[BACKSIM] [PNPC] Commander Omun Inaki - Solemn Duty
Aaron Schimmel
((OOC: This takes place a few weeks ago, shortly after the search for the Gorkon has been called off. ))
(( Yorval Residence - Najana City, Trill ))
:: Commander Omun Inaki was old. Well, the symbiont Inaki was old, anyway. Omun was in his mid-eighties; he was relatively short, around 168 cm. His grey hair, what was left of it, was thin and wispy. For a duty such as this, Inaki was dressed in an immaculate formal dress white Starfleet uniform. The long steps of the Yorval Estate weren’t easy to walk up with his worn-out legs. Still, this was a duty Inaki needed - wanted - to do. He had officially retired from Starfleet a few years ago. The last years of his career had been spent teaching at the Starfleet Academy campus on Trill. Any officer could have done this, but Inaki felt personally responsible. ::
:: Several years ago, he met a brilliant young woman named Ayiana in his Applied Subspace Physics class. Like his previous host Mezin, she seemed timid and shy, but he saw a spark of excellence in her. He urged her to study the sciences. Over the course of her Academy career, Inaki became the woman’s official academic advisor, and sat on both her thesis committees. Such was the potential he saw in her, that he delayed his retirement to see his protégé graduate the Academy, even though she ended up spending more than the requisite four years to graduate. Inaki was overjoyed when Ayiana was accepted for Joining. It was at his urging that she applied for in the first place. Now, it seemed, his hard work was for naught. And here he was, paying the price for it. ::
(( OOC: See http://sims.starbase118.net/posts/1812518 ))
Inaki: Ooh...my bones.
Marine Captain: Do you need help, sir?
Inaki: No, no. I’m fine.
:: Commander Inaki was followed by a Starfleet Marine Captain in similar dress whites. He held a small object in his hands. ::
:: The Yorval home sat alone on several acres close to the coast. Much of the grounds were beautifully landscaped; greens and purples were dominant throughout. Inaki could make out the strong scents of pollen and earth through his diminished sense of smell. The stairs he was walking up weren’t steep, floor-to-floor stairs. Rather, they were long, shallow stone steps slowly climbing up the hill where the house stood at the top. The house was pretty large for a family of four. It looked like it was made from brick and mortar. Inaki wasn’t sure, but this area of Najana was one of its oldest suburbs. Most likely, the house had been refurbished a few times, but kept its classical style from the time. From what Ayiana had told him of her family, they were well-off. Her father had been a librarian at the Najana Public Library, whilst her mother taught grade school. Both were well-regarded, high-paying jobs, or at least they would be if they didn’t live in a post-scarcity society. ::
((OOC: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/df/ba/da/dfbada6b4fb86aa405005b0f9c932ae1.jpg
))
:: Inaki reached the entrance - a large white, wooden door a step up on a porch. Wrought iron lights were mounted on either side of the porch. Stepping up to the door, Inaki pressed the door chime. Almost as soon as the doorbell rang, the unmistakable sound of a barking mreker came through the door. Along with the animal’s barks, light footsteps walking on a hard floor could be heard steadily increasing in volume as they reached the door. He exhaled deeply, straightening his posture just before the door opened. ::
Jana Yorval: Yes? Can I help you? :: To the mreker :: Tamor! Down! :: The brown-haired beast quickly quieted and sat on its hind legs. ::
Inaki: Hello, ma’am. I’m Commander Omun Inaki of Starfleet. I’m here about your daughter, Ayiana.
:: Jana Yorval was the spitting image of Ayiana. She had the characteristic red hair, albeit shorter; it fell only slightly past her shoulders. The lines of age were creeping into her freckled, lightly-shaded, heart-shaped face, most prominent around her blue eyes. Her medium-brown spots were starting to fade, but not as much as Inaki’s old, grey spots had become. At the mention of her daughter, Jana’s eyes squinted slightly. Her face seemed to droop a little, losing the smile she greeted her guest with. ::
Jana Yorval: I...I see. Would you care to come in?
Inaki: No thank you, ma’am. I won’t be long.
:: Another figure came up the marble foyer to the door. He was the odd man out in the family. Nizo Yorval, despite being Ayiana’s father, had black hair. Obviously somewhere in his ancestry he carried the red gene, but it didn’t express itself in him. His hair was thick on top, and he sported a somewhat short, close-shaven beard and mustache. Overlaying his olive skin were dark Trill spots - closer to black than brown. Like his wife, wrinkles and lines were creeping into his own face as well. ::
Nizo Yorval: Hello, Commander Inaki. Nice to see you again.
Inaki: You remember me, sir? The last time we met was at Ayiana’s Starfleet graduation a few years ago.
Nizo Yorval: I’m a librarian, sir. I have a keen mind. Ayiana had always spoken highly of you. :: Pause. :: What is this about?
Jana Yorval: :: Touching Nizo’s upper arm gently. :: Its about Ayiana, dear.
Nizo Yorval: Oh...yes.
Inaki: I take it from your reactions, you have heard the news of the Gorkon?
Nizo Yorval: Y-yes. They said they were calling off the search?
Inaki: :: He solemnly nodded. :: I’m afraid so, sir.
Jana Yorval: Why?! Why did you stop?!
Nizo Yorval: Jana, calm down. I’m sure they did everything they could. :: He reached one arm behind Jana and grasped her on the far arm. ::
Inaki: Yes, ma’am. The search-and-rescue fleet spent months searching far and wide around the Gorkon’s last known area. No sign of it was found; not even debris.
Jana Yorval: Th-then they could still be alive!
Inaki: True, it is possible, but extremely remote. We’ve searched as much as we could, but eventually time and resources force us to end such searches. The fleet commander is a highly-experienced S&R officer, and I can assure you he spent a great deal of effort searching for the ship. He persisted as long as he could.
Nizo Yorval: I...I see. Then, why are you here?
:: Now to the crux of his visit. One he hated doing, but had done plenty of times since taking permanent assignment planetside. ::
Inaki: I am here on behalf of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets to pay my respects to you and your family. I’m afraid Lieutenant Ayiana Sevo has been declared “lost,” along with her ship and crewmates. I’m very sorry.
:: Jana couldn’t help but start crying. Not a full-on waterworks show, but she couldn’t hold her sorrow back even in front of her guest. Nizo lowered his head, simply comforting his wife. Inaki let them be a moment. He had seen this scene a dozen times. Before permanently retiring, he spent the latter years teaching and performing other planetary Starfleet duties, some of which involved informing deceased officers’ families of their loss. It never got easier. The only reason he was doing it for the Yorvals was because he was close to Ayiana as her mentor and friend. It didn’t seem right that some unknown, faceless officer should deliver the news. ::
:: Inaki said nothing, but waved his left hand in a “come forward” motion to the marine behind him, subsequently stepping up to the distraught pair. While keeping his posture extremely straight and rigid, keeping a neutral expression on his face, the marine extended his hands holding a blue, triangular object to the Yorvals. It was the carefully-folded flag of the Federation. Technically, tradition required the offering officer to kneel in front of the next-of-kin at a funeral, but as they were already standing, the marine forewent the gesture. As this was going on, Inaki continued. ::
Inaki: On behalf of the President of the Federation, Starfleet, and a grateful union, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service.
:: Jana solemnly took the flag with shaking hands, then held it close to her chest as the marine slowly, gracefully saluted them. Once complete, the marine stepped backwards, returning to his position behind Commander Inaki. ::
Nizo Yorval: Th-thank you for coming, Omun. I know you are retired. You didn’t have to do this.
Inaki: Of course I did. I urged Ayiana to apply for Joining. I mentored her through the Academy and her thesis.
Nizo Yorval: Well, thank you again.
Inaki: If you’d like, I can inform Aleesia for you.
:: Ayiana’s younger sister, Aleesia, had recently entered college at the Trill Science Academy. The pair had been nearly inseparable. ::
Nizo Yorval: N-no, no. We’ll do it. Thank you, though.
Inaki: Of course. :: Pause. :: Well, if there’s anything else you need, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Nizo Yorval: Y-yes. And thank you, Omun.
:: Jana, still crying, clutching the flag, simply nodded her bowed head. With one last nod, Commander Inaki turned and stepped off the porch as he heard the door quietly close behind him. ::
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Commander Omun Inaki
Science Officer (Retired)
Trill
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Simmed by
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Lt. Commander Ayiana Sevo
Chief Science Officer
U.S.S. Gorkon
V239109AS0
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