"Jackal"

Posted on Tue Apr 5th, 2022 @ 6:44pm by Lieutenant Nikosh Targus

793 words; about a 4 minute read

__**"Jackal"**__
Personal Log, SD 202204.03
LtCmdr. Adonudo T'lanuwa
(and LtJG Jackal Tsunada, *USS Penumbra*)

. Adon returned to his quarters after a quiet day in the Counselor's Office on the *Roddenberry*. They were headed "home", or at least back on the inside of the Galactic Barrier. They'd be arriving at Deep Space Nine in another day or so and everyone was excited.
. As they got closer, various people received messages that had been cached for delivery. These are the ones not deemed "critical enough" to get through the Barrier: various personal messages from family and friends that could wait. Adon didn't expect any since he had no family left, and what few friends he had were either here on the *Roddenberry*, or off on some "secret mission" somewhere.
. But as he pulled off his boots and stepped to the replicator for some tea, he noticed the flashing "Message Waiting" notice on the terminal. He signed in and saw a face he never thought he'd see again. She was older now, of course, but there was no mistaking her. It was Tsuna! Well, actually her name was Uyetsa Tsunada, "Laughing Coyote", and she was his cousin, but since neither had any siblings, they were as close as brother and sister. She'd disappeared nearly 20 years ago and Adon hadn't seen or heard from her since.
. "Hey, Su-su, 'Boy Who Wanders', long time no see! A lot has happened." It was only a recording but Adon smiled at her anyway. She'd always called him Su-su, short for his childhood name of Atsutsu Ulayutsi, the "Boy who Wanders". In the recording, Tsuna paused a moment, fidgeted in her seat, cleared her throat, then commented, "This is a little awkward."
. "Great Spirit!" Adon breathed, agreeing with her that it was awkward.
. On the recording, Tsuna took a deep breath and continued, "Anyway, there's not much I can tell you, even though I want to. That Raven we both know probably told you whatever he could." The "Raven" was undoubtedly Col. Travis Patterson, someone Adon had served with during the early part of the Dominion War and with whom had become as close as brothers. Tsuna had gone to Section 31 herself and was given the code-name "Jackal" (instead of "Coyote" as her name would have translated).
. Tsuna continued, "The experiment didn't go quite as planned. You might know I freaked out a little bit. You see, unknown to them, and to me, I was about to become a mother. I was pregnant. That freaked out the little buggers."
. Adon gave a soft gasp. He'd heard from Patterson how Tsuna's nanites hadn't taken right, but Patterson could not reveal any more information on the highly classified project. Heck, Adon probably wasn't even supposed to know there WAS an experiment involving nanites! Adon had always assumed the bad nanites had killed her. Then Adon realized the other thing she'd said. "She was pregnant?"
. On the screen Tsuna gave a soft chuckle then continued, "Anyway, I had a baby boy. His name is Jack. He carries his father's last name. I didn't tell him much about his father, just the department he worked in, Starfleet Sciences. I don't know where he went. I would have liked his father to be around but ... things didn't work out.
. "You see, I knew they were hunting me. I didn't know what they'd do to me, or my baby boy. And running around like that kinda makes it hard to have a family. That's not the life I would have wanted for Jack ... or me. But that's the life I was forced to live. I was scared, and alone, and unwell."
. She sighed, wiped her face with one hand, then began again, "So, we went from town to town, planet to planet, his entire life, until ... he wanted to go to Starfleet. Although it scared the hell out of me, I was actually OK with that. Maybe he'd be safe. Maybe."
. "Great Spirit!" Adon breathed again. He hadn't even realized there were tears streaming down his face. "So that's where you've been! Oh, Tsuna, I wish you'd never gotten involved with Section 31. I wish I had left Dorvan with you!"
. The recording continued, "But slowing down for his schooling meant that they caught me, Su-su. For the last five years I was ... away, in a place where no-one would want to be. But finally ... after a chance encounter with that Raven, I can say this: I will be on the *Penumbra*. Get your ass over here, I miss you!"
. "*Penumbra*?" Adon asked no-one. The recording had ended and there was nobody in the room or on the line. "That's the ship Patterson is on! She's going to be with the Leatherneck? Not without me she isn't!"

===== END LOG =====

 

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