Nine Months Ago

"OK, spill it." Cecelia insisted as Aalin slid into her seat at the restaurant.

Looking baffled, she replied, "Spill what?"

"A friend told a relative who told a friend who told her roommate who told my assistant Enterprise's Captain was visiting State Department Headquarters today. And that you met him." Cecelia explained.

Aalin opened a menu and answered as she studied it, "Let's eat, I'm famished."

Her best friends traded knowing looks. Meghan mouthed to Cecelia, 'She's deflecting.'

Cecelia added, "We ordered for you."

"Oh." Aalin laid down the menu.

"Go on, you know we will worm it out of you eventually, so accede and save the hassle."

Aalin shrugged. "There is nothing to tell. I attended a briefing, as did several others, including Captain Pike and his First Officer. We were not introduced, and we never spoke directly on one another. So, no, we did not meet."

"And?" Cecelia pressed.

"And what?" Aalin asked in an innocent tone of voice.

"Are the rumors true?" Cecelia prompted.

"Yes, he is handsome."

"Interesting that that was the first response that popped into your head." Meghan chimed in.

"Random chance." Aalin protested very quickly.

Meghan rolled her eyes, "Un-huh. I remain unconvinced. Tell us something else about the illustrious Captain."

This reply was equally rapid. "He radiates authority. And confidence, but it's without arrogance. When he walked into the room, he owned it. He drew everyone's attention and focus. I don't know what you call that quality, but I guess all leaders have it. Though it didn't feel deliberate."

"I would have introduced myself." Cecelia pointed out. "The poor man is out in deep space for months and even years with only his crew and alien space maidens. He must have a great deal of repressed sexual need."

"How thoughtful of you," Aalin replied with a slight chuckle. "Is Captain Christopher Pike on your to-do list?"

"Absolutely," Cecelia replied.

"And your husband?"

"Travels a great deal so we have flexible rules." Cecelia added with emphasis, "very flexible." A brief pause. "You should have more casual sex."

Aalin groaned. "How is it possible you can jump from chatting about the commander of the flagship to the topic of hooking up with a stranger?"

"The connection is obvious." Meghan said dryly. "And Cecelia's right, about you and sex that is. And the good Captain."

"Oh, I bet he is good, very good." Cecelia mused.

After taking a deep breath Aalin began, "OK. One. You both know I'm bad with casual sex. I get attached too easily."

Her friends traded grins and Meghan held up two fingers.

Aalin continued without noticing. "Two, I don't date Starfleet officers, ever. Period. No exceptions. For very good reasons."

Cecelia raised her hand, "For the record, we were advocating for a one-night stand, not a date."

Aalin eyes narrowed. "Three …"

"It's cute, you know, the way you always number your points." Meghan teased.

"You're protesting a lot for a non-meeting with someone you never expect to encounter again," Cecelia pointed out.

"Three," Aalin's voice grew quiet as the energy behind her emphatic denials waned, "It is unlikely; no improbable our paths will cross again."

ooooo

The forty-five minutes after Spock gave permission to take the orphans south over the mountains were controlled chaos. Matt divided the children into groups of seven with an older child assigned to supervise each group. In this instance, older meant ten to twelve. One of the security guards constructed small carryalls from any available materials which he then filled with the supplies the Enterprise officers had brought to the orphanage. Matt fashioned wraps so the stronger children could carry the babies handsfree.

The senior security guard reviewed the route over and over and over with Aalin, insisting she memorize it, explaining that carrying a map would look suspicious. How do I condense survival and orienting skills, normally honed through months of training and years of experience into thirty minutes, he asked himself, uneasy with sending an inexperienced new crewmember alone into dangerous territory.

Spock constructed a tunic and pants in the native style. When Matt regarded him with a raised eyebrow, Spock serenely replied, "My mother believes sewing to be a necessary skill." He handed the clothes to Aalin. "Where are you going?" he inquired when she started walking towards the building.

"To change."

"That is an illogical use of precious limited time," he called after her, confounded when her direction and stride didn't change. Spock was further perplexed when the senior guard chuckled quietly, shook his head and said, "Trust me, I have an ex-wife and a teenage daughter. You won't win this one."

Emerging from the building garbed in the hastily constructed outfit, Aalin remarked to Spock, "Perfect fit."

"Why would it not be? As I calculated your measurements to be cup size 32B, waist twenty …" Spock stopped when the security guard cleared his throat loudly. 'No?' he mouthed.

"Definitely not," the guard responded.

Spock tied a rectangle of material around Aalin's head as a kerchief. The guard helped her settle one of the babies in a wrap on her back. "Any other advice?" She asked in a tone of voice that was between anxious and fearful.

"Remember the sun sets north to south here. If you get lost, follow it," the senior guard replied.

"Don't approach any soldiers, even if you believe them to be Noohran. Any soldier has the capacity to be violent and unpredictable," the other guard added.

"Avoid the temptation to travel by at night during the full moons. The rocky grey terrain will be invisible in that type of light and treacherous." Spock cautioned.

Matt scooped up a handful of dirt and smeared it across her forehead and on her cheeks. "Captain Pike always says, focus on the problem in front of you. That will serve you well. And I, all of us, know you can do this." The others murmured their agreement.

The smile she gave them was nervous. Then she took a toddler's hand in each of hers and started the journey south.

Spock lingered, watching until Aalin and all the children were out of his sightline. What have I allowed? I should have anticipated this situation and prepared for it. This situation is due to my failing. Mimicking his commanding officer Spock unashamedly sent a hopeful plea for their safety and well-being into the unknown and unknowable despite the strong admonishments in his head from his father.

He then turned and saw to the next task, reaching the beam-out location with the remaining Enterprise officers before the cease-fire began.