Under the Starry Sky
Posted on Sat Jun 13, 2026 @ 12:33am by Lieutenant Commander Alanna Wells & Lieutenant Commander Jason Haines
1,407 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Jubilee
Location: Pangaea, Bag End
Timeline: MD 3, 2100
Jason approached Alanna's home base, Bag End. It was dark so his way was lit by the glow stick in his hand and the stars above. Before pressing the chime, he looked up to see the approaching comet. Soon both he and Alanna would be very busy. His little department and the science department would both be working overtime with the impending light show.
He pressed the chime and waited for someone to come to the door.
Alanna was alone, which was a rare luxury. Bri was still on the station and the others were helping in the science compound. So, she was surprised when someone rang the door chime. She set aside the book she'd been reading and padded barefoot downstairs to see who had come so late.
When she saw Jason she smiled. How she failed to sense his approach she didn't know, but he was always a welcome sight. "Hi. Come in." She stepped back to let him in before giving him a hug and kiss.
Jason kissed her back smiling as well. He didn't let the door close.
"I was wondering if Miss Alanna can come out and play", he said with boyish grin. "It's a nice night out and I thought, as it is going to get busy as all get out, that it would be great to get a view of the comet without anyone else around."
She grinned. It sounded delightful and she would appreciate some fun before she had to spend most of her time chasing people away from forbidden sites. "Yes. I would love to play. What do you have in mind?"
"Come on", he said tugging her hand leading her to a small shuttle. "I'm officially 'testing' it's landing gear on dispersed, gritty ground conditions. Otherwise known as the beach."
"That sounds perfect. Do I need to change?" She wasn't sure if she should wear a swimsuit, or a sundress. Or just go as she was.
"The beach is come as you are and/or wish", Jason said getting the shuttle in the air. "The replicator can make anything you want."
"Then I'll come as I am and change later," she replied cheerfully. She was dressed in a pair of well-worn jeans and a light blue blouse with tiny white flowers along the edges. Comfortable enough for a picnic.
It only took about five minutes of flight before Jason landed the shuttle again. The hatch popped open and the smell of sea air and the subtle sounds of the waves lightly washing over the beach could be heard.
Alanna stepped out and took a deep breath. "This is beautiful. And no one in sight." She turned to Jason. "I love it."
Jason smiled and responded, "I am glad. And there probably are some in sight, but they are out in the water a way. I don't think they'll bother us tonight."
He walked to a fire pit that was a little bit away and started a fire."
"This was where I holed up when I needed to get away for a bit", Jason said with a grin.
In the firelight, Alanna could see a small lean-to type shelter.
She'd seen it from her shuttle one of the times she searched for Jason, but she'd never seen it up close. "It looks so...small." She chuckled as she turned to Jason. "You are incredibly resourceful." She glanced out to sea, remembering what he told her about those who lived there as well and hoped they wouldn't be disturbed tonight. They liked Jason, but she wasn't so sure they'd feel the same about her.
"There's room enough for two", Jason replied. "It would be a touch cozy."
He held out his hand, "Shall we take a walk?"
She took his hand and smiled. "I have no objection to cozy." Not with Jason, anyway. She wasn't sure what he had planned, but she trusted him and simply walked alongside him, enjoying the tactile feel of her hand in his.
He led them down the beach a bit away from the fire where the ocean had a faint glow. Some of the seaweed was bioluminescent. He looked up to the stars and saw the comet.
"Wow", he said. "I can't believe it has almost been three years since I came here. When I got here, I was just a 24-year-old kid. Now, I am just a 27-year old-kid."
He chuckled.
"And with everything that has changed in the last three years, you know what has surprised me the most?"
Had it really been only three years? It seemed like much longer.
"No. What?"
"That you've put up with my sorry butt so long", Jason said with a chuckle, smiling, and then continued.
"Given that, I have to tell you something that could impact us. You know that I am part Fae already. There's more though. I'm tied to this planet. When I was 10, me and my mom got in a speeder accident. She died, or so I thought. While I was trying to save her, a strange man showed up. He said if I agreed to help him in the future, he would help me save my mom. Being young a stupid, I gave him my word, so I am stuck here. When I first found out I was Fae, it was pointed out that my true mom is trapped in the Fae realm. I'm going to have to go in there to save her. From all I've read and all I've seen since I got here, time flows differently there. When I go in, I'm not sure how things are going to go and what will happen when I leave. I might be fifty years in the past or a thousand in the future."
Alanna took a moment to process what he said. "Do you know when you'll need to go? If time flows differently there, does the when matter?" Basically, could he wait for a while before leaving, because she'd lost him twice already--or so she thought--and she wasn't ready to lose him again.
"As to the when, I don't know if it matters", he replied. "I'd prefer not to try it when I am 70 though. The first thing I'd have to do is find the Fae who bound me and try to force the subject. What he says may or may not impact things. I do know however, that it won't be tomorrow. I just wanted to let you know so we could plan on how we want our relationship to proceed."
He looked at the water and said, "What's that?"
Alanna could sense eagerness, a touch of hesitation, and some mischievous-ness coming from him.
He stepped into the water a bit and reached his hand down into it. He stepped back to her, kneeled, and opened his hand. In it was a thin gold ring with Celtic knots and what seemed to be an emerald in the center of it glittering in the moonlight.
"Knowing everything you do about my future", he said. "If you can handle that future, I'd be honored if you were in it forever."
Had he just asked... That wasn't what she expected him to say. But there was nothing she wanted more. "I can't imagine a future without you. Yes. I want to be a part of your past, your present, and your future."
He slid the ring on her finger.
"A bit loose", he said. "We can resize it. I know my mom wouldn't mind.
He got off his knees and kissed her.
When the kiss ended, Alanna hugged him, not quite ready to let go just yet.
"You have to promise me one thing, thought", Jason said, holding her tight, a bit of mirth in his voice.
"And what's that?" she asked, smiling up at him.
"No getting kidnapped", he replied with a smile. "Except by me."
"I can promise to do my best. Once was more than enough for me," she replied. Then she grinned. "Except by you, of course. And don't you die on me again."
"I've cancelled dying", Jason said. "too many things to do."
"Good." Since she had nothing else to say, Alanna kissed him.
He held her tight as they kissed and a shooting star flew through the air above them.
A post by
Lieutenant Commander Jason Haines
Bodyguard
Deep Space 5
&
Lieutenant Commander Alanna Wells
Director of Science, Exploration, and Archaeology
Pangaea
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