A lullaby for David SD 10108.10

[Ambassador Moose 0]

A lullaby for David SD 10108.10

 

The small harp in her hands was silent. She had intended to play David some music, but now sitting here she felt like she was being torn in two. The harp was the furthest thing from her mind, as she looked down at the child. Not really a child, Rowan thought as she smiled at his sleeping form, a young man. One day he would grow to be very handsome.

 

One day. The smile disappeared completely from her face. There would be no more days for David. Her fingers gently plucked at the harp strings. Coalition law was very precise in this area. David had stowed away on the Captain's yacht, and would, as soon as they reached Paktar, be made a ward of the state.

 

The gentle tune of an ancient Axian lullaby filled the small room where Rowan sat with David. The music was soothing, but Rowan only felt more torn. The Coalition would not look out for David's best interest. They were only interested in gaining more power and more control over greater expanses of the galaxy. And David was an enigma to them. A strong Telepath that somehow managed to survive as the ship entered flux. She could see the doctors lurking, waiting for some unguarded moment to try and discover 'why.' Quietly, her voice joined the harp, "Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep...."

 

Gio had thought of her as a similar prize. A trophy that he could parade around and use when the time was right. "...keep Thy lamb, in safety keep..." But she had quietly watched, and listened, and learned. For too long she had listened to Gio say, that she would be killed if anyone discovered her telepathic abilities. But Gio was no longer her husband, and no longer controlling her life. " ... nothing from Thy power withstand... "

 

But what of David? She looked again at him, and willed herself not to weep. Rowan could only imagine the telepathic power this young man held. Gio had implanted a telepathic suppression device, just below the skin surface, under her left breast. She grimaced at the memory, how he had laughed and said, "No one would think to look there!", but the device had served her well. A powerful Telepath in her own right, even with her abilities suppressed, she felt the discomfort when the ship entered flux. "...none can pluck me from Thine hand ..." How had David managed to survive? How could he continue to survive, if he stayed in this coma and The Coalition took him away?

 

Rowan let the harp resonate with the last notes, her voice in a whisper, "...none can pluck me from Thine hand ..." Still bent over the harp she reached under the folds of her tunic and braced herself for the mental assault that would occur when she turned the suppression device off. After years of intense training she was able to block out all the unwanted "noise" but after months of having her abilities suppressed, she knew that the initial onslaught would overwhelming if not prepared.

 

Gently she set down her harp, and took David's hand. She could not live with her conscious if she did nothing to help this young man, even if it meant her own discovery. She closed her eyes and focused on him. David... David, it's Rowan. I'm here to help you, if you'll let me. There is so much I need to tell you. The Captain, Moose, he is very worried about you -- we all are. He tries to hide his grief, but the pain is visible on his face. David. David, you need to come to me, focus on me. There is great danger ahead. You need to be aware of it. On some detached level Rowan knew she should not go too far into his mind, yet, she moved hesitantly forward, conscious not to probe, to dig for anything more than to contact David.

 

David ... You need to wake up. You ... need ... to ....

 

 

Rowan Moderi

Federation Delegate