<snip>

“I suppose you’re right,” Odraavi spoke quietly, offering a small scoff-like chuckle. “Maybe if I hadn’t spent so much time realizing what could go wrong, I might have followed a far different path. One might suppose you can say the Universe has a funny way of working out like that. Or, you could say it is simply intuition.” She thought for a second, “Their decisions and their actions reflected poorly on themselves, making them out to be a couple of very little respect. My father was dishonorably discharged, and my mother chose to go with him. Maybe it was one of this things that was simply, ‘I don’t want to live like that,’ so.. I didn’t.”

Dr. Odraavi

“It takes a certain kind of strength to say no to a cycle you are stuck in the middle of. Family is complicated.... in any language, in any culture, in any life.” She ate a bite, chewed and then continued thoughtfully. “I wonder what would I have done if my father had not died. If he had lived, would my mother have made the choice to leave Krios. Would she ever have grown tired enough of being in that environment to leave.. or would she have stayed, complacent in her home life regardless of the risks of being on a Klingon occupied world? I don’t think I will ever know, but it does make me wonder from time to time. I don’t have a lot of time on my hands to day dream these days though.”

Briony, CO

“Yes.. that it is, Captain.” Nisihe quietly agreed, her mind adrift to thoughts and memories that she hadn’t had the time to reflect upon, in quite awhile. She wondered where her parents were, how they were doing. She pondered what had happened to Elmira or the Ael, both friends she had made at the Academy. After they departed, they kept contact for a short while, but eventually the three departed and ended up being reassigned from the Enigma, to other places. Shaking her head, she was glad that the conversation was off of her. Odraavi was a rather secretive person, tending to keep mostly to herself, so it was nice to remain that way. “You have the right to dream and ponder, eh? It is always interesting to wonder about the future or even the past, should you have taken a different path or should an element have been changed. Though, it is never good to dwell on these subjects, which I doubt very much that you do. However, to dwell on what doesn’t exist often robs you of the ability to understand the beauty in what does, be it chaotic or graceful.”

Dr. Odraavi
CMO

While Odraavi contemplated her own past, Briony ate the food, sipped her rootbeer float which had become more like a creamy drink than ice cream and rootbeer and watched the people below. She gave the woman time and sat in companionable silence until conversation was ready to be had once more. “It can be negative to dwell, but it can also be important to reflect on one’s decisions and where those decisions have led someone in their life. Knowing past mistakes, missteps and even one’s celebrated
successes can help to better one’s future. I started down a path that would have left me very likely in some bad places. My mother turned me around and pointed me on a new path. I choose to take it and that has led me here. While I would have rather stayed on the Atlantis for many reasons, I don’t see my transfer here as a negative. I am a good Captain with a good head on my shoulders. This place needs that.”

Briony, CO