150. Only Six

One month earlier . . .

“Who is that Kyra,” asked Emy.

“It’s me and this one here is Grand,” said Kyra, taking the sketches back, her eyes as distant and misty as an October morning on the lake. Emy was the first one onboard to see these drawings. After Emy had shared her portfolio and so much of her life, Kyra felt the need to reciprocate.

“I don’t mean to pry, but I sense there is more to these sketches than just someone doodling away the time,” said Emy.

Kyra looked up. Her eyes vacant. Her mind elsewhere.

“I’m sorry Kyra, it’s really none of my business.”

“My sister drew them. In hospital. She was six,” said Kyra.

“I didn’t know you had a sister.”

“She was quite a few years younger than me. A ball of optimistic energy. I often pray that I might have half as much courage as she did.”

Emy couldn’t bring herself to ask but her eyes clearly showed she wanted to know more.

“I never cried so much in all my life. First time I ever saw Papa cry too. Sometimes we take more than we give. That little girl was just the opposite. A larger heart I have never seen. Even toward the end, she gave more than we could ever give back. Doctors said there was nothing they could do. We knew from birth. The defect was ticking. No one expected her to live more than a couple years, but she made it six. Perhaps she knew. Perhaps she was an angel in our midst, a gift to teach us how to live, how to give, how to love. How do you repay that?”

Emy sat stunned, not knowing what to say.

“It’s okay Emy. She lives. In these images. In my mind. But most of all, she lives in every fiber of my heart. You know what she told me in those last days? Emy, do you know what that little girl said?”

“I have no idea,” whispered Emy, trying to hold back her own tears.

“In her last days, when her voice could hardly be heard and we had to lean over to hear her speak, she called me close. She said, I love you Kyra. I love you with all my heart. You have been the best sister in the whole world and I have been the luckiest little girl to have had you for my big sister. And then . . .”

“And then what?” asked Emy.

“And then I started to cry and she told me my tears were like water. I asked her what she meant and she said just as Papa nourished his flowers with water, that my tears nourished her. She was six years old Emy. How does that come from a six year old? Can you tell me? How?”

Emy was speechless again.

“Then she said she had something for me. And she pulled out these two drawings. I started crying again and she looked up at me and said, Kyra, please hold my hands. So I did. And she smiled as only children smile. And she whispered, When you go to sleep at night and close your eyes, think of me and I will be there, always, forever because I love you Kyra and no thing, no person, not even this illness will keep me from living in your heart. That was the last time I saw her alive. She passed in the night.

Emy opened her arms and the two embraced and they cried.

“She was the blessed one Emy. She was the giver. And she was only six.”

Categories: Story, Kyra, Emy, Paintings

149. Mission Accomplished

“This is Red Leader. Mission accomplished. Target destroyed. Repeat. Target destroyed. Fuel low. Returning to base, over.”

Categories: Story, John Discovery

148. Sweet Darkness

Trev stood waiting on the ramp, his silhouette backlit with golden light from inside the ship. He saw Von and Em first, carrying what looked like enough weapons to blow the bay doors if need be. They moved with a stern urgency barely glancing his way. Right behind them was an odd shaped figure and what looked to be Yul attached to it.

“Trev, give me a hand,” yelled Kyra over the din of explosions. Lying Rog on the stretcher, Kyra grabbed Trev by the shoulders forcing his eyes to meet hers. Trev had seen that intensity once before. “There will be no try Trev. You make this happen. I want Rog back just exactly the way he was.” Kyra seemed not to blink. Neither her hands nor her eyes let go of Trev.

“I’m going to need help,” responded Trev.

“Yul, go with him. Now move. Go,” said Kyra. “Von, where are you?”

“In the command center,” said Von.

“Update on those doors?”

“Internal damage to the ship’s central computers is forcing me to bypass normal routing and access the redundant conduit, which I’m assuming actually exists. If it doesn’t—“

“If it doesn’t you will find a way Von,” interrupted Kyra.

Von smiled. “Yes ma’am. I will find a way.”

“Kyra, come in, this is Trev.”

“Go ahead.”

“Rog has lost a lot of blood. More than we have in the lab to replace. His right arm requires more expertise than I have if it is to be saved. Assuming . . .”

“Assuming what Trev?”

“Kyra, Rog has severe trauma to the upper spine and central chest cavity. I am doing everything I can,” said Trev. “But . . .”

“Damn it Trev, say what’s on your mind. But what?”

“But without a miracle, I’m not sure how he is going to survive. The hynerian body was not designed to take this much punishment. Even if I had disposal of a first-class emergency facility I’m not sure we could do anything more than prolong the inevitable.”

“Then by Janus, prolong. Prolong like you’ve never prolonged before. You’re the only chance he has Trev. There is no one else,” said Kyra.

“Von? Give me some good—“ A massive explosion rocked the bay. Orange red flames reflected off the glassy surfaces of Kyra’s blue eyes like fire on the sea. And then, silence followed darkness as it must be when one slips peacefully into the depths of the ocean.

Categories: Story, Kyra, Rog, Von, Trev

147. Quiver Me This

“Where are you taking me,” asked Mairi with a slight quiver in her voice. Shen’s escape pod had room for only two and the quarters were tight. She had never felt so completely out of control, so vulnerable, so prostrated. Shen towered above her. He could do whatever he wanted. No one could hear. No one could help. No one would know. She did not know the word to describe the feeling. Abject fear, sheer paralyzing terror; neither did justice to her emotional state.

“Out of harm’s way,” said Shen. “I understand your fear of the unknown and the terror in your heart over what your mind imagines will be your fate. The fact of the matter is, I’ve saved your life.”

Mairi starred straight ahead trying to digest words and actions that appeared contradictory. “You know they will come for me; and they will find me,” said Mairi, trying her best to sound confident as her trembling vocal cords betrayed her.

“I have no doubt concerning the loyalty and dedication of your former crew. I imagine under other circumstances they would make the attempt. I was particularly impressed with Kyra and would have liked the opportunity to examine her further. I sensed she was somehow different from the rest. A shame really. I suppose now we will never know just how those Vollmonds picked up our trail.”

As if speaking louder would make it so Mairi shouted. “They will come. I promise you, they will not leave me behind.”

“My dear child, your crew is dead, as is mine. Our vessel came under direct attack from two Kulmyk long-range interceptors. Our only defense against them was stealth. How we lost that, I don’t know, but they would have required no more than two, perhaps three attack runs to destroy our ship, which I’m afraid to say, would have occurred just minutes ago. As I said, I’ve saved your life.”

Mairi’s face drew pale and the muscles in her jaw locked tight against the words thrown her way. She could detect no falsehood in Shen’s tone. Numbness flooded outward from the base of her skull, radiating in a tingling sensation from her fingers to her toes. Her whole body felt stiff and unresponsive. Her mind cascaded into a surreal dreamlike state.

“I suggest you brace yourself Mairi. We’re coming in for landing and these small pods lack, how should I say it, finesse.”

Categories: Story, Shen, Mairi

Growing Pains

As I tried to leave a comment on Terry's blog a few minutes ago, I was confronted with this message from Blogger:

Account Moved to a Google Account

The account you've just logged in with, tgeorge123, has been merged with the Google Account decadenttranquility-AT-gmail.com.

You will need to log in to the new version of Blogger in beta with your Google Account.

Log in to the Blogger beta

Unfortunately, you cannot post a comment on a non-beta blog or claim a mobile blog using your Google Account. These features are coming soon.


Seems there are a few growing pains with the transition to beta.blogger. If you don't see me commenting on your blog, please know it is not from lack of trying. Jenni, I had this problem with your site a few days ago although I was able to leave a comment on Autumn's site this morning. Soon, I hope, Blogger will sort out commenting issues as they transition to the new Blogger.

Update:

Apparently, Anon comments will still work, both ways, if Blogger refuses to cooperate, which seems to be hit and miss.

146. He's Not Heavy

“Rog, oh my Janus, what the frail happened to you?” said Yul, fighting back the tears. Rog’s roughhewn body, lying limp, his eyes dark, lifeless, turned her stomach inside out. "This can't be. It can't be. It won't happen like this! Von, tell me it won't happen like this."

“He’ll live,” said Von. “I suggest we get back to ship,” lowering his eyes in Yul’s direction. “Kyra, can you walk?”

“I’ll be fine, but we aren’t leaving Mairi.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about us leaving her,” said Von. “She’s already gone.”

“What?” asked Kyra.

“I saw two escape pods. I would bet my shield Mairi was in one of them. The Vollmond’s are going to destroy this vessel, and if we don’t get off this deathtrap, Mairi will be the least of our concerns.”

“Trev, prepare Bravo for immediate launch and lower the ramp. We’ve got wounded,” said Kyra. “Emy, help Von with the weapons. Yul, I’m going to need your help with Rog.”

Yul lifted Rog onto Kyra's back, her hands sticky with his dark red blood. He had never felt so heavy nor had she ever felt so strong.

“Kyra?”

“What is it Trev?”

"We’re not going anywhere if we can’t get the bay doors open.”

Kyra looked at Von with more than just the weight of Rog on her shoulders. “I’ll take care of the bay doors,” said Von. “Tell Trev to prepare the lab. Rog will need his full concentration.”

“Trev? commed Kyra.”

“I heard. What’s wrong with Rog?”

“Hard to tell in the dark. Looks like severe las shot wounds. He’s lost a lot of blood. Get your mind right Trev. We are not going to lose him. Do you hear me. We will not lose Rog.”

Categories: Story, Kyra, Yul, Von, Rog, Trev

145. Fire in the Hole

“This is Red Leader. We have target lock. Request permission to fire.”

“Permission granted Red Leader. Fire at will, fire without mercy,” responded Kulmyk command.

“Roger, commencing firing procedure.”

“Holy Shiott, what was that?” asked Yul trying to regain her balance.

“Not good,” said Kyra. “Sounded like an external explosion. Trev, are you picking up anything?”

“Give me just a sec,” said Trev. “Kyra, can you hear me?”

“Loud and clear Trev. What’s up?”

“Appears we’re not alone. Two small craft, unidentified with apparent hostile intent.”

Before Kyra could respond another loud explosion knocked everyone to the floor.

“Papa, can I help?” asked Kyra.

“Absolutely. Come take the handle and gently tip the nozzle letting the water nourish those flowers to your right,” said Papa.

“Why do you water these flowers everyday Papa?”

“Whatever you water grows my dear sweet child. Water the love and joy and compassion in your heart and watch them grow. Likewise, water anger, bitterness and resentment, and they too will flourish. Ask yourself, each morning--”

“Kyra, Kyra, wake up,” yelled Yul, shaking her by the arm. The last series of explosions had thrown Kyra into the wall, knocking her unconscious. Smoke began to fill the corridor. Alarms blared. Breathing became difficult and eyes watered.

“Where is Rog? asked Kyra, slowly opening her eyes.

“Von is bringing him back.”

“And Mairi?”

“We don’t know.”

Categories: Story, Kyra, Yul, Papa, Trev