Lucky 13

[Atragon9 0]

{A9 is sitting in his Ready Room, a half-smile across his face as he realizes the date, 51209.09, his wedding anniversary. 13 years ago, he started a new chapter of his life, marrying Jami Farrington, his second wife, his soulmate, his Second Officer, his constant companion, his best friend.}

 

{Things were so good, for so long. She helped him as his sounding board, his moral compass, his friend and lover, his Wife. Then... things changed. It's so hard to know when it started to turn, when the distance really started to noticeable. Maybe he just hardened with all the intrigue with the Federation Council, maybe it was the fallout of this stressful and covert line of work, maybe she just wasn't willing to come along with him on his journey, maybe he should never ask anyone to come with him down this terrible road, maybe maybe maybe...}

 

{Last year, she left - she simply stayed on Earth when Manticore made port and then departed. They never had a big fight, they never had a terribly deep discussion. Looking back at it, he realizes now that they had been positioning themselves to walk in different directions and she just took the first step, while he stayed on the same path all along. They haven't divorced, they haven't even formally separated, although they are separated by lightyears of distance.}

 

{So, here it is, 9/9 by the old Earth calendar, the day they chose because of his name and love of the simple, yet complex number. That's a good way to look at his personality and perspective on life - simple, yet so complex.}

 

Computer, begin a personal message to Commander Jami Farrington, route it through Starfleet Medical HQ.

 

[whirr, thweep]

 

Jami, it's Atragon. I don't know when you'll get this, but I'm recording it on September 9th ::pause:: I've been thinking of you today, of course, and I hope you're happy. You know I'll always love you, but I think you'll agree that it's for the best that we are apart. I always said that you were my second wife and my last wife. I still feel that this is true. I will never marry again, even if we formalize our separate lives. I feel that I have hurt two women by trying to force them into a commitment to my unique career and I will never do that again. I'm betting that you will argue with me when I ask for your forgiveness, that there is "nothing to forgive," but we both know there is. I can never atone for all I have put you through, so the best I can offer is my apology and the desire that the rest of your long and wonderful life be exciting, fulfilling, fun and joyous. Be well and think of me kindly.

 

Sincerely and Covertly,

 

Atragon

 

Computer, encode and transmit

 

[whirr, thwoop]