A Long Night

Posted on Sat Jan 14th, 2023 @ 6:51pm by Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating VII

Mission: Character Development
Location: Earth
Timeline: Day 10 of Shore Leave, after 'Unexpected Company'
722 words - 1.4 OF Standard Post Measure

“Finn?” It had taken him three hours to track her down. “It took two transports and a long hike to find you.”

“The point was that you wouldn’t find me. I guess I need to try harder next time.” Finn replied, sitting next to a boulder, exhausted from running. She had hoped that her trail had been cold enough that he wouldn’t pick it up. Being alone was more bearable than facing the man she’d lived up to her whole life and having to tell him the truth about what happened on the planet and why she was leaving Starfleet.

“There won’t be a next time,” Quinn replied. “We’re done with this right? This childish game of cat and mouse?” There was no sympathy in his voice.

“You don’t understand.”

“And I don’t really care to,” he lied. He wanted to understand everything, but it was clear that giving her space and being nice wasn’t cutting it. The time for coddling was over. Perhaps a different approach would work. “You were raised better than this. Get up.”

“Better than what? Besides, I’m exhausted,” Finn whined. As much as he had lost his patience, she had lost her ability to bite her tongue. “Get lost.”

“Get up, Finn. I won’t ask you again,” the marine’s voice was stern and unwavering.

Finn realized that he was serious and although she felt the need to do as he said, she was annoyed by it. “Aye aye, Colonel,” his daughter spat back sarcastically. “Now what? Do you want to talk like everyone else? What you heard was true you know. I’m leaving Starfleet. Nothing you say is going to change my mind so don’t waste your breath.”

“Fine,” Quinn said through gritted teeth. He hated this. This version of his daughter filled with nothing but either sadness or seething rage. “No talking, only running. You’re taking lead. Let's go.” He pushed her forward.

“Are you serious right now?” Finn’s annoyance and anger only grew. “I told you, I’m exhausted.”

“I’m dead serious,” Quinn said. “Move your feet, and every time you take a break, you’ll be giving me push ups so I’d recommend you don’t stop.” There was a pause and Finn considered the likelihood that he would actually stick to his threat. “I will drag your ass by your collar if you don’t and you know that’s no lie.” He left no room for negotiation and Finn could tell in his voice that he meant everything he said.

The engineer picked up her feet and started a controlled run through the woods. She used her irritation with Quinn to fuel the first parts and when that had finally depleted she tapped into the anger she felt towards herself for every tragedy that she had been at the center of until eventually, she had nothing left.

“Can we stop now?” Finn asked, gasping for air between words as she struggled to put one foot in front of the other until finally, Quinn granted a respite. He offered her the water he’d brought with him and waited patiently for her to finish.

“Push ups,” Quinn motioned towards the ground with an almost amused smile. He had warned her after all.

Finn scoffed. “Right.”

“I”m not joking, get on the ground.”

Finn knew that tone and that, daughter or not, he would literally shove her into the dirt if he had to. “How many?” She asked.

“I think you know the answer to that,” he stated.

Finn nodded and reluctantly, dropped to the ground. There was a short pause before she moved into position, just enough to muster the strength to hold it together through the exercise. After a while, she had lost track of how many, Finn finally gave up and let her body fall into the dirt below. The answer to ‘how many’ had been ‘until you can’t take any more’.

“Get back up,” Quinn’s gravely voice offered no warmth. In truth, it pained him to see her suffer, but having tried everything else, he felt this was the only way to get through and by the looks of things, it was going to be a long night.