Don't Look Away

Chapter 25

Epilogue

"A hard beginning maketh a good ending."

John Heywood

Jim sat in his Captain's chair looking at Beta Niobe on the large view screen. It was a very beautiful planet seen from their orbit. He sighed. This had been a very difficult mission, albeit successful in the long run. Starfleet would consider it a win, even with the loss of Tareem's life; for Jim though, even one life lost, was one too many.

Yesterday, Spock, Nurse Chapel, and Dr. M'Benga had delivered hundreds of doses of the adult vaccine to the main hospital. Spock reported to him that the ship's replicators could do no more. He and Dr. M' Benga had given the hospital's chief of staff the formula for replicating more doses, and the Niobian doctor had assured Spock that their replicators would start immediately. Dr. Boyce had also informed Jim that a hospital ship would be arriving very soon to help with the inoculation and replication processes.

Jim glanced over to Spock. His face was deep in his Science viewing hood, doing who knew what. Chekov and Sulu was busy plotting their course for leaving their orbit around the planet and then their warp trajectory away from the Beta Niobian solar system. Uhura was deep in conversation with the Beta Niobian planetary control staff prior to their departure. She would route everything to his chair comm when she was finished.

Yesterday afternoon, Spock, Dr. M'Benga, Nurse Chapel, Frank Giotto, Jim and Bones had attended Tareem's funeral. Jim had received the invitation from Marack and his entourage; Admiral Boyce had agreed that it was the proper thing to do.

They had discovered that the Beta Niobian funeral rites were not that different from the Terran ones. The invited guests had congregated in a large building not far from the hospital complex. Tareem's body had been put in a more elaborately decorated and carved casket, and placed in state, as befitted a First of Beta Niobe. Marack and his entourage dressed in formal attire had stood surrounding the coffin. Odillia and her children had also stood at the front of the casket and the guest mourners had passed by one by one to express their condolences. Jim and his crew had donned their dress uniforms and had been asked to sit together in the front row.

The ritual of mourning followed. There seemed to be no priest or religious leader. The service was led by Marack and his entourage; it was simple and moving. They spoke of Tareem's life, his work for Beta Niobe, his dedication to his wife and his children, his lifelong service to Niobe and his desire to always do the best for his people. Jim had been fiercely glad that they had spared Odillia and Marack the knowledge of Tareem's attempted suicide. He would be remembered for all the best that had been in him, and not for the last few weeks of his life when he had been beside himself with stress, sorrow and worry for the children and all his people. Odillia had been stoic and still through the ceremony, as had her children, their little faces filled with deep sadness. At the end of the words of ritual by Marack and his entourage, all the guests in the large room, filled to capacity and standing room only, had begun a chant of mourning. The dirge, chanted in a deep bass unison by the whole room, had been profoundly moving. Jim, glancing at Uhura, had seen that her eyes were shining with tears. After that, Marack and his entourage had picked up the casket and exited the room. Jim, Spock and the others followed Odillia and her children out the doors, and to their surprise, saw that Marack and his entourage had already disappeared with the casket.

The crew expressed their condolences to Odillia. She accepted each of their words with stoic curtesy, and invited them to partake in a ritual meal at her home. Jim glanced at his crew; saw their unspoken assent and he accepted the invitation from all of them. They walked to Tareem's home and entered through the open front door. It was a big house, yet simple in style and not ostentatious.

Marack and his entourage were already there when the Jim and the crew, following Odillia arrived at the house. There were other family members there, but there was not a crowd of people like Jim expected. Marack explained that there would be a more public mourning reception at a later time; this ritual meal gathering was just for family, close friends, and Tareem's entourage. The burial would be the next day and attended only by Tareem's former entourage and Odillia and the children. Marack told Jim that the Niobians would be honored if James and his entourage would stay to partake of the meal before they returned to the ship; that the Enterprise crew was considered honored guests.

Throughout the funeral meal, Jim kept a very close eye on Bones. He was worried that this would be too much activity, too emotional for him. Prior to the funeral, he had conferred with Dr. M'Benga before agreeing that Bones could attend. Dr. M'Benga told Jim that he thought it would be best for Leonard to come, that it would stress him more to stay behind and not attend the funeral. Dr. M'Benga also told Jim, that in his opinion, it would bring Leonard a sense of closure if he could attend the funeral; very reluctantly Jim had agreed.

Each of them expressed their condolences to Marack and his entourage and then went to speak with Odillia. Jim stayed behind for a minute. "Marack, we will be leaving tomorrow morning. Our mission here in Beta Niobe is at an end. Dr. Boyce informed me this morning that a hospital ship will be arriving soon to help your medical people with the inoculation of all the adults. It will be a long and formidable task, but I'm sure all your adults will be fine."

"Thank you, James. My people owe you and your entourage a debt that can never be repaid. If ever you need our assistance, you need only send me word and we will do whatever we can to assist you."

"Thank you, Marack. We were just doing our jobs, but it's gratifying for me and all my crew to know that we could help your children and all your people. That, after all, is always our main mission. My hope is that soon, your beautiful planet will be part of the Federation."

"That too, is my hope James."

"Goodbye, Marack."

"Goodbye, James."

Jim gathered his crew and they stepped outside of the house. He flipped open his communicator. "Six to beam up, Scotty."

"Aye, Captain." The silver whine of the transporter took them back to the ship.

"All right, everyone," Jim ordered. "Let's get out of these formal uniforms and get back to work." He turned to Bones. "Are you doing alright, Bones? It wasn't too much for you?"

"I'm a little tired, but I'm doing alright, Jim. I'll take a nap when I get back to my quarters." He sighed. "It was all so sad and so needless, Jim. Those poor little children without a father, and Odillia now without a husband."

"I know, Bones." Jim said, patting him gently. "Go on, now, go get some rest. I'll come by this evening to have dinner with you. We'll talk more then."

Now, Jim sitting in his chair, brought his mind back to the present and looked at his chronometer. It was almost time for Enterprise to leave orbit. The lift door opened and he turned. Bones stood there smiling faintly. The whole command crew looked up and smiled in return. They had all missed the doctor's presence on the bridge. He walked over to Jim's chair, and stood at his usual place behind Jim. "Good to have you back on the bridge, Bones," Jim said, smiling up at him, happy that with this small gesture, things for Jim, were back to normal.

Spock left his Science console and came to stand on the other side behind Jim. "It is gratifying to see you back on the bridge, Doctor.

"Good to be back, Jim, Spock." Bones said, rocking on his heels, a faint smile on his lips.

Jim looked over to Uhura. She nodded. Beta Niobe planetary control had released the ship.

"Mr. Sulu, take us out, impulse only, then go to warp 2 as soon as we're clear of the Niobian solar system."

"Aye, Captain."

And with that, the Enterprise left Beta Niobe for her next mission.

Fin

So we've come to the end of this story. My thanks to everyone who read and reviewed. I hope you all enjoyed this trip to Beta Niobe by the good ship Enterprise and her crew. As always, an extra thank you goes to my dear friend Carol for her assistance with proofreading this story. Until next time!