Stardate:70626.1845
Title: Empty Garden Part Two
Author: Zanh Liis
Scene: Arboretum
Time: After Part One
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"I did come back to your quarters last night." she explained, "but you were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to risk waking you." She brushed his hair out of his eyes.
"I sat in the chair, across from the bed. Watched over you. I," her voice wavered. "Stayed up reading the reports of what went on down there. You really deserved...so...much more than a...medal." Her sentence structure broke down as she became distracted, looking over his shirt collar for the medal and realizing it was missing. "Jariel, what did you do with it?"
He pulled the medal from his pocket and held it up by the ribbon. [[This is a Starfleet honor. I don't deserve it.]]
"Don't- are you kidding me?" She stood up and took a few steps away, arms folded. "You don't deserve it? I read Rogers' report. I read the reports of every person who saw what you did down there. You deserve it, Camen."
[[Starfleet-]] he began again. Liis strode back over to him and took his outstretched arms, stopping him mid-sign and gently pulling him to his feet.
"Starfleet, yes. Starfleet is so impressed with you that they insisted that you get that medal. They also remember the work that you did as an Ambassador before Bajor became part of the Federation. Which, if not for you, it likely would not even have done. They are grateful to you. Bajor is grateful to you. Hold on, I want you to look at this."
She had set down the small wooden chest beside the stone angel when she'd knelt on the grass. She retrieved it now and handed it to Jariel.
"Do you remember Minister Velonn?"
[[From Lesthana Province.]] He spelled out letter by letter, [[Of course.]]
"Well, when he sent those crystals for the medals, he asked me to give you the container that they were sent in. I didn't know why. But there was something else inside for you. I didn't know it until Ensign Xhian discovered them while he was setting the gemstones. Open the chest."
[[Liis-]]
"Open. The. Chest."
Camen sighed, shrugged his shoulders, and then looked in the chest.
It was far deeper inside than it appeared outwardly. Camen's mouth fell open when he discovered that it was filled with small, folded pieces of paper. Some had children's renderings of the Vedek praying with them after the storm, some pictured stick figures in Starfleet colors coming to the rescue alongside him.
Then there were letters; messages of thanks and prayers for the Vedek himself, from people whom he had helped along his way during the mission. Liis had to bow her head to hide the tears that came to her eyes as she watched his reaction.
Finally, he couldn't take anymore. He sank back down on the ground, snapped the chest shut and closed his eyes. He set it aside, leaned back against a tree, and dropped his head into his hands. Liis knelt beside him and pulled him into an embrace.
"I know this is tearing you up. I wish I could help you. I know it will take time," she whispered. "But there's something I want you to think about. You don't have to answer now, just think it over."
He rested his head on her shoulder a moment, and then pulled back and nodded.
"Starfleet and the Bajoran officials have decided that in appreciation of your work and history with both entities that they want you to keep your title as Vedek even though you have left the assembly. Officially keep the title, Camen. They have never granted such status to anyone before."
He looked up at her, stunned. [[But, why?]]
"Because you need an officially recognized title as a member of the clergy of a Federation world to serve in Starfleet as Ship's Chaplain." she whispered. "It's an honorary Starfleet post, to be sure. They don't want me to ship you off to the Academy or anything."
She smiled a little at the thought.
"They think so highly of you- everyone does, that they value your place here. They know there's a real need for you on this ship. And more of a need than just tending the flowers and keeping a certain Bajoran commander out of trouble. Even though, granted, that is a full-time job."
[[What would I do exactly?]]
"You'd do what you do best. Help people."
He picked the chest up again and ran his hand along the carved symbol of his home world, embedded in the top. So, this was the 'more to it' that she spoke of as she pinned the medal to his collar.
Could this be the destiny that the Prophets had intended for him all along?
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Zanh Liis
Acting Commanding Officer
USS Independence NCC-90791