The Ashokan Farewell

Posted on Mon Oct 4th, 2021 @ 8:19am by Lieutenant Kathleen O'Shea

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Ashokan, New York-Earth
Timeline: 22 Years Earlier
1119 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

'This was a really bad idea.

Kathleen stood at the gated entrance to the house, leaning on the ground car she had borrowed from the local office. She had been standing there for around 20 minutes, and it was rapidly becoming night so if she was going to go through with this...

Sighing, she walked through the gate and, after another minute of silent debate, straightened her uniform and rang the door chime. She could hear footsteps headed toward the door, so there was no backing out now...

"...and how should I know who the blazes it can be at...well." The man simply stared at her, almost as if he were silently chastising her just for here presence, which he was.

"Hello Father."

"Well...what do we have here. Finally decided to come and make sure that your poor folks were still alive and kicking? Or were ya maybe hopin we weren't, so you could lay your claim on the house." William O'Shea's face showed not one hint of humor, or happiness, or...anything. This was not going to go well, as usual.

"I am preparing to leave for an extended period, and wished to see all of you before I go." She managed a nervous smile. "I know it's been a while. Things have been...well, pretty hectic, and..."

William cut her of. "So, you still running around with that off-worlder blowin up the universe? Spreading around Starfleet's own special brand of peace and justice? I would hate to think that..." At that moment a woman walked up behind William to see what was going on at the door. "Bill, who the blazes is it..." She paused for a second. "Oh...hello, Kathy." She looked at her husband. "Well, you going to let your own flesh and blood stand out in the cold when there is a good meal on the table?" She looked back at Kathleen. "Are you hungry? Is everything...oh, it is good to see you." She came forward and gave Kathleen a hug. William just stood silently to the side.

"It's good to see you as well." Kathleen replied, returning the hug. She walked with her mother to the dining room, where her sister and brother-in-law were eating. They looked up as the two of them entered the room, and her sister immediately jumped to her feet and ran over. "Kat! Oh my...it's great to see you. I don't believe it!" She gave Kathleen a huge hug.

"Heya Carie...I take it ya missed me?"

Carienne stood back , but held onto her sisters hands. "Missed you? Now why would I do that? I mean, you have only been away like three years. Why didn't you tell us you were coming by?"

At that moment their father entered the room and headed for his chair. Kathleen glanced his direction, and Carienne read her silent reply. "Ahh...well, it's so good to see you. C'mon and get some of this home cooking!" She led Kathleen to the chair beside hers, shooing her husband away to make room. "Slide it on down, Dave...and make room for my Kat." David moved his plate down to the next chair, then gave Kathy a hug as well. "Good to see you Gadget." That had been Kats nickname since she was a child, as she had the annoying habit of taking everything apart to see how it worked. Most of the time the items worked when put back together..."

Kathleen sat down as her mother put out another setting. "So, how's the shop Carie?"

"It's great. Business is up again this year...so much that we are considering hiring a couple more people. It's amazing the amount of request we are getting lately, especially for the brass." Carienne and her husband owned a musical instrument business, where they hand crafted the instruments. Replicated instruments sounded so...well, bland. It took an artists touch to bring an instrument to life. "So tell us, what have you been up to? Anything exciting?"

"No...not really." She lied, not wanting to spoil the evening completely by getting into a full-blown argument with her father. David cocked an eyebrow up when she said this...an annoying habit he picked up while studying on Vulcan. "I have been given a new...project to work on. Nothing major, but it will keep me busy." Kathleen looked at the spread on the table. "Geez, mom...you cooking for the whole block?"

Aoibheann laughed. "I have to keep your Father's figure up." She noticed that nobody had started to fill their plates. "Well what are ya waiting for? It's going to get all cold if you don't hurry up."

Everybody hesitated for a moment...William always filled his plate first, but he did not appear to be interested in doing so this time. "Dad...aren't you going to eat?" Asked Carienne.

William snorted. "I'm not fellin very hungry tonight. Seems that I have got o bit of a belly ache." He stared at Kathleen as he said this.

"Now Bill..." Aoibheann started, but he cut her off.

"She just comes a waltzin in here like she owns the place, and you all coddle her like she is something oh so special." William stood up. "If she cared about the family, she wouldn't have up and run out on us." He leaned over the table at Kathleen. "Your homes up there now." He gestured up at the ceiling. "Why don't ya go back up there." He turned and left the room, slamming the door of his study behind him."

The amount of self control that it took to hold her emotions inside would have impressed even a Vulcan, but she refused to cry. She would not give him the satisfaction. She just sat and stared at the table. Nobody spoke for a long moment. Finally, David broke the silence. "So...how long are you in for? Do you have a place to stay? You know you are always welcome at our place...."

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Current time---USS Elysium

Kathleen sat and stared at the message on the viewscreen. Apparently she was going to be an Aunt. It was amazing...the rest of her family managed such a normal life, but yet they accepted her choices, her need to do something different...everyone except her father. Why couldn't he understand that her calling was not the same as his? She thought about the events of her last evening at home before leaving for the Frontier. It was a complete disaster. But honestly...did she really think that it would have turned out any other way. At least she had tried...and would keep on trying. It couldn't end on these terms...