Post 242: A Gesture of Remembrance

Stardate: 70622.23
Author: February Grace
Title: A Gesture of Remembrance
Scene: The Arboretum
Time: Concurrent with "Welcome Back Home" by Lily T'Ana
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"Gentry, I sure hope that you know what we're doing here." February mumbled, giving her thoughts a voice.

For days she'd heard the reports from Bajor during her shifts on the bridge. At last the teams had fulfilled their mission of search and rescue.

They were coming home.

She'd also seen the Bajorans coming and going from the ship, and though she couldn't imagine anything she could possibly say to comfort them, she had tried to show them whatever small kindnesses she could, whenever she could.

She felt compelled to come here before the teams got back. She'd been thinking about it more and more with every report Commander Salvek had given.

Because with every description of conditions on the planet and updated casualty report she was more overcome with sorrow and memories.

*Flashback*

"I'm coming! Hold on! Don't let go!" Gentry shouted. His strong hands held the rope tightly as he lowered himself down the side of the cliff. That was where the woman was trapped, and injured after a hover car accident.

"Talk to me!" he called to her insistently.

"Can't stay awake, tired." The woman murmured. Blood ran from a deep gash on her face, and her head lolled to the side.

"No! Don't go to sleep. Stay with me. Tell me your name. Are you married? Do you have any children?"

Gentry's gloves made a sound that grated on his nerves as he rappelled. Above him, two of his fellow first-responders held the ropes fast; making sure that the lines didn't get tangled as Gentry moved.

"Two . . .boys," the woman intoned, as if trying to remem! ber thei r names.

Gentry reached her vehicle and began to use his tools to pry the door open so he could pull her out.

The car was quite a sight- its front end had vanished as it smashed into the rock face before him. It teetered precariously threatening to take him, its passenger, and itself down to the bottom of the canyon beneath.

"I'm going to get you out and back to your boys," he whispered to her. "Just hang on."

*End Flashback*

Gentry had been Grace's very first host. He stood six feet four inches tall; broad shouldered and strong. He was a firefighter and paramedic.

He was a first responder.

Of all the previous hosts that Grace had had, February found that she felt the most respect and pride thinking of the work that Gentry had done in his life.

His job was dangerous, but he was never afraid to do it. Whenever a call came he was the first one out the door and ready to help.

The lighting in the arboretum began to dim. The sprinkler system above her had turned itself on several minutes before for the 'twilight' rain shower.

February was content to stay here, letting the water wash over her and hoping it might take with it some of the sadness she felt inside. She became aware of someone calling her name and finally figured out she was being hailed.

[T'Ana to Grace. February, where are you?]

"I'm in the Arboretum." February replied softly.

[What are you doing?]

"Watching the rain."

[You mean the irrigation system cycle?]

"Maybe so. But it looks like rain."

[Seven. Dinner.]

"I'm not hungry, Lily," she groaned.

[Seven.] Lily insisted. [Dinner. Now.]

February thought she might tell Lily what she was really doing here, but before she could find the words, she heard her friend's voice again.

[Enough is enough. You've been brooding for days. Don't make me come down there and get you, Grace.]

"All right, all right. I'll be there in a little while. Grace out."

February paused where she stood on the lush carpet of grass beneath a tree. She had observed that for some reason, this spot seemed to be one that Vedek Jariel returned to whenever he was taking a break from tending the plants.

She had been very mindful of how sensitive and kind a man the Vedek was. She knew that it must be nothing short of torment for him to see people- any people let alone his own- suffering as the Bajorans had been suffering.

She was sure he'd done all he could to comfort them. Likely more than anyone else could have done in his place. She couldn't stop thinking that someone had to do something to leave a sign that they appreciated what he'd done. What everyone had done.

February didn't know if Bajorans believed in any beings like angels, per se. She was not the most religious person in the universe, but she had always found the concept of guardian angels appealing.

Growing up on Earth she had heard the term frequently. She thought about its meaning a lot in the past few days- believing that if such things could have an embodiment in flesh, that Vedek Jariel had to be one of them.

Yes, a gesture needed to be made here. Something small, that would fit into the atmosphere of the garden. Something to show that people understood all he sacrificed to give to others. Something that would show everyone who had been on the away missions that their work as first responders had not gone unnoticed, and would not be forgotten any sooner than the suffering and losses of the Bajoran people would be forgotten.

This wasn't the right spot for it though, she decided. She picked up the object she'd been carrying around with her once again.

It didn't belong here. Not under his tree. In another spot, down by one of the small reflecting pools.

She lugged the sculpture along with her, until finally she spied a spot that she thought would be perfect for it. Then she cleared away a patch of the green grass, at the end of a small stone path. There, she set the sculpture down.

She had made sure that it had an inscription on it- one that would convey a little of what was in her heart but that she couldn't articulate to her crewmates. She knelt before the monument of the female angel, which appeared to be resting its head against its arm in a gesture of grief, weeping.

She adjusted the sculpture just so, wiggling it left and right until it seemed to settle into the spot as if she had always been there.

"Even the Angels Wept Today," the inscription read. "Bajor: 70523."

Nodding to herself, February finally stood again and turned to go.

She hoped that her friends, crewmates and the sweet and gentle Vedek might come to visit this spot. Perhaps to meditate or pray, if it was their custom. Or just to reflect and find a little peace. Even if only just a little.

She dusted the loose blades of grass from her hands and moved toward the doors knowing that if she didn't get to Seven soon that Lily T'Ana was going to come down here. Then not only would she find out what February had been up to, she would drag the Trill out of here and off to eat by the scruff of the neck.

But before she left February cast one last glance back at the sculpture. This little weeping angel at just over half a meter tall, might not be much of a gesture.

But to the mind and heart of February Grace it was better than nothing at all.

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Lt. February Grace
Helm/Flight Controller
USS Independence NCC-90791