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The funeral service was Kirk's idea. While McCoy had assisted him with a few items, he had done most of the work himself. He also personally notified a number of people about the service. Surprisingly, a substantial number of them showed up. Actually, word had spread and, while several of those who had received the original invitation could not make it, the number of attendees remained high.
That was good as there was no family and no friends; only those Kirk had invited. The man's wife had died years earlier and there weren't any children. Relatives could not be located, no matter how hard Kirk had tried. It was as if the man had just suddenly appeared from thin air. There were no records regarding a home town, no schools, no childhood friends... nothing. Kirk had tried every available source for information. Even Starfleet Intelligence could find no references of his early years.
That being the case, there was also no way to locate a family plot or an appropriate final resting place. Therefore Kirk chose one for him, in Riverside, Iowa; the Kirk family section of the town's cemetery.
The memorial service was simple and brief but it was sincere and well done. As the Starfleet Chaplain spoke, Kirk noted with a deep satisfaction from those who were present. Besides himself and Doctor McCoy: Uhura, Riley, Rand, Sulu, Kyle, Chapel, Rodriguez, Kensington, Tek and a very special surprise, Admiral Walking Bear.
At the graveside service, a few late arrivals showed: Scotty, DeSalle, Manusos, Sharpe and a few of the ensigns who had been on the rescue mission. Kirk was very surprised to see them, and grateful for their presence.
Following the graveside service, Uhura, Rand and Chapel each placed a single rose on the coffin. The group of mourners remained a few moments to talk to each other. As a light rain began to fall, they slowly began to move off.
Kirk, oblivious to the rain, remained and stared at the coffin, wondering about the man they had just honored. The headstone that Kirk had arranged for, had the name of Harcourt Fenton Mudd engraved on the face, but exactly who he was and, after so many wrong things, why did he do one right thing? So much of a right thing that it saved Kirk and Rodriguez; potentially more had circumstances been different.
Mudd's days, as a spy of sorts, were spent mostly doing what he had always done, selling his wares and running Romulan ale across the Neutral Zone. Then, almost as a side note, just report what he had seen or heard. That was supposed to get him out of trouble. But he had placed himself in danger somehow. Perhaps he had made an effort to learn more which, no doubt, aroused suspicion. No one was exactly sure what had transpired. There was no profit in it and, had he ignored the captive's issue, he could have concluded his visit on Romulus in the usual manner. His arrangement with Starfleet Intelligence would have been finished and he could have returned to the Federation with a clean record.
Why did he do it?
Kirk shook his head, he would never have the answer to that question. Nothing in the man's ship or logbook, or on him, personally, indicated why he had done what he did. Kirk had watched the visual record of Harry's death bed revelation many times, hoping to find an answer, but couldn't find it there either.
Suddenly, Kirk became aware of people standing close to him and turned to see Uhura and Scott. Uhura was still emotional and Scotty was doing his best to comfort her.
"Are you about ready to go, Jim? The Starfleet shuttle needs to get back to Headquarters." McCoy had also appeared and was trying not to disturb his friend, but Kirk's standing in the rain would not help his recovery prospects. Besides, time and Starfleet schedules marched on.
"Yeah, Bones, I was just trying to figure out why he did it. If he hadn't, I would have spent the rest of my life in a living hell. I'll never forget him for getting me out of there."
McCoy stepped closer, trying to usher his friend towards the shuttle. "Whatever the reason, Jim, he finally did something admirable. What don't you leave it at that? You've more than repaid him with a decent funeral and a final resting place, with honor. Could be that's what he wanted all along; a chance of redemption after a life of causing misery and mayhem."
Kirk turned to face his friend and smiled, nodding in agreement. "Just wish I could have thanked him... personally."
McCoy put his hand on Kirk's shoulder. "He probably would have preferred it this way, to save him a lot of embarrassment."
"I suppose you're right, Bones; let's go!"
As he turned to leave, Kirk checked the wording on the dark granite headstone, one last time.
HARCOURT FENTON MUDD
"A friend of incalculable measure."
Quietly, Kirk spoke to Mudd, "Don't try to sell Saint Peter any fake patents, you old flim flam or he may send you somewhere... else."
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© 2024 Brad McDonald / U.S.S. Kitty Hawk
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