Failing To Leave Shore Leave

Posted on Mon Mar 3rd, 2025 @ 4:47am by Commander Aisling Bangerjee

1,515 words; about a 8 minute read

"And how are you doing Commander?"

Commander. That sounded...strange, still. Stranger still was the fact that Counselor Slinke was calling her, "I am fine, Sir."

Slinke smiled on the screen, "Are you? Are you really, Commander? You left home early."

"Yes. Well...Mother started bringing over eligible bachelors. And you know how things are between me and my sister."

Slinke nodded sympathetically, "Of course. Yes. And you are currently on a runabout heading for Deep Space Nine."

"Yes."

"A day early."

"Looking to get right to work, Sir."

"Now, Commander. You remember what I said about that ten days leave."

"But it's just one d-"

"Ten day is ten days, Commander. Show up on Sovereign a day early and I am afraid I am going to have to put a note in your service jacket. Are we clear?"

"...Yes, sir."

Slinke smiled even more broadly, "Excellent! And that goes for Deep Space Nine as well. Bajor is a lovely place to visit. Enjoy!"

Aisling sighed as the screen went dark. She paused, then turned the seat forward to look out the window.

"You heard, Chief?" She said after a moment.

"Aye, ma'am," Chief Eustis murmured at the pilot's station, "If it helps I have access to a nice tourist pamphlet."

Aisling sighed and held up her PADD, "Hand it on over, then..."

* * *

No one could see a planet in one day. Or a year. Or ten years, really. Not if you truly wanted to give a place a proper look. For Aisling she chose the place almost at random.

Kiessa Monastery had been burned down by the Cardassians during the occupation due to reports weapons had been hidden there. Today much of the monastery had been rebuilt using traditional methods. Aisling read with interest the display board some yards outside the facility that explained the history and listed those who had died. She stood back and admired the work that had been completed. In less than a local year's time it would be complete.

"It would have gone more swiftly, had resources not been needed elsewhere."

Aisling turned to find a slight, aged woman smiling brightly through a map of fine wrinkles, her white hair shorn close to her scalp, "I am sorry if I startled you. But we get so few tourists here," she giggled, which sounded strange yet musical as well, "Unless I have a convert on my hands?"

Aisling smiled despite herself, "Ah, no, I am afraid. I have been exiled from Starfleet and I have been forbidden to even approach my ship even a day early. I am not even supposed to wear my uniform."

"Well, your outfit is quite lovely," the woman noted.

Aisling looked down at her pleated crimson trousers which were cinched at the ankles, tucked into her stylish darker crimson short boots. She wore a gold shirt that reached down to her knees, "Oh, this? Ah, my Mother picked it out for me. I am afraid over the past few years I seldom have had an opportunity to wear civilian clothes," she paused and frowned, "I...did not thank her for the consideration."

"Well, I am certain she knows you are grateful."

Aisling glanced up, "Does she?"

All at once Aisling thought about what a despicable brat she had been once she had gotten home. She must have made everyone miserable with her pouting. Something must have shown on her face, because of course it did. The old woman motioned towards a stone bench and said, "Let's sit: I start to stiffen if I stand in one place for too long," Aisling followed the woman, who sank onto the bench slowly.

"You must have either done something bad," the woman said, "And are being punished. Or you are in some sort of enforced recovery."

"That latter," Aisling admitted, "My ship was damaged, I had to help bring her home."

"And you feel guilty you survived," She smiled wryly at Aisling's expression, "I live on a world where at one point every single person knew someone who died, or was imprisoned, or was betrayed by a friend who collaborated with the Cardassians. A world of survivors, and so many of us feeling guilty because we endured, we survived, somehow. And so many of our friends and family died, all too often so we could live. An emotionally scarred civilization. It is a wonder our new generation grew up whole with such as us to raise them."

Her smile was sad, "So when I say I am sorry for your loss, know that I mean every word."

"Thank you," Aisling replied quietly, "I should have been on the bridge but there was a problem with a power conduit and I just had to be on hand to fix it, so I called up ensign Chalmers to replace me at my station, headed down, and..."

She looked away, "I had to tell Chalmer's parents and fiance I had put her on the bridge in my place. They said they did not blame me, but I know they did. She was a week out of the academy. She was so proud, taking the station, and..."

"Would Chalmers have known how to fix the fault?" the woman inquired gently. When Aisling shook her head she asked, "And did you know she would die? Of course you did not. I am certain your counselors have told you the same, but you really do need to stop blaming yourself for the actions of a capricious universe. You work in space, I cannot think of a more dangerous place," she smiled wryly, "Well, other than a planet occupied by Cardassians.

Asiling smile despite herself at that. The old woman slowly, carefully rose, "You are a good person, Aisling Banerjee. A moral person. It is time to start being a little good to yourself," she started to walk away, paused, then slowly turned, "And call your Mother and thank her for that lovely outfit."

Aisling rose and watched the old woman turn a corner into the monastery. It suddenly occurred to her that she had not gotten the old woman's name. Or...for that matter she had not given her own. She strode into the monastery.

It was empty. "Hello?" she called out, "Hello? I...Thank you for the advice!" She frowned and quietly added, "Whomever you were..."

Aisling left the monastery soon after, feeling marginally less miserable. She reached the transport station and the bus-for lack of a better term-arrived on time. She stepped on board and she smiled politely at the driver, who as he pulled onto the road asked, "Did you enjoy the visit?"

Aisling sat, "Yes, it was very interesting. I had only one day here and I feel I made a good choice. The guide was especially nice."

"Oh, there's no guide here," the driver explained, "The students all went home for the month and the gardener only shows up every third day," he cocked his head, frowned thoughtfully, "Did you meet an old lady, short white hair, face a map of wrinkles?"

"Why...yes. Whom is she?"

The driver's gave her an appraising look, then nodded, "Whom was she, more like it."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Some mysteries are better left mysteries, madame," the driver replied, "But know that you were blessed," he glanced over his shoulder, "I'm more than a bit envious."

Aisling frowned and settled into her seat, she stared thoughtfully out the window. Later she asked the driver what he meant, but his only response was silence and a bemused smile...

* * *

Aisling checked herself in the mirror. Red was her color, she thought as she examined her new uniform. And the new pip on her collar was rather nice and felt less out of place now than it had yesterday. She checked the black bindi once more on her forehead to make certain it was centered properly, assured herself the bun was properly set, and then nodded. She exited the hostel and made for the transport that would take her to the shuttle pad. As she sat in the back seat she pulled the small PADD out of her tunic pocket and examined the image once again. Erbo Goashi, Prylar of the Kiessa Monastery sixty years ago. Aisling studied the kind face, the wrinkles, the bright eyes.

Sixty years ago. Killed by Cardassians, her body burned.

Did she tell someone? Whom? Her Captain, a counselor? And would they believe her? If not she would be in therapy for the rest of her life. If they did...Would scientists go to Kiessa Monastery and...what? She would have thought she had imagined it, but the driver implied she was not the first to be 'blessed'.

She smiled wryly and stared out the window, spotting the runabout that would take her up to Deep Space Nine and Sovereign. As much as it galled her to admit it, perhaps some mysteries were best left unsolved. She examined the image again and her smile grew as she reminded herself to give Mother a call to thank her for the outfit...

 

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