Remembering Marie

Posted on 10 Sep 2016 @ 7:43pm by Lieutenant JG Braxton MacKenzie

1,125 words; about a 6 minute read

[ON]

Braxton sat at his dining room table, which was now moved to face the window. He looked out at the stars and poured two glasses of whisky. One for himself and one for the spirit of the woman who showed him how to truly be alive, Mama Marie, a woman who was more a mother to him then his own.

The somber mood of the night gave way to memories of a vibrant green eyed Creole woman who always had a smile and kind word for him….

***2358 (Braxton 8 Years old)***

Braxton sat by the window of the shuttle looking out as it neared the red surface of the planet. His excitement was barely contained. He looked over at Marie. “We’re almost there!!!!”

Marie smiled at him indulgently. “Yes Petit Enfant. Almost there.” She smiled at his excitement, a smile that turned into a frown when she saw how S’Tolmek looked at Braxton. He’d been about to say something when she’d caught his gaze and narrowed her eyes. He backed off and she had a rush of pleasure knowing that he looked at her with a little bit of fear.

She turned back to Braxton. “Petit Enfant while your father is at the conference we will go on a tour.” Braxton was on summer vacation and while his other siblings would be at their grandparents’ house she and Braxton would be getting a tour with Sobol a Vulcan, Starfleet Captain, well known to her. They would visit a few sites that she knew Brax was wanting to see and it would give him the opportunity to rest from the stress his parents had put him through. They showed a clear favoritism towards the other children and that left Braxton feeling left out.

Braxton had been excited about the trip. He’d never seen Vulcan and was looking forward to visiting all the places he’d read about. Within the hour they had landed and his father and brothers and sister had left. He and Marie stayed on the shuttle and were soon joined by a regal looking Vulcan called Sobol. Braxton had liked Sobol right away. ShiKahr was Vulcan’s Capital and Braxton was looking forward to touring it, especially since it held the Surak memorial gardens. He’d read about them and Surak and he was very interested in seeing it.

Within a couple of hour, as the evening settled on Vulcan and as the hot air gave way to a cool night Braxton, Marie, and Sobol walked into the gardens. Through the majestic archway and in through the gate of flowers, down the stone steps and they were met with a breathtaking sight; an open courtyard surrounded by reflecting pools and flowers. In the center a big IDIC symbol made of stone at least nine feet tall. Not far from the IDIC symbol a bronze, life-size, statue of Surak stood facing one of the reflecting pools.

Braxton looked at everything in awe and he remembered holding Marie and Sobol’s hands as they walked down the steep steps. Sobol asked them to wait until night fall so they sat silently on one of the benches and observed. Braxton’s eyes were drawn to the numerous Vulcans that walked the gardens. Some knelt and stared into the pools, some knelt before Surak almost prayerfully while others seemed to get a calmness from just touching the IDIC symbol.

Suddenly drawn to it, Braxton went over to the symbol and mimicking the other Vulcan’s he touched the symbol. He walked back feeling somewhat dejected.

“What is wrong petit enfant?” Marie had asked.

He’d shrugged his little shoulders “I… I thought I would be more Vulcan if I touched the stone. Maybe my father would not be so mad at me anymore.”

It broke Marie’s heart to hear that. She gathered Braxton to her and held him tight. “You, child, are perfect just the way you are. Your father does not see it and he may never, but I do.”

That made him feel better.

Sobol drew his attention. “Watch the gardens Braxton.”

He did and let out a sigh of excitement as the lights came on. The night fell and the torches blazed to life. The reflecting pools were shining each in a different colour and the statue of Surak glowed an ethereal green. His eyes were once again drawn to the IDIC symbol.

Seeing this Sobol smiled a little, which Braxton found strange as Vulcans did not smile, according to his father.

“What do you know of the IDIC symbol young Braxton?” Sobol asked.

He shrugged. “It is the symbol of my father’s people. Great pride.”

Sobol smiled again and stood. He reached out a hand and Braxton took it. The two walked to the symbol and Sobol reverently touched the symbol. “It is not only your father’s people but yours too. You are half Vulcan. The symbol is called the Kol-Ut-Shan. It stands for Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. Our people hold this to be sacred.”

Braxton too touched the symbol as he listened to Sobol.

“Now despite our Vulcan reputation for being traditional and ritualistic we welcome diversity in all forms. You can see that throughout all of Vulcan. We, as a society, have been made better by our openness to diversity. Now, across Vulcan you can see the lasting imprint. We have art festival, and open dance circles, something Vulcans learned from other cultures. All things are to be allowed in measure and all diversity is to be treated with reverence because it teaches us as much about ourselves as it does about the other party or event or diverse happening.”

Braxton smiled. He loved hearing that. Struck by a sudden urge he hugged Sobol. “Thank you for telling me that!”

Sobol smiled and hugged the boy back. He then took him to the reflecting pools. “These are reflecting pools.”

“What do they reflect?” Braxton asked.

Sobol smiled. “It’s a spot for meditating and reflecting on life and things.”

Braxton looked up at him. “I think I’ll reflect a while here.”

Sobol chuckled. “Alright. I’ll go sit with Marie.”

Braxton sat there for a long while and when he turned to look at Marie she and Sobol were embracing.

****Present Day****

Braxton was jarred from his thoughts by the call from communications. He had someone waiting to speak to him. He downed his whisky and then stood walking to his desk. He watched as the Starfleet insignia shimmered into a familiar form. Braxton smiled. "Sobol! Good to hear from you. I was just thinking about Marie...and you."

[OFF]

Lt. JG Braxton MacKenzie
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

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