And then the Path was Set Upon
Posted on Wed Jul 6th, 2011 @ 11:38am by Captain Elsie Halliwell & Anaia Viel (Halliwell)
970 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Taylforth
Location: Halliwell's Ready Room
Timeline: Current
ON:
The data PADD was now warm to the touch, having been carried and cradled by Elsie for the majority of the morning. She had returned to her quarters after her discussion with Admiral Richold and had asked Commander Michaels not to disturb her for the duration of the afternoon. She needed time to think, decompress and gather her thoughts. So much had been racing through her mind since the bomb-shell that she had, in all intents and purposes, now sprouted a daughter, that the specifics of the mission hadn’t so much as dawned on her. She fell into the bucket of a chez-lounge that was angled to look out into the blackness beyond her window, and rested her feet on the edge of a glass table.
What was she going to do about this?
She looked down at the PADD again and then shot her eyes closed, almost being able to read the contents without looking.
----
I met someone from Earth today. A quaint little man and his wife arrived soon after Visitation Hours had commenced, I thought they looked sad. Aria thought they had perhaps come seeking treatment and took great delight, as always, in concocting some horrific story in which the poor couple were likely sentenced to a life of perpetual torment should their ailments not be cured. I did not think they looked sick, it was more that they were weary and despondent. Most who come to visit are enthusiastic, some are of course critical, but these people... I wanted to ask them why they were sad but they did not linger long in the Conservatory and it seemed rude to follow them. Aria and I worked on our sculptures and several parties stopped to watch us but our day was quiet, my favourite kind of Visitation. After dinner, when Aldan came to talk, I asked him about the couple and he said that they were looking for someone. I would have asked more but it was my rotation for kitchen duty and so it has taken me until now to have the time to properly wonder. Who were they looking for? Even though Aldan has often told me that Earth is where my people come from, I have never met many who live there and never spoken to those few who have visited in the past. We are so far from that planet, why would they come here looking for anyone? Why would the person they are seeking come here? I looked up all my old documents on Earth, the sadness in the old woman's eyes made me feel terribly sorry for her. Earth seems like a lovely place, she must love the person she has lost very much to wander so far from it to find them.
----
Elsie relaxed the PADD as it fell to rest on her lap lethargically. An air of overwhelming sadness washed over her as she stared into the middle distance. She inhaled and held her breath, a predominant thought pushing its way the forefront of her mind. She stared on and realised the path, by her own moral compass, had already been laid at her feet. She had to invite this lost soul to come and meet with her. Her mind would never rest until it was confirmed, one way or another, who this girl was. And why she had now, through the divine intervention of the universe, shoe-horned her presence into the controlled and organised life of one Elsie Halliwell.
----
Aria's parents came to visit her today. She always pretends that she hates it but I think she does that to annoy the others. She is the only one of us who has contact with her genetic donors, Brennan says she doesn't deserve it but I see hope in his eyes every time they arrive. In a way it isn't fair, he is perhaps more consumed with a desire to know of his heritage than the rest of us and yet is the least likely to ever find out. Apart from me. I don't suppose I will ever find out either. Brennan is always angry on these days but nobody notices that I feel frustrated too. The more I read, the more I wonder; why did our donors do this? Are they even still alive?
----
Aldan died today. There is nothing else to say. He wasn't my father but that never mattered. I am surrounded by people but alone.
----
A solitary tear made its solemn way from the edge of Elsie’s eye and into the shallow crease in the corner. It halted there, not propelled by an expected flood behind it, where her slender hand reached up to wipe it away. Another followed shortly after as her mind began to wander into the depths of guilt and a longing to reach out to this faceless, familiar child. Her heart weighed heavily in her chest as her selfish desire to bury her head in the proverbial sand overwhelmed her.
She could not let this girl, her suspected daughter, to continually wonder about her own genetic heritage. About her own parents. About Elsie. She sighed, stared out to the flashing stars that striped passed her window and concreted her decision. Minimizing the report on the PADD she had now picked up, she began to compose her agreement to meet with the lonely girl as droplets of salty tears splattered like April rain on the backs of her hands.
OFF:
Captain Elsie Halliwell
Commanding Officer
USS Ranger
With the assistance of Karen Francis,
Daughter Anaia Viel (Halliwell)
Civilian Visitor
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