Searching for Death

Posted on Fri Mar 27th, 2020 @ 9:21am by Death & Lieutenant Commander Mnhei'sahe Dox & Lieutenant JG Tovanna Mah
Edited on on Fri Mar 27th, 2020 @ 10:51am

Mission: Born and Reborn
Location: USS Hera
Timeline: 2397

Tova decided it was time to confront her demon, the thing that had been a concept until recently: Death.

All her life Death was who she blamed for the extinction of her race, the great tragedy that led to her current position. Her whole life was dictated by that 'truth' via her parents and the few remaining elders who sought to rebuild their race. Now however everything had changed, Death had a face, a frustratingly beautiful face. Why couldn't it be the horrific visage of nightmares and scary tales? She could have hated that, she could have looked upon such a face with revulsion and disgust. Now she strode down the hall on her way to apologize to the personification of the concept she had so long despised. Her behavior at the bachelorette party week plus ago now had caused distress to her crewmates. Now, with her check-in of the ship's children complete, she had to correct that. She stepped off the lift directly to the quarters of Death, also known as Masato Rei, and faced the unexpected site of security posted there.

The two large female security guards on either side of the door looked at each other nervously. After a moment of waiting, the higher ranking crewman spoke up. "Ma'am, most people just unlock the door and go in and uh... Do whatever they do. We've been told there's a VIP in there, but we've never seen them."

Dr. Mah nodded, "Thank you" she considered her next step on how to apologize as she entered her access code and stepped through the door. She stood inside the room, her hands patiently in front of her waiting.

She didn't have to wait long as from the windows came the pale woman riding upon a ghostly steed with legs that faded away and never touched the deck and eyes akin to those of black holes. As the rider brought her mount to a halt, she dismounted, her boots making less than a sound as she landed on the deck plating.

Covered in head to toe in black clothing so as to not accidentally touch the living, Rei turned to the one she sensed had entered her abode aboard the USS Hera and wondered how the new doctor saw her without the trick she used the other night to make her visible. "It's not often someone like you wants to see me so far from your own death."

Tova looked upon Rei, her visage now reflecting a much different appearance than the night they met. Death was no longer the lovely Asian woman, human and relatable. She now wore the face of indifference, her upper face a mere crowning cracked bone plate lacking eyes to see or express feeling. Her lower face at least kept some level of anatomical similarity to a humanoid skeleton which allowed relatable speech. Her bare arms ended in beautiful hands long black nails looking somehow inviting yet deadly, her chest, however, showed she was truly Death as her bones were sculpted similar to an ivory chest plate of skin and osseous adornment. The rest of her features were covered under her dark, draping cowl and the long skirting that emerged from her rib-like ornamentation. She had a dark beauty that was wholly foreign yet just familiar.

Tova looked upon Death, tamping down her anger, "You have haunted me all of my life. That is not why I'm here, however. I owe you an apology for behavior the other night."

Rei stared for a moment, assessing the situation. Tova was far from her own expiration so she had no idea how she saw her, but judging by her reaction, it wasn't pleasant. Patting Taxes on the side gently, she silently bid her ghostly companion to leave them be for now. "Emotions were heated that night and tempers easily flared. I forgive you and also apologize. I hope that you too can come to forgive me in time. My work is not easy and there are some things that are not within my power."

Tova nodded keeping a professional approach, "They were indeed heated and that rests upon my shoulders. I can only speculate that your duties are difficult and honestly are beyond my understanding. As a healer, you are frequently a source of challenge and mercy, someone to be denied and welcomed at times all within the same day. In that capacity, I actually have a greater appreciation for what you do." Tova steeled herself to say what needed to be laid out so there would be no further misunderstandings between them.

"My outburst was caused by my personal history which makes it all the more unacceptable. You are a guest of this crew and though you may never have need of my services, it is unacceptable of me to make anyone feel unwelcome as Chief Medical Officer. I hope you can overlook my outburst and be assured I will not let such a thing occur again." Tova pulled a small package from her pocket and offered it to Rei. "Please consider this an olive branch." It was obvious she had conflicting feelings toward Rei however there also seemed to be an almost professional respect towards her.

Rei reached out and gingerly plucked the small package from Tova's hands, holding it in hers for a long moment before even considering opening it. "You mean your history with the undead you call the Borg. I've done all that I can during my tenure as Death to find loopholes, even going so far as to aid your predecessor in staving me off and helping people find peace before they've passed on. Unfortunately, the undead pass beyond my power."

"As for your services, I may not need yours, but I hope that you will avail yourself of mine in the hopes that we can keep your people on this side of the veil longer." With a slight nod, the pale woman finally looked down at the small package in her hands and began to open it to see what was inside.

Rei could see Tova stiffen at the mention of the Borg, "The parasites known as the Borg are who I have the deepest disdain for. Their attack on my people has been....most influential. Until our meeting, you were a concept to me, a personification of what was merely a force of nature. Imagine my surprise to find you indeed had an identity." Tova cleared her throat and looked upon Rei with a deep level of understanding, "I've no wish to interrupt you in what you must do. In many situations, you are a minion of mercy, a herald of the end of suffering. To prolong such agonies for those you seek to collect for a mortal concept of extended moments for the survivor is greed. It is a way for those left behind to alleviate guilt and I want no part in that. I would encourage others to live each moment remembering your touch could come at any time thus we should embrace this life before moving on towards our next." Tova shook her head, "My anger it's not with you."

She looked as though she has so much more to say but held her tongue. "Please, enjoy your gift. It is from my personal collection, a treasured piece." She nodded to Rei and turned to make her way from her quarters.

"Then please know that every day I pray that the Federation and others find a way to release those in the grip of undeath from their curse so that I may claim them and relieve them of their suffering," Rei replied as she held up the gift to inspect it - a signed first edition 1982 printing of the poem 'When Death Comes' by Pulitzer Prize winner Mary Oliver. It had obviously been treasured and adored as the emotions that lingered on the book were quite palpable to the pale woman. "Thank you for the present. I will enjoy it until my own sweet release into the afterlife. Would you be willing to accept a gift from me as well before you leave?"

Tova turned back around somewhat stunned at the revelation that Death itself could die.

Turning back to Taxes, Rei tucked the well-worn book tenderly into her saddlebags before rummaging around deeply in one of the larger pockets for something. Eventually, she pulled out a bound stack of almost a dozen large El-Aurian books that looked to be older than the human race itself. "I rescued these from your homeworld right after it was taken. It's a collection of written works of some of the greatest minds of your people. I had hoped that one day I would be able to return them. I feel that you are the person they have been waiting for."

Tovanna stepped forward, looking at the books, knowing how much had been lost when the ship had been taken by the Borg. All her life she had been told of the rich history that was lost, the civilization and culture that were now nothing more than oral history. She stepped forward again more tentatively and took the stack in her arms, tears glittering in her eyes, "Thank you." Her professionalism shattered as she embraced the books, her tears spilling over while part of her broke. Tovanna shook with years of built-up emotions, years of obligation finally being lifted from her shoulders, years of unknown burden tied to the extinction of her people as her cheeks were made wet. She looked as if she might crumple to the floor under the weight of all she had been secretly been carrying within not caring that Death saw. "Thank you, more than you know."

"You gave me a valuable present, and in the culture I came from, one must give a present of equal or greater value in return," replied the pale woman. "Though I do have to wonder how much of your life you will spend deciphering their handwriting from your old tongues."

Tova shrugged looking up at Rei who again looked like the small woman she met the first time, "Umm... well that would depend on the handwriting. Some of the old language I already know, my father is a historian and burdened me with the responsibility of carrying on the 'legacy' of our people lest we not be forgotten in future generations. My parents hoped I would marry one of my race, grooming me as ideal wife, sadly most are much older than me. As for the book, the rest I will try to piece together from what I know. I like to read and keep to myself."

The pale woman smiled inwardly, knowing that even if the Fates were here, they too would approve of her choice of recipient for those particular books.

She looked up at Rei "One other thing, you mentioned looking for loopholes with the Borg? They are truly undead and lack the ability to procreate, but as we have observed their neonatal maturation chambers accelerate the maturation of a living being up to 25x that of their normal growth rate. What would happen if you merely sped that up to the point of expiration or ceased the ability to mature at all? You would bypass their ability to assimilate all children. It may not stop them totally but could at least stop their assimilation of all non-mature life forms forcing them to return for assimilation losing valuable time. There is also the question of cellular aging and if you can outrun the time of nanite assimilation. If you can extinguish all mitochondria within a human then life will naturally end. Humans cannot live without our power systems, the key will be keeping them off until life ceases. Does any of this help?" Tova looked hopeful.

"I was born on Earth well before many of those terms became part of my knowledge," Rei began, shaking her head sadly. "And I've learned far more from my seven counterparts... But there is little that we're able to do as they've staved off even us with their undeath. We have written the tools of their defeat into several races, but even that will take lifetimes to remove their curse upon this universe."

Tovanna nodded in understanding, "It was worth a try, I am merely a doctor, you are Death. It would figure you have me outsmarted on the whole dying thing," she smiled humbly at her joke. "Thank you Rei. Please take comfort in my understanding that you merely have a role to play and in the end, I hope it is you I see, this face I see when Death comes. It is quite lovely and holds mercy as death always does. You saved many of my people a fate far worse than your touch the day you came for them, you saved them from the Borg." Tova started to reach out to her but wasn't sure if it was safe and looked at her curiously. "Is it safe to touch you?"

"The clothed parts, yes. The touch of my skin and my breath is instant death." Rei reached back, a soft smile finally on her face and if there were still tears in her, they would be in her eyes. "I have held this position for hundreds of years and guided innumerable lives to their chosen afterlife but always I have looked forward to reclaiming undead souls. Especially that of one of your kind. Unfortunately, I was able to spare many the touch of undeath while they ransacked your world."

"Still, it could have been billions, rather than hundreds of millions," Rei admitted, bowing her head in regret that they claimed even one. "That I allowed even one, I must apologize. They... Adapted..."

Tovanna put her books down, grabbed a throw blanket wrapping it over Rei like a cowl, around her and hugged her fiercely, "You are mercy Rei, you are relief to the suffering. As a doctor, I have held the hand of those who were passing, who had no one at the moment you came for them. You were the one to provide relief while I witnessed the last moments of their life. Don't punish yourself Rei." She kissed her cheek through the blanket as she held her. "Thank you for all you have done sweet angel." Tova pulled away looking her with gentleness reaching up to caress her cheek like she'd done for so many patients before pulling her hand back with a flash of sadness. "You may be Death but I am a healer. While I am on this ship I will see to it you receive the healing you need, that of the heart. I see the wound." She looked at Rei who seemed to be just a simple woman.

"Mmph!" Rei struggled for a moment before giving in. It wasn't often she got hugs and even then, most people were dead. Still, even in a blanket, it was nice. "Thank you. Perhaps... If you don't mind... We could have dinner now and then? The ship's chef is very skilled and Dox doesn't come by as much as she used too since Asa left."

Tova blushed after ambushing Rei, "Dinner would be great. I'm guessing salads would be a drag though." She smiled with a little twinkle in her eye, "Let's stick to cooked dishes and maybe a lollipop during discussions?" Her forehead crinkled in bewilderment, "Ummm...what kind of lollipop does Death eat anyway? I may have to design a new one for you."

If she could blush, Rei would be doing so right now as she thought back to her time alive all those many lifetimes ago. "Well... When I was a little girl... I would occasionally have this ginger and matcha candy... Do you have anything like that? As for dinner, I'm fond of sushi, pizza, tacos... really anything that can be eaten with your fingers or chopsticks. Drinks from the replicator are fine though. I'm not as picky about them as Hera is since hydration never actually sticks. Oh, and Taxes loves fruit of all sorts - especially apples." The shorter woman was starting to open up and her sunken-eyed face was grinning happily, though still somewhat creepily.

"Ginger and matcha are no problem I have each individually but I can get them mixed for you just the way you like. I have straight ginger one here actually I also have one that tastes of rice candy as well," she beamed with a smile as she pulled out a couple of her infamous treats. "Great thing with me is I love to try all sorts of things for food which is why I was good friends with the culinary student who helped make my collection of pops and pizza is the food of gods, if you haven't had sushi pizza we must get you some but ummm.... who is Taxes? I have plenty of apple lollipops for them here is you like, they're quite popular with the kids." Tova looked quite hopeful as she reached in her pocket and held out three for Rei in addition to the plain ginger and a rice candy. It was obvious that Tova just saw her as a crewmate she now connected with who just happened to work as Death.

"Taxes is my horse," replied the pale woman, motioning towards the ghostly equine whose legs didn't quite reach the deck and whose eyes were like looking into black holes. "You've heard the tales of Death riding on a pale mount, right? And that the two things you can't escape from are Death and Taxes?"

Tova looked over finally noticing the steed, "Well hello there big guy how did I miss you? Apples huh? Well since you obviously can't die, let's try this." She took an apple lollipop and unwrapped it, then with her laser scalpel gently removed the stick so now it was a basic hard candy. She handed it to Rei. "Crush it and let him have it like sugar. I remember giving maple sugar cubes to a horse when I was young on Earth only this will be apple flavored." She looked at Taxes, "And how about I bring some apples and possibly a few pears as well for you next time okay?" She looked at them with hope for her lollipop solution for Taxes, the worst he could do was snub his nose at it but Tova had never met a horse who hated sugar cubes. Then again, she never met the Steed of Death so there was a possibility.

Taking the candy, the pale woman easily crushed it in one hand before holding it out to her grim steed to snuffle at for a few seconds and lick up happily. Rei giggled happily and pet the muzzle of the now happy horse as he snuffled around looking for more. "Thank you. I think he really likes it."

Tova walked over to the replicator and ordered up a bowl of the candies, just wrapped, no stick as well as some grapples. She returned to Rei with the bowl, "For Taxes, he deserves a treat now and then," she looked at the horse, "No overdoing it mister, so here is another treat for you....a grapple." She grinned at Rei and handed it to her with mischief. "He should have a fun time with these," she set the grapples and candy bowl on a table for Rei. "Is he safe to pet?" She looked up at her curious.

"If he'll let you then yes. Otherwise, he's like trying to pet fog." Taking the grapples, Rei held them out for Taxes and giggled as he tried eating them and made faces after the first bite and shook his head, but then continued eating.

"They are weird I know, grapes and apples, I thought he might like them. There are always the pears and apples as well." She looked at Taxes, "So big guy, may I?" she reached tentatively towards him and his nose. She knew he looked a little different than most horses but he was still a horse who loved apples for her at that moment. The one attribute that Tova possessed after a human lifetime of medical service was the ability to stop seeing the physical aspect of another and just see the person they were or in this case the animal. It was something that had been commented on often during her service. She didn't care about differences, she focused on what made others the same and forgave easily. She was completely lost to the fact she was in Death's domain, attempting to pet her steed after feeding him fruit.

Taxes sniffed her hand a moment and looked between them a few times before bumping his muzzle against her hand and going back to eating his fruit.

Tova smiled with a childlike delight at Rei. "I will bring more by for him and some lollipops for you. I really must get your gift secured before my shift begins. I can't thank you enough." She went and picked up her books with a happy look on her face and looked back to Rei, "I look forward to our next meeting" Tova headed to Rei's door as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Rei held one hand up and smiled. "See you next time." As Tova left and she turned back to her spectral steed, there was a warmth in her that the cold woman rarely felt other than a few visits with Dox and Asa she'd had.

"These are the moments I enjoy, Taxes. They remind me of when I was alive."