((The Singing Swan, Public House))


Clack : No one knows, not even the ones that I serve with, but my
descendent walks among you. This is beyond Starfleet or the government
of Wheeler and it is certainly not about you or me. This is about my
own child having a future. A child that I have killed for and I will
again to protect it.

Nadina: "Your…you have a child..here on Wheeler? How'd
that come to pass?"

::Darius almost immediately felt a cold shiver jolt through him. The
painful sensation caused the joints in his left hand to stiffen. Slowly
he removed his hand from the table top and placed it in his lap. It was
the first time that he had verbally spoken about the subject to anyone
since it had been revealed to him.::

Clack: I don't know why I am telling you this… ::Darius couldn't believe
the words that were coming out of his mouth.:: I guess I feel that I can
trust you. Perhaps I can't keep silent any longer. Her name is Kesi. She
is just like or will be just like her mother. She was so beautiful.

::Darius took a drink from his glass. Looking at the glass, he realized that
it was the first time in months he was drinking something nonalcoholic.::

She is with a man named Jack Ross. They live north of here just below the
mountains. You wouldn't believe me if I told you how… I came to have her.
::searching for the right words.:: I didn't know about Kesi until we came
here.

Nadina: response

Clack: I am really not a cruel man... just one that is determined to
make things right. I can't provide for her... not now… I can't take her back
to the ship…

Nadian: response

Clack: I was harsh on your colony... you hold my daughters future in your
hands. You must start to think for yourselves before you fall back into
the hands of the cartel. ::pausing:: She will stand out among you as she
grows. Everyone in the colony WILL KNOW HER I guarantee it.

Tbc

Lt Darius Clack
CEO
USS URSA MAJOR





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]