Reflections and Remorse

Posted on 12 Jun 2024 @ 12:46am by Commander Luke Wyatt & Commander Marisa Wyatt
Edited on on 24 Jun 2024 @ 9:44am

1,060 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 19 - Tomorrow's Galileo
Location: USS Galileo-B - Wyatts' Quarters
Timeline: MD 05, 1820 hrs

[ON]

Marisa was the first to arrive back at the quarters she shared with Luke. It had been an emotional day with the battle and John's death. Her thoughts kept returning to how she would feel if she lost her husband. She would survive because she had to, but a part of her would die with him. After 25 years, he had become a part of her and gave her life a joy and peace she never thought possible before.

She honestly hoped that, because they were both assigned to the same ship, if they were to die, they would do so together. Their children were safe--at least for now--and passing on together to whatever afterlife awaited them was the best thing she could hope for.

She replicated a glass of spiced apricot juice and sat by the view port to wait for Luke.

Luke wandered the ship's corridors, deliberately taking the longer route, seeking solace in his isolation. At every viewport and familiar quarters, memories of those who were no longer there flooded his mind. Eventually, he reached his own quarters, or rather, their quarters – the space he had shared with Marissa for the past 25 years, a constant presence amidst the chaos of battle and loss. Recent events had left Luke grappling with a profound emptiness, a void only Marissa's unwavering love and support had managed to fill.

As he stepped inside, the scent of spiced apricot juice greeted him, a fragrance he had never cared for but endured silently for her sake. With a shallow smile, he called out her name, his movements automatic as he retrieved a half bottle of Aldebaran whisky from a hidden compartment. Pouring himself a drink, he reflected on the frequency of memorials, each one a reminder of the countless lives lost in the ongoing struggle. "Memorials lose their significance when they become routine," he mused aloud, the weight of their shared losses hanging heavy in the air.

Marisa finished her drink, knowing Luke didn't like it. "I thought they had, until today. John and Mimi just met their daughter. I can't help thinking that if we fail, she'll never be born." She recycled her glass and went to her husband, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him from behind so she didn't cause him to spill his drink. "This has been so much harder than I expected."

Luke stood silently for a moment, feeling Marisa’s arms wrap around him, a warmth that contrasted sharply with the cold emptiness that had settled within him. He placed his free hand over hers, squeezing gently as he took a deep breath. The scent of spiced apricot juice lingered in the air, a bittersweet reminder of the small sacrifices they made for each other.

"It's been hard on all of us," he said softly, staring into his glass of Aldebaran whisky. "John's death hit me harder than I expected. Every time we lose someone, it feels like a piece of our humanity goes with them. We’ve seen too many memorials, too many losses. It makes you wonder how much more we can take."

He took a sip of the whisky, feeling its warmth spread through his chest, a small comfort against the relentless tide of grief. "We’ve been fighting for so long, trying to protect what little we have left. And you're right, the thought of failing and what it would mean... it’s unbearable."

Luke turned around to face Marisa, his eyes meeting hers. "But we can’t give up. For our children, for the future.. or past that still hangs in the balance. We have to keep going, no matter how hard it gets."

He set his glass down and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I just hope that when our time comes, it’ll be together. I can't imagine going on without you."

She hugged him back, taking strength from his presence. "Neither can I. All I want is for us to be together, but I admit, having John die again, with Mimi and Asha so close..." She closed her eyes, feeling the closeness that came from physical contact. "You are the best thing that ever happened to me." It was true. Nothing surpassed being married to Luke and raising their children. It allowed her to keep everything else in perspective.

They held each other, neither needing to speak after so many years together. "I do not know if I have done any good," she confessed. "I did what I could to explain why we brought them forward, and to show them the temporal strings, but they still think this is all the Federation's fault." She felt terrible about it, but there was nothing she could do except let them learn for themselves and come to their own conclusions. Either way, time was running out.

"You can't make them listen, or agree with you." He kissed her on the forehead, appreciating the feel of her in his arms as much as her determination to fight for peace. "It sounds like you've done all you can. They're a lot more stubborn than I remember. They'll either accept the truth, or nothing changes. Either way, it's not your fault."

"I know. That's what I keep telling myself." She smiled wryly. "But I do not listen very well."

Luke laughed softly. "That's because you know you're right." He stepped back and took her hand, holding it against his heart for several seconds. "Come on. Let's toast to John and tomorrow. Then we'll watch the stars go by." They were the only things that would still be around when this war was over. He just hoped they would record, in their own way, the passing of the Galileo because, one way or another, this would be their last stand.

"I like that idea." She kissed him softly, then slipped her arm around his and walked with him to the viewport. When she was with Luke, everything was right in her universe. She'd even have a shot of his Aldebaran Whiskey. For John, Mimi, and Asha. And maybe one for their own children. "I love you."

"And I love you," he repeated, holding her closer again. For tonight, and for always.

[OFF]

--

Commander Luke Wyatt
First Officer
USS Galileo-B

Commander Marisa Wyatt
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-B

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