JP Lt. Silveira & LtJG Jovenan – A bond from another universe
Jovenan
((USS Artemis, deck 3, outside Jovenan’s quarters))
Vitor took a deep breath before hitting the chime. He couldn't delay this meeting any longer, although he wasn’t sure how Nan would react.
He was hoping she would agree, or at the very least help him. Vitor wanted to make sure he followed Edo rules.
From his interactions with Olivera he learned that their universes weren't exactly mirrored, but most of the cultural details were common.
He guessed the same for burial traditions.
Hitting the chime he waited for Nan.
When the doors opened he nodded.
Silveira: Hello Nan. I have been meaning to see you.
Jovenan: Oh, hello, sir. Umm, Vitor. Is there something I can help you with?
Vitor tried a forced smile, not sure if he was successful in his attempt.
Silveira: I wanted to ask for your help, if you’re willing. ::he paused taking a deep breath:: I want to learn about Edo burial ceremony.
Jovenan: Oh, uh, of course, please, come in!
Vitor nodded.
Silveira: Thank you.
Jovenan led her senior colleague to her quarters. She didn’t have much furniture in there, since she didn’t have guests over often. In fact, Silveira was the first one. Gesturing to her sole chair, she invited him to sit if he wanted.
She studied his face. On the previous shoreleave, he had pulled a minor prank on her and asked her to return the favor to him if she wanted to, but she knew very well this was not the moment for that. After what happened during the mission, she had been worried about him.
Vitor stepped inside. Her quarters looked a little spartan, and he shook his head when she offered him a seat, choosing to stand.
Jovenan: May I ask, is this about the other Jovenan, my… my sister?
Vitor tilted his head at her expression. Smiling sadly he nodded as a mix of emotions curled through him.
That explained Nan's reaction before the took back the Bridge.
Silveira: Yes. I am glad you both got along. We… Jo and I… ::his voice trembled.:: Somehow we fell for one another. I know it might sound silly because we only had one date but… I want to set a memorial for her.
She lowered her eyes to the floor for a moment. As much as she wanted to hear what had happened between them to cause them to fall for each other so deeply that her sister was ready to sacrifice herself for, she decided there was going to be a better time for that. She just had chosen to accept their relationship, even if she was too late for it.
Jovenan: I wouldn’t say we got along, I just wish we had had more time to do so. ::sighs, tries smiling:: But I’m happy that you did. A memorial sounds lovely. Of course I will help you.
Vitor cleared his throat, forcing himself to control his emotions and not cry in front of her.
Silveira: Thank you. I just want to do it right.
Jovenan: ::smiles genuinely:: What you are already doing is right, Vitor. I want you to know that you don’t have to follow our traditions for me, or even for her. But if you want, I’ll help you.
He nodded, feeling better now that Nan agreed.
Silveira: I do. It means a lot to me. I want to make l respectful but I wasn't thinking of having a full ceremony. How does your people deal with these things?
Jovenan scratched her head as she thought about how to explain all the beliefs and traditions surrounding a person’s death on her homeworld. It hadn’t been a matter she had thought often about and hadn’t prepared for on this occasion.
Jovenan: Well, these kinds of events usually take place in nature near the home of the person’s community. That means family. Since she wasn’t from our universe, her only family here would be me… and you, if you want to.
She tried to see how he reacted to that before he even said anything.
Vitor heart warmth with her words
He smiled, his eyes watering as he nodded to Nan.
Silveira: I am honored that you think that. And speaking of nature I asked the Captain’s permission to set a memorial in the Arboretum. She allowed it but her only concern was about you. The Captain was worried how you might react. If it was her she wasn't too keen on having a memorial to… Herself. From what you told me I assume you don't mind.
The arboretum was probably the most sensible location, although Jovenan wasn’t entirely sure what other visitors liked of a cenotaph in the middle of their leisure area. She was also surprised to learn that Silveira had already talked with the Captain about the matter. He seemed to take it seriously, for which she was gratuitous as she hadn’t started anything yet.
Jovenan: Um, I guess it can be weird seeing a gravestone with your name on it at first, but to me, she wasn’t as much me as a completely different person, so I’ll be okay. Besides, the memorial doesn’t have to be there forever. Our memorials tend to be only temporary, something that might disappear in a decade or even less.
Silveira: That is why I want to learn about the Edo ceremony. I have something in mind but I don't want it to conflict with your traditions.
Jovenan: There isn’t really a standard ceremony, it’s what each community sees fit to deal with their sorrow. Burying the person or giving them a spiritual sendoff is not really the focus, but commemorating their role in the community and such might is more important. We, um, those of us who believe in spirits of the dead think that they will eventually fade to be a part of nature and continue to help the community thrive that way.
Vitor tipped his head, listening attentively to Nan. Somehow, speaking about this was calming.
Silveira: That’s interesting, go on, please.
Jovenan: Okay, so, some believe the spirits can still interact with the material world, but normally the dead just… just fade away, just like I said. But some spirits, like those of criminals or their victims might get confused or aggressive, and there’s a belief they need to be calmed down before they can go on.
Vitor nodded. He wasn’t a spiritual man, he had seen enough of life to not trust Higher Powers. But he knew the cultural importance of belief.
He didn't have the chance to know Jo well enough. Vitor wasn't sure if she was a believer in her faith or not. Still as a sign of respect, and after Nan’s words he felt the need to follow it.
Silveira: Do you think that is… Needed for Jo? And how do we calm them?
Jovenan thought for a moment. While she didn’t really believe in all the spiritual things in her culture, she understood how important the ceremony was to Silveira and wished to give him the chance to say goodbye as he wanted. He was strong, she knew that, but his reaction on the bridge had also been strong.
Jovenan: We can talk to her spirit at the ceremony. Express that we care about her and love her, and that she is surrounded by friends and family. She would probably find peace that way. Is that something you’d want to do?
Vitor nodded with conviction
Silveira: Most definitely. It’s interesting but I was thinking of doing something like that, although that isn’t exactly a formal Terran tradition it helps ease the sorrow.
Is there any ritual formality that needs to be observed?
Jovenan: No, not really. It’s all very flexible with the wishes of the community, and I ::sighs:: I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel like doing anything unnecessarily formal right now. Just saying goodbye to her.
The more he heard Nan explain it to him, the more Vitor realized they had a lot in common.
Silveira: I don’t know how to thank you Nan, hard as this subject is, learning about it is bringing me some… Peace…
Jovenan smiled a little hearing that. Ignoring the spiritual aspects, the funeral rituals were always about allowing the community to move forwards, and she felt like she was succeeding in helping him in that already.
Jovenan: I’m glad that I could help. ::pause:: Had you already started planning the memorial? What do you have in mind?
Vitor smiled sadly at Nan.
Silveira: I was thinking of a small headstone with the words Mediator Jovenan and Saudade. It's a Portuguese word that doesn’t have a proper translation in Standard. It can be translated as missing someone, but its meaning is wider and very significant in my culture.
I also… ::he paused as he thought of the little box in his quarters.:: I had something for her and would like to bury it there as well. Do any of these things conflict with your traditions?
Hearing him describe the headstone, particularly the inclusion and the meaning of the word “saudade”, Jovenan felt her empathetic sorrow in her heart. She couldn’t read his mind or feel his emotions like some of their friends, but that word revealed a lot of his mind to her.
Jovenan: I didn’t know of that word before, but how you describe it, it’s some of the most beautiful ones I’ve ever heard. ::thinks for a moment:: Burying items isn’t traditional, but it’s not forbidden either. I think it’d be okay. May I ask what is it?
Vitor nodded, he smiled sadly as his eyes began to water.
Silveira: It’s a piece of traditional Portuguese jewelry, shaped like a heart, made of filigree, tinny gold threads crafted together. Almost like it's knitted. It's called the Heart of Viana. ::He wiped the tears that began to feel.:: It have several connections and I was going to offer it to Jo when we next met.
Jovenan: You were planning to meet her again?
Silveira: Naturally. We hadn't made any plans but… I wanted to be with her. Get to know her better. Spend as much time as we could before…
He shrugged, struggling to contain his tears.
For some reason, hearing him say that made Jovenan sadder than anything they had talked about earlier. They couldn’t have predicted the attack beforehand, so it made sense that Silveira might have planned that. If the crew of the Desdemona hadn’t been as desperate as they were, Vitor and her sister would have had one more time together before she was sent back home… or she could have stayed.
Jovenan: I… I’m sorry. Things would have been so much different if the attack hadn’t happened. I’m sorry that I couldn’t do more to stop it.
Vitor shook his head and raised his hands.
After finally reading the reports he got the whole picture. Jo tried to warn them and Nan picked up the message.
Silveira: You did all you could.
Jovenan: I- I don’t know if I did. When I received the message from her, I automatically thought she was one of the attackers, maybe even behind it all. If I had realized that she was asking for help, I could have done so much more…
Vitor again shook his hand.
Silveira: Please, don't think that. I feel that.. If there was a reason for Jo to choose to…
Vitor felt his throat tightening and his eyes couldn't control the flood of tears, as they began to fall down his cheeks.
Silveira: Hiro already told me it wasn't my fault. And I know he is right. But I still feel guilty for her death. I should have been there for her… I am the one to blame for her loss…
Jovenan moved closer to Silveira. The sight of him crying made her want to hold him, but after some hesitation, she opted to just stand by him. She was at the brink of crying as well, or maybe she had already passed that border.
Jovenan: No, no you’re not. You couldn’t have known that it happened, you couldn’t have done anything.
Vitor cleaned his tears and through slow breathing managed to get a hold on himself.
Silveira: Part of my brain believes that… Know that… But… If I…
Jovenan: I was with you around that time, remember? We couldn’t have taken the bridge if it weren’t for you. We needed you, I needed you. You saved many more lives that day. She would have been proud of you. I am.
Nan’s words almost made him cry again. He closed his hands in fists so tightly that the fingers cracked. Taking a few deep breaths he closed his eyes for a second longer, before opening them again and force a smile to Nan.
Silveira: Thank you.
They stood there a few seconds in silence. Vitor almost raised his hands asking for an unspoken hug. But he smiled and tipped his head.
Silveira: Thank you so much Nan. You have no idea how much talking to you helped.
Jovenan smiled. If she could help her friends leave the emotional load of the previous mission behind, she had reason to be happy. It seemed she was succeeding. And while she still had many questions, she felt lighter now.
Jovenan: And thank you. You’ve helped me as well.
Silveira: When I have the headstone and feel ready will you join me when I set the memorial?
Jovenan: Yes, of course! And if you need any help arranging it or something, please let me know. I want to help you anyway I can!
Vitor smiled and nodded.
Silveira: Good I will set things up and when the time comes I will tell you.
Vitor turned and started walking out.
Jovenan followed Silveira to the door, staying behind as he left to the corridor.
Jovenan: Thank you, Vitor. You’re a good friend.
Vitor again smiled at Nan. He already considered her a friend. And part of his “ship” family.
But somehow the connection that grew in the common bond from another universe felt stronger and deeper.
Silveira: You too. I hope you forgive me, but I now feel closer to you. Like family.
End scene
----
Lieutenant JG Jovenan
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11
and
Lt. Vitor S. Silveira
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Artemis-A, NCC-81287
O238907VS0