I'm very excited about this story. I know where it's going but I'm not yet sure how we're going to get there yet but we can find out together. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I already have the next chapter written and will be posting it once I finish the third chapter since I can't leave anyone hanging for long on this (including myself). Please leave a review as it is a huge encouragement to know people's thoughts on the story (even criticisms). I hope you enjoy.

A New World, a New Home

Jaylah wasn't known for her soft side. Her "edge" had yet to come off since arriving at Yorktown and although the crew of the Enterprise was stuck there until the new ship was completed, she rarely saw any of them. Since her arrival at Yorktown Jaylah had become the mystery of the day in the eyes of the Federation. In the days following the captain's birthday party, Jaylah was regularly approached by dozens of historians and scientists. Each one of them attempting to learn everything they could about her, and her people. She answered a few of their questions but her family, her people, and the history of either weren't topics she felt comfortable sharing about with strangers. Nor was she okay with the doctors' requests to poke and prod at her for blood samples. Jaylah began making a point of spending her days away from those who knew her face. The Starfleet officers were always adamant that she return to the science labs for more questions. For the first couple of weeks she was able to slip past the crowd of inquisitive scientists but soon they were showing up at her door, more often each day.

So began the days of Jaylah sneaking out of her quarters early in the day to prevent the constant barrage of inquiries about her life before Altamid. Once she made her getaway, she would often be seen by the many different Yorktown residents as she explored the streets and buildings of the magnificent city. Jaylah could hardly make sense of everything she saw. All the sights, sounds, and interactions between the inhabitants were alien to her and yet, ironically, she stood to be the most alien thing there. New sights unlike anything she'd seen before. Around every corner there was something new to discover and her feet would carry her all over the city until the synthetic sunlight began to fade.

She soon learned that it was in these late hours that the city would show her a completely different side of itself. The buildings would light up like the stars, and all around she could hear different styles of music coming from the many clubs and bars that remained open all throughout the night.

Not far from where the new Enterprise was under construction she happened upon a bar called "Genesis" that played much of her favorite music. Immediately after walking into the establishment, Jaylah decided that this was a place that could help take her "edge off." The music was loud, the crowd a less than polished bunch, and not a Starfleet uniform to be seen. And it was here she stayed, almost every other evening, trying to find a drink that actually had an effect.

A few days later, during one of these nightly excursions, she was caught by the Enterprise's chief engineer. He heard that she'd been avoiding anyone in uniform, so when he looked up to the upper level of the bar and saw a familiar pair of boots resting on the railing, he was thankful he'd forgone the signature red shirt.

After making his way up the stairs, he could see that she had made herself comfortable in a large leather chair by the banister. Her feet were propped up, she held a purple drink in one hand, and her cheek resting on the other. Her white ponytail stood out in the dim lighting of the bar, seemingly blending into the shifts between the blue, purple, and red lights. He came up behind her seat and she had yet to notice his trek towards her location. Her eyes were inconspicuously regarding a young couple a few yards away that were engaged in what appeared to be a lover's spat.

"Hello lassie." At the sound of his voice her feet quickly pulled away from the banister and he didn't miss her apprehension at his arrival.

"Oh don' worry. I'm no' going to tell anyone I've see you. I overheard that you're quite the reluctant celebrity these days" He watched her shoulders relax and decided to take the seat adjacent to her. The music that was blaring through the many speakers around the building automatically told him why Jaylah had picked this place to hide out.

"Beats and shouting eh?" Scotty gestured to the air recalling Jaylah's words to him on the Franklin.
She smiled and nodded before downing the purple liquid in her glass.

"Still no effect?" he asked gesturing to the collection of glasses at her table.

"No. But the bartender said that if I drink the next one with him, he promise it would be stronger. Although, I am not sure how this would help."

Scotty smiled at how oblivious the young woman was "I think he was just flirting with ya lassie."
"I do not know what is flirting."
"It just means he's attracted to ya." She furrowed her brows at his response and looked down through the railing at the bartender below.
"Well I do not like him. He smells like fish." Her answer had Scotty laughing and she smiled when she saw his reaction to her statement. He hadn't seen her in weeks and realized that he'd missed her company.
"Well you don't have to drink with him if you don't want to. How abou' this. I'll go and get the next round and when I get back you can tell me wha' you've been up to lately." She nodded at him and he made his way down the stairs to grab their drinks.

While making his way down to the bar he couldn't help but wonder at the slight twinge of jealousy he'd felt at her mention of the bartender's flirting. Jaylah was quite obviously an attractive woman. Even he didn't miss the way her bright yellow eyes would light up whenever she found a reason to smile. But there was more to her than that. She had a certain innocence about her that gave her an endearing quality. This soft side was also accompanied by air of strength and a maturity far beyond her years. She walked with the confidence of a woman who had been scarred by her past but was fully ready to take on this strange new world head on. It was no wonder the bartender, or any man for that matter, would want to flirt with her.

Scotty rubbed the back of his neck trying to slow down the current direction of his thoughts and focus on the drinks he needed to get. The Enterprise would eventually be leaving for another year and a half and she was going to be headed to earth to start her education. These facts were grounding, and generally were the very thing that helped keep his thoughts from travelling down such a dangerous road. She wasn't his to feel jealous over and wasn't about to be. He forced his thoughts back to the task at hand and decided on their drinks.

Once he'd returned she picked up one of the small glasses he'd brought containing a slightly yellow liquid.
"What is this?" She pondered the small glass in her hand.
"Oh tha's just an orange juice chaser. You take it with the shot. See." He downed one of the shots then drank down the chaser. Vodka definitely wasn't his first choice for a drink but thought that she might like something a bit stronger. Jaylah followed his lead and took the shot and then the chaser. She looked into the empty glass previously filled with the sweet yellow liquid and gave him a slight smile that he'd never seen before.

"I like this one." Her statement was so matter-of-fact and Scotty couldn't help the slight pull in his chest at the sight of her sudden smile come and go. He willed his emotions back into safer territory and ordered her another glass of orange juice as well as a glass of scotch on the rocks for himself. The evening continued with him sipping on his scotch during their conversation and her drinking down two more large glasses of orange juice. An hour into their conversation he began to notice that something was off. Jaylah had begun laughing at things that weren't particularly funny and her words were coming out with a slight slur.

"Jaylah." He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and gave her a questioning look. "Are you alrigh'?"
The woman in question turned her head toward the ceiling before speaking "You ask many queshions Montgomery Scotty." In that moment, Scotty realized that somehow the orange juice was having a similar effect on her system that alcohol would have on him.
"I think that's enough juice lassie" He moved to take her glass but she pulled it away, accidentally spilling what was left on the floor. She let out a small giggle at the mistake and he had to wonder if anyone had ever heard her giggle.
"Well it would seem your edge is off lassie" He smiled before standing up. She gave him slight grin before asking for another glass.
He looked down at his own empty glass. "Actually, I think we best be getting' you back lass."

He moved to help her up but she insisted of standing on her own. He was surprised to find that, although she seemed mildly intoxicated, she still maintained her graceful movements. If it weren't for her slurred speech and odd laughing from earlier he wouldn't have noticed anything. She rejected any offer he made to help her down the stairs but as they were making their way out he felt her slip her arm into the crook of his and wave goodbye to the bartender who was currently looking rather surly. If she'd taken a moment to look up she may have noticed the slight blush that stained the engineer's cheeks. He knew how this must look but decided against making any mention of it to Jaylah.

Jaylah seemed content to hold onto his arm while they made their way back to her quarters. Her tone had returned to being relatively neutral and she took the time to point out a few of the places she'd visited. She told him about some of the many things that she'd seen during her walks through the city and how Genesis had become her favorite place to relax and people-watch in the evenings. Throughout her musings she remained completely oblivious to the state of her companion. Scotty had been listening intently to her descriptions of the city but lost all ability to focus when her fingers started rubbing circles on the arm she had a hold of. She seemed completely unaware of the effect her touch was having on the Scotsman and he guessed that her movements were subconscious rather than intentional. Her tone remained neutral and from where he was standing she seemed completely unaffected by their close proximity. He, on the other hand, felt like she was making quick work of the walls he'd put in place to help keep his thoughts toward her platonic.

Once back at her door he bid her goodnight but was surprised when she reached up to hug him around the neck.

"Goodnight Montgomery Scotty." He knew that if not for her current state, she probably wouldn't have made such a move but he couldn't help but smile at the uncharacteristic behavior and her special name for him. Without another word Jaylah returned to her quarters leaving the Scotsman to stand at the door wondering at just what other surprises the young woman had up her sleeve.

The next day Scotty made sure to check on her before heading off to get an update on the Enterprise. She complained about having a terrible headache so he radioed for one of the on-staff medical officers to bring her something to ease the pain. Little did how know that the price for making that call would be extremely high.

Reviews appreciated and the next chapter will be up within a week.