Harbor's Embrace

Novgorod Station > Shuttle Bay
Povel finally was able to get a glass filled with water and break away from the onslaught. He had been continually congratulated by one person after another regarding the achievement of the new synthetic. In between handshakes and small talk, reporters would commandeer his time.

Barrages of questions about the new technology, the Nomad and his role were relentlessly hurled at him. He answered truthfully, kindly and cryptically. Much of what they wanted to know was proprietary and creative property of BMI… or himself… and he couldn’t divulge such answers. He gave them enough to not really give them anything.

Finally, he was left alone now that he successfully made his way to the edge of the party. The reporters and dignitaries had more important and interesting people to pursue now; the synthetic being one of them. As he stood there alone, people-watching briefly, while enjoying the refreshing beverage, Povel let himself relax and enjoy the sight of the Nomad sparkling.

It was a beautiful sight. It was going to be home. It was not lost on Povel though that all the pageantry and celebration was masking the unspoken truth that what they were about to embark on was going to entail a lot of risk. It would be wiser not to go; safer, more certain and more comfortable.

Povel’s thoughts drifted as he stared at the glittering and majestic sight of the Nomad. He was alone, despite being surrounded by many. He was in mourning, despite surrounded by celebration. A song, he had written prior to this day, came forth from his lips. It was but a whisper from his lips, but a clamor in his mind.

Povel sang:

“In the harbor's embrace, where shadows linger,
A love once held, slipping through my fingers.
Grief's heavy anchor, pulls my soul ashore,
Yet whispers of a voyage, beg me to explore.

For a ship is safe in the harbor's keep,
But my heart yearns for oceans deep.
To chase the stars in the vast unknown,
I'll navigate the waves, to find you alone.

In the midnight sea, where memories dance,
I'll set sail, take a chance.
A lighthouse of hope guides my weary way,
Through stormy seas, where emotions sway.

For a ship is safe in the harbor's keep,
But my heart yearns for oceans deep.
To chase the stars in the vast unknown,
I'll navigate the waves, to find you alone.

Waves of sorrow may try to pull me under,
But love's compass guides, a beacon of thunder.
In the adventurer’s chair, with a heart untamed,
I'll brave the tempest, never to be named.

On this ship of dreams, where courage ignites,
I'll chart a course through endless nights.
Lost in the echoes of your tender goodbye,
I'll sail through tears, beneath the open sky.

For a ship is safe in the harbor's keep,
But my heart yearns for oceans deep.
To chase the stars in the vast unknown,
I'll navigate the waves, to find you alone.

So, here I stand, on the ship of fate,
Leaving the harbor, where grief abates.
In the voyage of love, uncharted and free,
I sail to find you, across the endless sea.”

As he came to a close, he could feel a tear trailing down his face. Despite trying to contain it, the rebellious emotion slipped past his constructed facade. He let it dry on his face. Then he stood and his glass of water kept him company as his thoughts slipped into the uncertainty of tomorrow.

At that moment, a warm hand clapped down on his shoulder.

“She’s a beauty, eh, Mr. Vieregg?”came the voice of Captain Yoshida, who now stood beside Povel and sipped his champagne with a sigh of pride. It wasn’t clear whether he was referring to the ship, or the new synthetic.

Yoshida could feel Povel tense, as if startled, beneath his hand and fabric. He had drifted off into thoughts and the sudden contact snapped him back to reality. He turned to create a more manageable spacing and orientation for a conversation with the captain. “Yes Sir. Takes your breath away if you let her.” It was also unclear which he was talking about.

Both hands, a collaborative effort of man and machine, held his half filled glass of water. He then transferred it completely to his prosthetic hand, in case he needed to make use of his dominant right hand in any way.

Yoshida went for a handshake. “Congratulations. I’m proud to have you on the team.” He leaned in, “I don’t know what it is. Nerves... Trauma... But I can tell something is weighing on you, son. And I’ll trust, for now that I don’t need to know… I’ll let our medic sort you out, but for now… you are going to put that shit behind you, and come over for a toast, and a photo. That’s an order. Wakaru?” he ended with a shrewd command. Povel didn’t have to know Japanese to understand that last word {Understand?}.

Povel’s handshake was stronger than you would expect from someone in his line of work. He looked down at the captain, not negatively, but literally. His Finnish ancestry made him tall.

“Thank you sir. Understood sir.” Povel wasn’t the least bit phased from the sudden turn from kind to stern in the captain. He had been in the military for nine years and had been subject to way worse on a pretty consistent basis. In fact, it felt a little familiar amidst the foreign feeling of the launch party.

Povel pulled himself together and took point to head back to the epicenter of the celebration. He would be glad when these proceedings were done and they were finally on their way so he could get to work on why they hired him.

“Atta boy.” chuckled the captain, gently turning Vieregg with a hand on his upper back, repositioning them to return to the launch party.

He was tempted to swap out Vieregg’s champagne flute for a full one as they passed a tray table, if not just to ease his mind, but who was he to knock someone’s sense of pleasure or sobriety. Besides, he knew there were better ways to cope with the struggles within one’s mind.