Mournful Duty
Posted on Mon Apr 1st, 2024 @ 9:55am by Commander Naois Mercy MD & Lieutenant Cassandra Higgins-Stevens & Lieutenant JG René Rouen
713 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
Fortuna
Location: The Late Amara Naidoo's Quarters
Timeline: TBD
QUESTION: Are we going to continue developing this thread?
René wore a mournful expression as he picked up the last item from a shelf in Amara's quarters. "Framed Starfleet Academy diploma for one Amara Naidoo." His voice was subdued, but professional as he placed the item in a medium sized shipping container. He paused. He hadn't known Amara very long, but her death had hit everyone in the department hard. René could have had another officer or the Security Department Enlisted Advisor perform the inventory and packaging of personal effects, but he felt that duty should fall to him.
Naois was silent as he entered his old friend's quarters, glancing around and taking in the African hints of her heritage. He hadn't really had time to mourn her yet, not had he had time to inform his children their godmother wouldn't be around anymore. What he had done so far, was guard her body in sickbay, refusing to let anyone else put her in stasis until her funeral could be seen to.
René turned to Naois as the man entered. His somber expression mirrored that of the XO. He gestured to the small refrigeration unit in a corner of the room. "Sir, we are done with the inventory and packaging of Lieutenant Naidoo's personal effects. We just have the refrigerator to check and clean out."
"I can do that later," the XO answered, barely glancing at the packed items, "I will make certain her belongings are returned to her family in Africa. Aside from a few items that should be returned to me." They had been friends for so long, there were a few things among her belongings that had been gifts, as well as a few items he was certain her family wouldn't mind that he kept them in memory of her.
René had been just opening the small refrigerator as Naois spoke. The only contents was the bottle of merlot René had given Amara at the end of watch on the day he had boarded. Renè took the bottle and handed it to Naois. "I think she would want you to have this sir."
The door to the quarters was open and Cassandra could hear voices from within. She stopped in the doorway and knocked on the frame to annouce her presence.
"Forgive the intrusion... I know this is a difficult time for everyone but I wondered if I could be of some assistance?"
She had been on board only a short time, a temporal refugee of sorts. She had knowledge of the near future and was now under orders not to reveal anything but she was still a Starfleet Counselor and compelled to help people in pain.
Accepting the bottle at first, Naois then shook his head, handing it back to the security officer. "I cannot consume alcohol," he explained, "I am certain you can find a good use for this. Perhaps with your teammates." He turned his head as he saw the woman enter and nodded quietly. "Perhaps," he answered, the pain clear as glass on his face. His eyes had a green hue to their whites, it was a clear sign he was definitely not in control of his emotions.
René took the bottle back and tucked it under his arm. It was never easy losing a fellow officer or friend. He glanced briefly at Cassandra as she entered the stateroom. "I appreciate the offer Lieutenant?" He was at a loss to say precisely how she could help though.
Naois beckoned the young woman inside. "Lieutenant Naidoo was a long time friend of mine," he explained. "She was there for me, when I lost my wife. She also was the godmother of my children, who have not yet been told of her passing. I do not know how to inform them of this loss. My daughter has no memory of her mother, but my sons do. Especially Revan took her passing very hard as he too is Betazoid. They were only four when she died. Amara ..she all but stepped in for a time as surrogate mother."
René stepped forward and extended his right hand towards Cassandra. "I don't believe we have met one another. Lieutenant junior grade Rouen, deputy chief of security."
::Truncated due to counselor departure::
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