CHAPTER 9: FINAL GOODBYES
Kaimana Ray’n woke up suddenly, not knowing where she was. It took her a moment to remember all that had occurred the day before. Climbing out of bed, she fumbled for her uniform draped over a nearby chair. Once she had it in her hands, she sat down again, letting the previous day’s events finally set in. In one day she had lost her home, many of her people and the very way of life she had known for over a year. But then she had gained a new life as well. Somehow, she knew she belonged on the Dawntreader, with Captain Ridger. Here she had another family she had nearly forgotten about in her long year in the desert, a Starfleet family. It would take some getting used to again.
She quickly dressed and headed into the small washroom. Turning the tap on, she splashed the cool water on her face. She had the sudden desire to be among her people once more so after she brushed her hair out, she made her way to the cargo decks, where the last of the Mikellan refugees had set up camp. She entered to find a camp similar to the city of chu'yIn she had left behind. She smiled as a man hurried to greet her.
“Kaimana!” the man exclaimed. “We’d been worried about you. There hadn’t been any news and there was a battle, the whole ship was shaking. What’s been going on?”
Don’t worry, Tamor,” Kai assured him. “We had a little run-in with Krug, but that’s all been dealt with now. Didn’t I tell you that Starfleet would not abandon us? We’re on course for Starbase 12 as we speak. From there, I’m sure that you can find another world to settle.”
“It’s as I thought then,” Tamor sighed. “You’re not staying with us.”
Kaimana turned to face her old friend. “Captain Ridger has offered me a position here on the Dawntreader,” she confirmed. “You know my home will always be with you and our people, but my heart, and my destiny, lie in the stars. And I must find out where that will lead me. But enough of this talk,” she smiled. “The time for goodbyes has not yet come. Where are Kienna and the others? It seems so long since I saw them last.”
“Kienna and Toben are preparing the morning meal,” Tamor said. “You are, as always, welcome to join us.”
“I’d like that,” Kai said as they made their way through the makeshift camp.
The bridge was quiet for a change as Captain Ridger sat in his center chair. On course for Starbase 12, there wasn’t too much to do other than wait until they arrived. Ensign Fairway walked up and handed him a report.
“Repair status report from Mr. Kent, Sir,” she explained.
He quickly glanced over the report. Most of the internal damage repairs were completed or would be by the time they arrived at Starbase, but several structural repairs would require a few days at dock. He signed the report and handed it back to the Ensign. “There you are, Ensign. Thank you,” he said as she took it back from him.
“Thank you, Captain,” she replied and turned to enter the turbolift.
Once again Captain Ridger watched the stars speed passed.
“I have a reply from Starfleet Command, Captain,” Lt. Adams said from Communications.
“Excellent,” he said, standing and stretching his legs. “I’ll take it in my office.” He walked over to the door and entered as Lt. Adams acknowledged the transfer. Sitting down at his desk, he adjusted the monitor’s view screen before he flipped it on. An image of a Starfleet Admiral flickered into view.
“Admiral West here, Captain,” the message began. “We’ve received your transmission regarding the Klingons and the fate of the USS Falcon. Believe it or not, the Klingon High Council has sent an official apology, as far as Klingon apologies go. I’ve also received your reports about Lieutenant Kaimana Ray’n. Quite a story, really. Starfleet records had her officially listed as Missing in Action, Presumed Dead. Upon your arrival at Starbase 12, Admiral Williams will meet you and the Lieutenant can be officially repatriated. We can discuss her transfer after that, although I don’t foresee any problems with it. Good job, Jon, keep it up. Admiral West, Starfleet, Out.” The message ended and the Federation logo now filled the screen. Captain Ridger leaned back in his chair and grinned. This had turned out exactly as he thought it would. He yawned and it occurred to him that he hadn’t slept since he got back from the planet. He glanced at the clock. It was nearly shift change. Yawning once more, he stood and returned to the bridge.
“Mr. Agar,” Ridger asked, “what is our E.T.A. to Starbase 12?”
The helmsman glanced at his instruments. “Approximately 10hours and 45 minutes, Captain,” he replied.
Fighting back another yawn, Captain Ridger stood beside his chair and watched the stairs speed passed.
Kai sat at a large makeshift table towards the center of the cargo bay. Finishing up their morning meal, the elders talked eagerly with Kai for news of what was happening. She told them all she knew of the last few days, from when the Dawntreader arrived in orbit until the showdown with Krug. She also told them of Captain Ridger’s request she stay aboard the Dawntreader and her acceptance of it.
“How much longer will you be with us?” Kienna, who was Tamor’s wife, asked.
“Until we arrive at Starbase, Kai replied. “That’s where the Dawntreader will receive its next mission.”
“Will you tell us a story before you go?” one of the children at the table asked. “Please, please!” the rest of the children chimed in. In her wide travels at Starfleet Academy and aboard the USS Falcon, Kai had learned many stories, and in the last year among her people had become known as quite the storyteller.
“All right,” she agreed, knowing this was probably the last time she’d get to share stories with them for a while. “Which story would you like to hear?”
“Raven!” one child called out. The rest of the children nodded in agreement. “Tell us the story of the Raven!”
“That is a very old story,” Kai began. “Centuries ago on Earth, there was an ancient tribe called the Haida.” The children all moved to the floor in front of her. Many of the adults also pulled chairs up to hear the story again. “These people knew many of the animals of the land and sea, and told many great stories about them. But one of the smartest and craftiest animals was a black bird called the Raven.
According to a Haida story, in the beginning the world was in total darkness. The Raven, who had existed from the beginning of time, was tired of groping about and bumping into things in the dark.
Eventually the Raven came upon the home of an old man who lived alone with his daughter. Through his slyness, the Raven learned that the old man had a great treasure. This was all the light in the universe, contained in a tiny box concealed within many boxes. At once the Raven vowed to steal the light.
He thought and thought, and finally came up with a plan. He waited until the old man's daughter came to the river to gather water. Then the Raven changed himself into a single hemlock needle and dropped himself into the river, just as the girl was dipping her water-basket into the river.
As she drank from the basket, she swallowed the needle. It slipped and slithered down into her warm belly, where the Raven transformed himself again, this time, into a tiny human. After sleeping and growing there for a very long time, at last the Raven emerged into the world once more, this time as a human infant.
Even though he had a rather strange appearance, the Raven's grandfather loved him. But the old man threatened dire punishment if he ever touched the precious treasure box. Nonetheless the Ravenchild begged and begged to be allowed to hold the light just for a moment.
In time the old man yielded, and lifted from the box a warm and glowing sphere, which he threw to his grandson.
As the light was moving toward him, the human child transformed into a gigantic black shadowy bird-form, wings spread ready for flight, and beak open in anticipation. As the beautiful ball of light reached him, the Raven captured it in his beak!
Moving his powerful wings, he burst through the smoke hole in the roof of the house, and escaped into the darkness with his stolen treasure. And then Raven set the light in the sky to become the sun.”
When the story was finished, everyone applauded. “Is that what happened to our sun?” a little boy asked. “Did Raven steal it?”
“Perhaps that is what happened, Sorrel,” Kai replied, giving a small chuckle. Slowly the crowd began to disperse and the children ran off the play. Soon only Kai and a few others remained to talk about the old times and discuss the ones yet to come.
At the change of shifts, Captain Ridger gladly turned command over to T’Lenn. ‘Just enough time to sleep before we arrive,’ he thought, and made his way back to his quarters. He didn’t usually work the night shift and he seemed more tired than usual. Once he got to bed, he was asleep almost instantly.
The buzzer sounded next to the bed and Jonathan Ridger rolled over to shut it off. “Captain,” he heard T’Lenn’s voice say. It took him a moment to realize it was the intercom that had buzzed earlier.
“Go ahead,” he said groggily.
“Just informing you we should be arriving at Starbase 12 in a few minutes.” Ridger glanced at his clock. He had overslept.
“On my way,” he replied and quickly got up to change.
Go To Chapter 10, the final chapter of Starstreak: New Beginnings