You are free, truly free

Posted on Sat Oct 3rd, 2026 @ 6:07am by Technician Tahlina Yanez-Tahli

437 words; about a 2 minute read

Mission: Home Waters
Location: Cargo Bay

Tahlina was staying busy as she listened to the speech. Honestly, like Decker, she never saw herself as a Maquis or a child of the DMZ; she needed a home, and the DMZ always opened its arms. So, again, the speech did little for her; luckily, a new communique came in.

Tahlina was glad to not have a warrant hanging over her head, glad to know that if and when she chose to leave the DMZ, she wasn't being hunted. Now she was also glad for all the other surviving Maquis, and that the people and children of the DMZ could live without fear of being eradicated, just because of where they lived.

"... so, you are free, for the first time in your life truly free. What are you going to do with this incredible gift?" An almost smug-sounding male voice asked.

Tahlina looked around and saw a man walk into the cargo hold. She vaguely recognized him, remembering being told he was some kind of mission advisor. "Excuse me?"

"The pardon clears everything- well, everything related to your actions and activities during your time here, which oddly does cover some of your Earth Cargo years." The man said, walking over to a crate and leaning against it as he watched her.

Tahlina didn't know how he knew this, and she didn't want to know, and on some level didn't also care that he knew. Tahlina shrugged. "Probably sticking around the DMZ has been good to me; hell, Aleshanee has been good to me." She said, not sure why this man needed to know.

The man smiled. "I think that is a good choice. Your skill set will be invaluable to your captain, and to the CDF and DCF as a whole. Don't take this for granted; realize that you are needed and important and not taken for granted." The man said, making it clear why he came down here and why he was speaking to her. "Just keep that in mind." He said before turning and walking out, leaving Tahlina a bit shocked.

Tahlina was indeed left in shock. No one, not even Aleshanee, had ever really, truly said what he said. And it wasn't on purpose; everyone else just didn't see that she needed to hear it, that she didn't know she needed it said, and that she needed to hear it in that moment.

Tahlina stood there. She didn't know how long she stood there, but she finally snapped back to the present and went back to what she was about to do before the message, and the man came and spoke to her.

 

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