Beginning of a Journey
Standing in the cargo hold of the ship, Ken stares at the door. Beyond that door lies the only woman he ever loved. And, now, all he has of her is a pouch in his hand and the capture he has in his pocket. His eyes begin to tear up just as he is startled by a noise behind him. He turns to see Mike Chen moving some boxes around.
"Are you alright, John?" Mike asked him.
For a quick moment again, he is startled to be called John. This is something he needs to get accustomed to quickly. "Yes, I'm fine. Where am I staying?"
Mike looks startled himself for a moment, realizing he never got the chance to show John around the ship. "Sorry 'bout that. Let me give you the tour." Mike motions towards the gantry leading to the top of the ship. "Come this way and we'll take care of that right off."
Ken follows Mike up the gantry and finds that they are just in front of the galley. Mike points Ken into the galley and follows him in. "Here we have the galley. We have standard protein in all of the colors of the rainbow. You're welcome to this space anytime. Forward," Mike points toward the bridge, "we have the bridge. It is off limits to passengers. And aft," Mike starts walking to the back of the galley, "we have the engine room, also off limits. And, here to the left, we have the path to the passenger rooms." Mike heads down the steps, Ken following.
"Over to the right, here," Mike points right, "we have secondary cargo storage. If you have anything there, or in the main cargo hold, please call one of the crew. We prefer that we know who is rumaging around the cargo. And over here to the left," Mike points left, "we have the passenger rooms. We have two other passengers joining us. But, please help yourself to any of the open rooms. If you have any questions, I'll be in the main bay for a while yet. If you're hungry, help yourself to some food. Breakfast will be in about seven hours." Mike turns and heads to the cargo bay.
Ken moves on towards the rooms and finds the second room on the left open. He slides the door shut behind him and and lays down on the bed. As he settles himself on the matress, he realizes there is something in his hand. Lifting his hand, he sees the pouch that Jessica gave him. Instantly, it reminds him of the capture in his pocket. Just as he reaches towards his pocket, the ship starts to shake terribly as it lifts off the ground. Grateful that he is in the bed, Ken resists the urge to get sick as this ship is horribly shaky. After several minutes, the shaking dies off as they must be in open space and headed to their destination.
Having forgotten once again there was something in his hand, Ken raises his hand again and sees the pouch. And, again, he reaches for the capture in his pocket, successfully this time. He pulls it out and slides it open. There on the paper-thin screen, he sees Jessica's smiling face. He can't help but smile as she begins to speak.
"Hello, Ken. I'm sorry that I won't have time to say any of this to you in person. But, necessity is driving our lives at this point. It has taken us so long to organize this. The Alliance has been watching all of us much more carefully since they put you in that cell. A few of us have been sympathizers for the Independants for some time now, including me. I hope you'll forgive me for not telling you. I knew you were for the Alliance and I was afraid. But, now that you have seen first hand what we all suspected, I feel I must tell you this now. Unfortunately, I cannot leave the planet with you. Hopefully, when the war is over, they will relax their scrutiny of us and we will be able to go where we wish.
I will try to find a way to get away from here and get somewhere we can be together. I fear that might be some long time down the road. I do hope you won't forget about me." She looks off the side of the capture, someone apparently talking to her. "Oh, yes, can't forget about that, can we?" She looks back at Ken, "I should tell you where you are going and the plan from there. You are headed to Independant territory. They have agreed to take you in for as long as they are able. The ship you are on is headed to Hera. They have a base there near Serenity Valley. From there, they will take you somewhere else. We do not know where. In the event that they question me or the rest of us, we will not know how to find you."
"I guess that just leaves your identity. As I hope to have told you before you board the ship, your identity comes from my brother-in-law. He was a good man and would be proud to have helped you in this way. And, in case I forgot to tell you, I was able to move much of your money into an account under his name. So, you shouldn't have any trouble getting around and staying ahead of the Alliance."
She starts to cry as she begins talking again, "Ken, I want you to know something. I want you to know that I love you. I have never been able to tell you. I was afraid I'd let slip my affiliation with the Independants and either have you not love me or put you in danger. I just hope it is not too late to be telling you. I sincerely hope that we can be together in the future. Look for me always, Ken, for I will be looking for you."
The capture goes blank and Ken stares at it for several moments before turning off the light and falling asleep for the night.
"Are you alright, John?" Mike asked him.
For a quick moment again, he is startled to be called John. This is something he needs to get accustomed to quickly. "Yes, I'm fine. Where am I staying?"
Mike looks startled himself for a moment, realizing he never got the chance to show John around the ship. "Sorry 'bout that. Let me give you the tour." Mike motions towards the gantry leading to the top of the ship. "Come this way and we'll take care of that right off."
Ken follows Mike up the gantry and finds that they are just in front of the galley. Mike points Ken into the galley and follows him in. "Here we have the galley. We have standard protein in all of the colors of the rainbow. You're welcome to this space anytime. Forward," Mike points toward the bridge, "we have the bridge. It is off limits to passengers. And aft," Mike starts walking to the back of the galley, "we have the engine room, also off limits. And, here to the left, we have the path to the passenger rooms." Mike heads down the steps, Ken following.
"Over to the right, here," Mike points right, "we have secondary cargo storage. If you have anything there, or in the main cargo hold, please call one of the crew. We prefer that we know who is rumaging around the cargo. And over here to the left," Mike points left, "we have the passenger rooms. We have two other passengers joining us. But, please help yourself to any of the open rooms. If you have any questions, I'll be in the main bay for a while yet. If you're hungry, help yourself to some food. Breakfast will be in about seven hours." Mike turns and heads to the cargo bay.
Ken moves on towards the rooms and finds the second room on the left open. He slides the door shut behind him and and lays down on the bed. As he settles himself on the matress, he realizes there is something in his hand. Lifting his hand, he sees the pouch that Jessica gave him. Instantly, it reminds him of the capture in his pocket. Just as he reaches towards his pocket, the ship starts to shake terribly as it lifts off the ground. Grateful that he is in the bed, Ken resists the urge to get sick as this ship is horribly shaky. After several minutes, the shaking dies off as they must be in open space and headed to their destination.
Having forgotten once again there was something in his hand, Ken raises his hand again and sees the pouch. And, again, he reaches for the capture in his pocket, successfully this time. He pulls it out and slides it open. There on the paper-thin screen, he sees Jessica's smiling face. He can't help but smile as she begins to speak.
"Hello, Ken. I'm sorry that I won't have time to say any of this to you in person. But, necessity is driving our lives at this point. It has taken us so long to organize this. The Alliance has been watching all of us much more carefully since they put you in that cell. A few of us have been sympathizers for the Independants for some time now, including me. I hope you'll forgive me for not telling you. I knew you were for the Alliance and I was afraid. But, now that you have seen first hand what we all suspected, I feel I must tell you this now. Unfortunately, I cannot leave the planet with you. Hopefully, when the war is over, they will relax their scrutiny of us and we will be able to go where we wish.
I will try to find a way to get away from here and get somewhere we can be together. I fear that might be some long time down the road. I do hope you won't forget about me." She looks off the side of the capture, someone apparently talking to her. "Oh, yes, can't forget about that, can we?" She looks back at Ken, "I should tell you where you are going and the plan from there. You are headed to Independant territory. They have agreed to take you in for as long as they are able. The ship you are on is headed to Hera. They have a base there near Serenity Valley. From there, they will take you somewhere else. We do not know where. In the event that they question me or the rest of us, we will not know how to find you."
"I guess that just leaves your identity. As I hope to have told you before you board the ship, your identity comes from my brother-in-law. He was a good man and would be proud to have helped you in this way. And, in case I forgot to tell you, I was able to move much of your money into an account under his name. So, you shouldn't have any trouble getting around and staying ahead of the Alliance."
She starts to cry as she begins talking again, "Ken, I want you to know something. I want you to know that I love you. I have never been able to tell you. I was afraid I'd let slip my affiliation with the Independants and either have you not love me or put you in danger. I just hope it is not too late to be telling you. I sincerely hope that we can be together in the future. Look for me always, Ken, for I will be looking for you."
The capture goes blank and Ken stares at it for several moments before turning off the light and falling asleep for the night.
posted by Don at 6:33 PM
1 Comments:
Very sad, and very well-written. Explains a lot about Ken and his wanting to help Rae...trying to give back a little of the help that was given to him?
More, please. :)
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