It had been months since the devastating events of what most people were referring to as the "Nero Incident". Three months and four days to be exact. It had been a difficult time for everyone, both those involved in Starfleet on Earth, those who had risked their lives to save Earth, those who fought desperately to save Vulcan.
Everyone had felt the loss of Vulcan, the loss of almost 90% of an entire species in just one brief moment. One grudge had destroyed everything the Vulcan's had worked for. Some of the Vulcan community found it hard not to place blame upon the half blood, Spock, but others had been quick to shoot down such absurd accusations to keep the peace. There were few Vulcan's who remained now to rebuild and they were forced to support one another, to see New Vulcan rise above such difficult times.
Many from Earth had offered their support, some even travelling to New Vulcan to help with rebuilding the colony and to aid with any ruffled diplomacy. Newly appointed Yeoman Elanore Berenice Troi had been among them.
Elanore Berenice Troi had not been among the ships sent out to fight the Narada, nor had she been involved in the ensuing attack on Earth. In fact, she had not been on Earth at the time of the attacks and had only heard news of the devastating loss of Vulcan and many of the Federation vessels when she had arrived at Starbase Delta Centaurii, her last stop over before returning home.
Elanore Troi could still recall the moment she had found out Vulcan had been destroyed. She had listened intently to the Commander of Starbase D Cen, as he briefed the packed transporter on the destruction of Vulcan and the attack on Earth, her heart leaping into her chest at the mention of the U.S.S Enterprise and relief flooding her body when it was reported that all senior officers and a majority of the crew of the Enterprise had remained unharmed and had, in fact, worked together to save Earth and millions of lives.
That day Yeoman Troi had decided she would not return to Earth straight away, instead boarding a transporter to the U.S.S Reginald and travelling to the newly appointed Vulcan colony to begin helping with re-building their lives.
She had encountered Commander Spock on many occasions at the Academy, thoroughly enjoying his lectures on astrophysics and astronomy. Elanore had spent many hours assisting the Commander and many other Vulcan's in assembling elaborate tents and housing for themselves, as well as beginning the agricultural endeavours necessary to supply food and water for the colony. There was only so much replicated food the Vulcan's could stand.
Fortunately, their crop growth had been extremely swift and already they had enough food and water to last them for many months to come. This made Elanore happy and she knew, that even though she was due to leave the following morning, that New Vulcan would be in capable hands and that the Vulcan's would prosper like always.
After Elanore Troi's selfless and much needed assistance on New Vulcan, her name had come to the attention of the Federation. Having already completed her studies at the Academy, Elanore Berenice Troi was fully qualified to perform the tasks of a Yeoman and had just scraped through with passes in all of her science courses, in future hoping to pursue a position in the sciences. When a representative from the Federation had approached Elanore on New Vulcan, she had been shocked that her name had reached so far across the expanse of space and was all too thrilled by his offer. As of tomorrow at 0800 hours, she would be the newly appointed Yeoman Elanore Berenice Troi of the U.S.S Enterprise.
Elanore had grimaced when the Federation representative had informed her that Cadet James Tiberius Kirk was now the new Captain of the Star ship Enterprise and that Captain Pike had been relieved of his command and promoted to Admiral. Of course it was not his courage and bravery that she doubted, considering himself and his crew had saved so many lives but Elanore had heard the stories of the infamous "Jim Kirk" from the Academy days and she dreaded to think if his bed manner was bad, how could he possibly Captain a ship?
With my help, I suppose.
As Elanore Berenice Troi sat silently perched upon a large stone, looking out over the canyons below, she suddenly felt a heavy weight begin to lift from her shoulders. She had accomplished what she had come to New Vulcan to do. To help those who she considered friends rebuild their lives and their homes, to give them some semblance of peace and a notion of moving forward, of continuing on, however hard that may be. And that filled her with a warm feeling.
Yeoman Troi was a tall, slender woman, her striking long red hair standing out against her dark, thick eyebrows and warm brown eyes. She wore her hair back messily from her face, a few strands whipping in the late afternoon breeze as she sighed and wrapped her arms around herself, the loose thin fabric of her pants and white cotton shirt suddenly not enough to keep her warm.
"If you are cold, it is rather illogical to remain out here." The stoic, calm voice of Commander Spock made Elanore start before she turned her head slightly, blinking her eyes against the afternoon sun before seeing Spock towering above her, hands clasped firmly behind his back and dressed in simple black trousers and a black cotton shirt. It ruffled as another gust of cool air rose up from the canyon below and Spock grimaced with distaste.
Elanore smiled and rose from her seat, brushing the seat of her pants before walking side by side with Spock back to the settlement that lay some three kilometres distance from the canyon's.
"I forget you don't like the cold." Elanore replied with an amused smirk and Spock turned his head just slightly and raised his brow but said nothing.
"Will you be attending tonight?" Spock finally asked and Elanore looked up briefly at him before nodding.
"Of course, Spock. I wouldn't miss one last dinner with Sarek before we leave." Spock inclined his head slightly and continued to walk, their foot falls making gravelly sounds against the loose red dirt.
"Besides, Sarek always makes those amazing potato things I can never remember the name of." Spock turned and raised his brow again, one side of his mouth twitching up just slightly before he turned back to gaze ahead of him and said, "I believe you are referring to Layben. It is a...pleasing food but illogical to consume something filled with such a high concentrate of carbohydrates."
Elanore snorted with mirth, jabbing Spock lightly with her elbow before shaking her head.
"Illogical or not, Spock, it tastes delicious! Besides, if we're going to be stuck on a Star ship eating nothing but replicated food for the next five years, I doubt a few extra carbs are going to make much difference." She explained before silence settled between the two again as they continued to walk.
"I received a communication from Captain Kirk early today. He informed me that they are on schedule and should arrive at approximately 0800 hours tomorrow." Elanore nodded and bit her lip nervously.
"Good." She said simply, avoiding Spock's pointed look before brushing a loose piece of hair behind her ear. The truth was, Elanore was nervous. She had never been on a star ship before, let alone worked on one. And she had a daunting task ahead of her. Not only was she yeoman to the captain of a star ship but she was in charge of making certain that things ran smoothly, that paperwork never went missing. That appointments were kept, orders signed and communications delivered to the right people.
"Are you well, Miss Troi?" Spock finally asked, his exterior as Vulcan as ever but she heard the concerned undertone in his voice and knew well what each raise of his eyebrow's meant. Elanore considered Spock a friend and what type of a friend would she be if she could not sense his emotions, however deeply buried he kept them.
"I'm just...nervous, I guess." She said hesitantly, fidgeting with her hands as they walked.
"That is illogical." Spock answered simply.
"I've never been on a star ship before, let alone worked on one. I've got the qualifications to be a Yeoman but I've never been a Yeoman before... What if I suck at it?" Elanore queried, her worries over her new position finally coming to the surface.
"You are skilled in the profession you have been chosen for. You were chosen, logically, because you are qualified to perform the tasks of a Yeoman. You have shown these qualities in your relations with New Vulcan and the organisation of the colony and I believe you will not...'suck at it', as you have said." Spock stated simply, startled slightly when Elanore snorted loudly before stopping, doubling over in laughter and clutching at her stomach as she continued to giggle uncontrollably. He stopped also, raising his perfectly arched Vulcan brow at his hunched over comrade as she tried to control her laughter, before adding, "I do not understand what is so humorous."
Spock's voice contained a certain amount of annoyance at Elanore's outburst but she knew he wasn't truly mad at her, only confused. Very very confused.
Humans are such peculiar creatures.
"You sure know how to cheer me up!" Elanore finally choked out, having stifled her laughter. She began walking again and Spock followed beside her, turning again to raise his eyebrow at her in confusion.
"I was not under the impression that you were 'cheered down' to begin with." Spock retorted and Elanore started giggling again.
"Now you're just doing it on purpose!" She replied with a snicker, watching as the settlement began to come closer into view.
"Indeed." Spock responded coolly but he had a soft, almost non-existent smirk on his lips. They began walking passed the first of the settlement tents before Elanore weaved off to the side into another line of tents, waving behind her at Spock.
"See you at dinner!" And with that she was gone.