Thicker than water.
I've often challenged common proverbs in my older articles. But there is one proverb that actually holds up.
Blood is thicker than water.
The earliest record of this proverb is from a 12th century German Epic Reinhard Fuchs (Reynard the Fox) by Heinrich der Glicherzare. The exact part of the manuscript reads ouch hoer ich sagen, das sippe blůt von wazzere niht verdirbe, which means in English "I also hear it said that kin-blood is not spilled by water."
Almost 400 years later, William Jenkyn – an imprisoned English Clergyman, gave us the modern use of the phrase in a sermon about keeping faith with family, "Blood is thicker, we say, than water. And truly, the blood of Christ beautifying any of our friends and children, should make us prefer them before those between whom and us there's only a watery relation of nature."
Basically, what William was saying, is that you should always put your family ahead of strangers. For a lot of people, the service becomes a surrogate – or in the case of someone like Dan Beckenridge or Kathryn Janeway, the actual – family. It doesn't matter if you've never met the other person or know anything about them. If they wear the same uniform, that person is your family.
It was a little after nine – and my third martini – when I finally worked up the courage to call Aki-Ojisan. I figured he might have been a little upset, but I'll confess that I wasn't ready for him to rip into me like this.
"Kirin. Just what in the hell do you think you're doing?" He said to me. There was no screaming, no shouting. But his eyes, his face. Aki was furious at me. Cold, icy fury. I wasn't afraid, but I was heartbroken. Like when your beloved uncle is scolding you for breaking something in his house.
"If you were to say these things about any Starfleet officer, I'd be angry enough. But Blackjack? That's not only insulting him, but it's insulting me. It is insulting to the honour of the service, Kirin. I won't have it."
I tried to explain – without revealing anything substantial – that nothing I was saying was a lie. We had evidence that Blackjack, the fleet's golden hero, was as dirty as the blood on his hands. Aki waved me off.
"I won't believe a word of it, not until you produce some actual evidence, and who it was that provided this information to you. And if you continue to tarnish the reputation of one of my officers in public, not only will your Starfleet press credentials be revoked forever, but I'll also see to it personally that your career is finished!"
I've known Aki for nearly 20 years. I consider him closer than a blood relation. But was putting me into a rough spot. Protect my future? Or protect my source? So, I tried to strike a middle ground.
My source isn't ready to come forward. But I can arrange a meeting, with you and only you. You can bring whatever you need to verify his data. But ill warn you right now, I have Fed-Sec and Marine protection watching over me. If you try anything or try to set me up, this won't end well for anyone.
Aki sighed. He knew when he was beat, as any good manager of personalities does. "Agreed. I presume you will arrange a neutral location for this meeting. Contact me again with the location."
That was the easy part. The hard part would be convincing the Source to go along. And it seemed like he could read my mind along with my mail.
Unknown User has added you to the chat. Say hi!
Unknown User: The stories have been great, and the blue sequin dress really works. I wasn't expecting the bar fights to get as bad as they are.
KT: It's a natural reaction. Listen, you probably know that I'm close to the CNC of the fleet, yeah?
Unknown User: Nakamura's a good man. I had a feeling this was coming. Let me guess, he wants me to come in?
KT: Good guess.
Unknown User: That's… really not a good idea. I've gone way out on a limb as it is. Blackjack has a long reach. If he gets even a sniff, I'm dead.
KT: I explained all that to Aki. And, as much as you piss me off with the endless mystery, a reporter never reveals her source. I wasn't going to hang you out to dry.
KT: This is the deal. I'll arrange a neutral site through my cop buddy. Aki wants to meet you and verify your data. He'll come alone, and unarmed. You'll probably have to do the same. Sound good?
Unknown User: One more thing.
KT: ?
Unknown User: You won't be at the meeting either.
It took everything in me not to throw my terminal into the wall. I stepped away for ten minutes before I finally calmed myself down, slightly.
Unknown User: You there?
KT: WTF? I have to miss the best part and don't get to figure out who you are?
Unknown User: Its for the best. Once I've laid out everything to Aki, I've got no more cards to play, and no more insurance. I'll have to disappear for a while, maybe for good. And to keep myself, and you, safe, you can't ever know who I am.
KT: I want to be mad, but I'm actually more disappointed. I don't get to see how the story ends.
Unknown User: Actually, you do. Because you'll be there when they finally catch that SOB Blackjack. And you'll be there when he stands trial, and you'll be there when he gets sentenced to pattern displacement for high treason.
Unknown User: Just promise you'll publish it so I can follow along?
KT: I promise. You gonna be ok? And do I at least get a name?
Unknown User: Remember day 1? No names. I'll be okay. I'm used to running, so I'm pretty good at it. I guess… this is goodbye.
KT: Goodbye.
Unknown User: One more thing. Don't forget to look up.
Unknown User has logged off.
The digital age is a very strange age. How can you develop an attachment to someone that you've never met? That you know absolutely nothing about. Not even their name. For all I knew, I had spent six months talking to a computer program, or one of Susan's AI ghosts. And I wouldn't have known any better. In the year since everything happened, I have never learned anything about The Source, and anyone at that meeting have sworn themselves to secrecy.
But sometimes, even in my profession, faith is better than fact. And I choose to believe that the Source, whoever he, or she, or they, or it, was, was a good person, that did the right thing by cutting out a cancer that had poisoned the very soul of the Federation. And I also choose to believe that one day, it'll be safe for you to come out.
So, Source, because I know you're reading this. You still owe me dinner at the River Café.
─•~:~•─
