Posted June 18, 2022, 3:31 p.m. by Lieutenant Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) (Jennifer Ward)
Posted by Lieutenant Commander Markus Woods (Chief Star Fleet Science Officer) in Rest and Relaxation (TAG Woods)
(snip)
Rende walked along beside him, matching his stride as his words urged him to a longer faster pace or his realizations made him slow and pause in the corridor. She let him talk and let the music of his emotions play over her and resonate within. “I cannot speak of what you experienced on the old Viking. I wasn’t there, but I have seen a lot, I’ve heard stories of more, and there is evil in this universe. We El-Aurians live thousands of years, not just hundreds. Most of us that survived are considered children by our standards. And there was more in the universe than even our scientists understood. It is the great thing about space, there is always more to learn, but it can often be terrifying. You may not have the answers you wanted, but they are out there. There are more views of reality and perceptions that humanity is aware of. And that is not a failing, that we don’t know or can’t understand, but a potential to grow and learn.”
Mark’s steps were mostly slow. This was a stroll, not a march. And it was full of contemplation. It was his turn to listen for now, but he understood a little more. And he’d come to the Viking with no small measure of arrogance, only to be proven wrong.
She patted his arm gently. “No that is the frustrating part of perfectionism. The ugly side is when you think you’ve reached it. When you are absolutely sure you are always right and your plan, your preparations have taken into account everything and you know no one can do better than you. That is the ugly side of perfectionism.” She and El had suffered from that for a couple of centuries and it was a debt Rende could never repay. “Hab’rabi and his remnants were so far outside what we expected to find. Yes he deceived us, and that made it harder, but what would we have done in his place? And that is a question we’ve all asked and answered and forgiven him for. Now we beat ourselves up for not seeing it sooner. In the end, though, it’s important that we did see it. It could have been much much worse. I should have seen Kohr was not Kohr sooner, I should have interrogated Hab’rabi rather than questioned him, I should have used the transporters to eradicate the motes, and I should have blown up the shuttle with the away team in it. Sacrificed their lives for the rest. I didn’t, I chose to believe that saving lives and finding understanding were more important. Yes, you supported me in that decision, but it was mine alone and my responsibility. We could circle it like vultures over a dying cow, but that will get us nowhere.” She patted his arm again. “It is one thing to say ‘I wish I could have done more’ or to see after a better solution and then learn from it to become better. However, there is nothing to be gained by living in the should-haves.”
Mark nodded, listening. While she looked to be only a generation older than him, she was in fact many times his age. He would do well to take heed of her advice. It was hard-earned wisdom. She had yet to give him anything but wonderful counsel, and he suspected she always would. Even so, it was hard to let go, and he suspected it would take time and would be no easier.
“Oh Markus, I wasn’t forced by circumstances to choose you, to lean on you. I could have easily chosen Sigmundsson, Forgrave, or Semenza. Hell for all that I could have chosen Eldorin. We’ve worked and lived and loved together for centuries. He knows what I will do before I do. But I didn’t. They were not the right person in that situation, you were. I am very proud of you Markus. It was a tough foray for your first time in command and you did remarkably well. You will always wonder if you did right, that is the mark of a great commander. To always wonder and push yourself to make the best choices will make you someone that people will follow, not blindly, but with certainty and pride. Because they will know you value them. It doesn’t get easier, but the process becomes a steady foundation that will support you.”
The faith she chose to have in him at the time and hearing how proud she was of him through all of it stung like antiseptic in an infected wound. It hurt, just for a moment, but then eased followed by relief. It was cathartic in so many ways. Her approval mattered to him more than he ever expected and once again he found himself blinking away watery vision and doing his best to breathe through it.
She walked along in silence for a moment. The habitat deck of the star base was huge and there was plenty of time. She paused and turned to him, hugging him in a strong embrace counter to her ancient years. “El and I had always wanted many children, but after we lost Tabris we just couldn’t. It hurt too much. We missed out. So I am glad to call you part of my family, another son to be proud of.”
The embrace caught him off guard just for a second and then he found himself holding her back just as tight. Another son to be proud of. It sent him over the edge and the dam broke. Hot tears followed faster than he could get ahold of them and a quiet sob ripped from his throat as he held onto Rende for a moment. All military bearing or decorum of rank, time, and place forgotten. For a long moment, they stood together like that before Markus finally pulled back some and wiped at his face with his sleeve. “I’m sorry I–”
“Nonsense, Markus. I’d hardly expect anyone to go through all of what we have and not have some very strong feelings about it. Or in finding second family,” she said with a warm smile.
She squeezed his arm in an affectionate gesture. “I think if you feel you are barely keeping the water out, you should take a lesson from your young lady. I have heard Sharah speak often of the storms and the waves around her. Of trying to surf above them. But I have also heard her speak of letting the boat collapse. Frightening I am sure for her, but the raft is no longer viable, so she lets go and allows the current to take her. Also terrifying I would imagine. Eventually, though the current lets go and she finds another raft or she floats on her own for a while.” Rende glanced up at him with a grin. “Or even better, she has found herself held and sheltered by someone with a stronger boat. She may not have a boat of her own right now, but she is a stronger swimmer than all of us put together. She can lead you through.”
Coming around a curve she paused to let several people pass and then continued on, “And a piece of personal advice. Marry that girl before you both get stuck holding your breath unsure of how or when to move forward. I want more grandbabies!”
Rende
From across the deck Markus could feel Sharah baulk at the idea. It wasn’t that she was listening but they were both thinking very clearly about her, and that made their thoughts like a stab of light through the storm and be heard clearly. She didn’t comment but seemed to immerse herself in the waves to keep herself from intruding further.
Mark nodded. “I intend to. Maybe even before we get back from leave. I dunno. But I want to and intend to. As for a grandkid, that idea scares the hell out of her. She’s so terrified she’s going to pass on her condition to any kids she has. I don’t think it will happen. It’s pretty rare. And then there are my genes in the mix. So… ” He shrugged one shoulder. “That’s something we’ll just have to work out, but it’s not a foregone conclusion.”
Woods
Rende nodded, “Her gifts are…a temptation to those who crave power. Sharah is a pure heart.
She only wants to help people, to do right by them. And she’s had plenty of opportunity to abuse it. But it makes her one of the best doctors in Star Fleet.” Rende sighed thinking about the young woman whom had brought her family back together. “”I know. She’s terrified of most things. She’s never really been told she can do it. Always ‘don’t do this or that or you aren’t strong enough.’ Now she has you and that’s all changed. She suffers and it breaks my heart. Being a mother I can understand her fear of passing on that suffering. I can hear it in her music, the hesitation, the heartbreaking pause, as she waits to be told again.”
Rende nudged him slightly as they walked. “I think you confuse her a little, in a wonderful way. The way you accept and don’t judge. It’s good for her, and for you. Whatever you two may do with your lives, you are a good together, the way your music meshes and harmonizes, flows and swirls together. You must call and tell me when she says Yes.”
“As for the other, Tabris is a perfect example that blood doesn’t make a parent. Sharah has a lot of love to give, and she has hurt with the ache of not being able to give it away. She is a rare soul that has the capacity to truly love anyone with out definition or conditions. Just like you love each other.” Rende was maybe being a little invasive, poking her ancient nose where it didn’t belong, but the truth was she loved it, and she hoped that Markus and Sharah would create the kind of life together that she and El had. Not the same experiences (How boring would that be), but that same affection and love and partnership.
Another turn in the corridor lead to the large central area full of food vendors and some shops dotted about like a small garden. They wove in and out and around. “So tell me Markus, you always talk about all the possibilities in front of you. What do you think you want to do. Don’t tell me a list, we both know you could do anything, but what do you see? Is command something you still want after everything?”
Rende
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