In loving memory

[knlwtchr 0]

The sun peaked its beautiful red, orange, and yellow textured rays over the tops of the mountains ahead and shined its soft light rays over the deep valley below. The valley of dew covered grass appeared to trickle into the horizon, interupted only by the small tent and smoldering fire nearly in the center of the scene. The faint cry of a hawk was the only sound heard as the youth began to waken after a restful night.

 

Stretching and sitting upright, the young woman rubbed her eyes and cleared her throat. She placed a hand on the empty sleeping bag to her left, recalling a faint memory of its occupant leaving the tent just a few moments before.

 

"Dad? Are you still out there? What time is it?"

 

The man, who had just returned to their camp with a new armload of firewood, set himself on one knee and looked toward the half closed doors of the tent. His large blue eyes softened as he seperated the wood. He smiled.

 

"Andrea, are you still in there? I thought you were going to get our breakfast this morning."

 

A young Andrea Knlwtchr sighed and stepped out of the tent. She had decided to wear her jeans this morning due to the previous nights attack of mosquitoes. Nor was she sorry now for weighing her pack down with a heavy sweater. She had decided it had to be about 40 degrees at present. She only wished she had a jacket for her father.

 

Andrea approached and hugged her father. "I didnt hear you. When did you wake up?"

 

Robert Knlwtchr gave his daughter a warm smile. He loosened his embrace on his child and kissed her forehead. "Oh, Ive only been up for about 25 minutes." Then he revealed a toothy, innocent grin.

 

His daughter raised an eyebrow. "Uh huh. OK, Ill be right back."

 

Stepping over the camp fire, Andrea listened as her father chuckled to himself. Many times, she could remember chuckling like that herself. She was also reminded of how very much she was like her father. So much, in fact, that family members kidded that had Andrea been a boy, they would not have been able to tell them apart.

 

Andrea reached the container they had brought this trip with food and various supplies. She opened the top, retrieved 4 fresh eggs, and recapped the container. Then she stood and headed back for the fire.

 

As she approached, she noticed her father crouched by his new fire, talking into a voice recorder. In all his years in Starfleet, he always made a log entry. Even long after he retired, he made an entry of his life, just for his own records.

 

Andrea stood very still until he completed his entry. She watched his mannerisms as he spoke, watched the sun raise, and various other beautiful goings-on around them. She smiled fondly...

 

...and stepped forward alittle. Andrea blinked and realized where she was. She looked down again to the tricorder in her hand as her fond smile faded. As she refocused on what she was doing, her memory reshot pictures of memories of her father on that trip.

 

The small clearing she and her new crewmates had just come upon was even more beautiful then the ones she remembered when she would go on camping trips with her father. But the smell was different. The feel was different. And the company, though reminiscently friendly, could not compare to that of her father.

 

Andrea missed him. She knew she would never get him back. She would never spend time with him like she used to. She would never get one of his special hugs. And she would never again hear that laugh.

 

But she was all the more enriched and blessed for having had him in her life. And she was dedicated to passing on that warmth.

 

(In loving memory of Andrea's player's father. Love you, Dad!)

 

Ensign Andrea Knlwtchr

Ships Counselor

USS Arcadia 1742 E

Edited July 14, 2005 by knlwtchr