Tombstone Estate

[Doc Holliday]

The Funeral

Location: Veteran's Cemetery, Planet Gran Canaria

Even after the situation that lead to the death of Ensign Gregory Locke, 17, was sorted out and smoothed over, the pain of the death of such a youngster was still all to fresh. The destruction of the Moonstone and it's crew had hit too close to home. The ship was replaced but the crew was laid to rest.
Captain Michael Vincent, 42, was given honors and a public service as was the ship's engineer, Scott Knudsen, 39. But for Ensign Locke, the ceremony was a private one at the request of his grieving parents and sister. A few close friends were in attendance and at their request, so was Ambassador John Holliday.

Friends and family spoke of young Gregory Locke as someone who had long wanted to travel the stars, to know where everything was and why. He often traveled in transports as a boy and hand charted everything he saw. When he was at home, he was described as "just another kid" by his friends. When the service was over, all that remained by the coffin at his grave site were his parents. His sister, too overcome by grief, was escorted away. While his parents took it very, very hard as one might expect, his father took it especially hard.
After giving a short prayer and a thank you for his service, John Holliday placed a bouquet of flowers, home grown at his estate at the foot of the coffin. Removing his hat, he turned to the family. He wanted to say he was sorry but couldn't. He could only shake his head and begin to walk away with Midori at his side.

"Mr. Ambassador," said the mother's voice from behind him after he had walked several feet away.
He turned to acknowledge the grieving mother who was trying to put on a kind face through her tears and anguish. They were several feet away from the coffin where the father was still suffering as they spoke softly to one another.

She then took the hands of the Ambassador and clutched them tightly. She was a middle aged woman and showed few signs of her age. She also had a big heart and it would show.
"I just want to thank you.....so much...for being here today," she said to him as she spoke in a wavering voice, ever tightening her grip on his hands.
"It was the least I could do, Ma'am," he answered somberly.
"Gregory was so happy the day he was selected to be the navigator aboard the Moonstone," she explained, managing a weak smile, "it was his dream, a dream that you made possible. We will never forget it."

Then she reached into her purse and pulled out a shiny set of wings that were worn on a dress flight uniform. She then opened his hand, placed them in it and forced his hand closed around it.
"Please," she said, "take these. These were the wings he earned when he graduated the academy. I want you to have them."
He then re-opened his hand to look at them. As he did, he felt himself beginning to lose his composure. Choking back some emotion, he simply replied, "I can't, Ma'am. These should be yours, his sisters or his fathers. I have no right to these."
"No, Mr. Ambassador," she responded, "we already discussed it. We insist." She then re-closed his hand over the wings and held it closed. Saying nothing, he just nodded his OK.

"One more thing, Mr. Ambassador," she began. He then interrupted momentarily.
"Please, Ma'am, you may call me John," he insisted.
"John, do you have any children?" she asked him, still clutching his hands.
"No, Ma'am, I do not," he answered, "I never gave being a parent much thought and frankly, I don't know that I would be very good at it."
"John, if you ever do have children, hug them every day and tell them how much you love them," she lectured as she gripped his hands tighter, "and I pray that you never have to feel the pain we feel right now...or anyone for that matter."
He just looked into her face and calmly replied, "Nor do I."

She then looked at him with a weak smile, acknowledging his wife at his side, "And don't sell yourself short, John, I think you would be an excellent parent." She again acknowledge Midori, "both of you would when you decide you are ready for it. Just remember my advice."

"I will," softly replied John, "I will." She then gave a final smile through her damp face, turned and walked to her grieving husband. Without another word, John put his arm out, which Midori took, and they walked away, leaving the grieving parents time alone at the coffin of their son, Gregory.

*more to come*

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