Home Visit

Posted on Fri Feb 6th, 2026 @ 5:12am by Captain Kaede Kayano & Commander Darius Cross & Nagisa Shiota & Sakura Shiota

1,486 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Back Into Action
Location: Sapporo, Japan, Earth
Timeline: January 6th, 2410

The snow glistened and sparkled in the bright sunlight. Its white pearly colour covering every surface that it fell upon creating a fluffy blanket laid over the land. Through this blanket a young girl walked. A red scarf wrapped around her neck, and her navy blue coat standing out as she walked. A single school bag was carried over her shoulder as she walked, her breath visible in the freezing air.

She turned a corner of a quiet suburban road and began the ascent up a gradual slope. On either side of the road were smooth tall walls, closed gates as high breaking up the barriers to various houses of different shapes and sizes. After only a few moments she reached a smaller gate, which unlike the others was open. A name plate hung next to the entrance, it had simple lettering but was partially obscured by the fresh layer of snow and ice.

She looked up at the traditional Japanese style two storey house. Its grey roof tiles now covered in white, and its wooden walls stained in dark brown. She made her way up the entrance path which had been freshly shovelled and opened the sliding door.

"I'm home!" she called out, as she pulled the scarf off her neck and slid off her shoes. She kicked them gently to the side in the sunken entrance way before slipping on a pair of light pink fabric slippers. She removed her coat and hung it on one of the many hooks by the doorway to reveal her serafuku sailor style school uniform beneath.

"Welcome home," a voice greeted her back. The warm scent of fresh food being prepared assaulted the girls senses as she made her way down the corridor towards the main room of the house. The door was partially open already. Pushing it open she made her way into the room.

"How was school?" a woman asked from the floor. Her own hazel eyes met that of the girls, her chocolate brown hair matched and a content look on her face. Her legs were under the Kotatsu table and a fresh cup of herbal tea sat steaming in front of her. The girl smiled noticing her mother waiting for her to return.

"Are you at work tonight mum?" the girl asked noticing her mother's mint green medical hospital scrubs.

The woman looked up at her daughter. "Yes I am, but not for a few hours yet. Your father is making dinner, tonight we're having Nikujaga."

The girl nodded as she slipped down next to her mother and slid her legs under the Kotatsu. She slumped over the table enjoying the warmth starting to flow through her body, a wonderful relief after walking home in the freezing snow.

"Sakura, don't slump over the table. Its bad manners..." the woman said.

"Weren't you doing that earlier though Kaede?" A man said with a smirk as he entered the room wearing a white apron. His sharp blue eyes looking at his wife and daughter with nothing but endearment.

Kaede huffed. "Ok... But did you have to call me out Nagisa?!"

"Ha!" Sakura piped up. "Dad got you on that one!"

Kaede blushed as she lightly pushed her daughter. "Hey you!"

A man in a Captain's Uniform stood outside the door. He took a deep breath as he placed his hands behind his back. For a brief moment, he cleared his throat and took a moment to look around, as he heard muffled voices coming from inside.

A small low tone began beeping started in the main room.

Kaede looked up at the viewscreen that was set in the wall. The image changed to show the man, who was dressed in a Starfleet uniform standing outside. "Looks like we have a visitor," she said.

"I'll go see who it is." Nagisa said as he made his way towards the front door, sliding the connecting door shut behind him.

Nagisa opened the door slowly to see the man standing outside. "Hello. Can we help you?" he asked simply.

The man quickly looked over to Nagisa. He smiled as he spoke calmly, looking her in the eyes. "Hello, Sir. My name is Captain Erik Rollins. Is Kaede Kayano here?"

There was an awkward moment that seem to hang in the air for a few seconds. Nagisa looked the man up and down, no doubt that was a Starfleet uniform. It was different from the one he and Kaede used to wear, but it seemed genuine. He could see the four pips on the mans collar, the Starfleet comm badge on his chest and his red command division colour.

"Yes she is. I gather you're here from Starfleet? You do realise we've been out of service for the last fourteen years?" Nagisa asked.

"I understand, Sir." Rollins replied, looking down slightly, before looking back up into the mans eyes. "The last thing I, or the Admiral, would want is to get in the way of a retired officers life. Especially one which is well deserved. However, Miss Kayano has been requested personally. I am here to simply explain the situation. By the Admiral's orders, should she decline, the situation will be handled another way. Unfortunately, because the situation involves a close friend, I've been make sure she knows what's going on personally."

"You better come inside." Nagisa said simply as he gestured for the Captain to enter. "I hope you're hungry, because dinner is almost ready. No doubt that Kaede will want you to join us as our guest." He stepped aside allowing him to walk through into the house.

He stepped through the doorway, slowly taking a moment to look around, before making his way further inside. "I appreciate the gesture, Sir. Had I not had eaten already, I might have taken you up on it." Rollins said as he stopped and looked over to Nagisa. "Hopefully, what I have to discuss, won't take too much of you and Miss Kayano's time."

He led the way down the small corridor towards the main room.

"Kaede," he said as he slid open the door. "This is Captain Rollins. He's here from Starfleet, on orders of Admiral..." he turned to look back at the Captain. "Which Admiral was it again?"

"I didn't say." Rollins replied, turning to look at Nagisa, a slight smile. "But I am sure you know that." He looked over to Kaede. "I am sorry to interrupt your time with you family, Ma'am. However, if you accompany me to somewhere private I can explain what's going on."

Kaede studied Rollins for a few silent seconds. She then turned to Sakura. "Sakura. Go do your homework." she said simply. Her voice was firm and steady.

Sakura slid from under the Kotatsu, picked up her school bag and made her way towards the door. She silently slid past Rollins and a few seconds the sound of her climbing up the stairs echoed from the hallway. As soon as the sound of Sakura's bedroom door being shut broke the silence Kaede picked up her tea and took a sip. "We can talk here. Make yourself comfortable Captain." she told him simply, pointing to the other side of the Kotatsu table.

Nagisa slid the door to the hallway shut and moved over towards a small archway that led into their small yet functional kitchen. "I'll get us some more tea." he said.

"Ma'am..." Rollins said as he reached into his pocket, pulling out something in his hand, he enclosed around his fist. As he held his hand out towards her, he opened it up, revealing another combadge. "The Admiral feels this discussion should be done... in person. I'm sorry."

Kaede's eyes narrowed as she looked down at the comm badge. Her gaze then called out to Nagisa through the archway in the kitchen. "Nagisa. Call the hospital. Tell them that I might be late for my shift this evening."

Slowly she picked up the comm badge off the table. Its smooth metal was cold to the touch. It was the same design as what she used to wear, but now it brought back feelings. Feelings of joy, feelings of sorrow, they were all mixed into this one triangular delta. She seemed to study it as she turned it over in her fingers, as if examining how every millimeter of it felt to her. "Its that important?" she asked.

"That's your decision to make once you've heard what the Admiral has to say, Ma'am." Rollins replied calmly. "Anything more and I'll be breaking his confidence. I'm sorry I can't be of further assistance. I truly am."

She let out a sigh. "Fine. But this better be quick." she pressed down the comm badge. The familiar chirping sound echoed through the room.

To be continued...

Kaede Kayano
Retired Starfleet Officer

Nagisa Shiota
Retired Starfleet Officer

Sakura Shiota
Civilian Child

Captain Erik Rollins
Starfleet Captain

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