Living Dead

Posted on Sun Nov 15th, 2020 @ 2:07pm by Skye & Commander Hades,MD

1,146 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 107 – Recovery
Location: Hades Quarters
Timeline: MD5

ON:

Hades had been categorized as the living dead. Since Kalani's death, a few days ago, he'd roamed the station between seeing patients. He'd insisted on working and it helped keep his mind occupied but when he was home it was then that he missed her the most. He now sat on the sofa staring at the same spot he'd stared at for days.

“... a word I said?”

Setting down a casserole dish on the table, Skye bit her lip, full of uncertainty about what to say or do. She had no experience to call on, used to being alone. An upside of which was having nobody to grieve for. Until now. Kalani had been special, welcoming her with open arms. No questions asked.

Crossing the room she crouched down and reached out, taking his hand. “Dad?”

The word sounded strange coming out of her mouth, unfamiliar. She had rarely referred to him in such a way, not out of any conscious choice. She was simply not used to having a parental influence. The kind which had made her extra cautious when visiting the still closed art gallery to admire 5’s collection in the dead of night.

It took a lot of restraint to leave every night empty handed.

At the sound of Skye's voice Hades looked away from the wall. He held her hand. "Skye." He paused blinking away tears. "When did you get home?" He tried for levity.

"A little while ago," she said with a dismissive shrug, pointing to the table, "that woman, Kitty is it? She was leaving that at the door because you didn't answer. Smells pretty good. I can set the table?"

He paused. He gave a nod. "I'll help." He stood slowly as if a man of great age. "How was your day?" He was a little startled that he didn't hear the door ring.

"It was okay," she said as she stood, glad to see him offering to help. "Went to the promenade. Usual. You get the cutlery and I'll get the plates."

He slowly set the table. He had heard rumours of some party. He smiled a little. "I hear that a celebration is being planned. Will you be attending?"

“Nope,” Skye said quickly and with a resolute determination. Dishing up the food, which looked as amazing as it smelled she offered a dismissive shrug, "lots of people not really paying attention to what's going on... I mean, it's almost too easy. And I figured if someone did happen to see me, well, you wouldn't want to be breaking me out of the brig."

He smiled, His mind went back to Kalani, she would have loved to go to the party.

"What's the deal with that Kitty woman anyway? Why is she always leaving food? She knows you have a replicator, right?" Skye asked curiously as she sat down.

"She is a nice woman. She has heard of Kalani's ..." His voice broke on that and he took a moment before continuing, "Of Kalani's passing and she wished to make some homemade food. It is an Earth custom when a family is grieving the loss of someone. I never understood it but I guess I do now."

"I have to admit, she's a good cook," Skye offered, trying to cheer him up as she took a bite. "I don't know what it is, but I like it."

"She is one of the best cooks on the station." He admitted taking small bites of his own food.

“I know I’m a little old probably for this but... I don’t really know what this Halloween thing is all about and ...” she set down her fork. “While celebrating seems wrong, very wrong, I’m kind of curious. It’s all everyone on the promenade is talking about it. Maybe we could both stop by and check it out?”

It felt crazy, basically asking her father - her grieving, ghost of himself father - to take her to a party for... what had she heard someone say? Oh yes. Trick or treating.

His instinct was to say no but Kalani would have loved it. She would have insisted on going. "Perhaps. After dinner I will tell you about the holiday if you wish."

At his 'perhaps' her smile was bright, taking it as a victory. Work, home, repeat. Every day. "I'd like that."

Her time amongst humans had been limited. And the kind she had mixed with - well, they were hardly the type to go in for holiday traditions. Of course the computer could tell her perhaps way too much information in its cold and impersonal way. But she'd rather hear it from him.

And his sadness, his grief, troubled her. It never troubled her before when it was anyone else. But this was different.

She missed Kalani too. And she had dealt with it in the kind of ways she was used to. A holodeck programme to pick a bar fight. It had been cathartic. Quite painful but the couple of bruises she earned were well hidden and well worth it.

He patted her hand. "Okay after dinner then." As they ate he had to remind himself that Kalani would never allow silence at a meal. "Tell me about your day." He said.

“Went to the promenade, did some window shopping,” Skye shrugged. “Nothing really to tell. The chocolate shop is open again, queue was a mile long.”

"Yes...but that was always so," he said. "Kalani waits for up to....that is," he said sadly. "She used to wait up to an hour."

Skye frowned, biting her lip. What was a daughter meant to do in situations like this? She had no idea. "Kalani didn't seem the type of person who would want you to be sad. I... I don't like seeing you so sad. How can I help?"

He looked up and did something he hadn't done since Kalani's death. He smiled. He reached over and patted her hand. "You are helping. Knowing I have you back makes me very happy."

Skye doubted anything made him very happy these days. Or if he really felt much of anything at all. Except the cloud of sadness that followed him everywhere, refusing to budge. "Maybe we don't go to the party, if everyone is there, chances are a holodeck might be free. You could show me some more of home?"

She had found herself pouring over the pictures in the photo album he kept in his study, to the point where she had memorised them all. While he had once talked of a trip back to the First Federation, he had not mentioned it again. Not since -

"Indeed." He paused. "Would you like to see it. I should go with Kalani...Kalani's body back for the ceremony. Would you accompany me?”

Skye smiled, “course I will.”

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