AN- Welcome to the third chapter. I cannot tell you how long this will be, I don't know myself. I'm kinda making this up as I go along.
Chapter Two
Past
Maya T'Jul was beyond pissed. Her husband had left her six months ago, to be in the military. And now she was trying to have a job, take care of the house, and be pregnant all at the same time.
"Ma'am? Do you want to sit down?" a fellow train rider asked her. Maya was standing up, leaning against the wall. The young man looked at her.
"No, I'm perfectly fine. Actually, it feels good to stand up right now," Maya smiled. To her embarrassment, she was now the center of attention. An elderly woman smiled at her.
"Are you off to the Medical Clinic for a check-up?" the woman asked her.
Maya smiled, "No, I am actually the only doctor on staff today."
"Why isn't the father working and you at home?" the man asked shyly.
"He left about six months ago. I learned I was pregnant about two weeks later," Maya told him.
"He is a shameful man then. He should not have left in the first place," the elderly woman scowled, "Why would he leave in the first place?"
"He did not like my job at the time. I was away often," Maya explained.
"Who did you work for?" the man said, his curiosity betraying his nervousness.
Maya paled, "Tal Shiar. They threatened my sister's life, forcing me to join. They let me go for a year because I have a little pull in the agency."
"What kind of pull do you have?" the old lady asked her.
Maya grinned, "My grandmother is second to Sela herself. Last I heard, she was still a very intimidating woman, even at over one hundred years old."
The train slowed at that moment in front of the clinic.
"Oh, this is my stop! Have a good day!" Maya called out cheerfully. She was unusually happy today. One of her friends was going with her to lunch today. Before lunch, the day dragged on and on and on. There were so many patients today, even as the only doctor. The emergency room and urgent care were handing off patients to her clinic like she had nothing better to do. At one point she sat in an examination room with a patient and put her feet up on the desk as she chatted. The patient was another pregnant woman, so she didn't mind. In fact, they had a friendly conversation as they shared the desk, using it as a footrest.
It was about noon Romulan time when Captain Saavik arrived. Maya had not been so happy to see a person in her entire life.
"Thank the gods you are finally here. I was getting overwhelmed in there!" Maya smiled at her friend. This was her lunch hour. She would be damned if anyone was going to take it away from her.
Saavik nodded, "I suspected you would say that. It appears very stressful here. You should not be working as hard as you are."
Maya laughed, "Saavik, it's a maternity clinic. We're all a little laid back here. Even the nurses."
Saavik frowned, "Why would the nurses be laid back?"
"It's a figure of speech, Saavik," Maya laughed.
"Oh," Saavik said as they walked out.
! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !
Talia Marcus was working on her new pet project: She was creating a new strain of vaccine for an illness that Doctor Beverly Crusher had found on one of the Enterprise's first missions. The illness produced symptoms that mimicked those of someone who was drunk. Very interesting.
Her mother, T'Mir, was off world at this point. Talia presumed that she was visiting Talia's great-grandmother, Rosalyne Marcus. Rosalyne was an immortal woman who had very strange abilities. Talia had only the wisdom that Rosalyne had passed down over the years.
At 85 years old, Talia was considered middle age by Vulcan standards. However, she was old by the standards humans carried. All Talia wanted to do was work, but she was interrupted by her communications device going off. Talia answered it.
"Hello?" Talia was staring at what looked like someone's quarters on a Starfleet ship. That was when a very familiar Vulcan face appeared on the screen.
Talia smiled, "Soleta, it is agreeable to see you again."
Soleta nodded, "Likewise, Talia. I wish to ask you a favor."
"Anything."
"I have been having confusing nightmares lately. I am standing in a small room, barely big enough to fit a bed in. There are two others with me, but I cannot see them clearly. They seem to be talking, but they seem sad. I look down and see another person. This person I can see clearly," Soleta stopped.
"Soleta?" Talia asked, concerned.
"That person was me," Soleta said firmly.
"Oh. It could just be a dream. Just ignore it, okay?" Talia said quickly.
"It can't be a dream," Soleta protested, "I was dead!"
It wasn't everyday that Soleta raised her voice. But she just did. That meant something was up.
"What is it really, Soleta? I know you. You rarely raise your voice like you just did. What's wrong?" Talia pressed. Soleta could rarely hide such important things from her.
"You wouldn't understand," Soleta said briskly.
"Soleta!" Talia cried out as the link was cut.
"Damn it, Soleta!" Talia yelled as she tried to contact Soleta again. It didn't work. She needed to find out was wrong, and soon. But she had no idea who to contact. Maybe she could talk to another of Soleta's friends. There was a Vulcan woman named Selar. Maybe she could help.
Talia typed in the code for Starfleet Command.
"Hello. How can I help you?" the young public relations officer said. The young man was slightly nervous, it seemed.
"I need to contact a Vulcan officer named Selar," Talia said.
"Why?" he asked bluntly.
"I just need to," Talia stated coolly.
The officer sighed, "If it isn't important, then why bother?"
Talia scowled, "It's a family matter."
"Fine," the officer muttered.
"Thank you. May I know your name?" Talia asked kindly.
"Robinson. Why?" he replied.
"So I may inform Starfleet that your performance is less than stellar," Talia said frostily.
"Here's your friend," the officer said rudely. The view switched to one of a Starfleet sickbay. A ship-board sickbay. A Vulcan woman sat at the desk in front of the screen.
"Hello," Talia greeted the Vulcan.
"Greetings. I am Doctor Selar of the Excalibur. May I inquire as to who you are?" Selar seemed a typical Vulcan, perfectly balanced emotions.
"I am Talia Marcus. I wish to request a favor," Talia began.
"You may," Selar said.
"Do you know a Vulcan woman named Soleta?" Talia asked.
"Yes. Lieutenant Soleta is a science officer on the Excalibur," Selar replied.
"We were holding a conversation earlier, but Soleta ended it suddenly. I wish to know why," Talia stated.
"What were you discussing?" Selar asked.
"She had mentioned a strange dream, but when I tried to ask her more about it, she told me that I wouldn't understand. She proceeded to close the link suddenly," Talia explained.
"I see," Selar observed, "Perhaps she merely felt uncomfortable discussing it."
"I guess," Talia said, feeling a little ashamed that she had tried to pry into her friend's personal life.
"When she is willing to discuss it, she will. Good day, Miss Marcus," Selar ended the conversation right then. Talia leaned back in her seat. This was worthless. The Vulcan doctor was right. She shouldn't pry in Soleta's personal life. Talia sighed and went back to her work.
! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !
Soleta leaned slightly back in her seat. She shouldn't have cut off Talia like that. Why was she so nervous to talk about her dream? She was a Vulcan, she shouldn't be nervous. Of course, she was also half-Romulan. Maybe that was it. Maybe it was her Romulan side coming out just a little bit.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her comm beeping.
"Yes?" Soleta answered it.
"You have three days to prepare yourself and your precious captain for retrieval by the Romulan Empire for crimes against the people of Romulus. Failure to comply will result in forcible capture. Don't push your luck."
The transmission cut off dead. Soleta pushed back a wave of fear and closed her side of the link. She needed to talk to Captain Calhoun, now.
AN- There's a nice cliffhanger, huh? It will be resolved soon, I promise. I'm not that mean. Jolan'tru!