Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Deck 4 Garden- Perspectives

Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Deck 4 Garden- Perspectives

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Deck 4 Garden- Perspectives
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The light was dappled as she gazed up through the lacy boughs of her favourite tree. It was the one that Luke had asked her about and never got to show him. Head tilted up, she studied the shapes between the dewdrop shaped leaves that entranced her so much. She had picked this tree on purpose for this spot, but it hadn’t been a conscious one and wasn’t until recently that she realized that this tree, or at least the shape and texture of it was something from a memory.

The simulated light was dimming, a sign it was early evening. She had sent Alex a note a short while ago and came down here early to collect her thoughts. It had just been a simple request to meet if he was free. She directed him to the bench under the tree at the top of The Hill in the Garden.

In her colourful galaxy yoga leggings and an oversized sweater, Faye ran her fingers through her long brown hair and looked over the view of the garden. While you couldn’t see everything up here, it really was a great view. She propped a foot on the edge of the bench and wrapped her arms around her leg, resting her chin on her chin. Much like she had been at the brig, there was a calmness to Faye that surprised even herself. It wasn’t serene. No, that was hardly a synonymous condition with Faye, but it was like so much of her had been cranked down a few notches.

~Faye Calloway

“Nice spot.” came a voice from behind her. Alex was standing behind the bench beside the tree. “I didn’t even know this was here. I gotta get here more often.”

Faye didn’t turn her head but she just smiled slightly. “That is is and yes you do. You don’t know what you’re missing. There’s a whole large pond down amongst that grove of trees that’s really sit at.”

He smiled and moved around to the front of the bench and sat down. He was wearing blue jeans and a burgundy t-shirt with writing in Vulcan that said ‘Vulcan Science Academy Vollyball Team’. “So… to what do I owe the invitation?” he asked and looked at Faye.

Cochrane, CO

Turning her pensive gaze to her friend- her best friend, if she wanted to be fully honest with herself- Faye knew she might irritate him by side stepping the question, though only slightly. They’d get to it soon enough. But as everything seemed to be lately, it was all inextricably linked. “Even a week ago I’d blame myself for it, even if I knew it wasn’t true. But things are changing so fast for me, daily actually, that it’s hard for my mind to keep up. And right now I’m realizing that I don’t get to have closure on one thing that I really hoped I could, if not fix, at least make a little better…” Oh stop rambling and just get to it. “He’s really gone, isn’t he? Luke.”

~Faye Calloway

Alex took a deep breath and crossed his arms on his chest. looking straight ahead. “He is. So is his daughter. Left this morning. He asked for no announcement, didn’t want to make a thing of it.” and he looked at Faye. “You know that it wasn’t about you, right? He got a shot at being closer to his daughter permanently, and a spot that will help him move forward in his career. It really wasn’t personal. At least… not as far as I know.” and he looked forward and smiled a melancholy smile.

“He had to find his own way. So yes, I do know it wasn’t about me. Doesn’t make me feel better, but I do know that much,” Faye remarked.

“He did make an impact, thats for sure. I wish I could have helped him find his place better. Think I dropped the ball there.”

Cochrane

Faye considered him quietly for a moment and then tilted her head. “Maybe. Only you will know that for sure. But as I am all to familiar with, a person has to be willing to do the work themselves, no matter who much encouragement they get.”

Tilting her head up again, Faye took in the leaves, which had rounded ends and curled downwards. From the side they resembled rain drops dripping from the branches and it was the most ethereal and lovely thing in the garden. She inhaled deeply, letting it fill expand her chest. “The night I was drinking and Luke gently rejected my offer to stay the night… I had just had someone call me. It was out of the blue and it was someone I had connected with just after I came to the ship. I don’t know what compelled me to tell him everything that had just gone down with Blue and the brig and my mom, but I did. And he brought up so many memories for me that I… couldn’t cope. So I drank.”

Faye sighed and turned towards him, crossing her legs on the wooden slats of the bench. “Alex, I told you about Tracken, and T’Lora and Jaris. And I told you how Cam and I escaped with them but then they died. If you think you are up to hearing a really hard story, I’d like to tell it to you. It’ll be only the second time I’ve told anyone the whole of it, and the first was on the holodeck with my mom and Zef after you left. And if you think you can hear it, you need to ask the next logical question from my story.”

~Faye Calloway