The Hardest Conversation

Posted on Mon Feb 19th, 2024 @ 6:21am by Lieutenant JG Osil Haistro & Rear Admiral Leena Haistro

1,033 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 1: Palingenesis
Location: Habitat Ring - Osil Haistro Quarters

ON

Part of Leena was excited to see Osil again, over joyed to be honest but in the same breath she knew this next conversation would be the hardest one she would have had since arriving her. Osil, although her nephew was also her adoptive son. He would be hurting the same if not more so than she was and already she could sense him on the other side of the door... his despair radiating from him in waves.

Gently she thumbed the chime on the door.

"Come." The presence on the other side felt familiar but being in this dark place he was now, he could quite remember who was there. He had lost a great deal in the past days with the passing of is brother, disappearance of his sister in law and his step-niece. He has been able to contact his sister and that had been a really tough conversation. He felt heartbroken, his soul torn to pieces.

His only response as she walked in was a heart wrenching gasp.

Leena saw Osil, the first time in many years and she felt the emotions in him. A turmoil to reconcile them and they now hit a pressure point that prevented him from holding them back, as did she. She moved forward, tears starting to spill and the gentle sobs taking over. Her arms were out stretched as she pulled the young man into a maternal hug, one reserved for mother and son even though he was not biologically her son.
"Oh my boy. My dear dear boy!"

Even though he was a good deal taller than her, he allowed -no, desperately needed- the hug. He buried his face against her shoulder as she tangled her fingers through his unruly hair, much like when she did when he was a child. "I couldn't save him mom," he whispered, "I wasn't there to save him."

"You can't talk like that Os... You were as much a victim as he was" she pulled him closer as he started to fall apart in her arms. Something he likely needed to allow himself to do and backed up exactly what she had been saying to Commander Horn on her arrival.
"I'm taking you off duty for as long as you need. Take as much time as you need!" her own tears still falling but her sobbing had to wait.

"It was my duty to protect him," Osil breathed, "and I couldn't. I don't know if I need time off. I need something to do, anything to not... dwell on this one thought." He looked up at her, the pain and guilt clear in his obsidian eyes. "It should've been me," he whispered.

"Have you spoken to the stations Counsellor... What's she called. Alessa?"
She took a half step back so she could get a proper look at him. He had filled out in the last few years. Starfleet obviously agreed with him. He no longer had the boyish charm about him. Instead he looked like a confident and not so dissimilar to Kei that he could easily be considered handsome. "If not her then is there anyone in your life that's important to you, someone you care about?"

"I haven't spoken with anyone," Osil admitted, "I've only informed Ileyana and she's on her way here." Mothers, always enquiring about significant others... He offered the faintest of smiles as he shook his head in denial. "There's no special or significant other," he said, "I haven't had the time to socialize much. I was trying to keep the captain safe most of the time." He sobered again. "Rumour has it the XO is wanting to hold a memorial service but noone has come to me about it yet."

"They probably don't want to bother you at the moment" she smoothed his hair as if he was still just a boy, which he always would be to her.

"Probably..." Osil drew in a deep shuddering breath in an attempt to recompose himself. "I'm glad you're here," he finally said. "I've felt very alone the past few days."

"You're going to be seeing a lot more of me... Command have decided, given the station was Keiben that someone of his name would be the best fit for command!"
She offered a thin lipped smile as she stepped back, allowing the young man his personal space.

"Really?" That seemed to brighten his broken spirit a little.. "that's... both unusual and extraordinary. Did you push for the assignment or...?"

"Admiral Frederick's sprung it on me with the news of... well. When they told me Kei was gone!"

Osil continued to smile, somewhat happily without his grief completely disappearing. "That's even more unusual. But perhaps it's just what this place needs, right?"

"Thats what they think. I'm like a fish out of water though. I have no command experience... Not to this degree!"
She admitted realising that she could admit that to her son but as her subordinate she likely shouldn't have admitted it.

"Time to learn." Osil smiled more genuinely now. "This place has a good staffing in place to help you. Even though the XO seems a bit... lost, if a Vulcan can be lost that is .."

"He's been through a lot... They..." she stopped before correcting herself. "We have all been through far too much in the last few weeks."

She moved towards the door knowing she had more to do before she settled in properly but before she left she looked at Osil and smiled.
"Your parents and Keiben would be so proud of you Os... I'm so proud of you!" she held his gaze a moment. "I should be going. I have a lot to do but how do you feel about having breakfast with your dear old adoptive mother in the morning?"

"Don't you think it's time you stop seeing yourself as my adopted mother?" Osil teased, "you're the only mother I remember. You are my mother and I would love to join you for breakfast."

A fresh sting of tears jabbed at her eyes but this time with a maternal pride to them instead of grief.
"I look forward to it!"

TAG/END

 

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