Too many lonely years

Posted on Tue Jul 25th, 2023 @ 8:17pm by Kyle Cragen [Reece] & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Lieutenant Commander Kara Starr {Kelea-Salik} & Ambassador Natsuko Akayama [ADMIN NPC]

Mission: WHAT IF?
Location: Japan, Earth
Timeline: 6 April 2548
2672 words - 5.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Alone in a tranquil Japanese garden, on an estate owned, but not currently occupied by her grandfather, a sick and now much older Kara sat meditating to the sound of the running water of the stream in front of her.

Thanks to her El Aurian genes, over the years she’d watched her beloved husband Malakai age and die, watched her children grow up, and grandchildren be born, only to watch her children age and die as well. Now she watched and protected the expanding generations of her family from afar.

Suddenly, yet slowly, the energy of the area changed, indicating that another person had entered the garden. The gentle sound of that same person, a man by the sound of his body moments, indicated that he was sitting down off to Kara's left.

Kara smiled as she slowly came out of her meditation, raising her hand she brushed away a stray graying hair from her face. She didn’t need to open her eyes to know who it was. “Hello grandfather, it’s been...” She paused to cough, a raspy, deep sounding cough. “..a long time.”

Kyle moved closer, offering any assistance Kara would require. Seeing her in this state, even after the numerous sub space conversations they had had over the years, was causing deep pain in his soul. Of the nearly two dozen children he had sired during his long life, Kara was the first one that he was witnessing die, firsthand. However, though he knew she could read him when they touched, he would stay strong for her.

"Too long, Granddaughter," he replied sadly. "I am so sorry that it took you dying to get us back on the same planet, let alone in my home." His thoughts were full of honest regret over all the wasted decades. Even if he was working to keep the Federation safe from outside threats, Kara was his family.

Kara could feel her Grandfather’s strength, the fact he was staying strong for her. His regret at not being able to be with her sooner. She opened her eyes, offering a tired smile as she looked at him. “It’s alright, Grandfather, I’ve had many more years than I thought I’d have. My beloved husband has been gone so long, our children... gone, I’ve been watching my grandchildren & great grandchildren from afar.” She paused to cough again. “I’m ready to go and join Malakai now.”

Kyle felt a knot in his throat. "Kara.." he rasped. A few tears started to fall from his eyes. "So much lost time..." His thoughts moved over what could have been their life together. Had he not been in such a dark place, he knew that Malakai would have welcomed him into their home.

But, that was for a different reality.

"Before...." He swallowed the knot that was still in his throat. "Before you go, my dear, there is someone I want you to meet. Someone who has become very important to me."

Kara gave Kyle a smile. It somehow felt better knowing her passing wasn’t going to leave him alone. “I’d like that Grandfather.” She held out her hand, wanting him to help steady her as she stood up. “It makes me feel better knowing you won’t be alone.”

Kyle did indeed help Kara to stand, showing complete and honest tenderness in his actions. Once they were both standing and Kyle had his right arm supporting Kara's weight, said aloud, "Suko? Please come closer."

The woman who approached was diminutive and had a warm smile on her face. "Hello Kara," she said softly.

“Hello” Kara smiled warmly. “You have no idea how good it is, to know that my grandfather won’t be alone once I... I’ve gone.” She offered Kyle a melancholy smile.

"A new adventure for you." Natsuko said softly. It was her philosophy that death was just the next chapter and a new adventure. "Your grandfather will be fine with me."

“I’m glad” Kara smiled a weary smile. “I wouldn’t want to leave him alone. You said... a new adventure?”

Kyle watched the two women, he held dear, speak as if old friends. He then felt a shudder of heartache, knowing that one of his progeny was about to leave this mortal realm forever. "For El Aurians," he said, "death is not the end of life. It is but a doorway to the next existence. As I told you long ago, we believe that the El Aurian soul is immortal. What is temporary is the exterior shell." He reached out and gently caressed Kara's right cheek, much like a grandfather would his granddaughter. "Your soul will travel on, until it finds its way back to this realm, being reborn again in another form."

“As long as that form is always reunited with my soul mate...” She stared off into space, a big smile forming. “It’s him grandfather! It’s both of them!! I see... Mattias... and Malakai!!” Her eyes filled with tears. “My whole family... they’re waiting for me!”

"They are." Natsuko said softly. "And I am sure they will be waiting with open arms."

As they spoke, Kyle helped Kara move over to the raised dias, which was in the center of the peaceful garden. It was where he would take his rastalla, when he was in this home.

The appropriate statues were positioned and incense lit. All that was left for the transition ceremony to begin, was Kara herself.

"You will be back with them soon, my sweet child." His voice cracked slightly and a few tears began to fall. "Come, lay down here. We will help you begin your journey."

Kara moved to the bed ready for the ceremony, she’d lived more years than she’d expected and she was ready to leave her earthly bonds behind. “Don’t be sad grandfather...” she offered Kyle a happy smile. “I’m ready to go, I want to go.”

Kyle returned Kara's smile, though his was still touched by sadness. "As you leave us, my child, I give you my word. So long as I draw breath, your progeny will be safe." He then helped her up onto the dias, and held the back of her head as she laid down. "Ru'unama si tuño." He said softly to her. "Until we meet again," he then translated.

Kara nodded and smiled. “Until we meet again, Grandfather.”

Once Kara was fully positioned, Kyle moved to stand at the head of the dias. "Kara Starr, as our people have done for countless generations, I, Kyle Cragen, now set you free from this realm of existence." He pulled out a ceremonial dagger, its razor-sharp blade glistening in the light. "May you find those that went before you." He then placed the blade in his hand, closing his fingers around it. He then jerked it free, slicing the palm of his hand.

As his blood started to drip free, he held his hand over a gilded bowl, located on the dias right above where Kara's head lay.
After several drops started to fill the basin, Kyle spoke aloud. "Kreetoola."

Four wires rose into position at the corners of the pad Kara was laying on. Once in position, a faint blue light became visible, connecting the wires. Kara's body was then gently elevated a few inches off of the pad.

From the bowl containing Kyle's blood, a fine stream of silky fibers shot out and started to cover Kara's body. As this process began, Kyle closed his eyes and started to pray softly in the El Aurian native tongue. All around them, candles ignited.

Natsuko followed his lead, saying the prayers when needed. She knew this was important to Kyle and to Kara.

For several seconds, Kara's body was covered by layer after layer of the silky material. Finally, when all of the blood had been drained from the basin, Kyle stopped praying and opened his eyes. As he looked over the cocoon that covered his granddaughter, he could feel her connection to his mind weaken...then was gone. He knew then that Kara, his sweet, caring full of life grandchild...had fully left this realm.

A few tears fell free from his eyes as he spoke the next part of the ceremony. "Trolztoranna." His voice cracked with emotion as he spoke.

Suddenly, there was the sound of stone grinding against stone, as the top of the dias slowly slid out from under Kara's elevated body. Inside the dias, a fire was gently burning.

Once the slab was out of the way, Kara's cocoon was lowered down into the dias cavity. As it made contact with the fire, it ignited, though there was very little smoke and the smoke itself smelled like Kara's perfume.

In moments, the ceremony was concluded and the dias top was back in place. In accordance with tradition, the ashes had been collected and added to a liquefied mix of marble. Kyle took the mix and gently poured it into a mold, which had been placed off to the side days earlier by his and Natsuko's staff. Once the last of the mix had been poured into the mold, Kyle lifted it up and carefully carried it to a small kiln in a secluded corner of the garden. He had asked Natsuko to allow him this time in private.

After setting the mold into the kiln, he carefully set about covering it with burnable materials, then secured the cover. Once he was certain all was ready, he pressed the ignitor switch and a soft whooshing sound could be heard as the fire caught.

For the next three days and three nights, he sat there. Unmoving, not eating or drinking anything, not even moving to relieve himself. Finally, on the fourth morning, he turned off the kiln and carefully removed the top. Inside, a large pile of ash filled the void. Picking up a pair of specialized tongs, he reached into the center of the pile and grabbed something. Slowly, he pulled it free.

What surfaced from the pile of ash, was a statue, still glowing with heat. He placed the statue on a cooling rack. Then he waited another full day.

Finally, once the ash-covered statue was cool enough, he picked it up with the tongs again, and lowered it into an acid bath. The process cleaned all of the ash from the surface, then any impurities that had managed to fill any cracks. Once that process was finished, he lifted the cleaned statue out of the acid, and carefully placed it in a basin filled with a thick gas that neutralized the acid on contact.

Finally, he lifted the statue with his bare hands. Slowly, he ran his fingers over the surface, looking for any imperfections. After a few moments, he was satisfied that he had found none.

Standing, he made his way back to the house, carefully cradling the statue in his hands.

Natsuko stepped up to him. "Did it go well,?" she asked softly.

Nodding, Kyle approached the woman he loved, giving her a gentle kiss. "Thank you, beloved," he said softly in her right ear. He then moved over to a small shrine, which held a few representatives of the El Aurian faith. In a special alcove at the top, he gently placed the statue that would remain there forever.

It was a statue of Kara, as she was, back when Kyle first learned of their connection. She was covered in a flowing cloak and held a single stone, her birthstone, in her forehead. The look on her face was one of perfect serenity. All along the surface of the statue, there were marbled lines of various thicknesses and depths. This material was what remained of her ashes. The whole thing looked as if a master had painstakingly carved the statue out of a block of actual marble.

"It's beautiful," Natsuko said. "Worthy of her."

Nodding quietly, Kyle stepped back, looking at the representative of his beloved granddaughter, aside from Natsuko, the only real family he had had for a very long time. His Josephine was long dead, as was their beautiful daughter, Liberty. She had passed away peacefully in her sleep almost a year ago now. If it wasn't for Natsuko, Kyle wasn't sure if he would have the strength to go on.

As a few tears fell free from his eyes, he replied, "I pray that I have rebuilt my life in such a way that I am worthy of her."

"You have," Natsuko said. "You have." she assured him softly.

Kyle looked over at his beautiful wife and smiled softly at her, nodding appreciatively.

For the next few hours, the couple sat there on the deck, as they reminisced over the last several hundred years. Kyle truly felt blessed that he had had the loves of his life that he did.

First, there was his mother, then the redhead he had first been with as a young man. Josephine was the one many after were measured against. Kara and Liberty followed, each in their own way. Then, his current love, Natsuko Akayama-Cragen, the woman who stood by his side as he rebuilt his life and honor.

And now, as he was reaching the end of his long life, he knew that he would have no further loves. He and Natsuko had yet to be lucky enough to have children of their own, even though she was much younger than he was.

Yet another failure that he was sure was his. Or perhaps it was a penance that was being meted out upon him for all those many centuries of pain he caused.

Looking over at Natsuko, Kyle gave her a sad smile. "Thank you, my wife, for agreeing to be my partner all these long years. Your patience in me has been a blessing that I do not deserve. I only wish that I could have given you children."

"Well maybe you will just have to rethink that last statement." Natsuko smiled.

It took a moment for her words to sink in. Then, his eyes grew large, but not as large as the smile that threatened to split his face in two. 'Seriously?!"

"I do not joke about such things. You will be a great father."

Kyle stood up and scooped Natsuko up into his powerful arms, spinning her around a few times, laughing and crying happy tears. As he slowly put her back down, he kissed her deeply.

The kiss was interrupted by his combadge chirping.

Natsuko sighed. "Back to work we go," she muttered.

Growling softly, Kyle released his hold on his wife and moved over to where he had placed his combadge on the table. "Cragen here."

=/\=Anderson here, Commodore. I sincerely apologize for interrupting. There's a situation brewing out by Old Qo'nos, and the Klingons are requesting assistance.=/\=

Kyle nodded. He knew that Command wouldn't have called him in unless it was a dire situation. "Alright, John, give me a few moments here. Cragen out." He double tapped the badge, ending the call.

Moving back over to Natsuko, he pulled her into a loving embrace. "When I get back, we are going to celebrate this wonderful news properly." He moved his right hand to her belly, still flat as she wasn't showing yet as he looked down at it. "I know you can't hear me yet, precious one, but your Papa is going to love you so very much!"

Natsuko gave a soft laugh. "Good luck Love." She kissed him goodbye.

Kyle returned the kiss, then embraced his beautiful wife again. A few beats later, he released her and stepped back, grabbing his jacket and combadge. "Be back as soon as I can, beloved." He pressed his combadge and spoke aloud. "Cragen to Ajax, one to beam up." As the transport cycle started to take him, Kyle smiled and said, "I love you forever." Then he was gone.

~OFF~