Gone But Never Forgotten
Posted on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 4:36am by Staff Warrant Officer Jennifer Masters - Calhoun
Edited on on Tue Jul 14th, 2020 @ 4:26am
1,601 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 10 - New Home, Same Pioneers
Location: Holodeck 1 - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 1100 hrs
Jenn stood in front of the holosuite. She trembles as she put the chip into the console and ordered the computer to run it as soon as she would enter. She then walked to the doors and stood before it straight up and then took a deep breath as she walked into the suite.
The sun was at it's highest and the heat was pleasant, the sky was bright blue, not a cloud in sight. The gentle sound of waves washing ashore below the cliff edge, a tree in full blossom several meters back, the smell of freshly cut grass and salt from the ocean filled the air when suddenly a bench materialised just within the shade of the tree.
Jenn had no idea was what going to happen. But somehow that bench was important for the program somehow. She walked to the bench and sat down waiting for things to happen.
A familiar hand slowly reached out and touched Jen on the shoulder. "Boo."
A little startled Jenn turned around to see who did that, even though she already knew.
"I'm sorry, but I had to scare you just once last time," Dana said with a smile before she walked around the bench and took a seat next to her friend."
Jenn turned away trying her best to hold back the coming tears and she could feel them burn behind her eye lits. She could even feel her eyes get moist.
The hologram reached out and took Jen's hand "You better not be crying, we all put our lives on the line and I'm pretty sure you will probably have something like this recorded as well." There was a slight pause before she continued "Well I guess if you are running this program, then the worse has happened and I've died in the line of duty, I hope it was in some heroic way but I couldn't go without at least saying goodbye to my closest friend in the world. You know I always plan ahead so I'm not going to allow you or anyone else to torture yourself with memories, so this program will only run once. Like life, there is no second chance."
The hologram turned to look out over the sea, she closed her eyes for a moment as though she was taking in the sights and sounds of the environment.
"I used to love coming here when I was on earth, I'm just sad I never got to show you it in person. I know I've told you before, but I really couldn't thank you for everything you have done for me, you stood by me through it all, you saw me at my lowest and you never abandoned me and I couldn't be more producer to call you my friend..." again the hologram passed for a moment, a tear welling up in its eye. "In fact my best friend, we had gone through tears of joy, tears of sadness but hell, we've had some fun times and those are the times that I want you to hold onto. I may not be around anymore, but you are, you still have a life to lead."
Jenn just sat there as she said that and reminded her of all the times, good and bad. Somewhere she just wanted to argue with this hologram as she was unable with the real Dana. But she kept silenced. It would be of no use and it wouldn't bring back Dana.
The hologram just smiled, "Do you remember the time at the Casino, I won a sizable amount that night, and you've probably still got your modest winnings stashed under your mattress. I retreat that I won't be able to be at your wedding, but I want to give you a decent honeymoon and more, normally my financial portfolio would be left to an heir, but I have no children or no spouse, so it's yours. Once this program ends all the relevant authorisation and security protocols will be transferred to your personal terminal. Just try not to be too shocked, I've invested wisely over the years and so had my family before I was even born, so it's certainly sizable, but now it's your to do with as you please." The smile faded and a more serious face looked at Jen. "Just enjoy it, don't go giving it away, I'm leaving it to you the start of your family, who knows if you have children maybe one day you'll pass it to them."
Jenn sighed. She did remember. She wasn't expecting to get it all. This wasn't why she made friends with Dana. she fully intended to pay Dana back. She put her face in her hands and whispered, "Dammit, Dana."
"Oh come on, I can hear you moaning from beyond the veil, it's yours. I want you to have it. Oh and my quarters, I may have left them in a little state, keep what you want, dispose of the rest." The hologram sighed. "However, I want you to promise me one thing, look out for Aiden, he's going to be hurting to right now, especially after the message I've left him. So please Jen, look out for him like you've always looked out for me. Promise me."
"That baby boy marine, sure, I'll look out for him," Jenn said as she crossed her arm. She wasn't sure how to talk to him, aside from his shifts at the SCIF security desk, she hadn't had much interactions with him.
"See I knew you would, well I've never been one for long speeches or long goodbyes, so my friend, what more can I say apart from grab onto life with both hands, enjoy your this short existence and never retreat the decisions you make. I'll see you again one day my friend, I'll be waiting to greet you unless of course, you're not coming to hell..." the hologram laughed "But you never know, with my sacrifice I might have made it heaven. Oh and one more thing, I've given this hologram access to all my data, all my files, everything I know, but once you deactivate this program it will all be gone, so any burning questions, you can ask them now and for once you'll get an open and honest answer. I love you like a sister, remember that and remember me."
In this moment Jenn was a little stumped. Her most recent question was why? But even this hologram would be to answer it. And even to move on was something she would have to do herself. She then took a deep breath and said, "If you love me like a sister, why did you go look for a fight and come to talk to me like you did that night? Being rowdy and aggressive is my thing, you know that right? I always thought I would be the one standing in that hearing room not defending you."
The hologram paused for a moment, accessing what it could before a look of remorse feel across its face and it began to speak in Dana's soft tone. "I...well...to be honest, I was depressed, hurting. I had killed an entire ship full of people and i wanted to feel, I wanted to feel something, an emotion, I wasn't sleeping, and I ended up getting addicted to sleeping aids, my temper was shot and hell, I guess I was just looking for fights all the time, and they always say you take it out on the ones you love."
Jenn nodded and looked over the holo image of the ocean she sighed. "You know, I am a spook, there were times I would have ploughed through your personnel files and I understand you were someone else before you joined Starfleet. I guessed that when I saw your father at the hearing." She got up. "And to have access to all your files now is tempting for the spook inside me. But it wouldn't be fair to the memory of you. I want to remember the person I met, not who you were."
Her eyes filled with tears again. "I understand this is the last time I will ever speak to you." She looked to the holo Dana. "Do you believe in an afterlife, Dana?"
"I believe that our individual consciousness ends, but the energy that makes up our bodies changes state, it is repurposed back into the universe, as you know energy can not be destroyed, it is simply repurposed and redistributed, so technically part of us lives forever. If that's an afterlife then so be it, just know friend, that I will always be with you, both in your heart and in your mind."
Jenn smiled. "Goodbye, Dana, I will never forget you." She then turned around and walked away. She couldn't bare to stay any longer. If she did, it would be harder every moment she had to leave. "Thank you... for everything."
The hologram smiled, "Goodbye my friend." and as quickly as she appeared the hologram faded as the program began to decompile, erasing Dana's database and personal logs with it, her final act of kindness, she didn't want them hanging on, they needed to move on and enjoy life, not dwell on the past.
A Joint Post By
Staff Warrant Officer Jennifer Masters
Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
"Holographic Representation of Ensign Dana Wakefield"
Ensign Eleanor Raine
Diplomatic Adviser, USS Pioneer
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