Apologies for late update. Lots going on in my life. I've been watching Enterprise again and it is so nice to see old friends on screen. Those of you who are uber Trekkies will recognize the aide in this scene, or at least who he is related to. Let me know if you have any requests for certain characters, or scenes. Cheers!
Elonat startled, dropping the pan with a loud clang against the tiled kitchen floor. Standing only a few feet away from her, their fingers moving away from the button that turned on the overhead light, was one of Soval's aides. They quietly looked between the mess of fruits and nuts Elonat dropped to the floor in her surprise and back to Elonat, a single eyebrow rising up to their hairline.
"Do you require assistance?" The man's accent was thick accent made it almost impossible to understand, but Elonat pieced it together in the awkward silence that followed his question.
She smiled, "I'm sorry if I woke you." Elonat tried to bend over to pick up the mess, but her very large belly prevented her normal range of movement, and it reduced her to awkwardly squatting. She spoke as she sought out the wayward food items, "I was starving when I woke up. I had a hot flash and needed water. So after I got the water, I figured I could find some food. And-"
Elonat nearly toppled over, but the aide's firm grip on her elbow and shoulder steadied her and before she recognized what was happening, she was standing straight again.
"Please, allow me." He bent and made quick work of her mess. Elonat looked at her hands and realized even with all her huffing and puffing, she'd only gotten two carrot-like items into the pan. The aide set the food into the device that cleansed them, took the two from Elonat and added them to the mix, then gestured for Elonat to take one of the high chairs that pulled up to the bar-like area of the kitchen. "You require water?"
"I can't seem to get enough. I know my body temperature is running higher than normal because of the pregnancy, and I'm still getting used to being back in my own body, so I'm not so used to these hot flashes, or feeling so hungry all the damn time." Elonat looked up and blushed. "Sorry."
The aide raised an eyebrow, "I do not understand what it is you feel you must apologize for. If I am not mistaken, this is your first pregnancy. And as your background, and that of your offspring, are both quite unique in all known databases, it is illogical to expect you to be prepared for all the nuances that are to occur."
To finally have a Vulcan, aside from Soval—and to a lesser extent T'Pol—treat her humanely nearly had Elonat crying. It was probably the pregnancy hormones. But it truly was a breath of fresh air. The aide seemed to notice the emotional shift in Elonat and shifted back on his heels in response.
"Have I said something to alarm you?"
"No," Elonat refrained from reaching out to pat his shoulder reassuringly, "I am just thankful for your kindness and consideration. It was a logical response to pick up the fruit when it would've taken me far longer, and it was a logical assessment on your part when you spoke of my pregnancy, but," Elonat sighed, "I'm uncertain how much Soval told you of my encounter with my grandfather's clan, but suffice to say it is most agreeable to have someone, without motive, offer, what feels to me, kindness."
The aide bowed his head in respect. He retrieved the cleansed fruit and added a glass of water to the array he set before Elonat. His actions were precise and he did not appear to be bothered in the slightest by Elonat's condition, her "stench" that came from her human side, or the taboo nature of her child. Elonat tilted her head to the side as she studied the aide. She'd seen him before but had never directly interacted with him. From what she could remember, this aide had never been to Earth but served Soval here on Vulcan as a primary liaison.
"May I know your name?" Elonat smiled over the rim of her glass as she sipped at the refreshing liquid. "I apologize in advance if you've already been introduced and I don't recall. That's another side effect of this pregnancy: I keep forgetting things. Sometimes I feel like this baby is eating my brain cells."
"Skon." He nodded his head again and Elonat reciprocated. "We have not yet been formally acquainted. I was overseeing some of the ambassador's assets at his home up until this morning." Skon was silent for a moment before he went back to the refrigerating unit and pulled out a sauce of some sort. He handed it to Elonat, "My wife says that this pairs well with the Rillian teaberry melon." At Elonat's unspoken question, Skon added. "My wife will deliver our son in four month's time."
"Does she too, get hot and have food cravings?" Elonat sniffed at the sauce first then, finding the smell delightful, doused all her fruits and vegetables in it.
"Yes, though, from what I have observed, to a much lesser degree than you."
Elonat chuckled, "Be thankful. Half the time I can't stand myself and I don't know how Soval manages to put up with me."
Skon looked away. It was not in their culture to trade stories about someone of higher rank, especially while in their service. And Elonat understood readily enough that news of what went down with her supposed clan had traveled far and fast, as had Soval's response to it. It was no secret that Soval had claimed clan rights for Elonat. What that meant in the long term was unknown, but for the here and now, that meant that Soval would do more than just "put up" Elonat. That fact was why they were leaving on the first transport in the morning to head to Earth. The doctors, both human and Vulcan, were already alerted to their arrival and were standing by. And Elonat's quarters had been set up on the same floor as Soval's at the Vulcan embassy.
"Will you need assistance back to your quarters?" Skon's question broke Elonat out of her thoughts.
She shook her head, "No, you've done more than enough. Thank you, Skon." He turned to go but stopped when Elonat called out, "Give your wife my greetings. My best wishes to you both and for your son."
"Thank you. Live long and prosper." He offered her the traditional salute and Elonat quickly spoke the appropriate reply. It was not likely that they would get the chance to speak together like this once everyone woke up and they were rushed to the transport bay.
Her minion offspring satisfied, Elonat cleaned away her dishes. She was as quiet as a waddling pregnant woman could be as she moved through the darkened hallways of the apartment back to her quarters. She knew she wouldn't sleep well with all the excitement of leaving, but she knew she had to try.
If she'd known that this might be her last night sleeping in a comfortable bed, with a secure blanket of safety around her, then Elonat probably would've made greater effort to sleep. As it was, however, it would not be until well into their transport journey the next day that she'd come to regret her decisions. For how were any of them to know that their transport ship would be attacked, boarded, and they taken hostages by none other than the Andorians.
