A Bajoran Farewell, pt2

Posted on 27 Dec 2025 @ 3:18am by Lieutenant JG Aerie Mak
Edited on on 27 Dec 2025 @ 3:23am

1,663 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Epitaph
Location: Shan Household, New Bajor
Timeline: July 12, 2390, 1300 hours

At its peak, the midday sun illuminated the rolling countryside and suburbs of New Rakantha, bathing the Shan Homestead in warm light. The dirt driveway came from the northwest of the rustic Bajoran homestead and ran towards the front porch. The single‑story estate stretched gently to the southeast, its soft H‑shaped layout anchored by a long rectangular pool that spanned the raised patio. The west wing, the left side of the homestead, ran north toward the road. The east wing on the right opened partially to the south, creating a looser connection to the central structure.

The patio sat elevated above the ground, with steps descending from each wing into the backyard. A narrow path begins at the base of those steps and runs alongside the raised patio, continuing past the pool. Beyond it, a garden‑terrace boundary of low bushes and growing vegetation framed the open backyard, discouraging unwary or uninvited guests from wandering into the Shan family’s private space. Several footpaths branched from the main driveway along the west wing, guiding visitors toward the backyard. Flowering shrubs and brush lined the single main path, forming a soft, natural border.

On the east side, a dirt trail extended from the opposite end of the driveway, following the garden‑terrace edge like a walkway before continuing toward the open fields of rural farmlands and grazelands. A small pond lay across the trail from the east wing, and north of it stood a sturdy, medium-sized Bajoran outbuilding. The long, angular workshop garage contained a vehicle maintenance bay, which housed several Bajoran All-Terrain Utility Vehicles, commonly referred to as ATUVs, and a Polaris Class Utility Truck, or PCUT, for longer travel to town or cities for resupply.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Standing slightly from the porch steps in the middle of the driveway, Mak and Luren hugged as she quietly sobbed, stifling her tears into his Starfleet uniform. Mak didn't mind, as his uniform could easily be cleaned or replaced. Keeping his hand on her head, he covered her waist, pulling her close to him. He felt her body quiver as her anxiety threatened to take over. The resounding bang from the front door as Thera slammed it reverberated, causing the Bajoran wind chimes to shake. The ringing sound carried towards the half siblings, echoing with each beat.

After a few moments, Mak felt Luren calm only slightly. Grasping her shoulders, he gently pushed her back and gave her a calm eye contact. "You okay? Breathe." He parted her stray hair, putting it behind her ears.

Luren gulped, nodding. Seeing his crafted Bajoran earring chained between a clasp and a single ring in his earlobe, she touched the ring. Mak moved his head sideways, grasping her wrist gently as she bit her lips. She gulped, looking at his stained uniform with regret, "Sorry. I dirtied your uniform, Starfleet."

Offering a stoic smile, Mak shook his head, "Don't worry. I'm more concerned about you. Mendoza? You're still dating him?" He carefully avoided giving him a bad insult, given the fragile state of his second sister.

Luren chewed her lips, grinding her teeth slightly as she replied, "Mak, please. I don't want to talk about it."

Mak nodded, offering his hand. He spoke as she grasped the offered hand, "Let's take a walk around the house. A long one. I have something for you at the workshop garage."

"K," Luren exhaled, grasping his hand. They walked towards the small gated entrance into the walkway between the shrubs and small vegetation. She looked around at her home while twirling her hair with her fingers. The silence between them slowly deafened, broken only by the muffled arguing of the twins echoing from the backyard. As they walked the ten meters along the west‑wing walkway, Luren’s expression tightened into a frown. She bit her lip, still half lost in her own thoughts, as they rounded the corner of the house.

Thera stood between the twins, Shan Ezil and Shan Uriel, who were quietly yelled at each other over a broken piece of machinery. Their voices mumbled, echoed. Shan Korin sat on the patio with his toes in the pool, watching the bickering with the relaxed confidence of someone who knew he wasn’t involved. Mak glanced at the scene but remained calm; Thera’s crossed arms and steady posture were more than enough to keep the athletic twins from escalating.

Luren drifted toward them, and Mak gently pulled her back. Thera caught Luren’s eyes, halting her. Luren breathed softly, then stuck her tongue out. Thera scoffed under her breath, returning her teasing gesture, sticking her tongue out before snapping a sharp hand command at the twins. Both boys fell silent immediately.

Luren watched them anxiously, feeling Mak guide her along the path as he continued walking. “Hey,” he murmured, steady and quiet, when she stumbled as her feet angled toward the action. Distracted, she turned away and quickly fell back into step with her half brother. She grasped his muscular biceps, tightening her grip on his hand and leaning into his disciplined posture as they followed the fourteen‑meter stretch of the Shan boundary. They crossed the eight meters of open field from the walkway to the lonely, beaten dirt path that stretched southward. Mak kept his focus ahead, guiding her, while Luren looked around, taking in the open grazelands and scattered farmsteads.

Turning left into the beaten, worn path, they walked past the pond. By that time, Luren breathed softly, almost calmer. Looking beyond the pond, she spied the family dog, a Bajoran Cadge or Cadge Lupis. Releasing Mak's hand, she rushed forward, calling out, "Hara! I looked for you. Where did you disappear off to?"

Mak watched her run across towards the pond near the workshop where the doghouse sat it as their family dog like creature stood on all fours, panting. Its growl rumbled, running up to Luren as she crouched, rubbing its fur. Mak walked past them towards his large outbuilding. Hara panted with its chest rumbling, watching him open the two door garage. It cocked its head with a low, rumbling chirrup, the sound soft and curious as Mak swung the doors open. Luren rubbed its sienna fur, trailing the singular line patterns along its back. She cooed gently, speaking low, "Where did you go, Hara? Did you find something good out there?"

"Luren," Mak exhaled, unlocking the workshop door, opening it. He turned, beckoning her, "Leave Hara alone. I have something for you."

"Okay!" Luren replied, then hummed to herself while rubbing Hara's face. She smushed its head, playing with its sharp ears. Hara panted, wagged its thick tail, a low, affectionate growl rumbling as it licked her cheek. Luren giggled, stood, and hurried after Mak toward the work garage.

Mak stepped into the large space of his two‑section garage. One half was open, the other sealed behind a sliding door. Tools, cupboards, and hanging boards lined the walls. On the central table lay his old personal Cardassian communication device, fully disassembled. Its internal components were spread out before him, the intricate Cardassian wiring meshed with a few compatible Bajoran parts.

It was the same handheld unit he’d carried since Xenok Nor, a compact Cardassian multi‑function personal unit, all angles and ridged metal. Mak had stripped it down years ago, rewiring the scanner, disabling half the surveillance functions, carving Bajoran symbols into the casing during the worst of his solitary years. He had handed the unit to Luren during the attack on the settlement years ago.

Taking the last piece of the final Bajoran component, he fit it into place and closed the casing. Turning it over, it activated slowly, beeping. Luren quickly approached, wrapping her hands around his arm. She smiled at the device, inquiring, "You fixed it?"

Mak nodded, placing the MFPU on the table. He spoke, "Luren, we need to talk."

"Huh?" she looked at his eyes, slightly distracted. Realizing what he meant, she bit her lips nervously, "Do we have to?"

Mak sighed, keeping his energy mature and calm, "Yes. I'm with Thera. Mendoza's a bad seed. A traitor. He spoke for a certain xenophobic group that should not be named. Just because he didn't know its purpose doesn't excuse his actions. He killed - "

Mak exhaled, feeling a rush of emotions surge towards him. Breathing heavily, he looked up and then down, cracking his neck. Luren touched his hands, cocking her head. Squeezing his hand, she spoke, "He didn't, Mak. He told me six months ago. I thought he vanished after that attack."

Mak shook his head, exhaling, "You don't understand, Luren. What he did. Do you know what happened to Shan Pokka?"

Luren furrowed her brows, shaking her head. Mak lowered himself to her eyesight and replied softly, "Mendoza killed Pokka. I saw it. He saw me, and then ran. I ran after him but he disappeared."

For a long time, Luren fell quiet. Instead of biting her lips or twirling her fingers, she looked in Mak's eyes for the truth. Listening to her own rush of thoughts, she quickly grabbed the modified Cardassian personal communication unit and pocketed it. Turning, she walked over to Hara and bent over to pat the animal's head. Mak followed her for a bit, turned to close the garage door. Locking it, he turned as Luren started walking towards the forest.

He shouted after her, "Luren, where are you going?"

Luren turned, smiling, "For a walk. Oh! Mother wants to talk to you. Something about a farewell party for your Black Bird position?"

Mak narrowed his eyes suspiciously toward her, inquiring, "For the USS Black Hawk B? As her new chief of operations."

Luren nodded, "Yeah, that one! Come on, Hara!"

Luren turned and slipped away as Hara obediently followed alongside her, growling softly while watching after her. Concerned, Mak watched her for a few moments before turning away and headed back towards the Shan Homestead.

RSS Feed