Turn of Events Part 3

[Shane 0]

Shane stood in the holo-room, staring at his father Dayson with confusion as the older man paused.”What,” he finally asked, “do you mean by all this, Dad? Are you saying that the Tal Shiar did this to us?”

 

Dayson snapped back from his distant recollection, his eyes flashing with anger at the array of stars across the room. “No,” he replied quietly, “it wasn’t. After my agreement, I received instructions to make my way to a civilian ship docked at the medical facility. There I underwent a procedure that was…painful, but worked. We bought the salvage and disposal yard as instructed and lived a normal life, raising you and your brothers. Years went by before I heard from the Romulans.

 

“I had almost forgotten them until, a week before our disappearances; I received an anonymous message with a ship offer. It was an aging freighter in disrepair with a cargo of triceron aboard. The message described the offer as usual, but read at the bottom in small letters, “I’m glad you survived.” The freighter carried the name Owed Favor.”

 

“I surprisingly wasn’t all that shocked. All those years, in the back of my mind, I knew the Tal Shiar would appear again. I guess that was what made my decision of how to respond. Deep down, I felt I had been living a lie, always afraid of discovery. I was tired of it. So I contact my former captain, now an admiral and arranged to meet him out of system. That was when it happened. They…” Dayson choked as the tears began to stream again, his eyes filling with pain as he faced his son. “They killed her Shane. They killed…everyone. The freighter was delivered to the yard without my knowing, while I was two days away. Starfleet Intelligence found out and staged a raid on the station. Kaylie…she was vaporized as soon as they burst through the airlock. They didn’t ask questions or anything! They just murdered her outright.”

 

The older Tayjer turned, unable to face his son with his guilt heavy on his heart. He spoke more to himself than too Shane, “She’s dead…because of me. Because I was too cowardly to face my fate. Because I was willing to forgo my duty to save my own life. Kaylie…and everyone on the station paid for my transgressions.”

 

Shane’s expression was numb with shock as his father fell silent. Slowly, he sank down to the black, featureless floor, sitting and staring distantly off into the artificial starfield. “Mom’s dead,” he whispered quietly, “just…gone.”

 

The two sat and stood in their silent grief for several long moments, one overcome with sudden loss and the other filled with regret. Dayson Tayjer turned to look at his son, the pride and love he felt for him stirring through the grief inside him. “Shane,” he said at last, his features reflecting the same burdened sadness he had felt before his son had found him, “if you never grant me forgiveness for what I have caused…it will be justified. But that’s not what I’m looking for. I had to tell…someone the truth about what happened, about what I have done. This secret has burned in me for the latter part of my life…I couldn’t carry this to my grave. I can’t repair the damage I have caused to the lives of the innocent, to your mother. But I can set my relationship right with you. That’s the only thing that has kept me going. I wanted you to know who I truly was.”

 

Shane starred silently forward, his cheeks drying from fallen tears. Part of him burned with anger what had happened to his mother, at his father for his selfishness long ago. But it was over-shadowed by the love and respect he had for his father, despite his mistakes. Shane stood and gripped Dayson’s hand, looking him straight in the eye. “I love you Dad,” he said with conviction, “and I’m still proud to be your son. That will never change.”

 

Dayson smiled sadly. “Thank you.” he said softly.

 

Shane returned the smile and turned to leave, “Come on. We have to figure some way to get yo

 

“No,” Dayson said, a look of sad determination on his face, “we’re not.” Shane looked back to his father, confused. Dayson continued, “It’s time that I paid the consequences of my actions. I’ve run from them my entire life and look at what it has cost us.”

 

“What if Starfleet responds the same as they did at the station?” Shane asked, but knowing too well the answer. He could see that his father’s mind was set.

 

Dayson shook his head slowly, “Between the Tal Shiar and Star Intelligence, I’ve been expecting death for quite some time now. In fact, I’m surprised I’ve made it this far. But...I’m glad that I did.” A beeping noise was heard and Dayson pulled a device out of his coat pocket. “My shuttle has been compensated” he said after reading its message. “Looks as if my time has run out.” Dayson looked back up at his son, pride filling his eyes and embraced him. “Goodbye son…and thank you.”

 

Shane couldn’t reply, the pain of losing another parent too much for him. He could only return the embrace as hot tears burned at his eyes. Then Shane Tayjer did the hardest thing in his life. He watched his father walk out of room. He only watched.

 

Earth, several days later

The bright Texas sunlight shown down on the red canyon walls, creating a brilliant scene that stretched for miles in every direction. Near the edge of a cliff, a group of people were dispersing from a grey stone monument. Shane stood with his hands held behind his back, staring at the inscription:

 

In memory of Dayson and Kaylie Tayjer

Loving father and mother

We shall remember you always

 

Shane’s uncle, Todd Tayjer, walked up beside him, looking out across the canyon. “Shane,” he said,”I know it was hard to let go. It was hard for all of us. But I think its best that we’ve found peace. When you contacted us with news about them being found in wreckage, I was almost glad to finally know the truth.” He paused for little, looking back to the stone etching. “Your father, my brother…he was a good man.”

 

Shane continued to stare at the monument for a moment before answering quietly, “Yes, he was.”

 

The two stared at the memorial for a time, lost in the memories of those passed. Todd finally turned and patted Shane on the shoulder as he left, saying,”Keep in touch.” Shane stood alone for a little longer, before tapping his comm. “Computer,” he said, “End transmission.” The canyon and stone monument disappeared to show the black and yellow grid of a holo-deck. Shane stood watching where the memorial had been, his face expressionless. He then turned and walked out.