Don't forget where you came from if you want to know where you're going -Part 2

[Eva Jaz 0]

"No I'm sorry. Never seen her in my life." That's what the Ferengi trader had said when shown Allaly's photo.

 

Saranni engaged the auto pilot on his small ship. Letting himself sink in the beat up seat. Picking up the PADD he had shown the Ferengi and he lost count of how many others. Jaz ran his fingers on the digital photograph, tracing the contour of his wife's face.

 

She was lying on the bed, her red hair like a fire against the pillow. The most beautiful sight he had ever seen and he was truly still shocked by the fact that she loved him." I love you Sar. You do know that now that we're married. I'll never leave you alone. " She smiled shifting her body side ways to face him. " I'll always be right there next to you. You'll be so tired to see me that you'll take a posting on the most remote dig you can find just to get away from me."

Saranni looked at his new bride." Don't even kid about things like that. I'll never want to be away from you."

 

The memory shifted. The same nightmare, living nightmare, fast forwarding 11 years. "You're transport was attacked. You're lucky to still be alive." The doctor said when he woke up. "Allaly?" he asked as soon as he could speak. He repeated the question over and over again until someone finally answered him. " No trace of her. We suspect pirates. I regret to inform you she was probably sold as a slave. We'll keep the file open." The actual words might have been said with more tact but the message stayed the same regardless.

 

Saranni opened his eyes, still starring at the picture. "You had promised me you would never leave me... I love you" he whispered as his eyes filled with tears. *

 

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Hearing the soft knock on the door, Layben Jaz put down the tray of dirty glasses needing to be recycled into the bar built in replicator. “We’re closed” he said loud enough to be heard through the door, hoping in vain that whoever was behind the door would get the message. He approached the door, opening it “Look buddy, we’ll open again….” He stopped mid sentence recognizing the old man standing there. “I can come back tomorrow son, if you’re too tired to talk to me after I traveled all this way to see you.”

 

 

Jebel mentally rolled his eyes at the passive aggressive remark. “Come in” he said, opening the door wider for his estranged father to step through.

 

The old man walked in the small bar, looking around. “So, this is your Risan resto bar …”

 

Layben answered patiently “ Yes Father, it is”, ignoring the unmasked disapproval in his parent’s voice.

 

Awon Val, removed his hat, exposing his white thinning hair. “Have a seat, please. I must finish clean up.” Jebel said, turning his back to his dad before retrieving the tray of dirty dishes. He patiently waited for the older man to start talking. He knew an unpleasant topic was about to be brought up. It was one of the reasons why he avoided his father.

 

“I’m taking my retirement next month” chirped Val.

 

Layben dropped the tray on the bar, mumbling some indecipherable answer before rubbing his spotted temples; he knew exactly were this was going

 

.“Son, I want you to come back with me to Trill and take over the company. It’s your family duty!”

 

Jaz closed his eyes. “ We’ve discussed this before…I have not changed my mind.”

 

The old Trill’s face flushed . “I’m offering you the chance of a life time! You’re a grown man, not a rebellious teenager. Who has a life dream of running some watering hole on a beach in Risa!?”

 

Layben dropped the rag he was clutching. The volume and tone now matching his father’s : “ I do! Me! I want nothing to do with your company. With your “legacy” I own this place and I happen to like it! “

 

Awon’s eyes narrowed. “ Why? Have I really raised a son with no ambitions?”

 

Layben faced his father. “Why? I’ll tell you why! Because I do not want to end up like you!” An accusing finger pointed at the white haired trill. “ I do not want to missed out on my life and loose the ones I love because I was too busy running a successful business.”

 

The old man’s jaw dropped as his son went on . “I do not want to end up alone like you. Happy? I said it! Now get out of my bar, get out of my resort. I have a lovely lady waiting for me at home and I’m already running late.”

 

 

***********************************************

 

Eva buried her nose in yet another coffee cup, ignoring the gossiping nurses, knowing full well they had overheard her asking out the Georgian engineer.

 

After a few minute she put down the cup and looked up smugly. They were still stuck in an other universe, she still had patients to check upon and a couple reports to file for Mele, but right now she enjoyed the fact that, once the jump was successful , she'd have a date. That fact made her feel happy and a little less lonely.

 

 

 

 

* Reference to the log "Memory Lane"