Andromeda walked down the hall of her cherry wood home (her father orders specially to build a home for T'Ling) and felt the air around her grow heavier as she got closer to the kitchen. She slowed her pace and peaked around the corner. There she found her parents with their two fingers locked together and eyes gazing into the others. No words were needed when such a strong bond was between two people. T'Ling was the first to notice Andromeda coming around the corner. "Good morning my daughter, it is agreeable to see you," she said. "Morning, Dee. Sleep well?" Christopher said as he turned to her. Andromeda bowed respectfully and replied, "Good morning, Mother it is agreeable to see you and father in fine spirits this morning. Yes, father I was able to get adequate amount of sleep in the night."
The little family kneeled down at the low breakfast table and eat a simple meal of plo meek broth, fruit, and orange juice. T'Ling read the news for today. She shook her head and said, "It appears that we are not to receive rain until much later in the season." Christopher and Andromeda said nothing as she talked. It had rained only once last year and not at all the year before that. Vulcan's water reserve was decreasing everyday. Public fountains were turned off; tea was no longer being drunk. The only time water was being consumed was by those whom would be outside for a good part of the day. Logically Earth was though off first to aide in the water crisis but there was only so much they could do without causing their own water crisis. Andromeda had a logical and simple solution. Many galaxies over their was a race of people (whom most called them
"Aquarians" because their true name was not pronounceable) who's planet was 90 percent water and it rain just about everyday all year around. Most of their cities are underwater.
The Aquarians are a peace loving race with deep spiritual values, but they would not become allies with Vulcan because they believe that the Vulcan people do not have a soul. The Minister of the Aquarians once stated "There is no need to be allies and trusted friends with such a heartless race. With no heart one cannot care if another lives or dies. I am sure the Vulcans themselves are indifferent if their own race lives or dies." To get through this water crisis Andromeda proposes that the high priestess of Gol or an Ambassador (either one would be fine) and meld with the minister to prove the dept of the Vulcan heart and soul to form an alliance and open trade with them, starting with their surplus water supply.
After morning meal Andromeda bid her parents' good bye and went out into the dry morning to find T'Kita and Henry already waiting for her. Andromeda pulled out her proposal to the water crisis and handed it to T'Kita. She did not take it right away merely said, "Andromeda Minuet, I fail to see your logic in having me submit your work and call it my own." Henry chimed in, "As much as I hate agreeing with Kitty she right. You have had submit so many proposals and ideas under her name it is unreal." Andromeda looked back at Henry, "Cousin you exaggerate. I have only asked T'Kita to submit three proposals and one report hardly being 'unreal.'" She turned back to T'Kita who was examining the dried out stone fountain. "The only thing that matters is that we as a people get through this drought who comes up with a solution are irrelevant. Andromeda again held out her PADD to T'Kita who still did not take it. "If is so irrelevant, Cousin, why do you not submit it yourself?" Andromeda went over and dropped her PADD into T'Kita's satchel and said "T'Kita you have many noble accomplishments, you have the highest marks in our class. Both your parents are on the High Command. You have more credibility than I do. You words and logic will be held in higher consideration than mine would." T'Kita merely looked at her for a moment then to the dried out fountain. "Very well, Andromeda Minuet." There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. Henry looked from one cousin to the other, "Umm…we should start leaving. We don't want to be late for school."
They walked to school in silence. Henry waved good bye to them as he came across his small single story school with his human teacher standing outside fanning herself. Long dead plants surrounded the building. It was just to dry even for a desert. Andromeda and T'Kita walked on. Finally T'Kita broke the silence, "Andromeda Minuet I do not understand where you got the notion that your words would be considered less valuable than mine. Andromeda did not bother repressing a long sigh. I have tried submitting ideas to the High Command and the Civilian Council before and they have always been dismissed. Since you have been submitting proposals and ideas for me not one of them have been dismissed." T'Kita only looked at her cousin knowing that it was true. "It would be illogical to dismiss a valid proposal or idea based only on whom submitting it. Perhaps your ideas are no longer dismissed because they have become more sophisticated as you have grown older." Andromeda answered, "Perhaps you are right, but I do not see a reason to experiment to see if you hypothesis is correct." They ended their conversation as they went in to the school building.
Although the school day lasts 8.5 hours the day seemed to drag on to Andromeda. She had a hard time focusing on her work at hand and also found it difficult not to fidget. She managed through the day as dignified as possible. She stood outside the dry cracked building and waited for T'Kita. When she emerged from the crowd Andromeda jumped in front of her "Did you submit it? What was said?" T'Kita was taken a back. "Andromeda Minuet center yourself, I will be able to explain things more fully to you if you are calm." Andromeda was not in the mood for this she took a deep breath, "Forgive me, Cousin. Were able to submit the water crisis proposal? If so, what was said?" T'Kita nodded in approval and began to walk toward home. "I did submit it to the Minister and he stated that although it was a rather unusual idea, this was an unusual circumstance and stated that he saw no logical reason as why it would be denied. Andromeda did not realize that she was holding her breath. She let it all out in a sign of contentment. Her people and her planet were going to continue to prosper. T'Kita looked at her cousin through her peripheral vision; she was not comfortable at all with this system she and Andromeda had. She tried many times to convince Andromeda to submit her own work. Andromeda it always ended with T'Kita agreeing with. There was no sense in arguing, Andromeda would not yield.
Weeks later there was a state dinner to celebrate the new alliance between the Vulcans and the Aquarians, dignitaries from all 150 planets that are apart of the United Federation of Planets. Prim Minister Trayton of the Aquarians smiles brightly over the podieum. He was unconventionally handsom. Light blue skin covered his body. He had no body hair not even on top of his head. Long webbed fingers and what appeared to be gills on the sides of his neck. His wife was beautiful and appears to be a shorter version of him. "Greeting my old friends and new friends. Today I come to you on behalf of all the Aquarian people. We have longed stood next to an incorrect notion about the Vulcan people. That has kept us from having a strong and true alliance with this noble planet. Also, to assure our Vulcan friends that the Aquarians will stand by you in your great time of need. Shipments of water will come several times a week until Vulcan is able to sustain herself one more. Trayton raised a glass of water, "To our future together!" The crowd raised their glasses of water and replied "Aye." Trayon continued, "I wish to address a young lady for without her our people would not be together now. I wish to see Lady T'Kita up here with me. T'Kita's eyes brows flew up to her hair line, never as anything like this happened before. Andromeda nudged her to the stage. "Andromeda this is not right." Andromeda nudge her up more, "Yes it is." T'Kita walked to the stage and bid the Minister "Live long and prosper." Henry was not paying attention he was busy talking to Sha'nin over his com unit. "We have to start coming up with a business to play on what we can import and export to the Aquarians…" Andromeda went to her parents who where looking at her with questioning eyes. "Why did T'Kita say it was not right for her to greet Minister Trayton? Did you have her do something," Christopher asked. "Father I assure you, all is as it should be." The crowd applauded T'Kita as she came down from the stage.