BACKSIM Ras El'Heem - Do you hear our plight? Pt. 2

[Ras El'Heem]

((Later that day, Ras’s Sha, Verdant Belt, Sylvana Prime))

 

Ras stood outside his Sha, a multiple family dwelling. The home used to be buried in lush greenery with many crops to sustain the families within. Now it was a former shell of itself, most of the plants yellow and dead, all edible foliage stripped of their former life-providing fruits weeks ago.

 

The Sha was an efficient way to live, in fact it was the way most Kressari lived, not just on Sylvana Prime. The small communal pods emphasized a division of labor that sustained the massive cities and towns without encroaching on the many protected wilds on the planet. It also fostered a particular respect among the Kressari people’s that was largely responsible for their pacifist lifestyle.

He used to love coming home to see the other children in his Sha. Usually running into the home with Kael Jena laughing and joking like they were blood siblings. The two were inseparable. And now it was just Ras walking into his quiet home. The once lively structure now housed only one and a half families, the El’Heems and what was left of the Ka'ari’s although he didn’t see much of them since their patriarch succumbed to starvation. The silence in the Sha permeated every inch of it. Most of Ras’s free time was spent taking care of Lira, his younger sister who rarely left her bed now.

 

Ras: Lira I’m home. The Root here is shutting down, I don’t have to go-

 

Ras stopped as he walked into the El’Heem’s portion of the Sha. His parents were sitting at the table completely overcome with exhaustion.

 

Ras: What’s going on? ::Fear in his voice.:: Is Lira okay? Mom? Dad?

 

Tal, Ras’s father looked up at the boy, his hands crossed in front of him. His eyes flashed colors of dejection and defeat. Mira, his mother, stood and walked to the counter but didn’t look his way.

Tal: Lira’s not doing well. ::His voice cracked.:: As you already know. But we’ve been able to secure her transport with the Starfleet evacuation ships off world.

 

Ras: How did you manage that?

 

Hope for salvation had been a far cry for awhile, and now he was absolutely flooded with it. Ras practically ran to the table and sat down, looking at his father.

 

Ras: Isn’t this something to be celebrate? We won’t have to split rations four ways and Lira will get the help she needs!

 

Tal: Yes this is all true but ::Tal paused and looked at Mira who was now turned around looking right at them.:: the government has announced that the rations are down to 10% and Starfleet can’t provide enough food to sustain all of us.

 

Confusion and anxiety swirled in Ras’s head. The hope he had just acquired, dashed on the rocks. Ras stood up in anger. The chair fell back and toppled over. Both Tal and Mira looked at him but didn’t protest, they knew how much this was to take in. How much all of it had been to take in.

 

Ras: ::Tears welled in his eyes and his voice was weak and broken.:: Why can’t you find a solution? In a world full of botanists, why can’t you find a cure of this plague! You two are supposed to be some of the best. ::Ras was yelling at this point.:: I can’t sit by and do nothing. I’m coming to work with you at the lab after Lira leaves. I either do everything I can to help fix this, or I starve doing nothing and I can’t sit by and do that. Not after Mr. Ka’ari! Not after- ::Ras burst into angry tears.:: Not after Kael!

 

Tal and Mira looked at each other. A glimmer of pride in their eyes at his determination.

 

Mira: Ras.

 

Ras: Don’t even try to stop m-

 

Mira: ::Cutting Ras off.:: Ras. You’ll come with us to the lab tomorrow, then. We’re not going to stop working towards saving Sylvana Prime either.

 

He stood in shock. All the emotions of the day. The lack of calories to sustain all this energy. He felt woozy.

 

Ras: O- Ok. I’m sorry for yelling. I- I need to say goodbye to- to Lira.

 

Tal: ::Getting up and taking Ras’s arm.:: Lira’s not leaving until next cycle. You need to lie down Ras. We’ll start preparing tonight’s rations and get you ready for tomorrow.

 

Ras almost collapsed into his father’s arms. He leaned on him, not only physically but emotionally too. They walked together to Ras’s bed, next to Lira’s. Tal sat him down and swung Ras’s legs up for him. Ras looked up at his father through blurry eyes. He wanted to be just like him and help people too. Then Ras looked over at Lira, who laid asleep to his right. He wanted to help people like Starfleet was helping Lira. His vision waned. He tried so hard to keep his eyes open. To look at Lira for as long as could before she was gone. Gone like Kael. It became too much. He shut his eyes and fell asleep.

NT/END

Ensign Ras El’Heem

Junior Medical Officer

USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)

K240106RE3