I Naviganti 2: "K'lalatar Prnak'lirli K'lalatar Prkori

(Infinite Combinations in Infinite Diversity)"

by Monica MicioGatta

with Seti's collaboration.

Author's note: Please, let me know if you like this story. Translate is a hard work, and it's not worth it if nobody's reading.

§29

«Come in.»

Afhel looked up at T'Mir. She had her right wrist bandaged. «Hello. How's your wrist?»

The girl sat down beside him. «Well, the pain is gone. I'm sorry I lost your gift. Of course you couldn't have picked a better time to give it to me.»

They laughed together.

«How do you feel?»

Afhel shrugged. «Well, I don't know what we're going to do now.»

«Soval is going back to Earth. Where do you want to go?»

«I don't know. I don't even know who my relatives are.»

«The ship's doctor is doing genetic research to see if there's someone in the database who matches your DNA.»

«And you'll go to Earth?»

T'Mir looked down. «Well... Soval told me that when I was kidnapped, my parents were both killed.» She sniffed. «And to make matters worse, while looking for me, Malcolm was shot to death. Phlox, Hoshi and Travis are somewhere on a mission on other vessels. I just have to find Jonathan Archer.» She laughed bitterly. «I believe that's a good enough reason to return to Earth.»

Afhel put his arm around her shoulders. «If I find a relative, you could come and stay with me.»

This guy was so sweet.

«Thanks, but I want to return to Earth.»

The intercom rang. The doctor spoke with a marked Vulcan accent: «Afhel, good news.»

They ran to the infirmary: his parents were still alive!

«And what are they doing on Triaxa?» he asked.

T'Mir closed her eyes. She hadn't landed on Triaxa, that time. Her father had brought her a red silk dress, which she had paraded more than once in front of an unsuspecting Malcolm Reed, who smiled as he would to his own daughter.

«They are both scientists,» said the doctor. «They are conducting studies.»

«Do you want us to take you there?»

Afhel looked to T'Mir, who gave him the "thumbs up". He nodded. «I think it's the right thing to do.»

§29bis

«T'Mir?»

...

«T'Mir?»

...

«It's me, Soval. Are you here?»

...

«T'Mir, open the door.»

The girl sighed. She stood up and went to open the door.

«Hello,» she said. «What?»

Soval looked at her, raising an eyebrow. «What happened to your hair?»

«I cut it.» It was at least forty centimeters shorter.

«If you needed to have it cut it in the Vulcan style you only had to ask.»

«No,» she interrupted. «I prefer it this way.»

It was short, yes, but definitely more dishevelled. «You came to tell me something?»

«We're going to arrive at Earth soon. I thought you wanted to see it. Are you sure that you don't want us to contact your uncle or your grandparents?»

She shook her head slightly. «No, I don't want you to. I'm going to see them in person, but I think I'll go to Archer first.»

«Do you miss Afhel?»

She nodded. She was amazed that Soval had noticed. «We've been through a lot together in the last six years.» She smiled slightly. «We'll meet again, if I'll travel.»

«In this case...» Soval handed her a bag. «I think you might like to wear this when you go to find Archer. After all, you are half-human.»

T'Mir raised an eyebrow and opened the bag. She laughed. It was the uniform of Soval's crew. «Thanks,» she said. «I have the rank of lieutenant on this ship?»

«I believe you that you deserved them both. You're already a good engineer. You just have to study some more.»

§29ter

«Admiral Jonathan Archer?» T'Mir slipped into the crowd of people who attended his speech.

«That's me,» he said, with a trace of irony. There were many people who passed him and interrupted their conversation.

«Very nice speech,» she said. She waited a moment, then smiled. «Don't you recognize me?»

He stared blankly at her. «Excuse me,» he said, as a colleague stopped to ask him something. Shortly he returned to the girl. «Am I missing something?»

She smiled. «Yes. Elizabeth T'Mir Tucker IV. Now do you remember me?»

The quiet and relaxed expression suddenly vanished from Archer's face. «T'Mir?»

She nodded.

«T'Pol and Trip's daughter?»

«Yes, that's me.»

Archer smiled at her. «I...» He shook his head slightly. «It's... How to... oh wow... it's amazing... Come on, let's talk in my office, we'll have more privacy.»

On the way they didn't speak to each other, but many people tried to stop Archer. He was always friendly with everyone, but he made sure to dismiss them quickly. He beckoned her to enter, then he shut the door. «Are you really... the little T'Mir?»

«Yes, do you want DNA testing?» she laughed.

Archer shook his head and hugged her, squeezing her. «It's amazing... It was... how long ago? Seven years! T'Mir... I...»

She smiled. «I missed you so much.»

«But where were you? Where have you been all these years? You know... do you know how long we looked for you?»

«It's a long story. They kidnapped me because I'm a hybrid. I was interesting for them.»

Archer sighed. «You know... about your parents?»

T'Mir nodded and went to a bench. «May I sit down?»

«Of course. Do you want something to drink?» He thought they needed it.

The girl shook her head slightly. «I have also heard about Malcolm.»

He sighed.

«I've never forgotten.»

«Yeah, I remember you were in love with him.» Archer sat down beside her. «But who knows, maybe he'll pull through.»

«What? Soval told me that he received a fatal wound.»

«Yes, but he is in stasis.»

T'Mir smiled. «Well, better than my parents, then.»

«Have you met Soval, then?»

«It was he who saved me. He landed at the colony where I was held captive. I managed to break free and he brought me away.»

«Look at you. You became a lieutenant!» Archer reached his hand out to stroke her cheek, then withdrew it. «Sorry, I often used to do this when you were little.»

T'Mir laughed. «I don't mind, no problem.» She felt a light touch on her leg. She looked down and saw a cat sniffing her.

«Hey, hello beautiful.» She reached out to pet it. «But he's not Athos. He has different marks.»

«No, he is... Trip.»

«Trip?»

«Yes, I called him Trip. Athos died shortly after we got back to Earth.»

«Where are my parents buried?»

«In Florida,» Archer said. «Both. Your mother, too.»

T'Mir sighed and was silent for a moment. «I'm going visit them on the way to Italy.»

«Italy? Why go to Italy?»

«Soval teaches at Starfleet Acadamy in Milan. He asked me to follow him, and as I have been trained on his ship that will be an advantage.»

«I could put a good word for you here.»

T'Mir closed her eyes. «I don't think... I don't think I could do it, Jon. Here with you, but without Trip and T'Pol.»

He nodded. «Yes, I can imagine.» He put his hand on her shoulder. «I've never had a chance to tell you how sorry I am.»

She hugged him, holding on as tightly as possible. «I know. I know.»

She leaned her forehead against his shoulder, as she had done when she was little and Archer told her about their adventures. «I'll be back often to see you, I swear. Italy is near, unlike Triaxa!»

Jonathan laughed, stroking her back. «Who knows, maybe one day you'll have a ship all of your own.»

«Becoming a chief engineer would be enough for me.»

(To be continued...)

Thanks to Zero Credibility who's betareading this story in English, and to Seti and Franz who had betaread it in Italian.

All my stories are published in Italian on my blog.