Forget Nothing

Posted on Sat Sep 23rd, 2023 @ 10:41am by

1,475 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: Campor III - Resupply
Location: Kas' Quarters
Timeline: MD C2, 2115 hours

Kas got back onboard the Columbia late; he spent most of the day helping after the incident with the Romulans. He made his way to his quarters, he was tired and he needed to see his daughter. After seeing that pilot die, he needed to see that his Little Star was okay. He smiled as he stepped through the door and saw Rodriguez sitting in his living area reading, "Is she asleep?"

"That or she's being very quiet," Bella looked up. "I heard what happened, you okay?

"Yes."

"Do you want to talk?" Bella knew how'd he answer.

"No."

He turned and moved to Keena's room and quietly opened the door, the room was dark he could just make out her shape on the bed. She rolled over, "Papa?"

"Yes."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just wanted you to know I'm back." Kas said in a low tone. "Go back to sleep."

"Okay Papa," Keena said in a sleepy voice.

Kas turned back to Bella, "Thank you Bell."

"If you need anything I'm here," Bella lawned as she exited.

Kas had recognized the names of some of the Klingons in the colony he was going to deliver supplies. They had Voyaged with his people many years ago. He looked at an album of pictures of his childhood, he was looking for pictures of his old friends. He smiled at a picture of himself standing next to Tura... His stepbrother and they were about both fifteen. The pic was taken right before the battle of Omoga. He closed his eyes and his mind went back...


============2373 The Omoga System============

The Tov'Callii orbited Omoga, the star Illuminated the entire cargo bay from the view screen of the observation deck. There were over a hundred Quath’Mar gathered around three dozen coffins. There were several species in the gathering, they were into families. There was a Klingon hybrid standing a group of Bajorans, Outsiders would find this odd, but his people do not divide by species. The crowd's silent grief was palpable as they readied their dead for their final rest.

Kas turned away from the coffin, he couldn’t bear to look at the remains of Tura, his stepbrother. A hand clasped his shoulder; "Forget nothing. Those who are remembered bring their warmth to our hearts."

He turned and looked the Shaman in the eye, he was an Andoran Kas hadn't seen before. The Shaman handed him a small glass vile. He knew was being given a great honor, yet he was too numb to bother even caring. Hollow emptiness filled Kas as he rolled the bottle between his knuckles idly.

"Tanana Tura; may this light that has extinguished be reborn in the stars," Kas said and poured the contents of the bottle over Tura's remains, completing the ritual.

His parents sat in front of the coffin reciting the Bajoran funeral chant. They believed Tura's soul was going to the Prophets and the Quath’Mar Shaman believed he was returning to the stars to be reborn. Certainty Tura was gone, a piece of Kas' soul was dead and nothing would be the same, rhis had become a bleak part of Kas' outlook. His eyes should be tired, yet he couldn't muster the energy to have this be his reality. He barely registered what was happening, he took his place at the head of the coffin.

Tura's face was shrouded per their customs, he closed the coffin and sealed it. A Bajoran girl was standing next to him to take a corner of the coffin, Rahl had been like a sister to him and Tura. Then they lifted their end of it with a Klingon girl and boy about his age on the other end, they put it on a conveyor belt. He nodded to the Klingons, he'd known Mara and Vorok most of his life. they'd been close to Tura as well.

As he tried to pass Vorok, he stepped in front of him and touched his forehead to his. "He died with honor. You should be proud." He whispered.

' So he's in fucking Sto-vo-kor it's he?!' Kas mused, Maybe it was wrong, but right now all he could think about was that his brother was gone. He stepped away from the Klingon and nodded again, before taking his place with his parents. He looked around the bay for the first time.

The scent of the gathered crowd had been too much for his senses. He had his father's sense of smell but more of his mother's sensitivity, Too many odors overwhelmed him. Tura had once described his issue to their friends by saying; 'he's like a Ferengi caught in a thunderstorm.' He smiled softly at the memory. He watched the view screen as they began firing the coffins into the star.

The shamans were beginning the oration part of the funeral ceremony. He'd heard the words before, only now they were empty. He sat and respectfully listened, then came the open part of the ceremony.

Where the represented species and cultures have a chance to practice their traditions. A Klingon Warrior named Brok'tan gave a prayer to Kahless for the fallen, followed by an Andorian Dirge he didn’t understand. Then a trio of Starfleet officers took the platform, one with a drum, one with an odd-shaped bag with a strange-looking pipe that he put in his mouth. The third man stepped forward and began to sing. Later Kas learned that it was a song called ‘The Minstrel Boy’, a tune of significance to the people of Earth.

Kas really hadn’t noticed the representatives of the Vulcan Science Academy, they’d observed the ceremony in their respectful unobtrusive manner. Many in the crowd were surprised when two Vulcan women approached the platform. The older of the two was carrying an instrument that looked like a harp, the young looked to be in her late teens. Even in his grievous state, he could appreciate her elegant beauty, as the older Vulcan began to play she began to sing. It was a song of their people, Kas had heard that at one time Vulcans had had emotions. The dirge she was singing must have been written during that time, he couldn't understand the words but could feel their spirit. She was one of the most beautiful creatures he had ever seen, he'd never heard such depth in a voice before. A wave of sorrow fell over him and all his grief and loss turned to tears, he'd never cried in front of anyone before. His mother held him and his stepfather put a steadying hand on his shoulder. He hoped nobody noticed his 'moment of weakness.'

He wiped his tears away and tried to steel himself for what he knew was to come, he’d done well defending his people from the Cardassians during the battle of Omoga. His people now regarded him as a hero, they saw his brother as a martyr. They were putting him on a pedestal, but they’d been angry frightened teens acting out of desperation. He was no fucking hero! He took his place among the other “heroes” from the recent battle, they stood in a line so the gathered could show gratitude and share their condolences. Mara stood to one side of him.

Kas gave empty responses to those who approached him. Then the Starfleet officers came and the man who sang was the vessel's captain that saved him. "I'm Capt. Jason Keller, that was some amazing flying Boy-o. I'm truly sorry about your brother." He stepped in, put a hand on his shoulder and touched his forehead to his, in the custom of the Quath’Mar. "Razka Kas; though you'll always miss him, may a day come when it doesn't hurt so."

"Thank you," Kas just gave a weak but genuine smile.

He was touched and surprised by the man's compassion and understanding of his culture. His officers shook his hand and offered condolences. Kas stoically accepted what was said to him. He was lost in his thoughts when he looked up, the young Vulcan woman was approaching him. She paused in front of him and then stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I am sorry about your brother," she stepped in closer. "May you find comfort in your beliefs."

He stared at her for a moment, she had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. Her scent was so intriguing, that he had a strange mix of feelings...



Kas closed the album, wiped a tear from his face, got up and put the album back on a shelf. His beliefs were little comfort that day. An earth poet once said; "Childhood is the magical kingdom where nobody dies." That was the day he became a man.

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