Post 321: The "Situation" Part Two

Stardate: 70725.1430
Title: The "February Grace Situation" Part Two
Author: Lt. (jg) February Grace
Time: After Part One
Scene: Personal Quarters

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"Oh, great. Now Hamlet is acting crazy. Well, nobody out crazies Ophelia! Hey, nonny nonny, hey!" ~Lisa Simpson
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February sat in silence on the couch, her hand running slowly over Sparrow's back as he purred in his sleep in her lap. She thought about how she had asked Simon Biggs earlier if he could watch over the animal "while she was away," but he'd told her that he was sorry, he could not.

This was only because he was apparently going to Trill as well, to deliver a sample of the Bajoran computer virus to the authorities. He told her though that upon hearing of the situation, Micah Samson (who was recovering from his injuries on the holodeck) had volunteered to see to the cat's needs. Samson would move Sparrow to his quarters later today. She knew with his love for animals and experience with them, that Sparrow would have a wonderful life in his care.

"This isn't how I planned for things to turn out." February whispered, scratching the soft fuzz behind the cat's ear. "I'm so sorry."

No, things hadn't turned out at all as she'd hoped. Not even close. Not the joining with Grace, or anything else in her life. In the end analysis, she realized that coming here to follow Gilmore had been a decision of impulse- and those usually turned out as this one had in the end. Badly.

She hoped that the Commission would just admit their mistake of joining her to this symbiont- allow her a tranquil and painless death. Sedate her like an animal and put her out of her misery. Then they could find a better, stronger match for Grace. Or better still, put Grace back into the symbiont pools for a decade or two before trying give it to another host.

She understood Wen's (Grace's last host) final decision today better than she had understood anything in her life before, and that honestly scared her. But she wouldn't take the coward's way out.

She'd march into the Symbiosis Commission, they'd take one look at the damage that the stress had done to her body and know that they had to correct their error. Before this host perished too and took the symbiont with it this time.

She'd have been lying to herself though if she tried to say that the thought of ending it hadn't crossed her mind. Maybe no one should ever be joined with Grace again. Maybe it was just too demanding, too headstrong and impossible to live with. Maybe the end should come now.

But that decision wasn't hers to make. she had no right. She was only a child in the eyes of her people at the age of twenty-five. She knew nothing. Had experienced nothing first-hand in life. She hadn't had time.

She wouldn't have time.

Her greatest comfort was knowing that soon one way or another she was going to be free of this curse. Of this life that had been sold to her from infancy as everything she could dream of, but in the end became her worst nightmare.

The door chime sounded and she hugged Sparrow one last time, kissing him between the ears as tears she couldn't prevent spilled down onto his fur. "I'm going to miss you." He jumped down from her lap, and she stood up.

She brushed the moisture from her face with the back of her hand and tried to paste on her best and bravest good-girl smile.

"I'm ready to go, Simon. Would you please help me with my bag?"

"I've already got it," the voice replied, but it wasn't Simon who was standing in the doorway.

"Lily? What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to accompany you to the runabout." Lily T'Ana said, marching across the room and taking February by the arm. "Because it appears we're taking a trip to Trill."

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Lt. (jg) February Grace
Helm/Flight Controller
USS Independence