Henry's Confession (Part 2)

Posted on Fri Oct 16th, 2026 @ 4:12am by Ensign Henry Taylor & Tessa di'Orion

1,386 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Interim 3: Subspace Drift
Location: Henry's Quarters

As the transporter released him, Henry looked around. Homeworth, Ohio wasn’t the kind of place that changed much with time, and coming home on his first break from the Academy, it definitely hadn’t changed at all.

He shouldered his duffel and looked around the town square where he’d been left. Some people had stopped and looked to see who’d be transporting to their town, then waved when they recognized him. He waved back and smiled at them, turning and walking towards the street, waiting for his ride.

With a town of less than five hundred, Homeworth was the embodiment of “everybody knows everybody.” All of his extended family lived elsewhere, but his siblings and his father were still there.

Henry walked around the main street, looking in the shops, seeing what had changed for the fall. The chill in the air hit the back of his neck, although he was fairly comfortable in a heavy sweater and jeans. He was glad he hadn’t worn his cadet uniform. Being stared at for beaming in was bad enough, and being recognized was another thing, but his cadent uniform would have him standing out like a sore thumb.

He finally reached the mechanic’s shop and stepped inside the office, an old-fashioned physical bell ringing. The red-headed girl looked up from behind the reception desk and gave him a bright smile. “Hey, Henry!”

Henry smiled back. “Hey, Jess.” She was only a couple years older than he was, and in a town where everyone knew everyone, it was impossible for them not to know each other. Still, they hadn’t ever interacted much back in school. She was one of the “cool kids” and he was…well he was the rule-stickler that the other kids avoided so he wouldn’t rat them out. Still, he appreciated that she treated him with a friendly attitude, now that she was married to his older brother.

“I’ll let Stevie know you’re here,” she said. Henry nodded and smiled. She was the only person who got away with calling him “Stevie.”

Henry sat down in a chair, watching through the large bay windows at the hovercars being serviced. Steve wasn’t the most creative, and he wasn’t the most intellectual, but he knew his trade, and he kept the town moving.

“Mister Starfleet has returned,” Steve said, coming out of the work bay to share some sarcasm. “How come you’re honoring us with your presence now? You here about Mary?”

Henry suppressed the rebuttal he was about to toss at the mention of his sister’s name. “Yeah…she sent me a message saying she had a problem and needed my help. What’s going on?”

“She got herself in trouble. Dad’s furious. What else is new?” Steve said, crossing his arms.

Henry sighed. “All right. Think you could give me a ride home?”

“I have an actual job to do, Henry. If you want a ride, you’re waiting until I’m done,” Steve said, annoyed.

Jess looked over. “Stevie, why don’t I give him a ride. It’ll only take a few minutes and we’re pretty quiet here.”

Steve looked at his wife and wanted to argue, but she was one of the few people he didn’t mouth off to. “All right,” he said.

Henry gave her a nod. “Thanks, Jess.”

Jess gave him her usual kind smile in response. For all the rough edges his brother had, she was the opposite, all kindness and compassion. Henry assumed that’s how their relationship worked; opposites attracted, after all. Henry followed her out to her hovercar and got in, wondering what going home had in store for him.



Henry opened the front door of his family’s house and stepped inside, looking around. Homeworth, Ohio wasn’t known for its luxury accommodations, but they were lucky enough to have a house large enough to accommodate three children who all wanted their own room.

He tried walking quietly down the hall. Years of practice had taught him which floorboards squeaked the loudest, which door handles jiggled and where to step without being seen from his father’s office. He didn’t consider, however, that his father would be coming out of the kitchen, glass of water in hand, and catch him sneaking through.

“Henry,” his father said, sounding stern. “Why are you home from school?”

“Dad, it’s Starfleet Academy, not ‘school’,” Henry said. “And I had a weekend off, so I thought I would visit.”

His father looked him over and sighed. “Henry, I’ve told you before: don’t try to lie; you aren’t good at it.”

Henry nodded, looking down, ashamed. “Yes, Sir.”

“You’re here because you heard about your sister,” his father surmised. When Henry nodded confirmation, his father huffed. “Well, maybe you can talk some sense into her.” He gave Henry’s shoulder a pat. “I have depositions to read through, but we’ll talk tonight. In the meantime,” he glanced upstairs. “Good luck with her. She’s locked herself in her room, and refuses to respond to anyone.”

Henry looked up at the landing as his father returned to his office. He sighed and walked up the stairs quickly. As his head emerged to the second floor he could hear the loud music coming from his sister’s room and her voice singing along. When she was deep into a song, he knew she wouldn’t be listening for a knock, so he didn’t bother. Instead, he walked right past his sister’s door to his own room and stepped inside.

He wondered if it would feel weird walking into his childhood bedroom after being away for months, but it was exactly how he’d left it. That said, it wasn’t quite brimming with nostalgia. His awards from school sat in a neat row on his shelf and his guitars, banjo and even his old ukulele were lined up neatly in their cases. His favorite books were still right where he’d left them, and his desk still had papers from his last high school assignment. He was somewhat bothered to see his photo of his ex-girlfriend, Ashleigh, still on his desk. He pushed it unceremoniously into his waste bin. Next to his bed was his one indulgence: a large, squishy bean-bag chair. It was perfect to recline and play music in, or read in, or relax in. It was one of the few things that had given him comfort in the last few years and he was glad his father hadn’t gotten rid of it.

He dropped his duffel on his chair and walked over to his closet, opening the door and grabbing several shirts and pants on hangers, shoving them to one side. His closet wasn’t “walk in” per se, but it had a deep recess sideways into the wall. Henry felt around on the wall and found a switch deep inside the closet. He had installed it years ago when he was taking an electrical course elective in secondary school. It was their signal. Somewhere in Mary’s room, a lamp was turning on and off, letting her know he was there.

He turned back to his room, grabbed his guitar from its case and dropped into his beanbag chair, getting comfortable almost immediately and letting out a long sigh as he strummed a few chords, muscle memory kicking in immediately.

A moment later, the music ended and he heard a thump from his closet, followed by a shuffling sound, and then Mary stepped out, having snuck through the false wall panel that was between their two closets. She walked over to Henry, and threw herself onto the bag next to him, hugging him tightly.

Henry put his instrument down and hugged her back tightly. They sat there, holding each other for a moment, Henry listening to her sniffle and cry.

“Thanks for coming home,” Mary said after a few minutes of silence. “I really needed you here.”

“Well, fortunately I had a weekend where I didn’t have much work to do,” Henry said. “But what’s going on, Mary?”

Mary sat a moment more before choking out two words. “I’m pregnant.”

TBC

 

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