Promised Memories

Posted on Tue Jan 29th, 2019 @ 1:01pm by Lieutenant Asa Dael & Kodria Mizu

Mission: Section 31-B
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: After section 31b

After a nightmarish mission on an abandoned Section 31 base, the time Lieutenant Junior Grade Doctor Asa Dael had spent with a young android named Kodria had been a welcome respite. Something about the android's child like nature was refreshing to Asa, who was not far from childhood themself. As Asa buzzed around Sickbay seeing to everyday medical needs, they thought to themself all the books and experiences they looked forward to sharing with her.

Definitely finish The Hobbit, then maybe listen to some Vulcan music together, maybe she paints? Oh, and we gotta read Data's treatise on android sentience if she hasn't already....

As the sickbay doors opened and Kodria saw Asa, she rushed to the doctor's side and wrapped one arm around them. "Asa! How was your day?"

Returning the hug wholeheartedly, Asa smiled a huge grin and replied, "All the better for having you here. Did you see the sights? Whatcha think?"

Kodria's eyes were still a bit wet from earlier, but she did her best to be cheerful as she looked up at Asa. "Mmhmm! It's all really cool! I got to meet a lot of people and even fly a runabout!"

"That's so cool!" Asa replied. "You ready for a check up? Engineering say everything ok on thaat end?"

"Yeah, Commander sh'Zoarhi got my self repair systems for my personality core working again. All systems are reporting proper diagnostics now." Kodria was definitely happy about that and showed genuine enthusiasm.

"High five!" Asa said, moving in anticipation of Kodria's participation. After an enthusiastic high five, Asa directed Kodria to the closest biobed and began scanning for any biological contaminants or malformations.

"Your self repair functions have done beautifully, it seems your synaptic response time is tracking as improving and your strength is improved. Fit as a fiddle little one, how about in here?" Asa said, gently thumping Kodria's head and then where a human heart would be.

"How are you feeling?" They asked in a soft voice.

"Well, knowing how the future is going to go and not being able to do anything about it kind of sucks..." Kodria sighed heavily. "But there are a lot of good things. So it's best I not do anything."

Asa sat next to Kodria on the biobed, put their arm around her shoulder and drew her in to rest her head on Asa's chest. "Yeah, I imagine that's hard. You can talk to me if you want, you know. I'm a counselor and everything. Have you had any bad thoughts about the station you were on?"

As they were speaking, Asa stroked Kodria's back softly, allowing her time to think before speaking.

"No, I think I'm ok with what happened there now. I've processed that data. I didn't know anyone there so I feel no attachment to anything that happened there." Kodria wrung her hands as she spoke. "It's what's going to happen here over the next ninety six years. I just have to trust that things will work out."

The hand on Kodria's back paused briefly before resuming it's motion. After a second to process the foreboding statement, Asa said quietly, "They will sweet one, somehow they will. So, you sticking around to watch that unfold? Or what did you have in mind?"

"No, I'm going to write a few letters and leave them to be delivered at set times, then go into stasis as planned. If you clear me for stasis, that is." Kodria smiled up at Asa. Knowing the future like she did was both a blessing and a curse in this case. "And at the end of those ninety six years, I hope you're there to help wake me up."

"Yeah, you are clear for stasis. I'm going to miss you like crazy, Kodria. But the good part of being me is in 90 years it will be the same goofy face smiling at you when you wake up."

Kodria giggled happily at that thought. "That's true. You and Grandma Maica never age a day."

Unsurprised by the admission Kodria knew Maica, and the implications of the title Grandma, Asa cocked a mischievous grin and replied, "Not for a long time anyway, now let's test those reflexes," as they went in to tickle Kodria's midsection without mercy.

Kodria couldn't help but burst into giggle fits immediately.

After allowing the moment of silliness to run its course, Asa stopped and enveloped Kodria in their arms. A lone tear ran down Asa’s face as she said, “I’m really going to miss you. Did I ever tell you about Brennan, my baby brother?”

Snuggling tenderly, Kodria nodded. "You said that he was why you became a doctor, right? Tell me again?"

“Yeah, he was really special, like you, and loved to learn. But he was really sick a lot of the time and our family didn’t believe in medicine. Well, at least our dad didn’t. Anyway, one time he got really sick and didn’t get better. I got so mad that I ran away and became a doctor. But you know what I always remember? I remember how he smiled, the way he laughed when I told a bad joke, the way we would stay up late reading when everyone else thought we were asleep, and I remember how much we loved each other. So you know what? I’m going to remember how you smile while you are sleeping. I’m going to remember how kind and smart you are, and that you are so brave, and that the universe is so lucky to have you. I’m going to miss you like crazy, but I’m going to hold on to the memories of us reading books together and how ticklish you are. So don’t worry about me, ok? I’m going to be ok, because I have memories to hold me through the next 90 years. And when you wake up, I’ll be there to tickle you and finish reading a book with you. Ok?”

The young android nodded again. "That sounds good. I won't know you already know me for the first twelve years of my life... But now that I do, so many things make more sense now. Thank you for always being there for me." Hugging on Asa, Kodria couldn't help but smile in her special way.

Asa hugged back, smiling and laughing, “Well, I don’t ever make too much sense, so I’m not surprised future me is a bit odd too. Honestly, I’d be worried if I became normal and boring.”