Legacy

Posted on Wed Nov 11th, 2020 @ 11:53pm by Lieutenant Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell

Mission: Diplomatic Masquerade
Location: Cardassia Prime
Timeline: After Orias III

Outside construction crews were still pounding away, rebuilding a structure took time, a civilization even more so. Down the marble hall the laughter of a child could be heard, the giggles of the pure and innocent. His mother sat by his side reading a tale from long before the devastation. One of memories and humour, its pages ripe with lore. Every few sentences she would lean over and tickle the child as though she were pretending to be a monster come to get him.

Running bootheels suddenly filled the hall, echoing off the fresh alabaster in resounding thuds. They were loud enough and hurried enough to garner the womans attention away from the young child. The boy noticed, "Momma you've stopped reading."

She rolled over and stood up just as the footfalls stopped at the door. She shushed the child who obeyed curiously and then she moved to the door as it chimed. "Come."

The doors parted revealing a young soldier dressed to impress, a shoulder bag slung over his shoulder. In his hands he held a simple gold envelope with no ornate markings.

Her heart sank. Personalized messages could mean only one thing. "Can… can I help you?" She asked of the soldier even as the curious young boy saddled up to her side.

"Mrs. Maccet, a message from the Consulate." She was already starting to weep as he opened the message and read it out loud. "We regret to inform you that your husband Gul Maccet has been killed in the line of duty to the state. While the situation behind this travesty is still under investigation and highly sensitive you can rest assured that we will not rest until we understand the scope behind his death. To that end, please accept our condolences in this matter. Signed The Council of Elders."

He finished reading, folded the letter up and returned it to its sheath then handed it to Maccet’s wife even as she stood, tears streaming down her face. He then turned on his heels and left.

From the silence came a small voice. "Momma, where's daddy?" He could sense her sadness and it was enough, though he did not fully understand, to begin crying too.

She picked him up and squeezed him tight. What does one say when they've lost a parent? They had already lost so much and now their provider was gone. She kissed him and told him, "Daddy is gone now. He won't be coming home anymore." Then she sat him down and took him by the hand.

As she sucked back another round of tears she spoke once more, "Come Rhen'o. It's time I told you the story of how you got your name." She guided the confused boy past the empty paiters easel and out into the courtyard where the hammering continued undisturbed.