"Alive"

[Garnoopy 0]

Three years ago on USS Manticore . . .

 

. . . It is Starfleet’s sad duty to inform you off the loss of the Federation Starship IKC Qob-Lakota, and all crewmembers aboard. . .

 

. . . Doctor Garnoopy, your twin brother, was on board the IKC Qob-Lakota at the time, and he is presumed dead along with the rest of the crew. . .

 

. . . The Federation sent out several ships to comb the area for any sign of wreckage, and none was found. . .

 

Current day . . .

 

Lieutenant Commander Garnoopy

Chief Engineering Officer

USS Manticore, NCC-5852

Personal Log Stardate 50412.19

“Alive”

 

Garnoopy stared at the letter on his desktop screen and read it over and over again. He could have recited it backwards and forwards by now yet it didn’t seem quite to settle in yet. Denial had infested his brain and he couldn’t quite comprehend what the message meant yet there it sat in plain English on his screen.

The grieving was over. The acceptance had occurred. Garnoopy had moved on with his life and now, well, what could he do now? Everything had changed in an instant. His closure that had taken months was shattered.

He read the message again.

 

Brother,

I am alive.