| Author | Message | ||
     1st Lt. Craig Serrold, SFMC |
16 YEARS AGO... "Then he is to be joined?" The tall man stood patiently behind his young son. Before the both of them sat the Council, the heads of the Trill Symbiosis Commission. Though he himself was human, his child was the product of his joining with a Trill woman, his wife. For Dr. Garrett Serrold, Sr., this was a very important moment. For his younger son, Craig, this was to be his life's most pivotal moment. "No," said the head of the Council, a regal male of indeterminant age, dark skinned and quite bald, "he will not be joined." Dr. Serrold frowned and placed his hands on his son's shoulders. The small blond-haired boy looked up inquisitively at his father. "But you just said that he had met all of the criteria - that he had, in fact, surpassed the tests on many of the requirements." "Actually, Dr. Serrold, there is one test he did not - and never can - pass. The boy is part human, and his physiology could cause unforseen problems down the line." Silence filled the Council chamber for several heartbeats before Serrold spoke words he had never hoped to speak, words he had been holding in reserve for just such an occassion. "His physiology will not present a problem, I assure you." The councilors looked at one another and then back at Serrold. Knowing they wanted answers, Serrold took a deep breath and explained. "When my wife and I conceived Craig, we knew that we wanted him to be joined. We knew that he would never be able to be joined with half-human aspects to his physiological make-up. Therefore, we - we modified those portions of his make-up that are connected with the joining process. We - " "Dr. Serrold! We have heard enough!" The head of the Council barked. "You are talking about something that is dangerous and borderline illegal in the Federation. This council - indeed, all of Trill and maybe even the Federation as a whole - respects the work accomplished by you and your wife. But so help us, if you continue to pursue such methods - if you continue to even mention this - we will have to have you arrested and turned over to the Federation for trial. Indeed, it is only because of the high regard in which you are held that we are going to allow you to continue your work and life without stepping in. Good day, Dr. Serrold. And Craig, I am truly sorry about all of this." ========= "Bastards. Goddamned bastards." Dr. Garrett Serrold was drunk. His wife stared at him worriedly. "Garrett, we knew this was a possibility from the beginning." "Yeah, well, tell that to the boy who's up in his room and won't even talk to me anymore." "Garrett, the boy is confused. Go talk to him." Serrold belched loudly and slumped back in his recliner. His wife gazed at him pityingly. "Or maybe you should wait until tomorrow, dear." Serrold nodded and started to rise from his chair. Unfortunately, he had been drinking for just a bit too long. "Romulan Ale should be illegal," he complained as his wife helped him down the hallway to their bedroom. "It is illegal, Garrett." "Then it should be more illegal." They shared a brief laugh as they made it to their sleeping quarters. Serrold grabbed his wife and pulled her to him. A smile played across his features as he gazed into her eyes. "We did the right thing, didn't we, Arma?" Arma Tinka smiled back at her husband. "Yes, husband, we did the right thing." "We've got two really special boys, don't we? These kids - they're gonna accomplish great things someday. I can feel it." "Garrett, the one thing I always have loved about you is that you always follow your heart, always do what you know is right. Our sons have certainly taken after you in that respect, even Craig who's only six. He's quite a sharp one. We did the right thing. One of these days the rest of the universe will be able to recognize that." With that, Serrold pulled his wife close and kissed her deeply, passionately. And he resolved at that moment that he would talk to his son first thing in the morning. ============ Christian D. Clem '01, aka "Aggie" 1st Lt. Craig "Rogue" Serrold, SFMC Wing Leader, TFW-47 "Thunderbirds" U.S.S. Coronado NCC-97901 |