2 Months Ago

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I don't want to be alone, I want to be left alone.

- Audrey Hepburn

 

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2 MONTHS AGO...

 

“You’re looking better.”

A father’s lie to a son. If anything, the man sitting across the darkened room had never looked worse. Though the physical wounds had healed with some success, the mental wounds were still plainly on show.

 

There was little response to the false encouragement though, just a continued stare out the window followed by a single sip of blue liquid from a tall frosty glass sitting on an antique glass table.

 

A second attempt was made to begin a conversation.

“I spoke to Kalaan. He says you turned down that offer you got...the private security job on the outer colonies.”

 

Yet again the aging soldier’s speech was met with silence. With a sad shake of the head he slowly took a few steps forward to share in the view his mute companion seemed to find so fascinating it denied the use of a tongue.

 

He couldn’t fault him if that was the case. It was a magnificent sight. Lights flashing, vehicles zooming by and the streets flowing like pumping arteries. Decades living among the upper echelons of Andorian society provided Thelin with plenty of chances to look down from dozens of stylish apartments like this but the sprawling vista of Laibok still took his breath away.

 

“I’m really going to miss this”, said Shontuk flatly, finally speaking. His citywide gaze unwavering.

 

The old man’s eyes eventually filled with comprehension and he sighed

“So...you’ve decided on returning? To the Starfleet I mean.”

 

A curt nod answered his question.

 

“I still don’t understand why you would do this. Not after what those pink-skins...not after what happened to you”

 

“There’s nothing for me here.”, Shontuk stated matter of factly, taking a large gulp of the expensive Andorian ale with a minor satisfied exhale of air following.

 

“That’s a blatant lie and you know it”, Thelin said, an audible chink of anger in his voice. His antennae stood on end. “I truly regret that I didn’t have enough pull to get you back into the parliamentary division but you could still return to the guard in some capacity.”

 

“Hah!”, the seated drinker exclaimed, “And fill out traffic reports perhaps? Maybe give safety talks to schoolchildren. Oh wait. I’d scare them wouldn’t I?”

With a dark smile he turned his head upwards to his father, showing the right side. A small clump of scarred flesh formed the base of a regrown antenna. It twitched slightly.

 

Thelin sat down in the opposite chair by the window. “Shontuk, you’re being ridiculous. Its noticeable yes, I won’t lie, but you know full well that only complete idiots have issues with antenna loss these days.”

 

“I dodged a phaser shot then. I wouldn’t want to have been married to three idiots.”

Bitterness seeped through every word.

 

“Pardon?” the old man asked.

 

Shontuk slid his portable media viewer across the table roughly and had another drink. Thelin took the device in his hand and viewed it. A news article was up announcing a glamorous wedding that had taken place the previous day. The names of the two lucky brides and one of the grooms jumped out at him and his heart sank.

 

“I’m so sorry my son.”

 

“Bah. Its alright.” Shontuk said, downing the rest of his glass and placing it down with a hard clunk. “You have nothing to be sorry for. It’s just another piece of proof, that for a while there will indeed be no place for me on Andoria. I’m just too much of a bad conversation topic. Mother Tarah even heard that there have been requests filed to look into my involvement in the trade minister’s murder investigation.”

 

“But that was over a decade ago!”, Thelin cried out in shock.

 

Shontuk shrugged

 

“Tarah is going to get an earful at the dinner for not telling me anything about this. And after all this time...that’s simply outrageous.” The captain grumbled and then gave his progeny a judgemental look of a highly theatrical quality. “By the way, can I assume you’ll find the time in your busy staring schedule to share a dinner with your dear family before you go flying on the...what vessel have they posted you on?”

 

“The USS Comanche Creek.”

 

“Another silly pink-skin name.”, Thelin snorted derisively

 

“You’re right father. They should name one after you”

 

“Wicked child. I get enough sarcasm at home. I think I had best leave you be.”, Thelin raised himself out of his chair with a slight groan. “I do expect you to turn up though. Sheleri hasn’t been too well lately.”

 

“And I will” the younger man’s voice took a sound of total sincerity. “I mean it. It would give me great pleasure to share a meal with you all. Just not tonight. I’d like to be alone tonight.”

 

Thelin nodded and softly whispered. “I understand”. With a hand pat on the shoulder he walked to the door. But before he stepped out, he spoke out.

 

“Bring that” he said, pointing to a black instrument case in the corner. “Sheleri will want to hear you play”. He then exited.

 

Shontuk turned back to the window and watched the world zoom by. His mind lingered on a familiar red-shirt uniform and the coming future he would have wearing it again.