Ten Years Later….
Cadet Nyota Uhura sat down on her bed, a small wooden box opened in front of her. It wasn't often that she opened this box, since it contained so many years of painful memories. Memories of a happy and innocent life that was taken from her so quickly. A handful of letters were piled, some worn and a single one not yet opened. It was rare to receive a paper mail nowadays, in the age of communicators and subspace teleconference. She did not need to read the owner; only one person would ever communicate with her this way. It was agreed upon once they knew that surviving meant separation from each other.
"Jalil, please will you not reconsider?"
"Nyota, do not make this harder for us. This is best for all, you must understand!" he said frustratingly. She knew. She already knew that it was for the best, but it was something her heart was mot ready to accept.
"Please write to me. I do wish that Layla would be able come."
"I know, but she is young and needs my protection. Your servant, Khaled will always be near you. He will keep you safe." Before long, her brother gave her a hug and a kiss goodbye. He boarded a shuttle transport and never looked back.
That was four years ago, before Nyota Uhura became a first year Starfleet cadet. Now, turning over the new piece of mail, she carefully opened the envelope and read its contents.
"Dear Nyota,
I have missed you dear sister. Layla has just completed her primary school and is bound for the Academy of Arts here in Dara. I know that Earth is our planet, but Dara has become our new home. It is serene, beautiful and abundant in resources. I have become close friends with the Daran King. He knows of our history and our plight to come back home and of our parents. But he has done a very good job of convincing me to stay. He has absolved all of my errors and has even introduced me to his daughter, Princess Lara.
It is my wish that you meet her, for she is like you; beautiful, intelligent and sweet. She loves Layla and even knows how to play our lute! We make music almost every night, just like we did as children. Nyota, I am now at an age where I must choose a wife; it is my wish to marry Princess Lara.
However, I do not wish to begin the marriage without you and your blessing. I know that you are almost complete with your studies in Starfleet and wish to continue your career; however, it is also my wish that you spend sometime here in Dara with us. Please consider. The King has even expressed interest in meeting you, in the hopes of you meeting one of Lara's brothers. I know, I know. It was never your path to be that way. It might interest you that the Federation has been keeping in contact with the Daran King and have 'requested' his support to become a candidate for Federation membership. We are not only surprised but quite happy to become part of the Federation. I have been selected by the King to be his representative to this negotiation.
It has now become more important to see you in person.
Your brother always,
Mrithi Jalil"
A small shudder coursed through her as she finished the letter. Leave Starfleet? Now? After all the hard work she has put into her career? She did not want to leave yet. Starfleet Academy has become her second home. And with a lot of luck and hard work, she will belong to the Enterprise and call that her home. Nyota closed the letter and placed it back into the box. It will not be dealt with for another two months. She will have time, she thought.
Quickly, she got up and changed into a new cadet outfit, and headed out to face another foe; Jim Kirk. He was smart, handsome and a jackass for being so cocky. She knew it was not proper to think such a way but with Kirk it all came so naturally. She walked to the Training Center, to see Kirk and to see him fail yet again, on the Kobayashi Maru.