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Ambassador Moose

"Time has caught me up...."

Stardate 10109.27

 

Slowly, as the answer to her last question came to her, the room began to spin. Dana moved unsteadily to her comm station, and slumped into the chair. "Computer, I need a priority 2 message sent to Earth...." Grayson Prep Academy, Mendocino, California.......address to the Head Master."

 

Dana glanced at the chronometer. 6 hours had passed since she'd sent the message to Earth. With a priority 2 endorsement, she should have recieved a response by now. She cursed; accentuating the act by shattering the cup of cold coffee in her hand against the bulkhead. She glanced at her chrono again. Time was running out. She had to report for duty. She slapped the comm button,

"Communications! Ensign Bailey!" she barked.

 

No, Commander. You have not recieved any personal communications. Yes, Commander, your priority 2 had been sent. No Commander, we can not verify reception at this distance. Yes, Commander I will send it again. No, Commander, I will keep it encoded as private. Yes, Commander I will notify you immediately.

 

She'd grunted a thankless, "very well", to the Ensign, just as hints of nausea began to nag at her . She took another dose of the meds Doctor Dacotah had prescribed. It seemed not that long since her last doseage, and she was wondering if the medication was actually working. She stood, and paused a moment for the room to cease spinning. The meds were taking affect. Then, her hand absently reached for the computer console control as if it had a mind of it's own. A recorded file appeared upon her screen, and Dana was somehow unable to keep herself from watching it. She'd seen it once before; not long after she and David had come aboard the Arcadia. That had been David's "first" stowaway.

 

It wasn't the standard taped last will and testament.....the one generally updated when battle is near.....sterile in it's environment. Kelly Quest was dressed in jeans and sweatshirt, standing next to a remarkably beautiful Appaloosa mare. First appearances gave one the feeling that an *info-mercial* was forthcoming. Her hands caressed the animal's face a moment; bringing a soft nicker from the mare.Then the camera....apparently operated by another person.....panned over a beautiful expanse of land. When the camera panned back to her, Kelly looked into it and smiled warmly. Then she spoke...

 

"Hello, David. Since you are watching this, that time that you and I spoke of on occasion has come. I am gone. It's a time that comes for all of us, David, and you must not become bitter because of it. And, remember, where ever this journey has taken me, I will always love you."

 

"My last wishes are simple; you and I have already discussed most of them. This ranch is to be yours and Dana's..equally. There are over a thousand acres, so I'm sure you can keep from getting in each others way if need be."

 

Kelly smiled and her eyes were bright.

 

"I want Bess," she nodded toward the mare, and stroked her mane, "to go to Ziggy. Besides me, he was the only one she's ever taken to. The rest of the herd, goes with the ranch, of course."

 

"There are some papers that I have sealed and left with the JAG office in San Francisco. They are for Chris.....Captain Moose. If you are still a minor, David, I am requesting that Chris become your legal guardian. It's no reflection on Dana; but she's young, and has a lot of growing to do herself. I know she'll understand."

 

"There are so many things I wish we'd had time to share. Life is so very short. I wanted so much to see the man that you will become..... to watch you become a father...... But, time has caught me up. The life I chose comes with these risks."

 

"Where ever your path leads you, son, remember that I am proud of you.....and I love you very much. Tell Dana that I love her very much, too."

 

Kelly paused, "And, when you see Chris......tell him.......tell him....."

 

She smiled.

 

"Tell him I love him, too"

 

Her image faded......

 

Dana, defiantly wiped a tear from her face. David had never seen his mother's Will. At first it was because Dana had refused to believe herself that Kelly was gone. But, when that became a reality to her, and she'd learned that Captain Christopher Moose was not the man Kelly had told her he was; she made the decision to simply not share the will with anyone...not even Ziggy. She would take care of her cousin herself.

 

She slammed both fists against the top of the computer screen. "Damn you!!" She had no idea to whom the curse was intended.

 

Moments later, tho somewhat pale, a composed Dana Quest entered turbo lift 2. "Bridge"

 

.......................

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