When the past catches up (Part One)

Posted on 24 Oct 2020 @ 5:37am by

Mission: R&R - after facing the Planet Killer
Location: Michael's Quarters
Timeline: Sometime During R&R
1209 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Michael looked about his quarters, his eyes landing upon the model of his grandfather's ship, as well as the last ship he had been on before joining the crew of the USS Andromeda. With all that had been happening, he hadn't had the time to really look at the ship. His grandfather had told him that there were secrets/surpises that were hidden inside, Michael had wondered just what it was that lay inside. He wasn't certain if he were to take it apart or scan it Or do something else. Picking it up from where it had been placed, he took it to the table that sat not too far from the window. Turning on the lights, he turned it around and around, getting his crafting headgear with the lenses used for fine craft work.

He peered at it, noticed a small button and he pressed it. What happened caught him by surprise Michael almost knocking his chair over. A holographic image of his grandfather appeared, clothed in the uniform he wore at the decommissioning of the USS Brixham.

"Well my grandson, looks like you finally started looking at the model I gave to you." the image took a good look at Michael.

Michael was surprised seeing his grandfather. "Hi grandfather, how can this be?"

"Michael just to let you know, this is just a recording I did before I gave you this model. However, you had better get in contact with me as soon as you can. I want to hear from you grandson, I truly miss you. The same with the rest of the family."

Michael laughed as he watched his whole family appear inside the image, he truly wished he had found this earlier. Then again, perhaps this is a better time for him to receive it. They all gave him messages and definitely letting him know he needed to call them. The message lasted for a little bit longer, then when it came to the end, Michael was feeling misty eyed. He further examined the model ship when something else caught his eye. He grabbed a light, focusing on the small image he had missed before. His blood ran cold, as chills ran up and down his spine. There underneath the nacelle was a kanji, something he thought he'd never see again. The kanji was for firefly, Hotaru. He almost dropped the model, but caught it and laid it carefully upon its stand. What was that doing there, and why? The firefly kanji was something that his former love usually placed for him to find. In Japanese culture, it was said that the fireflies were an expression of passionate love, or the spirit of warriors who had fallen in battle.

That was her name, Hotaru, Hotaru Aimee Wymund. He made his way to a nearby chair, sitting heavily down, leaning back, as his mind replayed things of the past.

They had met on Avalon Station, she was in Intelligence, he was in Operations. They became good friends, then things progressed to where they were dating. Michael recalled just how happy they both were. He groaned softly, all ready feeling the pain from the memories. His parents and family loved her, and gave their approval. Six months later, the wedding all ready planned. It was to be a simple wedding, Hotaru didn't want to have a huge to do, of which he didn't mind. Everyone was there, both sides of the family, he waited for her arrival and waited. There were whispers amongst the guests. Hotaru's mother came up and whispered to his mother, who gave her son a sharp glance. Michael's heart sank, the look that his mother gave him, meant there was trouble.

He went to speak with her, and found that Hotaru wasn't anywhere to be found. He straightened his shoulders strode up to the front, and made his announcement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it appears that there will not be a wedding. My thanks for you having come, enjoy the food, the drink, and do some dancing. Like I will be doing with my mother."

He was disciplined to where he wasn't going to crumble into a heap of emotions. Not in front of the others. The show must go on, when alone he'd allow himself to deal with the emotional storm. He danced with her mother, talked with her father. The guests managed to have an enjoyable time despite the rather shocking beginning. He bid her family goodbye as they left to go back home, there had been some awkwardness at first, but Michael was able to ease it away, sincere about not holding a grudge against Hotaru or her family of what had happened. Her father knew he was hurting, gave him a sympathetic look.

"My boy, it would have been wonderful for you to be a part of our family. We will still consider you that, even though this has happened. Keep in contact."

Michael could only nod, barely keeping his emotions at bay. When he got to his quarters, he saw lying on his bed, an envelope along with an pin crafted to look like a firefly.

Michael rose from the chair, went to his bed, and laid down, his head on his pillow staring at the ceiling, as the rest of the memories scrolled through his mind. He remembered the letter in the envelope. He had read it countless times that it was embedded in his memory. Remembered the tear stained paper, where her tears had fallen.

My dearest love,

My heart is breaking at this moment, having to leave you this way. I didn't want this, I didn't want to break your heart...Nor that of your family or my family. I know they truly love you. I hope that you will one day forgive me and the same for your family. I hope that my family will forgive me as well. Goodbye my love, think of me, think of me fondly instead of with bitterness. I do not know if we will ever meet again. If we do, hopefully it will be as friends and not as enemies.

Fare thee well my dearest love. Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Yours truly, Hotaru, your firefly.

Michael sat up and threw his pillow across the room it hitting the bulk head then landing on the floor with a soft thud. "'Where the heck did you go to, Hotaru and why is your symbol on the model of the USS Brixham?!"

He rose from the bed, picked up his pillow from where it landed and tossed it on his bed. "Looks like I'm not going to be getting much sleep tonight am I." he growled to the room. "Time for a walk and not here on the ship. I've got some thinking to do." the room was silent, as there was no one there besides him.

Swapping out of his uniform into his civvies, Michael pocketed his commbadge, and his cred-stick, he had stopped at his door, feeling like he forgot something. Oh yes, that pin, the one he'd not gotten rid of, the firefly. He picked it up, put it in his pocket and headed off the ship.

(To be continued)