Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Government Tower- Governor’s Office

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Government Tower- Governor’s Office

Posted by Civilian Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi (Governor) in Government Tower- Governor’s Office
Posted by… suppressed (11) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“The barrier you describe was… substantial.” Kenzo said. “And it was keeping you from the reality around you in many ways.” He took a breath. “To get through to you, we took a very unique approach. You are familiar with my and Dr. Fayth’s abilities, yes?”

Hyrushi, Governor

She nodded. “And I know you amplified everything through the canar, though because I was drugged so I didn’t resist the help, it obscured and clouded some things.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Hyrushi’s head rocked back and forth slightly. “To a degree, yes, the canar was used. It was the connection directly to the barrier. To be blunt: Dr. Fayth was the gun and I was the bullet. Through us, and the others after, we were able to break the barrier and then find you and reconnect with you. And yes, through that connection I experienced some of what you had shared with Mr. Jones.” He looked at her and said “And I would hazard to guess that connection went both ways?”

Hyrushi, Governor

She nodded slowly. “Not at first in quite the same way, but as you probably understand better than others now, the canar creates a powerful connection that lingers. No one in my life quite gets it. Not even my kids, whose abilities are not the same.” Eela gazed deep into his onyx eyes. “I am Smoke,” she said softly.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Eyebrows over black eyes raised in shock, then furrowed in concern. He leaned back and exhaled. “Eela, I-” and he stopped. He looked at her and said “After. Once we have all of this settled, I will explain. No, not explain… I will tell you what that means. Among other things.” He sighed. “And then you can decide what to do. Is that acceptable? Or do you need to know now?”

Hyrushi, Governor

Sitting in a slider on their way to a vigil seemed a slightly off time to have what was surely going to be a long and deep conversation. But it was more than the words she had experienced. He knew that right? Because of the canar. “Later,” she said with a nod. “Right now we have other… things.” So many different things that she needed to unpack and while it was tempting to just have it all come at once and just deal with it, it was an unwise option given her current state.

As the slider moved, she could see then turn a corner and the building from the vid appeared. Her stomach tightened even as her eyes took in people gathered and that sight filled her with a sense of connectedness. She could all but feel the sadness but also the respect in the air even from a slight distance.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

The slider pulled up in front of Dash’s building and stopped. Hyrushi stepped out and then helped Eela out. He led her to the wall where the votives and flowers had been placed… and where the Vren Ambassador had drawn the symbol. He looked at the site and sighed heavily.

Hyrushi, Governor

For once Eela was not self-conscious about, not just using her cane, but relying heavily on it. Instead she was focused on the sight before her, well aware of the people around them that security had encouraged to give them space. She stared at the symbol and reached in the pocket of her grey mourning lamai. Rolling the small medallion (the suufa Cariddee had given her) in her hand, she took in a deep breath.

Bracing herself on her cane, Eela lowered herself to her knees and sat back on her feet. She didn’t care about the dirt, or how her body felt. All that mattered was that she take this moment. Placing the suufa amongst the other tokens of rememberance, she bowed her hooded head and whispered a benediction for Dash to pass into the Nasuina, or the Great Mystery.

She wasn’t sure how long she stayed that way, probably minutes, but after awhile, Eela lifted her head and looked up at Kenzo and held up her hand. “I think I need help getting up,” she said softly, more aware all of a sudden of everyone watching.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Kenzo nodded and reached down for her hand. His other hand on her elbow, he guided-slash-lifted Eeela to her feet. He inclined his head to her and then turned and looked at the impromptu memorial. He sighed again and the knelt down where Eela had been. He closed his eyes and then took a breath before speaking evenly, in a normal volume but with a strength that silenced close by observers. “ご冥福をお祈り申し上げます.” (Gomeifuku o oinori moushiagemasu / May his soul rest in peace) He then opened his eyes and pulled a small slip of paper from inside his suit coat. He held it over the open flame of one of the candles and it began to burn. Before it did, Eela was able to see black kanji in a delicate and beautiful script on the paper. The paper burned into nothing, not even ash, and Hyrushi stood up. He dusted off his knees and then turned to Eela. “Do you need to go inside?” he asked. He didn’t know if the Oed Police would allow it, but he needed to know where her mind was.

Hyrushi, Governor

She shook her head even as her mind conjured Kek’s ritual. It had such a similar feel to it that Eela couldn’t help the tears that came to her eyes. Leaving the suufa here hadn’t been planned, but this was a place of offerings, ways to guide the living towards the acceptance of death. Hallians had (as far as she was concerned) a pretty practical approach to death but it was also couched in many small rituals that allowed a mourner to process a lost connection. Though many will tell her she was still connected to Dash, and she could agree, connection came from a very different place when you were an empath and touch telepath. For her it was more tangible and thus when it was severed, it left a mark. She spoke softly, just loud enough for him to hear. “I had told Karilan yesterday that I wanted to go see him, but they thought that would be a bad idea and I’m starting to agree. I already know what he felt. I don’t know that seeing the effects would actually help me.” Eela looked up to the floor where she knew he lived and though she had never been inside, she could so easily imagine how it all played out, even if she didn’t have the details.

Drawing in a deep breath, eyes glistening with tears, she turned, took in the people gathered, and let herself be seen. After a moment she braced herself on her cane and looked at Kenzo. “I’m ready to go if you are.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Kenzo nodded and helped her back to the slider. He helped her in and then got in himself and they began to move. “A touching remembrance, I think. Do you agree?”

Hyrushi, Governor

She nodded, each tip of her head feeling like punctuation. Of all the processing she was doing, Eela did not need to accept that Dash was dead. That was far too real for her. Instead, she was trying to navigate where she went from here. She supposed that the results of the investigation would change how she felt about the circumstances, but she had let herself become close to someone and so suddenly, they were gone. It was not the first time, and given she had many more years to live and was trying to let herself be openhearted, it was unlikely to be the last. “They really didn’t know him, but I like that they thought well enough of him to extend such a beautiful gesture,” she said at last.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“He represented them.” Kenzo said softly. “He wasn’t Star Fleet. He wasn’t government. He was a person doing a job that he hoped would make a difference somehow. I think on a subconscious level, they recognize that.” He was quiet a moment and then said “I’m glad you had him in your life, Eela. I wish he had been more permanent… for your sake.”

Hyrushi, Governor

She turned her gaze fully on him and gave a soft smile even as her eyes glistened with tears. “Me too, Kenzo.” She smiled a bit wider. “He gave me a beautiful gift of a new start in terms of my heart. You, and Karilan, and everyone helped pave the way, but it was the first time in a really long time I truly wanted to pursue something with anyone. I had stopped dating even before the accident, for lots of reasons, but I though if I backed off on that point and focused on my marriage, then maybe we could turn things around, shift the inevitable.” She shook her head. “Obviously that was never going to happen, but I do know that Dash came into my life at the right time. Any earlier and I wouldn’t have been ready for him.”

She pressed a hand to her heart and fought back tears. “The seeds he gave me on that first date? They’ve sprouted, Kenzo. And I had that same strange feeling like I did with that mystic and when I got this job. I don’t know what to make of it all just yet, but I do know that the more I return to my cultural beliefs and practices, the more often beautiful things appear in my life.” She gave a small one-shoulder shrug.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“It is normal and healthy to cry at the loss of someone special, Eela. You do not have to fight them back on my account.” he said. “I am happy that he was there when he was, then.” He looked out the window as the city slid past them in silence. “And I am glad that you are going to be alright.” and he turned and looked at her, his face expressionless and tone emotionless.

Something about his gaze killed the quip that rose to her lips.

“I could not do this without you.” and he turned to look out the window.

Hyrushi, Governor

Silence ensued for a few moments before she reached over and took his hand, giving it a squeeze. “Then let’s be grateful Caridee’s fear never came to pass.” She wasn’t sure if people had understood the risk of the Kuskaaritz, but her daughter’s reference to Eela’s days post-accident had told Eela everything that was at stake. It was the reason that in her compromised state she had said yes.

Eela didn’t let go of his hand and in fact held it securely, channeling the sense of ease and safety he gave her. It was one thing for those around her to sense how touch informed her life and how her existence as a touch telepath was dependant on her connections, but Kenzo had peered into a realm none in her circle had before and it exposed her in a great way. The canar made her vulnerable, and in that tender place was a powerful strength. “I do hate that you and Sharah had to endure what you did in order to… correct the issue. You’ve been understandably concerned about me, but don’t think I haven’t been worried for you too, my friend. Tell me truthfully if you are all right or not?”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

He turned back and looked at her. “I have no lasting complications, if that is what concerns you. No residual emotional distress, no mental fatigue. And the burns disappeared as they always do… although I will say that they were particularly painful this time. It seemes the pain reaction is commensurate with the strength of the emotional input. So the endeavour was surprisingly… um… potent… in that regard.” What Kenzo did not and never would say is that the pain almost caused him to pass out, and even now his skin was tender in places.

Hyrushi, Governor

She gazed at him for a long time, her breaths measured as she tried to figure out how to form her thoughts. When they finally coalesced into something reasonable, she sighed. “I’m not going to lie and say I’m comfortable with that outcome, but I am glad you are okay. I think you know that had our positions been reversed, I would have done the same for you in a heartbeat. Or for anyone I care about.”

Eela took a breath. “Well, before you drop me off at home, since I’m now off work, I think we should call Cort and Dorma and give them a shock.” A tiny smirk tugged at her lips. “I can already imagine the looks on their faces when they find out I’m doing this willingly.” Even if Kenzo had suggested it, she had agreed with far less resistance than she might have otherwise. It was something of a miracle, all told.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“They will never believe it.” Kenzo said. “No matter what we say. Make the call. I’m sure Mr. Belanger is eager to speak to you. And I have reason to believe that Ms. Fen will be in proximity to him… along with the rest of the ‘Gatekeepers’.” and a rare but brief smile crossed his face.

Hyrushi, Governor