Posted April 16, 2021, 6:59 p.m. by Lieutenant Revna Edman (Counselor) (Jennifer Ward)
Posted by Lieutenant River Styxx (OIC Marine) in Rivers quarters - ghosts of the past (Tag CNS)
Posted by Lieutenant Revna Edman (Counselor) in Rivers quarters - ghosts of the past (Tag CNS)
Posted by Lieutenant River Styxx (OIC Marine) in Rivers quarters - ghosts of the past (Tag CNS)
(snip)
“For once i am starting to feel like I won’t be treated harshly here.” River said truthfully “As for stopping, no I don’t want to stop. I may not have the courage to do this again” she said as she opened the box. Inside was a small collection of clothes, PaDDs, toys and a few other bits and pieces. River reached for the first item and hugged it tightly. It was a brown bear with yellow eyes and a red ribbon for a tie. It was clearly an old teddy and it had been loved.
“You are crew, you are family here. And anyone who might think otherwise, well they’ve never seen an angry Norse woman before,” Revna grinned, it was only slightly a joke, but it was meant to ease the heaviness, if only a little while River continued down the path of her memories.
“This was the only item I got to keep in the orphanage. I had to hide it form the owners and the other kids but I managed. I gave it to Lilly as a birthday gift when she was 11. I had hoped she would keep it and pass it to her own children and then her children’s children and so on.” She said “It also the only thing I have left of my parents” she added.
Lieut Styxx (OIC Marines)
Revna looked at the bear. Her mother, her father, the elders in her village, all had small pieces like that. They kept to pass down to their children and grandchildren. Old Gothi had pieces passed down to her from the previous Gothi and so on. These pieces were more than sentimental, they were pieces of their shared history, of where they came from, and symbols of where they were going. “I’m glad you got it back. This is your legacy, Lilly’s legacy,” and Revna had an idea, for later. “I’m glad you were able to hold onto it while you were a child. Things like this are important and I’m glad for you, that it was found and returned to you, even though it is bitter sweet.”
Lt Edman, CounselorRiver laughed softly “I can’t help but think this bear is like me. It went over the hills and far away and returned when many others fell. Its a survivor.” she said as she absentmindedly started to hum a tune softly. It was the tune to the song Over the hills and far away. Revna might recognise it. after all it was the song River, her men, the Klingons and the Romulans sang as the fleet arrived. She made sure it was transmitted on all channels. Of course at the time River didn’t know the fleet had arrived. The enemy had turned up and started signing a war chant, they where so sure of victory they wanted to phycological harm them further. However River decided otherwise. It took a moment but soon her side where all singing it in galactic standard, Klingon and Romulan. it was like a sing off, then what she thought would be her finally battle began.
At River’s absently mentioned metaphor Revna had silently begun to hum. She hadn’t forgotten that transmission. That song had been one of Shauwn’s favorite’s. He’d asked her to sing it for him many times. He’d been an old soul and had that warrior’s purpose about him. But she would never forget the sound of that song carried on thousands of voices across the comms. Revna didn’t consider herself on overly spiritual person, but in that moment as the entire crew of Centurion watched out whatever view port was near, she could feel the presence of centuries of ancestors long gone and the recently passed. As River hummed, Revna began to sing softly…
If I should fall to rise no more
As many comrades did before
Then ask the fifes and drums to play
Over the hills and far away
O’er the hills and o’er the main
Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain
King George commands and we obey
Over the hills and far awayAs she hummed she picked up a group of five carved wooden soldiers. they had seen better days they were cracked a couple where blackened slightly. They must have been near a fire. Written on there backs where names River, Abi, Chi’man, William and Ini “My original squad. Chi’man made these, he did wood carving as a hobby, the resemblance isn’t brilliant but Lilly loved them, she got them for Christmas” She said handing the one with Chi’man written on it. it was supposed to be an Andorian but the antenna had broken off leaving only the stubs.
Lieut Styxx (Marine OIC)
OOC: Here’s the link to the song. in case you where curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6JuDre0U4Q
One of my favorites.
NathanRevna took the small figure and ran a thumb over it. They had been well loved despite the fire damage. The missing antenna seemed a fitting tribute to those who were lost, either to death or the shadows. And there were so many. “You probably couldn’t tell the difference across the comms, but we, the ships arriving with the fleet, heard that transmission and we joined you, our crews and the honoured dead.” Revna’s gaze was very very far away for a moment lost to her own memories and the monsters there. With a sigh and a slight smile she handed back the small figure. “Perhaps not the best craftmanship by your judging but I’m sure these meant the world to your daughter and brought her a sense of love and safety when she knew you were fighting so hard.”
Lt Edman, CounselorRiver nodded “Lilly kept them on a shelf above her bunk in the bunker. we where lucky enough to be near the command centre when the attack began, and she was given a space inside the command bunker, with the rest of the senior officers families. Even though I was only a sergeant. She did this thing when I lost a member of my squad. she would turn the figure around. She said it symbolised that even though they where gone, they where still watching over her.” she said fondly as she lined the wooden figures up.
“I suppose I was lucky. I only lost one of my nearest and dearest, my squad, to the darkness. The others didn’t die from the neurotoxin, they weren’t lost to the mutagen. They died fighting. Chi’man was shot, William was caught in an explosion and Ini was killed when a fighter crashed into her sniper’s nest. I sounds terrible to think of them as lucky. but seeing as what could have happened to them. I can’t help but feel they had luckier deaths.” River scoffed “I guess that must make me sound pretty morbid.” she added.
Lieut Styxx (Marine OIC)
Revna shook her head, “No it’s not morbid. In the end we all die, we all have a wish for how we should die just as much as how we live. To contemplate mortality is not morbid but a condition of being mortal. It is not wrong to be glad they didn’t suffer. That it was quick and probably mostly painless. In my culture, to die after terrible suffering is an insult to the life the person led. ‘Hjarta mitt,” the strange word rolled off her tongue carrying quite a bit of emotion with it, “died fighting. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Your Klingon and Romulan comrades would agree.”
Lt Edman, Counselor“That’s the truth. I made goods friends from both races. sub commander Te’lee and General Mar’chuk, are the two that come to mind. In fact Mar’chuk and i still contact each other. He says that I should leave the federation and join his crew. that a warrior such as myself is wasted in star fleet.” River said chuckling “To which I remind him I’m a marine I’m not officially part of star fleet. but friendly advice, if you ever meet Mar’chuk don’t get into a drinking match with him.” she added
Revna shook her head, “I have yet to meet a Klingon who has met a Viking. I may not be able to out drink him but I would certainly be interested in seeing if I could match him drink for drink.” Revna didn’t drink often but she could more than hold her own. “He sounds like a very honorable man, and I would be greatly honored to meet him. But he is right. The Federation does not recognize our warriors as they should. It is a great honor he has offered you.”
“I had to talk him down when I got arrested. Otherwise star fleet would have lost a few men to a very angry Klingon. The Sub commander Te’lee organised a new lawyer for me as the one i was given to begin with was useless. You can imagine how shocked those admirals where when they where faced with a Romulan as my lawyer. Never get into a legal battle with a Romulan.” she said it was clear the memory amused River.
Lieut Styxx (Marine OIC)
“I had this misfortune of getting into a debate with a Romulan once. It is not a mistake I would make again. They are masters of interpretation and using it to their advantage. You are blessed in your friends, River.”
Lt Edman, Counselor
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