Star Trek Coda

Chapter 2: A footnote in history

NEW YORK CITY RUINS, 2408

They woke up to darkness. As his eyes adjusted, Jack looked over to see his Dad in the chair, looking empty as always. The broad shouldered man spent hours sitting there, just looking, as if imagining another life. Will was a big man. He was tall and broad. He dressed with little effort, so he could fit in. But he always wore the Starfleet delta pin on his chest, a symbol of a long lost ideal.

As Jack got up out of bed, he was careful not to wake Ethan, gently placing Ethan's arm back down. He was still sore, but he could move, and that was as good enough.

"We need to do another supply run," said Will, "come with me?" Jack got dressed and carved a circle with a star in it into the dirt. With pen, paper and computers a thing of the past, this was his signal to Ethan that he was okay and would be back soon.

They walked through the city, across the valley, into a quieter and less populated area. As they crossed the bridge, Jack pondered – the stories said it used to be a river. People kept to the shadows here, it made Jack uneasy. Their old supplier had gone missing, an all too common occurrence, so they had to go deep into the mainland in old New Jersey, it was a few hours hike. The two barely talked as they walked, but finally Will spoke up, "You never asked me what I thought of Ethan."

Jack didn't reply, it was such an oddly timed comment. Will kept going, "I like the way he looks after you, you deserve that."

Jack knew it wouldn't be this simple and hesitantly replied, "he's a good person."

Will stopped, and Jack looked back, "That's why you have to end it, you're getting too attached."

"What?"

"This world we live in," Will pointed around him, "people die a lot. People are expendable. You can't get attached, it'll be a weakness. You'll fall in love with him and then one day you'll have to choose between feeding yourself and feeding him, and you won't be able to rely on yourself to make the right choice."

"I deserve to be happy," Jack replied, "And who says you're not a weakness?"

"Because I know I'd kill myself if it ever came to that. I wouldn't let you choose."

Jack was silent for a minute. He hated when his father got like this. He hesitated before speaking, "I know you're saying this because of Deanna."

Will stopped and stepped towards Jack, looking at him fiercely, "it is because of Deanna. I won't hide from that. I had to choose you over her, and I don't regret it, ever. I did what she would have wanted. But it doesn't mean it doesn't kill me every waking moment. I never want you to know that pain."

"I love you Dad, I'm sorry," replied Jack. He couldn't think of anything more to say so he kept walking. He wished he had known his father before he lost his imzadi. He wished he had known her too. As they walked, the thought came to him, "Dad?" he asked, "you know I am already in love with Ethan, right?"

Will sighed, "I know."

"I think you're right that it's going to turn to hell later, but maybe that's all the more reason to be happy right now? Before I have to feel that pain?"

"You talk as if that pain is inevitable?"

Jack looked him dead in the eye, "isn't it?"

Will said nothing and they kept walking.

A few hours later, they were further away than Jack had ever been before. In times like this, people only took the risk of travelling if it was a necessity. Jack saw something on the horizon. It was a huge building – at least a dozen stories high. But it was also so long – far longer and wider than it was high. He had never seen anything like it, and they were far from the city now.