New Home
Posted on Mon Jan 5th, 2026 @ 3:49am by Ensign Janelle Barett
Edited on on Sat Jan 24th, 2026 @ 8:08am
722 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
Shore Leave on Risa
Location: Shuttle - Enroute to Risa
Timeline: Current
Janelle Barett perched atop a wooden packing crate in the cramped shuttle bay, knees drawn in as best they could be, surrounded by supply containers bound for Risa, along with her. The shuttle vibrated softly as it carried her toward the planet where the USS Washington lay berthed.
“Sorry about the less-than-comfortable seating,” the chubby little man piloting the shuttle called over his shoulder. “I don’t usually carry live cargo on these runs.”
“Quite all right,” Janelle replied politely. “I’ve been in worse situations.”
Though after a moment’s honest consideration, she couldn’t recall ever having endured a more cramped shuttle ride than this one.
“If it helps,” the pilot added with a chuckle, “we’re about an hour out from Risa.”
Janelle didn’t see the humor in that, but she nodded all the same. An hour was plenty of time for thoughts she’d been carefully avoiding to catch up with her.
Two Weeks Ago
The graveyard was quiet, undisturbed except for the warm breeze threading through the branches of the trees overhead. Janelle stood alone among the headstones, a small bundle of wildflowers cradled in her arms, her expression distant and solemn.
She knelt, separating the bouquet into two even bunches, and placed them gently before a pair of adjacent markers. She lingered there, fingers brushing the worn stone, absorbing the stillness.
“Thought I might find you here.”
Janelle turned at the sound of the familiar voice to see Natalie, her friend from the Academy, walking across the lawn toward her. Janelle rested her hand against the stone once more, reluctant, before finally standing to face her.
“You found me,” she said with a soft smile. “There’s no hiding from you anymore.” Janelle said, reaching in for a hug.
Natalie’s gaze drifted briefly to the two headstones beside Janelle, then back to her face. It was careful, familiar. She said nothing at first. “I wouldn’t intrude,” she said, pulling back slightly, “but I come with news. Our transfer orders came through this morning. We’ve received our assignments.”
Her excitement was unmistakable. “I thought you’d want to know right away.”
Janelle exhaled in relief and hugged her back. “We’ve been stationed together?”
Natalie shook her head. “No. But we knew that was probably going to happen…” Her voice trailed off as she noticed the disappointment flicker across Janelle’s face. “Hey, don’t look like that. This is what we’ve been working toward. All that time at the Academy, it led to today.”
Janelle forced a smile. “I know. I’m just… disappointed. We’ve spent every day together since we joined. How am I supposed to get by without my best friend?”
“Who will you drink with without your best friend, you mean,” Natalie teased. “We can still talk every day. And who knows, maybe we’ll get assigned together someday.”
Janelle nodded. She knew she would miss Natalie deeply, even as excitement for her first posting stirred beneath the sadness. “You’re right,” she admitted. “I’m going to miss your optimism.”
“You’re going to miss more than just that,” Natalie laughed.
Janelle glanced back at the two graves, a solemn smile touching her lips, before turning back to her friend. She clasped her hands behind her back and stepped forward. “Come on,” she said lightly. “Let’s get a drink.”
“To celebrate, of course,” Natalie added.
“Of course,” Janelle agreed, the two of them giggling as they walked away together.
Present
Such is the life of a Starfleet officer, Janelle told herself as a lump rose in her throat.
“We’ll be stopping in a few minutes, ma’am,” the pilot called from the cockpit.
“Thank you,” Janelle replied, blinking away the tears threatening to surface.
It would take time, she knew, but she would acclimate to her new home. Holding on to that thought, she straightened and smoothed the front of her uniform, settling her expression into something appropriately professional as the shuttle slowed.
“Here we are, safe and sound,” the man announced with one final comment over his shoulder.
“Thank you for a very… interesting… ride,” Janelle said with a polite smile as the hatch began to open.
Let’s go home.
--
Ensign Janelle Barett
Strategic Ops
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