02-19-2025, 03:01 AM
Qi braced himself as the captain approached. He had taken some liberties with the truth during their tense conversation with the captain of the Lord Franklin. She would be well within her rights to reprimand him, though he hoped she wouldn’t do it in front of the doctor. Fortunately, her tone was far more complimentary than he’d expected.
"Forgive me for interrupting, but I won't keep you long. Mister Qi, your knowledge was indispensable to us when dealing with the Lord Franklin, and I know you are disappointed that we had to destroy her to make good our escape. It wouldn't have been my first choice, either, but it is what it is.”
Qi lowered his head, thinking back to the moment the Lord Franklin disappeared from the Yeager’s sensors. He’d felt the pang of disappointment even then, when he should have been worried about being blown up by the Cardassians.
"There is, however, an opportunity close the book on the mystery completely. Put the other historians in their place and tell the real story of the Franklin. On this PADD are the complete computer records of the Franklin, recovered thanks to the Yeager's intelligence-gathering equipment, plus recordings of the interviews Starfleet conducted with the passengers and crew. There is also a publishing agreement with Publications Interstellar, Limited that needs a signature on it. I can't think of a better person to write the final chapters of the Franklin's story than you, if you're up for it?”
Qi stared at the PADD, eyes wide. He’d read thousands of books in his life, but never considered that he might one day write one. As a newly joined half-Trill with an infant symbiont, he could potentially be a living witness to history, centuries from today. The thought was hard to comprehend.
“Thank you Captain, I’m honored,” Qi stammered, taking the PADD with haste. He had to focus hard to keep his hand from shaking. “I’m glad that we can finally put the mystery to rest, even though my feelings about the passengers are complicated. I’ve tried hard to empathize with them, but to be honest their mindset troubles me. There are still separatist attitudes on Earth and Trill, though thankfully they’re in the minority today. If they had their way, I probably wouldn’t exist.”
He grimaced. Some of those separatists were in his own family, though they would never say it openly.
“I’ll do my best to present my thoughts fairly, but I can’t separate myself from that bias. I hope that’s alright.”
"Forgive me for interrupting, but I won't keep you long. Mister Qi, your knowledge was indispensable to us when dealing with the Lord Franklin, and I know you are disappointed that we had to destroy her to make good our escape. It wouldn't have been my first choice, either, but it is what it is.”
Qi lowered his head, thinking back to the moment the Lord Franklin disappeared from the Yeager’s sensors. He’d felt the pang of disappointment even then, when he should have been worried about being blown up by the Cardassians.
"There is, however, an opportunity close the book on the mystery completely. Put the other historians in their place and tell the real story of the Franklin. On this PADD are the complete computer records of the Franklin, recovered thanks to the Yeager's intelligence-gathering equipment, plus recordings of the interviews Starfleet conducted with the passengers and crew. There is also a publishing agreement with Publications Interstellar, Limited that needs a signature on it. I can't think of a better person to write the final chapters of the Franklin's story than you, if you're up for it?”
Qi stared at the PADD, eyes wide. He’d read thousands of books in his life, but never considered that he might one day write one. As a newly joined half-Trill with an infant symbiont, he could potentially be a living witness to history, centuries from today. The thought was hard to comprehend.
“Thank you Captain, I’m honored,” Qi stammered, taking the PADD with haste. He had to focus hard to keep his hand from shaking. “I’m glad that we can finally put the mystery to rest, even though my feelings about the passengers are complicated. I’ve tried hard to empathize with them, but to be honest their mindset troubles me. There are still separatist attitudes on Earth and Trill, though thankfully they’re in the minority today. If they had their way, I probably wouldn’t exist.”
He grimaced. Some of those separatists were in his own family, though they would never say it openly.
“I’ll do my best to present my thoughts fairly, but I can’t separate myself from that bias. I hope that’s alright.”