Year 2217. Mojave, CA, Earth.
"It's spider freak!" The bigger boy elbowed his friend in the ribs, beckoning him to look at their newest victim. Christopher turned around and smirked when he saw the new girl at school walking towards their first period. If anyone could call her movements walking. Rather, she looked like a disarticulated doll with strings. Except that in this case, the strings were a metal exoskeleton, which had earned her the name of 'spider freak'.
Although Christopher's friends bullied the girl based on her carapace, as they called it, his resentment ran deeper. For three years, he had been hailed as the brightest student to have ever attended Mojave High. He was expected to enter Starfleet Academy as a top recruit. His academic record was only matched by his athletic prowess: captain of the football team, Christopher Pike had led his team to three consecutive national titles. But the new girl was about to change his legacy: she was a prodigy, who had stolen the spotlight from him. And he couldn't bear the thought to not be the best.
Chris slammed his locker shut and ran towards the elevator, blocking the girl's path. "Hello!" He greeted with a wicked smile on his face. He hadn't had much time to think about the games he would play with her today.
"Please, let me pass," she begged, knowing full well where this encounter would lead. The four boys had tormented her since her arrival in this town. She wanted to go back home. She wanted to see her parents. She cried herself to sleep every night, hoping that the nightmare would be over. But every morning, she woke up to the hard reality of her current situation. These boys were just another pain in her long suffering.
"Well, and what are you up to today, freak? More chemistry or biology?" Chris' best friend asked.
"Why do you want to know?" She tried to circumvent the boys but they were bigger and definitely stronger than she was.
"So we can find you later on." Chris let the threat hang in the air.
The school's bell rang and the girl tried to slip in between Christopher and his friends but the big boy caught her arm and shoved her aside. She fell on the floor and cried out in pain.
"Christopher Pike!" A shiver ran down his spine. "Come with me immediately!" The supervisor said. Turning his attention to Alathea, he helped the girl to his feet. "Are you alright? We need to take you to the infirmary." He tried to look at the exoskeleton but she shoved his hand aside.
"I'm fine." She argued back, tears filling up her eyes.
"We need to get you checked out. And we need to call your father." Her cheeks were hot from shame. This would have never happened in her previous life. She hated the supervisor. She hated Christopher Pike and his friends. But most of all, she hated the man who called himself her father. "As for you, young man, your father will be very disappointed."
Chris' friend exchanged a panicked look with him. If Chris told the truth about who had been responsible for the altercation, he would be suspended. But Chris held his tongue. As the leader of their band, he took full responsibility for all of their actions.
STSTST
Based on his academic record, the principal had simply sent Chris home for the day with a stern warning to stay clear of Alathea Mayweather, the adoptive daughter of Admiral Mayweahter, himself the grandson of the NX01 pilot. But if the school had been lenient, Chris knew his father would be less so. Chris and his father hadn't been able to see eye-to-eye for over a year. His mother attributed the estrangement to Chris' adolescence but the teenager knew the schism ran deeper.
His mother had picked him up from school and as they were driving towards their two-story ranch house on the outskirts of town, Chris couldn't help but wonder what punishment his father had in mind. No matter what it was, it couldn't be as bad as the humiliation he would face upon his return to school. It was Alathea's fault. And she would pay for it.
"Your father is waiting for you in the barn." His mother said flatly, as she parked in the driveway. She was disappointed in her son but she couldn't help but feel responsible for Chris' behavior. Her husband had always expected their son to be perfect at everything. Second place wasn't in her husband's vocabulary. And the constant pressure had changed Chris.
Chris shrugged. "So let me guess: I'll have to muck the stalls by hand today?" Chris scoffed. He was looking forward to some time alone anyway. Without waiting for his mother's answer, Chris got out of the vehicle and made his way towards the barn. As promised, his father was inside, in deep conversation with the farrier.
When he noticed Chris, Pike Sr. motioned for his son. But where Chris had expected anger, he could only see disappointment in his father's eyes. "Come with me." Pike Sr. made his way towards the back of the barn where his private office was located. The room was as confusing to Chris as the owner himself was. Religious books were piled on top of science publications and statues representing various deities were laying next to an old-fashioned microscope and a chemistry kit. The furniture was of southwestern design but modernized for comfort. "Sit." Pike Sr. motioned to a chair facing his desk. Chris plopped himself into the seat and crossed his arms defiantly.
His father ignored him for the longest time, rummaging through his office. Once he finally found what he was looking for at the bottom of a drawer, Pike Sr. turned around to face his son, hiding the object from sight. "I've talked to your principal and Admiral Mayweather."
"So, what? I can apologize on Monday." Chris rolled his eyes. "It's not like she got hurt."
Pike Sr. ignored his son. "Admiral Mayweather told me that it's not the first time that you've bullied Alathea. He originally decided to give you a chance to correct your actions but this had gone too far. I agree."
"She fell down after running into us! It's not like she's steady on her legs to begin with! She should be the one apologizing."
Pike Sr. exhaled heavily. He had hoped to see an ounce of remorse in his son. After so many hours teaching Chris about the religions of the Federation, he had hoped that his son would have retained their main message. "Do you know where Alathea comes from?"
"She's human." Chris answered.
"Yes. She was actually born in San Francisco. Her parents were terraformers. Shortly after her birth, they moved to Andlanca II, a planet near the Klingon border. The Federation wanted to build an outpost there. The planet's low gravity was essential for medical research."
That would explain the exoskeleton. Chris thought.
"Since Alathea grew up on Andlanca II, her bones never strengthened like they would have on Earth." His father confirmed. He paused, giving Chris an opportunity to ask questions. But when his son remained stubbornly silent, Pike Sr. continued. "Two years ago, the Klingons threatened the colony. Claimed it was in Klingon's territory. Under normal circumstances, the Federation would abandon the outpost rather than risk a conflict with the Klingons but the research pursued there was too important so Admiral Mayweather was sent to negotiate a peace treaty." Pike Sr. shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Let's just say it didn't go well. The Klingons attacked. Alathea and three other children were the only survivors of a colony of a thousand souls." Chris tightened his fists. He didn't understand why the Federation had not yet retaliated against the Klingons. "The other children were placed with family members but Alathea has no family left. So the admiral became her guardian. She spent the first six months in the old international space station, in lower gravity. Mayweather tried to contract other low gravity worlds but no one was willing to take on an orphaned child. So he came to me."
"To you?" Chris frowned.
"Before moving to Mojave and becoming a teacher, I worked at the Daystrom Institute." Chris' eyes widened in surprise. Being employed at the Institute was an honor. Why would his father ever leave? Unless he was forced to. Perhaps because of his unnatural penchant to mix science and religion. "My specialty was in robotics."
"You worked on the skeleton-thing she's wearing!" Chris exclaimed.
Pike Sr. nodded. "It generates an anti-gravity field. The idea is to ease Alathea back to normal gravity. She's young enough that, combined with bone treatment, she should one day be able to function like you and I in a normal gravity environment." He grabbed the object from the drawer and showed it to his son. "I made a few prototypes." He explained. "Stand up."
Chris' eyes widened in fear but he held his tongue. His father was holding the same device Alathea wore everyday and Chris didn't have to use his imagination to know what his father had in mind. "Stand up!" Pike Sr. ordered more firmly.
Swallowing hard, Chris did as he was told and bit his lower lip hard as his father adjusted the contraption on him. Once he was done, Pike Sr activated the device and Chris felt a sudden heaviness. His father increased the setting until his legs buckled from underneath him. He fell heavily to the ground, unable to move. He was afraid his bones would be crushed under the added weight. "This is what Earth's gravity would feel like for Alathea now, without her exoskeleton." His father explained. All Chris could manage was a few squirms and moans. "But she's refusing to wear it again because of what you boys put her through."
Chris tried to fist his hand but the effort was too great. He moaned. Pike Sr. readjusted the device. "This is what it feels like for her now." Chris managed to sit up with great effort. By the time he was resting against the chair he had occupied mere moments earlier, he was drenched in sweat. It wasn't as painful as the first bone-crushing experience but it was definitely hurting. "Why Chris?" His father finally asked. "I thought I'd raised you better than this."
"You taught me to be the best." The teenager managed to articulate through the weight on his chest. He winced at the effort. "She's getting As in every subject. She will be Starfleet's top pick when we graduate."
Pike Sr. sighed. "Has it occurred to you that maybe she doesn't want to be in Starfleet? Or that even if you somehow bullied her into not getting As, YOU would NOT get in? Starfleet has no use for a know-it-all! It was founded on the principles of service, sacrifice, compassion, and love. Qualities you are thoroughly lacking! I'm sorry I've failed you, Christopher." His father looked at his son with pity in his eyes and to Chris, it was worse than any other punishment. "Help John with the stalls. I'll see you at dinner." His father exited the office, leaving Chris on the floor, trapped.
STSTST
The silence was heavy around the dinner table. Chris knew that his parents were utterly disappointed in him. After he had mucked the stalls wearing the harness, he had all but crawled back to the main house where Pike Sr. had finally freed his son. Chris knew he would feel the effects for the next few days. His muscles were more sore than after any of his football games.
"You are to stay at the house tomorrow." His father finally said when his mother served his favorite dessert, an apple pie. "You'll go up with us to fix the fences on the northern edge of the property."
"Father, I was hoping I could ride out to Admiral Mayweather's ranch." Chris locked eyes with his father. "To apologize."
Pike Sr. nodded once. "I let the admiral know to expect you."
STSTST
Chris slowed Tango to a trot as he approached the Mayweather mansion. Like all the homes in Mojave, it was built in the southwestern style of the early twenty-first century but it dwarfed all other houses built within a hundred miles. Chris tied Tango's reins to the wooden fence and made sure his friend would be comfortable before making his way towards the front door. Before he could knock, a petite woman in her 60s opened it and mentioned for the boy to enter the large foyer. Chris welcomed the soothing coolness of the air conditioned home. Despite the fact that it was a little after 9am, the outside temperature had already reached 33C.
"Come on in." She said cheerily. "The children are in the back."
"Thank you, Mrs Mayweather." Chris was relieved that the admiral hadn't answered himself. He had already disappointed his father. He wasn't ready to see the same disappointment in the admiral's eyes. After Chris had expressed interest in Starfleet, the admiral had arranged for a tour of the Academy and the shipyard.
Mrs Mayweather led them towards the backyard where her children were playing in the large swimming pool. Well, almost all of her children. Fully clothed in a jumpsuit despite the heat, Alathea was lying in a lounger, alone. Chris felt a pang of guilt tugged at his heart. She couldn't even enjoy the simple pleasure of splashing in water on a warm desert day. "Thea, Chris is here to see you."
Alathea tore her dark brown eyes from her book long enough to look at Chris. After her adoptive father had told her to expect Christopher Pike in the morning, she had wanted to scream. She didn't want an apology. She just wanted to be left alone. Apparently, it was too much to ask.
"I'll leave you two alone." Mrs Mayweather added after Alathea had ignored her visitor. "Chris, would you like anything to drink?"
"No. Thank you, Mrs Mayweather."
The woman excused herself.
Chris' eyes lingered over Alathea's exoskeleton. He knew how painful it felt and he wished he could take all the pain he had put Alathea through away. Uncomfortable under his gaze, the girl covered her body with her towel, snapping Chris back to reality. "I'm sorry." He blurted out. He closed his eyes. "I'm sorry for staring at you and I'm sorry for what I did to you… at school."
"Apology accepted." The girl answered mechanically. "Now, can you leave me alone?"
Chris tentatively sat down on the lounger next to Alathea, to her annoyance. "Look, I know that what we did to you is inexcusable. And I'm… glad that we didn't hurt you yesterday."
"You came here so you could feel better about yourself." Alathea interrupted. "You have. Now, please leave. Go back to your friends. Just. leave. me. alone."
Chris swallowed. "Listen, I can't pretend to know what you're going through. But I think you can use a friend."
Alathea scoffed. "You? You want to be my friend? It's not my job to make you feel better about yourself. You have EVERYTHING! Your parents. Your friends. Your world! Just leave me alone!" Her screams alerted Mrs Mayweather.
"What's going on?" She asked as she jogged towards them. The other children had stopped playing in the pool and all eyes were on Chris and Alathea.
"I think I should go." Chris stood up. "I'm sorry, Alathea." He added before running towards the front door.
As he was about to leave, a booming voice resonated through the foyer. "Chris! Wait!"
The voice stopped Chris in his tracks. He slowly turned around to face Admiral Mayweather. The man's large stature would make any cadet tremble in fears. And Chris was no different. "Your father told me you came to apologize. That it was your idea."
"Yes, sir."
"Thank you. It means a lot. Alathea…" His eyes lingered over the patio. "She can be stubborn at times."
"She's been through a lot."
"She has. And she could really use a friend."
Chris responded with a cautious smile. "I don't think she wants me as her friend, sir."
"Sometimes the friends we need are not necessarily the ones we want." The admiral placed his hand on Chris' shoulder. He wasn't talking about Alathea but forcing Chris to rethink his own friendships. "Go home, son. Your father is probably wondering where you are. And I don't want to get you into more trouble than you already are."
"Thank you, sir." Chris almost saluted the admiral before making his way towards Tango.
STSTST
Admiral Mayweather smiled as Christopher Pike galloped up his driveway the following morning with another horse in tow. "I didn't expect to see you so soon." He greeted him.
"Is it ok if I talk to your daughter?" Chris asked as he dismounted.
"She's in the living room."
Chris could hear laughter coming from the backyard and immediately realized that this was one more activity Alathea could not partake in. Chris tied both horses in the shade and loosened the cinch. "Thank you, sir." Chris followed the admiral towards the back of the house where Alathea was propped on several pillows, reading. Her long black hair was tied up in a ponytail, resting on her right shoulder. She was wearing a t-shirt and shorts under her exoskeleton and Chris couldn't help but notice the bruises marking her olive skin. The same bruises that marked his own skin after using the exoskeleton were a direct result of the effect of gravity on the blood vessels.
"Thea, Chris is here to see you."
This time, Alathea seemed genuinely surprised. "What are you doing here?" She asked in lieu of a greeting.
"I noticed the horses on your towel yesterday… and I was wondering if you wanted to go for a ride?"
Alathea looked at her adoptive father expectantly. "May I go?" She had asked for lessons since she'd arrived in Mojave but her parents had been reluctant.
"I promise, Mary Lou is the gentlest mare."
Admiral Mayweather considered the request. On the one hand, he was concerned with a potential fall in this gravity. On the other hand, Alathea had begged them for lessons for a year. She wasn't physically able to participate in many sports but horseback riding wasn't exactly prohibited. Besides, it would be good for her to be with kids her own age for a while. And contrary to his recent behavior, Mayweather knew that Chris was a good kid. "Ok." he finally said, to the girl's excitement. "But walk only."
Thanks for reading this story and for reviewing! Hope you're enjoying it so far. I finish my stories (just takes me a while sometimes between updates when life gets busy).