Fading Into The Future

Posted on Thu Sep 19th, 2024 @ 12:06am by Lieutenant Rosaleen O'Donnell

668 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: To Boldly Go
Location: Arrow Class Runabout "Ered Lithui"
Timeline: Two Days Before Reporting For Duty

She was alone.

For the first time in years she did not feel the comforting presences that had been her constant companions. With distance came the inevitable dissolution of the links which bound them together. With distance, that which brought her so much joy...so much comfort...slowly faded away. Her voice was once again alone.

Alone.....

Rosaleen stared out of the portal at open space, and for the first time in a century, she yearned to be free. She yearned to travel and explore as the elders had before her. But she knew this was simply a defensive reflex. She was afraid. Afraid of letting go of those who meant so much to her. Afraid of what lay ahead of her. Afraid of those whom she had yet to meet. Would they accept her? Or would they shun her...an outcast in a world that did not understand her. A world that did not know her. A world who did not even know of her kinds existence until but a few decades ago.

Ka'Bu.

The mystical race that once had been labeled as witches, sorcerers, and heretics in the times of old on many planets. They were artists, musicians, architects, and engineers. They held nothing but the highest respect for those that surrounded them. They worked hard, and were the first to lend a hand when needed...to help those who could not help themselves. They were loving, devoted, and loyal.

They were hated. And then they were hunted.

Many millennia had past since those days. Days which discovery meant death. They now lived in an enlightened age, where many races existed who had varying degrees of gifts. But fear of the unknown would never be vanquished from the hearts of man. And for some reason, her presence elicited that very emotion. Maybe because there were so few of them known to exist. Most of their kind lived in secrecy, afraid that the purges of old would return once again. Many lived among Humans and other species, settling down and even raising families...always afraid, but dedicated to the life they chose to pursue. And when people found out what they were, it was always met at first with curiosity and intrigue. But it did not take long for fear and superstition to creep into the fold. Such was their existence now.

Early in her time on Earth, Rosaleen had met Kathleen, another of her kind that happened to live just three houses down from her. Their friendship had been instantaneous, and the two of them were inseparable for many years, including their unified decision to join Starfleet. And while they found both success and struggles while navigating their paths, at times the scrutiny they faced was...well, unfair at minimum. But throughout it all, they had always had each other. Others were slowly added to the circle as well for each of them. Even when Rosaleen left Starfleet to work in the private sector, she had managed to remain close to her circle. But now, all of that was gone. Rosaleen had to start over, and she knew not what to expect. Her kind did not handle being alone well at all, and they prospect of being so frightened her more than anything else she could fathom.

It was at that moment she realized that the window had frosted over. 'Control, Rosa...' She warmed herself just enough to chase the chill away. Fortunately everybody else was asleep in the cabin. Wiping the moisture off the portal, she realized that their journey was almost at an end. As the Arrow Class Runabout dropped from warp to lazily navigate the systems planets, a chime sounded to wake the sleeping passengers. Waking them from the peaceful slumber that had eluded Rosaleen. But there would be time for rest later, because for now only one overriding thought flowed constantly through her essence and haunted her in it's waking nightmare.

Alone......

------------------------

Lieutenant Rosaleen O'Donnell
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Fenrir

 

RSS Feed