From: Justin Chow (wenstarfleet_at_gmail.com)
Date: Tue Jan 15 2008 - 19:14:59 PST
"If Angels Cry"
============
"Lieutenant Zachary Wen, personal log stardate two point eight zero
one zero seven. Today is my last day after two years of being
stationed on SEYALIA*. Starfleet's granted my transfer request to USS
MCINNIS, so in twenty-four hours I'll be flying in to Utopia Planitia,
and then we'll be heading out to the Gamma Quadrant. I never thought
I'd feel this way.... part of me doesn't want to leave after
everything I've learned and experienced. But right now I've gotta
where I'm needed the most."
--
Location: Drydock, UTOPIA PLANITIA
Scene: Lounge
[ Just prior to Sarah's "Empty Vessel" ]
Zachary stood by the window, silently taking in the view as only seen
from orbital drydock. The majestic bow of the MCINNIS loomed large,
surrounded by shuttles and workbees flying slowly to-and-fro. The
blackness of space hung in the background, and below it all was the
gentle curve of MARS' horizon.
"It's quite a picture, isn't it," said a voice. "Makes me think of
the EIDOLON."
Beside him stood Mendar Talev, nursing a cup of coffee. Warmly, they
shook hands.
"It's been a while, Commander," Zachary said. "You look good."
The bajoran smiled. "Likewise, Counselor. So I take it you're not
here for sightseeing."
"Nope, I'm transferring aboard. You?"
"I am also."
For the next half hour they stood there and talked. About family,
assignments, common acquaintances and what everyone had been doing
since they'd all served together on the EIDOLON. Time seemed to melt
away. But eventually the subject of Gene came up, and there was an
awkward silence. It was Tal who broke it.
"Remember the memorial service we held for those lost in Hell's
Throat?" He said.
"Yeah, of course."
"You know what I said to him at the end of it, just before we went our
separate ways? I told him - you get a ship, you call me. I'll serve
with you anywhere, any time." The bajoran looked sadly out the
window. "This wasn't quite what I had in mind."
Neither said anything for several moments.
"Did you know the CO is his wife?"
"Yeah, Xana Bonviva. We actually served together--" Zachary caught
himself. The USS Prophecy was classified information. "She was my
first XO out of the Academy."
Tal shook his head and sighed. "Gene's wife captaining his namesake.
I can't imagine what he'd think."
"Well, I guess Starfleet's not the only one who needs to justify his death."
--
Scene: Captain's quarters, USS MCINNIS
It was dark except for the starlight filtering in through the windows.
Xana had just put Dahlia to bed when the door chimed again. She
opened it, expecting to see Kat, or possibly Troy Svenson. Instead it
was someone she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Zach."
"Xana. Can I come in?"
"Are you going to counsel me?"
"No."
"Then sure."
She offered him a seat and they sat there, neither one saying a word.
Normally, Xana would have peppered him with questions about life and
love, all the while shoving cookies in his face. But after everything
that had happened that day, after putting up a front for Starfleet,
the crew, and Dahlia - especially Dahlia - questions were the last
thing on her mind. The cookies remained in the jar, forgotten.
Finally Zachary decided he'd seen enough.
"You can't do this."
"Liar... you said you weren't going to counsel me."
"Xana," he said firmly, ignoring the remark. "You can't do this."
"Do what? Take this command?" She sighed. "It's a little bit late for that."
"No, this thing you're doing, not talking at all and bottling up
everything inside. I spoke to Kat - you gotta stop this. It's going
to kill you."
"I have a daughter. I'm not planning to abandon her any time soon."
"Come on, you know what I meant. Look I know you're hurt and angry,
but this isn't--"
"You *don't* know! I waited my whole life for him, and then he left
me. Everyone thinks he's a hero, Zach - is that heroic to you?!? And
I have to keep going because my daughter needs me to love her, and
Starfleet needs me to beat the Dominion, and I need to.... and the
only way..." She trailed off, her voice breaking. There was a long
pause as she restored her composure.
"Please go," she said. Her voice was soft, defeated.
Reluctantly and with a heavy heart, he obliged. But just as he
reached the door, she stopped him.
"I wish it was under better circumstances but it's good to have you
aboard... Gene would have been pleased."
He sighed. Turned and looked back into the darkened room. His
light-adjusted eyes couldn't see her anymore, but he knew she was
still there, listening.
"I respected him, Xana. A lot. But I didn't come to this ship
because his name was on it."
"Then why did you?"
The half-deltan counselor gave a wan smile. "Try to get some sleep,"
he said. "I'll see you tomorrow."
--
NRPG: Thank you Sarah for that opening with Tal, and Ken for the post
ideas. Sarah - It's been almost three years since I last wrote for
Xana. Three years!! Did I get her right? :P
Anyway, hi everybody. I'm really excited to be writing with you all
again. I only ever played one character in the game, but with my
limited experience I was never able to flesh him out the way I wanted
to. Two years has given me a lot more to draw upon as a writer, and
I'm really looking forward to reflecting that in Zachary. He's grown
a great deal as well.
Footnotes:
* Seyalia is the deltans' name for their home planet (otherwise known
as Delta IV).
--
Justin Chow
as Lieutenant J.G. Zachary Wen
Ship's Counselor, USS MCINNIS
___________________________________
"He pleaded with her, begged her to look upon him. But her face was
turned away, and the sky remained dark."
--Excerpt from Bondar's "Revelations"
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