Chapter 64: Time Heals All Wounds
January 2415
To Derri and Tamas of s’Nalah, residing on Artaleirh Colony,
We have never met, but I know you. The story you’re about to hear is going to sound very strange, and I know you have no reason to believe anything I say, but I beg you to read this message to its conclusion.
When I was twelve years old, there was a disaster on my people’s home world. Billions of people died. Every able body and every working ship in the sector was asked to help. It was not a safe thing to do, going back to the site of the disaster, but my parents operated a small civilian transport and felt they had a duty to act. So they chose to return to try to rescue any survivors, and provide whatever assistance they could. I never saw them again.
Years later, I learned that my parents’ ship was destroyed in an accident, while trying to free a group of survivors from the wreckage of an orbital station. I was not entirely neglected for the remainder of my youth, though obviously my teenage years were less than ordinary. As soon as I was old enough, in some misguided search for purpose, I enrolled in my people’s military academy, or what was left of it. Inspired by my parents’ sacrifice for others, I became a doctor. I wanted to help my people. I wanted to heal my people.
But there was little good to be done. The loss of the homeworld was not something easily fixed. Colonies split into factions and fought among themselves. Doctors learned to destroy, scientists became soldiers. Our ‘new’ homeworld was established, only to be devastated again, by invasion. After a time, it seemed as though nothing would ever be right with the universe again. I started to give up hope. I started to resign myself to the fact that I could never fix everything. That I’d simply have to go about my life as best I could.
Then one day, with an insane plan, everything changed. We had a way to fix everything. To make a better world, for ourselves, for our children, for everyone. We found a way to improve countless billions of lives. To do it, we’ve had to make many sacrifices. In recent weeks I’ve found myself wavering, wondering, if we’re doing the right thing.
When I have trouble getting through the day, I find myself thinking about my parents. They were good people. They were hard-working, intelligent, and peaceful. They made their home on a colony, but they never forgot where they came from, and why that’s important. They gave up everything, for their world and for their people.
Kirina looked up from her writing and out towards the window, just in time to catch the change in view as Vauthilai dropped out of warp. She closed her eyes a moment, letting the sounds of the crew moving about the mess hall drone out any other idle thoughts kicking around her head.
“It’s all worth it,” she murmured to herself. “We’re here. Everything is ready. It’s all worth it.”
“Doctor t’Nalah, you’re needed on the Bridge.” Kirina snapped her eyes open at the sound of the intercom. She took a deep breath, then exhaled, before climbing to her feet and carrying her PADD off towards the turbolift.
You are good, hard-working, intelligent, and peaceful people. If you receive this message, then you won’t need to give up everything for your world and your people. You have years ahead. Be who you are. Never forget where you came from, and why that’s important. Teach your daughter these things. Stay with her and treasure that time, for as long as you can.