Tying Loose Ends

[Alex Macen 0]

Tying Loose Ends, Part One.

 

It's late. Much too late. The primary shifts have passed, and most of the ship now slumbers. And yet, Alex remains awake.

 

The office is empty, most likely right before the A shift. It's the bleak of the night to a ship's standards, and the fewest of crew are in the administrative areas. Most of security is on late night patrol, or in bed. Only forty eight hours remain however, and he's pressed to the screen, grazing by hundreds of files, looking for the right one, her.

 

Where can she be? Could she be here? Does she continue to be upon them, here in the new colony? Does she still dwell among them, or has she moved on? Was she even on Vulcan as of its destruction? Is she even still alive? So many questions, and so little answers. If only those data files gave a clue to her existence. It's been over a century since they last met. Does she even try to remember him? All this spinning in his mind, he is frantic to find her.

 

And, as if a switch were pulled, there she was.

 

***

 

I look down at the screen, my eyes sore as ever, bulging from their sockets, but I knew the time had been well spent. The data file was here, and not a moment too soon; she was alive, and on New Vulcan. But there's so much still unanswered.

 

I looked down at the screen now, reading over that name carefully, and delicately. As if she knew I was retracing her now, I held caution to that notion, tracing the name with my eyes. Remembered - Nay - infused within my mind is her face, and smile. Those cherubic cheeks, blending with that incessant smile. She never did frown, except the day we went our separate ways. All those thoughts, memories, ideas, echoing themselves in the depths of my El Aurian mind. It sometimes is so hard to concentrate, and they must be buried for me to move on.

 

Cupping my hands over my face, I took a deep breath, attempting to dissipate whatever emotion was left in my mind of her. I cannot work with her like this, that wound that never healed. The loose ends must be tied, now or never.

 

I took one final glance at that name. "Catherine" I said softly, in the empty office. With that alone, I felt some relief. Perhaps she will be happy to see me, perhaps not. This thought must end, as I could hear soft footsteps approaching from the hall, being that of some other officer most likely. With that fear in my mind, of this secret past uncovering, I shut down my LCARS terminal, swallowing hard what little was left of my fourth tea. Standing up, I caught a peripheral glance of the officer entering as I walked out beside him, giving him a tentative nod as I headed to my quarters. Ready to enjoy those four hours of slumber before my shift.

 

"The loose ends must be tied" I thought again to myself, entering my quarters. Catherine and I must meet again, one last time. It's the best for us both. That bit, I only hoped.