Perspective: This story takes place a month and a half after my story 'Golden Girl', a month after 'A Few Words' and 'Glistni' and 'Small Time', 'Acquisition' and three days after 'What do I do now?'. Tia has been aboard for some 6 weeks. Later works will include 'Daasii', 'Noblesse Oblige', 'Roses & Thorny', 'Time and Again', 'House of Cards', 'Starlight Maiden' (et cetera).

Disclaimer: The usual assurances to Paramount that I am not encroaching upon any of the Enterprise crew or the series; which is why I have created Tia Anlor (Ahn-lor) as my own character. She first appeared in 'Golden Girl', then in 'A Few Words', 'Glistni', 'Small Time', 'Acquisition', 'What do I do now?', 'For Want of Kilyiis'.

This story takes place about a month after 'For Want of Kilyiis' Tia has been on the Enterprise for over two months.

Rating: PG-13 for frank discussion of adult (sexual) subjects.

Daasii

By JMK758

Chapter One

Girl Talk

Ensigns Hoshi Sato and Elizabeth Cutler walked slowly down the corridor toward the Mess Hall, not in any particular hurry. It was about two hours before they were due to start their shift, plenty of time for a relaxing breakfast.

"I wonder where she is." Hoshi mused, setting the pace of their slow walk.

"Late night, early morning." Liz speculated with a grin. "We'll find out soon enough. Not like her, though." They had stopped at the quarters of their Auran friend Tia Anlor, with whom they of late shared breakfast with. The ship's new Biologist was something of an enigma to Elizabeth, though they worked side by side ever since the second week that the former slave had come aboard.

They enjoyed her company; the young woman had a joie de vivre that was usually quite infectious. She was new to all things human and to freedom from a life of slavery, and reveling in her new life aboard Enterprise. She had taken great pains to fit in, laboring to learn the English language so she could converse without the aid of the Universal Translator. It was a matter of particular pride for her and, as Elizabeth had once commented, had made conversations with her an adventure in themselves.

"Hello, what's this?" Far down the corridor they could see the golden skinned girl approaching them, smiling happily, a spring in her step. Far from wearing the full body fatigues that were the Enterprise uniform or any of the hardly subdued fashions that constituted her normal attire, she was wearing a fiery red dress which to Hoshi looked more suited to an ice-skater's clothing. Certainly it was tight enough in all the right places, and the skirt, for what there was of it, came down just millimeters below her hips. Red high heeled shoes completed the outfit, which complimented her golden complexion. In fact, complimented it a bit too much!

As they stopped, waiting and watching their friend approaching, another crewman ahead of them passed her and swiveled his head for a look at her rear, almost running into another man who was following the golden girl not too far behind. "Ohh…" Hoshi said in sympathetic response to the near collision. "Phlox is going to have patients lined up into the corridors unless we get her out of that dress."

"I think that's what they have in mind!" Cutler pointed out sotto voce. She looked a little closer at the slowly approaching girl still some distance down the corridor. "I read in history they used to call that the 'jiggle factor'?"

"I think our little girl is developing a rebellious streak."

"I'm not so sure she is." Liz countered. "Ever since she came aboard she's been following our customs, and your requests, but our ways aren't hers. I think she's trying to find a balance between Earth and Aura."

"With Trip encouraging her not to let go of anything of Aura."

Liz watched the stunning young woman as she drew closer. "Can you blame him?" Hoshi shook her head. "Good thing she's firm enough not to really need anything. Hmph, a C+ at least, and … it's really not fair!"

"Kilris silra sei nyasi."

"What does that mean?"

"That's Auran for 'life is fair not'." Liz smiled ruefully. "Biology. I just hope she's wearing …"

"If she's coming from Trip's, I'd be concerned."

xxx

The smiling Auran, completely oblivious to being the cause of the near collision behind her, approached the pair, her high heels clicking on the deck and bringing the girl just up to Hoshi's height, unexpectedly threw her arms around Hoshi, embracing her joyously. "Happy Daasii!" She exclaimed, pronouncing it 'Day-ah-sigh-ee'.

She released the slightly stunned linguist, embracing Cutler as enthusiastically, with the same exclamation. Not knowing what to say, Elizabeth repeated the greeting as best she could. Tia giggled, covering her lips with her fingertips. "Anston, um, I mean 'Apologies'."

"That's okay. What's this?" Tia hesitated, a bit confused. From the pocket in her skirt, just in front of her left leg, she drew out her padd, which had been programmed as a link to the UT, as an Auran/English dictionary she used sometimes as a reference. She pressed a few buttons, and her bemused expression cleared. She looked at Cutler.

"It a 'hug' is." She looked at the padd, reading off the small screen. "'An embrace. A gesture used to convey joy, affection and sometimes commiseration.'" She looked up. "Though do I 'commiseration' understand not."

Elizabeth held up her hand to stop the girl. "No, I get the hug."

Tia looked at her, even more perplexed. "Yes, one I you have to just given."

Elizabeth looked imploringly at Hoshi. The look Hoshi gave her in return was a silent reminder that Cutler had indeed said that talking with Tia was an adventure. The Japanese linguist turned to her golden charge, extending her hand to indicate they should resume their slow trek to the Mess Hall, Tia on the left and Cutler in the middle. "This is the first time you have ever come up to us and hugged us. It caught us a little off guard. What Liz is asking is 'what is Daasii?'"

"Oh. Sorry I am. So much my mind on Aura is, forget I where I am. Daasii begins today. On Aura a part of my Aorus … Religion it is. Means it … 'remembrance and return' in your tongue."

"Sort of like Christmas?"

She thought briefly. "Read of your religions I have. On Aura the same is not. Your 'Christmas' with a person it deals. On Aura…" She shook her head. "… person central to our religion there is none. I … do know how English in to speak it not." She shook her head again, dropping the subject. "Daasii celebrate each cycle do we. Any who to us done good has, now we for them an equal good do."

"That's very nice."

"Can in two manners take it." She continued enthusiastically. "First an equal good for good. Otherwise, fill a desire we must, but same level it must be. More can be it, less never."

"How long does it last?"

"Until fulfilled the commitment is." They heard a 'clunk' from behind them, and when they turned a crewman was standing near the bulkhead, holding the side of his forehead. He looked away when he saw them turn.

"Let that be a lesson to you!" Liz snapped to the retreating crewman, hiding a grin until he was gone. Tia looked at her curiously.

"Is wrong something is?"

"Not really. He only walked into a wall because you look like a walking wet dream." Tia looked at her in monumental incomprehension. "Never mind. But while we're on the subject, just what is that you're wearing? Isn't it more suitable for evening wear? Hardly morning attire." The girl looked down at the extremely snug and short dress she was almost wearing.

"Shar-les says in red I look good do."

"Bet he likes you in nothing better." Hoshi unobtrusively slapped Liz's leg, but it did not derail the Biologist. "Speaking of which, if memory serves me – and it does – your quarters are back that way." She said, pointing back with her thumb over her shoulder. "Seems to me that Commander Tucker's quarters are that way." She indicated the direction from which the girl had come.

"Liz." There was a hard edge to Hoshi's tone to the junior Ensign.

"I'm just thinking maybe she and Commander Tucker started 'Daasii' off early." Tia put her fingertips to her eyes, covering them, but both women could see that she was blushing a bright gold. While the girl was momentarily blinded, Hoshi looked at her friend sharply, her own eyes conveying a silent command. Liz turned to the Auran. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you." Tia didn't look up at them.

xxx

They walked the last meters in uncomfortable silence, entering the Mess Hall. There were fairly few people ahead of them, mostly early risers who filled slightly staggered shifts. In about a half hour the room would be bustling. They went over to the buffet, taking some dishes.

"Frightened I of this Daasii am!" Tia whispered.

"Why?" The two women asked in unconscious unison at this unexpected revelation. The golden girl looked up at them with haunted eyes.

"Uneventful my life on Aura was. That of a slave my life was. Different from others I was not." She started putting food into her plate from the various heated dishes. "Then a month ago nearly died I did. Shar-les, Kaslier Reed, Dr. Phlox and Vascan Mayweather rescued me. Without them dead would I be! Dr. Phlox healed me; removed from my body the scars of a lifetime of beatings and punishments. Wrenaouq Archer bought me from a life of slavery, and then gave me my freedom, and a new world in which to live. You have English taught me, and patient been with my flibs. You, Elizabeth, have taught me to in fit, a friend made me. Shar-les… Shar-les has shown me… How all that I repay can?" She implored the women.

x

Neither had an easy answer. A human would say to forget it, not to worry about repaying it. But Tia, to be true to her faith, had to repay it; and in full measure.

But short of an Klingon attack where she single-handedly saved the ship, neither officer could think of how so massive a set of 'gifts' could be returned in kind.

"I don't know. But I will try to think of something." Hoshi promised.

"Yeah, you've got a pretty full plate." Tia looked down. The food she had selected was, in fact, better than twice the portion of either of the other two women.

"Sorry I am. Hungry I am."

"Yeah, you probably built up quite an appetite." Liz said with a salacious grin.

"Give it a rest, will you?" Hoshi muttered as they sat down at a table. That is, the other two sat down. Hoshi eased herself gingerly into the seat.

"What's with you?" Cutler asked her friend. Hoshi gave a quick glance about the room.

"Nothing. I'm just very tender this morning." Liz glanced at Tia, then at Hoshi.

"Damn. Am I the only one who didn't get any last night?" Hoshi gave her a small smile, but was clearly not about to answer. "Fine, be that way. And after I – what the hell is that?"

Both woman looked at her in surprise, and then followed her gaze back to the table, to Hoshi's right wrist. In sitting down and adjusting the plate and utensils, her sleeve had pulled back. Circling her wrist was a red line where her skin had been rubbed raw. She pulled the sleeve down again, and when Liz reached across the woman's plate she pulled her arm away, but Liz snatched her left hand instead, pulling back the sleeve of her uniform. A matching band of raw skin circled this wrist as well, just below her hand. Hoshi snatched her arm back.

"I guess I pulled too hard."

"On what?" Liz exclaimed. Tia was staring at the spots as well. No matter what Hoshi did, they were too far forward for the cuffs of the sleeves to cover completely. Hoshi looked around, satisfying herself that none of the increasing number of people in the Mess Hall had heard. Pitching her voice low, she whispered:

"If you must know, last night Seamus tied me spread out on my bed and had his way with me."

Her friend stared at her, stunned.