[Raiser, departing]
Cathy's eyes met Dutch's as he spoke, she could see that he was less than happy with her decision... somehow she expected them to be satisfied with her choice but, of course, they couldn't be. Her jaw clamped tightly as he said he hoped what she found what she was looking for; she didn't know what she was looking for. All she had was the images of Jack as he was, as she left him on the Morgan Le Fay, as she said farewell to him months ago when he said he was leaving. All she had was the memories of his warmth, strength and raw power. She had no idea what state he was in now... he could be nothing more than a brain in a jar and then what would she do?
The uncertainty rumbled in her mind, violently pushed back by her stubborn heart and will to move forward. She had to go forward.
"Do you know how you will get ... where you need to be?" Dutch asked
"Yes, I am commissioning a shuttle to take me there." she replied to the point. The contact had only given her the system that she needed to travel to, the rest of which seemed to be time locked for when she got closer to their destination. The place appeared to be in Federation space at least. She looked around the room, it seemed everyone was stunned into silence.
"If that is all, you are dismissed. I will send a shipwide communique to the crew to let them know the news."
She paused, wrestling with the words,
"I had hoped, when this day came, I would have some bold words to bless you all on your way."
'I actually thought someone else would have to say goodbye to me, not the other way around... she thought, referring to the dangerous life they lived in Starfleet.
"But I don't... I have only the final words from my home planet of Mars. Dream of green."
The phrase of 'Dream of green' was attributed to the times when the first pioneers where terraforming Mars. They would bless each other at the end of the day stating they would 'dream of green' as in the fact that, one day, the surface of Mars would be covered in greenery, like its older cousin, Earth. Keeping a vision of what the planet may one day look like, conveyed a sense of hope and optimism. It was similar to the phrase 'Fare thee well' from Earth, where parting company would bid each other good fortune when leaving.
She lowered herself back down into her chair and waited for either the crew to depart or ask questions that they were uncertain of asking in front of the others.
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Capt. Catherine Raiser, USS Victoria (ret.)
Cathy Knights
