Shining Star

Chapter One

Summary: "It is in not the Stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." – William Shakespeare.

Disclaimer: - I don't own the Star Trek franchise, but I do own this plot and the main character, her planet and everyone on it.

Chapter Notes: - When the government of your planet rejects wide spread equality, what would you do to ensure the life of your daughter is a happy one?

It was early morning in the Capital of the planet Carys, where the servant Circe walked through the far end of the city gardens. In her arms, she held a single bundle, wrapped in a yellow head-dress. She held her only child, her daughter, close to her heart. As she rounded a corner, she founded her partner, Deon, waiting for her.

"Must we really do this?" Circe asked mournfully. "She is so small and helpless. Can we not keep her?"

"You know we cannot." Deon answered. "If she stays here, she will have nothing, no life of her own. Is that the life you wish to condemn our daughter to? A life where she is forbidden to decide anything for herself? To a life of slavery?"

"She is our daughter." Circe cried, tears swelling in her eyes. "She is mine, I carried her I birthed her. I am her mother, she needs me. I cannot allow some stranger to take her to a strange planet."

"So instead you allow a cruel government to raise her as a submissive slave? You would have them take her rights, her freedom, because you wanted her for yourself?" Deon demanded. "Circe, your master would never allow you to keep her. She would be sold as soon as she was old enough. She would be tortured in every way possible. Can you truly do that to her?"

"I have not even given her a name."

"Would you like to?" He asked, walking up to his partner and his daughter, affection flickered him his eyes for both the females. "We can name her. To do otherwise would later give her the impression that her mother and father did not care for her. I cannot allow that."

"I have always been found of your Grandmother's name." Circe answered.

"Marguerite?" Deon said softly, looking at his sleeping daughter. "I have always held a fondness for your middle name."

"Delilah?" Circe laughed wetly.

"I like Delilah Marguerite." A new male voice interrupted.

Both Circe and Deon froze, and were briefly overcome with terror; however they both relaxed when the Starfleet symbol flickered in the lamp-light.

"Officer Pike." Deon sighed in relief, "We thought you were a Governor."

"Well you two are lucky then." The officer laughed gently, then saw the baby, who by the look of it, was just waking up. "Is this her then?"

He walked forward to view the infant, but Circe quickly pulled herself away from the man, who froze on the spot. "Do not come near her." The mother hissed.

"Circe, we have discussed this."Deon sighed. "We cannot keep her, Delilah deserves a good home. Earth will be a better home for her than Carys could ever hope to be."

"The Governors could change their minds." Circe tried desperately. "If we talk to them, if Starfleet could talk to them, we can get them to change their minds. They can revoke the laws, and I can keep my Delilah." She exclaimed.

"Circe, they won't change their minds. You know they will not." Pike tried to reason. "This is no life for a child."

The officer held his arms out, in an attempt to take the week old baby. Again Circe pushed away from the human with a desperate cry, clutching her daughter to her.

"I promise I will raise her myself." Pike promised. "She will be happy, healthy and free."

"Circe, give Delilah to him." Deon damned the young woman in front of him. "We are running out of time. If you do not give her to him now, the Dawn Patrol will find all of us, and they will take us before the Governors, when that happens, they will kill us, all of us. Even Delilah. Is that what you want? Your daughter killed because of your refusal to save her?"

It was harsh, and multiple times Circe sobbed loudly. But it needed to be done. While the mother sobbed, Deon nodded to the Starfleet officer, who took the baby from the sobbing woman.

"I promise, she will be safe with me." Pike promised. And began heading away.

"Wait!" Circe cried brokenly. Pike turned and looked at the devastated woman. "When she is old enough, give her this."

Circe removed a long silver chain from around her neck, and handed it to Pike. On the end of the chain was a yellow jewel with red and purple specks.

"It was a gift from my father to my mother. I inherited it when she died. If my daughter is to have anything of mine, I would have it be that. A reminder of a happier time."

"You have my word ma'am. Your daughter will get this when she is old enough. And she will know about you. Both of you."

Pike watched the heart broken parents walk away without their daughter, who was looking at him with wide, warm yellow eyes.

"Officer Pike to USS Tempest, Beam back two."

STSS

It was later in the day, and Officer Pike stood on the bridge of the USS Tempest, gazing out to the vastness of the stars,Delilah Marguerite still bundled in his harms, the baby girl was still watching him with wild fascination.

"Hope you don't mind space Kiddo." He said quietly to her. "I've been approved as your guardian. We're going to be spending a lot of time out here."

End of Chapter