The Good of the One

 Episode Name:  The Good of the One

   Written By:  Fortunae

         Cast:  Fortunae, Golden, Niel, Nilee, Poole, Takamura and 
                Turtledove.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Fortunae

     Aired On:  Sat Apr 12 02:06:01 2003

     Stardate:  53135.7

Time: Sat Apr 12 00:11:11 2003

Stardate: 53135.5

Fortunae goes home.

Fortunae has left.

Nilee steps into Four Forward from the corridor.

Nilee has arrived.

Turtledove stands near a mahogany podium by the viewports, just another member of this private gathering within the subdued, classic ambience of Four Forward. She is, apparently, conversing quietly with Takamura. Her eyes shift to the doors as Nilee enters.

Takamura follows the movement of Turtledove's eyes and notices Nilee. He nods to the science officer in greeting.

Making his entrance as discreet as possible, Nilee, wearing his white dress uniform quietly steps to the side to come to a stop directly next to the entrance after he arrives. The young Trill quietly surveys the room, his expression completely neutral, showing absolutely no emotion, which is unusual for him.

Niel doesn't turn around at all, he just remains sitting in his seat. He looks almost emotionless as well... but deep down inside, it's obvious he would be the least likely person to be. In his arms he continues to hold Nelle, dressed in black baby clothes that seem to contrast with her skin, eyes, and hair color. She is remaining remarkably quiet as well.

The lounge is loud in its silence. Palpably sparse in population, there is but a small gathering of RRT near the podium, while Niel and Nelle appear to be seated on one of the sofas.

Poole steps into Four Forward from the corridor.

Poole has arrived.

Turtledove's mouth twitches subtly as Nilee gingerly takes up a position near the door. She glances at Golden, seems about to say something... but then the doors open again, drawing her attention. She is, apparently, standing near a mahogany podium conversing with Takamura.

Standing at ease next to Turtledove, Takamura continues to glance towards the door as others enter the room. But, then he returns his attention to Turtledove.

Nilee has just entered the lounge, and has taken up a position right next to the entrance, not more than a foot or two off the door. His arms are at his side and he is standing perfectly straight, not leaning against the wall. He continues to quietly survey the room, seeming completely oblivious to glances and acknowledgements of his presence for the moment.

With a nod to himself, Golden gets up and strides with purposeful steps to the podium that has been erected, beside him on a table is a picture of Rebecca Bailey. He stands politely and soberly until he has the room's attention.

Niel turns the remarkably quiet Nelle in his lap in such a way that she would be able to watch the proceedings as well. The couches may not be the best place for him, but of course, who's gonna tell him he can't sit there.

Turtledove straightens up just a bit as she turns, shifting her full attention to Golden.

Takamura steps off to the side and resumes his former stance as Golden approaches the podium, his complete attention focused on the team commander.

Poole enters quietly, dressed ... less Starfleety than normal while on duty. Perhaps she's heard of Rebecca Bailey's dislike of the military? She seeks out one person in particular, Niel and begins to step over to him when Golden stands. Halting, she turns to face the podium, eyeing the picture next to it briefly.

Golden looks at the podium surface a moment then looks back up. In a conversational tone of voice he quotes, "Time rushes by and yet time is frozen. Funny how we get so exact about time at the end of life and at its beginning. She died at 6:08 or 3:46, we say, or the baby was born at 4:02. But in between we slosh through huge swatches of time-weeks, months, years, decades even. -- Helen Prejean"

Finally showing some sign that he's conscious of those around him, Nilee shifts his attention to the podium as Golden speaks. His expression, however, doesn't change at all during the quote, but his eyes rest on the Lieutenant a few moments after he speaks.

Turtledove stands proudly in her dress whites, on the other hand. Apparently, she didn't know about Bailey's lack of love for things military. She listens intently, stands proudly, and otherwise watches Golden do his thing.

After letting that quote sink in a bit, he steeples his fingers together and continues in a conversational ane even tone with a warm undercurrent, a friendly tone, a storytelling tone that draws you in closer even as one remains motionless. "It would be an ironic thing for me to begin to tell you about Rebecca Renee Bailey by listing statistics of time. That she was born in 2347 to Tasha and Jayce Bailey -- that in 2363 she published her first paper. It would be perhaps informative if I told you that she followed in the footsteps of her parents, but spent much of her childhood raised by her grandparents. We could discuss that she was from Austrialia on Earth... we could discuss her grades, her sporting achievements -- we could discuss her education or her career but all of these things are simply facts -- isolated atoms that make up the greater body of a fabric that was a life."

Golden continues, "Could I say I *knew* Rebecca Bailey? No. Did I speak with her, did I smell her shampoo as she walked past me? Yes. Can I recite to you her life's facts as recorded by the process that is our life in the Federation? Of course. But that would not define her, that would not scratch the surface. She lived a life of knowledge and service. She was loved. She loved in return. She reporduced and so met her evolutionary objective. None of this defines her though."

Poole crosses her arms as she listens, wavering on her feet a moment. She seems to notice what she's doing and straightens, becoming still. Her eyes drift to that picture again, her sad look intensifying.

Niel just remains there, holding Nelle tightly and listening. He doesn't seem to be looking so much at Golden as he is at the picture.

Takamura continues to stand stoically as Golden gives his address. His face doesn't show the sadness hiding beneath.

"It is true that you can be defined by your life -- but life is a secretive thing, hidden layers, hidden facets. Rarely can anyone ever see each part of a person -- the secret smiles they keep to themselves, whispered words heard only by a lover, a special tickle only used on a child. Actions in life can give clues to a person -- but the mystery continues, who directed those actions? Why were those directions followed? How did she feel about following them? Rebecca Bailey was an Agent of the Department of Temporal Investigations. She safeguarded what is as we know it from what could have been as we might not prefer it or what could be if what is was not because what was was something else." Golden pauses..."Confusing, right? So then if her life's work was an enigma, how could the woman not be a mystery? How then can we find a clue to understanding her? Well... I will tell you..."

Golden says, "You can tell by how she died.""

Turtledove regards Golden, nodding in quiet agreement. Her expression is serious enough, even if her eyes are notably dry and light.

Nilee continues standing silently near the door, almost seeming to stand sentry over the entrance, and he might pull it off if he had a yellow stripe instead of a blue one on his uniform. His eyes rest on Golden as he speaks, but his expression shows no sign of emotional reaction to the words. Expression not having shifted since his entrance. What's going on inside though, could be a totally different matter.

Poole bites her lip, then slowly starts sidling... single sidles at a time... over towards Niel. She pauses after a few steps, waiting for Golden's next words. Bracing herself.

"There is an ancient Chinese proverb that goes -- A poor life is better than a good death." Golden smiles gently, "I must beg to differ. Rebecca Bailey, had you asked her, was not a soldier. She didn't have a high regard for "soldiers". She didn't trust those who solved their problems with guns, or who paraded around with pretty ranks and pretty uniforms when they could better spend their time actually making a /difference/. She was an agent. Agent -- from the Latin agens or agentis spun off of agere -- to /act/. The dictionary defines Agent as One who exerts power, or who has power to act. It also says, One who acts for, or in the place of, another, by authority from him; one intrusted with the business of another; a substitute; a deputy; a factor." He takes a step away from the podium gesturing with a sweep of one hand at the picture.

Takamura inhales deeply, letting the air out slowly. His eyes still fixed on Golden.

Turtledove's eyes passively follows Golden's hand to the picture.

Niel just continues to listen, along with Nelle.

"Rebecca Bailey died then defining the meaning of her career title. She died taking action. She died exerting the power of her will to chose to act despite the cost to her personally. She died acting for the Federation. And she died as a substitute for the millions who would have died had she not taking action." Golden steeples his hands again. "Though I cannot speak of the exact details of her death, and she would be the first to tell me so, I can say that she died because she chose to put the good of the Federation, the good of billions before her own life. Billions draw breath this day because she was willing to stop doing so herself -- this was not a casual death. This death took skill -- this death took years of training and expertise to pull off. It took strength of commitment and conviction to the cause of LIFE to carry through."

"And as Rebecca Bailey was a student of time she knows the domino effect of time in descension... those billions will become trillions and so on and so on. Her choice of ending one life will in the cone of future time become uncountable lives and eventually as probability mechanics assure us -- she will by her choice save thousands of planets, thousands of systems, perhaps the universe itself."

Nilee purses his lips at Golden's words, the first sign of any recognition to what he's saying. The Trill shifts his weight slightly eyes drifting from Golden to the picture of Bailey for a few seconds.

Golden pauses to consider that number and then carries on, "Rebecca Bailey had ideals. She lived up those ideals right up to her death, and her death itself -- the manner of it, the power of it, the depth of it -- it is a symbol of the commitmant to a better universe. It was an act of faith from a scientist -- that she trusted the universe to not let her sacrifice be a vain one, that her death mattered. It mattered then, it matters now, and it will matter forever in the years that stretch by. Her death and so her life, is an inspiration and should be held up as such." He walks back behind the podium and then looks out at those gathered. "Did I know Rebecca Bailey? No. Not really. I will never know the *truth* of her life -- but I know the truth of her death and it will inspire me every day. I know the truth of her death and it will bolster me when my choice comes some day. I know the truth of her death it reminds me that faith in the future is the cornerstone of a fulfilling life."

Takamura takes another breath and nods at Golden's words. He lets his gaze shift from the Martian to the picture of Bailey.

Golden looks back at the podium again and then reads,
"In time the strong and stately turrets fall,
In time the rose and silver lilies die,
In time the monarchs captive are, and thrall,
In time the sea and rivers are made dry;
The hardest flint in time doth melt asunder;
Still living fame in time doth fade away;
The mountains proud we see in time come under;
And earth, for age, we see in time decay.
The sun in time forgets for to retire
From out the east where he was wont to rise;
The basest thoughts we see in time aspire,
And greedy minds in time do wealth despise.
Thus all, sweet Fair, in time must have an end,
Except thy beauty, virtues, and thy friend.
"

"Giles Fletcher, 16th century poet. Thank you, and now if any of Rebecca's friends would like to come up here and speak, the podium is open."

Golden steps away from the podium then and resumes his seat in an upright shoulders back posture.

Niel remains in his seat, holding Nelle. If somebody were to look over to him, they'd notice his eyes are closed and he seems to be concentrating on his breathing.

Turtledove's mouth curves slightly as Golden finishes up. His words deserve more, perhaps, but she doesn't seem inclined to reciprocate. Nothing personal, apparently, just... lack of... passion, perhaps.

Lips still pursed, Nilee's face starts to show the first signs of emotion. Mixed feelings starting to be portrayed on his face. Anger. Remorse. Sadness. They all are briefly visible on his face, but the Trill doesn't stay long enough for the emotions to develop or spread. He takes a single step forward, away from the wall, turns takes two more steps, turns again, and steps through the doors again as they open for him. All without a word, all as quietly and as discreetly as he made his entrance.

Poole 's eyes glisten, as she's wont to being over-emotional, and looks away, crossing those last few steps to Niel. She crouches and touches his knee. Must accomplish mission... before... making blithering boob out of oneself in front of the gun bunnies. <-Internal Kirk monologue.

Nilee steps out of Four Forward and into the corridor.

Nilee has left.

Takamura glances around to see if anyone else is going to speak, his breating measured and controlled.

It is perhaps that moment, when all remains quiet, nobody getting up to speak that the perfect speaker for the occasion makes her voice heard. Nelle Bailey... er, Nelle Haven suddenly starts to cry very, very loudly. Given the relative silence of everyone, her cries and screams fill the empty void that is resounding over Four Forward.

Poole shivers, that sound driving her to her feet. She hugs herself tightly, biting her lip as she looks down on little Nelle. And on Niel. Yet, she doesn't retreat.

Golden winces deeply at the baby's cry, he can't bear to look that direction so he remains sitting upright and staring forward to away any other speakers.

Takamura's face softens when little Nelle begins her crying. He closes his eyes and bows his head.

Turtledove's head turns slightly as her eyes shift to Nelle, resting there briefly. Eyes move to Niel, then around the room. She shakes her head then, and returns her attention to Golden.

. o O Turtledove thinks "Looks like... no one else is going to say anything..."

Niel looks down to his daughter, and just holds her tight. He understands the crying, he knows it's not just random crying. He lets her continue to cry out without trying to stop her at all... he lets Nelle get out the pain that she needs to.

"I've... something to add," Poole says, breaking the silence (barring the baby's crying) as she heads up to the podium. There's nothing official in her tone or manner, just, emotion. The polar opposite of the woman who's picture is next to the podium.

Turtledove quirks a brow, and waits to hear what Poole has to say.

"I... did not know Ms. Bailey well. Or... I should say, at all. I did not even pass her once on the Mall. I came here simply to offer her, as a terran, a terran tradition. Something which my family has practiced since .... well, we can't remember the exact date any more. We're terrible with time," says Poole, a tad nervously. "Back in the early days of warp travel... the coordinates to earth were kept in a navigational chip such as this one..." And she produces said chip. "A map home." She pauses briefly before finishing, "In those times it was customary to leave a copy of the chip with the departed... that they might find their way home.... but, in this case, I thought, I'd offer it to Mr. Haven. With all my respect."

Takamura opens his eyes and looks over to Poole when she speaks up. His face remains placid, after a few silent prayers.

Golden nods slightly at the sentiment expressed by Lieutenant Poole, then turns his head toward the crying baby and her father, perhaps curious if he intends to say anything or if his grief is too personal to share.

Niel just nods to Poole, but he doesn't seem to try and stand at all. His eyes are still closed, and he's still breathing deeply and very controlled. When Poole finishes saying 'that they might find their way home...', Nelle starts to get a little quieter, though she's still crying.

Poole adds, "The coordinates on this chip... are to Station 419." She walks up to Niel slowly and sets the chip next to him on the couch. "I know she found her way home, Mister Haven." With that she turns on her heels and walks for the doors.

Golden rises from his seat as Poole departs and returns to the Podium. "Though this concludes our ceremony, there will never be closure on our gratitude for the heroic self-sacrifice of our sister, Rebecca Bailey. It is fitting perhaps that in reality of non-linear time that she knew so well that there will always be a Rebecca Bailey - a baby fresh into the world - a little girl first mastering her numbers - a precocious teenager getting published in prestigious circles - a woman confident in her place and role - and a hero putting the needs of the many before the needs of the few. Or the one."

"Thank you for attending, Dismissed."

Fortunae has arrived.

GAME: Fortunae is joining this location.