PNPC Commander Etan Iljor: Family

[Michael Meir-Wright]

(( Botanical Arboretum, Deck 9, USS Octavia E. Butler ))

For a second Iljor wondered if Maxwell’s daughter possessed some sort of telepathic or empathic powers. She seemed to be insightful in a way that he had expected a young girl to be. Then again, he reminded himself, Obasaan always did say that children could see through all the bull… 

Etan: I’ve never been to the arboretum before and I wanted to visit before… :: he hesitated for a moment. It was still so surreal. He pressed on. :: … before I leave.

Milly: Why would the ships ::She paused, recalling the short title her father used for him.:: X-O be leaving?

A proud smile blossomed across Iljor’s face.

Etan: I’m leaving to take command of a starship.

In response, the young girl clapped her hands together and bobbed up and down on her toes.

Milly: Well done! Are you being made a captain?

Etan: After a fashion. :: beat :: You see, when somebody becomes a commanding officer they don’t always become a Captain in rank, but it is customary to be called one by the crew.

Milly: Well I'm sure you'll be really good at it!

Iljor felt a warmth in his face and he belatedly realised that he was blushing.

Etan: Thank you, Milly. That’s kind of you to say.

Maxwell’s daughter began rummaging around in her pack. She pulled out what Iljor recognised to be a delicacy from Earth and then handed him a small piece before chewing on some herself. He accepted the gesture with a grateful smile.

Milly: I'll show you why I'm out here.

She set off deeper into the arboretum and Iljor followed her with some bemusement. The two wended their way through the shrubbery until they came to a small orchid in the ground. Next to it was a picture that had spiked into the ground. Iljor looked at both the plant and the image curiously before he got down on his knees for a closer look.

On closer inspection, the man in the photograph bore a resemblance to Milly’s father.

Etan: Who is this?

Milly: Response.

He had heard Arturo Maxwell speak very highly of his ‘Da’ on a number of occasion during the time they had served alongside one another. He had been a former Starfleet officer, back when the galaxy had seemed like a less hostile place.

Etan: Ahh, yes. :: he replied. :: You’re Da often talks about him.

Milly: Response.

Iljor looked back at the photograph and then bowed his head a moment.

Etan: Walk with The Prophets, William Maxwell. :: he opened his eyes and looked back at Milly. :: Tell me about him.

Milly: Response.

—

Commander Etan Iljor

Commanding Officer

USS ‘Oumuamua

as simmed by:

Commander Margaret Walker

Director of Intelligence

Gamma Flotilla Expeditionary Taskforce

USS Octavia E. Butler

C239203TW0