Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in Package Deliveries

(snip)

“But go I did,” he continued, tearing his eyes away from the window and the reflection in his soul of her. “And was surprised to find her an old friend. Or, the symbiont, at least. The first time I met Zar, the host could not have been more different.”
His mood was changed almost instantly, the unbearable anguish of heartbreak kept at bay, momentarily, by the recollection of pleasure - the memory of debauchery and pure, unfettered joy. And nowhere in his entire existence had he found such a vivacious love for living itself as he did in Shamera Zar.

“Sham was the owner of the Falcon’s Maze, the premier drinking establishment on Outpost 42,” Cobb carried on. “I was, again, a chief engineer. Or ops, as my title was back then. I never sought romance from Shamera Zar and, in truth, she had eyes for another. But she remains to this day, the closest thing to a true friend that I have ever, and possibly will ever, know.”

Zachariah got to his feet. It was difficult to find striding room in the claustrophobic confines of a shuttle, but his feet paced where they could, his injured leg aching from sitting.
“It’s a curious thing about Trills, lass,” he began to suggest, all too aware of her own experience with the same, “how desperate the rest of us become to make that connection with a new host, when we cared for or loved another. I wanted to find Shamera in Prim, I wanted to believe that she too had the requisite darkness to handle me. But she was such a young thing. An ancient soul, trapped inside an innocent body. I fear that she may never recover from our time together, brief though it had been. I fear it enough to have left her alone, that evening, on OED V. To have walked away and never, for one second, looked back.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

“Perhaps it is easier being Betazoid, or perhaps more complicated.” She tapped a few buttons passing control of the flight to Alfred, whereever he was within the computer at the moment. “Did you know that I knew Raauhl’s previous host? Noa. Slimy, cowardly, cruel man. At least around me he was. That was the source of the friction between Ryder and myself those early weeks on Leviathan. It was strange and…enlightening to look at one man and hear and feel so many others there.” She considers quietly a moment, contemplating Cobb and herself, but her gaze introspective. “Perhaps it is only the Trill that can accept us as we are. After lifetimes of experience, the things we do are not so shocking, they can see the larger ramifications of our actions when others do not. Perhaps that is was draws us to them, the utter acceptance.”

“Or perhaps it the spots?”
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

“Aye, perhaps it is the spots,” Cobb agreed playfully, before following more seriously with, “Or perhaps, it is because they allow us a chance for resurrection, a way to have those lost to us returned, albeit in another shell.”

Another pull from the flask and then Zachariah corked it and slipped it back inside the facade of the jolly red coat.
“There are some, from my homeworld, who believe that all of us, humans and Betazoids alike, live multiple lives. That the death of the physical body is only a transference of the soul into a new vessel. And that while those who return for another chance retain no memories of their former existence, perhaps they will carry, in some form, the lessons that they have learned.”

“It is a nice sentament, that we can return to do better. It’s not as far fetched as some ideas I have heard. It’s much more comforting than the idea of eternal paradise or torture. That at some deeper level we’ve learned and grown. Those things become instincts.”

“I often wonder, Cas, what I would do with another shot. Would I drag with me sufficient lessons to make a better go of it, next time around? Or am I doomed, forever, to repeat the same, miserable mistakes. A hellish, unrelenting, groundhog day.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

“Ah but that’s the rub. You don’t know it’s a second chance. So all we can do is do our best. You and I, Zachariah, have been tasked with making those hard decisions. The ones that others are not able to make, but that MUST be made. Those decision pull away parts of ourselves until we feel there is nothing left. But sometimes, we get the opportunity to get pieces back. Shamera and Prim gave you that chance, small pieces maybe but you were more after their time in your life than you were before. Levithan is a nightmare, but we are more for having served on her. I was a broken shell of a person, no more than a machine with flesh when I arrived on Delotha 12 years ago, but when I left, I was more than when I had arrived. And through those people, through those children and what meager effort I make, I am more. Maybe not much, maybe never whole, but I am more.” There were times she doubted it wholly but it was true. “Through every member of your crew that you encounter you are more. You may not see it, it is hard for use to see ourselves, but you are finding yourself, piece by piece. And this week, I promise you, when we are done, you will have found large pieces of yourself.”

Casela/Zanya grinned over at Cobb. “Time to get dressed, Santa,” she laughed as she walked out of the back, the privacy barrier coming down temporarily. She was dressed in green with white and red accents. Her shoes curled up to points that had small bells hanging from the ends. She wore a green and white floppy santa style hat, her pink hair only slightly contained by the hat.

“Alfred, open a channel to Judge Kentaira Arroz, Family Court Judge, Federation Courts Sector 293.” After a moment the connection came through. “Good afternoon Judge. I hope you are well today.”

The older, grandmotherly woman smiled. “Zanya! It’s always a pleasure to hear from you. You’ve done such a wonderful job with the orphanage. I take it Karra has spoken with you?”

Zanya nodded, “I got her message a few days ago. We’re going to land in an hour or so. I wanted to make sure you’d be available.”

“Always, anything for the children. This one is somewhat unusual. But I think it’s a good fit and Mr Asam is an amazing man. To take on…well hopefully the children feel the same. But then I wouldn’t approve this if I thought they would say no. So, first chance, give me a call. I’ll send the paperwork now so it will be there, but..” she held up a warning figure.

“I’ll delete it immediately if they say no. Speak again soon Judge.”

Before signing off the Judge glanced behind Zanya and smiled, “And a special thanks to you Santa, for granting such special wishes.” and then the comm went dark.

“Alfred, you have the holo program? And then the torpedo reconfigured for the fireworks display?” Alfred chuckled, “Mistress, of course. Tellek Bog did create me after all.” Casela laughed then, “Well let Cobb check the work anyway. Bog liked to leave surprises and we don’t want to hurt the village.” She turned to Cobb, “So Santa, Alfred is going to run a very special holo program, Valkyrja is going to look like Santa’s carriage, instead of sleigh, and pulled by 8 reindeer. The torpedo is going to give off a small fireworks display that looks like snow and Christmas lights. If you’re ready, I’ll start the descent.”

Taking over for the autopilot Casela pulled the shuttle out of orbit and started the descent through the atmosphere, once past the initial turbulence they settled over the southern hemisphere and Alfred engaged the holoprogram. 8 full size reindeer appeared harnessed to the front of an old fashioned carriage. The shuttle circled several times going lower and lower. Casela set the autopilot. “Alright, Alfred, open the hatch.” She turned to Cobb and grinned, “Not a word if I break my leg.” She walked over to the hatch and looked down at the ground. “Lower Alfred,” and shuttle dropped again, she glanced at Cobb, “See you in a few.” and she jumped.

Landing against a snow bank she tucked, and rolled, the snow softening the landing. But not without a groan of “I’m too old for this.” But then there were the sounds of children, and adults watching Santa’s carriage take back off into the sky. There would be several minutes before Alfred launched the torpedo, with Cobb’s okay.

Zanya danced out of the snow, looking all the part of a toy making, Santa helping, elf. She had a bell with her that she rang as she walked. “Zanya!” Child after child, and adult after adult, came out having seen her launch herself from the carriage. She walked the village calling to each house to come out and join them. She gathered them with her into the large yard of the orphanage. That left more than enough room for the shuttle to land with the holographic deer still attached. “Shhh….look up!” Parents, children, orphans, Karra, and the rest of the village settled against the walls, chairs, children on shoulders. And littles on the shoulders of the bigger kids. Zanya pointed up, “Wait and watch….” and to Zanya’s trained eye she saw the small mini torpedo shoot off from Santa’s carriage.

On Valkyrja, “Mr. Cobb, at your leave, when you are satisfied with the torpedo adjustments we can launch it.”

The shuttle landed in the middle of the village and the hatch unlocked. “At your leave sir. Your sack of gifts is stored in the after cargo holds beneath the benches.
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS/Zanya