The Ansha Tales: There She Goes
An Experiments and Escapes Epilogue
The flash illuminated Brenda’s face through an observation window as the station she had labored at, under apparently false pretenses, vaporized to dust. Tears welled up in her eyes.
She had been duped into giving her efforts to someone whose concern for ethical standards was as low as their concern for life. She had gotten into genetic science in order to help people, and Doctor Mordren, in a classic narcissistic move, used that desire along with a young grad student’s naivety to further his own evil research.
Her research was used in experiments that were straight out of a horror novel, by someone she respected. Mordren, though strict and often cruel, at least acted like he believed in her work. That was enough for the young, twenty-two year old scientist, on her way to her doctorate, to believe that this was the path to get her there.
Now all that was nothing. She had her PADD with her notes, but that research data was, in her mind, tainted.
She realized she was still wearing the cat ears headband. She slowly took them off and closed her eyes.
“I still think they are cute,” a familiar, heavily accented voice said behind her. She turned to see Ansha who smiled sympathetically, having doffed her armor and now in her usual uniform.
“Hey,” Brenda said, managing a tear soaked smile. “I’m just not feeling it.”
Ansha nodded as she walked over next to Brenda.
“I understand, Brenda,” Ansha answered. “A lot of your friends died.”
“It isn’t just that Ansha. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am so sad about all the loss of life, but… and I totally feel like I am being selfish, but we really believed in what we were doing. Mordren had us believing we were doing good things. My dream has always been to be a scientist and solve problems, cure diseases, and be a hero. Now…”
Ansha nodded. “You are a hero.”
“I don’t feel like it, particularly since I took a glimpse at what… was… in those… files,” Brenda said as she broke down completely.
Ansha put her arm around Brenda, not sure what else to do, which seemed to queue Brenda into melting into Ansha’s arms. Ansha held her and rocked back and forth, illuminated by the still burning wreckage outside. Ansha had been there before.
No words could be said.
No quotes should be shared.
Now was simply a time for tears.
A week later
There it was, in plain common, on her terminal in Ansha’s wardroom onboard the USS Hornet: an appointment to a billet on the USS Patriot. Not just that but Captain Sh’ow Sejea had requested Ansha once again be her XO and it was approved. The Patriot, a fresh, Yorktown Class Dreadnought, similar to the Lexington Class Dragon, minus the mission pod. It was sleek, advanced, and huge. It could be considered a ship of the line. It was a feeling of euphoria mixed with apprehension that was a sublime experience indeed.
A ding broke the moment though. Ansha called out, “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Brenda,” a familiar voice replied.
Ansha tapped her wrist and the door opened.
“Hey, are you doing?” Ansha asked cheerfully as the two exchanged a hug.
“Better, I mean, all things considered,” Brenda said as she walked in. “I wanted to see you before I go.”
“I am glad you did, Brenda. I would be rather upset if you left without saying goodbye,”
“So,” Brenda asked cautiously, “did you get that position?”
Ansha tried to hide a smile to prolong the suspense but she failed miserably. Her excitement could not be contained.
“Yes!” she said as she nodded emphatically. Brenda lit up with contagious excitement as well and cheered loudly.
“That is wonderful, Ansha,” Brenda exclaimed. “I know you’ll be the best at it.”
“Thank you, Brenda.” Ansha stepped back to get a good look at her. Her demeanor went morphed into a serious tone. “So what is next for you?”
“Tribunal,” Brenda replied. She looked worried. “I’m scared, Ansha. I’m so scared.”
“Do not be scared. You did nothing wrong, Brenda.”
“Guilty by association.”
“No,” Ansha replied sternly, “that is not how it works. Look, Mordren used you. It is all over those files. He and only a few others knew the actual purpose of their research. You did not, right?”
“Right,” Brenda replied, struggling to maintain eye contact, preferring to look down. Ansha placed a couple of fingers under her chin and gently guided her head back up to meet Ansha’s eyes. Ansha then smiled.
“And when the truth was revealed,” Ansha said, “you did what you could to make things right, including directing the evacuation and handing the damning evidence against Mordren over.”
“Yes… ma’am,” Brenda sighed. Her blue eyes couldn’t pull away from Ansha’s deep brown eyes. “I had to.”
“No you did not,” Ansha answered, which confused Brenda. She wanted to argue but something about Ansha, her moves, her way of speaking, could change the dynamic of their relationship instantly and place Brenda into a state of mental submission that she never knew existed in her, nor knew she secretly desired. She couldn’t argue with Ansha in this state. Ansha had a strange but positive way of viewing things, whether it came from wisdom from the Wind People’s collective shared experiences, resolving her own crisis of faith, or philosophy learned from an upbringing among Sikhs. Brenda had learned from their first meeting onward to trust this person. Inside, Brenda somehow knew that Ansha, who seemed to hold her captive by her touch and voice alone, would make things clear.
“You could have left the evidence there, where it would have been lost. Preserved the status quo. You were the only one outside of his circle that discovered them. You are the one that sent them to the Hornet. You did not have to do that.”
“Furthermore,” Ansha continued, “you could have just gotten yourself to the hangar bay, but instead, you stayed at your terminal, opening doors and directing people to safe routes until the last moment… until everyone else had gotten out. You saved lives at your own peril, Brenda.”
“I get your point, Ansha,” Brenda said as she rolled her eyes like a teenager being lambasted. Ansha touched Brenda’s chin again, which brought her eyes back in contact. “But…”, Brenda said with her words slowly fading with any notion of rebellion.
“Do you, Brenda?” Ansha cut her off, taking Brenda’s hands as she did. “If you do get my point, then you should believe you are a good person. You did the right thing. You were fooled, but when you discovered the truth and then you did what needed to be done to make it right, no matter the cost and risk to you.”
“The tribunal will see that,” Ansha continued. “They will see the woman I see, right now, standing before me… a good, beautiful soul, that when faced with an ethical and moral dilemma, chose the right path. That is what they will see, Brenda.”
Brenda nodded and looked down then back up. She took a deep breath. She tried to speak but the words wouldn’t form. She leaned forward and kissed Ansha on the lips, who was instantly shocked by this. Brenda instantly recoiled.
“Oh, I… I… I’m sorry, Lieutenant Commander… I… ,” Brenda stammered, releasing Ansha’s hands. Ansha smiled and shook her head.
“I am not offended,” Ansha replied, laughing. “It was a surprise, but…, “ Ansha shot a coy look at Brenda. “Not unpleasantly so. That was just unexpected. Not necessarily… undesired.”
“Oh?” Brenda said blushing with a smile. “Well, I am still sorry. I just, I… lost control for a bit there. I should have asked first.” Brenda paused awkwardly for a moment once again scared to make eye contact. “Look, Ansha, I’ve never met anyone like you before. You make me feel whole and special. You bring out the best in me. From the moment I met you, when the alarms happened, after the explosion, and this week, just hanging out and talking about stuff… watching movies… all of it. I mean, I can talk to you about things and you don’t… you don’t judge me for being weird and stuff. I’ve been thinking about that a lot. How… how I’ve dreamed about someone like that in my life. I didn’t think I could live after…well, you know, but you gave me hope.”
“I…,” Ansha thought of how to answer this. She really had begun to be emotionally attached to Brenda, and though the power she seemed to have over Brenda was intoxicating, this young scientist needed to be on level ground for a while first emotionally, and not exploited yet again. “Listen, Brenda, I do…in all honesty find you attractive. I think you are adorable, funny, smart, sweet, interesting, and different. I love how passionate you get in the things you find interesting. I have come to see beauty in you. I like all those things about you a lot, but I do not believe starting a relationship would be a good idea right now. How about we stay in touch, as friends, while you get things settled. Alright?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Brenda replied. “That’s probably a wise idea, huh? I’ve never been good at this stuff.”
“Neither have I to be honest,” Ansha said. “That is why I do not want to rush into anything with you. I really like you, so let’s remain friends for now, and then…” Ansha shrugged and smiled.
“…and then,” Brenda asked in hopeful anticipation.
“… and then we will take it one step at a time,” Ansha finally answered, smiling sweetly. “Until then, I am not going anywhere.” Brenda smiled and nodded. Ansha opened her arms to the girl for an embrace. Brenda came in and with guidance from Ansha’s hand on the back of her neck, the two shared a long, passionate kiss. Without a word Brenda smiled at Ansha then turned and walked out of Ansha’s stateroom, leaving Ansha to savor this second, beautiful, sublime experience.