A lone road to travel
Posted on Sun Feb 16th, 2020 @ 12:16pm by Gunnery Sergeant Roderik Kos & Commander Arianna Frost
1,562 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Mission 0: Everybody Has A Story
Location: Ronara Prime
The shuttle felt empty and sparse to Rodi. That was not a bad thing. For half his life he had lived in sparse and spartan places, not bringing much with him but his photos and his crucifix. But before their last mission, Rodi had considered finally filling his quarters with more than the bare essentials. This last mission though, had him thinking. He had seen many nasty things in his years as a marine. From fighting Breen and Jem'Hadar during the Dominion War, to Maquis Terrorists, to several missions that officially never existed, to now Species 8472.
Rodi needed this trip. He needed to leave the station, his duty, his life behind him. He stepped away from behind the console. From the replicator he got himself a steaming hot cup of tea and a cup of milk. From the replicator he stepped into the sleeping compartment. He had the whole shuttle to himself, and he was appreciative of the space that afforded him. He placed the cups on the nightstand then knelt down at his bed. He struck a cross, then folded his hands and closed his eyes.
For a long moment, Rodi just sat. He always felt it better to not speak his prayer, except for the formal prayers. In this quiet time he ran through his regrets, laid bare his pains, and asked for the strength and wisdom to work through it. When he finally opened his eyes the steam had stopped wafting off the tea and he grunted slightly as he rose. His heart had quieted too, feeling peaceful after his prayer. He drank his now nearly cold brew. He then returned to the cabin, book under his arm and sat at the flight control panel.
"Starfleet Shuttlecraft Canterbury to Ronara Control, requesting permission to control." Rodi keyed through the comm system.
"Shuttlecraft Canterbury, you are cleared to land at the landing coordinates transmitted." The Control officer replied, and cut the connection.
With a graceful swoop that was none of Rodi's doing, the shuttle set in its descent towards the small spaceport. From there Rodi would use the planetary transporter system to make his way to the Garai family home.
When he stepped off the transporter pad the jewelry in his pocket nearly hobbled him with its metaphorical weight. The actual weight on his back, his large hiking ruck, self-defense rifle, pop up shelter, and supplies didn't bother him. He looked around the town, and after asking for quick directions, found his way to the Garai household after a twenty minutes walk. Rodi pressed the buzzer.
No sounds came from within the brown and teracota coloured dwelling, one of fairly standard design in the Capital of Ronara Prime.
"Excuse me, young man, are you looking for Mrs. Garai?" Came an elderly voice from across the street.
Rodi turned around and nodded, "Yes ma'am. Do you know if they are around?"
The old Bolian woman nodded, "just down the street at the old Farmer's Market. They go every saturday morning." She pointed down the street from where they were at. "Down that street, then turn left when you hear the bustle."
"Thank you ma'am."Rodi said with a nod, turning away at his brisk marching pace towards the direction. It didn't take long to spot two Bajorans walking in a pair. They looked the right age, and there weren't many other Bajorans to speak off. Rodi approached them at a more calm pace. "Excuse me, sir, ma'am. Are you mister and mrs Garai?"
The elderly, pale skinned woman with ginger hair and very pronunced set of nasal ridges nodded. "I am Garai Cheyla. This..." she motioned to the man next to her, "this is Toros Sedhin. Mister Garai, sadly is long passed away." The woman's features darkening a bit. "How can we help you, young man?"
"My name is Roderik Kos. I work... worked with Fenia." Rodi started but stuttered into silence. "I have something of hers I felt needed to be returned to you." he said finally.
Cheyla nodded, her brown eyes sad, yet her composure keeping. "I've know that look Mister Kos." She said kindly as she stepped away from Toros. "She walks with the Prophets?"
Rodi nodded, "Perhaps we should discuss this in a more private setting?"
Cheyla nodded, then briefly turned to Toros. "I will meet you later."
When Sedhin nodded and returned to the market, Cheyla turned back to Rodi. "This way, Mister Kos. Fenia wouldn't have wanted me to be rude to a colleague of hers. Her late father on the other hand...lets just say he was much against her joining the Fleet." She said as she began to lead them back to the house.
The short walk to the Garai home was silent. Rodi was mulling over what he would be allowed to share about Fenia's death.
As they entered the house Rodi dropped his pack near the door. He squatted down and opened it. He withdrew a black velvet bag and turned to step into the living room to join Cheyla.
Cheyla took a deep breath as the human sat down at the couch. "How did it happen?" She found herself asking breathlessly. As much as she had prepared herself all her life for this, it wasn't any easier.
For a long moment Rodi considered the soft velvet in his hands. He finally opened the little bag and took out the d'ja pagh and placed it upon the velvet, on the table. "I'm not at liberty to speak about it in any sort of detail. What I can say is that Fenia died in a confrontation with any enemy of the Federation, in a mission to protect the Federation. She died quickly, and she didn't die alone." Rodi had long considered these words, and they felt hollow to him. "I'm afraid that's about what I would be allowed to tell you." he said after a long silence.
Cheyla nodded, "I know about secrets, my young friend. I understand." She said quietly, exhaling as she reached for the earring. "Did you win?" She asked, looking over at Rodi.
"We survived, barely. But our mission was ultimately successful." He swallowed the dryness in his throat away. "I hope knowing this will bring some form of comfort to you."
Cheyla sighed, then placed a hand on Rodi's. "Nothing can bring you comfort when you learn the child you took in as your own, died alone, away from family. It feels like I failed her. Like my late husband and I failed her, we were supposed to be her family, when her real one . Then, I force myself to remember that...she chose the path of Starfleet. We had to learn to live with it. Just as I will now have to learn to live with her walking with her Prophets, with Ferys."
Another sigh, "Faran will be devastated."
"I can only convey my sympathies to you and your husband, and hope knowing that she didn't die in vain or without friends will ease your pain in the long run." Rodi said after a long moment of silence.
Cheyla sighed, "the Prophets often tell us that the path to peace is muddy, winding and long. I'm inclined to agree with them in this case. But I am being rude, Mister Kos. Would you like a drink and some food? I made fresh hasperat this morning. I would be remiss as a host and my Fenia would be devastated that I didn't offer a friend of hers some sustenance." She said, wiping a stray tear from her eye.
"A quote from my own religious texts that my father taught me has always given me strength. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death." He then nodded, "I would be grateful for some food and water before I set out for my hike."
Cheyla nodded, "that is a good saying indeed." The bajoran got up slowly and headed towards the kicthen.
Moments later, soft cries could be heard from the kitchen, before restraint kicked in and the sound of dishes and liquid pouring could be heard. Another sniff and a moment later, Cheyla walked back out holding a large serving plate.
As she came back over to Rodi, she set it down, revealing a plate of steaming hasperat and a large glass of a juice-like substance.
"I take it you aren't going back to work yet then, Mister Kos?" Cheyla asked gently as she sat back next to him.
Rodi's nostrils flared with the delicious smells. "Fenia called me Rodi, ma'am. And no, I have a few weeks of shore leave. Fenia once told me how beautiful and rugged the wildlife here was. I love to hike, this seemed like a good opportunity to be alone with my thoughts." He then looked over the meal with appreciation. "Would you object if pray before my meal? It's customary in my religion."
Cheyla shook her head and smiled. "Cheyla, Rodi." Then her smile grew fonder as she processed his request. "I would pray with you then, it is an old, not very practiced bajoran custom too." She said as she slipped off the seat and onto her knees, lifting her arms up bent at the elbows, palms facing her. "The Prophets won't mind a prayer to a different god."
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