An Image Of The Past (Tess)

[Tess tLhoell]

Tamonar Skuyanhjin (74 years old)
[Ba'ku - outside Village - Year 2376]

After he had finished, Tamonar eyed the young man, waiting for him to accept his request. When he finally did, the Son'a relaxed slightly. Part of him had feared, the Starfleeter would see it necessary to tell Ishto now.

"Thank you", the aged man said in a broken voice. He wished to reunite with his family, even more so now that he knew he had younger siblings. But the tough task had just gotten tougher by his father's reaction. Maybe he didn't deserve anything else. For now, at least. Time was on his side now. Not working against him any more but opening possibilities he didn't have when he lived like a Son'a.

"I will return to the woods now." With nothing more left to say, the old Son'a turned away and made his way up the hill until the darkness of the woods up there swallowed him whole.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tess Skuyanhjin (7 years old)
[Ba'ku - Village - Tess' home - Year 2376]

Ishto's loud voice had disturbed Tess' sleep. The slamming of the door had been what had woken her finally. Benjin's wailing and her father's angry words towards Rahul were heard by her as she lay in her bed, big blue eyes staring at the door that Ishto had been left ajar for her because she was afraid to sleep in complete darkness. Then she heard someone in the corridor.

"Rahul?", her small voice was heard from the room, sounding hesitant and a little scared off. Her father rarely raised his voice, at least not in that really angry tone like he had done this time. So the girl was a little insecure what to make of it.

[Rayek trLhoell]

Lieutenant Fabiano Moreno
[Ba'ku - outside Village - Year 2376]

Fabiano watched the Son'a... former Ba'ku... Ishto's eldest son... disappear into the darkness of the woods.  Had he made the right choice?  The man did deserve to know his son had returned.  But then Ishto's reaction to Tamonar... even without knowing who he truly was... had been more angry than he'd ever seen any Ba'ku.

Perhaps it was too soon after the Son'a treachery?  The science officer decided he would broach the topic again in a couple months.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rahul Skuyanhjin (16 yrs old)
[Ba'ku - Village - Tess' home - Year 2376]

Tess' scared and hesitant voice had Rahul pausing in the hallway to peek in his head at her doorway.

"Balaca... you should be sleeping.  Did you need me to sit with you for a bit to fall back asleep?"  It was something that as her older brother, he'd had to do quite often since the loss of their mother just over a year ago.

The teen glanced back into the hallway a moment before slipping fully into the room and closing the door back to its partially opened doorway. 

[Tess tLhoell]

Tess Skuyanhjin (7 years old)
[Ba'ku - Village - Tess' home - Year 2376]

Tess sat up in her bed when Rahul stopped to peek into her room. She pushed some strands of hair out of her face and nodded her head when he asked her if he should sit with her for a while to fall back asleep. Either he or her father did that for her since her mother's death. But it was more often Rahul, since Ishto also had to take care of Benjin.

Of course Tess noticed that Rahul was limping when he stepped in. She looked at him with big eyes. "What's wrong with your foot?", the little girl asked. And then a bit more hesitant. "Is that why baba is so angry?" As soon as Rahul had sat down, Tess would lie back down and snuggle up at him. "I heard him yelling", she added quietly. Something that usually barely happened and that seemed to irritate her.

~~~~~~~~~~~

baba - daddy

[Rayek trLhoell]

Lieutenant Fabiano Moreno
[Ba'ku - outside Village - Year 2376]

Fabiano didn't return back to the Village immediately, instead he went for a walk along the mountain side and gazed up into the night sky.   The metaphasic rings which kept the Ba'ku at the peak of vitality were visible in the sky.  A few scattered rogue satellites that escaped from the rings in the night sky gave the illusion of stars.  It was breathtaking.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rahul Skuyanhjin (16 yrs old)
[Ba'ku - Village - Tess' home - Year 2376]

"Sprained my ankle that's all." Rahul answered and hobbled his way to her bed.  He sat beside his little sister and wrapped a comforting arm about her when she snuggled into his side.  He hesitated not sure how to answer her question about their father's anger.

"No... maybe.... I don't know, Tess.  He just doesn't understand.  But you don't have to worry.  It'll be okay. For all his flaws, Dad forgives mistakes... it just takes time."

[Tess tLhoell]

Tess Skuyanhjin (7 years old)
[Ba'ku - Village - Tess' home - Year 2376]

Rahul Skuyanhjin (16 yrs old)
[Ba'ku - Village - Tess' home - Year 2376]

"Sprained my ankle that's all." Rahul answered and hobbled his way to her bed.  He sat beside his little sister and wrapped a comforting arm about her when she snuggled into his side.  He hesitated not sure how to answer her question about their father's anger.

"No... maybe.... I don't know, Tess.  He just doesn't understand.  But you don't have to worry.  It'll be okay. For all his flaws, Dad forgives mistakes... it just takes time."

This answer put the little girl at ease. It told her that everything was going to be okay again. The arm he had wrapped about her while she snuggled in his side was calming, chasing away the uncertainty and fear she had felt before.

It wasn't long after this that Tess drifted back to sleep, resting peacefully in her brother's arm.

==TIME SKIP==

[Ba'ku - Creek]

Tess had some alone time with her brother. They both liked to hike and wander about the beautiful rural landscape of their home. Today was special though since her brother took her fishing for the first time.

On their comfortably paced trip to one of the creeks, the little girl chatted on and on about all sorts of things, flowers, insects or animals they encountered on their way. Now, she had already run ahead and now was crouching down to pick some more flowers - she'd been wanting to pick a flower of every color.

"Look, I found a blue one!", she told her brother excitedly. She had yellow, red, purple, orange flowers already in her hand. Now with the blue one her bunch was complete. She picked some kind of ferny plant and added it to her bunch of flowers then jumped to her feet to run back to her brother. "Here, this is for you!" She beamed up at him with bright blue eyes.

[Rayek trLhoell]

Rahul Skuyanhjin (16 yrs old)
[Ba'ku - Village - Tess' home - Year 2376]

Tess Skuyanhjin (7 years old)
[Ba'ku - Village - Tess' home - Year 2376]

This answer put the little girl at ease. It told her that everything was going to be okay again. The arm he had wrapped about her while she snuggled in his side was calming, chasing away the uncertainty and fear she had felt before.

It wasn't long after this that Tess drifted back to sleep, resting peacefully in her brother's arm.

Long after Tess had fallen asleep, Rahul remained holding close to his little sister protectively.
The house was quiet with Benjin's cries from earlier having settled.  Rahul half expected his father to show up at his sister's bedroom door, but there was no sound of movement at all from the other room down the hall. Not at first at any rate, eventually the sound of his fathers snores could be heard.

Rahul sighed and looked to his swollen ankle.  It would keep until the morning.  He thought about trying to extract his arm to slip away but knew from past tuck ins that Tess would wake if he did so.  She was a rather light sleeper.   So the teen settled himself more comfortably propped against the headboard and allowed himself to doze off as well.

(fade scene)

==TIME SKIP==
Rahul Skuyanhjin (16 yrs old)
[Ba'ku - Creek]

[Ba'ku - Creek]

Tess had some alone time with her brother. They both liked to hike and wander about the beautiful rural landscape of their home. Today was special though since her brother took her fishing for the first time.

On their comfortably paced trip to one of the creeks, the little girl chatted on and on about all sorts of things, flowers, insects or animals they encountered on their way. Now, she had already run ahead and now was crouching down to pick some more flowers - she'd been wanting to pick a flower of every color.

"Look, I found a blue one!", she told her brother excitedly. She had yellow, red, purple, orange flowers already in her hand. Now with the blue one her bunch was complete. She picked some kind of ferny plant and added it to her bunch of flowers then jumped to her feet to run back to her brother. "Here, this is for you!" She beamed up at him with bright blue eyes.

Fishing was one of Rahul's favorite solo hobbies.  Because of his fractured ankle (an examination by the local physician the day after his stumble on the mountainside had shown that it was more than just a bad sprain) since then, he hadn't had the mobility to go on his usual hikes because of the foot splint he'd had to wear for 8 weeks.

And now despite the splint being removed his over-protective father had worried about him re-injuring himself and had argued against his going to his favorite fishing spot alone.  That when the idea of having Tess join him came into being.   It was the perfect idea. It got his Dad to shut up about going alone, allowed him to go fishing and took Tess away from the now constant presence of the Starfleeter.

Tess really seemed happy about the opportunity.  She'd never gone fishing before and Rahul was actually looking forward to sharing the experience with her.

As usual, along the walk, she talked incessantly.  Rahul grinned - they'd be lucky to catch to anything with how much she chattered.  He watched as she collected flowers - one of seemingly ever color so that it seemed like she held rainbow bouquet in her hands.  Then she ran back to him and held the flowers out to him with her dimpled smile.

"They are beautiful, Tess.  Thanks. We'll have to remember to bury the stems in wet sand by the creekside to keep them fresh while we fish."

He reached the bouquet with his hands already full with fishing rods and tackle for two.  But that was okay cause he knew they were almost at his favorite fishing spot.  It was just around the bend in the creek a little ways.

"So we're almost there." he stated.

When they arrived at the sun-dappled creek pool, the water was so crystal clear that he could already see some fish darting away from the shore as they approached.

He set down their poles and - because Tess would be upset if he didn't - he set about digging out a small seep in which store the bouquet. When he was done with that Rahul, looked to Tess.  "Are you ready? We'll start off showing you how to cast."

[Tess tLhoell]

Tess Skuyanhjin (7 years old)
[Ba'ku - Creek]

Tess beamed happily when she was told the flowers she had picked were beautiful. Turning around Tess coul already hear the purl of the water and dashed off to, eager to reach the creek pool. "We need to hurry before the fish are going away!", she told Rahul.

When they arrived, Tess looked with wide eyes as the fish darted away from the shore. One of them caught her attention especially - it was of a vibrant yellow. "Look! Do you see the yellow one there!", she exclaimed excitedly. Her wild gestures seemed to scare the fish off even more and he disappeared in the distance. The other fish had done the same. "Aw ... They're swimming away from us!" She looked after it pouting but soon was distracted by Rahul who took care of the little bouquet of flowers like he had said he would.

She watched happily for a moment. "Will they get enough water there and not be thirsty?", she asked. "This is a nice spot for them to watch us fishing!" Her gaze stopped at the fishing rods and tackle Rahul had put down on the ground and Tess looked at the things. "What are we doing with all of this?", she asked about all the things her brother had taken with them while she picked one of the rods without thinking much if she got the right one for her. Just because it caught her eye first she started to play around with the fishing reel. "What is this for?", she asked.

[Rayek trLhoell]

Rahul Skuyanhjin (16 yrs old)
[Ba'ku - Creek]

Rahul rolled his eyes fondly at his sister's numerous exclamations and questions.  "Yes, Tess, the flowers will be fine there." he assured her as he watched her pick up one of the two rods he brought.  She had so much curiosity.

Ishto had taught him that fishing was a quiet activity.  There was very little quiet about Tess.  They'd be extremely lucky to catch anything today. But he supposed catching a fish for dinner was secondary to what the real purpose was for - just getting away.  If Tess learned a new skill in doing so, so much the better.

"I'm going to teach you how to fish, silly." Rahul answered, teasing her lightly - like a good big brother was supposed to.  "These are fishing rods and that, Tess, is a reel.  It spools out the fishing line when you cast and then reels it back in." he explained patiently, smiling.  He was glad she seemed interested.

"Let me show you how it works" Rahul picked up the other rod but left to show Tess what to do.  He left the hook attached to the hook keeper for the moment.  "You always have to be aware of who and what is around you while casting.  The hook is dangerous.  For now we will practice the moves with the hook safely out of the way." Rahul pointed out and took a couple steps away motioning for her to stay where she was.  He held the rod at the reel in his dominant hand.  His off-hand held the reels knob.

"Because of all the low hanging branches by the creek, I do side-casting here." he stated as he drew back his arm in front of him.   "Generally, the harder and faster you cast the farther your line will fly.  Short casts only require a wrist flick, long casts you flick from your elbow."

He demonstrated each movement without casting and nodded for Tess to try.

[Tess tLhoell]

Tess Skuyanhjin (7 years old)
[Ba'ku - Creek]

"You are silly!", Tess fired back with a giggled laugh. She really wasn't shy to stand up to her brother - of course knowing that he was just teasing her. When Rahul explained the fishing rod to her, Tess listened with curiosity, her ocean blue eyes following the motions of his hand.

Then she moved to watch Rahul while she clutched the much smaller rod in her own hand. When she was prompted she tried to copy his motions. She did once ... then discovered that the rod made a funny buzzing sound when it cut through the air as she moved. She started to grin and twirled widly on the spot to make the rod buzzing again without paying much attention to any technique of her movements.

"Listen!", she called over to Rahul excitedly as she wagged the fishing rod through the air.

[Rayek trLhoell]

Rahul Skuyanhjin (16 yrs old)
[Ba'ku - Creek]

Rahul watched with a bemused expression as his sister spun wildly, flailing the rod about. Not practicing the casting move but just trying to make the rod 'sing'.

"That is the sound you want... but the 'cast' is a little more controlled.. or your hook is going to end up in a tree or some poor rhyl." he tried to keep his voice sounding serious but his tone held quite a bit of mirth.  It was impossible to not with her being so animated and cheerful.  It was contagious - her joy.

Rahul demonstrated the move again.  It was just the end of the rod he flicked but it too hummed.  "Try 'casting' like that."

He wasn't going to let her try casting with the line unhooked until the novelty of flinging the rod about wore off.

[Tess tLhoell]

Tess Skuyanhjin (7 years old)
[Ba'ku - Creek]

Test continued to flail the rod about wildly, giggling and laughing as she did. Eventually it wasn't new anymore and she was able to concentrate a little more on what her brother was telling her actually.

She tried to flick her wrist as he showed her, it wasn't perfect but got better with each attempt. In between she would flail the rod again just to hear it 'sing' once more.

"Rahul, can we fish properly, now?", she asked in an adorable pleading voice. She got impatient and practicing became boring rather quickly, not having the understanding that it was for the better to know how to handle the rod properly.

[Rayek trLhoell]

Rahul Skuyanhjin (16 yrs old)
[Ba'ku - Creek]

When Tess asked if they could fish for real, Rahul gave his little sister a bit of doubtful look but nodded and moved closer to her picking up the tackle box he'd brought with him.  He knelt down beside her and took hold of her fishrod to help hold it steady.  "Okay, well, the next step in fishing is having the right bait or lure to attract the fish to your hook.  Depending on which fish you are trying to catch you will use a slightly different bait or lure.  Some like catching flies, some worms and some even like eating... other little fishies!" As he said this last part he teasing reached out a hand and tickled at her side.

He laughed at her squeals, stopping after a second or two to continue with setting up her hook.  "Since I doubt you want to use a real worm.  I've brought some jelly worms to practice with.  But otherwise you could lift pretty much any rock or dig through the leave litter and find blueworms.  Fish love them.  But they are usually too big to fit on a hook so you just need to snip a tiny piece off them from either end.  Sounds a bit cruel but they grow it back within a day."

Rahul demonstrated 'pinching" off a tail bit using one of the jelly worms.   He then took this piece and unhooked Tess' fishing hook and slid the 'worm' onto the hook so that a tiny piece dangle tantalizingly - well tantalizing to a fish anyways.  He released his hold on the rod, letting Tess have full control of it.

"There your hook has been baited.  Now you will cast like you were practising aiming downstream.  Once you hook hits the water you will take hold of the reel knob and turn it clock-wise reeling the line slowly back in.  This entices the fish to chase after the worm and snap at it to swallow the worm before it escapes."

He smiled and continued.  "If you feel a tug like this...." He gave a tiny tug on the line for Tess feel.  "You will flick the tip of the rod up sharply and reel in the line quickly.  Got it?" he asked then stepped back out of the way of an anticipated cast.  "Go ahead and give it try.   Aim for that downstream pool over there." he said pointing to the spot he meant.

[Tess tLhoell]

Tess Skuyanhjin (7 years old)
[Ba'ku - Creek]

Tess let Rahul take hold of her fishing rod while she held onto the end and listening with a curious expression what he told her. When he tickled her she doubled over with a squeal, trying to catch his hands and push them away plafully.

When he said he brought jelly worms to practice with Tess reached inside the bag to grab two of the jelly worms and munched at them with a grin while she listened to her brother. "Snip a piece off?!", she echoed, shocked. "Won't it hurt the worm?" In her child's mind she thought that would mean the death for the worm. More astoundingly was to her then that Rahul said the worm was able to grow the pinched off piece back within a day. "How come it's not dying?", she wondered with wide eyes.

Still munching on the jelly worms she listened to what Rahul explained to her before slurping in the rest of the worm that had been hanging out of her mouth - just for run ... well, Tess thought it was funny - and then took full hold of the rod, her eyes watching as the hook dangled slowly.

After Rahul told her so she turned to the creek side fully and flicked the tip of the rod - that cast itself might have even been all that bad. But Tess started to reel the line in way too fast. In addition to that she wiggled the rod wildely in an attempt to attract the attention of the fish. Well, she thought it was a good way to do it.

"Come to me, fishies! Come here!"

[Rayek trLhoell]

Rahul Skuyanhjin (16 yrs old)
[Ba'ku - Creek]

Rahul wasn't at all surprised that Tess helped herself to a couple of the jelly worms.  He'd brought lots for exactly that reason.

When she asked about how come the worms didn't die, Rahul wasn't sure how to answer so he didn't try.  "It's complicated.  Your teacher will explain about the rings and their special properties when you get a little older.  Just know that, like us, they heal really fast and so sniping a bit isn't enough to harm it permanently." he answered before she moved on to actually trying to cast.

"Slower, Tess.  Gently.  You want to tease the fish not escape them," he laughed and moved in beside his sister and covered her hand that held the reel knob and slowed her turning for a moment then let go so she could continue on her own.  "Like that, and when the hook is close enough to lift out of the water,  you stop reeling and cast out again."

Rahul stepped back watching his sister, continuing to guide her with his words. 

[Tess tLhoell]

Tess Skuyanhjin (7 years old)
[Ba'ku - Creek]

Tess was happy with the answer her brother gave her regarding the worms before she pushed another of the jelly ones into her mouth, enjoying the fruity sweetness of them.

The little girl had kinda mistaken the 'technique' to what you did when you wanted a cat to follow you - lure it with the movemet. But that was not what she was supposed to do apparently. When she heard her brother correcting her with a laugh Tess turned her head to him with a grin and an 'oopsie'-face before she felt him stepping up to her an guiding her hands with his. She probably was too giddy.

The hook was close enough to lift it out of the water and Tess cast again - forgetting to check if Rahul was out of the way behind her. She cast the hook a couple of more times, needing some more guidance until she slowly got the hang of it and she calmed down a bit to focus more on what she was doing. The last casts weren't too bad and she reeled the hook back in slowly. And really, not too long after that, she felt a tug at her line.

Tess squealed with excitement and started to bounce on the spot once. "I've got a fish! I've got a fish!" She was so excited that she almost forgot what she was supposed to do again. Reel in quickly? That's what she did.