Enter Zafira

[Zafira Terios 0]

"Enter Zafira"

Log entry 01: SD 10601.22

 

Denali National Park, Alaska, Earth

 

It was a typical Alaskan January afternoon. The sun was out and shone brightly on the fresh white snow overlooking Mount McKinely. Buddled up in a parka, and multiple layers of clothing, a rider atop of his trusty black stallion look in the sight of the majestic snow-capped peak of the mountain.

 

It was a sight the rider was all too familiar with. But everytime he sees it, it still fills him with a sense of awe, of the sheer size of it all. Most people would cringe at the idea of living in Alaska in January, but for Zafira Terios (pronounced Zah-fearah Tehr-rye-ous),it was paradise.

 

He loved it here in Alaska. The vast open wilderness, the meese that sometimes roam his backyard, and especially the Northern Lights with illuminate the skies at night. A far cry from his former life on Bajor. Something Zafira still is reluctant to talk about. But those days are behind him, and Zafira isn't really one to dwell on the past.

 

A small 4-wheel drive jeep crunched the snow quietly as it drove up behind Zafira. The vehicle beared the markings of the United States National Park Service. The driver, fully clad in a Park Ranger outfit stepped out from the small vehicle and approached Zafira.

 

"Came home already?" the soft voice of Kenari Terios called out. "From what I heard, you weren't supposed to arrive for a few hours" Park Ranger Kenari looked up at her older brother. Sweet, and still innocent, Zafira's kind-hearted younger sister chose civilian life, unlke her more gung-ho big brother.

 

Zafira dismounted from his horse and tied the reigns to a nearby tree. "Yep. Kudos to the helmsman of the Vengeance for finding a shortcut home. He shaved a few hours off our journey time" smiled Zafira. "But it's good to be home again. It's been a long time"

 

Kenari smiled back. "Well, it's good you're back all the same" she replied before giving Zafira a quick embrace. Zafira responded with a thanks. "I left a message of my early arrival, but you were already at work" shrugged Zafira. "Probably" said Kenari, as she took a quick peek at her chrono.

 

"Anyways, I'm just about finished for the day. Just have to get back to the Ranger Station and sign out. We'll have some dinner. Mom and Pop came up from Fairbanks to see you again" Zafira smiled. "Sounds great" He untied the reigns of his horse and mounted back up to the saddle as he followed Kenari in her jeep.

 

Healey, Alaska, Earth. Two hours Later

 

Healey is a small town situated about eleven miles north of Denali National Park. Despite the technological advancements of the 24th century, the sleepy former coal mining town of about 1000 people, remains fairly rustic. Not blessed like larger cities, such as Fairbanks, Juneau or Anchorage, the city still has its own unique charm.

 

Situated near a crystal clear mountain lake, overlooking a lush forest of huge trees, was a relatively large wood house. A cozy, intimate place where Kenari currently resides with Zafira, whenever he's back on Earth. Smoke filled out from the chimney as the home was filled with many guests welcoming Zafira's arrival back home.

 

At the table was food fit for a king. Alaskan salmon, char and enormous king crabs, the many guests ate their fill, in celebration of Zafira's arrival. The guests, numbering about twenty or thirty, sat by the fire and listened to the guest of honour tell stories of what happned aboard the Vengeance, since the last time he was home.

 

"The stuff I've done back on the Vengeance, the things I did, the things I saw. I am sure am going to miss those guys. And that ship" Zafira said reflectively. "But, it's onwards and upwards, as I've just gotten assigned to a new ship" Zafira sighed. He served on the massive Pathfinderclass ship, for more than two years. It was always hard to move on, after one served on a ship that long.

 

Quite frankly, Zafira found the assignment change surprising and totally out of the blue. It was to head the squadron for the USS Reaent’s new fighter corps. Apparently, the ship was under refits, and decided to add a new Starfighter Squadron into their folds, and needed someone to lead the pilots there, and thought that Zafira was best suited for the job.

 

It was an interesting job, heading the first Starfighter contingent of a starship. Starting from scratch essentially, molding his pilots to be the best they can be. Zafira felt up to the task, and accepted the post straight away. His transfer was made official a few days later, and his service with the Vengeance ended as soon as she returned to Earth following her last mission to stop a Tal’Shiar attack on a Klingon Outpost. Near the Klingon/Romulan Border.

 

“So, what do you know about this new ship you’re going to serve on?” asked Peter Reddington. Reddington was a man of great kindness and wisdom, with a heart as big as Alaska. A former Starfleet Commodore, Reddington adopted Zafira and Kenari as their own children when Zafira was ten. After ten years of hardship on Bajor, during the Occupation, Zafira and Kenari found happiness with their new human parents.

 

Zafira and Kenari’s biological parents were both killed by the Cardassians during the Occupation. His biological father, led a revolt against the Cardassians in the strip mine they were working in. Though the revolt was successful, both of Zafira and Kenari’s parents lost their lives in the battle. Zafira and Kenari remain enternally grateful towards their new parents, returning the boundless love they gave them.

 

“I can’t say I know much about it. I know it’s an Ambassador Class, commanded by a Fred Michaels” Zafira sighed deeply. “I also know that the ship is basically just a floating hunk of metal, orbiting in dry dock and undergoing major repairs and refits. From what I was told, it was very nearly destroyed in its last mission near the Tholian Border“.

 

Pete nodded knowingly. “Well, don’t count a good ship out. I’m fmailiar with the Reaent and it’s history . I pretty much know Starfleet won’t give up on it just yet” he said. “No, no” responded Zafira. “But from what I was told, based on her condition, I think that I’ll be here for awhile, before they get the ship space worthy again”

 

Several Hours Later

 

On the clear, crisp night , Zafira looked out of the large window overlooking the lake. He sipped his mug of hot chocolate and marveled at the Northern Lights’ brilliant spectrum of colours over the darkened skies. The lights reflected off the calm and tranquil lake over the horizon. With the party over, and the guests long ventured back home Zafira was alone with his thoughts.

 

In the distance, he could see a solitary moose made his way, swimming past the house in the lake. Full grown male, and probably well over two metres in size. Zafira felt he could relate to the large beast, making a trek to new territories, crossing into the unknown to find a better place. Zafira too, was soon to make a trek to the unknown. Unsure as to what would happen next.

 

Dressed in a black, silk nightgown Kenari walked towards her brother. “Trouble sleeping?” she asked. “Yeah, you can say that. Just thinking about the future, and what happens next” he responded. “You’re like this every time you get transferred to a different ship. Don’t worry about, you’ll do fine”

 

Zafira put an arm around his sister, who leaned close to his chest. “Yeah, of course. I really shouldn’t worry about these things” he said. They both gazed out at the sky of that cold Alaskan night. The Aurora Borealis still doing its thing in lighting the sky hues of green, red and orange. Zafira nodded and smiled and soon ventured off to bed.