve of beachwear in the ICU. "Come with me. The doctor is waiting." And with no other word, she walked away toward one of the isolated units.

"Charming," Akiva muttered. He pressed his hands against his thighs so as not to give Laena's hand an instinctual squeeze.

Laena followed the man, though made sure to stand a pace back from him.

A tall, lanky bald man of olive complexion greeted them. In contrast to his appearance, his voice was light and airy. "Thank you for coming, Captain. I am Dr. Tafalla."

"I was told you needed my approval to commence treatment," said Akiva. "Is that standard practice?"

The doctor shook his head. "No, for several reasons and I will tell you why. The patient requires nonstandard treatment and is unable to consent to it. He is a Starfleet officer whose Federation ID is blocked behind authorization firewalls. And then said firewalls prevent me from formally recording his presence here. It's fortunate you were here as a commanding officer, otherwise I would have to reach out through official channels with no telling how long it could take."

Akiva didn't really understand yet nodded anyway. On a Starfleet vessel, medical treatment came first and red tape came second, but perhaps that was the difference between Starfleet and Risa.

"So what is this nonstandard treatment?" Akiva asked.

"Well, it's hard to explain," said Dr. Tafalla. "Global Security is still investigating the events leading to the patient's condition, but it seems he exposed himself--"

What? Akiva let out a gasp. "Doctor, I will make apology to whomever I must. Such lewd and inappropriate behavior is not permitted by Starfleet's codes of conduct."

"--to a fungal growth which has infected most of his upper respiratory system." Dr. Tafalla made a face but otherwise did not respond to Akiva's ill-timed and unneeded apology. "It's a known fungal variety that has not been known to exist in quantities great enough to overtake an individual person's ears, nose, and throat as is the case before us. Typically we expose the infected area to a delta radiation field to kill off the fungus, but given the location of the infection as inside the patient's skull, I need an official order."

That was a lot of process. Akiva made a note to contact the Risian Global Security division chief in order to get a look at their investigation and discover just how in the hell Reggie got himself infected with mystery spores that overtook his entire upper head and upper body. "Is there any other alternative?"

"If the infection were less invasive, I would prescribe a regimen of antifungal medications that would knock it out over time, but the rate of growth is quite aggressive to the point of spreading into his brain." Dr. Tafalla grimaced despite his professional bearing. "As it stands, I would say the odds are in favor of the delta field being less risky to the long-term health of the patient."

Akiva took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. "All right... here is what I'm going to do." He took his steepled fingers away from the bridge of his nose and pointed them at the doctor. "I am going to give provisional consent to this course of treatment, but then I am going to designate two medical specialists in my command to oversee this man's case. Consider them his proxies. Consider them mine." His face turned solemn and severe. "If they give an order and it is not followed to the letter, the consequences would be so dire that I'm afraid you lack the necessary clearance to be threatened with them. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Captain." If Doctor Tafalla was fazed by Akiva's speech, there was no sign of it on his taciturn face. Evidently the clientele of the upscale medical center did not make him one to be intimidated by vague, ham-handed remarks. "Now I must complete my rounds. If you have any other questions, please take them up with the charge nurse."

And they were left standing alone in the ICU.

"I'm not sure we can see him," Akiva said. "And honestly I'd rather leave that to the experts. What do you say to me bringing Dr. Wolf on the case while we try to pick up where we left off earlier... on the beach..." A sly, boyish grin crept over his face.

Laena looked conflicted. Yes, of course she wanted to pick up where they had left off, but could they? After what they had seen? And would another emergency crop up to rob them of their time together? "I don't know..." she said as she tried to organize her thoughts.

"Oh..." Akiva resisted the reflex to flinch at her displeasure. "Listen... I know things have been out of sorts between us, but this is supposed to be a time to put them right and see if we can find our way through the mess of our lives." He reached for her hand and gave it a half squeeze, inviting her to reciprocate.

The gesture didn't clarify anything for Laena, but she did give a wan smile and return a half-hearted hand squeeze of her own. "I love you..." she said in a low tone. It was as much reassurance as it was a declaration. This was what she had committed to. It was time to earn it.

And then Akiva found himself put on the spot. Those words were no small thing for him. Even in the best of times, it was an effort for him to express them. Now, after everything, when they were trying to mend their broken lives, the weight of their future bore down upon him. "I... I... I..."

Laena closed her eyes to fight back the tears that yearned to be shed. A lone one escaped her lashes and scrawled a jagged, saline trail down her cheek. "I know," she said weakly. "I want you to say it, but I won't demand it... I want you to want to say it."

When she opened her eyes again, they were awash in pain but alight with hope. It stunned Akiva with inaction, the juxtaposition of Laena displaying her many sides all at once. The maiden. The hag. The wretch. The queen. "I will always love you, Laena." Even if I don't know what that means.

Simply nodding, Laena said, "I already said I know, you lunk." She giggled softly and wiped her eyes dry. "Don't you have people to contact?"

"Yes!" Akiva had nearly forgotten. He retrieved his combadge from his shorts and gave it a firm press. "Ben-Avram to Wolf. I need you and Teejay to come to the Yuna Tarka Medical Center. Reggie has been hurt and is undergoing a volatile treatment under the care of a Doctor Tafalla. I need your assurances that it's the only way. Ben-Avram out."

There. Short and sweet. Akiva smiled at Laena and wondered what next lay in store.

But Laena's solemnity had never wavered. If Akiva's communique was any indication, another interruption was guaranteed. "Why don't we leave the beach for another day?" she suggested. "Maybe we can just take a walk."

"Fine. Of course." Akiva was at a loss for how to process her suggestion. "Whatever you want," he added.

No, Laena thought to herself. I don't remember the last time I had whatever I wanted.

But she gave his hand a tug. "Come on," she said, leading him away. "I'm sure we can find something to do in all this paradise."

Akiva let his smile return as he allowed her to lead the way into the unknown.