Chapter Six
"It's The Hope that Kills You"
Xeufian Starship
X.Y.S.S. Benbow
3rd Generation Exploration Class
Galena barely had to encourage Thad.
He happily threw himself into deciphering the bane and quickly managed to surmise the meaning of two- five- eight symbols using his theatras-ag notes and files on observed Gamma Quadrant cultures. A lot of the information expressed in Lee's databanks used Federation language, so though Thad did not waste time trying to explain the finer details of Lee's studies, he spent hours laying out his investigation for the mechanical man sitting across from him.
First, he searched the database for similar-looking symbols/runes and followed the etymology of the word "bane".
When he identified cultures and languages which used more than one similar symbol or rune, then he began to study those culture's boarder etymologies, going back centuries, even millenniums, crossing countries, continents, digging up, from lightyears away, long-extinct peoples who'd once occupied this planet or that. Until he was able to confidently (and within a margin of error) assign a meaning or sound to the twelve etchings on the dodecahedron.
After two weeks, some of Thad's meddling produced a click sound within the bane. He thought he'd broken it (Thad had accidentally broken a few things throughout his life, especially during his early teenage years as his strength changed) until layers of blue light began to spill out, unveiling a mirror-faced octahedron within.
He studied "bane" and the different meanings the word carried across worlds. Spelled differently or long forgotten, the term was used across the quadrant, but there was only one interpretation that Thad focused on:
In an old, distorted audio recording from some of Lee's earliest expeditions, the word was used in a conversation. In a later transcription, Lee noted it meant "follow".
His study of the bane elated Thad, giving him a drive he hadn't experienced in a long time. So much of his recent memories and trials were focused on survival, on getting from A to B with as little trouble as possible, making sure his siblings were safe and no worse for wear.
The poor boy, he enjoyed what he was doing. It brightened his smile, put a skip in his step, and allowed him to look off into the future optimistically. Sure, the path behind him was dark, but that didn't mean the road ahead of him had to be too.
Aksukia was his answer to everything.
It seemed so simple. And he convinced himself it would be.
Except -
It's the hope that kills you.
As powerful and as crucial as hope is to life, it cannot be the sole method of survival. Success in such things as life requires action, attention, and implementation.
Carmen was acting within the crew, tending to their wounds, singing their shanties, and gathering tidbits of detail that were influential to their trip.
Simon paid attention to the ever-still and yet ever-changing details of the ship. The wind did not change without him knowing, even when he hid in the lower decks of the ship with Bas.
Kestra implemented their plans, preparing contingencies while also repairing the Benbow, trying to ensure safe passage to Betazed. Or, at the very least, a safe escape.
Thad, the thoughtful idealist that he was, hoped.
And he was entitled to his hope, which was why none of his siblings complained when he burnt out a few precious lightbulbs leaning over his research deep into the night or crowded the floor of their cabin with paper and padd tablets, or paint marked one of the walls with his notes.
It made him happy.
The hope that Aksukia would provide them with everything they needed.
That they were making friends and starting up the best chapter of their lives.
The hope that wounds would be healed, troubles and nightmares forgotten. That nothing could stand to get in their way now.
The hope that they would be safe.