Welcome to Star Trek Simulation Forum

Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to contribute to this site by submitting your own content or replying to existing content. You'll be able to customize your profile, receive reputation points as a reward for submitting content, while also communicating with other members via your own private inbox, plus much more! This message will be removed once you have signed in.

Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0
NDak

Brothers and Blood Ties

The Talon had been docked for several hours by the time Destorie finally made his was back down to his quarters. It was late and Destorie was tired; he'd spent the entirety of his time since they docked finishing crew and mission reports and had nearly caught up when he remembered he had an entire after action report due to the Galae in the morning. Exhausted, he'd headed down for power-nap. As the doors opened, he found something unexpected.

 

"What is the meaning of this," Issaha said in a stern tone more reminiscent of the elder N'Dak.

 

Pausing just inside the doorway, Destorie looked at him strangely.

 

Issaha, for his part, had taken up position on the couch with a monitor in front of him, and Destorie was mildly relieved when he realized Issaha was speaking to the monitor.

 

"I'm sorry, Arrain, but these are the orders. Perhaps you should speak to your Enarrain, the paperwork originated from his desk, after all."

 

"That snake ..." Issaha paused a moment to collect himself before continuing in more even tones. "Hann'yyo for au time, Erei'riov."

 

Realizing the very snake had entered the room and was standing, motionless just in the side doorway, Issaha turned his glance to his brother. "Coward."

 

Taking a very deep breath before saying anything, Destorie considered his possible responses. He could easily lie, say it was a mistake, but then he would have to go back on his decision. He could say he was planning on telling him sooner, but that would also be a lie.

 

"My apologies, Issaha."

 

"For what," Issaha said caustically. "Are au going to tell me how this was some big mistake, going to blame it on someone else?"

 

"Na," Destorie said somberly. "I am sorry that I did na tell au first."

 

"Oh, is that all? You're not sorry for doing this without asking me? You're just sorry because you're so unwilling to deal with your own messes that you couldn't even tell me face to face? Elements, I deserve more than that. I am au brother!"

 

The veracity of his normally sheepish younger brother took him back, and he paused unable to speak. Finally regaining his faculties, Destorie exhaled. "I'm sorry for many things Issaha. I have not done well by you as a brother, or as au commanding officer. In time, I hope that you will see the wisdom in this decision, though I doubt you will anytime soon. H'nah, I have sometime, let me help au pack au belongings, when we leave to return to the homestead, au must take everything, as au will not be returning."

 

Issaha glowered. "The hell. Au contact whom ever au need to and get this straightened out. I am not leaving this ship, or au."

 

"I am rather immune to that look and tone, Issaha. Au service aboard the Talon is over, I have made my decision, and that is final."

 

"Au ... have made ... au decision? What about what I want?"

 

Destorie shook his head and finally entered the room, walking towards the replicator for a glass of water. "I care little for what au want. Au want sunshine and puppies -- to play with au brother and pretend to be a grown up. H'nah, I can na longer afford to have that kind of liability around."

 

"You're a terrible liar."

 

"I am being serious. Au are nothing more than a liability, something that can be use against me or something that continually finds new and inventive ways to get in my way."

 

Issaha gaze remained fixed on his elder brother. His entire life he'd looked up to him. He'd always thought him to be something of a hero. Strong willed, intelligent, courageous... But now as he looked towards the man he'd once idolized he saw something very different, venerable even.

 

"I know you're try to protect me, but I don't need that, and you need someone you can trust aboard. Especially when t'Rexan returns."

 

Openning his mouth to rebuff his brother's claim, Destorie found himself taken back by the last comment. Twice in one conversation? This was a new record for Issaha. "The only thing I can trust you to do, is get into trouble."

 

"Perhaps if you'd give me a chance..."

 

"I have given you..."

 

Issaha looked away, unable to control his emotions any longer. He had never been so angry or hurt by his brother, and he felt tears roll down his checks, which had flushed a dark green. He felt the firm touch of Destorie's hand upon his shoulder and pulled away.

 

"Kaelin," Destorie said, using his brother's fourth name, perhaps for the first time. "Please do not be angry with me. I am doing this, perhaps selfishly, but I cannot afford to have you here any longer. It is simply too dangerous."

 

"As if au care," Issaha said bitterly through tears. "And do na dare presume to use that name. If au truly cared, au would na treat me this way. Au did na even come visit me, rhae medical and now au try to pretend that au care for me and call me by that name? Who are au Sheuji, and what have au become?"

 

The words stung at Destorie harder than the strokes of the whip. For the first time, Destorie realized that he didn't know the answer to either question. Who was he, and what kind of monster had he become? He looked away as he felt Issaha's gaze fall upon him, and tears trickled down his own face.

 

"I did not come, because I do not care. I did not come, because I did not know what to say."

 

"You did not have to say anything! All you had to do was be there. Elements Destorie, do you not understand. I don't blame you because I was injured. I blame you for not being able to forgive yourself. How can anyone else forgive you?"

 

Destorie swallowed hard. "The sad thing is, I don't even know what I am supposed to forgive myself for... I just have this unbearable weight upon my shoulders and I don't even know why."

 

"I don't know either, but you'd better start figuring it out soon."

 

Swallowing again, Destorie wiped clear his eyes. "Come, you have a lot of packing to do. I have much to sort out, and to be honest, it will be easier with you gone. If I cannot even forgive myself for you being injured in the line of duty..."

 

Issaha placed a hand on his brother's shoulder and squeezed. It was the first time he could ever remember Destorie being so open to him. "Very well. While I do not agree with you, you are at least being honest and I will abide your decision. I do not pretend, brother, to know what burdens you carry, but know that they do not have to be yours alone. I would have stayed by your side until the end, Sheuji.”

 

“I know, Kaelin.”

 

As the two embraced, they realized how close, yet far apart they’d always been, and both fell into a long silence.

 

“Promise me,” Issaha finally said, “promise Sheuji that au will not continue to bear au burdens alone, and that au will not simply retreat into auself.”

 

“I will … I will try...”

 

“Mehnka... Mehnka...”

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!


Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.


Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0