Proofread by Deranged Nasat. Thank you! For Cardassia He looked up to the stars above him. They were as bright and glittering as were the stars at his home, even more so, because this sky here was clearer, but he couldn’t recognize any star-constellations. How could he? He was far away from his home. Between Cardassia and the place he stood was a black ocean, cold and deadly and wide. He hugged his arms around his body and shivered. The nights on this planet were uncomfortably cold as well. And the days weren´t much better. He felt cold also when the sun was shining warmly from the blue sky. He felt cold, when the colourful flowers, that were at home here, opened their blossoms to greet the life-giving, but painfully bright, star of this system. He felt cold, when the birds let the world know with their sweet voices, that spring-time had arrived and soon would turn into summer. His father had said that this planet was beautiful, and it was in a way, but all this beauty meant nothing to him. His heart was filled only with one thing. Sadness. Sadness because his parents had left him, never to be with him again. They had turned cold as well - and that while their bodies were burning in fire. And he was sad, because his people had left him here. He loved Cardassia. He was 14 years old and soon he would have been a man. A soldier even. That was what he had wanted to be. He had wanted to fight for Cardassia, for his people’s survival, for his planets glory. He was proud to be Cardassian. But what was he now? His people didn´t want him. Was he not Cardassian any longer? Or was this what his teacher had so often spoken about? The sacrifice any Cardassian had to make, when asked to do so? Was that why they had left him here? So others would have the food and drink he would have needed otherwise? Was this his sacrifice to his people, to help them stay strong? But why would they throw away 14 years of effort to make him a good Cardassian, if in only a handful more years he could have given them a much more noble sacrifice than this? Though who was he to question this decision? The way the retreat of Bajor was handled probably was the best way for his people, including leaving children like him, the orphans of the Occupation, here on a planet full of enemies. The Bajorans were different than he’d imagined. At least some of them. They had smiled at him sadly, but warm, when they’d found him. They had brought him to a place where there were others like him. Girls and boys, some mere toddlers, and many had not only Cardassian blood running through their veins but also Bajoran. He shook his head in disgust. It wasn’t natural. His mother and father had said that too. And of course they had been right. Sighing, he let his eyes wander above the landscape towards the mountains, over the dark forests and back up to the sky. Which of these stars was his home star? Where did he have to look to feel a little bit of home again? If he just knew what the right thing to do was... Normally his father had told him what he had to do - or his mother or his teacher - but now he had to face the challenge of making the right decision himself. He was alone. Loneliness. He laughed bitterly. Just a few weeks ago, if anyone had asked him what loneliness was, he would have said, that was when you had to stay in your room studying by yourself, while your parents were on duty. Or maybe that loneliness was when you had to play Kotra against yourself, because there were no other children your age in the base and you were restricted to your parents’ quarters anyway, as to not get underfoot. But now he knew better. That had not been loneliness. Loneliness was, when you were around many people, but your heard felt cold and lost nonetheless, even more so than when you were alone. Loneliness also was when your laughter and your smile had died, washed away from your features for all time, no matter how many smiles around you were trying to catch your attention. And Loneliness was the one feeling that was a step away from death. A step he intended to take tonight. For Cardassia. - The End - [LEFT]TerokNor [/LEFT]
That was heartwrenching The boy asks really good questions and it's so sad he believes in the wrong answers that he has been given.
Poor kid...he's been treated so horribly by a cruel government. And what's sadder...he's at the age where you really have to wonder if he can be saved or not.
It was heartbreaking to realize the child was a war orphan, even more so once you get inside his head.
A really terrific piece - especially given how short it is - it is full of impact as to be expected in a story about a war orphan. A really good piece Terok Nor. As Uncle Sol says you get into his head really effectively. Well done.