Decisions, Decisions

150 Greenleaf Street, San Francisco, 2282.239, 1921 hours. "SE'TAK!"

Uh-oh. He recognized that tone—Mama was definitely upset, the question was what had he done? He wasn't sure. He'd already brought out the trash—granted, a day and a half after she'd asked him for the third time, but he'd still done it. Maybe she was mad about him leaving his clothes all over the house like a trail of breadcrumbs to his room? He was trying to get better about that, he really was.

As Se'tak made his way slowly down the staircase contemplating all the possibilities he saw Mama waiting for him at the bottom, one hand resting on her hip while the other held a powder blue PADD. He instantly recognized it and groaned.

"You haven't even looked at this!" she cried, not even waiting for him to reach her. She held the PADD out to him; it was full of data on colleges and universities in the Bay Area, elsewhere on Earth, and in the galaxy beyond, along with their requisite applications. On-screen was a tracker that Sa-mekh had likely installed and it showed that the program had only been accessed twice—both times by Mama. "You've had this all summer and you haven't even looked at it once! I just found it stuffed behind the sofa cushions so who knows how long it's been there…have you even thought about your future?!"

He had given it some thought, but only in the vague way that he knew the future was coming and he better figure out what to make of it but damned if at almost—seventeen he knew what that something was. However, Se'tak did know better than to give her that answer. "Ummm…"

Mama threw her hands up at him and waved the PADD around. "Honestly, Se'tak! You can't keep putting this off forever, you've got to start getting involved and making some decisions! By this point T'Alora already had her top 10 school choices and was studying for her entrance exams!"

Se'tak recoiled, bristling at the comparison. He loved T but sometimes he really hated having such a goody-goody for a sister. Mama must've caught him because her expression softened. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to say that. I know you're not your sister..."

"Thanks…"

"…but that doesn't mean I have to sit idly by and watch you make bad choices—or worse still, no choices at all! Soon you'll be an adult and you won't have me around to make all your decisions for you, you'll be expected to make your own." She held the PADD out to him and he hesitantly accepted it.

"Ok," he said rather begrudgingly, "I promise I'll look it over tomorrow…"

"Tonight."

Se'tak balked. "But Mama…!"

She held up her hand. "No buts. You've let this slide for two and a half months and I expect you to sit down and review it now. Once school starts you'll tell me you're too busy to look at this and before you know it the applications will be due. I want a list of at least 4 colleges or universities you're interested in attending ready for me to look at in the morning."

"But Jadziel and Brian and I were—"

"Uh uh uh!" She wagged her finger in his face, brokering no argument. "What did I just say? No buts!" Mama planted herself in his path forcing him to turn around and go back upstairs.

It looked like the new Constantine Dracovich flick would have to wait another day.


150 Greenleaf Street, San Francisco, 2282.240, 0006 hours. "GAH!" Se'tak flung the PADD away and clutched his head in his hands. Did he want to study Earth history or advanced mathematics? Literature? Geology? Psychology? Did he want to completely master some obscure foreign language or become a flitter mechanic?

It was all too much!

See this, this right here, this was why he'd put off looking at colleges for so long! He hung his head in his hands completely overwhelmed. He had no clue what he wanted to do with his life let alone where he wanted to go study and learn how to do it.

Frak and a frickin' half!

Mama wanted a list by breakfast and he didn't even have the start of one. The only things he knew for certain right now were the places he didn't want to go: namely Starfleet Academy and the VSA because he couldn't bear the thought of living in either Mama's, Sa-mekh's or T'Alora's shadow. He did know that he wanted to stay on Earth, which narrowed down his options, but where was still up for debate.

At that moment a strong, cool breeze rushed in through the open window on the opposite side of his room and he shivered, racing to get up and close it shut. Perhaps someplace warm? Yeah, if he had to spend another four years in school it might as well be someplace where he didn't have to wear long sleeve shirts or thermal underwear all the time.

He returned to his desk and began narrowing down his search again. A few universities quickly caught his eye.


0953 hours. Nyota watched her eldest son approach out of the corner of her eye. He looked disheveled, and while she knew he didn't need as much sleep as she did she wondered if Se'tak had even been to bed at all. Standing before her desk he waited until she put her coffee mug down before handing her the PADD. Scanning it she saw his 4 choices filling up the main screen.

She arched an eyebrow at him. "And you have legitimate reasons for picking these schools? You didn't just pick them at random to get me off your back?"

Se'tak folded his arms over his chest looking very insulted. "Yes, Mama, I have my reasons. Want me to tell you what they are?"

"Nope," she said simply, handing back the PADD. "I trust you." His face fell open in shock and she resisted the urge to smirk. "I would, however, like you to pick another 4 by the end of the week and sign up to take your C.E.E.'s."

He looked ready to argue with her then decided against it. Once the study doors closed behind him she smiled triumphantly at her screen and resumed her work.


A/N: Can't believe the new Star Trek movie comes out in 2 weeks! AHHH! Anybody else wicked excited about this or is it just me? ; - )