Near the Fountains of Paradise

Posted on Mon Jun 6th, 2022 @ 5:25am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Captain Samuel Woolheater

Mission: Rejoinder
Location: Starbase One
Timeline: After arrival
1788 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:]

=== STARBASE ONE – LEVEL 155 – ORBITAL CONCOURSE AND DEPARTURES – AN HOUR AFTER ARRIVAL ===

Woolheater waited his turn for access to the LCARS information kiosk. Soon, it was his turn and he addressed himself to the computer, “Computer? Can you tell me where the USS Elysium is docked?” The machine whirred and buzzed back at him with an error tone.

=A= There have been been four starships that have borne the name Elysium . Please specify by registry number =A=

He read off the number, “NCC-89000”

The computer gave him the information and Sam was close. It wasn’t far now, and he could report in. He began walking towards his destination. He was stressed and rushed and anxious…and excited and still grieving.

There were loads of people here. It was a busy concourse. There were also merchant shops all along the outer ring. From place to place there were tables to sit at and benches and chairs to sit in. Up ahead, there was a delightful fountain. The sound of gushing water reminded him of Pacifica.

~ Sam?! ~ It was Emily’s voice! And in that moment, he was stopped in his tracks. Looking for her and yet knowing that she was not there. Still, he stopped.

~ Sam? Listen a moment? Don’t you hear it? ~ he heard her voice say to him. And indeed, he did listen. Near the fountain, a young man was playing a harp. It was such an amazing thig to see, to hear…one of those moments that you just stop in your tracks. There, in the concourse, near the fountain, was someone playing a harp. And if Emily were here, this was surely what she would have said.

~Sam? Slow down. Listen. Life is passing you by. Your ship will wait. You won’t be late~ he heard her voice say. And despite the kind of days, he had had recently, he moved and made his way closer to the…to the gem…. this thing of beauty in a sea of chaos. The young man was maybe fifteen or sixteen? And yet, such was the skill that around him everything freshened into smiles. This island of calm. This gift of tenderness amidst the strife of life. He could feel himself take a breath and calm, like arms around him, appreciate the moment.

Other people too, those who stopped, shared the moment. It was as if only a few of us were “in” on the secret here. The secret that this was a special, precious moment. Sharing a look, a smile with them. Sam set his things down and listened. He imagined Emily near him, on his arm. With skill, the musician wove his music. His fingers, with all the skill of the Greek Moirai, plucked from the harp dulcet tones of calm, of delight and healing. Around them, the world in all its busy chaos. Here, the eye of the storm. And in the center the wondrous sound. With the skill of Calliope, he spun the magic moment.

As the young man played, he made eye contact with the people gathered. There was such an effortless calm here. And there was an underlying joy. The kid made that harp sing like King David’s psalter. On some faces there were smiles, others had tears in their eyes. Others marveled. Bathed in sonorous harmony and blessed by melody. And as the music played against the fountain and the soft, cooling zephyrs from the breeze cleansed a tired soul, he heard Emily say,

~ O Sam, if the dead can come back to this earth, and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you. In the garish day, and the darkest night amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours always. And, if the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air cools your throbbing temples, it shall be my spirit passing by. Sam, do not mourn me; nor think I am gone. ~


As clear as if she were physically near him, he heard her voice. And Sam did stop a minute to think about the past few days. Here he was, on Starbase One. After getting here in a torpedo casing. After losing his girlfriend. After placing in the high ranks at his recertification. After surviving the events of Pacifica. Here he was. Still here. Still alive. The feeling of being small and insignificant made him think. He looked about the people who had stopped to hear the music and share the moment.

Having had some spare time for shopping, Naxea stopped to listen to the music being played. It was rather remarkable--especially from such a young man. Looking over and seeing another Marine, he looked familiar. Was he a part of the new arrivals? She stepped over to him. "The music is beautiful, isn't it?" she commented.

Sam saw the Colonel's insignia and came to attention. "Yes Colonel; it is indeed." Military protocol dictated that the higher ranking officer chose the topic of conversation. In this case, the Colonel out ranked him and so he politely waited until he was spoken too. He did observe her though. It looked like she was doing some browsing and shopping. Elysium had a female MARDET CO Lieutenant Colonel. Could this be her he wondered. For a few more seconds, the music played before the final chords were sounded. It ended and there was some applause.

"At ease, Lieutenant," Naxea replied as she joined in the applause. "I stopped by because you seem familiar. Are you a new transfer to the Elysium?"

Standing easier Sam responded, "Thank you Colonel" and he joined her in some applause. Sam answered, "Yes ma'am. I checked in when I got here to SB001 via the computer. I..uh...needed to get into a clean uniform after my...transportation dropped me off." Wanting to change the subject as quickly as he could he said, "Are you Colonel Azhul Naxea?"

"Yes, I'm Colonel Azhul," she confirmed with a grin as she watched the man. "And you are?"

He smiled broadly, "Well hell's bells, Colonel. I'm a new transfer to your MARDET. Sorry, Woolheater. Sam Woolheater. Transferred from the Hale. I just got my scout/sniper recerts in too." He was happy. The Colonel carried herself with poise and dignity. Sam said, "SFMC and the school at Camp Margrave were a little light on the details. And, I would have been here sooner if my orders were correct. But, yeah, I'm here now and I thought I'd just see...just remember....why we're doing what we're doing out here." He had said too much so he shut up. And then quite unexpectedly he asked, "How are you? Colonel? Colonel Naxea. Ahem." And he winced at the awkwardness.

At hearing her rank and first name used together, she raised an eyebrow at the man. "I'm fine, but you do realize that as a bajoran, my family name is first and given name is last. Colonel will be fine if that's easiest for you, Lieutenant," she teased with a grin before becoming curious about his other question. "You have questions about why we're out here, lieutenant?"

"Oh? Oh I am sorry. I didn't know" he answered back. Upon closer inspection her nose was a bit ridged. Sam was intrigued. Family name before given name was a rather older custom one associated with the wearing of the ear rings as well. Practically, that might always be in the way. Momentarily he thought how efficient the older caste system must have been for the Bajorans. "Oh, not out here in the orbit of paradise I'm sure. At least a Federation version of paradise. No, I'm thinking more of the borderlands. The vast areas we've yet to discover. The act of discovery can be exploited. So, I do think asking healthy questions is a good thing from time to time" he said.

"Asking questions is a good thing," she agreed.

Sam asked, "I'd like your permission to review the latest mission logs? Get a feel for what the crew has been through and how this command operates, your expectations and so forth."

"Permission granted but I'll be up front with you now," Naxea began. "This ship and crew have been through hell and back on more than one occasion. And as for my expectations, just be good at your job and don't get yourself or someone else killed."

It was the last part of Colonel Azhul's comment that hurt the most. Back on Acquiensis Potentia, at the science conference, losing the target. Certainly that would be in any report. Hell, it was in his report that he filed. But, this was the first time that he heard it said back to him. And in everything that had happened since then he had blissfully allowed himself to forget it. Of course, Colonel Azhul could not be referring to his failure to take out the bomber at all. He didn't know but his hesitation had caused a long pause. "When SFMC assigned me to Elysium they were rather light on the details. But they did say that "front line" duty was where they thought I'd be useful." He left it at that. If she was referring to him not taking out the bomber before they killed the doctor then that was cue enough. And if she was just saying 'in general' then that was enough too. He continued, "So, Colonel, I aim to be 'useful' here as you direct and in service to this ship. I will endeavor to make sure I always get the mission done; do my job and keep myself and those entrusted to my command alive." He knew from this moment that life aboard Elysium was going to be different from other diplomatic service assignments. He felt excited and...checked.

"If you're looking front line duty, then there is no better place than the Elysium," Naxea commented. "But just be careful not to bite off more than you can chew--this assignment may seem easy but it's not for the feint of heart." She still recalled the time she lost half of her detachment battling the Mirror Universe. To her, the Elysium was quickly filling up with ghosts. "If there is nothing else, I will see you aboard the Elysium upon departure."

"Thank you Colonel. Nothing else ma'am" he answered. "See you onboard."

[OFF:]

1st Lieutenant Samuel Woolheater
“Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas”
Division VI, MARDET 62nd Company "Spartans", 2nd Platoon CO
=/\= USS ELYSIUM - NCC-89000 =/\=

Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea
62nd Marine Detachment CO
USS Elysium