Italics are Klingon

Chapter 12

Zac POV.

I was hunting for that god forsaken sweater. My mother would be upset, especially if I had lost it, when the door opened.

Dr. Hallmond stood, holding a PAD in her hand.

“What the hell is this?”

I shrugged. “I presumed you would prefer that I resigned rather than you be forced to request a transfer.”
She gave a small cough. “Excuse me?”

“I interfered in an on going investigation, nearly allowing a traitor to go free.”

She shook her head. “That’s for a court martial to decide about John Ball; K’Rene is choosing not to press charges.”

I shrug.

“Zac.” Her voice makes me freeze. Dr. Brendan always called me Ensign Addy. “I’m dying.” She wandered over the view point. “This will be last time I see earth. Oh,” she stopped me before I could speak. “Don’t offer me platitudes, others have already done so.” She sighed. “Chakotay offered to let me stay. I refused. Space, once it’s in your blood it’s impossible to get it out.” She paused. “Come with me.”

We walked though the corridors of the ship, until we came to one of the side rooms. From inside I could hear the rumble of voices.

“Here.” Dr. Hallmond pushed a tricorder into my hands. “There’s no universal translator in there.”

I held it up and listened.

“He struggled with her, determined that she could not reach her destination. She fought n determined to try and save her crew, her family. She fought him tooth and nail, tearing at his face with her fingers. The dishonorable petaQ pulled a disruptor on her and…” the voice, which I recognized now as belonging to Lieutenant K’Rene, trailed into silence. Another Klingon voice, sounding weaker asked.

“It was a good death?”

“Yes.” K’Rene’s voice sounded so gentle that I was shocked. “It was a warrior’s death. A good death.”

“Then that is all that needs to be said.” Dr. Hallmond signaled that we should move so that we could see inside the room.

K’Rene was standing next to the body of Lieutenant Torres. Beside her stood an elderly female Klingon supported by two others. She must have been very ill to allow this. As we watched, all four flung back their head, howling in the Klingon death ritual.

Dr. Hallmond beckoned and I followed her away.

“That was Miral, Torres’s mother.”

I chewed my lip. “She seemed comforted by K’Rene’s words.”
Dr. Hallmond nodded. “Of course. Because in spite of her divorce, her estrangement from the child, her daughter’s rejection of her heritage, when it mattered, when it came down to it, she died as a Klingon. That’s all that matters.”

We moved on.

In the comms. Room, Commander Kim was speaking with Admiral Paris.

“Admiral, I know you and your son had your differences, but on Voyager, I saw a man who was loyal to his friends, who risked his life countless times to try and save Voyager, who always believed we’d get home.” He swallowed slightly. “There was a letter found among his personal effects, Admiral, for you.” There was a pause. “Admiral, Tom had the option to abandon his post, to escape. He stayed and tried to save the ship. It was thanks to his skill as a pilot that… that Voyager was found at all. Under anyone else we would have viewed ourselves as lucky to find particle traces. He was a brave officer. And my friend.”

There was a pause, before I realized that the admiral had signed out and that Commander Kim was alone in the room. Tears were on his cheeks, and I felt rude just being there.

Gently Dr. Hallmond guided me along the corridor.

We were now on the bridge. Chakotay was standing on there, watching the stars fly past. We watched, unseen as Tessa approached him. I watched her as she touched his arm, and he turned, gently kissing her.

We backed, unnoticed away. Outside my quarters, Dr. Hallmond turned to face me.

“You screwed up. I’m not going to lie about that. But the Penelope will give you a chance to make it up. You’ve seen the worst, not the very worst, but certainly very bad. But just then, you saw things at their best. When people have their answers, when wounds are healing, when for the first time in years people get a good night sleep.” She paused, and shook her head. “It’s your choice, Zac.”

I watched as she began to walk away.

And I chose the road less traveled by.

“Dr. Hallmond.” She turned, wincing in pain. “I wish to withdraw my resignation. For now.”

She smiled.

“Well then welcome aboard, Mr. Addy.”

The End

That’s that people. Hope you’ve enjoyed it.

Let me know which sequel I should be working on first.