Striding purposefully out of her office, while making plans to have it all reduced to replicator patterns for later re installment elsewhere, Rita Paris was feeling pretty good. The gal with a plan was making it up as she went along again, and it seemed to be working. Now came what was perhaps the biggest hurdle in her plan. To set right what once went wrong.

Beside her was Lieutenant Commander Mnhei'sahe Dox, who also had some plans, and was also moving forward with her life. In a confluence of forces, both women had arrived at similar conclusions. Now they came together to discuss an idea with the starship Hera's mistress and commander, Captain Enalia Telvan.

As was not uncommon, the stout redheaded Romulan woman was only slightly less confident, feeling that her decision was the right thing to do. Although she still hoped that the Captain would agree, as approval from authority figures was still a strong force that often pushed Dox in her life. 

It was a fairly short trip from Rita's anachronistic accommodations to Enalia Telvan's office, a turbolift trip of only one deck. But it was still long enough to give her mind a little time to ponder her and Rita's decisions and ideas. In the time since joining the Hera, Dox had found herself pulled in so many directions, as she tried to please those important to her. Rita was the shining beacon, directing her down the Starfleet path. Enalia had made her an Artan Baroness, giving her a foot back into the smuggling world that she had come from. The woman called Masato Rei, also known as the Embodiment of Death, shared with Dox the cosmic scope of what that task entailed, and had given the young Romulan the choice to one day succeed her in that impossible position. Then there was her grandmother. 

The silver-haired Romulan senator had gone to great lengths to try and convince Dox to join her and train as the heir to that seat on the senate of the Romulan Star Empire. 

Many paths, all pulling her in different directions, and for a long time the embattled officer had tried to keep her feet firmly planted in all of them. Now, she had made a decision. And, for the first time in a long time, it was a decision that she thought was the best for what SHE truly wanted, first and foremost.

BOTH women had made such decisions, thanks in part to the shared experience of being moved across space and time to encounter multiple versions of their own lives, each one a window into a tantalizing elseworld of what could have been.

It was an experience that Enalia Telvan had experienced as well, as she too had been exposed to the mysterious Bulukiya particles that had flung some of the crew across the multiverse for the grand tour of 'This could have been your life'. It was an idea that begged a question in the Romulan woman's mind. "You and I both ended up making... fairly similar decisions to re-evaluate our life plans to some degree. Even if only in moving up timetables."

Looking at Rita, Dox smiled slightly as they walked with the brisk, martial pace that the gilded Commander had set, "Do you think that the Captain has been having similar thoughts?"

"It's a good question, Miss Dox," Commander Paris replied as she tabbed the door chime to the Captain's Ready Room. "What say we ask her?"

Indeed, the Pirate Heiress turned Starfleet Captain had been having thoughts of a similar nature. Having seen what could have been had her life ended up just a little bit differently had set thoughts in motion, worries and curiosities circling in her head.

She was a Starfleet captain now ,and she had a duty to the Federation, to the uniform which she wore, and her honor dictated that she uphold the morals for which they stood.

But what was it that she did with the Artans?

Was the very act of joining Starfleet a betrayal, a mockery of everything they stood for? She had literally just given her throne away - an entire Empire. She had left them with an ideal and a plan, but nothing more. She prized her own freedom and goals in life over their own needs.

As her mother had put it long ago, she had placed the wants of one petulant little girl over the needs of an entire kingdom, and she had seen things recently that were starting to make her think that perhaps her mother was right.

The sound of the door chime brought her out of her thoughts and as she looked up from her desk towards the door, she clicked her desk terminal and tried to compose herself with a smile, to act like she wasn't just rethinking her whole life. She wasn't getting any of the promotion reviews done today anyway, it seemed.

"Come in," Enalia called, hoping she at least looked presentable and trying to remember if she even had any tea left to offer.

At the invitation in strode her first officer and flight chief, smiles on their faces. It wasn't a rare moment for both of them to arrive together, but in this case, it seemed something was up. As she stepped into the small room, Rita Paris eyed the Captain, then gestured to a chair. At the nod, she and Dox both took seats, Rita smoothing out her skirt as she did so, as she always did. Then she crossed her legs in a scissoring motion also quite familiar to Enalia, and folded her hands in her lap.

These were all signs that Rita was going to have A Talk with trhe starship captain. Usually this was not a good experience, in Enalia's two years of having the golden age girl aboard. But when she started to speak, her tone was soft and friendly.

"Enalia, this is off the record. No ranks, this is just Rita and Mnhei'sahe and Enalia having a discussion, okay? There is official business in the background of it, but... well. We've come to you today to make a proposal... one I think it's time we discussed." Pausing so she wasn't talking over anyone, Rita invited some input into the discussion. "Nothing sinister, I assure you."

"Just a bit ominous, is all," the Trill woman replied with a bit of a chuckle as she picked up her tea thermos and shook it. Empty, as she thought. "But not entirely unexpected after... Everything. I'm out of tea but if you want something from the replicator, please, feel free."

"Thanks," Rita replied. "So... Enalia? If I were a better woman I'm sure I would have a better way to say all of this. But it being you, I'm just going to come right out and say it. I want you to resign from Starfleet. Resign your commission, retire, and go home. Go back to your people, to the Artans. Take back your throne and lead your people into becoming the trade empire that you've envisioned for them. It isn't that you haven't done well here, but... I kind of got the feeling after the Tribunal, you were staying in Starfleet more out of a sense of obligation. You surrendered your throne and tried to go pure Starfleet, but... it's makin you miserable, Enalia. A blind man could see it."

Never having been perfectly comfortable interjecting, Dox was working to be better of late. Considering what she was planning for herself, it was a skill she knew she would have to foster and strengthen, and since the Captain had offered no objections to Rita's statement that this was a conversation between them as women and not as much as officers, the red headed Romulan let out a breath she had been holding and spoke freely.

"It's something I've noticed as well." She said, none of her usual anxiety noticeable in her voice to either woman. "You do your best to keep it to yourself, but I can see that pull on your attention and your focus. But, when we spar in sword training, and you can be the Pirate Queen in all of your glory, that hesitation and anxiety is gone."

There was a twinge of almost romantic excitement when Dox said 'Pirate Queen" that came with a confident nod.

"You seem much happier. More yourself." Dox added with a warm, legitimate smile for the woman that, aside from just a commanding officer, she considered a friend. "I like seeing that. It's... something I think we've all been thinking about since coming back from what just happened. Reevaluating who we need to be and who we want to be."

"Agreed," Rita chimed back in. "You are our friend as well as our captain. You won't be letting us down or Starfleet or anyone on this side of the fence... but I think you might be doing a disservice to your people. They need you. Your first, best destiny isn't commanding one Starfleet starship in the cosmos. It's redirecting a fleet and building a proper empire. Which is why we've come to you about. After the Bulikaya incident, it put a lot of things into perspective for me, and Dox as well."

"I'm going home, Enalia," Rita said softly. "Go attend the Academy, settle down in San Francisco and raise some pointy-eared kids that are all smarter than me, teach at the Academy, and work on restoring it to the institution it was back in my day. So... it isn't like you'd be abandoning me out here." In truth, Rita strongly suspected that a number of Enalia's choices had been for Rita's benefit and not her own, so she added that bit to hopefully alleviate any such self-imposed guilt.

The spotted captain nodded slowly, having taken in their words and recognizing the truth in them. She had indeed been holding onto her commission for a lot of different reasons - some of which were for this ship and crew. "I thought that I could do more good out here with you all on the Hera, but after..."

She paused a moment to collect her thoughts, the words becoming more difficult. "One of the realities, I had done just that right after the tribunal and had united almost a hundred worlds under the Artan banner. Another, I saw an empire that spanned as far as any of the powers in the quadrant. One that negotiated with the Federation and the Klingon Empire on equal footing. I also saw a reality where we lost the tribunal and the admiralty stripped me of my command, then assigned me to a listening post near the Breen border where I monitored the new Artan-Syndicate alliance."

"I don't... want... to lose this family..." Enalia continued, doing her best to formulate the words, looking between her two friends with furrowed brows and glistening eyes. "But I also want to build an empire where no one has to lose theirs."

"You wouldn't be you if you didn't want that. It would be... nearly impossible to see so many paths, good and bad, and not reconsider your own." Dox added as she tilted her head a bit. "I think it would be more distressing if we had seen everything that we did in those leaps and didn't at least reconsider some things. I've been struggling with pretty much the same... but you going home doesn't end what we've built here."

"Rita going back to San Francisco to fix the academy... You returning to the Artans to build that dream into reality...  None of that make us any less family." Dox said, her grin getting slightly more awkward. "Any more than... me leaving as well."

"Hera's sake, Dox, don't just leave her hanging, explain," Rita laughed, trying to break the tension.

Down on deck eight, the mighty vessel's namesake looked up from her baking and smiled knowingly.

"Heh... sorry." Dox replied, blushing ever so slightly as she continued. "So... like you, I saw a lot of different paths. And in all but a few, those paths lead back to Romulus. To me trying in some way to so something to fix some of what is so broken there. There was one... the timeline where, when I was kidnapped, you didn't come for me. I got to see a glimpse of what it was like there for anybody outside the power structure. The people living in the streets struggling to survive."

"I also saw what just going back to my grandmother would do, and that isn't an option either." Dox said, her lips pursed a bit. "But... if I were to return to Starfleet. Work to achieve official ambassadorial status, which from my position with my grandmother, is something both governments could benefit from... I perhaps could actually do something. Make the kind of difference that would matter. My path has been leading this way for a while now, but those bulukiya leaps made it clear to me that I need to try."

"I think I'm coming to the same conclusion as well. After all, how many people in this galaxy were groomed to be a queen that cares about family as much as I do?" Now with her trademark grin, Enalia was reassured that her closest friends were also thinking along the same lines as she was. "I'll have to convince Farenia to take care of the Hera and the rest of the crew. I know she's perfectly happy with that antique of hers, but..."

"Enalia, you saved my life in more ways than one, and I love you," Rita admitted. "I want you to be happy, and I honestly think this is the right answer. I know I'm breaking up the gang, but I will offer you this- we will always come together, every year at the holidays, at the Fortress. Wherever we are, we'll make time, catch a fast ship and come visit for the festivities to spend them with your family and ours. So that you can go be the Queen and rule... but you won't lose us. You'll never lose us."

"Agreed." Dox added with a nod.

"I'll hold you to that," the well endowed captain replied with a wink. "And if you ever need a retreat there on Earth, you'll always be welcome at my castle in the Swiss Alps. It's mostly a fine china and furniture museum now, but the doors will always be open to you."

"Hopefully we won't need a bolt hole on Earth, but given our lives, one never knows. One more thing..." Rita brought up, suirprised at how well the conversation had gone. "I'm going to have to work it out with the Asgardians and Starfleet and the Federation... but I'm bringing Hera with me. The goddess, not the starship, obviously. Think you might be able to help me throw a little weight behind that? She reformed and she's family, and I'll arm wrestle Thor if I have to, but she's not going to rot in a prison cell when she's come so far, and... she's family," Rita ended simply, knowing that Enalia would understand.

Enalia reached over and tapped her esk terminal back on as she nodded and thought that request over, pulling up a particular message she had recently received but hadn't disseminated yet. "Starfleet will want to keep security on her and I think that that will help sway Odin. Plus, you know... his son is marrying one of my closest friends. We'll make it work out. Besides, we can't just leave her here all alone and some time planetside should do her some good."

"Speaking of Baroness Schwein von Alcott, betrothed of the God of Thunder, I received an odd message from her while we were..." Rather than explaining, the captain just turned her screen so the other two could see it.

On the screen was Schwein, looking younger and fresh as a daisy in her brass and gold armor, gleaming eyepatch, and bright blue cape. "Ja, so... the wedding in a few days... Apparently I am not so wunderbar at reading the Asgardian calendar and I made a whoopsie. It is still in a few days... in Asgardian time. In your time, it will be at least seven years away. Apparently time and space physics are not exactly the same as in the rest of the galaxy as they are here. I will send you the scans and data that I have so that you can figure out when on your calendar to arrive. Sorry!"

As the recording ended, Enalia clicked it off and grinned wryly. "Ila's working on the math now, but it's definitely a few years away, not the few weeks we thought it was during the bachelorette party."

"Well, that's funny, but... it lets us off the hook for a few years for the wedding. Here's hoping we still fit in our bridesmaid's armors..." Rita chuckled, then turned to look thoughtfully at both women. "It's been a good run out here... but it seems it's time to bring her into port at last, and end her trek through the stars. For us, at least... the Hera will go on, with another crew who'll have to save the galaxy. But for us... the three of us, at least... I think it's time to go home."

"Captain, I believe this calls for a drink?" Paris asked, in her formal First Officer voice.

"Who am I to argue with my first officer when she suggests a drink?" Enalia replied with a widening grin as she reached into her desk for something she usually kept for private drinking. As she set the small bottle of thick, amber liquid on her desk, she punched up an order for three small drink glasses from her replicator.

The Trill woman explained the bottle as she retrieved the glasses and poured the drinks. "This is from the first batch of Talaxian firewine that the Rigelian vintners attempted right after Voyager got home. Apparently there were a great number of recipes added to their database and this was one of them. Personally, I can't think of a better drink for the moment. Spicy going down but almost minty and warm when it hits you."

Accepting the glass from the Captain, the First Officer raised it in a toast. "And see, after I attend the Academy, I'll know what all of that meant."

"Oh, do stop fussing, little one." Jaeih Dox said as she struggled to get her granddaughter, Hlai'vana, into her little green jumper. "Your sisters let me dress them like good girls and…"

The pudgy little half-Romulan, half-Miradonian child was squirming on the couch, desperately trying to wriggle free of her cagey grandmother's grip and the tyranny of clothes. "Oh, you are just bound and determined to try and fly around the room naked, aren't you?"

At that, the black-feathered girl with the twin red streaks over the top giggled mischievously with a wry grin that Jaeih recognized. "Oh, you are so my daughter's child, aren't you? Well… your grandmother is not so easily bested."

All three girls looked to be almost a year old, even though there were only a few months in reality. And even for being HALF-MIRADONIAN, they seemed to be growing quite fast, all things considered. They could already speak in occasionally limited blurts of words, usually either in Miradonian or Romulan, but generally it was mostly giggles and melodic song.

Little golden plumed Amihan was the most audible singer of the three and, at that moment, was sitting next to Hlai'vana humming a happy little tune.

"There! Now, all three of you are dressed." Jaeih said, rising from her knees triumphantly as little Vana pouted. All three children were still capable of limited gliding thanks to their avian mother, Mona Gonadie, but clothes covered their plumage and made their best efforts at flight to little more than enthusiastic leaping in their rooms reduced gravity. "When your mother gets back from storage, she and I will be feeding you. It's almost time for lunch."

Almost on cue, Lieutenant Mona Gonadie entered the main chamber of the double-sided chamber that she and her wife and family shared, with a number of large, empty storage bins on a hovering push cart. The family had made the decision to transfer off the ship recently, and it was a decision that seemed to be weighing difficultly on the elder Romulan grandmother as she stepped out of the children's room, all three waddling close behind.

"More bins for packing for this… transfer?" Jaeih asked her avian daughter-in-law with a touch of sarcasm in her voice.

"Yeah, and packing materials for the more delicate and perishable items," Mona replied as she opened up the top bin. She then paused a moment and looked around the room with an almost sorrowful smile on her face, finally settling on the chicks.

During her pregnancy, her races natural empathic bond to their chosen mate had been hightened considerably by the triplets own strong, natural abilities. And while Mona once again needed to TOUCH Mnhei'sahe to fully feel her bond-mate's emotions, their children did not.

Tilting their little heads almost in unison, the chick clearly picked up on Mona's emotional state and waddled past Jaeih to hug their mother, each clinging to her legs and thrumming softly.

"Well. I'm no telepath, but that seems a fairly clear message. Are you not fond of this plan of my daughters?" Jaeih asked, projecting a little.

"The plan? I'm supportive of it. The move... The Hera has been a home to me and though I look forward to the future, I don't want to leave." As she spoke, Mona kneeled down and gathered up the chicks in her arms, squeezing them to her bosom tenderly.

"You've been here quite a bit longer than Mnhei'sahe's, correct?"  Jaeih said as she walked over to the kitchen to put on a pot of tea for Mona. "And, well I can only imagine what these quarters looked like before you two were together. You've made so much of this life, here."

"This is still my first assignment," Mona replied as she flopped down with the chicks on one of the Miradonian style open back chairs, her tail feathers poking out. "Enalia picked me up straight out of the academy after she... Well... Most humans are tolerant of other species, but I apparently found some that weren't while in a place called New York and she was on Earth for an antiques thing..."

With a sigh, Mona summed it up as best she could. "Long story short, she pulled out a collapsible fencing foil, drove off some... Red necked locals? And asked me to join her new crew when I graduated. I'm not even sure why I agreed, but I did. I mean, this strange Lieutenant Commander saves me from being eaten then demands I work for her? Who even does that?"

With a chuckle, the feathered avian nuzzled on her thrumming daughters with a smile. "But I'm glad I accepted."

Putting the pot on to boil, Jaeih grabbed one of Mona's favorite mugs and one for herself as she continued working in the background. "As is Mnhei'sahe, no doubt. And myself, in no small measure, my dear."

"As for the tolerance of humans, I find Commander Paris an outlier more than the standard, though my own experiences are clearly somewhat bias. I know  Mnhei'sahe had a terrible time at that academy, largely due to that lack of tolerance. Tell me, as you two rarely speak of it, but how did you two begin seeing each other? I know you were both in the flight department, but she hasn't ever elaborated on it?"

As Mona grinned wider, the chicks started climbing all over her in excitement as the memories came pouring back. "Well, when I first laid eyes on her in the flight deck offices, I thought I'd been shocked and the air felt electric. I wasn't sure at the time if it was the bond or not though. Not until we touched later. I tried to give hints of interest. Flashing her and that sort of thing. I suppose my people's mating rituals would normally be ignored by most species."

Then, after her DNA was corrected and her hormones came in, I knew it was the bond and I knew I had to get her to notice me," Mona pulled Ami down from the back of the couch and back into her lap as she continued. "At her birthday party, I gave her a dress of Miradonian feathers. Some of mine may have been in there. Anyway, several gifts and hints later, your dense daughter finally got the hint and we started dating. Though our first date she was in uniform while I was in a dress." As a chorus, all for of them giggled in unison.

Allowing herself a wry chuckle, Jaeih grinned a bit at the story as she poured the carefully brewed tea for her daughter-in-law. "That sounds very much like her, I would say. An excellent mind for details and observation, except when it comes to her own emotions or the feelings of others."

"It is that, I fear, that leaves me extremely concerned over this plan of hers." Jaeih said, placing the tea cup delicately in front of Mona, and sitting down in the chair next to her, while patting her lap. "Come, children. Let your mother drink and relax a moment. You may climb me to your little heart's content."

All three chick's large, copper-colored eyes went wide as they exclaimed in unison, "Hu'nanov!", the Romulan word for 'grandmother'. In a bit of a clutter of feathers and giggles, Hlai'vana, Amihan and Tala all quickly transferred to using Jaeih as a climbing tree.

Continuing her thought, Jaeih continued. "She has a blind spot where her feelings towards family are involved. Her actual plan is... sound. The intricacies are surprisingly well thought out. I simply fear the influence of Verelan upon her."

"Yes, my penchant for over-planning has definitely spread to her, just as her qualities has spread to me. That is the way of the bond. Through the bond I also learned more... Something..." With a sigh, she wasn't sure how to put it into words so Mona just pressed on as she picked up her mug and blew on it a few times before sipping at it. "Her experiences in those other dimensions gave her a perspective on family and paths she has been denied that most people never receive. Honestly, if I had gotten a chance to see my parents once more..."

Mona shook her head and tried to banish the thought from her mind, but it refused to budge, tears forming in her eyes. "There are questions I would ask of them that no one else could properly answer for me. Have I done well? Have I made them proud? What else could I do?" The brightly plumed avian shook her head again. "But since she's gotten that opportunity and the Miradonian way is to support each other through the bond completely, I take this as a sign from the Moon Goddess that our paths are headed in a different direction from here."

Not one for whom overt displays of affection came easily, Jaeih nonetheless loved her daughter-in-law deeply and detested seeing her upset. With the children on her lap, settling slightly as they were picking up on both women's emotional states, Jaeih reached over, putting a hand on Mona's thigh as softly as she knew how. "How could they be anything but proud, my dear? Look at what you have accomplished? In your career and in these three wonderful children. I have no doubt that they would be beyond proud of you. No doubt."

"And in many ways I feel I have reached the culmination of my life calling down in R&D with the vehicles and flight systems we've made," the Miradonian woman replied with a soft smile. There are tweaks and improvements that can be made, but overall I feel the final Cyclone prototype and Daycare One will reach the last of my life's goals and now my soul feels a pull to complete my Minay's."

"Well... as you may remember, I was an engineer once upon a time. So you know that when I say this, I know of what I speak. Your skill and your inventiveness in what you do is... boundless." Jaeih said softly but with pride in her voice for Mona's accomplishments. "And wherever this path takes you, I am sure that tremendous mind of yours has as much to offer this universe still as does your heart."

"And know I support you in your path as well. And wherever these children go, I will never be far. But... there is something more I must ask, my dear." Jaeih said, somewhat hesitantly. "You said... if you had gotten to see your parents once more when speaking of what Mnhei'sahe experienced."

"She... has only told me the broadest strokes of what she experiences. The different views of the hearthworld that she became witness to. Did she... did she see... Dralath?" The usually reserved Romulan's voice cracked as she struggled to say the name of her daughter's father. Of the only man she had ever loved who was now gone.

Instead of replying, Mona nodded and reached over to the nearby end table and pulled out an old style photo from the drawer. After looking it over for a moment herself, she silently handed it over to Jaeih.

Taking the picture, slightly confused, Jaeih looked at it. As she did, her eyes went wide and she clasped a hand over her mouth in shock. Immediately, the chicks turned on her lap as they keyed into their grandmother's emotional state and hugged up against her chest.

As the chicks thrummed gently, Mona saw something she had almost never saw in the often hard woman: tears. "It's... it's impossible. It's... it's... us."

In her hand was a photograph that Mnehi'sahe had been gifted in another universe. A photograph of a life she could have lived but for a different decision made before she was born. With her hand trembling, Jaeih stared long at the image. A family photo of Verelan t'Rul, a chubby young girl with short, black hair but Mnhei'sahe's face. And standing behind the young girl, was a man and a woman. Dralath tr'Rul, Mnhei'sahe's father, standing arm in arm with herself. 

"She... she brought this back? She did meet him?" Jaeih said, tears beginning to flow as the chicks thrummed in unison, trying to sooth their beloved grandmother.

"They had a good father-daughter talk, too. I think I caught most of it through the bond." Mona spoke softly, this time resting her hand on her mother-in-law's knee with the tenderness that she knew the elder woman needed. "He's proud of her but knows she can do more. He's also going to push his daughter there harder. That's why... I can't help but wonder about my own parents... And why I'll support her fully on this path."

Putting the picture on the table, Jaeih pursed her lips and pressed her balled hand against her mouth as she tried to process what she had just learned. The tears stained her cheeks and she tried to wipe them away and close herself down, but Mona's touch opened up those floodgates even more than the hugs from her grandchildren.

"That... sounds exactly like him, Mona." Jaeih said, her voice cracked as she put her own hand on her daughter-in-law's and, with her other arm, hugged the chicks. "I am... I am so glad. That she never got to truly meet him, is among my greatest regrets. He was... a good man. A very good man. He would have adored you, though I suspect he would have been even more reserved of the fact as I was."

"As for your parents... I cannot speak for them. But Milla and Mordo, who helped raise you, they adore you. I've never seen two parents beam so over a child." Jaeih said, bringing the subject back to Mona, "They love you dearly. As does Mnhei'sahe, myself and most everyone on this ship. You are a beacon, my dear. Make no mistake. And with the entities on this ship and the things we've seen, why would you even question that they would be beyond proud of you?"

Mona just shook her head, ters starting to leak from her own eyes. "It's just something that all Miradonian orphans have to deal with. My foster parents are amazing and wonderful, but without the bond between us and the others... And being a lone orphan..." She paused a moment before continuing, wiping a few tears from her own cheeks.

"Milla and Mordo have cared for dozens of chicks and I know they love each and every one of us dearly. They've sacrificed so much and done everything they could to get everyone wonderful educations. Most have gone on to work in government services helping others, fields their lost parents had been in, or Defense Force duty. But everyone else stayed on Miradon. Few ever leave the home world, though I suppose having no true bond to anyone I was a perfect candidate for that." Mona paused again, sipping her tea and composing herself. "But hearing the words and feeling them are two different things. I can tell you what the warmth of the sun feels like for years but until you feel it for yourself..." She just trailed off and shook her head.

"That's why I give everything I have into everything I do - so that those around me can feel a bit of that sunshine," she finished with a smile.

"And look at the fruits grown under that brilliance." Jaeih said, scooching the three children in her lap up a bit higher. "Not just them, though. Commander Paris when she first arrived here and was lost and terrified and you helped her adjust. Fiona and Briaar who likely would have floundered in obscurity in their respective departments, never once shining for themselves but for your influence. My daughter, so broken for my indelicate parentage."

"Me." the elder Romulan said, raising a brow and smiling. "Your radiance shines upon everyone you touch, my dear. I may never feel this bond you share with Mnhei'sahe and the children, but make no mistake that we all can feel your love."

"Well... Negativity is generally a foreign concept to most Miradonians." Mona replied with that million watt smile of hers. "I think only the elderly and orphans like myself really had an understanding of it."

"Then when I joined Starfleet and learned of other cultures, that was a language barrier in itself to overcome. Many common negative expressions and words across the galaxy just don't exist on Miradon simply because to use them would taint the user's energy." Now Mona's smile faded a bit as memories seemed to flash across her eyes and the chicks seemed to take notice. "Such as hatred. Evil. Depression. Murder."

Mona paused a moment in order to take a deep breath, the air around her palpably different now as the light almost seemed to dim around her. "It was in Starfleet Psyche that I learned that my parents, siblings, and friends weren't just eaten in front of me... They were murdered. That was the first truly negative Federation common word I learned that has no translation in my language. I suspect it's a word every Miradonian that leaves home must learn about quickly. From there I learned about the dark, negative emotions of the universe."

She then took another deep breath and let her smile brighten the room once more. "And I made a vow to never let them control me in any way - to stick to my heart and the love of the twin goddesses."

"It is strange to consider your people have no word for 'murder', considering the horrifying practice of the hunters that frequent your planet. "Still... I'm afraid that you must know such things all too well. Considering the nature of how your people bond, and that Mnhei'sahe and you now share thoughts and emotions, you likely know more than you would like. Hopefully that vow will not be strained."

The avian woman shrugged and sipped at her tea, she thought it over. "I suppose it's because we're evolved prey species. We still consider those that hunt us as apex predators following their instincts and motivations. As an evolved predator yourself, do you consider the feelings of the meat that you eat? I know it may be odd being bonded to someone that's consumed the flesh of a species similar to my own... I now have an idea of what I taste like... But on the flip side, she now knows the pain and beauty of the galaxy through my eyes."

"And that sharing of different views, experiences, and personalities through the bond to create a unique amalgamation of a new family ego is what we believe is most beautiful." Mona nodded confidently as she finished off her tea and set her mug aside. "I am within her and she is within me, one and inseparable for eternity."

"She will need some of your compassion. To see the beauty of the galaxy if this plan of hers is to have any chance of not ending in tragedy." Jaeih said, nodding as she spoke in much the same way her daughter did to punctuate a point. "And... I'm afraid you will see far more of the less beautiful side of things among my people."

Transferring the much calmer chicks to Mona's lap, Jaeih stood up and paced a bit. "I do not like this. I have told Mnhei'sahe as much, but I have also told her that so long as she can convince all involved to accept me in the position she needs me to fill, I shall do everything in my power to keep you all safe."

Pulling in the chicks close, Mona thrummed softly, sharing in the bond with them. "Even in what you would consider the darker points of the Rihannsu, with these eyes I see beauty. As for accepting you, once they see your beauty and know that you are accepted as an envoy of the Artans and the Federation, they will have no choice. If they do not, you will remind them of the honor of Altha'donar."

"There are precious few Rihannsu left there. Long ago, my people became the Romulans that the galaxy saw us as. I did not see it until it was far too late, and now for my crimes, my name was written three times and burned upon the senate floor. To them, I am a traitor, and I will be surprised if such diplomatic maneuverings will make them forget that." Stopping to pace, Jaeih turned to Mona and pursed her lips. "I can do all I can to protect you all. I will do all I can to protect your lives. But it is you that will protect Mnhei'sahe from the greater threat, my dear. It will be you that keeps her from falling into that world and the darkness that will threaten to envelop her. All of you."

"And that is why we fully support her with the light of our souls," Mona replied as she and all three chicks smiled up at Jaeih. "We are the Godox family. We are all part of one."

As she was making preparations for the announcement of the departures of the senior staff, and the attendant party that she was organizing, as the guest list was forming, Commander Rita Paris realized she had overlooked a rather crucial detail, and she rolled her eyes as internally she berated herself.

Entrusted to you by the Prophets, yet out of sight out of mind. Shame on you, Rita.

Tapping the comm badge on her abundant bosom, she spoke aloud. "Paris to Az'Prel. Could you come to my office, please?"

Looking up from her meditations, the Vulcan woman from another universe took a moment to respond. "I will be there momentarily, Commander." Of course for her, momentarily meant that she took off her meditation robes and walked out the door in her usual rustic red padded semi-uniform that she felt most comfortable in, heading straight to her destination. Skipping the turbolift as she deemed them a waste of time, she quickly made her way from her quarters on deck 8 to Rita's office on deck 3 via jeffries tubes in less than two minutes.

Arriving at her destination, she composed herself by checking for dust and pressed the door chime, which opened at her approach.

"Come in Az'Prel, please. Come sit down... we need to have a talk, you and I." Coming around her desk, Rita Paris leaned her rear against the edge of the desk and held the table edge with both hands- a decidedly informal posture for the Starfleet siren to adopt.

With a raised eyebrow, the Vulcan woman slid into one of the offered chairs, curious as to the purpose of this meeting. There had been several rumors going around the ship for a while now, but somehow she suspected that none of them pertained to her or were the topic of today's discussion. Instead, she folded her hands in her lap and waited in stoic Vulcan-esque silence for Rita to continue.

"I'm leaving the Hera. Sonak and I are going back to Earth to start a family, teach, go to the Academy... get ready for the lives we expect to lead in the 25th century," Rita explained, stating simply and directly exactly what was happening, as her audience needed no emotional couching. "Now, what this means for you is that we won't be here... the Captain is returning to her people, Dox is returning to hers, and... I was thinking about you."

"The Prophets entrusted me with you, and I take that responsibility very seriously. But at the same time, you're a grown woman. So while I might offer you a home with us on Earth, I don't think that's what's best for you. How would you feel about going home yourself... to Vulcan?" Asking a Vulcan how they felt about something was a mild insult at worst, inaccurate phrasing of a question at best. But as a Vulcan who had lived amongst emotional beings for her entire life, Rita felt confident that Az'Prel knew what she meant.

"This is indeed something to think over," Az'prel replied, steepling her fingers in front of her. She had interpreted the phrasing as she always had - as a metaphor for how her logic assessed the situation. Thus she gave the question the attention it deserved as is rather than dwelling on the meaning of the wording. After all, Vulcans in her universe were not the emotionless beings of this one and she often had to pretend to not be a logician. "When we visited Vulcan, I was offered a comparative studies and martial arts teaching position. At this juncture, I feel that it would be logical to see if the offer is still open and accept it if it is."

"I'd be happy to bring you Earth and keep you around as part of the family, Az'Prel. But you've spent your entire life dwelling amongst the emotional beings of the cosmos. You deserve peace, serenity... and logic," Rita opined. It was clear she had given this some thought, and considered not what her own wants and needs were, but what would be best for the Vulcan resistance fighter of another universe. "And not like this is goodbye- we'll still come visit you. I am determined that our children know both worlds, even if Sonak is a bit over Vulcan."

"Then I will go to Vulcan, take a certain form of zen pleasure in serenity, and provide suitable accommodations during your upcoming stay," the interdimensional Vulcan replied, one brow raised in interest. "Vulcan is a harsh planet and your family will require several Earthly amenities not common to the normal housing arrangements. I will endeavor to provide them for you. I will make it your... home away from home."

The smile that warmed the woman's face was lost on the dispassionate Vulcan, but she understood the societal convention well enough. "I would dearly love that, Az'Prel. I'll always feel a little bit responsible for you, and I hope I have fulfilled that responsibility in helping you acclimate to this universe. But no matter what I'll always feel responsible... so if I know you are on Vulcan, flourishing in a place you could only dream of all your life... I'll sleep better knowing you are safe, and content, where you belong- amongst other logical beings like yourself."

"You showed me that I no longer have to sleep with my eyes open and that trust in this universe can be an absolute," The lost Vulcan replied with the barest hint of emotion behind those eyes of hers. Few would have been able to pick it up, but to one such as Rita, it was as if Az'prel were smiling from ear to ear. "You also proved the truth of the Federation, and that humans themselves have the capacity for compassion and empathy- something that I thought impossible having come from a reality ruled by the Terran Empire. For that you have my eternal thanks, and undying gratitude."

"I also owe a debt of gratitude to Jaeih Dox, whom I now have a family bond with as well." Furrowing her brows slightly, Az'Prel considered her position with her bond-sister as well. "It would be logical to discuss this with her as well. I may also need to make accommodations available for the Godox family."

"Indeed. And make no mistake, their reunification efforts won't stop, so there's every possibility you might be called on for that as well. Life is long, and I doubt history is finished with you quite yet, Az'Prel of Vulcan," Rita Paris replied, then levered herself off the desk. "I promise to keep my thoughts to myself. But c'mere and give your human friend a hug, my favorite freedom fighter."

Standing, Az'prel composed herself once more before nodding and wrapping her arms around the lost navigator in a very Klingon hug, patting her back several times as she had with many of her former freedom fighter companions. "I will go where I am needed and do what is required to spread freedom through this galaxy as I did in my former home. However... I believe some peace would be... Pleasant."

Stepping back to give the woman room, Rita smiled, a surprisingly frank expression.

"After all we've been through, I think the phrase you're looking for is 'well earned'."

The decisions had been made, the plans discussed, and electronic messages had been exchanged. The secret was out, and the cat was out of the bag- the senior staff were leaving the Hera, to pursue different destinies. Rita Paris and Sonak were headed to Starfleet Academy- him to teach, her to learn what she'd missed in 130 years. Dox was headed there too, to learn diplomacy. Mona Gonadie would be teaching at a private robotics institution on Earth. Enalia Telvan was resigning her Starfleet commission to retake the throne of the Artan empire.

It was a parting of the ways. So in true Human fashion, Rita Paris had sent out the invitations and invited quite a few of the officers and crew and interested parties to Ten-Forward, to share a drink and a laugh or two, to say their goodbyes for now, to this place, this time, and this life they had led together.

Despite having been the catalyst of this series of events, Rita Paris was still dewey-eyed as she entered 10-Forward to insure that the party arrangements were to her specifications. The staff of the ship's lounge were on the job and bustling about, and she had even seen to it that anyone banned from the lounge would have their restriction lifted for the night. After all, this was a hail and farewell, and she didn't particularly care about the feelings of the civilian staff. These were her friends, her comrades in arms, and people for whom she had been responsible for the past two years. No one would be left out.

As the guests began to arrive, people clustered in small groups, tending to stick to their own. The Security officers were here, all at one high-top table sharing a drink. Long and lean V'Nus, beside stocky and muscular S'Rina, the Klingon sisters of Security were chatting with the massive Ethel Jablonski, who was there with her pal Liu.

The taller, leaner sister, V'Nus took a fairly large swig of her flagon of bloodwine as she looked over to the mountain of muscle that was Jablonski. "So, while we all serve Starfleet, and go where we are assigned, you serve two masters, of a sort, Ethel. And one of those is packing to leave the ship. Have you plans in place, yet?"

The calmer of the two Klingon women raised a brow as she spoke, referring of course to Ethel Jablonski's worship and service to the Goddess, Hera.

"Not really sure, y'know?" Jablonski replied a bit self-consciously. "She's going to live with the Commander and her family, so not like I can go stay in the spare room. Plus Hera hasn't invited me, so... I guess I'll stay on the ship and stay in Security. I need to protect her, but.... she didn't ask for protection this time, so I guess... stay with the ship, offer my morning prayers and keep on, eh?" It was clear to anyone who knew her that the normally upbeat Jablonski was unhappy about this turn of events, but given the situation, she had only been out of training for a year or so at this point, and her Starfleet career was just begun. Throwing it all away to serve and protect a Goddess dwelling on Earth who had no enemies left alive seemed silly, despite the fact that the heart wanted what it wanted.

Silently, Liu patted the mountain of muscle on her beefy forearm. The two were friends and worked together often, and Liu knew the deal.

Most unusual was the presence of Sonak at this gathering, highlighting the importance of this occasion. As a Vulcan, he was not one to partake into such social gatherings; even less as a Kolinarh master, as he could neither feel nor give any of the mandatory emotional contribution to such events. The fact that alcohol was poisonous to his physiology did not help matters either. So no one was surprised that he invariably preferred to spend time in quiet meditation or intense research between assignments.

Thus, his presence at the party now was a testament to his profound respect for this crew that his wife Rita Paris and himself would soon part from. And so, he stood at one end of the bar, a prune juice at his elbow, nodding politely to everyone who entered. He looked quite solemn in his dark, gold-sigil etched robes. For to him, this was a solemn occasion, light laughter and gay banter not withstanding.

He was long acquainted with the emotional needs of other species, even the repressed ones of his own kind. He hoped his unique attendance would satisfy them as much as serving with them all had deeply honored him.

At the other end of the bar, Lieutenant Commander Mnhei'sahe Dox was finishing up something of a pep talk with the woman who had been her assistant chief for the last few months, Ensign Jessica MacNielle. The brown-haired human pilot would be taking temporary control of the flight department after the ship arrived at Earth, as Dox was resigning her active commission to undergo an intense crash course in intergalactic politics, and diplomatic procedure.

After her recent experiences meeting multiple versions of herself across different timelines, Dox had come to the decision that she had struggled with for months; to follow the path set in front of her, due to her dual nature as both a Starfleet officer and the granddaughter of a powerful Romulan senator. As such, MacNielle was more than a little nervous with taking on those responsibilities for however long Starfleet and whoever would be taking command of the Hera would allow.

Nursing a glass of Romulan Ale, Dox had a smile on her face that was a bit warmer than she was generally known for as she finished her conversation. "You've always been one of the best officers on the Flight Deck, Jessica. You've proven yourself good at managing the responsibilities and I'll be putting all of that in my report for Command."

"Thank you, Lieutenant Commander. I really appreciate all the help you've given me. It really means a lot," MacNielle said, blushing just a bit and smiling awkwardly, trying unsuccessfully not to let her anxiety show through.

"Taking care of each other is the job. And please, just 'Mnhei'sahe'. I'm not going to be 'Lieutenant Commander' much longer. Just know that you have this."

Looking over to where Sonak was standing, Dox nodded respectfully to the Junior Officer that had risen to the occasion a few times and reminded herself to recommend her for the Lieutenant's exam in that recommendation. "And Thank you. If you'll excuse me."

Smiling, the two women parted company as MacNielle mixed in with the rest of the somewhat busy lounge and Dox made her way over to Sonak. Walking across the space, she noticed one of her other pilots, the orange shelled Edosian, Ensign Wieaex, sitting at a table with the stone-based woman, Ahreva Malana. The observant Romulan had noticed the two becoming close friends over the last year and, judging from how close they were sitting and the smiles present, even on the usually stoic Malana's face, Dox suspected that their friendship might have become more, with the silicone biologist appearing more than a little pregnant.

Shifting her attention back to Sonak, Dox walked up to the Kohlinar master to speak. "Good evening, Lieutenant Commander. I know that we will both be in San Francisco shortly, so I'll likely still be seeing you somewhat regularly, but I wanted to take the moment to thank you again for everything you've done for me."

Talking, Dox knew expressing such sentiments were wholly unnecessary for the stoic and logical Vulcan to hear, but they were important for her to express.

''We come to serve,'' Sonak answered simply. ''The value of a relationship is in the measure of what is contributed to the other's growth and well-being. In that regard, I must state that you have done just as much for me. Your presence is most appreciated, and I look forward to resuming our relationship outside of starship duty. Said relationship will, I suspect, help each other grow even more.''

"Well... normally, my predilection towards being self-effacing would have me saying something about how I've learned far more from you, then you from me." Dox said with a slight smile for the man who had helped train her mental defenses and so much more. "But if you said it, then it is clearly accurate. That said, without your guidance and assistance, my initial efforts at diplomacy would have gone... very differently. And likely poorly."

''It is difficult to make such an estimation with any degree of accuracy,'' the Master of Gol objected. ''Variables are simply too numerous and fluctuating. Regardless, even the best seed will rot without good, fertile soil in which to flourish. As in all things, as it is for all of us, you needed only a minor amount of support; your achievements are all your own, and promise even more to come.''

He raised his glass to her, in the human fashion he had learned so long ago from a friend, who now lived on in his soul.

''Like all good students, you have surpassed the master. No greater honor or satisfaction could you have ever offered. May it be but one step in your journey, for you, and hopefully for your own people. My own journey has already been enlightened and enlivened with your presence.''

With the logical Vulcan, there was no need to say much more, so Dox simply smiled, bowed her head a bit to him and raised her glass in reply.

Thex stood apart from the others, nursing her own drink. Her own trip through alternate realities via the Bulikaya particles had been something. Now with the crew breaking apart, the ship's engineering head was having to think it all through. She'd be captaining the Hera, at least until Starfleet got a new head and second officer to take charge and from then... she had no idea what she'd be doing.

Sidling up to Thex, Rita offered a supportive smile. "So how goes the reintegration of all of your sisters into Andorian society? Are you championing their cause and helping them acclimate to their new lives? Are they even out of the tanks yet? What with all that's been going on, I'll admit I haven't read the after-incident reports. With the crew breaking up, will you be heading to Andoria to help with all that, as the most successful and adapted of your sisters?"

"I'm heading to Andoria after I drop the god artifacts off at Starbase 13, but I have no idea how I'm going to do it, Rita. The Andorian government at least agreed to move them out into the proper storage, but as for the debate on what to do with them..." Thex said as she fished around for the two padds in her pockets containing her opening statement on her clone sisters. Both padds were completely full. "My people had a thirty-year argument in the council on which shade of grey to paint our starships. How am I going to be able to persuade them to integrate them?" She said the titanic task of tackling a behemoth of bureaucracy and paperwork that was the Andorian government showing clear in her blue eyes. Fighting a god would be easier, but Thex's determination was still shining through. She was going to do everything in her power to help them.

"Use your leverage," Rita replied, having had plenty of time to have given it some thought were she asked. "They are victims, they did not choose this lot in life. And they are all fertile, clearly, so there's that. Honestly, some study probably wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, given the purposes that they were put to, but if you persevere... well, they aren't exactly getting any older right now, so there's that. Stay the course, make careful choices and persevere, Thex. After all, it isn't just them you are fighting for. If the Andorian government declares them to not be citizens, that reflects on you AND your children. So if you think you can't do it, just remember- you're fighting for your girls too, Thex."

"Yeah... can't let my girls down can I?" Thex replied with a smile. Given her kids were part Anear they might have some protection from the Anear council, so there was that. "I've asked Starfleet command to run a DNA search of any of me that have previously served in Starfleet. Always good to have some shining examples to call upon for the argument."

"Now you're thinking! Well, good luck with it all Thex- I'm sure you'll do your best," Rita offered before moving into the crowd to continue socializing.

Making her way through a crowded party was always more than a little uncomfortable for the introverted Romulan, as Dox looked around at the friends she would be leaving the next day. Taking a sip of her drink, she looked over her shoulder, having the strangest sensation of being watched. Then, her sensitive ears picked up something that one generally didn’t hear in a crowded room on a Starship: the excited sounding whinny of a horse.

Raising a brow, it took a moment before Mnhei’sahe had noticed that it seemed as if ONLY she had heard the sound, and she smiled lightly as she realized what it meant. Putting her now empty glass on the edge of the bar, the crimson-clad officer quietly slipped out of the din of Ten-Forward to the corridor.

With a light smile, her suspicions were confirmed. Standing a bit from the door, was a pale, spectral horse with legs that faded to mist, rather than hooves. And standing next to him, a thin, pale Japanese woman dressed all in black.

The horse was named Taxes, and his mistress was the embodiment of Death. The woman who, in life, 1,500 years ago on Earth was named Masato Rei. “Rei, Taxes. I’m glad you could make it.”

“I wouldn’t miss this for all the plagues in the universe,” the shorter woman replied with a haunting smile as she brushed the mane of her equine companion. “You’re moving on to better things and it’s time we moved on as well.”

Nodding a bit, Dox smiled. "Well… 'better' remains to be seen. I could easily be making the biggest mistake of my life, but I'm hopeful. And with so many of us leaving, it's not as if Starfleet will keep the room open, unfortunately."

The pale woman nodded solemnly for a moment before continuing. She already knew what path her friend was on and had just given a hint of a spoiler, but thankfully Dox had missed it. “They won’t have to. I think my little vacation here is over. Though if you don’t mind a visit once in a while... When no one is watching that is.”

Patting Taxes on his snout, the ethereal equine neighed a bit, leaning into the redheaded Romulan. “Rei… you have been a good friend. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Besides, I know for a fact that with Taxes here, you can be pretty much anywhere you need to be in all of creation... basically instantly. So please do.”

"What about you. Do you have someplace?" Dox asked, an eyebrow raised as Taxes nudged her with his snout. "Where will you be going?"

“There’s a nice abandoned shopping arcade that’s largely automated that I’ve gotten to work for me on a planet in the middle of a civilization suffering from a techno-virus right now.” Rei chuckled softly as she casually mentioned a people that was likely galaxies away. ”I figure I’ll go hang out there and witness the collapse of their civilization. The closest thing to pizza is in a tube, but what can you do?”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve done this before and I’ll do it again. But I get the feeling there’s something else you wanted to ask about,” prodded the pale woman, reaching up to rest a gloved hand delicately on her friend’s shoulder. “Something about how all this affects our choices about you accepting either mine or the Rabbit’s position? Or maybe another version of you?”

“I’ve… seen a lot of versions of myself lately.” Dox said, shrugging a bit and pursing her lips as she replied. “Lots of different choices, and the more of them I saw, the less random it felt overall. That said, I don’t know that I want to know if it was or wasn’t.”

“I don’t know if my decision to leave the ship has changed the… cosmic opinion of my fitness to potentially succeed you.” Dox added, nodding. “But as long as it doesn’t affect our friendship, that’s all I’m concerned with, really.”

“You have always been and forever will be my friend. Trust in that and know that whatever other forces are working against you, you’ll always have me on your side.” With as warm a smile as she could muster on her pale face, Rei pulled out a small, palm-sized journal that looked like one of the books of the dead that they had worked from before from one of her many pockets and handed it to her friend. “Don’t worry, there’s nothing otherworldly about this one. It’s just a memento of sorts. Or a lucky charm if you believe in that sort of thing.”

“As for those leaps...” Here Rei actually glanced away sheepishly, wondering just how much she should tell her friend. “They were through the White Rabbit’s domain so... a few of them may have been... Like your captain’s... I really shouldn’t say, she’ll chew me out.”

Looking at the small journal, Dox smiled lightly and raised an eyebrow at the gift. Flipping through it and noticing that the pages were blank. There were a number of ways it could be interpreted, considering the source, but in the moment, Dox chose her own meaning. “NO fate but what we make for ourselves. As for what you shouldn’t say, unless it needs to be said, don’t. You’ve gotten in enough trouble helping me in the time we’ve known each other. Breaking rules for me. So… this time… It’s enough that I believe there was a reason I saw what I saw.”

“That’s good enough. Thank you, Rei. For everything.” Dox smiled, leaning over so her cheek was far enough away from Rei’s and giving the dark woman… whose skin could take a mortal life with a single touch… a warm hug.

Wide-eyed at the riskiness of what her friend was doing, the pale rider returned the hug, taking the opportunity to whisper one last warning. “Beware any whom are able to redirect the powers of one of us - especially one of the Rabbits.”

As they parted, Rei composed herself and patted down her black floor-length coat, sending fine dust out in small poofs. “Earth doesn’t have need of me often, but whenever I have reason to stop in, I will. Romulus... I think I’ll have more reason to visit.”

“Unfortunately,” Dox replied with an awkward grin. “But in San Fransicso has Pizza and Sushi. So… I look forward to your visits. That said, I should probably get back in there. Thank you again, Rei.”

“As always, it’s a pleasure. And thank you as well,” Rei replied, a soft smile on her face as she and Taxes faded back into the aether. Standing there a moment, Dox looked at the memento a moment before slipping it into her pocket and slipping back to Ten-Forward.

As she strolled the party, looking around, making memories, Rita spied Kodria looking awkward off by herself. Launching in her direction, Rita nodded to catch the young person's attention, then offered a peekaboo smile. "Kodria? I'll bet you thought I forgot about you in all of the hubbub of the crew going their separate ways."

The young woman from another era chuckled nervously as she looked up at her aunt. "With everyone going their separate ways and surviving the timeframe that I was originally left here to help with... It feels like a lot is changing, you know? I mean, a lot has changed already, but..."

"You hid until I found you. Then the idea was that as long as you remained hidden, you were tolerated. Which wasn't ideal, so little by little we've brought you out, and presented you with responsibility. Which you've handled marvelously. The captain and I talked it over, and you're getting a field promotion. A naval tradition from the sailing ships of old, that has carried through to modern Starfleet."

Drawing herself upright, Paris looked as though she considered calling the assemblage to attention to recognize the moment in military tradition. But it was a party, and the only one who needed to recognize the moment as special was Kodria herself.

"Lieutenant Kodria, you are hereby assigned to the USS Hera as her Operations chief for the foreseeable future. You and Maru seem to get along well, and if you and this starship are all tied up with our destinies... it's been decided that we feel safest with her in your hands. If you don't mind...?"

Tears and surprise were in Kodrias eyes as she came to attention and offered a salute to Rita. "I won't let you down, Ma'am."

Coming to attention, Paris smartly and respectfully returned the salute, then smiled and hugged the young person. "I never had any doubt, Kodria. You're going to do great.

It was at that time that the double doors opened and in strode Captain Enalia Telvan in her finest white starfleet diplomatic uniform. On her right arm was Baroness Schwein von Alcott dressed in the blue and gold Asgardian livery of her new station as Thor's betrothed. Behind them was Baroness Sarika in her black and gold Artan livery complete with oversized hat that she was so fond of. On Sarika's arm was Enalia's wife, Maica, dressed in a glimmering red sequined dress. Finally, behind them was Aiva One in her maid outfit, carrying little Moira and smiling a genuinely bright smile even as the little tyke bopped her on the head with a green plastic sword.

Nursing a fresh glass of ale, Dox smiled to see that Baroness Sarika looked happier than she had seen her friend in months, which in turn made Dox happy.

"I had to move the heavens, but I made sure one of our most important companions were here!" called out Enalia as she and her entourage made their grand entrance.

"Baroness!" Rita Paris cried as she ran through the crowd to launch herself at the petite pirate, landing in outstretched arms as an overstuffed armful for the surprisingly strong swashbuckler. "You made it for the going away party!"

Planting a quick kiss on the buxom first officer, the silver-haired woman grinned like the cat that ate the canary. "Ja, I would not miss this for anything! Now let us drink and be merry!"

With a bit of a grin, Sarika transfered Maica's hand over to Enalia's arm and headed over toward Dox, motioning towards the barkeep for her usual. "So I hear there have been a few career changes around here. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

Taking a swig of her drink, Dox mock shrugged with a wry grin that looked a bit more natural on her mother's face than her own, but it was truthful. "I might. I might have had a little to do with it. A number of us had something of a unique form of... out-of-time experiences. We got to see the paths our lives could have gone but for a few, key moments along the way. For me, that clarified that my path was heading back to Romulus to try and help there. To hopefully make things better."

"For Enalia," Dox continued, referring to her Captain now in a much more informal manner speaking to the two women's friendship and mutual respect, "It clearly had a similar effect. One that, I was quite sure, would make you quite happy. Am I correct?"

"Well, you know... She's the symbol of everything myself and many others have been fighting for almost all our lives. Without her finally at the head of the Artans..." Sarika paused as her drink was set before her. Rather than downing it in one swallow as usual though, she decided to nurse it and try to savor it for once. "Nothing against Elysius, but with Enalia back as Queen there's just more hope and... Something... You know?"

"The missing piece," Dox said, almost matter-of-factly, indicating that it was a thought that had been on her mind a lot of late. "A sense of a thing being... more complete. More as they needed to be in a way that wasn't quite there before?"

The cybernetic pirate snapped her fingers, which was quite the feat considering her black metallic arms. "That's it exactly. By the way, did you notice anything else different about me?" she asked, lifting her hat slightly and fluttering her eyelashes, which were a much more natural brown color rather than the exposed dull cybernetic red.

Noticing, thanks to the somewhat exaggerated display, Dox smiled and chuckled slightly. "Your eyes. Are those new cybernetics, or did you get cloned transplants?"

"My own cloned eyes," replied the shorter Baroness, taking another sip of her drink. "Doc says she can replace almost all of my cybernetics, though I'm thinking of keeping the arms. Good place to hide my scanners and weapons, you know? Besides, I'd feel unarmed, if you'll excuse the pun."

Sonak, standing not so far off as to not hear or be heard, nodded.

''It is a fact that genetic and regenerative medecine has been perfected for well over two centuries within the Federation. They expanded the lifespan for many species, eliminated many physical and mental debilitating diseases and allowed for confortable aging. And they also allowed to recover from almost any injury and enjoy a far less traumatic life afterwards than one with parts of themselves forever lost or crudely replaced with mechanical prosthetics, however useful or perfected they may be. Just like the Eugenic Wars taught Earth the darker side of bioresearch, the Borg has shown us the undesirable upper limit of cybernetics.''

"On the other hand, it's your body. In the 25th century, we are customizable to a very considerable degree. I suggest you spend some time talking with someone you trust about it, and finding a balance between humanoid and cybernetic that's right for you," Rita chimed in, appearing off Sonak's elbow, extending her index and middle fingers toward him, which he reciprocated in kind. "Make your body look and feel how you want it to be, Sarika. I'm sure your Queen wants you to be happy more than anything else, and she's got deep pockets for good surgeons."

"Yeah, but it's been something that we haven't had regular access to so I kind of feel guilty accepting it. Especially since biomimetic gel is so highly controlled and all and I think almost a liter of it's been used just on me." Sarika looked between her friends and smiled sheepishly. "I just hope that one day we'll be able to bring this level of medical treatment to the rest of the Artan Empire ourselves rather than relying on the Federation."

"That's all part of the infrastructure I plan on building up," interjected Enalia as she came up alongside the others. "Upgrading our shipyards, building an Academy, Command courses, dedicated science and medical corps, several humanitarian projects, an actual homeworld rather than relying on the Kabul system and the fortress, eventually a Senate..."

''Individual choices are what enriches a society, which in turn provides the fertile soil for every individual to flourish with life, freedom and prosperity, '' the Vulcan added, touching the extended fingers of his wife with his own. ''Denying choices is denying responsibilities. This would be illogical. Make your choices, live with the consequences and let others benefit from it all is a noble goal for one's existence. You are already proving to be such a model to follow... with all present company included.''

It was at this moment that a rather sinister-sounding bass guitar riff began, slowly accompanied by the building blare of trumpets. At the main entrance to 10-Forward, the unlikely duo of Gavarus and O'Dell appeared- the tall Tellarite and the midget Mariposan both clad in ancient-Earth style black slacks and blazers, with narrow black ties around their necks, distinctive black sunglasses and stylish Trilby hats on their heads.

Beside them, holding Briaar Gavaris' rough and calloused three-fingered hand, was Minnie O'Dell, clad in a miniature version of the same outfit. In the other hand the space swine had a briefcase handuffed to her wrist. Making their entrance, the two waved and made gun fingers at the crowd, particularly the staff of 10-Forward, who had not long ago banned the two reprobates for their unruly behavior. As Gavarus opened the briefcase, she removed a microphone/earpiece that O'Dell slipped onto her ear, then she climbed on a stool to scamper up onto the bar. When she spoke, her voice was amplified through the local speakers, making the tiny test pilot easily heard throughout the lounge.

"Well hello alla you Starfleet people! Welcome to the goin' aweey parrrty, where ye'll be convincin yuirselves of how much ye like one another, and tryin ta make a fond memory or two before ye get on wi' wherever yuir goin next. I'm Fiona O'Dell, this here's me partner Briaar Gavarus and our wee Minnie, if ye dinna know. And we're here to cloose oot the show, and give ye all a proper send-up, aye?"

"A proper send-up?" Dox muttered, partly to herself, as she carried a cup of Miradonian tea and two fresh glasses of Romulan Ale back to the table where her wife and mother were sitting. Hearing the question and noticing the quizzical look on her daughter's face, Jaeih Dox smirked ever so slightly to herself.

The R&D duo had all but insisted that Jaeih find a babysitter for Dox and Mona Gonadie's three girls that night so the retired Intel operative could be there, and as the primary form of communication between the patrician elder Dox and Fiona O'Dell was generally a back-and-forth of cutting barbs delivered, Jaeih Dox now knew exactly what was about to happen. Even if her daughter was clueless.

"So we got the scuttlebutt that the crew was breakin oop, so we decided to crash the party. Now before ye go callin Security on us, Captain Telvan gave us special dispensation to be here, so alla you 10-Forward civilian services folks that dinna like us? Ye kin eat shite and die. The girls are back and we'll have our say, and the lotta ye snooty fooks can all choke on the devil's pecker when ye get to hell, alreet?" While her words were harsh, O'Dell was grinning widely, obviously a little intoxicated already, and just getting warmed up.

"So let's see who's here and oop to what, aye? Hey, there's Commander Lookitmearse, alternately known as Commander Thunderjugs, Is She Fookin Lost Again, the Transporter Menace, Puss in Boots, the Golden Glamazon- Commander Paris. Now I know, why the nicknames? Partially because of that stupid uniform a'yours. I know it's from when you came from, ye throwback to the days of rampant sexism in Starfleet, but seriously. Me eye level is doown there and that skirt has NIVVIR covered yuir arse! That, and one time when I literally stood close enough to ye and ye couldnae see me over that dairy farm yuir luggin around there. That's not even countin when ye put on short shorts and a teensy top and go joggin in the halls. Commander Whiplash, the Den Mother, the Security Slu... uh, Siren," O'Dell amended quickly. Shaming and roasting were a fine line to ride, and the Mariposan menace was trying hard to ride that line.

"No human man could keep up with ye, is that it? Ye had to go find ye a fella who can keep going for weeks at a time joost to keep ye off the streets, izzat it? Plus ye get a man wi' no emotions, cuz then he dinna notice everybody checkin oot his wife while she's flashin her arse all over the ship." O'Dell paused at this, to see if there would be any rebuttel.

"Say what you will, she isn't wrong," the curvaceous commander raised her glass in a toast, taking it in stride. Paris knew what was said about her amongst the lower decks, and allowed it. Besides, nothing that had been said was untrue to her way of thinking.

"Then over here we have Lieutenant Commander Murderpunch. Noow, when we faaaarst got to know our resident redheaded Romulan, she was scary as fook. Then we got to know her, and found out she's even scarier. Ye watch her beat on those Klingon security gals and ye have to stop and wonder- is she gettin hot an' bothered takin that punch? Because she looks INTO it. Like, SCARY into it. Then she comes trotting down on the flight deck and she reaches for ye and wonders why people flinch, aye?" Looking out over the crowd, O'Dell waved. "Aye, I see ya blooshin there, LC."

At the tall table that the security team was sitting at, V'Nus's smile curled into a shark-toothed grin at her more aggressive sister's expense. With eyes just a bit wide, the shorter, more thickly muscled Klingon growled to V'Nus, "You KNEW, didn't you Sister!? Ughhh! Lesbians everywhere on this accursed starship!"

"Then there's her birdy bride. Nae one, nae two, but THREE chicks at once," O'Dell held up fingers as she counted them off. "Way to make sure they stay close to home, Mona. Make sure that gal's comin home for a chicken dinner everynight, aye? Now Mona, she's been our boss in R&D, and I'll nae say innything bad aboot her save she canna hold her liquor and she's a bloody genius. Gavarus, you got innyting to add s'far?"

"Not for the chief. The chief is the frickin' SHIT!" Gavarus smiled with a bit of a grin, still holding Minnie by the hand. "But even if I wanted to, I'd probably piss myself first between worrying about what the Romulan Death Squad over there would do to me."

Hoisting up little Minnie to hold her up like a furry, horned minotaur version of a human shield, Gavarus mugged from behind the giggling child who waved excitedly at her favorite babysitter. "You can't kill me, Jay! The kidlette likes you too much."

Sitting at the table, Jaeih simply grinned and raised her glass and allowed a slightly evil looking grin to creep on her olive face. "You keep thinking that, my dear."

"Oh aye, and let's naaaaay forget aboot Granny Murderpunch over there. The only non-lesbian Romulan gal we've met s'far. Or at least we assume so. There's still bets that the LC was an accident after Granny Murderpunch there froze some poor bastard's junk and snapped it off, then a year later along comes her bouncin bundle of Baby Murderpunch. Who'll grow oop to be joost as twisted as her mum- which is to say, bein trained by the Tal'Shiar dinna make ye particularly warm and fuzzy, aye?" Grinning over at the table in question, O'Dell waved. "Aye, ye canna kill me til everybody's nae lookin, nyah nyahhh..."

A mostly silent chuckle came from Jaeih's chest as she took a sip of her ale, raising her glass to Fiona to allow the two women she had become quite fond of their well-earned moment.

For his part, Sonak listened with a slightly raised eyebrow. Intellectually, he could understand how this whole absurd play was only meant as emotional relief among emotional beings affected by the string of events involving them all. They were all to part ways and it was affecting them deeply. Even he perceived how his life would be different from now on, deprived of the richness they had so far provided to him and between them.

And so, like a rock in a raging river, he watched the flow of unbridled passion and feelings rush among all of them, totally unconcerned; except for his wife.

But Rita was riding all the waves like a master surfer... just as he had expected. And so he contended himself to observe and learn a bit more about all those emotional beings he had shared so much with... and soon would be apart from him, some maybe never to return and others to return deeply changed.

it was all... very interesting.

"So I could make fun of our Doctor over there... I dunno aboot ye, but when a doctor hands me a lollipop I'm assumin she thinks I'm five, aye? Which doesnae inspire confidence when yuir askin aboot birth control. And what do ye call it when ye make a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy and it gets fuzzy and sooch? Hey Thex!" O'Dell paused to let that one lands, then continued. "You gotta love an Andorian girl who devotes her life to dancin like an Orion slave girl. Cultural appropriation, whoever heard a'sooch a thing, aye?"

As O'Dell reached down, Gavarus handed up a flask, from which O'Dell took a swig, made a face then shook her head and continued. "Now the Intel department, that's been a lot of fun. Granny Murderpunch killed the Walrus last year, had him stoofed and mounted, and she's been usin him like a ventriloquist dummy for over a year now. Funny thing is, folks say he's more personable now! Also easier to understand..."

"Oi, lookit there, the pirates have arrived I see. Come to carry off yuir pirate booty back to Herself's throne where her empire awaits? Aye, well, Queen of the Artans, formerly our commanding officer. To you we offer a tip o' the hat, for lettin us do this," at that,, O'Dell, Gavarus and Minnie Moo all tipped the brim of their hats respectfully- obviously a rehearsed move. "Ye let me be a bluiddy test pilot, ye let me shoot at people and ye let me shoot me way onto the bridge of a starship to capture yuir own bloomin' mother. So to you, busty buckler of swashes in space..."

Tugging down her sunglasses, O'Dell winked broadly. "Ye've our number. Ye know who to call when ye need somethin epic done, mum."

Turning back to the rest of the crowd, O'Dell waved her arms wide. "Tis a wake for yuir friends, for this time, this place and this crew. This night will end, and we'll go our separate ways. But when our children tell our stories... they'll tell the story of tonight. Raise a glass, ye Starfleet swabbies!" Reaching down and snatching a beer from the surprised server passing by, O'Dell raised her glass high in toast. Seeing the mood of the room, O'Dell backpedaled, speaking quickly.

"I could say alla this because we resigned our commissions. We're civilians noow, so ye kin all kiss this one's big brown arse. Alla ye are goin' your ways, and so're we. If the Chief is oota the game, we are too. So alla ye reprobates and misfits, raise a glass to freedom! To the winds that'll carry us and the destinies we've yet to discover!"

As the murmur of assent went through the crowd, O'Dell squatted on the bar, bringing her back down to Gavarus' level. "Stole that line from Admiral Hornblower. Is the ship packed, kin we run oota here afore they get the torches and roasting spit?"

"Bags, Minnie's toys, my parts bins, Cueball, everything." Gavarus said, a slightly nervous grin as she looked around the room. "We c'n be outta here as fast as we need to..."

"Not so fast, you three." Came Jaeih's voice, who had inexplicably sidled up next to Fiona. "You are not leaving this ship that easily. I will have my say first."

The two-meter tall Tellarite nearly leapt out of her black suit, while the miniature Minotaur's face lit up with excitement. "GRAM!"

"Great, now I've soiled meself. Christ on a pogo stick, woman, are ye tryin ta send me to an early grave? Oh wait, y'are boot the challenge ye've set for yuirself is 'fright'. I actually expected ye to show oop when we were boardin ta scare the pess outta me." As usual, the two engaged in sarcastic barbed banter, but there was a bit of regret knowing it would be the last for a while, at least.

"I had considered it, but since you would have expected as much, where is the challenge?" Jaeih replied with a cricked brow and the faintest hint of a smile that few could recognize.

"On the subject of challenges... you three are about to face an entirely new one." The elder Romulan's tone became more serious as she continued. "And I will not always be near to help you dig yourselves out of whatever trouble you find yourselves in."

"However..." She knelt down closer to O'Dell's level, but instead turned her eyes to the brown furred child who was biting her bottom lip with barely contained emotion. "Know that I shall never be far."

At that, Minerva launched herself toward the older Romulan woman and hugged her fiercely.

"Never far, little one. Now, you take care of your mothers. They will need you to be a strong girl." Jaeih whispered in Minnie's ear. "Will you promise me, little one?"

"Aye... Ah promise, Gram. I'll be a good girl." Little Minnie said, her voice barely a squeak, with Fiona's Irish brough coming out more and more the bigger she gets.

"Well then." Jaeih said, standing back up and looking the closest to emotional the pair had ever seen. "You two... stay out of too much trouble, if at all possible."

"Nay trouble at all, mum. We're to set up shop, and Briaar's got some ideas for designs, and we'll make a name for ourselves. The trouble'll find us, but ye know how 'tis. Be... be careful oot there, aye?" Fiona's eyes watered as she held back the tears. "Yuir me favorite crabby old lady. And I'm lookin forward to ye still bein' a crabby old lady, someday when I'm one too, y'ken?"

At that, like her daughter before her, the diminutive daredevil launched herself at the reformed Romulan smuggler and spy.

"I'll miss ye, Mrs. Dox." O'Dell whispered as she hugged the stern matron. "Visit the wee one, she'll look oop to ye til her dyin' day, aye?"

"GYAAGH! I hate this part!" Briaar all but bellowed as the ponderous pig reached in and enveloped all of them in the massive hug. Making zero effort to not cry, the inebriated engineer snorted as her snout filled up and she bawled right there in Ten-Forward.

"Oh... for Al'thindor's sake..." Jaeih said with a grunt as the massive woman squeezed them tight. "As.... as I told young Minerva... I shall not be far... nor shall I... Ugh... you are dripping on me, Miss Gavarus... shall I give any of you much opportunity to miss me."

"Alreet... I'm g'win ta take that as a promise from ye, and if ye dinna make good, I'll haunt ye like a banshee, make no mistake," O'Dell murmured in the family huddle.

Pulling out of the ham hock hug, Jaeih's own eyes betrayed her, being a bit shiny and green on the edges. "That said... I shall not overstay this little interlude, as it appears the Captain would have words with you as well and you have... a ship to get to. Good fortune to you all, and I-jol au."

"Uh... yeah... *sniff*... the shuttle's ready to go." Gavarus said, wiping her snotty snout on the hanky from her jacket pocket. "Jolene True t' you two, Jay."

"Yes, the shuttle." Jaeih said as she stepped away back to her table, smiling slightly and knowingly at Enalia as she passed, leaving the ship's departing mistress her moment.

Unlike the unconventional pair, Enalia Telvan spoke fluent Romulan and knew full well that Jaeih had not said the traditional Romulan greeting of 'Jolan Tru', but instead had found a way to say 'I love you' without betraying her calm demeanor.

With a knowing glance to the matronly Romulan woman and a nod to the unlikely pair, the pirate queen held up an Artan datapad and offered it to them. "I officially offered my thanks as Captain Telvan of Starfleet already, however I don't think I ever rewarded you properly as Queen Telvan of the Artan Empire for your actions during the Tribunal. The Baronesses and I have agreed to offer you a ship of your own along with a free trade agreement with the Artan Empire."

While Enalia continued, Gavarus took the offered PaDD, looking over the data on it.

"She's not the fastest, nor the most advanced ship, but she's got plenty of space and she'll take you to wherever you want. Also, you'll have to go pick her up at the Artan shipyards." The buxom Trill woman shrugged slightly as she continued. "They're still finishing the refit and last I heard they're getting ready to install the reactor core so if there's anything special you want, call ahead and let them know."

Leaning over to skim the data, Gavarus made eye contact with O'Dell, and both nodded in unison. Drawing themselves erect, the odd couple in the Blues Brothers black suits drew themselves up straight and tall, and both snapped off a surprisingly neat military salute to the departing captain. "This is... vurrah generous of ye mum, and we appreciate the gift and the spirit in which tis intended. Noow that we're n'longer under yuir command... ye'll know where to find us. Joost call if ye need somethin... the Queen of the Artans is bound to have work for specialized independents from time to time, and yuir name will allays be spoken with respect and appreciation at our table."

"And you will always be welcome for a drink at my table," replied Enalia with that trademark grin of hers as she, Schwein and Sarika all returned the salute.

"Awwww. We're g'win to miss ye, mum. Without Mona we mighta stayed with ye in the big chair, boot... if the lot of ye are headed off, well, our loyalties are to people, not institutions nor starships. So ye and yuir baronesses have allays done right by us, and we'll be there fuir ye." Realizing she was being entirely too sombre and serious, O'Dell wagged a finger at the one-eyed pirate in the very fancy hat.

"Cept fer ye, yeh crazy reprobate humpin a god!" O'Dell grinned at Schwein von Alcott. "We're still comin to the weddin, aye? I heard some somesuch aboot different time flows and so forth, but ye joost let us know and we'll be there in our Sunday best, aye?"

"Ja, we will make sure you make it one way or another," Schwein replied with an exaggerated wink to make sure it made it across. "You have to be there for the party favors and the post-wedding battle, after all."

"Fook yeah!" O'Dell grinned and nodded. "Alreet, well, know when to leave a party, aye? And tis time for us to take our 'to go' drinks and get oota toown. C'mon Briaar, grab Minnie and let's get this adventure rollin', aye?" It was abundantly clear to all involved that O'Dell was choking up and far more emotional about departing than her words would let on, but she took the large, calloused three-fingered hand of her partner, and the odd little family made their way out of 10-Forward for the last time.

With a soft chuckle, Enalia saw an opportunity to let everyone else mingle a bit longer, and snag Rita for one last heart to heart before they truly went their separate ways. Reaching behind the bar to grab a small bottle of Aldebaran whiskey and a pair of glasses, she headed over to her buxom first officer and hooked one arm around Rita's guiding her over to one of the far tables.

"What do you say to one last drink, just you and me?" the Trill woman said, flashing one of her best smiles.

"For you? Of course," Rita replied with a warm smile. "I can always get it flushed out of my system in Sickbay later, so a real drink with the Captain? I'd love to." Settling on a barstool, Rita eyed Enalia. She wasn't that great with emotions or expressing them, so Rita knew to let her take the lead, and just encourage her. She was never fond of leaving people behind, and with her returning to her people, they would no longer be close. Thus this was likely a very hard conversation for her, and Rita appreciated that.

From his end of the bar, Sonak watched his wife and his captain come together for a last shared time together.

It was an indisputable fact that there were things he could never provide his wife with; emotional connection, true empathy and true sharing of feelings. Even if a mind-meld was deeper than any conversation could ever provide, even if their mating bond was stronger and more meaningful than any physical touch. The fact that, contrary to other Vulcans, he was utterly void of emotions, there was a realm of existence that was forever barred to him. At best, he could vicariously experience it through melds with his very human wife. But that was like being on a holodeck; he could somewhat experience it, but the experience still was not real. And it only left an intellectual impression in his mind, as he had no emotion at all to actually grasp the experience.

For he could never give what he did not have.

For a Human being as alive as Rita Paris, this could only be a loss in their relationship. Sonak postulated that her trademark 'sexiness' as those of her people would call it, was a way for her to compensate this deficiency of his by provoking emotional reactions around her, be it only by her very presence. Her empathy and friendliness did the rest. It was just a hypothesis; but observable facts supported it.

Even back in the days of their shared adventures on the USS Exeter of another universe, she had exhibited this behavior. But amongst hundred of other women, mostly human like herself, dressed and acting like her, it had been much less impactful than in this universe. A sterner, soberer, more serious and varied universe where women, men and beings from over a hundred worlds endeavored to look and act the same... where she was bonded with a completely emotionless being, coldly indifferent to one of her most defining traits; being one hundred percent woman.

Her deep rapport with Captain Telvan was more than just the result of shared duties and survival; it was the buoy she needed to stay afloat as a human being. She would often call him her anchor; but as her anchor, he could also drag her down into cold emotional emptiness detrimental to her fulfillment as a human being... if she did not maintain a connection to that emotional buoy that the Trill woman could so well provide.

Thus watching them from afar, he would have smiled if he had been able.

"What's on your mind, Enalia?" Rita asked gently. "We'll see each other at the holidays, which aren't that far off. And you know you can always call me- I may not always be able to take a subspace call, but you know I will get back to you as soon as possible. So I won't be as far as you might think. But, honestly, you're going back to your own people. I somehow doubt you're going to need anyone to remind you of the Starfleet way of doing things, so you won't need me nearly as much. Part of why I thought this was the right answer- you KNOW what to do as a pirate queen. You don't need a Jiminy Cricket in a minidress on your shoulder to navigate those waters."

The Trill woman chuckled softly as she poured each of them two fingers of the yellow whiskey and slipped the bottle away. "Yeah, but knowing you has made me a better queen. You know that right?" Pausing long enough to hold up her glass and wait for a clink from Rita's, she sipped hers and continued. "Which is one of the reasons I couldn't leave well enough alone. I started a foundation in your name for people with transporter issues, victims of, families of, etc... Turns out there are a lot more people than most people think with quantum vibrational issues."

"I also bought a house," Enalia admitted, her grin widening. "I hope you don't mind."

"A charity is wonderful, and genuinely thoughtful- thank you, Enalia," Rita replied, genuinely touched by the gesture. "As for me making you a better queen... I think you never needed any help there, save wrestling the crown from your mother's claws. You may have needed a little help being a Starfleet captain, but you never needed any help being Queen. That part comes naturally to you, and I think it always will." As always, it might have sounded hokey or obsequious, but that wasn't Rita, and Enalia knew if she said it, she meant it. "And why would I mind if you bought a house? You have holdings all over the galaxy, don't you?"

"I do... but this one I wanted to make sure ended up in the right hands," Enalia replied, pulling out another Artan datapad and sliding it over to Rita. "I had to pull a few strings, cut a few deals... but in the end, I'd like to think everyone is happy."

Looking at the tablet Enalia handed her, it showcased a wood-frame Queen Anne Revival-style house with red slats accenting the house. The stained glass windows in the attic were both striking and familiar to her, and Rita gasped in genuine surprise. "This... this is my father's old house, in San Francisco on Bleeker Street. I've been tracking it for months now... you bought it?"

"I did," the buxom captain replied sipping her drink again, in full seriousness mode. "Technically I paid for it and registered it in your name, so you're the owner. I hope you like it."

The anachronistic astronaut's eyes filled with tears, as she struggled to form just what to say. In the end, she simply reached over and hugged the woman tightly. Releasing her, Enalia Telvan had managed what most in the universe could not- to put Rita Paris at a loss for words.

"Enalia... this means.... this means the world to me. I didn't realize you were monitoring, and... I would never have asked you, but... oh Enalia, this is my house. My home, the one I worked so hard to get away from all those years, but... it's where I wanted to come home to, and where I wanted to raise our children, and... I can't believe you got it for me." Blinking around the tears, Rita was clearly deeply moved, and struggling to . "I can never repay you for this, Enalia. You know what this means to me, and... thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'll get to raise my children there and host Starfleet parties and... I can't believe you did this, you crazy pirate."

Mopping at the freely-flowing tears, Rita sniffled mightily. "And here I swore I wasn't going to cry at this party..."

The crazy pirate in question softly rested a hand on Rita's shoulder. "Hey... it's our party and you can cry if you want to. As for repayment, this is me repaying YOU. Maru may have tipped me off and Maica may have helped make it happen, but this is a thank you not only from me personally, but as a queen. Without you, I wouldn't have a home to return to... so the least I could do is make sure you have a home as well."

"And I know you don't drink, but Maica and I insisted on making sure your wine cellar was well stocked. Around half of it is cooking wine though, so..." With a shrug and grin, Enalia loosened up her expression a bit. "To add a bit of extra flavor to your sauces."

"I don't drink, that doesn't mean everyone around me won't," Rita paointed out, then shook her head as she looked at the image of her childhood home, in her own name. "Really... I... I honestly have no words, Enalia. Thank you... you saved my life, you gave me a chance and a home and a purpose, and you let me run the ship my way. I know I stood for you at the Tribunal and got the Baroness married off and whatever else I did for you, but... you're a good captain, Captain. I know I am the one who said you needed to pursue your true destiny. But for the pirate who wanted to be a 'fleeter, you did great. Thank you- for my life, for my family, for everything. Our kids will all know one another growing up, and... well, here."

Snapping her wrist slightly, a battered green metal sword appeared in the hand of Rita Paris, a crudely hammered scimitar of sorts, a top-heavy blade that nevertheless looked quite sharp and deadly, despite or perhaps because of it's crudity.

"This was my sword, on Kathoom, when I was trapped there all those months. I named it Telvan, because it was strong, flexible, lightweight and got me out of more scrapes than I would care to recall. I want you to have it... it's a poor gift in the shadow of yours, but... it meant life or death to me then, just as you did for me here. I want you to have it, to remember me by." Placing the blade on her palms, Rita presented the crude and primitive blade to the sophisticated pirate queen.

Running her fingertips over the blade, the experienced pirate hummed over the gift for several moments as she inspected the scimitar. "This is a good sword - hand made using old techniques I've only seen once before. I will treasure it always, my friend. Thank you."

With a flick of her own wrist, the sword vanished and Enalia lifted one of the cuffs of her white Starfleet dress uniform. "After that interdimensional fiasco, I finally gave in and started wearing the Asgardian bracers. Still feels like cheating, but..."

"It feels like cheating til you are floating in hard vacuum in deep space," Rita replied, referring to one of her own experiences. "I may have explored the galaxy in a miniskirt, but these have saved my life more times than I can count. It never hurts to have an ace in the hole, right?"

"We won't be that far, Enalia. And you can always call me, and I'll always respond. If you need me, you know I will be there. So this isn't goodbye- this is just goodbye for now. You'll see us again in 4 months when the holidays arrive. And I am putting together a newsletter to keep us all in the loop with one another. You won't lose us, Enalia. I promise you that." Reaching over, Rita took the buxom Trill's hand in her own. "You will always be in my heart, and never far from my thoughts. My children will grow up knowing their flamboyant auntie is a pirate queen, and heaven help me if they want to follow that banner, so be it. But us... your friends who are family to you... we will never be far away. Because you will carry us with you wherever you go, too."

"And if you're ever in need of a bunch of rambunctious rabble rousers, just let me know. I'll be at your doorstep as soon as I'm able," Replied Enalia, with that signature grin of hers as she finished off her drink. "Because one of the things I'm taking back to the Artans is the promise that you'll never be alone."

"And Rita? You and yours will always be family, so you're included in that."

"Amen to that, sister," Rita replied, clinking her glass against Enalia's "See you at the holidays."

Standing in the center of the holographic communication center of the diplomatic center of Starfleet Command, Lieutenant Commander Mnhei’sahe Dox was no longer in her crimson uniform. A week prior, the redheaded Romulan woman had arrived on Earth as a part of a carefully thought out plan to dramatically change the course of her career and life by putting a halt to her tenure as an active-duty Starfleet officer, and pursue a much different path.

The number of Romulans who have openly served in Starfleet could be counted on one hand, but there was only one that was also the granddaughter of a high ranking Senator of the Star Empire, with dual citizenship and an existing position within that Empire as that Senator’s emissary, or ’Kolaes’ in her native tongue.

This tenuous relationship had been a source of stress for the relatively young, 33-year-old pilot who, at first, simply wanted to return to service and flying. But a life-changing adventure that had exposed her to a dozen different realities, showing her exactly how her life could have gone, but for a dozen different decisions. With those perspectives now a part of her, she stood on Earth, prepared to leave behind her life as it had been. To embrace both sides of the woman she was: Citizen of the United Federation of Planets, who believed in the institution and its purpose in the galaxy. And a Citizen of the Romulan Star Empire, who wanted to see her long-distant home become what it had once been, and could be again.

Starfleet Command, it turned out, had not taken nearly as much effort to convince of Dox’s plan as she had expected. With the support of Captain Telvan, Lieutenant Commander Sonak speaking for Vulcan, and Admiral Meowlth and a number of Admirals and that had wanted Dox to pursue this path nearly a year ago when the relationship with her Grandmother had first been solidified. As such, the no-longer-active duty officer was now attempting to get settled on Earth with her family while beginning what would likely be a year to two-year process of intense study and preparation toward becoming a full diplomat. An Ambassador of the United Federation of Planets; specifically, to the Romulan Star Empire.

It was a plan with many details and facets. Details that Mnhei’sahe Dox… in her crisp new gray ‘ambassador in training’ uniform... had just finished presenting to the holographic representation of her grandmother, Senator Verelan t’Rul.

The holographic room projected the image of the elegant, silver-haired Romulan matriarch and stateswoman and a representation of her office on Romulus. Having now stood in the real room during one of her inter-dimensional leaps, Dox could now see that the details of this version of the office had been altered for security purposes. As had always been the case in these holographic communications between them, Dox stood on the other side of the holographic representation of Veleran’s desk with the furniture separating the two women.

For a long moment, Dox’s audacious plan to become a Federation Diplomatic envoy to the Romulan Star Empire hung heavy in the air. For that moment, the expression on the canny elder Senator’s face remained dispassionate, before she finally responded.


“Taking up the family business at last, Mnhei’sahe?” Verelan t’Rul said simply, barely concealing a prim smile.

“That would certainly be one way of putting it.” Dox replied, plainly doing her level best to not overtly emote, her arms folded behind her back. There was a hint of familiarity in her voice that few would pick up on, save those that knew her. “Much of what I am proposing are tasks I have already been performing, representing your position to reunification colonies as your Kolaes. I have simply decided that it was time to make these duties more official and acquire the additional training to do so better.”

“Not at all. Now you’ll be representing the Federation’s interests on Romulus. The Reunification colonies will be but one minor image within a much larger tapestry. You are stepping from the provincial single matter of politics in regard to one single focused issue, and instead are choosing to embrace, as the Humans say, ‘the big picture’.” Tracing her fingers along the marble desktop, the matriarch of House Rul raised her eyebrows and spoke casually, as if discussing the weather.

“It’s brave of you to take such a large leap... most would spend years learning diplomacy in the field dealing with more manageable issues. But not Mnhei’sahe Dox,” the silver-haired senator with the sharply pointed brows and the equally sharp mind observed, those dark eyes flashing up to meet those of the last great hope of House Rul. “Diving straight into the deep end. Federation representative to the Star Empire. I’m not certain whether I’d call it audacious or ambitious, or both.”

A close lipped smile and a fluttering of lashes accompanied the statement- a bit of flippancy in either culture.

As usual, Mnhei'sahe found herself working to parse the layers of meaning behind her grandmother's words, for there were always a great many messages to be found. Yes, there was flippancy but there was also something else in the seasoned politico's body language and mannerisms. Cues that Dox was learning to read that were hidden beneath the words.

It was very much the Romulan way, to speak in code and mask your meanings. In this case, from both Starfleet and the Imperial Senate, who were all observing the conversation. This, she realized, might be the hardest part of this new path she was starting on: the scrutiny. For most of her life, the introverted woman disliked the judgment of others, but here she was choosing a life where her every word and mannerism would be criticized and scrutinized. It was a burden she was willing to take on.

Pursing her lips slightly, Dox nodded lightly as she replied. "While I may be diving into the proverbial deep end, it is very much my intention to take this time to learn as much as I can about the spectrum of facets to this endeavor..."

Running a finger over an ear, it was a traditionally nervous gesture for Dox, but in this case she hoped it would reinforce the request beneath the surface. "...from those most knowledgeable and experienced in such matters."

“There is great wisdom to be had in education, I hear, and you plan to seek such an education with the Federation on Earth. Will you also participate in such an education on Romulus, I wonder?” That eyebrow moved upward almost imperceptibly, but it sharpened ever so slightly as she asked. Ever maneuvering, the canny stateswoman’s eyes were always set on the prize- convincing her granddaughter to see things her way. To bring that energy and will to bear for the Romulan people. Now more than ever, there were... possibilities.

Thus she baited the hook, and waited.

"I would consider such an education essential." Mnhei'sahe answered with a somewhat matter-of-fact tone, honestly just a bit surprised at how direct the last question was, at least for Verelan. "Which would, of course, require the completion of my accreditation and legal status as a diplomatic envoy here before moving forward. But if I am to serve in any capacity, I will need to learn as much as possible from both peoples and both cultures."

The blunt truth was that Mnhei'sahe knew that she needed Verelan to have even a chance at success at effecting even the slightest change to her estranged homeworld. But Verelan's ambitions required Mnhei'sahe equally. It was in the red-headed Romulan woman's intention to secure diplomatic standing through the Federation, that would offer at least some measure of proverbial shielding against the more overt machinations of the Senate itself.

Though it was still a tremendously dangerous game, and she knew it, it was simply not something she wanted to run from any more.

“I am pleased to see we share perspective on this issue, future ambassador. I of course would be happy to offer my services as a native guide in such matters, should you wish to avail yourself of my experience.” It was a multilayered offer, of course, the depths of which would be determined between the two of them over time, likely in a constant jockeying for position and the upper hand.

In other words, politics. Although hopefully without the particularly vicious nature of Romulan politics, where one might wind up on the outside of the situation, or dead.

“I would be honored by the privilege, noble Senator.” Dox replied with a respectful bow and the hint of a smile that was all but imperceptible to most, though not Verelan knew her granddaughter better than most. “I am pleased as well. I look forward to exploring this path, the challenges ahead, and discovering if we can eventually cut a new path.”

“Perhaps you could come for a visit in the interim?” Deihu t’Rul asked casually, although both women recognized it for what it was- a test of the waters, a testing of boundaries, a silly suggestion easily avoided or taken advantage. A ploy that could be taken a number of ways on a number of levels.

Family politics, Romulan style.

There was the briefest of pauses as Dox considered just how to answer the question that, for her, was more difficult than it seemed on the surface. Her feelings for the woman were extremely mixed in a number of ways as there was intimidation, trepidation, a bit of well earned fear, but also compassion and a level of emotional connection the younger woman could not deny. In spite of everything that had occurred between the two, on a strange level she loved her estranged grandmother.

In all of their encounters, the one thing that they never have had… was a visit. But considering the situation and the variables, Dox wasn’t about to simply say ’yes’.

“Considering the complexity of the political climate at this time, and my diplomatic status from the Federation yet to be accredited, that is something that will likely take… a bit of arranging.” Dox said, going over the obvious details first so that they are said and on record before adding one last bit, “But when such a trip would be approved and my diplomatic status verified, that would be something I would enjoy.”

“Indeed. We shall have to see what bears fruit in the fullness of time, I suppose,” Verelan offered with a wry smile, a nod to the well-played response. Noncommittal without being rude, evasive while still expressing commitment, uncertain yet spoken with conviction.

“I look forward to this future, Hu’paenhe,” the matriarch of house t’Rul said, formally recognizing her status as family in an official communique that would make it clear to anyone who scanned the communication the relationship between the two. Which both strengthened and weakened both women’’s positions.

A classical Romulan maneuver, to name another as family- to bring them under the auspice of the house’s protection, whilst simultaneously exposing them to the house’s enemies. Thus mutual benefit suddenly became much more amicable to both parties.

“As do I, Hu'nanov.” Dox replied, camouflaging the moment of emotion she felt at the acknowledgement as she offered another respectful and professional bow. “Jolan tru.”

“Jolan tru, Mnhei’sahe Dox.”

The plastic man knew that he had to negotiate this particular situation with care, aplomb, and a certain deference of style. He’d studied his target and he understood the risks- yet, he was still determined to take the chance, to extend the offer, and see if an accord could be reached.

After all, that’s what diplomacy was all about. Bridging cultures to broker deals.

This would threaten to expose him, but he felt confident in the risk. This could pay off on a galactic scale, after all. What greater prize for any corps diplomatique?

-----------

TO:LTCDR (Res) Dox, Mnhei’sahe
FROM:VADM Jones, Doug

Please meet me in my office at Starfleet Intelligence 08.26.2397@09:00 for a discussion.

-----------

That was all the missive said. But it was from a Vice Admiral, and they were gently reminding her that while she had resigned her commission, it was on the proviso of reservist status, as she still had active enlistment she had not fulfilled as yet on her current contract with Starfleet.

Having just returned for a morning run on the Starfleet Academy campus about an hour prior, Mnhei’sahe Dox had decided to mimic the running path she had taken with Rita Paris a few times back on the Hera’s holodeck. To her surprise, she found herself enjoying the campus more and more. The old resentment she had felt for being on Earth was starting to slowly and quietly fade away, and that was a good thing.

Getting dressed, the recent recruit to Starfleet’s Diplomatic training program had a new uniform which she was still trying to get used to. The gray tunic with the white band across the chest and her training rank markers in bars on each shoulder was a bit of a departure from her former command crimson uniform, but she kept reminding herself that change was good.

The moderately sized room she was staying in on campus was a bit empty at the time as Mona, her mother and the children were moving their things into the new apartment at the top of a shining Starfleet complex up the coast in Seattle and wouldn’t be back in town until the evening. It was a beautiful space with almost 360 degree views of the city that her avian wife and children adored, and had already named ‘The Aerie’. The redheaded Romulan was looking forward to the move, after these first few weeks of meetings and debriefings, where staying in town seemed much more sensible.

Sensible, but a little lonely.

By and large, however, Dox was in a much more positive headspace than she would have thought as she finished putting her new uniform on and preparing to head to her meeting. She had wished that the wording had been more specific, as ‘for a meeting’ seemed a bit cryptic and vague, but the anxious former aviatrix hoped that was just her natural predilection for nervousness creeping in as she grabbed her personal data PaDD and left to head to the Starfleet Intelligence headquarters.

It was a pleasant walk across the sprawling campus that, the last time she had been here, had been under far more stressful circumstances, and Dox was happy to be able to appreciate it just a bit more. Before too long, she had made her way through the extensive security and was waiting in the antechamber outside of the Vice Admiral’s office.

As the Commander at the reception desk looked up, she nodded to Dox. “Lieutenant Commander? Admiral Jones will see you now.”

“Thank you.” Dox said politely and with a bit of a mild smile that she seemed to have to force just a hair less than she used to as she turned from the window overlooking the bay to head into the office.

The office was panelled in simulated dark wood, with a small but functional desk, and a wall that appeared to look out over the sprawling city of San Francisco. Save that she’d paid attention, and this room was nowhere near the exterior of the building. The window wall looked realtime- after all, it was a partly cloudy day outside, and the view did seem to reflect accurate weather conditions at the least.

Standing in front of that sprawling vista was a very slender, very tall man. It was as if someone had taken the image of a standard humanoid’s proportions and stretched the image vertically, but not horizontally. He appeared to be nearly a full two meters tall- not quite, but close. Yet so slender he looked practically fragile.

Turning as she entered, a smile warmed the face of the pale-skinned humanoid, and his large bright eyes took her in. “Lieutenant Commander Dox! Please, come in, come in. It’s very good to meet you. I’m Vice Admiral Jones. Can I get you anything? Water, tea, Romulan ale?”

“Hello, Vice Admiral.” Dox said, her arms folded behind her back, standing a bit more straight than standard parade rest out of respect and habit when speaking to Admirals for obvious reasons. But at the more casual first question, Dox replied a bit more honestly to set the tone she hoped would continue. “Unless you have Romulan coffee available without undue fuss, a glass of water would be fine. Thank you very much.”

“As a matter of fact,” the admiral, long-legged and surprisingly spry, covered the room in three strides to open a panel, and the aroma of coffee wafted out. Grasping the tray, the Vice Admiral stepped over to deliver the cup to his guest. “Research tends to pay off, to answer your question you’re too polite to ask. I know quite a bit about you, Mrs. Dox. But not everything. Which is why I wanted for us to have a discussion today.”

Returning to his desk, something finally connected with Dox about one of the oddities about the man. The way that he moved seemed almost spidery to her, until she watched him negotiate his desk, pulling out his chair and settling into it. He didn’t move like he was always in motion. He moved as though he were a vehicle that was being piloted. The sudden pauses, the over exaggeration of some of the movements, the odd proportions were all adding up to questions in her mind.

They were questions that led her mind in a few different directions that she needed more information on to fully form from loose ideas to more formed theories, so for now she simply would continue absorbing whatever she could from the interaction.

Giving the coffee a light whiff, the aroma was quite relaxing. This was her preferred blend, made just the way she liked it. It was information easily collected from the available replicator records of the Hera that were in no way hidden information, but it spoke to who she was talking to that he would bother with learning such things.

Gesturing to the chair in front of his desk, Dox was not a woman to ever assume familiarity, but also was getting over simply standing until told she could sit and instead, politely asked, “May I, Vice Admiral?”

By all means, please do. I don’t want to loom here all day,” he replied with a smile that seemed genuine and friendly. “So, of course, you’re wondering why I’ve called you here today. What all of the significance of the little nuances mean- the abbreviated communication, the reminder of your reservist rank, what Starfleet Intelligence wants from me. All good questions, very good.”

As he spoke, the Vice Admiral made hand gestures that called attention to his very long fingers, and it was clear that accentuating what he was saying with his hands was a practiced affectation for him.

Taking the offered seat, Dox took a sip of her offered coffee and listened. The man was correct that she was absolutely analyzing his every word and placing special attention on where they were. Starfleet Intelligence implied a significant amount to the redhead Romulan.

“So, yes, I’ll get to it. As a Starfleet reservist, you are still bound by your Starfleet oath. However, there may come times when that will potentially clash with your duties as a diplomat. So today I’m here to discuss that with you, and establish just what the expectations will be in regard to Starfleet- particularly Starfleet Intelligence- and Corps Diplomatique.” The admiral opened his hands, face pleasant. “Questions?”

“Many.” Dox said with a raised eyebrow at the unusual individual, remembering in that moment that in her last leap to the Victory, one hundred and eleven years ago, Captain Charybdis MacGregor had a somewhat confrontational relationship with an Admiral named ‘Jones’. It was yet another in a string of coincidences that didn’t sit well with the young woman. “But for now, I suppose it’s best to focus on just what those expectations will be. My first being, should I assume that Starfleet Intelligence considers my commission as an officer still active?”

“Well, you see, that’s where this discussion comes in. It becomes a thorny point given the circumstances, doesn’t it?” the admiral wagged his long index finger. It reminded Dox of Rita, and she idly wondered if the admiralty of her era had done it and that’s where she picked it up.

“It does.” Dox replied somewhat plainly, with a nod. “Of course, any serious interactions with my people generally are best described as ‘thorny’, and I will be putting myself in a particularly dense proverbial briar patch, all things considered. Is there a concern regarding my loyalties?”

“Excellent question!” the lanky yet friendly-seeming admiral declared. “No. Starfleet has assured itself of exactly where your loyalties lay last year, after your rescue from Romulus. So that’s not in question. The question before us today is when you know when to act like a Starfleet officer and when you need to act as a diplomat. Fortunately, as Starfleet are often employed as diplomats on missions, there should seldom be a conflict of duties. The grey area of exceptions is where the moral quagmire may come into play. So, shall we discuss?”

Over the course of the next few hours, the Intelligence admiral walked her through a series of hypothetical situations, all of which posed moral quandaries in regard to duty. In each case, he laid out the conditions of the situation and the relevant variables, illustrating where potential conflict might arise. In each case, he let her choose her own course, offering course corrections when needed because of hazards she did not consider or regulations of which she was unaware.

At no point did he attempt to trap her in a situation by offering false information, nor did he seem to be deceiving her in the least. However, the extended conversation did settle into her mind that he was not humanoid, at least not entirely. Her overall impression was of a construct, a robot perhaps. But one very advanced, according to what she knew of robotics, if it was autonomous as this one seemed to be. Or it could be a sophisticated puppet, being manipulated by a pilot, who might or might not be providing the voice for the construct. Holographics tended to be smoother and more flawless- their programmers saw to that. But robotics tended to have an unnatural element to them that one could sense in the subtleties of their movements.

Or it was a changeling, and it’s mimicry of human behavior was somehow lacking- which seemed implausible, particularly in the heart of Starfleet Intelligence. To say nothing of the fact that what he was teaching her in that room was remarkably useful, benevolent information and, and not in any overtly noticeable way, manipulative.

“This has all been extremely helpful, Vice Admiral.” Dox said politely as she turned back to the strange man as they finished another hypothetical scenario. “For myself, and hopefully for you as well. You’ve asked me if I had questions, and after the last few hours, I’m sure that you have a more than a measure of who I am. Do you have any questions?”

“What’s the riddle of the room, Lieutenant Commander?” the Vice Admiral asked, folding his long fingers together and adopting an attentive posture, giving away nothing.

Pausing for just the slightest moment, Dox considered the question and nodded, glancing about the room for a moment. If he was a changeling or something other than just a human Vice Admiral with uniquely peculiar mannerisms, then it was possible she could be in very serious danger. She, or Starfleet or any number of things or people.

Looking back to meet his eyes, Dox stiffened almost imperceptibly, preparing for the possibility of trouble, even though she didn’t feel threatened. Nodding slightly, she replied in a plain and even tone. “As far as I can tell, the riddle of the room… is you, Vice Admiral.”

“Who are you? Or, more appropriately… what are you? Because nothing about you or your manners indicates that you’re human.” Dox continued, raising an eyebrow. “In spite of your personnel file saying you are.”

“Fascinating. What sort of lifeform would you hypothesize me to be, Lieutenant Commander Dox?” His face lost none of it’s pleasantry, nor did his tone. If anything, he seemed not in the least bit surprised nor taken aback- but neither was he giving anything up, either.

“Artificial.” Dox answered as she leaned slightly forward in her seat, looking into the eyes that didn’t seem quite right. “Frankly, you don’t move like any species I’ve even met. And I’ve met a great many species.”

“Fascinating. And you draw this conclusion rather than a shapeshifter, a hologram or other subterfuge because?” Again, the admiral’s pleasant demeanor didn’t waver.

“To my knowledge, I’ve not met any of the known shapeshifting species on record, such as the Founders or Chameloids. But never in any of the classes I took at the academy has there been any references to the specifics of what I’m seeing in how you move.” Dox added, nerves beginning to ramp up a bit at how the exchange was continuing with further and further questions that all evaded any answers. “But I’m friends with a handful of holographic life forms… and I’ve seen my share of piloted robotics. Of those three options… that’s how you move, Vice Admiral.”

“That said, you’ve not actually confirmed any of my observations, but you’ve also not denied any of them.” the former pilot continued, her eyebrows lowering slightly. “And considering where we are, it’s more than a little disconcerting to me that you might not be who and what you’re supposed to be. So, with that in mind, who are you and what are you?”

“All very fair questions. Very well Lieutenant Commander,” At that, the smiling face of the admiral froze as it ratcheted slightly forward, then hydraulics hummed as it lifted the face out of the way, revealing the interior of the Vice Admiral’s head, which was indeed a cockpit- for a miniature version of the admiral.

Who waved at her.

“I’m still going to use the speech conveyer, because otherwise I don’t think you’d be able to hear me. But you are correct, I am piloting a rather large and complex robotic version of myself, Lieutenant Commander. This in and of itself was a test- not only of your knowledge and moral leanings, but of your observational capacity and your ability. You come highly recommended from Admiral Meowlth, so I wanted to introduce myself and get to know you.” Waving his hand, the robot hand mimicked the action.

“I had an accident with an exotic subatomic particle in a transporter incident six years ago. Since then I’ve used a variety of conveyances, until this latest model. Which still needs some work, but it’s still a remarkable feat of engineering, wouldn’t you say?” The tiny version of the vice admiral seemed possessed of the same cheery and open disposition as his robotic ‘spacesuit’. Which made sense if they were trying to emulate him.

Looking across at the unconventional sight, Dox tilted her head slightly. The explanation was no more outlandish than any of the things that had happened in her life, and in point-of-fact, a little specifically so. After all, she herself had just gone through a particularly interesting series of adventures due to her own exposure to exotic particles and Rita Paris’ transporter ‘incidents’ were a matter of record, at least within the Intelligence branch.

It was possible she was drawing connections where there were none, but the concerned officer didn’t want to miss anything under the circumstances. “And when I speak to Admiral Meowlth, she can confirm this all? After all, if this is some kind of subterfuge, it represents a significant threat. So if you are telling the truth, you’ll understand my suspicions and concerns...along with my need for something more to tell me that what you’re saying is the truth.”

“Excellent answer!” the enthusiastic yet miniscule senior officer exhorted. “Yes, rather than attempt to convince you in the here and now, when this office itself could be a holographic construct and any number of people or proofs could be counterfeited, by all means, verify this information with Admiral Meowlth, or you are free to put in an inquiry to the Fleet Admiral and you will receive a confirmation. I’m looking forward to working with you, Ambassador In Training Dox.”

With that, the faceplate with the frozen smile came back down, reseated itself and animated once more, the eyes blinking and alert, the smile a natural one again.

Not leaving the headquarters of Starfleet Intel, Dox did just that. The redheaded student contacted Admiral Meowlth and others up the chain to confirm the unconventional Vice Admiral's remarkable story. Nearly forty-five minutes later, after talking to others she had chosen to trust and reviewing a variety of records, Dox returned to the mechanical man in question who had indulged her curiosity enthusiastically.

There was still the coincidence of his name being 'Jones' itching at the back of her mind, but for now, she had another choice to make: To decide if someone who had kept a rather massive secret from her could be trusted when there were still questions.

"Good afternoon. Admiral Meowlth verified the information, Vice Admiral Jones." Dox said with a practiced, professional demeanor she was getting better at presenting. "Which… in and of itself felt like something of a test."

While her tone was professional, she was not being stoic or cold, as she allowed a bit of a smile on her thick cheeks as she spoke. "Might I ask, if it was?"

“My father once told me that life is a test,” Admiral jones replied. “Which is a Jones family phrase going back for generations. There has been a Jones in Starfleet Intelligence since it was formed, back with Admiral Jeffrey Jones, back in 2161. It still rings just as true today, to my mind. As for you- yes. Will you follow up and do due diligence? Will you be looking for inconsistencies? Will you be fooled by a smile and assurances? Will you be smart enough to confirm through multiple reliable sources that can offer security clearances? Will you be self-reliant or immediately consult with your aide-de-camp? Many questions, many tests. All of which you passed- you followed protocol, verified sources and overall did exactly what I’d hoped.”

Listening, Dox pondered the number of generational Starfleet families and smiled a bit at the fairly basic explanation for what had been sticking in her mind. Perhaps it was a Romulan trait to seek out links and circles within circles even when there were none. Perhaps it was the effect of having dealt with her Grandmother as much as she had the past year. Regardless, it had served her well enough to do so, so long as she also knew when to keep such thoughts from fueling the kind of paranoia that was at the root of much of her people’s problems.

In this moment, she chose to let that thought unstick in her mind to focus on the here-and-now and the man before her in the human-sized mirror. “Hopefully, I will continue to do so, Vice Admiral.”

“Which… if you do not mind my asking… does raise another question to me.” Dox asked with a quizzical expression. “Admiral Meowlth specified that what you’ve revealed to me is a secret very few know and it was one I was not to share beyond a select few. So, what made you decide to trust me enough to give me permission to ask?”

“Most people are too polite to mention it, just dismissing it as me being a bit... odd,” The Vice Admiral cocked his head to the side a bit, in one of those slightly off quirks. “I wanted to know how bold you would be as to address it, or to be polite, make note of it and try to find some other reason for my question. Every reaction would have spoken volumes of you and your character, both as a person and an officer. Which was what I wished to gauge for myself. I still trust... well, my own eyes and ears are something of a lie in this case. But first hand experience- peeling open my head to show you the man behind the curtain, and seeing your reaction- that’s when you find out just whom you are sending into the den of dragons.”

“Now I know you, and you know a little bit about me- we give trust to gain trust, do we not? So from now on, I am your chain of command, your new contact within Starfleet Intelligence. Although you are a reservist, and are not under orders from me at any point unless recalled to active duty. Understood?” The curious admiral with the kind eyes and elongated fingers offered a smile to the new entrant to the world of Starfleet diplomacy.

“Understood, Vice Admiral.” Dox replied professionally, but personably with a bit of a smile that she allowed out. “I appreciate the measure of trust, both professionally and personally. Also, in regards to your robotic body…”

“I happen to be married to an inventor who specializes in exactly this kind of technology.” Dox smiled just a bit more. “And she would likely be thrilled to address some of the problems you’re having and make the entire rig far more comfortable to operate.”

Pondering her statement for a second, she realized that she had even more resources to share, “Also… the sector’s foremost expert on transporter anomalies is preparing to take up residency to teach at the Academy at the beginning of the next term. He may have some insight into your condition and would be… well, not glad... but quite willing to look over the specifics of the case. His success rate is very encouraging as well, so if you’d like, I could arrange an introduction?”

“Honestly, in both cases, I was rather hoping you might offer. I was planning to ask, so this saves me the imposition. Thank you... I would be absolutely delighted to meet your wife, and the last Kolinahr of another universe... remarkable. We could all do dinner together, I know some amazing restaurants in Seattle or here in San Francisco. Or we could meet in Tokyo if she’d like to look me over in her laboratory-” The long, slender man blushed a bit and his yes fell, his finger, long and tapering, tangling with one another. “I apologize, I get a bit excited. It’s... a unique condition, and... it’s been very hard. This is the best accommodation they’ve come up with for me yet, and... I get a bit worked up. Sorry...”

Looking back up, the Admiral raised an eyebrow slightly. “Miss Dox, Mrs. Dox, Miss Godox, Mrs. Godox, Lieutenant Commander... what do you prefer to be called? I admit I am uncertain.”

“Firstly, there’s no need to apologize. I imagine you rarely get the opportunity to discuss the situation,” the young Ambassador in training replied more casually, as the question allowed her to relax her posture a bit. “Secondly, ‘Miss Dox’ is preferable. Mrs. Dox is my mother, and only the children are using the portmanteau of Godox, actually. Thank you. If I may, how would you prefer to be addressed?”

“Unless we are in a professional setting? Call me Doug, Miss Dox.”

Nodding, Dox’s smile remained for the unconventional Admiral who was a decided breath of fresh air for the young Romulan.

“Then, likewise, Doug. Please, call me Mnhei’sahe.”

The packing crates had all been delivered by transporter to the backyard, where the open space gave them room to move and sort things out. While they possessed few actual possessions, Rita Paris and Sonak had a house too full with furniture, and a rather wealthy and influential friend with a taste for the finer things in life. Thus they were now unloading a number of antique furnishings, unsealing them from the stasis lock in which they had traveled and carrying them up the stairs and in through the wide double doors that led out to the back deck.

It wasn’t the same design that she remembered, but she had time to change that. The walls would need painting, the furniture arranging, some repairs and patches made. But overall, Rita Paris was overjoyed to be settling back into the house on Bleeker Street where she had grown up- the Paris family home, circa 2230-2286. Courtesy of one Enalia Telvan, Queen of the Artan Trading Empire.

As a parting gift, it had been incredibly generous of Enalia. But then, Rita had always shied away from gifts from the wealthy pirate queen who was trying so hard to be a Starfleet captain. But as she had encouraged her captain to follow her destiny, the generous woman had decided to remove Rita’s agency and simply purchase the house, at a cost Rita couldn’t even imagine. After all, in the ‘moneyless’ society of the Federation, latinum still talked, and the house had been purchased and emptied in rather a hurry- Rita had checked the listing only a month ago.

Yet here she was, back on Earth. Smelling the tang of salt in the sea air as the breeze swept across the yard. The smell of the fresh-cut grass she had mowed before the cargo containers had arrived. The sound of the wind in the trees, and the distant growl of passing motorists. The excited squeal of a child in the distance. The feel of the sun on her face.

Home.

So far had she run from this place, so desperate she was to get ‘out there’, to boldly go, to be the Starfleet officer her father would be proud of at last. Along the way, she had met the most perfect, logical man in the universe, and experienced enough adventure for a dozen lifetimes. Bizarre transformations, unbelievable tales, and in the end, she had realized, what she really wanted was not to go further, to see more, to push that boundary of science and knowledge onward, ever onward.

Instead, she wanted to go home.

Watching Sonak as he seemingly effortlessly carried his end of the ashwood wardrobe they were maneuvering inside, she smiled. As he rounded the corner with the heavy piece of furniture to take the long hallway to the front stairs, his head peeked around the furniture to catch her gaze. Of course, he didn’t smile. But in his steel-grey eyes, she could see all she needed to see, and all she needed to know about how he felt about her.

His was a love that would traverse time and space, endure any risk or discomfort, for her. His devotion to her was without question, and the breadth of his love for her was enormous. Despite his lack of emotion as a Kolinahr.

Love was funny that way.

Grunting her way up the stairs with the load as she backed up, she was debating summoning her armor from the interdimensional space where she stored it, in the bronze bracers she still wore upon her wrists. But that was a crutch she needed to learn to live without. Besides, she could have grabbed one of the anti-grav pads to lighten the load, but noooo, she was still young and spry and she could do this.

By the time they got the wardrobe settled into place in the guest bedroom, she was beginning to reconsider her position on ‘doing’ this.

That was when a shuttlecraft landed in the front driveway, and a smile spread across her face. “Looks like the Godoxes have arrived, dear. Now we have a few more hands on deck!”

‘’Empathy and cooperation arguably are the most human of qualities,’’ Sonak agreed, his clear eyes scanning the incoming craft as if he was peering at it through the ship’s sensors. ‘’It brought Earth’s people from animality to civilization, and from the brink of planetary devastation to galactic prominence. It should prove adequate for our current predicament.’’

Of course, devoid of all emotions, he did not think he was being funny. He literally thought what he was saying. And that’s what made it so funny.

In the drive, a black and chrome shuttle roughly the size of a Type 6 Starfleet shuttle powered down as the side door slid open and a narrow gangplank extended down the 40 or so centimeters over the narrow nacelle. It was a private craft that Rita hadn’t seen before, but as she stood in her childhood home that Enalia had gifted her, it wasn’t hard to imagine how the family of pilots ended up with such a sleek family craft.

Excitedly popping out of the door onto the plush, green front lawn, the three half-Romulan, half-Miradonain chicks all but launched into excited rolls through the soft grass. They had been here on Earth now for about two weeks, but it was clear that the children were still in awe of being on an actual planet with fresh air and all the beauty of nature.

Behind them came the patrician Jaeih Dox, who was still wearing mostly gray and black, and with her tightly pulled back salt and pepper hair. As such, she looked like something out of the Addams Family on the sunny San Francisco street, as she corralled the children and looked around like someone expecting danger behind every bush.

Then, Mona Gonadie came out with a covered tray of assorted Miradonian cookies and cakes, wearing one of her yellow and pink jumpers covered in pockets and little neon green chick prints. On her chest she still had her Starfleet combadge. Where her rank pips normally were, was an Academy instructor’s badge for an engineering school in Tokyo.

Finally, Mnhei’sahe Dox emerged, closing up the shining, black transport. No longer an active duty Starfleet officer, instead of her old crimson uniform top she was wearing a high collared, light gray tunic with a white band across the chest where the black band was on a standard uniform. Instead of rank pips there were silver stripes on her shoulders and the familiar Starfleet combadge on her chest. It was a uniform representative of her new position training at Starfleet Command as a future ambassador.

The former pilot had never particularly liked Earth the first time she had been here in her teens, nor during her years at the academy. The somewhat pensive expression on her face showed that she was still more than a little hesitant. But she had a warm smile for the house as she looked up, knowing what it meant to Rita as the unconventional family unit made its way up to the inviting, wrap around porch.

Sliding down the bannister from the second floor to the landing, Rita sniffed the air appreciatively, calling out. “Hera? What are you making in there?”

In the kitchen, the goddess Hera had already been busy unpacking and provisioning. While Rita and Sonak moved the furniture in, Hera was making sure there were snacks and drinks available, even as she had a zucchini casserole in the oven. The reformed goddess and namesake of the USS Hera had agreed to accompany Rita Paris and her family back to Earth when asked, and while the details were still being worked out with Starfleet and the Asgardians, for now, Hera was ensconced in the home on Bleeker street already, making the kitchen her own. Which was part of why Rita had begged the goddess to accompany her- Hera would help the career Starfleet officer make the house that had been a constant of her childhood, into a home for her family.

“Chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies for the girls,” Hera called out from the kitchen as she organized an exotic spice rack. “They’ll follow their noses.”

Chuckling, Rita shook her head as she dusted off the baby blue long-sleeved t-shirt she was wearing which proudly declared ‘Make Starfleet Great Again’ and opened the front door in anticipation of their guests. Clad in beige capri pants and some running shoes, wearing a bandanna to keep her hair out of her face, she looked rather like a pin-up on her day off. Effortlessly glamorous, and a knockout even in casual clothes, she stood in the doorway with a million-watt smile as she welcomed her friends who were family to her home, for the very first time.

“Welcome!” she said brightly, her enthusiasm clearly on display. “Welcome to Paris House.”

Stepping up to the door, the family was largely all smiles, spare for Jaeih who simply offered Rita a slight head nod with the minor arching of an eyebrow. An expression Rita knew to be the woman’s more casual equivalence of a smile.

Dox, looking a bit uncomfortable in her new uniform, smiled more broadly than was usual for her as she replied, the children at her legs beginning to sniff the air with their copper eyes wide. “Rita! This is it? This is your family’s home? It’s wonderful!”

“It is!” the Starfleet siren declared, and somehow, her smile grew a bit brighter and wider. “She’s seen a little wear and tear and a few alterations from my day, but this is it. Come on in, I’ll give you the tour!”

Squatting down to get to eye level with the three chicks, Rita waggled her eyebrows. “I happen to know Hera is baking some cookies, if anyone is interested, she said you should just...” Rita watched as she spoke, and all three girls bolted for the kitchen, leaving her talking to herself as she finished, “Follow your nose.”

Rising smoothly, dusting off her hands, Rita embraced Dox, then held her out at arm’s length. “Corps diplomatique! It suits you well, Mnhei’sahe.”

Tugging on the uniform slightly out of habit, it didn’t feel like it fit quite yet for the generally anxious young woman who was blushing ever so slightly. “Well… hopefully it will suit me better with time and more training. It’s still… a bit overwhelming now that I’m here and it’s real.”

“Diplomatic immunity will give you the standing that you need to be able to operate freely on Romulus and still leave to come back to the Federation when you need to. It’ll fit you just fine... besides, you’ll have Mrs. Dox watching your back. That alone will stack the odds considerably in your favor,” Rita beamed a smile at the somewhat dour-faced Romulan matron, of whom she was overly fond.

“Indeed.” Jaeih said flatly, still looking around the area. With the inscrutable expression on her face, it was hard to tell if she was still disapproving of her daughter for this particular life plan, looking for potential threats, or simply judging the entirety of the planet Earth as beneath her. Either way, it was all quite familiar and quintessentially Jaeih.

“No physical harm will come to anyone in this family so long as I am capable. And it is my intention to use this time to… increase my capabilities.” She added, raising a brow slightly at Rita and smirking almost imperceptibly. “And, if anything, it is somewhat cathartic to see my former jailers at Starfleet Intelligence bristle somewhat at my new position as a diplomatic attaché.”

“Revenge is a dish best served cold, or so the Klingons say. Come in, come in., let us show you around!” At that, Rita Paris began the tour of the home, starting on the first floor, taking them up to the attic on the third floor she planned to refurbish as guest quarters, down to the basement in which someone had apparently dug a wine cellar. The children stayed in the kitchen ‘helping’ Hera, and by the time the tour was done, lunch was served.

A large oaken table was brought in from the cargo containers, the chairs were brought in as well, and the first meal in the Paris family home, shared amongst family, genuinely brought a few tears to the eyes of the human adventurer. It had been years since she had sat down for a meal in this house, and sitting with Hera, Sonak, and the Godoxes genuinely made her happier than she could remember being in a very long time. Paper plates and chopsticks were not exactly fine china, and plastic tumbler drinking glasses were all that could be found. But they made do, and the meal was shared, and seeing them all gathered filled the Earth girl’s heart with joy.

Afterward, Hera brewed a pot of coffee as the Doxes and Rita and Sonak carried the living room furniture in, setting it in the positions that were aesthetically pleasing to Rita’s eye and balanced by Sonak’s geometry to achieve an otherworldly feng shui with the bright room with the large windows that let in the light, and open as they were, the cool sea breeze as well.

Seated in the living room as they drank their coffee, Sonak and Hera both drinking spiced Vulcan tea, the children were running through the study, into the hall, through the living room and back through the first floor study again, playing tag in the circular path they had discovered within the house, laughing and squealing as the adults relaxed for a few moments.

“I haven’t contacted the Academy yet, but I think that’ll wait until tomorrow,” Rita declared. “I’m still considering starting in the spring semester and dropping out when I get pregnant, but I’m in debate over it, so I may chat with a guidance counselor to see what advice they may have for career planning. How about you Mnhei’sahe? How are the arrangements for diplomatic training going?”

“Rapidly.” Dox said with a bit of nerves in her voice. “Most of the Admirals I was debriefed with had to contain their excitement at the request. In the past week while Mona’s been largely focused on living arrangements, I’ve been in… a lot of meetings. With a lot of people.”

“Starting Monday morning, I begin the preliminary classes. A bit of a rush course that the Admiralty is enthusiastic about pushing me into. Civics. Quadrant Politics. Comparative culture. Refreshers on history and political theory. Mostly to get me caught up, then I’ll likely be joining you at the Academy at the beginning of next semester for a number of additional classes at advanced levels.” Dox continued, running through the whirlwind schedule she had been assigned.

That brought a smile to the anachronistic astronaut’s face. After all, she was a bit long in the tooth to be an Academy frosh again, and knowing Dox would be there definitely made her feel a bit better about it.

“Also, I finally had a holoconference with my grandmother this week to discuss the potentialities, now that I am officially in training.” Dox added, which caused Jaeih to visibly tense up ever so slightly, which she masked by taking a sip of her coffee. “So far she is enthusiastic, which is always more than a little disconcerting. But I expressed, in as direct a way as seems to be possible in official communications with our people, that we will not be moving forward until my diplomatic standing with the Federation is verified and secured. So far, it seems… positive.”

“More positive than her kidnapping you or holding you hostage,” Jaeih observed dryly.

“Well, hopefully diplomatic immunity will keep you safe, while Mrs. Dox keeps an eye out for all manner of nastiness, freeing you to focus on the peacemaking,” Rita tried to put a positive spin on it. “How about you two? I assume the Academy is excited to receive you both?”

‘’I am unqualified to judge emotional reactions to any given situation, apart from their external consequences,‘’ Sonak explained. ‘’However, the head of Starfleet Academy accepted readily enough my service proposal to support your hypothesis. I do not deny that the anticipated challenges in offering guidance to future Starfleet officers is quite stimulating.’’

He turned his grey eyes towards Rita.

‘’With this opportunity, there is also the undeniable benefit of beginning an enriching new chapter in our shared life, here on this most fascinating homeworld of my wife. I am looking forward to considerable growth for each of us, between us… and perhaps beyond. But then, this is what Rita has been to everyone who knows her; I am simply fortunate enough to be the most privileged among them.’’

In an uncharacteristic display, the Human woman snuggled against the stoic Vulcan male, as his words struck a chord and made her quite happy. While his praise was factual, that rendered it no less heartwarming for her to hear.

To normal eyes the Vulcan man was stoic and unreadable. To Mona’s Miradonian eyes the air around both Sonak and Rita was awash with something akin to a glow of what she could only describe as ‘love energy’ similar to her and Min’s own bond, radiating in waves from both of them and creating a nice little nebula around them.

With a slight blush, the brightly plumed avian woman cleared her throat and grinned as she too leaned into her own mate in an attempt to distract herself from the display. “The Academy is lucky to have the both of you. I’ve been accepted for half a day of classes for diplomatic assistant training while the second half of the day I’ll be remotely training robotics and engineering classes at a university in Tokyo.”

“THAT is a far safer direction than the both of you throwing yourself into this plan, Mona.” Jaeih said, expressing a bit of concern masked by a stoic facade.

“I’ll still be going to Romulus as well, however I’ll also be going to represent my own people and as a pilot and engineer,” Mona added with a grin.

“You are both insane.” Jaeih said, taking a sip of her coffee and sighing. “And I will have my work cut out for me.”

“Ohhhh, come on now, Mrs. Dox. All this time you’ve been cynically suspicious and cautious, and yet you still saw, you learned, and you grew. Do you have ANY idea how hard it was to keep you going without giving you any authority over others? You were an implacable opponent, Jaeih Dox. But it was so very worth it, because look at you- the stern, overprotective matriarch of a clan of diplomats to your own home planet. You get to go home, and they can’t say a word to you because you have diplomatic immunity.”

Holding up a hand, Rita shook her head and smiled. “Yes, I know, you’ll expect ‘accidents’, and that will keep it interesting for you. But you of all people... Mrs. Dox, I worked so hard to keep you happy and keep you going so that you all could get here together, but you... please tell me that you can see it all, and that you’re FINALLY happy?”

The smile and the tone of delivery were comical, so it was clear that Rita was exaggerating her frustration. Yet there was more than a kernel of truth in there, as well.

“Oh, can’t you tell by now that I am quite pleased? I am complaining, after all.” Jaeih replied with a slight smirk, which prompted Mnhei’sahe to have to muffle a snort of a chuckle as her mother continued. “That said, your efforts to channel my energies without feeding my baser ambitions have NOT gone unrecognized. Nor have they gone… unappreciated. You do have my thanks.”

“I’ll take it,” Rita raised her coffee cup in salute. “How about you, Hera? Mapping out the local farmer’s markets and making friends with the neighbors yet?” It was a far cry from the tyrant of Meroset 347, but so far, negotiations with Starfleet, the Asgardians, Earth and the local HOA seemed to be going well, and no one had stopped them from moving in.

“Oh, delightfully well, though I must say that a couple of the older ladies seem to be under the impression that they have years on me.” With a soft chuckle, Hera grinned mischievously over her mug of coffee. “They also have rather strange ideas of what should go into certain foods... I will allow them their misconceptions, however. After all, they have free will and who am I to say otherwise.”

“But I’m still picking the green grapes out of Doris’ macaroni salad. That woman has issues not even I can handle,” the matronly goddess added, punctuating the air with a finger. “Grapes belong in juice and wine - not cold pasta...”

“Well, we can have a backyard garden if you’d like a pergola to grow some grape vines over, Hera. At least, according to the HOA. I’m sure we’ll see something in one of the groups about that sinister shuttle in the driveway,” Rita grinned, enjoying the domesticity of the moment. Which of course moved her to speech. Raising her coffee cup, Rita stood and proposed a toast.

“We stand on the cusp of the 25th century. And as we do so, look at us- all finding our place in the universe, finding a way to effect change to the positive. Helping our people, actively building a better universe for our children,” she said as the triplets raced around her legs, playing slide tag on the semi-slick freshly-waxed hardwood floors. “Case in point. So here’s to us... the architects of the future!”

"Destiny is always left to be written; thus, the future can only be what we make of it today," Sonak agreed, lifting his tea cup in the time-honored Human manner.

With a bit of a smile, the redheaded Romulan woman who had gone from being a child smuggler to an ace pilot, an accomplished officer, and now to an ambassador in training stood up with her coffee mug in one hand, and her wife and bond-mate’s hand in the other. Raising her cup, she replied, “Ssiun’eisifv… towards tomorrow.”

With an expression that looked somewhat amused, Jaeih rose with her daughter and daughter in law, raising her own mug, simply bowing her head in a respectful nod.

Hera also stood and raised her mug, offering her own toast. “As we often said in my day... To the promise of Seven Generations.”

"Ssiun’eidifv; live long and prosper," the Vulcan said, obviously expressing the dream of unification by linking both expressions. Then he added; "As Rita’s people would say, in a quite logical assessment, the Future has yet to be made; so let’s make it a good one.’’

The rest of the furniture had been moved in, thanks to the extra helping hands, some anti-grav pads and Hera being willing to tell the three Godox children scary stories in the basement to keep them from getting underfoot. Everyone was relaxing, breaking into small groups, when Rita approached Mnhei’sahe with a pair of USS Hera coffee cups, which she had apparently smuggled off the starship, or less likely replicated here.

Waking her out through the kitchen hallway to the back deck, the sun was slowly setting in the distance. It was twilight- when the shadows lengthened and the rays of the sun turned everything they touched golden. On the face of the human girl literally returned back where she started, it looked natural.

“There are a few things I need to say to you, now that we’re no longer in one another’s chain of command. They’re things that are truths that you need to hear, and you need to hear them from me. So, now that I’m no longer first officer, and you’re no longer second officer, cards on the table time, hm?” Rita paused to sip her black coffee, giving Mnhei’sahe Dox a moment to process.

Taking a sip of the coffee, Dox leaned slightly against the railing of the deck looking at the view of the sunlight dancing across the waters of San Francisco bay. The smell of the salt of the sea misting across the cool breeze that she found herself harboring a bit more affection for than she had the last time she had been here in her bitter, academy days.

Pondering Rita’s words, it took her a second longer than normal to work through it to reply, her eyebrow arched and a half grin on her face. “Rita, I’m not…” Dox paused, correcting herself once she remembered she was no longer an active service officer, “I wasn’t ever the second officer. I mean, the other me on the Victory got to that level, but I never did.”

“See, now that’s where you’re wrong.” Rita replied, pointing at Dox with her coffee cup as she leaned against the railing, the sun illuminating her face. “I love Thex- she’s got a good heart and clever hands. But she’s not command material.”

“How often did you hear me walk out of a strategy meeting saying, 'Miss Thex, you’re with me’?” Rita pointed out, pausing just long enough for the truth of the matter to settle in. “Never. But you were always right there. Willing to help, eager to step in and do what needed to be done. Making mistakes, learning from them, getting better every day. I knew it from the moment you walked aboard- you were my second officer. And it was my duty to train you how to be first officer, so that you could learn command. Learning by doing, while under supervision.”

“So while you were never second officer in name, and I don’t believe I ever slipped up and referred to you as such aloud- yes, Dox. You were always my second officer, and you served admirably and ably. For which I thank you wholeheartedly. You rose to every occasion, and went above and beyond more often than not. As your first officer, I was honored by your service as second even if you were never confirmed in the position. But that’s who you are- you did the job without complaint because it was needed and it was asked of you, by me.,” Rita finished, matter-of-factly, then sipped her coffee for that requisite pause.

The young Romulan did indeed pause for a moment, taken aback by Rita’s comments. It was clear that she was a little overwhelmed, as Rita’s words had significant weight for the woman who thought of her now-former Commander as the watermark of just what Starfleet was supposed to be, in spirit if not deed. “I… I honestly am at something of a loss for words, Rita. I mean… that means a lot. More than I can say, really.”

“It’s okay. You get a lifetime to react to them- you don’t owe anything to the here and now,” Rita explained. While she may have chosen the moment on the fly, it was clear this was a conversation she’d been planning to have for a long time- that of the senior officer telling the junior officer all she could not when they served together. “This is quiet time- that’s why I chose now to tell you all of this. We’re not in a crisis, there’s no life or death riding on the line. We’re safe, we’re happy, we’re together, and we’re watching a beautiful sunset over San Francisco. What more need be said?”

At that, Rita grinned at her own follyt. “Except, of course, being me, I have more to say.”

“From before the moment you came aboard and Enalia realized who you were, she had plans for you. It all sounded swell, and the Captain was the one offering, so, of course you took it on. She needed you, so you rose to the occasion- that’s who you are, after all. Accepting a barony, then finding out what that entailed, all while I railed against it, trying to keep you in Starfleet. That couldn’t have been easy for you.” As she spoke, Rita leaned in a bit, making solid eye contact with the dark-eyed Romulan woman of whom she’d grown so fond.

“I pulled you to Starfleet, Enalia pulled you to the Artans.Yet iIn the end, you chose your own path- neither of those choices. For that, more than anything else- for pursuing your own destiny- that is the thing you’ve done, of which I’m most proud of you.” Rita drew herself erect, a confession being something she felt required chin up. “Had you stayed in Starfleet, I would have always wondered if you were doing it for me. If you had gone to the Artans, Enalia would have spoiled you... but I doubt you would have been happy. But this... making a difference with your own people, choosing your own destiny. As your friend, as your mentor, and as someone who’s been rooting for you since day one, I am so, SO proud of you.”

“Thank you, Rita. Really. It may be my own path…” Dox replied, thinking about it for a second. “But the map I’m using to walk it, I’m making from everything I’ve learned from all of you. From your lessons of command, and what I learned with the Artans before handing that over to Doctor t’Liun. Even what I’ve learned from my Grandmother.”

“I couldn’t have come to the decision without you.” Dox said, a little blush in her cheeks as she spoke, “In truth… I don’t know that it would have even occurred to me to try without what you’ve taught me.”

“The universe is not unkind, Dox. It brought me here... saving me and Sonak from a decaying sliver reality that would have just made us fade away. But it brought me here, to this time, to that starship, for a reason. I truly believe it. So that I could make a difference.” Looking out over the bay as the sun sank lower and lower, and the shadows of the dusk grew longer, the lost navigator looked wistful, then directed her gaze at her friend. “Maybe for you. Because you were someone with so much promise, that no one had noticed. I knew there was a lot wrong with Starfleet when I got here, but you... you broke my heart. I had to help you, because if I could turn you around, then there was hope for this universe, for this era.”

“You reaffirmed my faith in the values of Starfleet. That courage, camaraderie and the open hand of friendship will still change worlds, and the face of the universe. There are brave individuals who are just waiting to be called to service, to be shown the way. Look at what you did with your own department. Those three would have washed out somewhere else, but you forged them into a genius department of innovation. You rose to uplift others, but when I first saw you, it was as if you'd been lost between the cracks.” Rita paused for a sip of her coffee and a sniff of the sea air. “I don’t ever want to see an officer like that, left on their own out there in the fleet. Officer, enlisted, civilian... anyone.”

“We have to do better.” Staring out at the shining sea, Rita redirected her gaze once more to Dox, with a wry smile.

“You, Miss Dox, showed me that we can be better, that it’s just as worthwhile an endeavor in this day and age as it was in mine. Leadership, mentoring, and teaching the next generation have always been a hallmark of Starfleet, and they will be again. Ours is a generational story. There's been a Paris in Starfleet since before it was Starfleet. There's been a Rul in the Senate since there WAS a Senate, no?” Rita raised her coffee cup to her friend, her ‘sister from another mister’, one of the lifelong friends who would eventually be family in deed, as well as in the heart. “Point being, I daresay you set my life’s course, Miss Dox. So for that I thank you.

Raising her cup back, Dox nodded and smiled. “Well then, here’s hoping that these paths we’ve helped set each other one bear fruit.”

“But… it’s like you said. We have to do better.” Dox said, a thoughtful expression settling on her face as her voice became a bit more serious. “My grandmother said I was being… audacious and ambitious. My mother thinks I’m being foolish and naive. Setting myself up for failure.”

“I know just how damaged that world is. How broken that culture has become.” Dox added. “I’m not operating under the delusion that I can change things there. But maybe if I work hard enough, if I can show by example, I can change just... one thing. Does that make any sense?”

“Rome wasn’t built in a day. But leading by example... in a culture where truth has become a dirty word, that might just catch on, Mnhei’sahe,” Rita admitted, smiling into the sunset. “Follow your heart while you listen to your head. I never taught you that, yet you learned it all the same, watching me do just that.”

“Which will mean everything to these next generations of officers coming out of the academy.” Dox said, sipping her coffee and turning a bit away from the sunset itself to watch it’s golden light shine against the side of Rita’s family home. The wood-frame Queen Anne Revival-style house with the red slats seemed to glow like fire against the setting sun, almost as much as it’s new owner. “I can imagine the officers that will be born of that influence… and that down the line I will have a far easier time convincing others that Starfleet can live up to the ideals it espouses.”

“Starfleet is a promise, it always has been,” Rita said, in an idealistic statement that would sound like a politician’s campaign promise if not for her innate sincerity. “I think maybe after the Borg and Dominion wars they may have forgotten that, but they’re trying to move to a better place, to course correct. I’m going to help where I can do the most good- shaping those young minds before they get to the fleet. I’ll attend the Academy, but mostly to see if from the inside, to see what these cadets are going through. So that I can find what needs to change, and begin altering their course as I gain the opportunity. Plus I’ll get all the old lady at the Academy jokes, and given that I graduated 142 years ago, that makes me a VERY old lady...”

Laughing lightly at the joke, Dox smiled over to her friend. “And yet biologically, a little younger than I am. A paradox that will make things very interesting there, to be sure.”

“Still… starfleet needs you. It needs that reminder of what it’s supposed to be. A reminder that what it has become is not always a match to the face it tries to present to the universe.” Dox added with a nod. “After all, you saw firsthand how bad the Hera could have been just with a version of you that didn’t have hope. Even on our Hera, we regularly beamed into situations in battle armor. The closed fist versus the open hand. That’s the image of Starfleet that’s beginning to proliferate that I’m going to have to try and convince the Empire isn’t what Starfleet truly is.”

At that, Rita’s brow furrowed, and she frowned. “Regularly? I.... made a lot of effort to NOT spend time in that armor. I have to admit I find it distressing you felt it was a regular occurrence. Damn, now I’m going to have to review my logs... I was making a very conscious and concerted effort there, and it bothers me that I failed.”

“I suppose ‘regularly’ is me overstating it or exaggerating.” Dox said, a bit concerned at her mistake as she replied. “But it felt like it was becoming a default expectation we had to actively decide to not do sometimes. Maybe it was just a result of the more extreme nature of many of our missions. Maybe I’m focusing on how often it seemed you or Sonak or eventually myself had to make a case to not go into situations armored.”

“Poor use of hyperbole on my part… which I’ll have to watch moving forward, considering I’m trying to become involved in diplomacy… but I suppose the point was that you were most regularly the only reason we didn’t always go into a mission armored up. I think without you, it would have been standard operating procedure.”

“Ahhh... okay, that I can accept. Honestly it was hard not to go to it as a default, you know? Full tricorder capabilities in a heads up display, sealed environment, armored, strength enhancement. Of all the advances I encountered in the future the fact that the EVA suits had actually become practical and useful was the one that was hardest for me not to abuse. Particularly with those Bracers of Hera,” Rita commented. Clad in a white jersey tee with red sleeves emblazoned with the Academy logo and the legend, ‘Starfleet Academy Class of 2255’, it was clear Rita was not currently wearing them- a testament to where she was and what she was doing.

“But it was an effort, and I hope that wasn’t the lesson that I taught. Armed and armored troopers are not who one wants to see at first contact negotiations- not if they come in peace. That’s another lesson Starfleet needs to be reminded of I think, and I plan to do just that,” Rita resolved after her admission. “Any other impressions like that one you would care to share?”

“The lesson I took… was that force should always be a last resort.” Dox replied. “And in my own observations, when you arrive dressed for a fight, it sets the tone. When you show up, hand outstretched, it does the same. Although considering the nature of what happened to you on those leaps, I’m certainly glad you had the bracers. They allowed you to have the best of both worlds: the best mission prep possible while presenting the best face of Starfleet possible.”

“Which… while it’s a bit off the point… I did take your advice and talk to Hera before we left the ship.” the redheaded Romulan smiled a bit awkwardly. “She gifted me a pair I have in storage for when I eventually do have to go back to Romulus.”

“Better to have and not need than need and not have,” Rita nodded in agreement. “You don’t have to offer her thanks and praise, but she is looking out for you. I think you and her family are more dear to you than you might imagine, and she’ll be keeping an eye on you as well. Speaking of which, Jablonski transferred. She took a posting at Starfleet Command, so she could be closer to Hera."

"At least she didn’t ask to move into my basement, although I am not discounting the possibility. Another wrinkle of Hera’s presence... a dozen of the Security team requested Earth duty once she left the ship, to stay close.” Rita smiled as she brought up her coffee cup in a gesture of salute. “Got to hand it to them, they were dedicated and devoted, and the best damned Security team in the fleet, and I made sure to tell them so, all of them.”

Having trained with the security team, Dox was extremely happy to hear the news as was evidenced by the broad smile on her face as Rita relayed the news, then launched into the next tidbit.

“Did you hear S’Rina and V’Nus are transferring their commissions to the KDF? They had a chat with me, and there’s some big family dishonor that goes back a generation or so that they are trying to live down. Seems service in Starfleet does not distinguish one, so they are going to transfer their commissions so that they can work on restoring honor to their house name. It’s not Wil’I’Ams, apparently, but Duras?” Rita shrugged, not knowing if the name would mean anything to Dox. In the flurry of activity with the move and all she had yet to have a chance to research it.

“Imirrhlhhse!” Dox exclaimed with a look of genuine shock on her face as she absentmindedly switched to exclamations and expletives in her native tongue. “Duras?! Tlhei dignair'le…”

Observing the expression on Rita’s face, Dox knew an explanation was in order for the time traveler who was seldom up to speed on recent history.

“Sorry. Yeah… That’s an EXTREME family dishonor. The Duras family… betrayed the Klingons to the Romulans at Khitomer, which resulted in an orbital bombardment of the Klingon population living there. It was a massacre. Then they assassinated the former Chancellor of the High Council in a bid to claim the throne, kicked off a civil war that was… also being fed by the Romulans... Fvadt, my people come up a lot in this…”

“I can see why they tried to keep it a secret. There’s… really no family name that’s more shamed in Klingon culture.” Dox added, nodding slightly, thinking back to all their interactions. “And it explained why they preferred being referred to by their first names. I hope they can do something to clear that, for them. They do not deserve to be stained like that at all.”

“No... they were both capable and honorable officers, and I did not know all of that. Well. Looks like they will have their work cut out for them,” Rita shook her head and sighed. “I wrote them both letters of recommendation, for what the word of a Starfleet officer counts with their people. It sounds like they will need an opportunity to redeem themselves, so I hope they get it. I also left an open offer of support from me, so we’ll see if the sisters ever have need to call on their old Chief. I hope... I hope I helped them. Showed them the way. They’re good women, and I believe in them both.”

“The are exceptional, and I have no doubt that you helped them. I hope I did, as well.” Dox added, taking a sip from her mug. “Another impression you made. The security department as a whole. The differences were… night and day from when it was… French and Sexton.”

“HAH!” Rita barked a laugh at that, then explained. “Sorry, I got a message from French this morning. She’s still in Starfleet Psych, and she and her bouncing baby godling are apparently going to be here on Earth for a while, given that she’s unlikely to ever see a starship posting again. Meanwhile, Sexton is on Luna in the penal colony serving seven years rehab for being a psychopath who sent his own men to be murdered. So for what it’s worth, it looks like I have a nemesis here on Earth. We’ll see if her ‘Uncle’ gets her a new posting. I wouldn’t be surprised if she tries to maneuver her way into the Academy to try to mess with me. But that one is a case, all right, and she’s popped back up in my life, at least.”

“Baby godling?” Dox replied with a raised eyebrow, not having been privy to much information that wasn’t a part of French’s official record as her interactions with the Hera’s former Security Chief was virtually nil. “How… did that happen?”

“Ah, when we were transferring Hera to Asgardian custody, we were invited to feast with them, which is basically just a drunken frat party for Norsemen,” Rita explained breezily, having long since grown comfortable with the outrageous circumstances of her life that she tended to relay matter-of-factly. “French started cuddling up to Thor, and that’s when I egged the Baroness into pursuing him. Otherwise it might be French getting married to the Thunder god. Long and short, The Mighty Manwhore took them both to bed, but as the Baroness is a super-soldier, she was the one who could come back for the second, third, fourth and fifth round that night, and Thor was in love.”

Listening, Dox laughed out loud at the story, imagining it in her head.

“Asgardian swimmers are magically potent, so French has since managed to squirt out a little redheaded demigod, who she is apparently raising to know all about his famous father. Which probably means trouble for the Asgardians in the long run, but French is just trouble for me in the meanwhile.” Shrugging broadly, Rita rolled her eyes skyward. “Who knows, maybe I can reform her, hm?”

Shaking her head a bit and chuckling, Dox looked back over to Rita. “If anyone can… between what you did for Hera and my mother... it would be you. Still, it’s worth keeping an eye on if she’s got it out for you.”

“Never underestimate an enemy, isn’t that an old Romulan phrase?” Rita agreed, nodding. “We’ll see. Time will tell, and I am in no rush. Meanwhile, no news of Rendal- think she might just have blown herself up or gotten trapped in another dimension?”

“The full phrase is a bit more cynical. ‘Never underestimate an enemy or overlook a friend, for the latter can become the former with little warning’. So very Romulan.” With the topic shifting from one nemesis to another, Dox looked down at her coffee. “As for Rendal, no news as of yet. The only word I’ve heard so far is that there’s a distinctive lack on news. My grandmother hasn’t mentioned her at all, which seems suspicious on the face of it.”

“Normally, Intel has some rumblings of activity. A sighting here or there that comes through secret channels.” Dox continued, thinking about it. “Making me wonder if her experimenting with artificial quantum singularities might have made her disappear. Frankly, I wouldn’t mind either way, but for the lack of information.”

“But she’s been on my mind a lot, the last couple of weeks.” Dox continued, thinking on her words deeply. “Between my sword training with Enalia and that drive to get some measure of vengeance for my father, she’s… not someone I like thinking about. Though I do it far too much.”

“I’m trying to let go of that anger. After all, thanks to Rei, I got to see him move on. But… the more I thought about this path I’ve put myself on… the more I realized that Rendal is just a symptom of a much larger problem. Perhaps… if I can do this job well… I can affect the system that allows her and the Tal’Shiar to thrive. Maybe even stop the next Dalia Rendal from gaining power and hurting anyone else. I know it’s… ambitious. But… thinking of it in those terms. Of trying to make a difference over seeking revenge. It’s helped.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Mnhei’sahe,” Rita responded. “Anger leads to hatred, and hatred sours the soul. Don’t let her do that to you. Be better.... And from the sound of things, you’re already on your way to doing just that.

“I’m trying.” Dox added with a bit of knitted brows. “And it is getting a bit easier.”

“Now that we’re all caught up, how go your reviews in regard to the Bulikaya debriefings?” Rita asked casually, but for both women there were lingering questions in regard to their actions across the multiverse.


“So far, so good. I’ve had a few meetings where they came up, but nothing even remotely similar to my debriefings from before. The Ethics board hasn’t had any issues with my reports on our Bulukiya leaps.” Dox replied to the topic both women had been a bit concerned about immediately after their leaps through the multiverse. “What about you? Has your… friend... at the Department of Temporal Investigations had anything to say about it?”

“Interestingly enough, I got an email this morning from myself, telling me that Engstrom would be looking me up for an internship. Which is funny, because I had toyed with the idea, but it would be later in my timetable. Apparently I’m not done meddling with space and time just yet. The same email also told me to take a pregnancy test.” Taking in a deep breath, Rita exhaled slowly. “Which should theoretically be impossible without medical intervention, but sleeping under the same roof as the goddess of Motherhood might just change that verdict...”

“Not a bad idea.” Dox said with a bit of a knowing shrug. “After all, even with all the medical intervention we used, Doctor Power’s best estimate was that Mona and I still only had a 30 percent chance of conceiving and now we have triplets on our first try.”

"Hera explained exactly what her aura did, and..." Rita frowned a bit at the admission, then forged ahead with the truth, as she always would. "I fought to keep her on board. As you were the spirit of the ship, she was the soul. When I met her she was angry, embittered, and lashing out defensively. Now... she's in there playing hide and seek with your girls, trying to exhaust them so they'll pass out and give the adults a little peace. Her redemption was the Hera's redemption, to my mind. I saw salvation in both, in both I placed my faith, and that faith was rewarded. I'm glad for all those children... I'm glad we brought Hera with us. Our journey was hers as well, and she deserves a family who cares about her too. We all do... and now we’ll build that family."

“As for the Ethics board, there’s still some debate. But I did what was right, I didn’t pollute the Kathoom culture with advanced technology, and in the end, I think there might be a few quibbling points, but I think they’ll see their way to clear me. It was a thorny ethical dilemma, but I did what was right, and I stand by it. If they try to drum me out, I’ll defend myself at court-martial.” The way that she said it made it abundantly clear that if it got that far, Rita didn’t intend to lose. After all, she'd been to court-martial for the death penalty, been guilty, and still gotten off. It tended to make one a bit cocky about such affairs.

“Besides, we don’t have a ‘Temporal Prime Directive’ yet, and we surely don’t have a Multiverse Prime Directive yet. So I’m pretty sure it’s a can of worms they don’t want to open,” Rita laughed aloud at that, imagining Starfleet trying to regulate such a thing.

“Well, if we ever do have such a thing, I’m sure you and I will have a lot of case files in both, all things considered.” Dox added with a legitimate chuckle. “So, a possible internship? I suppose since a version of you was hot on our potential future grandsons proverbial ‘tail’, it’s a possibility. What do you think about the idea?”

“I’m... curious. I imagine I do have a perspective to lend, and honestly, time travel is fascinating to me, and I think Engstrom and I have come to something of an agreement. So I’ll certainly contact him. If that email is correct, and I am pregnant right now, I can’t enter the Academy just yet. But I might just investigate the internship possibility. Getting in good with the DTI will never be a bad thing. If my plans are going off the rails, as per usual, I’ll plot a new course.” Smiling wryly at the reality of her own statement, Rita cocked her head, then took another sip of his coffee. “I’ll see what the future holds, but I will definitely keep you posted.”

“We’re moving into the future, all of us. Just because our lives are going on different paths, doesn’t mean we’ll lose touch. I’ll be here...” Rita gestured broadly about the yard and house, the home she had returned to after so many decades absent. “On Earth, In San Francisco. We will range and roam, but we’ll still be in touch. I’ll be here, on Earth, when you come back. I’ll be the stability in your life- the constant you can count on, even if I’m no longer your ‘guiding star’.”

“I know you will, Rita.” Dox replied, looking over the horizon as the sun began to dip below the edge of the water. “And you know where I’ll be.”

“Out there making a difference,” Rita replied, saluting with her coffee cup. “You and me both.”

As Enalia stood looking over the Utopia Planitia Shipyards in her finest white Artan livery, Baroness Sarika at her side, she could see the latest and greatest Artan vessel added to the fleet slicing through space on its way to receive her. Outwardly, it was definitely a Centaur class frame that had been decommissioned by the Federation and purchased by the Artan Empire, but the engines, as they were missing, had been replaced with Klingon Vor’cha class nine warp nacelles. It was also rather obvious that the tactical and sensor platforms had been replaced with what was available to the budding empire as Starfleet hardware was generally stripped out when such space frames were no longer in use.

“She looks a lot better than I expected,” Sarika commented idly as the white saucer easily maneuvered through the docking and fabrication structures orbiting Mars. “The yellow and blue accents might be a bit much, but at least they painted those nacelles to match.”

“I’m more worried about Elysius,” Enalia muttered, adjusting her uniform top and her cloak. She’d been dreading this moment for a while now, but now that it was here she wasn’t sure if it was facing her chosen successor in person or the whole ceremony that made her more nervous.

“And I’m going to miss the Hera. She’s been my home for quite a while now, you know.” With a glance to the other side of the observation deck, she could see the grand Intel series Nebula class vessel, now shut down for yet another refit.

As Sarika replied, the Artan vessel pulled up alongside them and began docking procedures, the name banner now visible from the window - Valhalla AES-1. “She was a mighty vessel and one to aspire to. You’ll just have to build up the Empire to a point we’ve got the power to build such ships to send out to help people and the like as well, won’t you?”

“Aye, that I will. That I will.” As the airlocks cycled and the doors opened, the two pirates stood tall as Elysius and her own adjunct stepped forward and offered a crisp salute to the former queen retaking her throne.

Enalia and Sarika returned the salute before Sarika offered up a datapad. “Her Royal Highness has completed her service to the mighty Federation and requests to return to service as Queen of the Artan Empire to further the glory of the Empire and those that serve.”

Standing next to Elysius, her Adjunct was a tall, broad shouldered woman with short cropped, raven-black hair. A stern expression was on her face, which was marked by a few short, faint scars around the mouth that made it look like she had tried making out with a Tarcassian razor beast.

The woman stepped forward, addressing not Enalia, but Sarika as was custom. “The standing Queen of the Artan Empire welcomes you. I stand, arms revealed, as Baroness of Elysius. Daughter of Magnus. Ruler of the fleet. She stands ready to receive you.”

It was a bit of pomp, circumstance and meaningless theater that neither Enalia nor Elysius seemed to care for as the somewhat short, lean but tightly muscled woman stepped forward, placing her hand on her much taller adjunct’s arm. Her long, black hair was pulled up into an ornate bun that seemed cumbersome and annoyingly detailed, but showed off her delicate, thin bands of spots along the sides of her delicately angled face. “We have fulfilled the basics of the ceremony, Baroness Sh’Ronna. Thank you.”

Looking at her friend and mentor, the younger woman nodded approvingly. “It is well to see you again, and in Artan white. It suits you well, and the Empire will be better for your return, Enalia Telvan.”

Taking a knee, she bowed her head and pulled the sword off of her hip, presenting it handle first to Enalia. “On this, the 39th day of Ascension, I hand to you, the symbol of your given rank. That which was earned in Tribunal and Combat. I stand down from the position of acting Queen, and deliver myself to your just rule.”

Taking the sword, Enalia first affixed it to her own ceremonial belt next to her own personal sword before pulling it free. “I thank thee and hereby claim my right as Queen back from you, Elysius, Daughter of Magnus, and hereby grant you title of Vice Queen to act in my stead should the worst befall me and to act as my successor.”

As she spoke these words, Enalia gently laid the tip of the drawn sword on each of Elysius’s shoulders just for a moment before returning it to its sheath. “Now... Is that all the official ceremony we need to observe? Or can we go aboard now?”

Sarika cleared her throat as she pulled out another datapad. “We’re supposed to take on a few supplies and I think there’s something about a ceremony on the ship before we depart.”

Listening, Elysius rolled her eyes ever so slightly at the mention of the ceremony. She, like Enalia, was well trained in all the traditions, but had as much patience for it one would expect. “The ceremony is at the queen’s discretion. We can do so now or at the moment of her choosing.”

“Perks of being queen, after all.” the younger Trill woman said with a smile that showed just how pleased she was to have the burden of rule off of her shoulders. “What says our queen?”

Enalia had learned long ago that ceremonies were originally meant not for the leadership but for the people. When it became about leadership, it was time to cut back and get rid of it. This though, was designed to put on a show for the crew and people present and to not only entertain, but to inspire them.

Shaking her head, Enalia took a deep breath. “No, we’ll do it when the crew are ready. After all, this is for them not for us. It may be an interruption to their day, but it’ll give them something to talk about and with luck it’ll entertain or inspire them.”

“Well then…” Elysius said as she stepped aside and waved her arm past them all. “The Empire and the ship are yours, my Queen. Would you like a tour?”


“Since we have some time to resupply, we might as well,” the buxom queen replied, nodding her consent and stepping forward. “Shall we start in engineering? I’m looking forward to seeing how Federation, Artan and Klingon technology was mated together.”

“As you will.” Elysius said with a smile, still maintaining a bit of a more professional air as she nodded, then turned to her Adjunct. “Baroness Sh’Ronna, if you would, please go ahead and ensure all is in readiness.”

“Aye, Vice Queen.” The well trained, loyal woman said with a sharp bow as she suspected that what Elysius was truly asking for was the travel time to engineering alone with the returning queen. As she answered, she raised an eyebrow and looked at Sarika tellingly.

Her brows also raising, Sarika also got the hint. “I will accompany her. If you’ll excuse me.” With a bow, the short cyber-Baroness headed off with the much larger Sh’Ronna.

The two of them now alone, Enalia stretched a bit and relaxed slightly, her usual lopsided grin gracing her features at last. “She looks like a fine ship. It also looks like you’ve been doing pretty well.”

Making their way slowly down the corridor with large windows on their right, Elysius nodded and dropped the pretense and more professional tone for her friend. “Thank you. I have… done my best to lead in your stead, but I would be lying if I didn’t say that I am extremely glad you’ve returned, Enalia. The people need your guiding hand.”

“It has been all my father and I could do to keep things moving along the path you set for us.” She said, looking out the large windows as they walked. “Is… that why you decided to return?”


The elder Trill woman eyed her companion slyly for a moment before replying, hearing the same doubt she’d faced herself many times before. “No, you’ve far exceeded my expectations. It’s more that recent experiences have... shifted my perspective? An accident sent me visiting several of my counterparts in alternative dimensions and it has given me a different insight into a few things. None of the plans have changed, but...”

With a soft smile, she looked over at her younger counterpart. “It gave me the feeling that I wasn’t doing all that I could to help people in Starfleet and that I could do a lot more here, with you and everyone else, now that my mother is out of the way.”

“But… you wanted to take that path in Starfleet for… as long as we’ve known each other.” Elysius. “If I may ask… just… what happened?”

Enalia nodded solemnly as they walked. “I met myself frozen on a world I failed to save, my mother in my body after I lost the tribunal, myself as a conqueror when the Federation lost the Dominion war, as a humanitarian that leveraged the Artans across the quadrant as a scientific and social services society, one where I made nothing of my time in Starfleet...”

And I realized that at the end of the day that I was making Starfleet a better organization but I was really trying to make the Artans a better empire. To make a republic that we can be proud of and that can stand side by side as equals with the Federation.” Enalia paused a moment as she thought back to the memories of those dimensional hops, particularly of the mirror universe version of herself and of the Romulan prison. “I left you a plan, but that was unfair. I should be willing to walk that path myself and be the architect of that future with you.”

“And maybe I’ll be doing it for a few more selfish reasons like happiness,” Enalia added with a slight smirk. “And shutting down a Romulan prison.”

“A Romulan prison?” Elysius repeated quizzacly as they arrived at a turbolife. Like most Starfleet ships, the interiors weren’t all that different from those from the Hera, which hopefully would make the transition a little easier. “These experiences you’re describing? Were these some kind of… interdimensional excursions? And what do you mean about a Romulan prison? Our treaty with the Star Empire is… a bit more relaxed than the one they have with the Federation. We can travel in their space, after all, but what are you planning?”


“Yeah, an accident sent several of us through visits to our counterparts in alternate realities. I know it’s not easy to wrap your head around. I still find it hard to believe,” Enalia confirmed as she leaned against the turbolift wall. “One of them was to a Romulan prison where I was being held after a failed rescue attempt of one of my officers. The warden found a way to separate symbiont and host and keep the host alive... but killed the symbiont... I aim to prevent such an occurrence in this reality. Using secret diplomacy if possible. Accidental force if necessary.”

“Secret diplomacy?” Elysius asked as the lift began down toward the engineering section at half-speed to pull out the time a bit.

“Using our contacts in the Romulan Empire,” Enalia clarified.

“Ahh, indeed.” the younger woman replied, having been fully briefed on Enalia’s rescue mission from Romulus. “Your communications clarified a bit on that subject, including former Baroness Dox’s new assignment. Of course, you will have my full support in any such endeavors.”

As the lift arrived at their destination, Elysius called up to the computer, “Hold.”

Taking a moment, the younger woman looked at the regal woman standing next to her. “Enalia, I will never lie to you. I am… very glad you have come home. I have and will always strive to live up to your ideals. To lead where you need me to. But… we need you, now more than ever. To keep the empire from slowly sliding back to what your mother tried to make us. And more specifically, I need you. I could never have replaced you, only succeeded you. And now, I can simply serve you again.”

Resting one hand on the younger woman’s shoulder, Enalia smiled softly. “And that was the biggest thing that I saw. I was born to lead in a role like this and have a skillset that isn’t easily trained. I have a vision of the future that isn’t easy to pass on. I know how to get us to where we need to be.”

“From a collection of miners, pirates, and privateers under the flag of an empire to an actual quadrant spanning republic.” Here and now, Enalia was at her most inspiring and confident. She knew right where she needed to be and what she was doing. “Bringing worlds abandoned by other powers under our banner and offering them protection, trade, medical care... without exploiting them.”

“Tall orders, to be sure. And there will be dissenting voices. LOUD ones. I know, I’ve been hearing them for a little while now.” Elysius said with a slight smile, no longer feeling all of the burden anymore. “That said, you have more allies willing to uphold your vision than before, and your return will bring even more baronesses to your side. And, as always, my father and I will always stand beside you.”

“That said, thank you.” She continued, nodding slightly. “Now, if you would like, I would love to show you the engineering section. After all, it’s the heart of your new home.”


“I look forward to it,” Enalia replied as she pulled out a small PaDD and checked the time and a progress meter. She smiled and looked back up at Elysius. “Turbolift resume.” Soon Maru will have a copy of herself on the Valhalla, Maica’s matrix hardware would be in her new quarters, and Aiva One with little Moira would be safely aboard as well.

“After all, there’s no place like home, right?”

All posted.