Nijil tr'Korjata

Little Hazel Eyes - Amanda and Nijil The shipyard wasn’t made to live in, but it was much better than living on several ships and it was comfortable enough. Because it was of Romulan construction, the amenities were sparse, but everyone seemed to be making do. Amanda had taken a few things that were dear to her, like her tea and tea set, two comfortable chairs, and some of the decorative trappings from her informal office on Aegis. The rest she put in storage. In her off-hours the counselor wandered the hallways to get some exercise and to interact informally with the crew. Every household move is traumatic, but it seemed that for the most part the excitement of having a new station - or a fairly new station - overshadowed any regret at having to leave. It was during a morning constitutional that Amanda spotted Nijil coming in the opposite direction and greeted him with a cheery, “Nijil! How are you?” “Oh,” he began, startled. “Jolan tru Doctor. I’m...elements, what am I doing? Oh, making sure this section is secure for the number of people who will occupy it. I’m just happy to get back to work.” He grimaced as he closed the file displayed on his padd. “And it’s good to see you back to work. How are Jylliene and Annisha?” His eyes dilated a bit at their mention. “They are fine. Jylliene is busy as ever and Annisha is packing her things with care. She has more things than both of us.” A smile formed on his weary face. “She’s taking this move better than any of us.” “To me, it’s exciting,” said Amanda. “When we return we’ll have a new, sturdy, and safer place to live, and knowing Captain Chirakis and Mr. Roberts, it will be first rate.” “Chirakis. Right.” Hearing the name shook his confidence. “Engineering will have much to do regardless of the condition.” Something moved behind Dr. Davis. He peered around the corner and spotted Annisha. “Go,” he mouthed, waving her off. Amanda turned to look, then turned back, puzzled. “Nijil,” she said hesitantly, “I need a good cup of tea, and I certainly would enjoy your company. Won’t you join me?” “Sure, I could use a break. I think she’s gone now. My daughter has been following me around all day. I had to shoo her off.” Nijil looked around, unsure where they were having this tea. His daughter popped her tiny head from behind a crate. He held up a finger. “Annisha! Go to your quarters.” “Annisha,” Amanda turned to the empty corridor, “your father needs a break. I’m sure you don’t mind, do you?” She turned back to Nijil. “See, she’s on her way. She knows when we need our space.” Taking Nijil’s arm, the counselor led him to the lift and on to her meager quarters-cum-office. “You think I would know where I am going,” he shrugged. Fifteen minutes later they had settled into Amanda’s cozy area, tea tray on a small table and fresh warm scones next to freshly poured tea. Handing a cup to Nijil, she took hers and snuggled into the cushions, took a sip and began the conversation. “Nijil, why do you think Annisha follows you around everywhere?” “I think she’s worried about me after I scared her to death,” he answered, taking a drink of the hot tea. The pastry looked good, so he bit into it as well. “I told her of my dreams, how she played a part. She was tickled.” Nijil paused, then started again. “That was days ago. Now she just follows me around while I work. Not saying a word.” Amanda continued to sip while Nijil talked. When his pause reached a comfortable level she said, “The attack on the station was traumatic for everyone, Nijil. Because of your injury it was especially traumatic for you, your family, and your friends. Children and adults react to trauma differently. Annisha almost lost her father; she’s bound to be protective.” Amanda paused to regard Nijil in a pleasant, casual manner, but her tone was suggestive. “Adults, on the other hand, may pretend that the event was not as traumatic as they previously thought. Others will form a mental block and not remember it at all. And some… will dismiss it, tell themselves that they can take care of it alone, and try to carry on business as usual.” She moved forward to pour more tea. “Which category do you believe you are in, Nijil?” “Well, I have been through scraps like this before. I once fell down a hill and had my hand nearly crippled. A few more from my youth. I don’t see how this was any different. Like before, if I just get back to work I should pull through.” Nijil had to stop to catch his breath, and to bite more of the scone. “Nijil,” Amanda slowly set her cup on the table, “there was no one in the corridor when you spoke to Annisha.” He gave her a puzzled look. “You are mistaken. I clearly saw her around the corner, like many of the corners she peers around. I shooed her off before you caught sight of her.” “Oh, I have no doubt you saw her, but I assure you she was not there. She is in Emberly Rassiton’s art class, where I left her.” “Wait, let me call her and prove to you.” Nijil tapped his badge. “Nijil to Annisha, this is your father.” “Daddy are you okay? If not I can’t leave yet 'cause my fingers have paint on them.” “I’m fine Annisha. Weren’t you just watching me? I shooed you off not half an hour ago.” “Daddy, you are funny. I’ve been here all day.” “I’m working. Are you sure?” Nijil felt a sinking a feeling in his stomach. “Yes daddy. Can I go back to painting?” “Sure, I will see you at dinner.” The channel closed. He turned his attention to the doctor. “I owe you an apology. I saw her, but not her.” “Nijil, the mind is a powerful thing,” began Amanda. “You saw her because your mind told you she was there, and you may see her again until your mind learns to deal with the trauma you have been through.” Over the course of the next hour Amanda explained Situational Post Traumatic Stress, why it happens, what it triggers in the brain, how the brain uses the trigger to protect the body, and how those affected can learn to cope. "It's normal,” said Amanda. “It's your brain trying to make sense of things it does not understand and it is your brain's way of protecting you so it doesn't happen again." “Doctor,” Nijil said with care. “I can’t work if I’m hallucinating. There’s no telling what I may see next. How do I rid myself of this?” “It’s not a matter of ridding, Nijil, it’s a matter of coping. But we will have to speak to SubCommander Jorahl and get his approval before you go back to work. If we have regular sessions you can learn to cope. However,” she paused in a cautionary tone, “there is one condition for my services.” “Yes?” “If you agree to not call me Doctor, I promise I won’t call you SubCommander.” “Agreed Doc.. Davis, Amanda, Amanda Davis?” “Amanda will do,” she laughed. “Now off with you until tomorrow - or until you need me in an emergency. And take some scones to Jylliene and Annisha. They love them.”

Ihhuein (Water) “Oof!” Nijil fell flat on his back, wind knocked out of him. A throbbing pain from head to toe. He should be dead and it should be dark. Neither was true. Quite alive and sun brightened. Just after midday from the looks of it. Not a space station access shaft either. The gentle sound of the surf greeted Nijil’s ears. A hand extended into his view. “You should have walked around the rock and not over.” A warm smile fell over Jylliene as she helped Nijil up. “I think you fall to make our daughter laugh and it is she who will have the last laugh if you keep this up.” “You are right,” he said with a chuckle. She kept her hand in his and resumed their walk back to the shuttle Nei’rrh at the far end of the beach. Annisha darted ahead, playing between water and sand. She laughed as she jumped over the incoming waves. “She must think I’m a clumsy goof.” “E’lev, she adores you.” Jylliene’s eyes glistened as the light danced off the waves. Nijil met his with hers, and drew a non-Rihan smile. She clutched his hand as she drew closer to him. “I adore you as well, goofs and all. And take no offense, I never imagined bonding with a Romulan, but then there may be none like yourself.” She smiled. “None that cried at their own bonding.” Nijil poked her side in jest. “For how long are you going to have me relive that part of the ceremony?” “Anniversaries, dinner parties, and moments with complete strangers.” “Great...” he mused, rolling his eyes while keeping them on Annisha. “I'm only teasing. Besides, half the station crew knows now already.” This was true, whether Jylliene joked or not. She looked down as she laughed. “The water is deeper here, head up the shore a bit.” She pointed and released his hand. “I had not even noticed, but you are right.” He took her advice and walked where the waves met the sand, but yet this put them off course for the shuttle. Annisha walked to the Nei'rrh as her father directed, but found the water up to her waist. “Annisha,” he yelled. “Head toward the shallow.” He peered at Jylliene, whose earlier expression of happiness turned to puzzlement. Nijil reached out his hand to pull her to shore. “E’lev, have you ever seen waves like this? The ebb and flow is too rapid.” Her eyes scanned the scene for an explanation. The sun hung high in the sky, only a few clouds on the horizon. A perfect day on the beach, but the ocean betrayed reality. “I have visited many beaches, but this does not look right.” The unnaturalness of the water stirred deep feelings in his stomach. It reminded him of a containment breakdown on a Romulan engine core. The frequency increases to compensate for the rising energy output until... Nijil swallowed hard. He knew where he had seen an occurrence like this before, a Rihan engine core going critical. “Annisha! Run to the shuttle! Get inside now!” He started to run, keeping Jylliene in tow. She ran before she spoke. “What’s wrong? Why are we running?” Her voice was frantic. They ran. “Nijil!” “The water will soon consume us. The entire shoreline will retreat into the ocean.” His voice shook as he ran harder. “We must get to the Nei’rrh.” He used his free hand to shade, seeing his daughter struggling ahead. The water now reached Annisha’s chest. “Swim onto the ramp and get in! Start the engines!” The water started to rise at each incoming wave. Hand in hand Nijil and Jylliene ran toward the shuttlecraft. The nose dipped into the ocean as the waves crashed into the shore. Their daughter had climbed her way in, disappearing inside. “Go! Go Jylline!” he exclaimed. Running became impossible as the water greeted their midsections. They released their hold on each other to keep their arms free. “It’s too deep,” Jylliene cried out. “I know, we are going to have to swim like Annisha did.” They looked at each other for what felt like the last time. He nodded. She dived under. The rapidity of the waves kept her close to the shore. Once he saw her swimming toward the shuttle he took his chance. The waves slammed him on the left, then the right, then the left again. Back and forth it pounded at his sides. He swam with all his strength, hoping his effort was rewarded. A minute passed and he reached the limits holding his breath. He needed air. One final stroke, one last kick and...he hit metal. He had touched a stair and searched for the railing. Something grabbed his wrist before finding the railing. Nijil popped his head out of the water. The something was Jylliene. “Come on, the water is rising!” She pulled him to his feet and placed his hand on the railing. The waves crashed hard onto the Nei’rrh, splashing them both. “Get in there, I’m right behind you,” the soaked engineer said. She nodded and turned to enter the shuttle. He righted himself, using all his remaining energy to get to safety. He leapt through the door, only to fall onto hard rock. Okhala (Fire) “Jylliene!” His calls echoed into a never-ending void. The shuttle was no more. He turned around. No shoreline. No open spaces, no touch of her hand in his. Where she once was now lay a narrow winding cavern. Bits of light lined its walls as far as Nijil could see. A warmth crawled up his back as he looked in vain for his e’lev. As the temperature against his skin rose, he turned back around. He trod hesitantly in the only direction available. The cavern opened up to spires stretching from top to bottom far into the distance. From the searing flame within the Fire Caves of Bajor emerged a familiar figure - tall, sinewy, and threatening. As the shadows dissipated, the figure took on an ominous glow and its chiseled features slowly took shape. “Captain?” Nijil asked, fearful of the answer. “SubCommander,” the being replied, her voice deep above the deafening roar of flames. Its taunting, haunting echo summoned every mistake he had ever made. “I've been waiting for you. Areinnye has been waiting for you.” She paused in leering contempt. “Your life is mine, and the time has come to pay your debts.” Flames licked at her back, eddied around her cape, then moved to singe his body in a savage caress as she began a slow, haughty pace around him. He started to reel back in horror. “What? This can't be!” Fear coursed through him. A sickening feeling started in the pit of his stomach. The searing heat across his skin. The putrid smell attacking his senses. “None,” he stuttered. ”None of this can be real.” “Oh? Why not real? You reap what you sow, SubCommander. You have sown death, and the terror of impending doom. You cowered when the KraH'kHn attacked the station. Your shuttle entered Aegis space under cloak and almost took your worthless, pitiful life along with that of your future family and the helpless Romulan child you so easily gave up to slavery.” “I did not know she was heading for that life. I would never send any child into that hell.” The rumble of the flames grew. He spoke louder and with greater force. “I went back for her, and would have even against the Captain’s orders. There was just cause for approaching the station under stealth. Besides, I could have avoided the stations defenses.” If fire was in his eyes, the flames around him hid them. “SubCommander,” she leaned close, her sulfurous breath clogging his nostrils, “You are a weak, pathetic dog who dares to call himself a Romulan… not worthy of grief... or even remembrance. Your time has come, and no one will mourn.” “No one?” he questioned. “How would you know? None from my e’lev, none from my daughter...to say nothing of my parents?” He locked eyes with hers. "It was due to my efforts that they along with my sister and unborn nephew escaped the Great Fire. It was my old shuttle they rode to safety. You can’t say they will not weep for my passing." He held his ground. "You lie when you say no one mourns for Nijil tr'Korjata." "We will see about that!" With a shriek of maniacal laughter her hand shot through his chest, shaking him violently. She began separating his body from his soul. “Ahhhrgahhahhaa!” Nijil cried out as if a dagger drove deep into his heart. He fought to pull away. Life, such as it had been, started to fall away. Images of those he loved filled his slowly fading mind, only to die a horrible death in front of him. Flesh from bone ripped by gamma radiation, drowned bodies floating motionlessly in the ocean, fire consuming them from head to toe as they screamed and others being blown into the empty cold void of space. Death infused itself upon his mind. Nijil’s body collapsed due to the intense weight of what he witnessed.

Avilh (Earth) Sunlight. Bright sunlight. Nijil stood, shielding his eyes. It must be close to noon given the position of the sun. As he brought his gaze down, he spied a tall spire a short walk away. Buildings of various sizes surrounded it. Something about all this was quite familiar. He walked toward the structures. The wind blew softly against his face as the dirt squished beneath his feet. Pollen filled the air with the smells of early spring. The weather, all told, was perfect, save for a lonely cloud in the distance. Down the worn path he walked, feeling years younger. The place appeared bereft of people, but why could he not remember anything? The path declined to a round patch surrounding the spire that towered over the rest of the buildings for a purpose he could not determine. Looking up from its base did not help. “Jolan tru Daddy,” a tiny feminine voice spoke. Nijil stepped back in surprise. “Jolan,” he stuttered. “Annisha, What are you doing here?” “Daddy, you brought me here. This is your family farm, don’t you remember? Just like you last saw it.” She gave her signature innocent smile. “It is, but this can’t be. The farm is destroyed along with most of Romulus.” “Yet we are here. You never really left, did you?” Nijil was puzzled. “You try to leave this place, but you can’t.” “Why, why can’t I leave?” He asked in earnest. “It holds many good memories for you. You needed to leave here, but were sad you did so.” She placed her hands behind her back. “If I hadn’t I would have likely died. I could not have warned my parents.” Annisha squinted. “You could not have known.” They stood silently as Nijil tried to understand. “Daddy?” “Yes Annisha?” “Do you love me?” “Why of course. You know that." “But part of you is here, holding you back. Your family was here, but they are somewhere else. You need to be somewhere else too.” A dark force of wind and dust crept up from the horizon and blew in circles around them. “What’s happening? It’s getting windy.” Annisha’s expression turned somber as she pointed behind him. “The Great Fire is coming. Look.” Nijil turned to face the oncoming wind. Dust filled the horizon. He squinted to see the dust billowing to a growing orange mass of destruction. “Can we stop the Great Fire?” He asked, stunned at its approach. “Daddy, you know we can’t. Just as it will wipe out this place so you must leave its memory behind.” The noise became a screaming force of unnatural nature. The blowing dust swirled around the buildings. The fire itself must be kilometers behind. Both stared into oncoming death. “Annisha...” “I love you daddy,” she said in a calm acceptance of what lay beyond this life. He reached out to her. “Annisha!” He yelled, sprinting to shield her. “ANNISHA!” *BANG! CRACK!* ________________ Jæih (Air) Nijil hit a railing...hard. He expected to throw Annisha to the ground, but met up with a cold, solid bar. The dust disappeared, or rather, never seemed to be here. Metal plating replaced the soft ground of Romulus beneath his feet. Wide-open spaces were now a much narrower conduit stretching vertically into the distance. A constant wind blew from above and out some presumed vent below. Nijil did not recognize this place either, but spied the words: “Level 38, Plasma Ventilation Access Shaft” above a hatch. The walls were a dark duranium. Slowly the where became clear, as if he just left this place. The why he was here remained uncertain. “SubCommander,” a voice chirped over Nijil’s comm badge. The other SubCommander: Chief Jorahl. Nijil tapped in acknowledgement. “Yes Chief?” “Anytime Mister tr’Korjata, the valve won’t shut off manually by itself.” Odd for his boss to display a sense of humor at a time like this. They all have been working hard for hours. A fleet-issue engineering kit lay as his feet. “Yes sir, right away,” he said as he bent down to grab it and climb to the next level. “You know,” Jorahl spoke once more. “I’m not even sure you were the right engineer for this job. I guess the others were doing more important tasks, saving lives, that short of thing.” “Sir?” “Oh don’t mind me SubCommander, I’m just rattling about, about one of my less skilled engineers.” Nijil could not believe what he was hearing. Jorahl, at least to his face, had not felt the need to complain. Perhaps some opinions fail to make it in official reports. Strange his Chief chose this moment to express his views. A hatch two levels above and just visible to Nijil closed shut. Nijil tapped his badge. “Chief, a hatch two levels above me just closed. I presume there’s damage to the control mechanism, can you override?” “No and no, subordinate tr’Korjata. I offer you a challenge. To prove your worth, shut off that valve in time and I may open the hatch to let you escape the heat that must be building up due to the plasma. Heck, I may even not blast that section of the pylon away to save the station.” Now he was worried. What had come over the Chief? Nijil scanned his memories for what had ticked him off so. He just couldn’t figure it. One thing appeared certain, the temperature was rising. This forced the air flow to drastically increase to keep the power plant below critical. “Ah Nijil, how about a cold glass of water.” Jorahl sarcastically offered over the comm. “How silly of me, would you like ice with that? No?” Nijil found it hard to contain his anger. “I don’t know what kind sick game you are playing here, but I’m moving as fast as I am able.” He coughed from the combination of heat and upward air. “Did Jylliene put you up to this? I played pranks on others in the war college. Very funny SubCommander. Your team gets a good laugh.” Jorahl himself gave a good laugh. “Oh this is not intended to be a laughing matter, but I’m sure the vastly more qualified engineers would approve. Tick tock Mister tr’Korjata, get to turning those valves and redirecting the searing heat from the plasma. Otherwise I’ll have to draw straws to see who cleans you up, if by some miracle there’s even a molecule of you left.” He was serious. The elements must have rid his boss of any sense of decency. The heat seemed to rise at each interruption. He did this. He had to be responsible, but how? Nijil tossed the how aside as he reached the manual access panel. “Oh Nijil,” not leaving him to his work. “If my sensors are correct you only have a few minutes. Better get those valves open.” “This is madness!” “Madness of the best kind. Chop chop,” Jorahl quipped. Nijl worked furiously, overriding the locks manually before turning the master valve. The locks stretched across the diameter of the valve, meaning any manual override took a bit of time for one man. After what seemed like eternity the locks were opened. Only the large wheel to turn the valve remained. The sweat dripped from his forehead at a rapid pace. His eyes stung. The engineer grabbed the wheel and turned as much as his fatigue allowed. He made a final tap on his communication badge to plea for his life. “SubCommander Jorahl, please vent some of this heat, the plasma pressure is reaching critical. I beg of you.” Nijil did not want to die. “Oh now you work to your potential. Too bad you chose to do so on your last engineering feat. Wait, I mean failure.” The comm remained quiet as Nijil spun the wheel. Less than twenty-five percent remained to complete the manual redirect. “Jorahl! Do something! No one will die now given how much I’ve turned this valve. Beam me out!” Laughing, “No, but I’ll give you something you asked for earlier. Consider this an early birthday present.” The hatch above him opened. Air from the heat ventilation had built up sizeable pressure in the chamber above him. The combination of heat and air blew Nijil clean off the platform he was working on. SubCommander Nijil tr’Korjata plummeted head over heels into the abyss below, and certain death.

Sky Harbor Aegis listed like a floating frail shell of its former glory. Thirty-six hours of onslaught it bore, protecting those within. Like a wounded animal, it sought to strike back, but fate had other plans. Nothing short of a miracle of the elements allowed those inside to live. Struts twisted. Bulkheads warped. Lives mislaid. Damage not judged superficial cut to Aegis’ very core. One pylon devoid of power, the other nourished. Engineers toiled throughout the battle and aftermath, but Many who call Aegis home now fear it can no longer sustain them. Survival is not enough, it never is.

Mission Grief - Jylliene and Nijil The cheers from the Rihan orphans in the Children’s Center quite made his day. Any engineer could have lugged the heavy reactor and installed it. Having a fellow Rihan, and Nijil himself, made it worthwhile. If not for all of the work to do for Aegis, he would have stayed with Annisha. Nijil thought of his daughter now as the lift took him slowly to the second engineering station on the other pylon. His daughter. For the first time since taking her in he made the Rihan girl to daughter transition. The very real danger of the attack on the station stirred up emotions he’d never experienced, that of guilt and of a protector. More than once he extended the shields over the Children’s Center without Jorahl’s approval and it worked. Now alone in the lift he was finally able to exhale. His daughter was alright, seemingly unharmed. Her normal self. Her father leaned against the wall of the lift and held his head. First silence, then the eyes watered. Not since his belief of his parent’s death had he cried. Neither out of joy nor sorrow did he shed his tears. Emotionally he needed this. Perhaps having Jylliene at his side would be ideal. Sadly, station operations needed her adept routing skills. Annisha, bless her, in short order clutched Nijil’s heart and made it whole. For that matter so did Jylliene. His emotional liberation ended abruptly as the sound of an incoming communication chirped from his uniform. Another cog in an endless wheel of repairs no doubt. “Ops to SubCommander tr’Korjata” "I'm here," he says sniffling. What timing. “The Iagga has confirmed its intended arrival time - I have sent the information to you.” A pause. “Are you okay?” Nijil wiped his eyes as he leaned against the wall. "No, I mean yes. It's not what you think. Just stress." “Which means it’s exactly what I think, e’lev. We are all stretched thin right now.” A slight pause. “I will see you later,” came the com, in a softer tone. “Ops out.” Did she know? The strained station engineer thought of them both, thankful they made it through. He'd not have the frame of mind if any of them had perished.

More than just Power A. Davis and N. tr’Korjata Sky Harbour Aegis creaked and moaned. Repairs teams littered the decks as Nijil made his way to the Children’s Center. Crawling over and under debris is bad enough. The weight of the portable fusion reactor brought his journey to a standstill in places. “Portable” must have been an oversight in the designation, an engineer’s joke. “Sir, can you look at this panel,” a much more junior officer asked from his crouched spot on the floor. Nijil stopped his walk, swinging the reactor to the ground. “I am on my way to the Children’s Center, but, bah...let me look.” The engineer in him peered into the panel. Nijil sighed at the other engineer’s lack of understanding of the indicators from the display. “It’s a matter of routing around the damaged area until the other teams can repair it, Ensign.” “How?” Nijil let out a heavy sigh, “I’ll do it.” He flipped open the side panel next to the display. A code unlocked his access level, allowing a power route around the damage. “I must be on my way.” “Thank you sir.” Nijil nodded and started to pick up the reactor. At first it caused him to wobble, but the Ensign helped him secure the device. The lift to the Children’s Center was just around the corner. People lined the inner wall of the lift to allow the bulky reactor some space. “Children’s Center,” he asked the lift simply. A few minutes and two Bolians later Nijil lugged his burden to the door where the Rihan orphans were housed. The entrance would normally be lit with lively color and lights. Since the attacks the minimal power to this section kept the children in perpetual darkness. The only sign of life was that of the door hissing open. “Jolan tru?” Dr. Davis turned toward the voice, then put aside the things she had been arranging and hurried over. "Nijil," She exclaimed with some anxiety, "it's so good to see you, but..." her hands hovered helplessly for a moment, "can I help? " Her arms dropped and she eyed the reactor with some suspicion, like it might explode if she even tried to touch it. He shrugged. “This device is too large to simply hand off,” he answered, using both hands on the single handle of the reactor. “A type IV reactor is big, bulky, and long lasting.” He continued to hobble and wobble to the far wall where the power taps were hidden. “Well, then… perhaps if I help in some other way?” She followed, clearing things - inanimate, and especially animate, in the form of children - out of the way. “Make sure no one freaks out when I shut down the power to the center before I hook this up.” “Of course.” The reactor landed with a thud. He opened the interlocks and began the power up sequence. A familiar-to-his-ears hum filled the room. Soon it pitched higher and softer until no one could hear. Next he removed the panel. “So, how was this place during our ordeal?” Amanda turned from shooing a group of inquisitive children back to their duties. “It was… interesting,” she said with a forced smile. She moved closer, away from tiny ears, “I’m surprised we’re still here. I suppose I should have more faith.” “An unlikely series of fortunate events saved us far more than faith.” He felt no reason to hush, but in truth he’d been yelling for more than a day. He’d yet to shut down. “There was a pressure build up of plasma in some of the lower sections I almost needed to manually purge.” He turned to her. “While I could have done it, my death would have been a byproduct. Such is the engineer’s life.” A tiny, “Oh,” was all Amanda could muster, fairly stunned at the revelation. She swallowed hard. “I’m glad it didn’t come to that, Nijil. I…” her hands smoothed her skirt as her voice dropped to a sighing whisper, “...I’m glad.” The room darkened. Audible “oh’s” came from around the corner. Someone else, probably Dr. Schawnsee spoke, telling them it was alright. His hands were silhouetted against the LCARS display lights as he worked to hook up the reactor. “I’m glad as well.” He paused to enter commands. “Did Annisha behave herself?” “Oh, yes,” Amanda perked up, “she was quite a help with the other children. She’s an amazing young lady, Nijil, but I’m sure you know that.” “As humans would say: scary smart,” he mused. “I just hope she found friends here, even if some of them only stay for a while.” He kept his back to Dr. Davis, though aware she was close. “She talks about you almost as much as Jy. I think like myself she had few run-ins with non-Rihans until arriving here. Oh, can you hand me the flow regulator, the stick with buttons on it?” “The stick…” her eyes browsed the collection on the floor, “... with the buttons. This one ?” “ Yes, thank you.” He took it from her hand and placed it close to a visible port on the panel. “These things don’t always self adjust.” He seemed satisfied with the progress so far. “So Annisha was no trouble? I was expecting something.” “Oh?” she replied casually. “What kind of something were you expecting?” He laughed. “Frozen room, tropical rains, bubbles filling the room.” “But that’s exciting, Nijil. It’s so much better than sitting around, and it saves us the trouble of having to take the children to the holodeck to experience those things. Furthermore…” a finger went up and her Welsh accent came out full-blown, “it’s so much better for learning when those things happen naturally. And it was fun.” Her smile held a little mischief. “Hmm. I am ready to apply the power.” Nijil waited for a moment and flipped the switch. The room lights and all others sprung to life. He looked all around to see the effects. “Good, this is a good sign. The test of an engineer’s mettle is not their work, but their work years hence.” Cheers where there once were ‘oh’s’ came from around that same corner. When Nijil turned to Amanda, her smile was gone. Apparently they had been protected from more than any of them imagined. Beyond their safe room, the Children’s Home was disastrous. Though the structure was sound, PADDs, toys, equipment, and just about everything they used for daily life was strewn in disarray, much broken, some things completely destroyed. “Thank you for the lights, Nijil. Now…” her lips pursed, “I don’t suppose you could help us with the rest?” He looked nearly as shocked as Davis did. “I can, but I will need more more equipment, and a few more people. Taking Annisha to her own bed will have to wait.”

I've Fallen and I Can Get Up An Hour to Go Production from Jylliene and Nijil SubCommander Nijil tr’Korjata. What did that mean? Nijil knew what it meant in the responsibility sense, but what a change in him and Annisha, and of course a future with Jylliene? Though the promotion went into effect immediately the actuality of it seemed locked in a nebulous future. The now centered on the location of a ring a mere polish away from presenting to a very remarkable woman. If a temporal anomaly opened opened up years ago and with the phrase: “You’ll take an extreme interest in a Trill,” Nijil would have thought someone in the universe was cruel. However, the voice was right. Taking what Jylliene and Nijil had built up to the next level did not require a specific token of affection, but the effort dwarfed anything he could possibly construct later. His gift was lost. “Nijil.” Nothing. “Nijil!” yelled a voice. A fellow Rihan engineer waited for structural readings from the port side of pylon B of Aegis. “What? I’m sorry... It’s 20,034 metric tonnes. I think,” Nijil said with unease. “Think? We need exact SubCommander. Are au well?” “I,” he answered, “I am preoccupied. Something lost.” “Lost. Don’t let the Chief hear you. What is lost that has you uncharacteristically dazed?” Nijil was uncertain if t’Melik’s concern was genuine or for her own workload. “A token for a later promise of bonding,” Nijil blurted out. She’d pester him for it endlessly anyhow. “Oh... OH! For the operations officer,” she smiled. Nijil was surprised she knew. “How...” “Everyone knows. She’s attractive as non-Rihan’s go.” t’Melik continued to poke away at her ISD. “There was a pool going on just when you’d get around to asking, or are you going to hold onto the ring for months?” “It’s lost.” She grimaced, “Oh, right. Have you tried using the main internal sensor network to look for the alloy signature?” “I had not thought of that, but I don’t have access. I’d have to go through...ops.” He frowned. “Well you,” she stopped as a comm came through over Nijil’s comm badge. “SubCommander tr’Korjata, an urgent message from your daughter via a delayed link.” “Okay,” he said with concern. “Put it through.” “Nijil, come quickly to the arboretum. I was chasing Mr. Cuddles and fell hard. It hurts! I think it’s my ankle. Come qu...” The message stopped seemingly before it was through. “Damn, I need to go,” Nijil said to t’Melik as he left main engineering. *** Receiving a similar message, Jylliene made her way to the arboretum. She hurried along the paths, looking for the girl. Nijil arrived at the arboretum minutes later, out of breath from running across pylons. Annisha’s cryptic message left no mention of where she fell. Not even time to tell her he was on his way. He ran down the first path he found. Far across the garden a bright blue blanket laid flat on a clear patch of grass. The largest tree in the arboretum sheltered the blanket from above. Not that there was a risk of downpours due to the precise environmental controls. A Rihan girl sheltered her eyes as she gazed at the artificial sun hanging above the tree leaves. She wanted everything just right, mostly because she had to do something so wrong. The groundskeeper kept her basket in storage for her. She made the lunch all herself. No replicator help. Well, the parts were replicated, but she put the butter and peanut jelly sandwiches together herself. “Annisha!” Nijil called out. She heard her name in the distance. This place was huge, but not so that one can’t hear a loud voice. With due haste she laid out the rest of the food: balls of puffy cheese, milk flavored with a sweet cocoa and baked potato slices. The computer better had not lied to her. The last time it did it was really her father who played a trick on her. She sort of played a trick on Nijil, but hopefully the ornate box her stolen item was in would make up for it. “Annisha. Where are you? Are you hurt?” Nijil had not run into anyone yet and it worried him. He stopped for a moment to make sure he did not run out the other exit. From the corner of his vision came another person running. Maybe they could help in the search. She, wait a second, it was Jylliene. “Jylliene?” Nijil arched a brow. “What are you doing here?” “A comm from Annisha,” Jylliene replied. “She said she was hurt. Did she send for you as well?” “Yes, a delayed message. Why call us separately?” Nijl curled his lips. “She better be hurt.” He did not really mean that, but her proclivity for causing trouble. “Maybe she didn’t know if one or the other of us wouldn’t be able to come?” Jylliene asked as they searched. “Let’s find her.” He turned to face the bulk of the arboretum. “Annisha!” “Here,” a small voice echoed from a large tree. Nijil looked at Jylliene, then pointed towards said tree. They both trekked to the source of the reply. “You know Jy, I should be more careful where I let her go. She’s rubbing off on me.” He grinned. “I even called you Jy.” Jylliene chuckled as they continued toward the direction of Annisha’s voice. “I’m here,” Annisha shouted to the sky. “Is Jy Jy here too?” “What? Yes she is... But are you alright?” They came to the clearing and found a bright blue blanket with Annisha sitting happily on it. Next to her was a large basket and three plates of food. With her big hazel eyes she looked into Nijil’s. “Oh, I’m fine. I...” She gulped expecting the reprimand to be harsh. “Are you mad?” “Sweetie, I’m in the middle of my shift, as is Jylliene.” Nijil stood between relief and frustration. “You can’t yell ‘fire’ in the middle of the midway and you can’t call us on an emergency link when you are not really hurt.” He saw regret in the girl’s eyes. She acted out before, but until recently did very well in behaving herself. “What is all of this,” he asked, bending down to her level. “Is this lunch?” “Yes, I made it myself. The computer made the parts and I put them together. The Klingon in the shop suggested gagh, but I did not think you wanted something crawling around on your plate.” Nijil felt squeamish. Jylliene nodded, glancing at Nijil. “A very good decision. So you called us out here separately for lunch?” “Uh huh. And look, you both came running.” She perked up as her reprimand concluded. “Sit over here dad.” Her father turned green. As far as he could remember it was the first time she called him ‘dad.’ Annisha handed out utensils and napkins. She stood up and reached deep into the basket, pulling out a small hinged box. “Here you go dad.” Nijil had turned to face Jylliene and did not see the box. “Oh, silly me, that’s not for you, can you hand that to Jylliene?” “Sure hun,” he replied, still not looking at the box. He absent-mindedly handed it over to Jylliene. “This is yours.” Opening the box, Jylliene looked inside and said to Annisha, “This is the ring you had the other day.” She looked between the girl and Nijil, confused. “This is for me?” The word got his attention. “What ring?” He turned to see her holding the box open, the ring he ‘lost’ days earlier poking out. Nijil discovered a new shade of green he could turn. His mouth hung wide open. “Nijil, aren’t you going to say anything or...ask anything?” Annisha sat there innocently. “That’s my bonding commitment ring for Jyll…” He stopped in mid-sentence. “Your...what?” Jylliene asked in surprise, eyes wide. “Annisha, did you find this or take this? I thought I lost it.” He turned to Jylliene. “I believe most call it an engagement ring. I was waiting for the right time.” Annisha perked up. “Now is always the right time.” He was not sure where to look. “I’ve been working on it for months. The metal is formed from the asteroid field off from the station. The diamond houses four tiny gemstones representing each of the four elements.” Nijil clearly needed to stop talking about how the ring was made. “I buffed it all up for you with my shirt sleeve,” Annisha proudly boasted. She then scooted over to Nijl and elbowed him, then spoke into his ear. “Why don’t you ask her, the targ is out of the bag now.” He just sat still for a moment. “Geez...” She took Jylliene hand and then Nijil’s, putting them together. Though still quite surprised, Jylliene was now grinning at Nijil. “Yes, the targ is out of the bag now, e’lev.” “I give you this ring as a promise in bonding on a future date of our choosing,” looking at Annisha, “along with any burdens either of us carry so that we can carry each other’s together.” “I accept,” Jylliene said with a smile, pulling the ring from the box. She started to slide it on, then stopped. “Would you like to place it?” she asked Nijil. He answered with a nod and slipped the ring on her finger.

“You Won’t Leave Me WIll You Mr. Cuddles?” Annisha and Nijil Nijil stood just inside the door of his quarters. Annisha was playing with a creature in the middle of the living room. “What is that?” “You mean who,” Annisha answered. “This is Mister Cuddles. Oh...!” He started to run his little legs off, scurrying to the far wall. She ran after him and caught him with both hands. “You naughty thing.” She nosed him. With his legs still running she brought him back to her new father. “See, he is a micro mini targ. Aunt Jen and I bought him on the midway, at that Klingon eatery.” He raised a brow. “Bought him?” “Yeah, but watch this.” Annisha put the targ down and walked to the other wall. The little guy snorted, then followed her. She picked up her pace. So too did the targ. Around the perimeter of the room they went. “See, he follows me all around.” The animal nosed her foot. “He tickles. I think he’s, oh, hungry. Let me find the cabbage.” She bolted to her room and sure enough Mr. Cuddles followed, at least until the door shut behind her. Cuddles let out a tiny yelp as he waited at the door. Moments later the door reopened. “Who wants a tiny cabbage? Whoooo wants a cabbage.” Annisha teased Cuddles, but he’d not have any part of it. He hunched down and leaped into the air...a few centimeters. “Here you go little guy.” She dropped a cabbage into his mouth from high up and gave the others at this ground level. In no time he finished his dinner. Mr. Cuddles wiggled his tail and nosed her for more. “That’s all for now. Come here you.” She grabbed him and held him close. Annisha’s attachment to Mr. Cuddles the targ surprised Nijil. She never mentioned having a pet on Romulus, nor close friends at all. “You know Annisha, you’ll have to care for Mr. Cuddles. Feed him, visits to the doctor, avoiding Klingon eateries, and picking up after him.” She hugged Mr. Cuddles up to her face. “I know. I have a cage for him and I used one of your tools to vaporize the poo.” “One of my..?” Nijil asked to the air. “What tool, wait, never mind. Remember, he is your sole responsibility. Not mine, not Jylliene’s.” “Uh huh.” She said holding him tight. “Mmmmm. I’ll watch him like a raven hawk and he’ll follow me. Well, as long as I have cabbages.” She laughed. “You won’t leave me will you Mr. Cuddles?” Her grip tightened. The targ let out a snort and oink. She closed her eyes as she hugged him, rocking him back and forth. Nijil looked on, thinking maybe she will be a good caretaker. Then he saw it: a single tear running down her cheek. “You’ll never leave me will you?” She kissed the targ on the cheek, her eyes closed. Her arms tightened around the targ, he squealed. Another tear, then another. Nijil watched as she rocked him back and forth, but with more force that the tiny creature could take. Nijil approached the girl and targ. “Annisha, you are squeezing him too tight honey.” She looked into the distance as her tears continued. As did her grip. She began to sob as tears rolled down. “Mr. Cuddles...you won’t leave me like,” she shut her eyes tightly, sobbing. “Mommy and daddy did? You’ll never leave me...” Nijil stooped down, something, some repressed memory had surfaced. “Annisha...” “Mommy, I want my mommy! Ah ha aaa,” she cried. Nijil reached out and took Mr. Cuddles out of her hands. Annisha released her grip on the tiny targ. Nijil placed him on the ground. He gave a snort and walked off. She continued crying. “Mommy! Mommy, why did you go!” She sat slumped over, her tears falling onto her lap. Nijil placed his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. He rested his chin on her soft black hair. “Annisha, e’lev...” He pulled her closer to him. “There’s nothing I can do to bring them back, nor the many others that died in the Great Fire. What I can do is be here for you now as a father. If all goes well soon with Jylliene as a mother.” Nijil closed his own eyes. Annisha’s sudden breakdown started to get to him. “We can’t hope to replace what your parents meant to you. We will do our best to see you grow up as they would have wanted. You’re a very smart girl, smarter than both of us.” A tear rolled down his cheek now. Her muffled sobs continued and she cried in relative silence. Nijl spoke on. “I’m sorry I did not offer to raise you when you asked if I would before you were taken. I can only imagine the horror and pain. I feel so guilty. I promise I will do my best to make this place a home... and love you as I would my own.”

Who Teaches the Teacher? An Amanda Davis and Nijil tr’Korjata Joint Log There’s a fine line between being a teacher and being a crutch. That line blurs when the teacher becomes more of a friend or a buddy than an authoritative leader who can give instruction, guide learning, and correct inappropriate responses and/or behavior. When the teacher is a parent, that line may disappear altogether. All this and more fogged Amanda’s mind as she contemplated the process of teaching Nijil how to teach Annisha. She sighed. Annisha was a highly intelligent child and was much more capable of manipulation beyond the ordinary “winding around her little finger” that young girls tend to do with their fathers. She sighed again. She needed tea. Nijil was due in her sitting room in about ten minutes: just enough time to brew and steep a pot, set the tray, and put out some orange scones. Yes, tea was a good start. It would be a calming influence and something to take their minds off the complexity of the problem. Why in blazes did everything have to be so…. Amanda stopped cold, her hand frozen between the tea kettle and the cups in the cupboard above the stove. Of course. Teaching isn’t the problem, it’s the focus on complexity that clouds the issue. That’s the problem. Nijil probably knows nothing about the syllabus or the complex nature of the curriculum. So why tell him? Instantly, Amanda relaxed. The kettle whistled. The door chimed. “Come in,” she called cheerfully, “I’ll be right with you.” Nijil stood at the door to the counselor’s office. He’d been cleared of the shuttle incident, but surely his fitness for other duties came into question. The review board must have picked up on the intentional firing upon Annisha’s shuttle. Armed with only a PADD mini, he awaited the Doctor to open the door. “Hello, Nijil,” said Amanda as the door opened. “Please... come in. You really mustn’t stand on ceremony for me; you can always come straight in.” “Last time we met I did not stand at all if I remember,” said Nijil in an attempt to lessen his own nervousness. He walked past the threshold and let the door close behind him. “The Captain did not mention a need for counseling. Was there an issue with my logs? This is about me returning to flight duty, isn’t it?” He thought of Annisha. “Wait, what has she done now?” Amanda smiled and drew him toward the settee where the tea table and the scones beckoned. “Relax, Nijil. You’re not here for counseling, you’re here for tea and a nice chat. Milk? Sugar?” “Please,” he sighed. Nijil was delighted to drink hot tea, no doubt not replicated. He sat down and marveled at the pastry. He’d not seen it before. A strange triangle shaped affair, then bit off a corner. When the tea cosy lifted, the rich aroma of freshly brewed whole-leaf English tea filled the room. When she poured the scene mimicked a Victorian tapestry. The furniture had been passed down from that era, as had the fine Royal Doulton china tea set. As usual, Amanda chose to dress to match the setting: an ankle-length flowing skirt and matching silk blouse. “There we are,” she said as she handed him his cup and poured one for herself, then settled into the settee opposite him. “Better?” Nijil nodded as he sipped. “Mmm, yes this is quite strong. The scone you called it, is good as well.” His eyes looked upon her attire. “I did not dress appropriately. An outfit from long ago?” “Only the style, Nijil, not the age. In the afternoons, especially for tea, I like to dress as though I were at home. It’s relaxing. It helps me absent myself from the cares of the day and concentrate on the things that really matter. I hope you do the same at least once during the day, especially now that you are a father.” He bit off more of the scone. “I’ll try to give her a sense of home. Funny, my father asked me if I knew what I was doing. I said yes, but he knew otherwise. I just couldn’t abandon Annisha. Not again. Not into the talons of those two thieves.” He tensed up at biggest regret, took a large sip of hot tea. “Nijil.” Amanda set her cup on the tray and leaned forward a bit. “You could not have known that they were thieves. No one did.” “I suppose not,” he said looking into his cup. “I did not want to make the time for her. Too busy I said. My thoughts were on Jylliene, Lt. Kital.” He finished off the scone and placed the cup down. “From no women to two women in his life,” he mused. The thought amused and terrified him. “I am fortunate they have taken a shine to each other. Annisha is a lot to handle.” Nijil looked off in the distance. “I’ll tell you a secret, Nijil, if you promise never, ever to tell anyone.” He leaned in and instinctively reached for a scanner he did not have to see if the room was bugged. “Yes?” Amanda leaned closer and her voice dropped to a clandestine whisper, like a nosy neighbor about to drop a good tidbit of gossip. “We’re crafty, Nijil. We women are. You’ll never handle us, so you may as well not even try.” He sat there in a bit of shock, reaching for his tea cup. “I’ve been on the receiving end of betrayal, my first e’lev. I’m familiar with some of what you speak, but she paid a high price for her choices. That being said, seeing her dead after the attempted takeover of Aegis brought me no joy.” He drank more Earl Grey. “Annisha is very crafty.” Nijil grinned into his cup, then looked Dr. Davis in the eye. “This is about Annisha isn’t it?” “Annisha certainly is part of it, but more precisely, her education. More tea?” The still-steaming pot hovered over his cup. “Yes.” The tea quite delighted him. “So. About Annisha.” The tea poured rich, the milk and sugar within easy reach. “How are her lessons going?” Nijil perked up. “Her engineering lessons are going very well. I figured I should start with what I know. It covers some math, warp field theory, and how different systems work together. She seems captivated, but I can’t help thinking it’s like shopping for shoes. Er, no offense.” Amanda laughed. “No offense taken, and I think I know what you mean. But,” it took some time for the laughter to subside, “please do enlighten me.” He looked puzzled. “You mean about shoe shopping?” She nodded. “And how it figures into your lessons.” “Oh, as if she wants to please me to the point where she’ll play along, even if it’s boring or undesirable. I should find something she really latches on to and help her with that. However, I think what keeps her interest is how a lot of what I do are tiny puzzles, connected to other puzzles.” Nijil stopped for a moment. “I think she finds joy in solving problems, no matter what they are.” “And have you ever felt that what you are telling her, or teaching her, she already knows?” “The engineering no, but she picks up on things so fast it’s hard to tell the difference.” “Well, one way to tell the difference is to have her play the teacher.” Amanda paused at his reaction, then explained, “If she can teach you and her teaching is valid, then you know she understands. Then you gently push her beyond that. You play the student. Pretend to be ignorant. Make her think. When she comes to the point where she can’t teach you then you know where to begin and what to elaborate on.” Nijil gave the idea some thought. He leaned back on his elbow and held his face in his hand. “This works for areas I’m familiar with, engineering, shuttles, singing...” His mother insisted on his lessons when younger. Despite all of his engineering skills, his voice pleased him greatly. Few knew he could carry a tune, including Jylliene. “I will need to consult reference material for matters of galactic history, culture, and art.” “One step at a time, Nijil. And remember, you will not be the only one teaching her; she will have advanced tutors for culture and art. “But for now, just continue on as you have been with engineering, and, if you don’t mind, I might peep in on you once in a while. Then we can meet if you have any questions or if I have something that might help you… like another scone.” Her smile was sincere and encouraging. Smiling, Nijil added, “These are sweeter than most Rihan desserts. About Annisha, I just hope I’m not retarding her development. I think she’s in a strange emotional state. Not shock, but, I don’t know. She speaks little about her own parents, but I suspect a reason. I’ll ask Jylliene what she thinks about it and report to you. I have more questions, but I don’t wish to carry too many burdens at once.” The engineer finished the last of his tea. Warm and strong, it’s just what he needed.

A Father's Revelation A Jylliene and Nijil Night Before Production “You look tired Nijil,” Annisha said to the weary engineer. He did not speak as they walked through the midway back to his quarters. They were minus one person. Jylliene had an errand to run and would be running late. A relaxing walk alone with his new daughter provided the perfect venue to get to know her better. Her intelligence started to become a thing of legend to his small group of engineer friends. However she was still a ten year old Rihan girl; giggles and all. Nijil answered after a time. “I am really very tired. Lots of cleanup and repairs. You were the real star today.” He rubbed her head. “You saw the faulty thermostat which caused the freak snow. Now I would have found it, eventually, but you saved me hours of time. Wait, speaking of time I need to run to a crafting shop on the midway. Looks like we are going to be late.” He smiled at Annisha. Arriving at Nijil’s quarters, Jylliene entered the code and stepped inside, then stopped suddenly as she saw people within. “Jolan tru -” she greeted, a puzzled expression on her face. Niilan, his father, had his back to the door, then turned, looking equally puzzled. “Jolan tru. Just who are you to have access to my son’s quarters?” He looked her up and down.. “Your son? I thought - Elements - Nijil is going to - I’m sorry; I’m Lieutenant Jylliene Kital. I’m his -” Elements. What do I say? What will they say? “- His consort.” “Consort? Ah yes. His sister mentioned you after she found out. I’m Niilan. By the spots and stubby ears a non-Rihan.” His expression did not change. Voices could be heard in the other room, but she could not see. “Ie, rekkhai,” she replied, expressing respect for the man. “I am of Trill.” “Trill...how coincidental, nevermind. Nijil has not arrived with...Annisha is it? Sit I will get some tea.” A table sat in the corner with a teapot and cups. He filled two cups from the brew within, turned, then headed to sit in a chair next to her. Jylliene took a seat, wondering if this was how Nijil had felt meeting her parents. She recalled the holosuite program, the farm, the appearance of Nijil’s mother within. “Hann’yyo,” she said, accepting the cup. “You thought we were dead did you not?” He asked simply. The sounds of cooking could be heard from the other room. She nodded. “Of course, there was hope that we might be wrong, but such wishes fade over time. I am glad to see we were wrong,” she said, with a smile. “Nijil is to thank for us being alive. All four of us. His salvage yard shuttle got us off of Romulus at the very last moment. The fusion cells were dead though, I had spares. The transport with the tractor beam also had a significant role.” He smiled, relieved to just be alive. She smiled, remembering the shuttle ride in the holosuite. Sipping from his cup. “Have you both set a stardate so we can attend?” A date? Wha- OH! “We have not made any official decision. We just returned from a trip to Trill for him to meet my parents,” she said. Amazed, “He’s not even asked yet? I hope I did not raise a fool, and now you are in the same hot-seat, meeting his.” She smiled. “There has been quite a lot happening. We have discussed things, but it just hasn’t come to that kind of decision yet,” she replied, calmly. He laughed loudly. “You’ve not met my wife Barissa yet. I’m the easy one.” He sipped from his cup again. “Then it seems much like what Nijil likely felt with my own parents,” she mused. “Hopefully he will be along soon. I’m not sure what would be keeping him, unless it snowed in the Children’s Center again…” She pondered the possibility. “Children’s Center? I heard he has adopted a Rihan girl? I would have never thought.” Niilan looked into the distance. She nodded. “Annisha is a delight, and quite fond of Nijil, and he of her. She’s very bright, inquisitive - we both adore her,” Jylliene replied with a look of affection. “He’d never expressed an interest in children, let alone a family. It seems the Great Fire has changed many things.” Niilan chuckled. “Nijil knew enough to warn us about the Breen danger. Set up a pirate receiver for military channels. Had us prepare a small cargo container. Did he get one?” ‘Yes, and there was the oddest thing inside - a ring with matching inscriptions in Trill and Rihan?” Jylliene said, a quizzical look on her face. Nijil’s father thought it would take much longer to get to that topic. “The ring. It was his biological mother’s ring.” His expression turned solemn. “His parents died in a shuttle crash on our farm. They were chased by Tal Shiar. Nijil was onboard, he was only months old. Barissa and I suspect he doesn’t know. Do you remember me saying ‘coincidental’? She too was Trill. How the universe is strange.” Jylliene nodded, her expression taking on more surprise than she had shown upon entering Nijil’s quarters. “That’s...quite a revelation,” she said. “I suspect it is.” He looked at Jylliene.” We had to have some genetic masking put in place so the Tal Shiar would not find him later through state records. How many Rihan/Trill couplings could there possibly be?” “Well, another, now, I suppose,” she said. “Oh, are you expecting?” He grinned, thinking she was not. “Don’t tell his sister, you’ll never hear the end of it.” Jylliene chuckled. “No, no, not yet,” she answered. Where in Elements is Nijil? From the back came another voice. “Niilan! Who are you talking to out there? Dinner is nearly ready.” Quietly he spoke to Jylliene. “My wife...” Acknowledging with a nod, Jylliene took a breath and whispered, “She would meet me sooner or later. It might as well be now.” “As we say on the farm, sometimes you just have to plow through it.” Just as Niilan got up, the door opened. A little girl of only 10 years stood in front of a weary Engineer. On the opposite side of the room Jentela and Barissa came out to see what the hold up was all about. Jylliene turned and smiled. “Annisha!” she greeted warmly, then looked up to Nijil. “There you are, e’lev. We were just talking about you,” she said, with a teasing grin spreading across her face. “Jolan tru,” Annisha said in an excited voice. “Who are all of these people?” Her eyes were as wide as her expression. “Nijil’s family,” Jylliene replied.

Daddy Daycare Joint log of Mimi & Nijil Following Doctor Pavilion around made for an interesting day. One minute he took note of engineering matters his department glazed over, the next an entry level medical tech. Before any of that, security had to clear SubCenturion tr’Korjata as if he just arrived for the first time. Given the incident with Annisha, the head of security took no chances. Nijil understood, but it felt slightly degrading. There was the off chance tr’Dabi found some minor issue from his past, but now major issue in his present. After debating with her husband for a few minutes about Nijil’s clearance, Mimi managed to get the needed clearance for Nijil. She then turned to Nijil, “Alright you’re cleared now.” “Are you sure he’s not Tal Shiar? It sure felt like it,” he said glancing in her direction. It was not so much a question as a statement, but it did remind him of something Annisha described. He had forgotten the Tal Shiar symbol from her dream. Since arriving on the station, he stopped the search for her parents, fearing his searches already poked into the depths of the Tal Shiar network. No doubt about it, they were out there, hiding in the embers of the Great Fire. “No, he’s not Tal Shiar. He was assigned here, just like you,” Mimi replied. However, she was a bit concerned when he mentioned that organization. “Doctor, I know you want me to look into the engineering concerns of the children’s center, and I will do that, but the Captain wanted me to get experience in actual child rearing.” He holstered his scanner and attached his communications badge. “I know I have relatively no experience, but I am willing to help in any way possible. I’m versed in both Federation standard and Rihan. Perhaps reading to them, stories they have likely not heard. I picked out some favorites: The Very Hungry Targ, Good Night Praxis, The Enemy of my Enemy is not my Friend.” Nijil allowed the Doctor to step into the lift first. “Take us to the Children’s Center,” he commanded. Another skill popped to mind. “I can sing. Mother insisted to teach this for unknown reasons. I think I could make passable versions of Stairway to Stovokor, Latinum Lane, Rainbow Connection, All Along the Watchtower...I could handle most everything in the database. What do you think?” Mimi thought for a moment, and then replied, “I think those are both good ideas. It couldn’t hurt for them to hear from someone new. In addition, you can help with the lunches, as well as their schooling. It probably wouldn’t hurt for you to learn to treat some minor injuries, like scrapes and bruises.” He agreed. “I have limited training in that area, so learning could help when it comes to Annisha. I’m worried about her actually. Keeping up with her... she is very smart, very curious. Much smarter than I was at her age or as I am now. For elements sake,” he exclaimed, “she flew a shuttle to escape her captors. I had only shown her the basics -- once. Annisha is going to be a handful.” “She what?” Mimi replied in shock. She took a moment to focus before continuing, “It seems that we need to get Annisha into school wouldn’t you say. I think I’ll need to talk to the Captain about Annisha and quick-study skills and see what we all can do to help Annisha.” “You did not mishear: few a shuttle. Yes, I have thought about school, but don’t know where to start. I think she remembers everything she sees.” He swallowed. “I also believe it’s why her dreams are so vibrant. Do you think we should suppress them? On the voyage back, she experienced several night terrors.” They stepped out of the lift. The center was just down the hall. “Hmmm, let’s get Annisha enrolled tomorrow and set up an appointment with the counselor about her nightmares,” Mimi replied, “Like I said, I’ll talk to the Captain about Annisha’s quick-study skills.” She looked down the hall, “How about I give you a tour of the Children’s Home, now?” Nijil contemplated not. “Yes, with no delay.” Mimi nodded and led the way to the Children’s Home and entered the facility. The engineer walked in behind her and stood just past the threshold. The low murmur of children filled the center. The clink of plates and utensils echoed off the walls. “There are more orphans here than when this project was started. How many are here Doctor?” “Probably around 100, maybe even more. They do have housing here. Most of the quarters on this pylon were made to accommodate the children,” Mimi replied. Nijil slowly walked toward the noise. “Have there been many adoptions since Annisha’s incident?” “Not many, considering that we have taken many precautions to prevent such things happening again,” Mimi stated. “I understand.” He now stood behind a group of children not much younger than Annisha. They ate something akin to a soup he consumed many times before. It looked ‘off’, the wrong color. He reached his hand down toward the Rihan boy’s bowl. He nodded quickly and grabbed the bowl, raised it to his nose. “Odd,” he thought. He took the spoon and tasted. “Oh my...this is off, bland.” He turned to the Doctor. “I’m an engineer, not a chef, but...this is off. My parents were, are farmers. I’ve cooked a thing or two. They at least need a taste of home.” He gave back the bowl to the boy. Mimi looked at the soup and looks at Nijil. “It looks like chicken noodle soup. It doesn’t hurt to try new things.” “Oh, I thought this was a Rihan soup. That would explain my misunderstanding. Perhaps I’m missing home. There is more to see Doctor?” “Yes, there is,” as she walks over to the education center, “this is where the children learn. You see, there are educational computers, desks, and a variety of educational tools for them to use.” Nodding, “Have they access to the holodecks on the station?” “Yes, but they are limited to some of the programs,” Mimi replied. “It’s a start at least. Thank you for doing what you have done. The Rihan people have been very adversarial towards the Federation for centuries. I don’t know if my people had done the same if the roles were reversed.” He examined the computer at the desk. A game called “The Organian Trail” was stuck in mid game. Someone had recently died of Space Dysentery. Mimi smiled and walked over to the medical center, “Over here is the medical center that staff as well as the children uses. If they have any bigger issues than what this facility can handle, they come to the main facility on pylon A.” “Nothing serious so far I hope?” Nijil seemed surprised and relieved. “No, there’s some minor issues,” as Mimi walked over to her office there at the Children’s Home. She picked up a PADD and handed it to Nijil. “The staff here has been keeping an eye on things while I’m bouncing between Main Sickbay and here.” “Well, it’s a fine start as I said. Where would you like me to start?” Mimi looks around the facility, “I would like for you to start in the educational center. I’ll let the lead instructor know that you will be assisting as part of your parental training, Okay?” “Yes, let’s begin,” Nijil replied. “Agreed.”

Daggers and Cloaks A Chirakis and Nijil Joint Production “Nijil?” She waited. “Hey, Nijil,” she exclaimed. “Brother!” Jantela shouted. Nijil jumped. “What? I’m here! I’m here...” He sprung to life. So many life altering events on the order of only a few months. The stress of a long flight in small ship. His heart couldn’t take a gram more of stress. Seeing his dead sister alive qualified. “Brother...Nijil,” she started in earnest. “How are you feeling?” He smiled weakly, “Tired and stressed. Did I fall asleep again?” She nodded, “It’s what the doctor gave you. A sedative for your nerves.” She let Nijil get his bearings. “I’ve not called anyone yet.” His sis smiled. “They think you are really busy, but I will get with them soon.” Seeing her without a swollen belly took a bit of time. He smiled in relief. “So,” she said, breaking the silence. “What’s happened since you arrived at this station?” “Well, I manage the repairs to the small craft: shuttles and work bees mostly. Fully small craft systems engineer. Matter/Anti-matter or singularity, you name it. I’ve met someone...” Jentela’s eyes lit up like a nova. “Well it’s about time brother, the last woman you courted.” “I know...I know. She was bad blood. It’s also another story.” “So?” “So, oh, her name’s Jylliene Kital. The primary operations officer here.” She corrected him. “You mean Jylliene t’Kital.” He gave her a quizzical look. “No, she’s not Rihan. Trill.” “Mother’s going to flip,” his sister quipped. “She better be cute.” Nijil laughed. “Yes yes she is, as is my adoptive daughter Annisha.” Eyes nearly popping out of her sockets, “Your what!?” She leaned back in disbelief. “Are you taking on a charity case?” “No no, nothing like that. Met her by chance after she pulled a knife out of my lower back.” “I’m not even going to ask, I..” The t’Liss on Nijil’s uniform, now laying folded on a small table, chirped. Jantela walked over and tapped on the front. “Hello, this is Nijil’s sister, Who is this?” A male's voice spoke. “This is a message from Aegis Operations to Centurion ​tr'Korjata. He is to meet with Captain Chirakis in thirty minutes. Tell him to be prompt.” “I will pass the message on.” She tapped the t’Liss again and closed the channel. “What’s that all about brother?” He looked down before speaking. “I made an error approach placing the entire station on alert. If their reaction had been faster I may have had more than a minor heart condition.” “Nijil,” placing her hand over his. “I’d still love you like I always have. Let’s get you presentable.” * * * * * With yesterday’s docking of USS Toronto came a decided increase of activity and a greater mix of personnel in the control tower. Starfleet’s third Akira class heavy cruiser to join the elite Border Patrol had created quite a stir since she wasn’t due to launch for several more months. As Nijil stepped out of the lift and turned toward the captain’s office, the imposing figure of a Romulan officer bearing the insignia of the RSE High Command strode by and entered the command lift. He gave him plenty of room to pass by, missing an opportunity to even acknowledge. “Jolan tru” far too informal. High-ranking officials caused Nijil to shut down. Just not his kind of people. With the Captain, shutting down would not be permitted. Captain Chirakis was busy working at her desk when Nijil entered. For all intents and purposes it was a normal business day, but Nijil fully expected the worse. He knew he made a mistake just at the very end of a needed getaway. Can’t have good fortune without bad. Nijil spent several minutes standing in front of her desk before she looked up, pushed her work aside, and regarded him with weary but intense steel-gray eyes. “Centurion,” she said, then paused as if considering her words, “what exactly you were trying to accomplish by entering Aegis space under cloak?” She seemed be more relaxed than he expected and Nijil wondered if one of her daggers got a recent workout. Nothing in her office looked out of place. No blood on the floor, yet. “The cloak was engaged before we even left orbit of Trill. Reports had not indicated any elevation in pirate ship activity, but I could not take any chances. The flight was nearly uneventful. I inadvertently dropped us of warp close to an emission nebula.” Nijil smiled. “It made Annisha so happy to see it. However, we were all getting on each other’s nerves. We were very concerned. One night she kept having night terrors about the pirates getting her.” He had not answered the question. “I had a lapse in judgement regarding protocol by not alerting Aegis sooner to our approach. Our flight plan took longer than stated, so we were off the timetable. It was my error alone and I violated your trust.” The captain shifted in her chair and leaned forward as she laced her fingers together, one hand gripping the other tightly. “It was more than a violation of my trust, Centurion, it was a violation of the basic code of an officer. Not only did you make a grave error in judgement but you endangered your life and the lives of another officer and a Rihan orphan child who comes directly under my protection. “You are well aware of the capabilities of the defense grid,” she continued calmly, “and that it engages when unidentified vessels enter the system under cloak. Had it been set to automatic it would have obliterated the shuttle, leaving no trace.” The Captain paused in a sigh, her expression worn. “At face value your error falls under the articles of Starfleet’s Code of Justice as child endangerment, reckless endangerment, and improper hazarding of a vessel. Any one of these could be construed in a court martial to warrant the death penalty, and it has already been strongly suggested by a member of the RSE High Command that you face the ultimate penalty.” She studied him a long moment, her expression devoid of anger. “However, as commanding officer of this facility and because of your record and extenuating circumstances - namely, your encounter with the Ebony Blade cartel - I have chosen to convene a review board. They will examine the evidence and recommend appropriate punishment. “Tell me, Centurion. If you were in my position, what punishment would you consider appropriate as an alternative to court martial?” He needed no time to think of this answer. “Strip my commission and rank. Send me home with a dishonorable discharge.” The captain’s weary gaze continued for several minutes before she relaxed. “Unfortunately, stripping you of your commission and sending you home would leave me without an engineer who has the skills needed for the smooth functioning of this station. In short, you would be difficult to replace. “Therefore,” she tapped a PADD next to her, “until I receive the recommendation of the review board you will be reduced in rank to SubCenturion and resume your duties in engineering. And… there is another reason I have chosen this alternative.” She pushed the PADD toward Nijil. “You have been approved to adopt the Rihan child, Annisha. After speaking with Counselor Davis and consulting with several workers who have observed your interaction with the child, I have granted that request provided you successfully complete an assignment outside of engineering. “It has been suggested that you may need extensive instruction in parenting. Therefore, in addition to your duties as an engineer, you will assist Dr. Pavilion in the care and nurturing of those under our protection in the Children’s Home. You will remain there until Dr. Pavilion decides you have sufficient skill to properly care for and raise a child. During that time you are to keep a full record your experience to be added to our database for future reference. “Is your assignment clear, Centurion?” “Yes,” he answered. His voice echoed the turbulence brewing in his gut. “Have you any questions?” “No. Only a comment. The adoption will make one particular Rihan girl quite happy.”

The Kital Bunch Jylliene, Annisha, and Nijil Midday turned into late afternoon at the Kital’s. Never in so many years has the playground had such a workout. Nijil watched Annisha climb, jump, and play for close to two hours now. No playmate of course, but every so often she would repeat a name or two; Romulan names. He needed to remember to send a message to Aegis regarding the names. With not a care in the galaxy, Nijil was content to let her play. The weary engineer swirled the bubbly brew around in the green-hued glass. The ale tasted light and airy. It traveled across his taste buds with the same satisfaction of lying in the lounge chair watching the sunset. However, something, or someone, was missing. Jylliene had not made a sound for a good half hour. She was not there. Instead, her parents seemingly flanked him; Mother on the right, Father on the left. Had they covertly studied him? No sooner had thoughts of Jylliene’s parents crossed Nijil’s mind did a blur race towards him. “Nijil!” the Rihan girl shouted as she jumped. “Ow,” Nijil cried, having the wind knocked out of him. A single tear ran down his cheek. Annisha’s jump landed her squarely in Nijil’s lap. “Are you okay?” she asked. “Oh,” he said gratingly. “I’m fine. Are you finished playing?” He closed his eyes from the pain. “Yes. I jumped, climbed, ran, hung, and swung...all kinds of things.” Annisha had a real glint in her eye. “I’m worn out. Can I rest here?” He grinned. “Sure. I’m not going anywhere.” Before she got her answer, she tucked her head against his chest. She closed her eyes and smiled. Lanyi glanced over and saw the girl’s rhythmic breathing indicating that Annisha had fallen asleep. “She played hard,” she commented. “Annisha has not played since being on the station,” Nijil said in a hushed tone. “So you knew her on the station? How did she come to be rescued on your way here?” she asked, gazing at Nijil. Najin glanced at his wife. Interrogating a Romulan, he mused inwardly, with the slightest hint of amusement in his eyes. A strange situation they found themselves in, but then, Jylliene had not been one to do things in the expected way since leaving the preparations for symbiotic joining. That this man would be her apparent love should not, in that sense, be a surprise. The officer in him thought for a moment. “She rescued herself at a most improbable time. She stole a small cargo ship.” He let the answer hang in the air a bit, as he remembered the events. She peered at him quizzically. “But how did she get from the station to a place where she would steal a cargo ship to escape?” “A slick couple posing as adopters took her off of the Romulan government’s hands on the station. They prepared their backgrounds very well. But...part of it was when Annisha asked me if I would watch after her I said I was too busy.” He felt ashamed at that revelation, but it was true. “They took her to their ship and implanted a control device en route. They used her to mine highly valued crystals. She could crawl into dark places expensive machines could not.” “What happens next?” she asked. “I complete the paperwork to adopt her, make her a space to sleep in my quarters., then report to the Captain my findings. I intend to raise her as my own, even though I’ve not imagined having a child of my own until recently.” He had not thought so far ahead. Now he was. “It looks like you already have her, whether formally or not,” she commented, gazing forward. “I will say this,” she continued. “Even those who think they are prepared for a child find that there are things that they did not consider. Perhaps knowing at the outset that you may not be as fully prepared as you could be is not a weakness, but an asset.” Pausing for a moment, she asked, “Where does this leave my daughter?” Nijil audibly cleared his throat at the question. “She’s a very capable woman, patient, smart...bit of a temper. We have not been dating for very long, but enjoy each other’s company. I am a bit struck by her interest in a simple Rihan engineer. I am not a high-ranking officer, not particularly charismatic...a bit of an outcast by many Rihan standards. I… we need each other’s comfort and strength.” He paused, wondering if he answered the question. “I guess to answer your question; I do intend to ask her for a bonding, but only with your approval.” Najin quirked a slight grin at the mention of Jylliene’s temper, then spoke up. “None of us ever do understand it,” he ventured as he took a sip of his ale. Considering the man as a possible son-in-law - well, he was nothing like who Najin expected his daughter to take an interest in, and at the same time, exactly what he expected; perhaps the better thought was that he was exactly what Najin expected, but in a different appearance. Lanyi started to speak, but stopped as she saw Najin give her a calm look. “You have shown much initiative in arranging this journey, in wishing to present it, as I understand, as a surprise to our daughter. You seem to be taking on the responsibilities and sacrifices of a family already… and you seem to have won over our daughter. She has not asked our approval of anything she’s done since leaving Trill; but in this, she would have it,” he said, leveling his gaze at the Romulan beside him. Lanyi glanced at Najin, but nodded slightly; she looked at the sleeping child in Nijil’s lap, and then returned her eyes forward. Nijil stared ahead. “Hann'yyo. I don’t know what her answer would be as it feels too soon to ask.” Their answer was a great comfort and lifted a weight off his shoulders. Now, something in his pocket reminded him of something else he wanted to ask. He squirmed and contorted to reach into his pocket and pull out the ring found on the small cargo container back on the station. He stretched out his hand toward Lanyi. “This was in my parents’ possessions back on Romulus.” Lanyi accepted the ring and glanced at it briefly, then more intently, as she saw the writing. “I recognize the Trill script - the other is Romulan, yes?” “Correct,” Nijil answered. “The Rihan portion is: ‘Only the Brave Love.’” The woman nodded. “As is the Trill,” she stated. “What would something with a Trill inscription be doing out there?” she asked curiously. He shook his head. “I was never told about this ring. I did some digging and it’s not my mother’s ring size, nor my sister’s.” “Someone farther back, perhaps?” she asked, the researcher in her emerging at the mystery. Najin grinned slightly as he sipped his drink. “No one I know. If only I could speak with my mother, but she is either missing or dead. At any rate, it is a nice ring. Jylliene has seen it, but I think I will offer it to her later.” Lanyi nodded, and then paused. “Offer a ring…?” she peered at Nijil. “I thought you felt it too early for that?” Najin took a very long sip of his drink. The revelation hit him just then. “I mean later… much later, but not too long.” Nijil face palmed himself. “Thanks for the translation.” Annisha moved around in Nijil’s lap. She had become a very toasty sleeping girl. Lanyi nodded. “When you do find out, I’d be interesting in knowing.” “I will let you know.” He looked down at the girl fast asleep. “Having Annisha here reminded me of something your daughter said. She would have adopted Annisha had I not, however…” Lanyi looked at the girl, then back up at Nijil. “A lot of the paperwork seemed to consider bonded couples more suitable as adopters. We may adopt this girl together if my qualifications are not enough.” Najin gazed at his drink. “I know you said you were considering asking her for bonding later...but make very sure that you do not end up rushing to a decision you might not otherwise have made.” “Yes sir.” “Now then,” he said, standing, “Maybe we should see where Jyll has gotten to. You can lay Annisha down, and we can have some dinner.” Alternate Trill/Romulan Ring Inscriptions She read, “One ring to rule them all…” She read, “Winner of the ch’Rihan cookie bake-off of 2317” She read, “Sunday Sunday Sunday!” She read, “Made in ch’Rihan.” She read, “WWJD?” She read, “I’m Too Sexy for This Ring” She read, “I fell into a burning ring of fire” She read, “Over hill over dale our love will ever fail.” She read, “99.95% silver plated over nickel, guaranteed hypoallergenic” She read, “Romulan Military Academy, Class of 2300.” She read, “Not to be used internally.” She read, “Did you find the other one?” She read, “This message will self-destruct in 30 seconds.” She read, “I liked it, so I put a ring on it.” She read, “+10 to FABULOUS!” She read, “If you can read this, you’re too close.” She read, “Wherever you go, there you are.” She read, “Authentic Super-Rihan decoder ring!” She read, “The only thing that will last longer than their love is this ring.” She read, “Remember the Alamo!”

It Wiggles joint log of Jylliene and Nijil Minutes turned into hours. Doctors went into Annisha’s operating room, but few came out. Two hours ago a nurse asked Nijil for a sample of blood. Compatibility did not take long to determine, but the doctor has some family history questions to ask after the surgery. This worried Nijil. Then not an hour later, they wheeled him into a room to retrieve two units of his green blood. The implant had spread through more of Annisha’s body than first thought. Elements must have sided with Nijil to allow his blood to be compatible. The chance of another Romulan on Trill was probably close to nil - and synthetics would have taken time she may not have had. The staff thought it best to keep Nijil in his own room in case they needed more blood. Jylliene joined him, sitting in a large chair next to his bed. She could see his face was a mix of exhaustion and worry. Both of them had half-eaten hospital food trays. He watched her eat and waiting for her to notice. He smiled weakly. “How’s the food?” “Not bad. How do you feel?” “Weaker now than when we arrived,” he said with a slight grin. “I can’t figure out this red translucent thing in my cup. It wiggles. Is it alive?” He poked the food with his fork, restarting the wiggle. Jylliene chuckled. “It is not. It is a dessert of sorts.” “Really?” He asked, picking up the cup and shaking it. “Would explain why it’s so sweet.” He placed the cup back down and looked at her. “Have they told you anything more about Annisha?” “Nothing. The same as before - she is stable, and they are keeping her sedated to allow her body a chance to heal,” Jylliene remarked. “Good, I guess.” He closed his eyes. “I still don’t want to walk around.” “Mother and father are on their way. It will be several hours, though,” she said. He choked on her words. “What? I forgot about that. I look like...” Some intestinal distress stopped him. “Mm. Well, what did they say or what did you tell them?” “I told them that we had arrived, and that we had happened to be in the right place at the right time to intervene and rescue a child, who is undergoing medical treatment.” He looked up. “Were they worried?” “I didn’t tell them how involved the surgery was to be. I don’t know if they are or not; they were just glad to hear we had made it in,” she replied. “I was supposed to call your mother when we were to arrive. No doubt she will mention it,” he said with a headache forming. “I did instead - it’s quite alright. If she asks, I’ll tell her why you were busy,” Jylliene replied. Nijil only nodded. After hours of non-stop action, the bed finally started to suck his remaining energy. “You must be as tired as I am.” “A bit, but if I lie down now, I’ll fall asleep and won’t know if I’ll wake when they arrive, as tired as I am,” she chuckled. “I don’t think I really want my parents walking in on us in bed, even if it is just sleeping in a hospital. You rest, e’lev,” she replied quietly, stroking the top of his forehead softly. “That would not make a good first impression, no matter how much I’d enjoy your company.” “No, it would not, not for my parents anyway,” she replied with a grin. “I will be right here, though, unless Annisha awakens. I would want to be sure she has someone she knows with her.” “Oh,” he said, his eyes getting heavier, “I had whatever Federation legal system is on Trill forward me the forms for guardianship of Annisha. She’s been through too much.” Jylliene nodded, her hand clasping his as she sat on a nearby chair, watching as he drifted to sleep.

Need for Speed: Cartel Edition (Joint Effort of Jylliene and Nijil) Jylliene performed the evasive maneuver just in time. The shuttle fired its thrusters on the port side and underneath, causing the shuttle to bank in a counterclockwise motion. The cartel ship did not alter its course, plowing right through where they would have been. Nijil looked out the starboard viewport to catch the Cartel ship zooming into the distance. “That was very close, only 245 meters. At quarter impulse speed the results would have been...” he stopped talking to bend forward for a view of the ship altering its course. Then he looked at short-range sensors. “That maneuver put us between them and the other cartel ships. Funny, they had a clear shot, but did not take it.” Nijil thought for a moment. “Lieutenant, increase speed and get right behind the ship which passed us.” Before she could hit the throttle, phaser fire from the lead ship hit the aft quarter of the Nei’rrh. The Centurion and Lieutenant leapt forward in their seats as the impact of the blast dispersed against the shielding. The green lighting of the interior flickered. Now Nijil looked concerned. “Shields are holding, minimal damage. I am increasing aft shield strength. Punch it Lieutenant!” he commanded. She upped their speed and drew closer to the fleeing ship, but its pilot flew erratically. “A case of the navigation system damage,” Nijil thought. The Nei’rrh throttled up to less than 500 meters, but the alternate banking left and right made closing the gap near impossible. No matter how close Jylliene got the Cartel ship swerved to keep the Nei’rrh between the three pursuing ships. Phaser fire erupted all around. The Cartel ship darted aimlessly with no destination. Most of the shots missed, but a few hit. Shields held on the Romulan shuttle, but the ship ahead of it began to run into trouble. “That’s one slippery pilot, but they’ve not been able to avoid all of the phaser fire,” Nijil commented, shifting a quick gaze to Jylliene. “I can’t get any closer. Once I do, they veer off. How many are on board?” “Hold on. Their shields are down by roughly half. I can confirm the earlier reading of one occupant: Romulan.” Puzzlement and worry filled his eyes. “I will hail again.” A series of chirps indicated a hailing signal started. “This is the Romulan shuttlecraft Nei’rrh directly at your aft quarter. We mean you no harm, but those behind us do.” Another phaser blast hit, interrupting his transmission. “Your shields and life support are failing. Allow us to beam you aboard, but to do so you need to follow my instructions.” He waited. The ship ahead responded, “HE P! Bad e pl r aft r m !” The audio cut out intermittently, and then just stopped. Nijil looked at Jylliene. “Sounded like a distress call to me.” Despite some tight turns to follow the fleeing Cartel shuttle another volley hit the Nei’rrh. “This Romulan is giving the Cartel a run for their latinum.” A blast hits the shuttle in front of them. The shields flickered for some seconds. “They are closing to one thousand meters. I need to back them off. Arming aft torpedoes.” He switched over to an aft view. The three Cartel vessels were continuing to shoot. Their profiles were slowly closing in as they speed across the screen. “Can you keep us steady so I have a clean shot?” “Trying - it’s hard to keep us between them and hold steady. It’s as if that pilot were panicking,” Jylliene responded. Hard to believe of a Romulan, she thought, but who knows what they’re fleeing. Nijil pressed the comm button once more. “We need you to drop your shields. We will stay as close behind you as possible.” He closed the channel and waited for a response. His attention turned to the rear view. The three ships, clearly in a triangle formation were closing fast. “I can’t wait any longer. Firing…” Two bright flashes lit the rear view display. The torpedoes flew away towards the three ships. Seconds later two explosions lit up the star field. One torpedo scored a hit. The lead ship started to veer off course. The two wingmen emerged from the explosions, guns ablaze. Both ships took direct hits, and rocked the Nei’rrh hard. The lights flickered. “We need to get that pilot off the ship, but they won’t drop their shields. Let me take the helm and weapons. I need you back at the transporter control.” He looked her in the eye to indicate he was ready to take the helm. Jylliene handed over the console and moved to the transporter control. Nijil opened up the shuttle wide comm. “Now, I need to bring that Cartel’s shields down so we can beam, so you need to get the best lock you can on the pilot’s life signs. There may only be a window of a second to beam them out. With their shields out a phaser can take out the ship in one or two hits. We may only get one shot with this. Jylliene, do you understand?” “I copy. I’m trying to get a lock.” She cursed under her breath as the ship veered again. “I think...that’s as good as it gets. Waiting for your signal,” she said. Elements, don’t let me screw this up, she thought. Nijil attempted to move the shuttle even closer to deflect any phaser fire. He also turned down the inertial dampeners to faster course changes could be made. With one hand, he armed the disruptors. This dangerous part of getting the shields down by firing upon them himself he did not explain to Lieutenant Kital. Loud and more destructive hits crashed into the rear of the Romulan shuttle. Nijil struggled to maintain his seat. He fired the disruptors, but missed as the pilot veered off to port. “Come back here,” he mumbled to no one. Another hit to aft. He fired again and hit the shuttle with a lower power beam. The darting shuttle’s shields remained. He doubled the power and tried again. The disruptor beam met the shield with an inverse frequency, a hit. The fleeing shuttle’s shields buckled and flickered. “Jylliene,” he yelled. “Now!” Jylliene hit the lock and pushed the controls, but nothing happened; she quickly tried locking on again, and then made another attempt at the transporter. “Firing again.” Nijil fired, scoring a hit directly in the engine quarter of the fleeing craft. The shield blinked out. “Now,” he exclaimed, but at that moment, a phaser beam hit the craft in the same location. It ripped through the engines, engulfing the entire ship in a fiery ball of plasma. His heart dropped, his plan failed. Jylliene rushed to the crumpled form lying on the pad, and rolled her over. “NIJIL! We have her, get us out of here!” The lieutenant’s heart nearly stopped as she saw whom it was they had transported; she picked her up and carried her to a bunk. “Elements, you’ve taken a beating, little one. Can you wake up for me, please?” she pleaded, stroking the hair back from the girl’s face. The young Romulan girl remained motionless. Jylliene grabbed a medkit and took a rudimentary scan. The two Cartel ships and another two on long-range sensors kept the Centurion’s attention. “Her? All right, Engaging cloak and warping out of here.” The shuttle disappeared from the Cartel’s sensors and sped off at the quickest vector possible. Once he was satisfied they were not being followed he left to join Jylliene at the transporter pad. Turning a corner, he started to ask, “So the pilot is a female...” He dropped to the floor at the sight of whom they had saved. Nijil touched Annisha’s head. He still could not speak. Jylliene looked up at him. “We’re going to need to get somewhere with better medical care as quickly as we can. I’ll get on the comm to Aegis and tell them we have her back.” The Trill kissed Nijil softly on the forehead, then dashed up to the cockpit and got on the comm. She frowned as she attempted to send word; something was malfunctioning. Nijil yelled toward the cockpit, “Set a course for the Trill homeworld. Maximum warp.”

Suffer the Little Children A joint production of Chirakis Kirel, Jylliene Kital, and Nijil tr’Korjata Suffer the little children At the hands of evil men No baby dolls, no teddy bears No lullabies for them Every mother's nightmare Will it ever end Suffer the little children At the hands of evil men Captain Chirakis paused in the doorway as she emerged from her office behind Mr. Roberts and SubCommander Jorahl. Her jaw was set in that all-too-familiar look of determination and her eyes darted instantly to the tri-sector tactical display that dominated the central monitor of Aegis’ control tower. “Situation report, Lieutenant Kital,” she said as she stepped into the operations arena and approached the console. Pulling up the recent activity, Jylliene ran down the most recent entries into the system, and the scheduled arrivals and departures. She gave the report almost robotically, feeling inwardly numb - by choice - as she could not bear the thought of what might have happened to Annisha. There will be time later to grieve the possibilities. Duty for now, she thought. She blocked the memory of the little girl asleep in her room, so long ago. Focus. “Nothing else from the sector,” she said in conclusion, adding, “It seems to be a dead end for now.” “A dead end," Chirakis mused, her eyes still studying the board. No, she was scrutinizing it, like there was something buried in the data that only she could see. A faint but ominous orange glow highlighted cartel territory and several cartel insignia marked probable landing sites for the Tecora, the ship that was supposed to take Annisha to A’Tari. “Is there any unusual chatter coming from that area of space?” Jylliene pulled up the communications display, and ran through the frequencies. “Hm. Nothing unusual for the area, though I can bring up a display of which areas peak.” “Do it.” Pulling up a graphic of the subspace communication ranges, she displayed the peaks in each frequency over each possible landing location. “The current activity is in blue...the red outlines are the averages over the previous year.” “Display a complete communications graph, including stardates, over the previous year for that area of space.” “Yes ma’am,” Jylliene replied. With a few commands to the console, she added, “Displaying now.” The captain’s eyes narrowed as the graph took form. Conspicuous peaks formed on certain stardates. They began just before the destruction of Romulus and increased beginning on stardate 2387.086, when Aegean and Revenge departed for Maasune. They peaked again on stardate 2387.116 when the ships returned to Aegis, and again on stardate 2387.175: the beginning of the investigation of Mist Station 3. There they plateaued, remaining at that peak until the present. “Curious,” she murmured. “Would that there were more to glean from it,” Jylliene said with a frown. “Oh, that information is quite revealing, Lieutenant. Quite revealing.” “Is there anything to be done?” she asked. The captain’s intense gaze softened as it dropped from the screen. “Anything to be done concerning what, Lieutenant?” “This,” she replied, with a glance back at the screen. “And Annisha,” she added quietly. Captain Chirakis’ eyes studied Jylliene for a long moment before responding in classic textbook fashion. “Lieutenant, the mission of this station is to monitor and report information from this area of space and to protect and defend those who are aboard, those who take refuge here, and those within our sector. The rescue of those children and incursion into cartel territory is not within our purview. We have reported the information and will continue to report it, but that mission is now in the hands of others.” Jylliene nodded. “Understood, Captain.” She looked back at the display and sighed inwardly. Taking another glance toward Chirakis, she saw her disappear back into her office, the door sliding closed. * * * * * Nijil could not concentrate. He thought leaving main engineering and working on the more comfortable flight deck would help. No. Overhearing the Captain’s communication, especially Jylliene’s voice, about Annisha’s ship not arriving at its destination troubled him more than he realized. This dire news would explain why she never wrote to him. No, no it did not really explain anything. What happened to the ship? Perhaps the contacts in that sector simply don’t know. Actually there was no confirmation either way. What if she was hurt or the ship was in distress? Many frightening possibilities went through his mind. These unending questions weighed heavily on his concentration and threatened to collapse it. The shuttle’s lateral sensors needed testing. Simple enough to center his thoughts. Nijil shuffled up the ramp into the shuttle, moved to the front and sat at the helm. He stared at the console. He typed in a sensor diagnostic. He stared out the viewport into the distance. He...stared. Nei’rrh’s interior gave him no comfort. The walls seemed to be closing in. He began to panic. This was all his fault. He should have taken Annisha in. No trouble. She’d only have taken up a small corner in his quarters. She’s nearly self-sufficient. She could see the Captain on weekends and Jylliene on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Annisha seemed so happy to go and the Rihan couple seemed to have everything she would need. A space station was not the ideal location for childhood. A child needed open spaces. Elements how Nijil missed open spaces. His favorite spaces were now long destroyed. Nijil’s head was now squarely on the console; a single tear ran down his face and splashed onto the communications membrane. “Centurion tr’Korjata to Lieutenant Kital. Come in please,” he sniffled as he swiped the tear from his cheek. “Jylliene here, Nijil.” She paused as she walked the corridor toward her quarters. “Is there any news? I overheard the communication to the Captain and I...” his voice trailed off. “Where are you?” she replied, a concerned frown on her face at the tone of his voice. His voice sounded weak. “I’m in the Nei’rrh...just sitting.” “On my way,” she said, closing the comm and picking up her pace toward the shuttle. The knowledge that she was making her way to him helped, but the guilt overwhelmed his spirits. The tears stopped; the numbness continued. Perhaps Jyllliene’s closeness to Chirakis meant she’d know of a plan of rescue. Jylliene passed into the shuttlebay and proceeded to the Nei’rrh. Arriving at the hatch, she boarded, passing through the craft to the forward seats. Standing behind Nijil, she placed a hand on his shoulder. * * * * * *Credit lyrics to Pat Benatar from her song “Suffer the Little Children”

Mom, can I borrow the car...for two weeks? A joint log of Chirakis Kirel and Nijil tr’Korjata A door. No...the door. The same metallic gray as any of the hundreds of doors throughout Aegis, but this was the Captain’s door. The balance of power in this sector and even people’s very lives decided mere meters away. Or, perhaps of greater importance, today’s brew of replicated coffee. Outside the door, Operations continued as it always did: every chair filled, every conversation a murmur. She, Lt. Kital, was nowhere to be found, having gone off duty hours ago. Asking the Captain for this favor could prove to be difficult on its own and Niji did not want any suspicion from Jylliene. “Am I early?” Nijil thought to himself. He peered at the chrono atop the main viewscreen. Five minutes left. He hated waiting. Arrive on time next time and save some trouble. However this did give him some time to mentally run through just how to ask permission. “So...er, mom, can I borrow the car and take my girlfriend around the galaxy. I fixed it up real nice, even detailed.” Wait, how old is he? Nijil never did this on ch’Rihan. Just present the engineering reasons and drop the visit to Trill when she asks where. No problem. Nothing wrong with going to Trill. Yeah, that would so not...the door hissed open. Before him stood Captain Chirakis. She looked exactly like her file photo: imposing, in control, and ready to say “no.” In fact, a negative outcome is what he expected. The navigational deflector was newly installed and it would need calibration, but, and this is a big one, not at warp all the way to Trill. Once he asked to take Jylliene along she would surmise the trip was not all business. Permission is one hurdle after another. “Centurion,” she said evenly, “no need to stand outside.” She waved Nijil in, pointing him into a high-backed chair as she returned to her own. Behind her hung an impressive display of weapons, some familiar, some not, all casting an ominous reflection in the ambient light. Along the opposite wall the main tactical display shifted colour from green to yellow and back as traffic moved throughout Aegis’ sector. Leaning away from the organized chaos of notes, diagrams, charts, and padds before her, the captain rested her hands in her lap and regarded him with a measure of amusement at his uneasiness and slipped comfortably into Rihan. “How may I help you, Centurion?” “First off the repairs to the Nei’rrh are nearly complete,” Nijil started with no latency. “Like any complex ship system they need to be tested and tuned. Components have their own personality if you will. So I need to take the shuttle out on a cruise.” His eyes widened at the thought. She nodded. “I would run her hot and adjust the deflection as I go, but...” His last word hung in the air like a fog. This was the point where the request sounded simple enough and there’d be no reason to deny it. He moved past that hump. “But, I would request to take Lieutenant Kital. Her training on flight operations aboard a Romulan vessel are ongoing.” So, taking her along should not be too much to ask, but this was not the real problem area. He looked down at her desk before continuing with the next part. “I would request a two week voyage, round trip.” Nijil then looked her directly in the eye. Captain Chirakis’ eyes scrutinized his every move during the next few minutes of silence. She seemed to be weighing each word, or maybe every syllable he had spoken, "A two week cruise..." she mused, drawing the word out and dwelling on it for some time, "...for the shakedown of a shuttle seems quite excessive, Centurion. Does that specification come from SubCommander Jorahl... or from you?" He pondered a choice of equal minutes of silence, but decided against it. “I have not spoken to the SubCommander on this matter. In fact he has, to date, given me a high level of autonomy regarding the smaller craft maintenance. The Nei’rrh is a class of craft that poses unique repair challenges, ones the Federation would not design into their vessels. Few craft her size can achieve warp 9, but it comes at a price.” Nijil himself was not convinced. Even with its compressed repair schedule, calibration of the deflector would only take some hours. Perhaps, the engineer thought, he was asking the wrong way. “Captain,” he started anew, “Captain Chirakis, I’ll just level with you, because otherwise even I will forget what I’m asking.” He paused, then swallowed. “The two week cruise includes a visit to Trill, Lieutenant Kital’s homeworld. Due to our closeness and my Rihan heritage I’ve inadvertently created a rift between her and her mother. I wish to fix this, plus she simply has not been home in sometime. That said, the deflector and all systems would be calibrated enroute, piloting lessons taught, and anything else of benefit to Aegis.” Well that felt no better. How about you invite the Captain and then you three can play games and tell stories.... Silence greeted the room again, but Nijil cut it short. “If the request is too long or the Lieutenant's relationship with myself demonstrates a far too personal reason for this cruise your denial will be understood.” Now he let the air clear and the silent pondering of the Captain begin. One minute turned into two. Two turned into five. Still she sat, relaxed in her chair, passively regarding him until one brow rose slightly and she asked, “Is there anything else I should know?” Nijil glanced at the weapons behind her, then took a deep breath. “Well, none that I can recall at the moment.” He felt like he had dug a hole that would soon send him through the deck plating. It felt good to just tell it like it is, but the regret was not far behind. “Is there something you’d like to know?” “Yes, there is,” she began, leaning forward to rest her elbows on the desk. “Have you cleared your cruise with SubCommander Jorahl, and is he aware of your progress and your intentions concerning Nei’rrh?” “He does not at the moment,” he answered. A flaw in his request emerged. He could not very well jump willy-nilly in the chain of command and expect to start this adventure. Pleading his case to the SubCommander should have been his first move. However, this may be his first stop. “I will need to go over this with SubCommander Jorahl.” “Indeed,” she said, pulling a PADD forward for notes. “You will file a detailed flight plan that will include the projected times and coordinates for Nei’rrh’s systems tests. You will keep a detailed log on systems analysis and future reconfigurations or repairs, if needed. And,” she looked up from her notes, “you will, of course, have to consult with Lieutenant Kital.” She let that phrase hang a moment. “She will need a replacement. Assuming, of course, that SubCommander Jorahl releases you for that period of time.” Internally Nijil beamed, externally he looked the same mildly scared engineer. “Very well. I will do those things you ask.” He thought about items he’d leave behind while on this trip. One popped in his head he felt bad about nearly forgetting. “One more thing. Have you heard anything from the Rihan orphan Annisha?” The captain raised a brow. “Centurion tr’Korjata, those are not requests.” Again the silence. “And no, I have not heard anything from her. Should I have? Is there cause for concern?” “She seemed emphatic about writing back to me once she got settled. I’ve sent a short message, but it was bounced back. Perhaps she’s just excited to be at her new home. I know I would be.” A feeling of disappointment fell over him, but not surprise. Annisha just needed more time. “Perhaps,” the captain replied. “A period of adjustment is needed with any move.” “Well, I am grateful for your time. I’m sure you have more pressing matters.” He smiled as best he could. “Inform me if you do hear from her. It is important for station records.” Nijil nodded. “Yes Captain.”

Jylliene and Nijil sat at the table at the midway, waiting for their food, while discussing the holodeck program. “I can’t believe I cried and carried on with a hologram,” Nijil said with a sliver of embarrassment. She smiled comfortingly at him. “Hologram or not, it was a chance for you to remember your family. I’m sure I would have done similarly,” she replied. After a brief pause, she added, “I promise it stays between us,” reaching across the table to take his hand. His hand greeted hers, squeezing tighter. Seeing his mother, even as a hologram, seemed too much. A lot of Romulan history came to pass with the Mist station and the old shuttle. He should have known his sister would have coerced his mother into answering a lot of questions to make the photonic version seem real. She was out of step a good number of years, but the important parts of her personality were there. “Thank you,” he said, looking at her hand. “The hover cycle was...invigorating,” Jylliene said, as their dinner arrived. “I rather liked it at altitude. You have a bit of a daredevil streak in you, though,” she chuckled, gesturing at him with her fork. “A remnant of my youth I’m afraid,” he equally gestured with his spoon. “Don’t women like the dangerous types? Maybe it’s not as universal as I have been lead to believe.” Jylliene laughed. “There’s ‘dangerous’ and there’s ‘I hope to all the Elements that the holodeck safeties are fully operational’,” she teased with a wink. “The ocean was beautiful, especially with the moon shining over the waves. “It was a great vista. I go out on the ocean generally. Would dodge the patrols so I could rev up full throttle. Only got caught once.” He took a bite. “And what do you mean safeties? This is a Romulan holographic program.” Jylliene said, “Romulan program, but a Starfleet system. You know how we are,” she replied with a grin. He laughed, brushing her leg with his shoe as he leaned back. “The Klingons have no safeties in their holodecks I would wager. Hey, what did you get to eat?” “Broiled fish,” Jylliene replied. “It seemed appropriate after seeing the ocean,” she added. “And you, that looks like a cut of meat?” “Yes. Eye of Round. Sounded interesting. I supposed there are non-round shapes they come in. Triangles?” Jylliene pondered this and shrugged at him. “It looks filling,” she commented. As they ate, she quietly remarked, “I like your mother. I hope we find them.” Nijil agreed. “I’d have to ask the Captain if I could make a run to Romulus. Must be more clues there. The system’s surveillance surely recorded something. I’ve spent a lot of time searching for a record of them or a transmission.” He wanted to get away from thinking of his family. A minute of silent eating passed. Feeling the dampened mood, Jylliene’s mind raced for something else to say. He stopped eating. Something with her spots caught his eye and he reached a hand out to...then pulled it back. A smile crossed his face, but grabbed his glass instead. The drink went down hard, slightly alcoholic. Duty was not for over a day yet, so there were no worries of recovering in time. “You look nice.” His words felt lame. Smiling at him, Jylliene replied, “In this? Thank you,” she said with a gentle chuckle. “I’d have dressed up a bit had I anticipated dinner after, though I imagine anything I’d have worn for that would have made the hover cycle ride a bit more awkward.” Pausing, she added, “And you, you look wonderful. You should have seen yourself after the ride. There was a giddy joy to you. You lit up. Your eyes were - well, I could have held that image forever,” she mused, gazing at him tenderly. Nijil looked off to the side, wondering if he contorted his face while he concentrated, or relaxed for that matter, while flying. “I would have flown longer,” he paused. “This sounds self-serving...to have you hold on tighter.” He looked up. “I even made unnecessary hard turns. Anyhow...” Chuckling, she said, “So that was your motive, eh? For that matter, a longer flight would have been welcome to me as well. Once we got to altitude, that is.” “Yes. I’ve always flown on one of those alone. Having you there. So many thoughts.” He went back to finishing his meat. He stabbed a piece and offered it to her. “What kind of thoughts?” she asked, a gleam in her eyes, as she took the offered bite. His foot tapped her leg again. “I don’t think I can say.” A tinge of green fell over his face. He coughed. “Dessert?” he asked, as the waiter arrived at their table. “I think later,” she replied quietly. “It’s been an eventful day. Walk with me back to the quarters?” Jylliene asked, offering her hand as she slid her chair back to rise. “Why of course. Wouldn’t miss it.” Nijil placed a strip of latinum as a tip, stood in turn, and took her hand under his arm. His other hand caressed hers softly. They left the restaurant and proceeded toward the upper decks. Pausing outside Jylliene’s door, they exchanged a warm kiss that soon grew more heated. “Would you care to come inside for a bit?” she asked him, quietly. “Yes, but I don’t think for only a bit,” he said with a measure of conviction in his eyes. He glided the back of his hand down the side of her face. She smiled softly at him and replied, “The invitation stands. Please come in.” They entered her quarters, the door sliding shut behind them.

He had not expected it to be night here. The computer must be timing this program to the actual beach, hopefully still around. Was it? Nijil did not know. Waves crashed along the shore which stretched into the horizon. The approximation of the smell of salty ocean air brought memories to the surface of a time years ago. Holodecks and holographic imaging chambers could do that like no other technology, well, other than visiting actual locations. The engineer started to walk, stopped, and then grabbed Jylliene’s hand, interlacing his fingers with hers. He kept a leisurely pace just at the edge of the water, looking far into the distance. Nearly a minute of silence passed. Jylliene walked with him, listening to the soothing sounds of the waves. It was a greatly needed scene of tranquility after the mission; that he was sharing this with her was even more restful. She wondered where they were, but didn’t want to break the peaceful quiet to ask. “I had to get away from everyone...everything, except for you,” Nijil remarked. His grip tightened a bit. “Close quarters don’t suit me well over long periods, that Mist Station was no help.” His breathing slowed and he closed his eyes to take in the sounds. No metallic creaks and clanks, just white noise. “It’s serene,” she replied quietly, taking in the ambiance. “Yes. It is. Wish I could really go here,” he said with a somber expression. “Your spots would not go unnoticed.” “So be it,” she said with a grin. “Where is it?” she asked more softly, guessing his answer. “East Umrika, one of the southern continents.” He thought a moment. “Must be summer there now, or would be.” They continued to walk along the shore, in the dark. “If you would like another location...” “Whatever your preference is,” she replied. “It’s your program. The only ones I have are for meditation and hand-to-hand practice.” “I do have a brothel program in storage, the best massages this side of the computer core. And that Sindi woman...her photons alone are worth the price I paid. What do you say?” “I hope by all your Elements that you’re joking,” she said, with an incredulous look toward him. “You would have to decompile the holographic imaging storage to find out,” he stated, staring forward. “I have ways,” she replied, her voice taking on a teasing tone. As much as Niji wanted to keep the ruse going, he did not want to string her along. “I have no program like that, but I’m sure it would be easy enough to find. I don’t think I could keep much from you without guilt setting in.” Jylliene smiled. “Nor I,” she replied. “I’m guessing it’s a trait of your people. We, Romulans, would stab each other in the back to get an advantage. At least it’s how many view us. Perhaps the reputation is deserved, perhaps not.” He flexed his hand, then grasped hers again. “I’m sure you don’t wish to walk this beach for clicks on end. I know something, let’s turn here.” Nijil pointed to the left where a path began. Turning with him, Jylliene answered, “Those who have had symbionts know that every host has had secrets. Those who are prepared for joining are aware of that. It shifts your focus a bit; you are no longer the only one with something hidden away. And that, I think, encourages some sense of freedom to reveal them.” She paused, then added, “Though, admittedly, I am reluctant to mention my use of the holo-masseuse,” with a teasing grin and a sideways glance at her companion. “I could have used one on the way back. Someone hit me pretty hard in the back,” Nijil complained. He led her up a set of stairs, then along a winding concrete path. “I think it’s up ahead.” Jylliene rubbed his back as they proceeded along the path. “Mmmm, that’s...” He closed his eyes, spun her around and planted a kiss. “Not right now,” he said with a pleading smile. They came to a shed with a large door. On the panel next to it he entered a code. The door began to slide open. He stood back. “Are you afraid of high speed?” “Is this where I get to experience that low altitude flight you were speaking of?” Jylliene asked with a grin. “It’s a hover cycle if that’s what you mean. And yes. This is unlike the shuttle.” “I’m willing to give it a ride,” she replied with a spark in her eyes. Nijil led her into the shed where the hover cycle sat. He got on first and offered a hand to help her up. She took his hand and sat behind him. The seat seemed built for two, but she could not be sure. He stabbed at the controls and the holographic cycle came to life. Not seeing anywhere else to hold on, Jylliene wrapped her arms around Nijil’s waist. “Ready when you are.” Without a word, the hover cycle jumped up off the ground and jetted out of the shed. Nijil leaned right, heading back toward the beach. A wave off the coast grew larger as they raced toward it; collision was imminent. At the last moment, Nijil pulled up to just skim the crest. The inertial dampener compensated, but not enough to prevent Jylliene from hugging his waist tight. She gazed, wide-eyed, over the oceanscape as they flew at increasing speed, nearly stealing her breath from her. As they picked up speed one of the Romulan moons, Pirek, peeked over the horizon casting an orange hue between the clouds. Jylliene tried to remind herself of the holodeck safeties, but admittedly, it was difficult at that moment. Nijil on the other hand looked oddly rested and at home. They swept parallel to the coast, which Jylliene could almost discern from the glow of the moon reflected by the sands. A blanket of fog hung just over the water up ahead, surely they’d speed around it. Jylliene buried her face in Nijil’s back, not sure she WANTED to know if he’d go around it - she had the feeling he might drive straight through. Whatever her reason for doing so, though, it was relaxing to rest her head against him. Her first thought was correct, he plowed right through the fog, covering them in a sudden horizontal rainfall. Making matters worse, he veered to the right again to head inland. This took them back through the fogbank, soaking them further. From behind Nijil, Jylliene reminded herself of the safeties, and that this was his program, and he had likely done this before, and of the safeties, and that he obviously was comfortable flying the thing, and of the safeties. The ocean waves were replaced by a series of rolling hills. Instead of maintaining a safe altitude, Nijil decided to hug the ground, riding the changes as they came. Jylliene considered the wisdom of looking up, did so, and ducked her head back down behind him. “Oh come on, you should look,” he joked. “We are only going 327 kph, not quite half the speed of this old thing.” “I looked. It’s hard to breathe with that wind in your face,” she said. And when looking means that you start hyperventilating, she thought. “Fair enough,” he said, freeing up one hand to place over hers. “Let me take us up and to a little quieter ride. This will take the actual time it would on Romulus. Are you tired?” “No, I’m not,” she said. The ride really wasn’t bad, as long as she didn’t look. The feel of the speed of the bike and just doing something enjoyable with him - it was nice. Tired or not, Nijil pressed on for the next half hour. The rolling hills merged with a tall forest. Evergreens from the looks of them, towering over the forest floor below. Her warmth against his back felt really good. Unlike when they shared quarters, he stayed wide awake. But it was difficult to do so. Jylliene poked her head out from behind Nijil, enjoying the view now that they weren’t so close to the ground. The tall forest changed to grasslands, then signs of cultivation stretched as far as the eye could see. Nijil altered course and aligned the hover cycle with the patches of different crops. For another five minutes, at that same speed, they continued onward into the horizon. A spire poked out at the edge of visibility. He slowed the craft down and began to circle the spire. Littered around the spire were buildings of various configurations. All was dark save for one. “There, going to land at the base of the spire,” he alerted his passenger. “Hold on.” The hover cycle circled the spire, dropping in altitude and slowing in speed. The buildings came into view more clearly now, even in what should be early morning. A single light lit a patch of ground next to the spire. Nijil rested the cycle right under it, then powered it down. “Here we are.” Accepting his offered hand, Jylliene swung her leg over and stepped off the cycle, wobbling a moment, then took in the view. “Where are we?” she asked quietly. He glanced at the ground at her feet then looked her in the eye. “Home. This is my parents’ farm. The rough translation would be Korjata Acres.” He led her to a bench. “This image was recorded just before I left for the war college of engineering.” Sitting down, she looked around at the buildings, then back up at him. “It’s lovely,” she whispered to him. “I always thought so. It’s very big. Walking to the property line would take a good while. Early morning is the best, or was it early evening in the summer...I can’t remember.” Nijil looked all around, lost in the past. He held her hand as he did on the beach, rubbing with his thumb. She gazed at him, watching him reminisce. “Thank you,” Jylliene finally said. Nijil nodded. “This may be the only way I can visit. I -,” he stopped as the door to his childhood home opened. A figure in a dark robe walked toward them. He did not remember any people in this program. Since it was a holodeck he remained seated, waiting for the person to approach. “Who is this?” A feminine voice called out as she approached. She now stood under the light, then pulled off the hood of her robe. Nijil looked up and could only stare as if frozen in time. Jylliene looked between Nijil and the Romulan woman. “...Nijil?” she whispered, nudging her companion. He uttered one word: “Mother?”

Hiding in the Cold Sadness surrounded Annisha like a dusty blanket, offering little comfort. Rest was restless. The sounds outside her cabin were unfamiliar. On a ship this size even creepy. Either the cargo ship was old or has seen many light years. Occasionally she heard footsteps pass by the door. Once she heard a voice, but not that of her parents. No one came in to check on her. No one tucked her into bed. And even more frightening - no escape. A hiss in the distance. “Get up!” Shouted a man, the guard from the night before. Annisha stirred, but only a little. A bright light, precise and many lumens, shined upon her face. “Get. Up!” She lifted her head and rubbed her eyes. Now she shielded her eyes from the brightness. “What’s happening?” the Rihan girl asked. “Get up,” he repeated. A clank sounded from the table close to the door. “Eat. All of it.” The guard stood unmoving as Annisha got up to the table. She hobbled a bit, distracted by the light still fiercely pointed at her face. She sat and picked up the utensil, surveying the plate - breakfast. Some runny, yellow, and mostly tasteless blob. The Rihan girl ate eagerly. So too with the drink, oddly very sweet and kind of chalky. The man with the light remained silent as she finished her morning meal. “This thing,” poking at the blob on her plate, "is yucky, and this...oh, I don’t feel so go...” Suddenly with no notice Annisha falls headfirst into that tasteless confection. The drink spills into the table. The liquid inside almost runs off onto the floor. The guard flicks off the light and activates a communicator. “She’s out. The room is secure.” He got behind Annisha and lifted her up by her shoulders. For a moment she’s just sat straight up, out cold. To him she was nothing more than living latinum. He, with no gentleness, picked her up under each arm and tossed her onto the bed. Now she lay stomach first, face to one side. The door hissed open behind him. “Don’t damage the merchandise,” Lovan barked as he passed into the room. His wife and another followed. The other had an all-black case under one arm. “How long will this take Jon’Tal?” “Just like the others Lovan,” the man answered. “If she bleeds or for some reason wakes up this would naturally take longer.” He open the case and removed a cutting instrument. “One wrong move and I sever her spinal cord, paralyzing her from the neck down.” “You better be careful then. Her treatment would be your cut,” Maivei added. “Not to worry dear, you know I’ve done dozens of these procedures. Has our buyer had to dispose of any of his labor due to a device failure?” Jon’Tal asked, knowing the answer. As they spoke he made a vertical incision at the base of her neck. Copper blood trickled down the side of Annisha’s neck. “No, and your little guarantee is why we pay you so well,” Lovan chimed in. He knew where this would lead. Maivei and Jon’Tal seemed at odds at all times. “Good. I’m glad we can always agree on this point.” Jon’Tal reached into his case and pulled out a round, mostly flat piece of smooth metal. It was no more than one centimeter in diameter. He twirled it around in his finger before placing it inside Annisha’s incision. Blood still dripped out as he aligned the metal inside the wound. “There, now to activate and close the cut.” He replaced the knife in his hand with a thin rod, the split tip arching with a blue electric field. “Hold her down,” Jon’Tal commanded. Lovan and Maivei held Annisha down as he brought the tip of the rod inside the incision. At first nothing happened, then, catching the two by surprise, the girl started to convulse violently. She made no verbal sound, but her muscles twitched as if activated all at once. Unseen by her captors, tears of intense pain ran down her cheeks. Jon’Tal got a regenerator from his kit. “Hold her still so I can seal this.” The two looked at each other and redoubled their effort. As they held her tightly against the bed he closed her wound. *** Some hours passed, enough for Annisha to believe it to be the next morning. Slowly she awoke, finding herself back in her bed under loose covers. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, but unlike the morning, she felt different. "Mm mm...Uh," she muttered. Alerted to her rousing, Jon’Tal enters. “I see you are finally awake Annisha.” He got out his kit. “My name is Jon’Tal, the ship’s doctor.” The girl started to sit up in her bed. His eyes met hers for a brief moment. “You fell ill after your last meal, an allergic reaction coupled with low blood sugar.” “Really?” she asked, now alert and sitting up. The doctor got out his scanner. He waved it about her as she’d seen dozens of times by dozens of doctors. In truth, her health was a secondary concern. The implant appeared completely functional, its tendrils in all of the right places. “Yes, really. The wooziness you feel is from the medicine and should fade within a few hours.” He closed up the scanner and placed it back in the case. “Were my parents here while I was sick?” Nodding, “Oh yes, they came as soon as the guard called them. They held you as I diagnosed your condition.” His lips curved up into an odd smile. “Now, get some rest and I will your mother and father will recover nicely.” The door hissed open and the doctor disappeared through it. Annisha stayed in her bed for a while. The room remained in a darkened state. A glance to the window showed they were still traveling at warp. Stars streaked by just as silently as before. Her stomach growled over the rumble of the ship’s engines. No food or drink appeared to be on the table, but she could not really see. Pulling off the covers, she hopped over to see if her eyes had deceived. They had not. She put her hands on her hips in disgust. What she did find is the metal utensil from breakfast. It looked like a spoon with three teeth in the middle. Wonder if it would fit between the doors? Her stay is this room tested her restlessness like no other experience before. I need to get out of this place, find my mom and dad. The Rihan girl pounded the spoon into every crevice. Twisted it into every slot. Nothing. The panel, whose password combination she could not guess, did not buckle under the stress of an eight year Old’s thrashing. She walked back a pace and considered for a moment. She walked to the middle of the door where the two panels shut together. “Go in there,” she ordered the spoon. Two millimeters of space between the panels allowed the spoon to fit. No matter where along the door’s length she attempted, they would not move apart. In a final act of defiance she shoved the spoon in and gave it her best effort to release the doors. “Come on! Grrr!” she growled. Without warning and to her astonishment the door opened. The shock was such she fell flat on her back. Her tool fell out of her hand. Out in the hall stood a towering figure, but this time not the guard. “Father! I tri..,” she spoke, then stopped. “Annisha!” Lovan shouted in pure anger. “I told you to remain in this room and this how you treat your father, with disobedience? Your parents must not have raised you with manners. Now get up!” “But I just wanted to see you,” Annisha said, bowing her head, not able to look her father in the eye. She picked herself up. “But nothing. It’s time for a lesson in discipline little girl.” He slipped a hand in his pocket. Annisha could not imagine what would happen next. The signal from the transmitter worked at light speed to tell the device in her neck to begin. The first 100 milliseconds she did felt nothing. The sensation started out as an itch, growing from the middle of her spine. The pain grew as it stretched out, hitting any nerve ending it could find. Lungs, heart, fingers and toes. “A..!” The intensity danced up and down throughout her tiny frame. “Aa..!” The voltages ramped up into the thousands, but not high enough to kill. “Aaah..!” Her body began to spasm back in reaction to the thousands points of pain. “AaahaaA..!” She could do nothing to stop from dropping hard onto the floor below. Her eyes, now wide open, rolled to the back of her head. “AaahaaAaaaHHAA..!” Now she was less than a few centimeters from impact. Her arms and legs contorted out of her control, pain arcing to every appendage. BAM! She hit the back of her head first, but it compared little to the electrical menace now pulsing from neuron to neuron. The tear ducts, also in extreme pain, forced out all of the moisture they could. The effort was futile. They offered no resistance. “AaahaaAaaaHHAA! NOOoo!” She made a gurgling sound as if choking on something. Her tongue blazed in its own Great Fire, consuming any further words. Her arms and legs continued flinching wildly. The acid in her stomach began to well up and travel up her esophagus. Any and all of her stomach left her body. “Don’t disappoint me again,” Lovan stated without so much as concern for the pain he caused. He spun on his heel and left her room. No explanation other than her defiance to the extreme measure he took. The pain crept back to the implanted demonic device nearly as quickly as it spirited out. Her body remained in shock. The sensory centers of her brain still overloaded. Annisha started to go limp as the electrification of her body ceased. The force of her emesis threw a meter away, but left her outfit clean. Goosebumps formed all over her as the world around grew an icy coldness. Tears flowed down her rosy cheeks, both from emotion and pain. Her hazel eyes remained open wide, wishing they could hide a new evil.

A Fine Mess VI: Back from the Rock (Joint log of Jylliene and Nijil) Back again. The Aegean’s mess hall was a welcome sight for Nijil, even with the crowded tables. One thing the Federation and Romulan alliance on this vessel forgot: a properly sized mess hall. Even so it did not matter. The engineer/pilot/doctor of a Rihan simply stared into his cup of warm liquid. He asked at the counter what everyone else got that day and ordered the same. Klingon coffee. Sure, the Romulans had a version of this, even his parents grew it on their massive farm, but this brew must have been laden with bloodwine. He drank. Jylliene pulled up a chair next to Nijil and rubbed his shoulder. “I’m afraid to ask what we’re drinking,” she said, as she gazed in her own cup. Nijil smiled at her touch. “Klingon coffee and my elements it is very strong. I can appreciate why many Federation personnel drink it. Thanks for joining me on short notice. Many debriefings.” She nodded back to him. “Glad to be here with you,” she replied with a gentle smile. He reached out and held her hand as it rested on the table, did not make eye contact and spoke. “It’s too bad they don’t have any kind of method to emotionally debrief. I would not have made a good security officer. I’ve never seen so much death so close.” He drank more and winched a little. Jylliene embraced his shoulders. “I hope we can all find what peace we need when we return to Aegis.” Nijil choked as he thought of something. He squeezed her hand harder. “I hope so. This Mist station can’t be the entirety of the rebel population.” “No, I’m sure it isn’t. But I hope we can at least enjoy a reprieve before we need to deal with any more. Perhaps it will be for others to handle,” she sighed, not quite believing herself that there wouldn’t be further for their own crew to deal with. “Would you like something to eat? I never know when the next debriefing will occur.” He release her hand to tap on his PADD to look for food. He hoped a full stomach would ease his current state. Jylliene nodded. “That would be appreciated.” “I think I have chosen,” he handed the PADD to her. “I don’t know what ‘Shepherd's Pie’ is, but it sounds like something my mother would fix.” He paused a bit to think. “Favorite foods from your childhood?” She pondered that. “I don’t recall anything specific - no, wait. There was a poultry dish that we always had if we had a bad day. I remember we had it fairly often when my mother was trying for tenure for the first time,” she chuckled. Her expression turning serious, she added, “They also had it the night I left for the Academy.” “A bird? The Romulan people hold all birds in high regard and would never consume them. Had I known you participated in this type of animals for food ritual...” Nijil looked shocked. She shrugged. “Many cultures have their own specific lines they draw around what plants and animals are considered in such a way. Some would even say that though a particular animal or plant is considered too sacred for normal consumption, certain rituals would include...” she peered at him quizzically, then rolled her eyes. “You’re trying to be funny,” she chuckled. “And you are not making it easy for me. We ate birds all of the time. It’s the hunting birds we hold dear. I can’t imagine the nei’rrh bird was a species highly regarded until they got their own shuttle.” He looked at her. “So, do they have that dish?” “I think this one is similar,” she said, pointing to a listed casserole. He peered at the PADD, nodding. “You should get that, though I’m not sure this is a particularly special time special occasion foods” He gestured with both hands at the mass of people in the mess hall. “Having you here is special enough. Let me know when you are ready.” “I am - did you want me to get the food so that you can keep our seats secure?” she asked. “Yes, I will stab anyone who attempts to sit in your place.” Jylliene grinned and went to get their food. While she did so, Nijil thought back to the station, partly because of their promise to each other, but also of one item left behind: Annisha. The mission timing could not have been worse. The girl would be gone long before getting back. Her new home is far and no immediate method of contact. Perhaps she composed a letter or funny picture for him. He could see Jylliene returning with their food. Placing the food on the table, Jylliene retook her seat. “Dig in,” she said, indicating the meal before them. “Looks good for replication.” He started into his meal of meat, a starch and a vegetable. He smiled and hoped her meal was fine. He considered her for a moment and stared at her Trill spots. She peered up at him quizzically as she ate. “Something wrong?” “No, not at all...” His mind raced a bit after being caught looking. “Kids?” He coughed. She blinked at him. “Here, now? I would prefer some privacy if we’re going to work on that,” she replied with a grin. “What? No, no. I mean, well. Interest in kids?” Why did he speak? He took more of his meal into his mouth to prevent further outbursts. Did they speak of their respective siblings? He could not remember. “Eventually. And you?” she asked, wondering where his line of thinking had suddenly appeared from, but willing to follow along. “Yes. It’s been on my mind a lot.” His eyes went wide. “With my family mostly gone and watching Annisha. But she’s gone I suppose.” Another bite. He could scare her away with these questions. Jylliene nodded. “She very likely is,” she answered, and quickly took a bite of her own food to try to stifle the sorrow she felt over not seeing the girl off. Or indeed, over not seeing the girl remain with a family on Aegis. Quite a conversation stopper Nijil. He continued to finish his meal. “Well, that is great to hear. I mean not that we are bonded or anything...yet or if, you know. One does not want to be on opposite pages on the issue of children.” He threw a mental punch at himself where on the one hand he wanted kids, but said no to Annisha asking him to adopt her. Smiling affectionately at Nijil, Jylliene just chortled inwardly. She leaned toward him and whispered in his ear...

“Your pants...” Nijil ordered Jylliene directly. “Lose them.” Jylliene blinked at Nijil. “WHAT?!” “You need to lower them so I can get to your wound. What did you think...” Nijil stopped himself and turned green. “I am sorry.” He hesitated. “Knowing what little I know about Romulans daggers I am worried.” Considering this, Jylliene nodded. “That, I can understand. Is there a way that would not involve completely removing them, though?” The engineer in him thought a moment. “My dagger, do you still have it?” “Yes, it’s how I killed one of them. His uniform was absorbing energy from the phaser. Here...” she said, as she handed him his dagger. She paused. “I still have his as well, did you want to examine it?” “Place it aside please.” First he had to get the green, large amounts of it, off his dagger. The dermal regenerator from the med kit did this. In moments the green turned to gray. Nijil flipped and twirled the dagger in his hand. It looked a little dangerous, but he did not lose control. “Do you want to remove your own bandage?” She gave him a quizzical look. “Sure, I can. I get the feeling you’d try to cut it off,” she chuckled in reply, as she unwrapped her thigh. “He threw it from across the room - his dagger, I mean.” “A good shot, required a bit of aim and force to get into your leg.” He looked into her eyes. “I don’t mean to praise him, I would have messed him up for that maneuver.” The cut from the dagger looked a little worse than he expected. More blood than expected. It made him a little woozy. He turned the dagger upwards and quickly made the cut in the uniform even longer. “This is my first time seeing red blood.” “Congratulations on the accomplishment,” she said, grinning at him. “Does it look like there was poison?” “I’m not certain. It’s not clotting as much as I would expect, but I’m an engineer, not a doctor. Is there something special I should know about Trills?” “We...have red blood. I don’t know, our physiology isn’t that drastically different. We may just need to wrap it as best we can and wait until we get to medical.” While she was talking he broke open a small vial. “Hold still. I am sorry about this, e’lev.” He poured the slight amount of liquid onto her wound and grimaced in anticipation. Jylliene’s eyes flew open wide, but she held still, and didn’t react to the burning sensation. She hoped that did SOMETHING beneficial. The pain faded fairly quickly, and the Trill relaxed a bit. She felt like giving the corpse a kick for putting her through this, though she did remind herself that he got the worse end of the encounter. “Good. You took that well.” His grin grew wide. “With you there is always something that impresses me.” The liquid continued to do it’s work. He turned away looking for the regenerator, found it, then reprogrammed for healing. “I think this part will only tickle.” “That will be a welcome change. What WAS the purpose of that liquid, anyhow?” she asked. “Merely for pain.” “CAUSING it? Because I really wasn’t in pain before,” she replied. “I was trying to be funny.” A sense of humor is not taught at the war college. “It’s a general poison neutralizer. It has to hurt a little to be effective. Should clean the area as well. Wonder if it was meant for those with iron blood.” He checked the settings again. “See, that would likely have been a good thing to know before pouring it into an open wound,” she said with a chuckle - though she had to admit to herself, a slightly worried one. “If we cut right here,” Nijil motioned with his finger at a spot on her leg above the wound, “we could put your fears to rest.” His slight smile was hidden. “Are you suggesting cutting my flesh, or cutting my trousers...?” she asked with some trepidation. “No, later and actually I’m quite nervous. I’m an engineer for a reason, not a medic. Again, keep still as I run this over your thigh.” The dermal regenerator emitted a green glow on her leg as it started to clean the area of infection. At this point Nijl tried to concentrate as if sealing a plasma conduit trunk line. “Let me know if this does more than tickle.” She watched as Nijil worked, feeling relief that her dagger injury seemed to be the worst of what the two of them had experienced. Jylliene hoped that casualties with the rest of the team and crews were light, though she actually held out little hope of not having any serious injuries or deaths. She almost felt guilty at her overwhelming relief when she saw Nijil return to the shuttle. What if they had lost quite a few crewmembers? For that matter, why should she be so privileged as to see her e’lev return when even perhaps one other crewmember will be faced with the loss of theirs? Nijil was here, safe. She was...relatively intact. And the arrival of the Athicus seemed to ensure that they’d be returning safely at this point. Jylliene just wanted to be able to hold him. After some minutes of waving the regenerator back and forth over Jylliene’s leg all signs of the dagger’s entry started to vanish. He stopped the beam and ran his fingers lightly over where the cut was. Like a repair on someones personal PADD or phaser, he did not like the results, then went back to the healing beam. Jylliene watched him rub her thigh and cleared her throat. “Does it hurt?” Nijil looked up quickly. “No, e’lev, but...nevermind. It looks like it has mended well. He changed the direction of the beam and spun the end of the device between his fingers. His breath slowed as he looked on. Another minute of silence went by before he turned off the beam. He checked his work with his finger one last time. “Any numbness?” “No, I assure you, I can feel there just fine,” she answered rapidly. He started to put away the medical kit items. A smile crossed his face. “You surprise me.” Something on the co-pilot console got his attention. He tapped and closed something. “How so?” “You said you were not a pilot. You lied to me.” “I’m not. I’ve had a very little bit of training, but the simulator sessions we ran before the mission helped. Nijil nodded. “Oh I saw the logs of your simulator time, no wonder things got cold at night.” He looked her over. Other than the dagger, she looked no worse for wear. “I’d like to further your flight training...later of course.” He turned and looked out the view windows. Another larger vessel held still in the distance. “You missed quite a show inside. I’m glad you missed it.” “I think I am, too.” “Have you ever seen someone die, and I don’t mean what Jorahl did on the station?” “During the retaking of Aegis,” she replied. It was a memory she didn’t like reliving. Enemy or not, seeing someone’s life end was deeply, profoundly unnerving. She glanced away for a moment, remembering. “Oh, well, it’s unsettling. We have training to not care about the death of our enemies and to press on when one of us falls. Then there are classes devoted to acts of revenge.” He took a deep breath. She winced. “Of course you press onward, but...still.” Jylliene looked at Nijil, reaching out to stroke the side of his face softly. He laughed. “I would not make a good Klingon.” The medical kit snapped closed. He turns to stow it against the wall and returns. “That’s a shame. I think, given the blood, we might be considered betrothed in some Klingon circles,” she replied with a wink, chuckling. Nijil looked to the side in consideration. She was joking, right? A bonding...wedding...whatever? They’d not even...no, no...no. The banter and innuendo were welcome, but the mission to M-2 concerned him. Did it concern her? And for that matter, where did the Aegean go? Jylliene, for her part, WAS concerned. The return of the teams was very welcome, but she also was confused and worried that the Aegean wasn’t to be seen; even more so when she saw the warbirds, and the arrival of the Athicus. This was not looking like the secret get in-get out mission that was hoped. The engineer sat back in his seat and look out the window. “This mission...was strange. I can’t place it precisely.” He gripped the console at its edge. “I imagine the fact that it didn’t go smoothly and to plan. The question of consequences, perhaps. The fear that we’ll still be dealing with this in ways we had hoped not to for quite some time to come.” “My people are normally more vicious. I expected really evil traps.” He paused, looking distressed. “Perhaps these rebels are more bad off then reports indicate. You are right, this is not the last time we will hear from them.” He needed no more distress. He got out of his chair, faced Jylliene, then held her tight.

“Jigsaw Falling Into Place” It seemed to Captain Chirakis that the Rihan child known simply as Annisha had a facility for swift computation of statistics, compiling complex bits of data for evaluation and making accurate conclusions even more quickly than some of the seasoned operatives with which she worked. As Annisha continued to assemble the bits of Aegis available to her on the view screen, the captain decided to up the ante by secretly removing two or three puzzle pieces. “I think your game is broken,” Annisha said with no change of expression. She tilted her head to view a piece of the station propped at a strange angle on the display. “Oh, this needs flipped.” The tiny exterior section of the outer hull was indeed flipped the wrong direction. Changing this however still left an incomplete version of the station on the screen. Annisha sat motionless and looked quizzically at what she had remaining. "If it is broken, then, to save the lives of those on the station, we must determine why it is broken, then formulate a strategy to fix it," the captain replied, mirroring the young engineer's concerned and puzzled expression. "Perhaps a three dimensional puzzle will clarify the problem." Kirel tapped the board to modify the image. "Ah,” she vaguely pointed, “do you see it?" “No,” Annisha answered, her voice trailing off. “I, um...wait.” She brushed her black hair back with her hand to get it out of her face, studied the additional dimension further, then started to manipulate the controls. In what looked like an ancient 3D Tetris game, the pieces began to fall into place. Not every attempt was successful and a few times she dug herself into a hole. She let out grunts at failed attempts, but kept at it. This diversion sucked her in. Minutes passed. Annisha hardly noticed the time, nor the Bajoran watching her. “I’m thirsty,” she said in the middle of moving a large piece with her fingers. She could be clever with puzzles like these, especially when it did not feel like a test. Everything stopped as she rubbed her eyes and wrinkled her nose, then resumed. Annisha let out a raspberry sound with her lips. “Oh...” When Annisha turned, a glass of water sat within reach. The girl grabbed the glass without lifting her gaze on the display. “Hmm...,” mused Kirel. “Why did I not think of that? It’s the obvious solution, and quite simple.” The child definitely had some kind of education, and possibly advanced. Moreover, she had been encouraged to explore. Aristocratic or high-ranking diplomatic family. Only they would have regularly used the vocabulary and high Rihan dialect Kirel had been speaking. Only they would have encouraged her in this type of education. If not, the child was either precocious or truly brilliant. “I believe it’s time to progress to the next step, Annisha. Are you ready?” “Next step?” She asked peering up. She then gave a brief smile and appraised her work. Her eyes danced around the outline of the station. When she arrived the true nature of Aegis had been hidden behind bulkheads. This station soon would be a memory as another transport sped her off to a new life on A’Tari. Not enough time to learn all of the kid-only hiding place. “I’m ready,” she mumbled as if in trouble. What did she know? “Then I have another surprise for you. A sanctuary into which few are admitted.” The Rihan vocabulary increased in difficulty. Kirel watched Annisha for signs of comprehension. “My office, wherein resides an athenaeum of documents and assorted paraphernalia that should be very interesting, especially for one of your caliber.” A button on the console erased the puzzle and brought up another outline of the station. Kirel gave one command. “Three-dimensional solid, one meter by one meter, non-permeable manipulative, monochromatic, materialize on the command office floor, central area,” she paused to consider, “difficulty seven.” She turned to Annisha. “Come.” “Toys?” she asked. “I had those. But I have drawings back at my bed. They gave me some paper. I can get them.” She got out of her seat and brushed back her hair again, its length had started to annoy her. She followed behind Kirel and got her first real view of her attire. “Why do you dress like a Tal Shiar person?” “Do I?” Kirel turned, bemused, as the office door opened. “I hadn’t thought of it that way. But now that you mention it, I suppose my uniform does resemble one. If you’re referring to the black,” she paused as the doors closed behind them, “I am a Starfleet officer but I work for a very special branch of Starfleet, a branch that wears black uniforms.” “Ohhhh,” was all Annisha could muster as she looked all around. Her excitement got a hold of her and she rushed to every corner to get a closer look. Every place she’d been since the Great Fire was plain and merely functional. Even her hero’s place seemed boring by comparison. “What’s this?” She pointed to the pieces of a puzzle in the middle of the room. Then she walked right in the middle of the numerous pieces and started grabbing each one. “What do you believe it to be?” “Something you put together? A house?” Annisha placed a piece on her head. She then took the piece and played with it in her hands. With her other hand she grabbed a piece on the floor and hooked it to the other one. “Look.” showing her accomplishment to Kirel. The captain turned from the bar, drinks in hand. “Excellent. I wonder if all the pieces fit together like that. And when you’re ready, I have some Romulan ginger ale for you.” “I have to put this together?” Kirel shrugged, setting the child’s glass on the coffee table close to her. “You do not have to do anything. You can sit and watch them put themselves together if you wish, but that may take a very long time. I’m sure they would appreciate some assistance.” She sat in an armchair and pressed a button, bringing Dr. Davis to the small viewscreen on her desk. Pressing a finger to her lips, Kirel pointed to Annisha, who seemed completely absorbed with the puzzle. “I’ve done this before, first you lay out all of the pieces so you can see what you have.” She began to arrange the pieces apart from each other. She sat in the middle of the pile and arranged them radially in circles around her. “This looks like a bird,” she said of a piece resembling such. A minute passed and she had placed all of the pieces out where she wanted. “Hmm.” She laid herself flat on the floor staring at the arrangement for a time. In short order the Rihan girl had moved pieces together appearing to be similar shapes. She wrinkled her forehead as she has seen something like this before. “These fit together like plates,” she observed, holding one-half a plate in each hand. She held them in midair as she looked on the floor for other pieces. She knelt, “Here’s one...and another.” She stacked the plate-shaped pieces into a pile. She spotted another piece, grabbed it and sat down with it. “Are we here?” “I am here. Are you?” She smirked, sipping her ale. “You are home, I am not,” she said, manipulating the piece for the tip of the station. The girl poked at the very top of the piece, an antenna relay or something. She smiled as the realization of all this hit. So many pieces. She’d never seen something this large or complex. A tinge of worry that she’d not get this finished crossed her mind. Her stomach growled and her mouth dry. “I think I need that drink now, please.” “The one on the table?” The captain pointed to the glass that had been sitting close to Annisha while she had absorbed herself in the puzzle. “Perhaps something to go with it?” Embarrassed, she grabbed the glass and took a long drink. “I think I may need more. This is a big puzzle,” she explained, spreading her arms wide and almost spilling her drink. “And big puzzles need more concentration, which can quickly drain your body of energy,” Kirel replied. “Computer, some of Dr. Davis’s cream scones, with chocolate bits for energy, on the table next to her.” Within seconds the plate materialized along with another glass of ginger ale next to the one Annisha had just drained. Annisha nearly jumped out of her skin and pounced on the treats before her. “Mmmm.” She ate quickly and started in on the puzzle before her. The universe around her shrank to encompass only the puzzle, and the occasional drink. After several hours’ work, the nine-year-old Rihan child had accomplished what should have been impossible for her age. Slowly, carefully, but not without a little frustration, she had completed a level seven difficulty puzzle of Sky Harbor Aegis, one intended to judge the manipulative ability and concentration of prospective station engineers - minus a few intricacies, of course. Kirel was nothing short of astounded, but refrained from showing it. Instead, she replicated another, smaller version, at the next level of difficulty, placed it in an Aegis satchel, and handed it to her before escorting her back to the orphanage.

Sky Harbor Aegis-Cabana (Performed by the Aegis midway band Static Revolution to the music of Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana”) Her name was Jylliene, she was a Ops girl With a dark red uniform her work in CT was the norm She shifted power and ran the comm board And though she served in Starfleet, Nijil’s tea could not be beat Across the big Midway, it seemed they both would stay She had green eyes and he had green blood And keep foes at bay CHORUS: At the Harbor (Har!), Sky Harbor Aegis (Sky Harbor Aegis) The hottest spot just off Kobheeria (here) At the Harbor (Har!), Sky Harbor Aegis Dangerous missions were always the decisions At the Harbor....he found his love (Harbor, Sky Harbor Aegis) His name was Dabi, he married Mimi He sat at the security console, he watched Jylli lose control And when she finished, he kept a record But Dabi watched a bit too much, Nijil raced down to give a punch And then the insults flew and faces turned black and blue There was green blood and a single stun But just who shot who? At the Harbor (Har!), Sky Harbor Aegis (Sky Harbor Aegis) The hottest spot just off Kobheeria (here) At the Harbor (Har!), Sky Harbor Aegis Dangerous missions were always the decisions At the Harbor....they lost their loves (Harbor. . Sky Harbor Aegis) (Harbor Sky Harbor Aegis) (Sky Harbor Aegis, ahh ahh ahh ahh) (Ahh ahh ahh ahh Harbor..Sky Harbor Aegis) (Replicators makes good bananas) (Forcefields and phasers...better than Tasers) Her name is Jylliene, she was a Ops girl But that’s 30 light years ago, before they all had to go Now it's the mission, and new for Jylliene With pointed ears she had to wear, a short bowl cut for her hair She sits there terrified, and won’t come back alive. She’ll lose her mom…already lost Nijil Last she'll lose her mind! CHORUS: At the Harbor (Har!), Sky Harbor Aegis (Sky Harbor Aegis) The hottest spot just off Kobheeria (here) At the Harbor (Har!), Sky Harbor Aegis Dangerous missions were always the decisions At the Harbor.... Do not look now You’re being watched... Sky Harbor Aegis Sky Harbor Aegis

Departure from Aegis had gone smoothly for the Aegean and her crew. The repair teams must have worked overtime preparing the ship for this mission. Even squeezing the Nei'rrh between the shuttle and cargo bay went without incident. Nothing but systems checks remained for a middle-ranked engineer until in range of the asteroid field. Nijil could relax, put on music and clear his mind. Extra sleep would not hurt either. As the music began he had started to sing. Not even a minute into it the door chimed. It was Lieutenant Kital. Jylliene looked weary. She had explained that her two fellow roommates were too cozy with each other for her to get any meaningful sleep. Nijil understood. Well, none of his classmates from the war college did that. No matter, he dared not turn her away. As much as he needed isolation, he welcomed company. Especially hers. Jylliene and Nijil’s conversations had become increasingly personal in a short span of time. Their time together felt like weeks, but had actually only been days. “Not too fast, you’ll spoil it,” he told himself. Regardless, he had not expected the revelation of this night - the words that seemed to slip past, perhaps before she realized what she had said. They had nearly slipped past his notice as well. Nearly. “and wanting you...” He remembered the look on her face when he asked her if that was indeed what she had said; the way she approached him when he asked her to come to him; the way she felt in that embrace. A feeling of relief had filled him: Nijil hadn’t expected her to echo his own sentiments, certainly not yet. That she had grown as close to him as he felt to her was a welcome surprise. Nijil likewise remained a little shocked at what he had whispered to her. Those few words were the last either had spoken before they prepared for bed. What had gotten into him? Merely tired? Bravado? He posted mental notes all over about not letting her down. She would not forget what he had said in those hushed tones. The look in her eyes at that point, though, had said exhaustion. Deciding how to sleep together but not together had proven a challenge. He asked how she’d like to sleep. At that stage it seemed clear that she cared little; she simply got in bed. Nijil, for reasons still unknown to him, just stood in his night robe not wanting (yes wanting) to make a romantic move. She had smiled sleepily and waved him towards the bed. He grabbed her around the waist, a little too tight, then relaxed. Her head hit the pillow first, so he settled slightly on hers. Her hair smelled of fresh apples. Should he back off or move in closer? He felt conflicted, but the air was chilly. Closer...and if too close he assumed she’d let him know. It had, however, been the right move. She had snuggled back against him and had quickly fallen asleep; he now lay listening to her peaceful breathing. Nijil had not expected to feel so intimately connected to someone without being physically intimate. It was an invigorating feeling. She didn’t care what kind of Romulan he was. With Tajai, he had tried so hard to be her idea of a true Romulan which, in the end, did nothing to keep them together. Here, on board the Aegean, Jylliene had first met him and readily accepted him as a fellow crewmember and friend despite any of his quirks - and here, back on the Aegean once more, he now held her as his love. It was the first time he felt truly able to move on, past the betrayal of his first love, past the loss of home and, likely, family. It was the first time in quite a while that he did not feel alone. He let out a deep, relaxed sigh as the warmth of the woman in his arms enveloped him, and, his eyelids closing, sleep overtook him.