A Gift for Colonia
31 Oct 2021Lily Flemmon
In the cargo bay were two empty cargo containers, and many tables with bins of herbs. The smell was wonderful, and it would have been overwhelming had the atmosphere processors not been reconfigured for this."Two tons of herbs, seeds, and medicines, addressed as a gift to Jaques Station," the director announced proudly. "And your friend Phoenix has included a specific piece of art they made." He gestured to a pair of intertwined branches on a table, and I walked over to get a closer look.
"Phoenix, you beautiful soul," I said to myself, as I beheld the artwork. Two olive branches, each intertwined around the handle of a medkit, reaching toward each other, and unified at every twig where they came together. As I looked closer, I realized that they were actually grafted together in over a hundred places, in so many ways, so that they formed one connected branch of two origins.
The director walked up next to me and cleared his throat gently. "There's one piece missing from this before we pack it up," he told me. "I was going to write a letter to Colonia about the connection to the core systems and their cooperative attitude, asking them to encourage nurturing and defense of peace rather than inciting of conflict and destruction in the core systems, that their respected position could actually allow them to have influence here, and I hadn't thought of how to tie it all together until just now when you told me your thoughts about Zachary Hudson. So... I think it's best if you write the letter."
Wow. A letter to Colonia. On behalf of the entire Chilton Co-op. From... me. I looked at the branches pensively, then back at the director. "I'll have to think about what to write, but yes. I can write the letter."
The director smiled with approval. "Well, we can pack all this up, and you can write the letter on the way. That is, if you're up for the delivery trip."
I had figured that's why he asked me to go with him to this cargo bay, to deliver something important. "All the way to Colonia? You know what, pack this present up. I'll get myself ready." I pushed myself up from the table and headed back toward the tram.
"Lily?" The director called after me.
I paused to turn and look back.
"You've done a lot for us, and I'm... proud of you. We're all proud of you. Good luck."
I smiled, and I don't entirely know why, but I called back, "Together."
And the director waved goodbye, and taking a deep breath, he closed his fist in the air and replied in kind, "Together."