I had the misfortune, of being born on a colony as controlled by what had been loosely known as, the Orion Syndicate, being born as a female with pale grey eyes, dark red hair and with pale green skin but most importantly to my situation? Into a family with very little or no concern for my future or wellbeing as I was actually sold into a life of crime and slavery by my own parents when I was little more than four years old. As horrible as it may sound? I can not blame them for their choice as they had barely enough to feed and to clothe me, I would have simply died from starvation or worse, whatever that maybe, I had seen it more times that I can imagine or want to think of in my life.
My earliest years, where spent as nothing more than a petty thief, stealing whatever I was ordered to steal by my owners, mainly the wallets of passers by before vanishing into the crowds of my home world and barely earning enough for a single scrap of food and I had often, gone without the basics such as food or water and it did not take me long before I began to target my own marks and for my own needs, basic food and water. Ration packs, was what I had lived on in secret, ration packs stolen from others with a plentiful supply which I had stored away in a place that only I knew of and could reach due to the fact that I was always small for my age as I was always malnourished. The worst part of my life? Was when I became ill due to cross contaminated foods from alien species own food supplies. I guess in many ways, it was the greatest moment of my life as I was surely to die from a deadly form of food poisoning and an end to my miserable life which came on one day, if you can believe it? It was the anniversary of my seventh year, my seventh birthday or so I was told later.
I had blisters across my lips, chin and hands due to eating whatever I could find which had burned my very flesh to painful extent and my insides burned like a fire, which I had come to ignore since it had began not to long before? I had heard rumours from many, of a new species, a new empire in town, one whom had looked like many although their skin tone was pale and their ears? Where not pointed like those of the Vulcan species which I had known of and even seen on occasion. It was only rumour at the time, a male of the species had torn apart one of the slave markets whilst in search of his own people, and had escaped onboard of a space vessel of unknown origin, to myself at least. I had never heard the world 'Human' before, but I was intrigued. Pain, tore through my body as more blisters had begun to appear across my body to the point of many on my genitals, although I still worked for my owners while I tried to search for those pale skinned and unusual beings named Human. For myself, there was only one course of action, I had to leave, I had to run away from my owners and fast, before they discovered my plan and my dwindling stash of supplies.
Gathering up everything that I could carry with my frail form, I vanished into the colony of my birth in search of those pale skinned beings or someone whom could take me to them, I heard whispers of a blue species named Andorian whom may know how to contact the pale skinned beings, but on that colony? I had little chance of meeting one, or anyone to help me to escape my life, or so I thought when became overcome by the pain which tore through my frail body and fell before a large building that I had never before seen, in a place that I had never before known, my last memory of that moment before my vision failed, was seeing a man with pointed ears, calmly walking towards me with a stoic look within his eyes and reaching down to pick me up while I tried to fight, beyond my own exhaustion and pain, only to be claimed by darkness.
For weeks, I faded in and out of consciousness, catching glimpses of several pointed eared beings before I awoke in a brightly lit room and surrounded by a species that I had never before seen, fear had instantly gripped me as I felt binds across my arms, chest, waist, arms and legs as they spoke in a language that I had never before heard. I was frozen to the bed as I instantly closed my eyes and played the part of someone sleeping while I continued to draw strength from whatever they had placed into my body with regular injections into either the side of my neck or shoulder.
You can not imagine, the fear I felt as I simply lay with my eyes closed and refused to move, day after day as voices, unknown voices of an unknown language echoed within my ears. I began to focus, on repeating words, after remembering their patterns, the unique voices of each person whom had entered my isolation room. On occasion, I would slightly open my eyes to see their body language in an attempt to decode their vocal language and to see whom had visited me each time, I had eventually known them all by sight and to my own shock? I had begun to recognise several words of their own language. One night, I was visited by one female of the species whom had always visited me at such a late hour. I felt my strength had returned, beyond what it was before I had found myself chained to this bed, with my eyes barely open as they had been for a very long time, I saw the female step towards what I had later known to be a medical computer to check the readings of my own body. The female, had always spoken to me kindly, almost lovingly and I believed that I had a connection with the female and it was the female that I would finally speak with as I half opened my eyes and tried to speak her language.
"Me… Me, Help… I?"
I had never seen anyone move so fast from such a short distance, unless they where about to attack, almost appearing instantly at my side, as I was bound to the bed in every way which had feared me instantly, but the look in the alien female's eyes was different and something that I had never before seen in anyone as the female spoke with the language that I had barely even began to understand.
"Wait, what did you say? Say it again. Can you say it again, please?"
"Me. Me, help. Me Help?"
"If you're asking if I'm helping you? Then yes, I'm helping you"
"I… Help me?" I said, with limited knowledge of her language, just barely even a basic understanding from what I had tried to decode.
"I'm a Doctor, my name is Jennifer. Jennifer, that is my name. Do you have a name?"
"Jemm'I'Fa?" I replied, slowly before I moved my eyes towards my own chest, in an attempt to signal my name. "Mila"
"Mila. Your name is Mila?"
"You, you Help Mila?"
"Yes, Yes! I help Mila"
"What… what am… I?"
"What are you?" She replied, slowly.
"What, is… Ah… Cha, no place? Um…"
"Place? This is a hospital, you have been very, very sick Mila. But now you are better and you are very safe"
"Place, what… is place? Um… Orion?"
"What planet is this? This is not Orion, Mila. This is Earth, you are on Earth. Do you know that word?"
"Earth? Hu-man?" I asked, slowly. Almost afraid to make the sounds of the word from my own lips.
"Earth yes. I am Human…"
"Jemm'I'Fa? Hu-man only story, told in whisper"
"Remarkable. You are learning my language at an astonishing rate?"
"Language, just sounds from food hole. Head inside, make language"
"You are right, the mind makes the language and the mouth, forms the sounds and the words…"
In the days which had followed, I was regularly visited by the woman I had known as Jennifer, a recently graduated Medical Student assigned to the night shift of the hospital wing where I was being treated, to the point where I had begun to enjoy her visits and during our talks as I began to understand more and more of the Human language of English, I had even been tested by the Earth Military, their Starfleet Command on my abilities to understand and translate a language at such speeds, even as a child. Although I remained within the confines of Starfleet Medical, where I was being treated and observed, within the following year? I was granted the status of Refugee on Earth and Asylum and to my surprise once again? I was placed under the care of Doctor Jennifer Collins, the same Doctor I had first opened up to on that night and shortly afterwards, I was legally adopted by Jennifer with the approval of Starfleet Command yet, still under their watchful eyes with a Case Officer assigned to regularly check in on my progress.
I had been clothed, fed and even educated with enrolment in a school close to Starfleet Command, although being the only pale green girl in school? I had been noticed by many instantly, especially as due to my Orion physiology? I matured quickly as with all Orion females, fully matured by my sixteenth year, I stood out amongst everyone as being a tall pale green woman amidst many of my own age. When I was eleven years old? Jennifer, the woman I had come to call my mother by adoption, married my Case file Manager, a Starfleet Officer named Lieutenant Robert Barlow and quickly, he had also filed the correct paperwork to adopt me also, giving myself the name Mila Barlow, ten months after their marriage, my mother gave birth to a son whom they had named as Robert 'Robbie' Barlow Junior and officially I had a family, a real family whom I love more than anything in the universe.
The creation of what would become the United Federation of Planets and the charter of Starfleet as their protectorate, I enrolled in Starfleet's basic training program, with the approval of my parents and Starfleet Command, quickly surpassing my own expectations, I remained at the new Academy Complex for further training, rather than accepting assignment on one of the older vessels in service, to my parent's surprise and ever lasting pride? I chose Security and Tactical as my career path. I wanted to learn everything I could for as long as I could and the Academy was more than happy to keep me around for the full training course of four long years of study, I was 21 years old by the time I had finally graduated from the Academy. My first assignment for Starfleet, was an old and almost outdated NX Class cruiser named USS Atlantis NCC-06 under the command of a Human man whom I had met on several occasions Captain Ericson Styles, a veteran of the Earth-Romulan War and with the rank of Lieutenant Junior, my proudest moment.
The first time I stepped foot on what would be my first assignment for Starfleet as an Officer, I was amazed at the old vessel, it looked nothing like what I had seen of the first of her class which had taken pride of place in the fleet museum, the addition of a secondary hull had vastly increased the size of not only the ship? But the crew to almost 100 officers and enlisted, a crew of Andorians, Humans, Vulcans and one Orion woman, myself. The first time I had stepped foot on the bridge, I was met with almost questioning looks from the crew due not due to my uniform? But due to the unusual colour of my skin, eyes and hair by comparison to other Orions which had become known across the new Federation, I was paler in colour, with grey eyes and red hair, rather than green eyes and green or black hair.
Seeing the Captain stood by the helm as he spoke with his Helm and First Officer, Commander Andrew Finch, I took a deep breath as I walked towards the two superior officers, stood to attention and informed my superiors of my arrival onboard.
"Lieutenant Junior, Mila Barlow. Armoury and Tactical Officer, reporting as ordered Captain Styles"
"At ease, Lieutenant. Have any problems finding the ship?" Replied the Captain, with a slight smile.
"No sir. I just pointed towards the oldest ship in orbit and said 'That One…'."
"Good to hear it. Welcome aboard Lieutenant. Commander Andrew Finch, Flight Control and XO…"
"A pleasure Commander. I have my orders for your approval Sir" I replied with a smile towards the First Officer, as he sighed deeply.
"Andorians, Vulcans and now an Orion, what's next. A Klingon, Romulan maybe?" He mumbled beneath his breath.
"Captain. Permission to speak freely?"
"Self expression, was never a weak point for you Lieutenant Barlow. Granted!"
"Thank you Captain. With respect Commander? I had my choice of any ship in the newly expanded fleet, I even turned down the Daedalus. I am an Orion, yes! But I am first and foremost? A citizen of Earth and I have been for many years. I have adopted Human parents and a Human brother and like yourself and all onboard of this ship? I have sworn my allegiance to Starfleet and the New Federation… which also counts this crew, and this ship. I am first and foremost a Tactical Officer with a speciality in weapons, ground and Starship combat, I am also a grade four pilot and speak several languages, as English is not my first language Commander… but also know this, I know what people think of Orions, especially Orion women? I am different sir, I was raised by a loving Human family. All I ask is that you look at me, not for my species and my gender? But for what my uniform that I am currently wearing and what the rank on my uniform stands for… a Starfleet Officer, a Junior Lieutenant"
"I apologise Lieutenant Barlow, it's been a very long day for all of us…" Replied Commander Finch, as he stood slowly and almost bowed his head in shame.
"No need to apologise Commander, I have heard something similar, since I first arrived on Earth. If you will excuse me Captain? Request permission to begin my duty shift in the Armoury?"
"Permission granted, Lieutenant Barlow. It's good to see you again Mila. We launch in forty-eight hours… I suggest you acquaint yourself with the ship and her crew"
With pride in my eyes at such a public display, I turned and once again walked towards the exit of the bridge, before leaving my orders on the captain's seat as I passed the chair, while all eyes followed me towards the exit. Before the doors slid closed, a human woman which I had estimated as being in her early thirties stepped into the car with me, with a slight smile upon her face. Her Uniform was Red Trim, denoting support services onboard, her name tag on her chest displayed the name 'Chan', her rank as Petty Officer an enlisted rank and judging by her appearance, of Japanese origin from Earth.
"That was amazing Sir, I've never seen Finch cower like that, especially before a Junior Officer"
"I'll apologise to him later Petty Officer Chan?" I said with anger, starting to swell.
"Why? He's a twelfth generation born Asshole. His Daddy is the same and an Admiral, so he thinks he can do whatever he wants. But, I'd stay clear of him for a day or two, let him calm down first"
"Thanks for the warning, Petty Officer. But I can take care of myself. Engineer right?"
"How did you know?" She said with shock.
"When I entered the bridge? I saw you beneath the Communications console, fitting an L-14-Gamma unit? Very delicate work and judging by your hands? Definitely an Engineer"
"You're observant. Aiko, and you are Mila Barlow, I also pay attention when on the bridge. So, you know the old man?"
"We've only met a few times in the past, but he was my sponsor for basic training and later, the Academy. When he offered me this post? I turned down several offers, I owe the Captain and I repay my debts. This is my stop" I said, as the car came to a stop and the door slid open.
"A few of us are getting together this evening, in the Mess-Hall? There is always room for another?"
"Thank you Petty Officer, but I have a lot of work to do and I usually dine alone. Perhaps some other time, as we are going to be on this ship together for awhile"
"Rain-check, it is. See you around, Lieutenant Barlow"
For four days, I continued at my post before returning to my quarters to continue with my work, I had rarely spent time with others, not even during school and the academy as I both enjoyed and valued my own privacy, although I rarely spoke other than to either give or to receive orders? I became something which I had always valued amongst the crew, a mystery. But by day five, in the evening? I grew tired of simply sitting either in my quarters or working in the armoury, if you could call it work? My day usually consisted of simple tasks such as monitoring the weapons systems of the ship and running routine analysis of the new systems installed into the old ship by Starfleet and in the evening? Reading up on technical manuals on new weapons systems and so forth.
Finally, I had had enough of my isolation and decided for the first time in almost a week onboard, to join the crew in the mess-hall. Pressing and dressing my duty uniform, checking that everything was in place correctly before I left my quarters, I proudly walked through the corridors of the ship towards the heart of the ship's activities, the large mess-hall, which to my surprise was full of off duty crew and those simply enjoying a few moments break during their duty shift. Early in my mid teens, I had developed a taste for Human coffee which I had enjoyed at any hour of the day, mainly as my own physiology did not react the same way as humans to the caffeine permitting me to drink one of the strongest coffee blends in the system at any hour, even before I retired to sleep. Seeing Petty Officer Chan, sat alone at a table as she read through technical manuals from her own department, I stepped towards one of the three empty seats and asked politely if I may sit, a request which was greeted with a wide smile and nod.
"Where have you been Lieutenant? No one has seen you in days, beyond your duty shift?"
"I like it quiet. Actually, I've never been in here before, is it always this full?"
"At this hour, yes. Lieutenant, you don't need to sit so stoically, everyone is equal in here, Captain's orders actually. You can relax" Aiko Chan, replied with a smile.
"I don't like crowds very much, reminds me of my old home"
"Your home, on Earth was crowded?"
"No, I wasn't born on Earth. It's a long story. Aiko, that's Japanese am I right?"
"It is, I was born in Japan, but my parents moved to Neo Angeles, Lunar colony" She replied, with pride in her eyes.
"No wonder you became an Engineer. My dad, my adopted father? Was born on Neo Angeles. We used to spend winters there when I was a girl, a small house on the outskirts of the city. I used to stay up, all night just to watch Earth set below the horizon"
"Don't take it the wrong way Mila? I know, I've heard of you, from back home that is…"
"A green girl, does stand out a little" I said with laughter, hiding my embarrassment.
"Not that much, when you count Andorians and Vulcans…"
I had never, ever sat with my back to the door as I always monitored my surroundings, not through my own Starfleet training? But from my early life experiences, but that time? I did and almost leapt out of my pale green skin when two shadows appeared by my left side and quickly followed by two male, Starfleet uniforms as a voice I knew instantly asked to join us at our table. Seeing the Captain and First Officer, stood before the empty chairs of the table, I instantly leapt to my feet due to the presence of two of the senior most officers on the ship while Aiko Chan and the two smiled slightly as she motioned for them to sit.
"Relax Mila, this is an off duty station. Rank doesn't exist here, unless I say so"
"Sorry Captain…"
"In here Mila? I am just Ericson or Eric" Replied the Captain, as he sat in one of the empty seats while the First Officer sat facing me.
"Collins' Starship Tactical Combat? Heavy reading Commander" I said while they sat and the Commander placed a book on the table before himself, a book with several pages marked.
"It is, required reading Mila, for all Officers. It's almost the Bible on ship-to-ship combat…"
"Never read it Commander. I hear it is, intriguing?" I replied with a slight smile.
"It has become required reading at the Academy. How did you gain your status as a pilot without…"
"Mila…" The Captain instantly said, with a slight smile which matched my own. "… I see that you are interested in volunteering for nightshift Bridge duty?"
"Um, yes sir. I think that I can bring a lot to the table, and you know my qualifications"
"I do and you can. Lieutenant Bassett has requested a change in his shift, if you feel up to it? Tomorrow night, Delta shift is yours" The captain said instantly, as a large smile echoed over my face.
"I won't let you down sir, and thank you. No sir, sirs… Aiko. If you will excuse me? I think I'll take my coffee to my quarters and get some rest, looks like I have a long day tomorrow"
"Mila, you drink Coffee, before you sleep and that strong?" Aiko called out, with shock.
"Of course, doesn't everyone?" I said with a smile, before I left.
I've had the pleasure of knowing Mila Barlow, since she was a child and a refugee from her own people on Earth. The first time I met her? I mistook her for what she was, an Orion girl, not an amazingly intelligent young girl and soon to be a brilliant young woman. Adopted by a Human female Doctor, and later her husband whom was briefly under my command while I awaited my first Captaincy to become available, I can still remember what her soon to be adopted mother said, as she stood before myself and several members of Starfleet Command with her report on the young orphan girl.
"Admiral? That little girl is astonishing. She learned our language very quickly, I have never seen anything like it, from anyone. The first moment she spoke to me? I almost cried. Just take a look at her neurological scans as she spoke to me, she is translating everything, instantly. Those scans? Show an enormous intellect and I have treated Vulcans sir, this is… that girl? Is astonishing"
"Admiral. When the Doctor came to me with these readings? I was intrigued, I even tested her myself. Not only has she translated into English, but into a language she had never before heard, German and with ease. I further tested her by bringing in a Lieutenant whom speaks Japanese, it took her fifteen minutes to learn that language also. Show me a translator who can do that in such short time?" I said, instantly before a highly respected Starfleet Admiral.
"Admiral, I have been working with Mila for days, she has finally opened up to me. You have read my report on her…"
Within weeks, I took command of the Atlantis NX-06 and with a deadly conflict brewing with the enemy known as Romulan, I was posted to the front lines of the war and lost many of my crew due to the superior forces and technologies of the Romulan Star Empire. By the time the war had ended, I returned to Earth to find that the young girl had grown into a young woman and very quickly and that she had become noticed by Starfleet Command, even as at her young age, a truly brilliant asset to what had become the new Federation and Starfleet.
As she left the table in the mess hall on the very same ship which had still commanded, it seemed as if all eyes had followed her out of the room before my first officer and the petty officer's eyes turned towards myself with a questioning look, as I simply sat smiling into my cup of tea.
"Interesting woman you hired there Eric"
"You have no idea, Aiko"
"Why did you cut me off Eric, this the bible for combat tactics and required reading, even at the Academy" Andrew Finch asked, with an almost anger within his voice and eyes.
"Collins'… Starship Combat Tactics. Came out of nowhere, a few years ago, we all know that much. I was at command, while this old beauty was entering into her last refit, when something came across my desk, given to me by a friend of a friend. A school project, imagine that? A teacher chose to test his students with a theoretical assignment. One vessel with powerful weapons, but limited shields against three ships with limited weapons, but powerful shields. Devise the tactics to defeat the greater numbers with limited damage and loss of life to your own ship…"
"Chapter One…" Andrew Finch said, instantly.
"Chapter One, right. It was scheduled to take the last half of their school year to complete. This one… paper, which hit my desk? Took longer to write and the student, failed the assignment. But the tutor saw something amazing within the paper and gave it to his brother whom is a Starfleet Officer, a pilot on leave. Within days? It made it to my desk, which I took to command as soon as I read it. Within days? It was brought before the Admiralty before becoming that book, that you so greatly admire Andy"
"That doesn't explain anything, Eric. It is required reading…"
"Andy, don't tell me you are that stupid please?" Aiko Chan replied, with a shocked look in her eyes. "What he is saying? Is that Mila, was that student?"
"Very few, would take notice of such a book written by a student Aiko, we all know that! Collins, is the maiden name of her adopted mother which she took briefly as her own and with Command's agreement? That book you revere so much, was quickly put into print"