Chapter Text
Epilogue
Stardate 57897.5 Datastream queue, personal letter n17.
From: Jim Morrow, New Earth, Delta Quadrant
To: Noah Lessing, Luna City, Sol System
Routing: DQ Sec837--AQ Sec1 Rn554334.9Dj
Hi, Noah,
It was great to hear from you. It always is. I'm glad things are going so well with the flower shop, and that you've been able to spend a lot of time with Hannah. She's a really sweet kid.
Thanks for keeping me updated on the latest from the Alpha Quadrant. I can't quite say "from home." I haven't felt like I've had one of those for a long time, except for a brief time on Voyager. Since then it's like I've been drifting with the galactic winds, seeing where they will take me and never getting anywhere. But I think I might finally have found a real home here. Or I'm about to make one here, if I put in some effort. It's about time I did that, I suppose. (Wait! I can hear your shout of triumph from 45,000 light years away!)
I'm glad to hear Marla is staying in touch with you. I didn't agree with her choice, but if she's found a sense of peace, then good for her. I don't know if Harry read her letter. I haven't had much contact with the other ships during the journey. If they have a future, I have to believe it will work itself out. Hopefully Harry will understand that Marla has to be happy with herself first before she could be happy with him.
Speaking of happy, I don't know if Angelo has written you yet (right, we both know Angelo is almost as slow as I am at writing letters), but he and Celes are doing great. Before dinner tonight they told us they're expecting a baby. Yep, it's true! And they aren't the only ones. Get this: I know Angelo told you about Distor Stann, the fellow whose home planet was destroyed by that Cyclops machine? Well, it turns out his children will be the first born on New Earth, followed closely by the Tessoni baby.
I'm sure you're wondering how this could be. I'll skip the details on that until next time. (Gives you something to look forward to!) Anyway, you can probably tell that it's going pretty good here for everyone. Oh, there's been a glitch or two, like the Romulan centurion who abducted Luis Ayala. (That worked out fine, and Luis is doing really well!) For the most part though, New Earth is even better than anyone imagined. I think we'll all be happy here. Even me. I think I deserve it.
I know that's a surprise to hear. It's taken me this long to believe that I do. I was furious about Marla being made to feel like an outcast, and about the way Celes's family was treating Angelo. I told you to accept the good things you have in your life now because you've paid dearly enough for them. I seethed at the idea that people would treat any of you as less than the decent people you are, just because you made mistakes under unbelievable pressure. Serious mistakes, I know, but you were only human. Yet, for some reason, I couldn't apply any of that philosophy to myself.
So, you were right after all, but no saying 'I told you so'! I'm going to apply that philosophy to myself now. At least I'm going to try. I'll keep you updated on my progress. I promise I won't wait two months to write this time.
Still no word from Sofin? I didn't expect there would be. I honestly don't think we'll ever hear from him again. I hope he's found a new life somewhere where he can pretend it all never happened. We're just a reminder that it did. I can understand that, but I'm glad the rest of us have stayed in touch.
Speaking of staying in touch, write back soon. Tell me how you're doing, and how Hannah's doing. Give my love to Marla when you talk to her, and tell her I'd like to write her, too (you can forward the letter). And you take care of yourself, Noah.
From New Earth, starting my new life, for real,
Jim.
THE END...and the beginning.