Thank you for your patience! I ended up taking a much needed vacation for a week and got some relaxation and sleep in. The story is winding down and I'm pretty excited about this chapter.


It felt like she had just closed her eyes when her father gently shook her awake. Groggily, she opened her eyes and sat up.

"It's time to get ready."

Yawning, she rubbed her eyes and looked around, momentarily forgetting where she was in her sleepy haze. Today was the day. The thought sent her heart into overdrive, and she was quickly awake and alert. Looking over she could see her father was already dressed.

"How long have you been awake?" She asked, climbing out of bed.

"A few hours. I meditated this morning." He answered.

"Couldn't sleep? Nia asked, while rummaging through her bag.

"Did you sleep well?" he countered. Nia raised an eyebrow at him, clothes in hand. He met her gaze but didn't waver. Nia smiled but gave in.

"I slept well, but I don't feel rested." She answered. "I'll probably grab some coffee. I haven't had any in a while." She went into the bathroom and changed.


Regret.

Her stomach roiled uncomfortably as they waited inside the courthouse. It was a beautiful stone building that had the air of a cathedral. The city had reconstructed it after the wars preceding first contact. Its old-fashioned architecture stood out in an ever-changing world and created a lovely air of tradition. Cars flew above it, creating an almost paradoxical view.

Inside, the tall, domed ceiling let in colored light through the stained glass figures. A variety of species walked along the marble floors. Humans in nice suits, heels clicking on the floor. A few Vulcans in billowing layers of robes skimmed documents on their tablets. A handful of Andorians were present as well, chatting amicably with each other. She suddenly felt out of place and self-conscious in her robes and longed for jeans and a T-shirt.

"Do I look okay?" She whispered to her father as she tugged her collar to make sure it was straight.

"Yes, you look fine." He assured her. "You appear to be a normal Vulcan." He scanned the room as he spoke until he landed on what he'd been searching for... or who he'd been searching for, to be exact.

A normal Vulcan? Nia mulled over his words. She looked like a normal Vulcan? She took a deep breath and smoothed out her belt. Her father's words were equal parts reassuring and concerning. She appeared Vulcan, but didn't behave like one. She behaved human, but didn't look like one. Now that she was in Vulcan robes, would she be even more alienated from humans? She resisted the urge to chew on her cheek.

"Good morning!" I'm Mr. Howard, I'll be representing you today." A nondescript man in a grey suit, black shoes, and too much cheap cologne appeared before them. His smell quickly overpowered anything else. His hair was comically spiky and obviously had too much product in it. Her father tensed, and his discomfort was obvious to Nia as he leaned slightly away from the man. He couldn't have at least gotten nicer cologne? Nia wondered briefly why her father had chosen him. She made a quick mental note to ask her father later.

"Follow me, and we'll go over a few things and prepare before we're called in." He ushered them into the east wing, their steps intermingling on the marble floor. Her hands felt clammy as they walked, each step bringing her closer to her mother. With each step, it felt harder to breathe, like a heavy weight pressed firmly on her. The sound of her heartbeat drowned out everything else and the smell of cologne made her face flush hot with nausea. She took a deep breath and looked around. Spotting a restroom, she quickly walked in without a word.

After locking the door, thankfully it was an individual restroom, she splashed cold water onto her face and leaned forward on the counter with her head dropped down. She focused on breathing, oblivious to the water droplets spilling onto the counter from off her face. Lightheadedness creeped in and she quickly slid down the wall to sit on the floor and catch her breath. Once her stomach had settled somewhat, she stood and looked at her reflection. A pale face with wide eyes looked back at her, appearing wild. Startled, she grabbed a paper towel and dried her face off. At least she didn't throw up. What is wrong with me?

A soft knock on the door made her jump.

"Are you alright?" Her father asked from the other side.

"Yeah, just give me a minute." She called back. She dabbed her face with another towel to make sure her face was completely dry before looking again in the mirror. She looked more calm now. Taking another deep breath, she smoothed her hair back once more and practiced relaxing her face a few times before she finally felt confident enough to leave.

Her father's concern was clear as she unlocked the door and stepped out.

"Sorry. I didn't feel well." She mumbled. Her father exchanged a look with the lawyer a few feet behind them. He gently guided her away towards a bench nearby to sit.

"Are you certain you want to do this?" He asked quietly as he took a seat beside her.

"I'll give you a few minutes." The lawyer glanced at his watch and gave a tight smile before walking away.

"What happened?" He asked. Nia shook her head, unsure how to explain when she wasn't even sure what happened.

"I don't even really know." She began. "I just… felt sick. It was hard to breathe, and I felt like I was going to throw up. I got lightheaded, too. The thought of going in there and confronting her…" Her chest tightened again.

"Have you ever felt this way before?" He asked. Nia thought for a moment, picking absently at her nails as she did.

"I mean, maybe once or twice." She finally said.

"That's good. You are not prone to panic attacks, then."

"Is that what that was?" she asked.

"Yes. You were overwhelmed, but there is nothing to be ashamed of." He gently explained. "There is another way. You don't have to speak directly in front of her."

A weight lifted off her at this, but was quickly smothered by overwhelming guilt.

"I just…" She tried to find the words to explain how she felt this was something she needed to do. "I just feel like if I don't do this, I might regret it." he nodded in understanding.

"I understand. However, your mental health is important and should not be pushed aside for this. You will not have the chance to speak with her privately, only to tell your side of things and confirm. This may not give you the closure you seek." His words gave her pause. She looked down at her hands as she picked at her nails again and thought. They had little time left. The pressure made her nausea rise again as her heart rate increased.

"I just… don't know." She whispered.

"You could give a recorded testimony. They can record a short interview with the questions they intended to ask and they can present that as evidence while you wait elsewhere." He explained. Nia thought hard. Could she handle seeing her again? It hadn't really been that long, yet so much had changed. Part of her wanted to keep the memory of her as a mother who loved her untainted. The other part of her wanted to see her and ask her why she'd taken her from her family. Maybe if she hadn't taken the escape pod, people would have lived. Maybe she would have returned home safely with her real mother. A hundred questions lined up against her pursed lips, but she knew her father was right. She wouldn't be able to speak to her. It wouldn't change what had happened.

The lawyer began walking towards them, checking his watch again before glancing up at them.

"Nia?" Her father looked at her expectantly. A sudden urge to see things through gave her the strength to decide.

"I can do it." She said resolutely.

"Are you certain?" He looked her over for any signs of doubt.

"I'm certain." She assured him.

"Are we ready?" The lawyer asked.

"Yes, she has agreed to go. Thank you. Mr. Howard," Her father stood and watched her stand, ready to catch her if she got lightheaded again. She still felt like she might throw up, but deep breaths held it at bay. She tried her hardest to keep her mind blank as they approached the courtroom.

"-do is answer the questions honestly." He said as he stopped in front of a set of large, ornate wooden doors.

"Sorry, can you repeat that?" Her face flushed in mild embarrassment.

"They'll call you to the stand and all you have to do is answer their questions honestly. Most of the trial is over already." He repeated. Nia nodded. She took a seat on the bench outside the courtroom as her father spoke quietly to the lawyer again. With slightly shaking hands, she pulled out her tablet to check it one last time. To her surprise, she had a message from Torin.

Nia, I wanted to let you know you will do excellent at the trial today. Remember to breathe. A large ship was reported to be close to Vulcan, though it didn't respond to any hails. Large cities are on lockdown until their intentions are known. Signals have been blacking out randomly, so I'm not sure you will receive my message. Just know I look forward to your return and seeing you home again.

Be safe,

Torin.

She reread the second and third line multiple times, anxiety growing more each time.

"Nia, it's time." her father's voice broke her worst-case-scenario thoughts. Breathlessly, she powered off her tablet and shoved it back in her bag and stood, trying not to think of anything. Following closely behind her father, her hands shook as she took a seat in the front row.

Be safe Torin.


Everything was a blur. She tried to focus. She really did, but Torin kept coming to the front of her mind. Cities are on lockdown.

"I would like to call Salkath to the stand." There was a moment of silence as the lawyer looked at Nia expectantly. A light nudge from her father made her realize he was speaking to her. She stood shakily and pushed Torin from her mind. She'd forgotten her birth name for a moment. She hadn't seen her mother yet, having already been seated in the front on the other side of the courtroom. She felt like everything was a dream. Her heart pounded as she climbed into the seat next to the judge. The pound of her heart drowned out nearly everything else, and the man speaking to her sounded like he was underwater.

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" He asked.

"I swear." She answered.

"You may be seated."

Nia sat and looked around the room. She was thankful for the layers she wore under her robes because she was surely sweating profusely in anxiety now. Her eyes settled on her mother in the front. Her mother looked straight ahead. She looked tired and her arm was in a sling, but she looked almost exactly the same as the day she went into the hospital. Nia's mouth went dry. Her mother kept her face neutral as she continued staring ahead. Her chest felt tight as thoughts raced through her mind. Why wouldn't she look at her? She suddenly felt like she was facing a stranger; some nameless person met by chance. The dissonance swelled inside her and created a whirlpool of confusion as she tried to reconcile that she didn't actually know this woman she called mother.

She swallowed thickly, knowing this was the final piece of the trial before they sentenced her. It was her last chance to at least lessen the sentence, her guilt already decided at this point. Her mother had elected not to speak and give a final testimony.

"Now, Nia, you do prefer 'Nia' correct?" he paused and continued at her nod. "Just to establish facts," he smiled encouragingly at her and paused, facing the jury, "Can you point out the woman who you thought was your mother?" Nodding, she pointed at her mother sitting on the righthand side. She still looked ahead. "Let the record show she's pointing at Ms. Baker." The lawyer announced before turning back to Nia. "How often would you say you got sick growing up?"

"Rarely. Only a handful of times, really." She twisted her sleeves in her lap, noticing a slight tremble in her fingers.

"But when you did, was it bad?" he clarified. Nia nodded.

"Could you please answer verbally?"

"Oh, yes." She mumbled. She glanced at her father, who gave her a reassuring nod. She took a deep breath.

"Thank you, Nia." He smiled. "Did you ever go to the doctor when you were really sick?"

"No."

"So not only did the defendant kidnap this girl from her parents, she was also medically neglected." He emphasized his point with his hands as he spoke to the jury. As soon as the words left his mouth, a woman sitting next to her mother, a middle-aged woman wearing an expensive 3 piece suit and her hair pulled back into a slick bun, stood.

"Objection, your honor." She called out as she scrolled through her tablet for a moment. "We have medical records proving Ms. Baker sought medical treatment when Nia was ill."

"Mr. Howard?" The judge looked expectantly at the man speaking with Nia.

"Dr. Moody was called in, yes." He acquiesced. "But during some of his visits, they suspended him pending an investigation. His visits were strictly off the record."

"Dr. Moody is not the one on trial, your honor." the woman insisted.

"No, but his negligence and inappropriate behavior warranted a suspension and a formal investigation. He was not a doctor at the time due to his license to practice being suspended. Because of that, he was not truly a doctor and-"

"Enough." The judge held up a hand. "Let the record show that Dr. Moody was called in for medical advice, though he acted on a suspended license." He bowed his head towards Mr. Howard and motioned for him to continue. Nia glanced at her father and saw his jaw tensed as he watched the female lawyer sit again.

"Besides illness, you also had injuries too, yes?" He was unaffected by the exchange.

"Yes." She announced. According to her school, they contacted child protective services 4 times between grades 5 and 12. While no action was taken against Ms. Baker, there was, apparently, enough cause for concern that the school called in multiple reports of suspected neglect. He tapped on his tablet. "Nia has been coming to school in the same clothes for an entire week, claiming she ate nothing at home any of those days. A year later, 2 more similar reports. The last two deal with coming to school despite a fever and serious symptoms and coming to school with a broken bone and no medical treatment." He closed his tablet and paced lazily in front of the jury, taking a dramatic pause to allow his words to sink in.

"Now, how often-" Flickering lights cut him off and everyone looked around in surprise before they went out completely. No fans, climate control, or other whirring machinery. Silence. Nia looked to her father, confusion furrowing her brows, but he just shot a similar look back to her.

A man in a well-worn blue suit, perhaps a bit too pastel and bright for his line of work, walked in and sidled up to the judge to whisper something in his ear. The judge wrinkled his forehead, but nodded. Having said what he needed to, he left in a hurry. The judge cleared his throat before announcing to those in the room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I've just gotten word that we are currently on a lockdown. I have no further information, but we are believed to not be in any direct line of danger at this time. Should the need arise, we will move." The judge nodded once and looked around for any questioning looks. When he saw none, he nodded again. "Please proceed."

Nia felt her heart jump into her throat and Torin's letter felt more ominous now. She barely resisted the urge to pick at her fingernails. Her breathing came quick now and she prayed to whoever might listen to keep her from having another panic attack.

Mr. Howard turned back to her, a look of confusion on his face. He cleared his throat and relaxed his face back into the smooth mask of professionalism it had been previously. Though it was too late. Nobody was focusing on the trial now.

"Yes…. now, Nia, were you often left alone at home?" Many on the jury glanced at the security guard now standing at the main entrance and exit. The knowledge of a lockdown had thoroughly drawn their attention.

"Yes." She answered. Her mother remained still and quiet. Frustration caught her throat, and she nearly teared up in anger. She wanted her mother to look at her, to see her, and know the cost of what she'd done. More than anything, she wanted her to just simply acknowledge her. The feeling of being tossed aside was pervasive. He opened his mouth to speak when the same man from before came in and hurried up to the judge, wide-eyed and more frazzled than before. A strange look of fear and panic on his face turned Nia's stomach. His tablet covered his mouth as he whispered to the judge. A deep crease in the judge's brow appeared once again. Nia met her father's gaze and tilted her head slightly, silently asking him if he had any idea what was going on. He allowed his confusion to show plainly on his face as he, too, tilted his head to the side slightly. He didn't know anything either. The tension in the air did not help in the slightest and she could feel her face flush hot as she tried to push the worst-case scenarios out of her head.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we'll have to reconvene at a later time." He rose from his seat and Nia began to panic when she heart the judge mutter "maybe" under his breath. She felt sick.

"Please escort Ms. Baker back to her cell." He stepped down now and walked through a nondescript door near his podium while the bailiff and guard stood watch. Nia stepped down and went to her father as the frazzled man addressed the jury, running a hand through his mussed hair.

"Jury, please follow me." He smiled tensely. "I'll be right back for you." He glanced back at the handful of people sitting in the rows, Nia and her father included.

"I have a bad feeling about this." She muttered to her father as she sat. Taking deep breaths she tried to calm herself. A firm hand on her shoulder helped ground her for a moment.

"I'm certain everything is fine. You are safe with me." He assured her.

"I got a message from Torin before the trial." She whispered to her father. This felt too important to hide from him. She wiped her sweaty palms on her legs and continued. "He said a ship approached Vulcan, and they were all on lockdown. He said the commination was spotty or blocked." There was a pregnant pause as he took in her words. "He told me to be safe." She added. A sudden swell of emotion caught her breath and threatened to spill out of her eyes.

"I hope Stalek and Torin are okay…. I hope everyone is okay…" Her voice trailed off. She focused on her clenched hands before grabbing the tablet from her bag in a desperate bid for reassurance. A sudden whining caught her attention and two flat screen TV's rose from the floor in front of the benches, just before the lights flickered back on. Glancing back at her tablet, she was disconnected from the network. Frustrated she tried restarting it. No luck. Others seemed to have the same problem, judging from how some shook their tablets and tapped furiously on the screens.

"-awaiting an update on the death toll." Nia looked up to see a news anchor on the TV's. On screen, images of ravaged ships and pieces of machinery floated in a vacuum. It looked like the ship filming was in some asteroid field. Chunks of rock narrowly missed the ship. She felt her father stiffen next to her as he leaned forward in his seat.

"We don't have a report on casualties, but we're anticipating a statement from Vulcan officials within the hour. Antoine, back to you." She didn't smile as the camera cut to a man in front of a gaping hole in the ground. In the background, a cityscape.

"Is that San Francisco?" Nia breathed. Mouth open, she couldn't take her eyes off the seemingly bottomless hole the size of a city block. Officials roped off the area and shooed away any who tried to get too close. A ringing in her ears grew louder as she tried to make sense of what she'd heard and saw. Her father leaned forward in his seat now, his elbows resting on her knees, and clenched his hands tightly in front of him.

"Dad-" She asked quietly, her voice shook.

Nia watched with growing fear as the news unfolded. Feeling sick, she tried calling Torin, but all she got was an error message.

"An estimated death toll in the billions." The reporter finished. Behind him, sirens wailed as people gawked.

A few more pieces clicked together, giving her a fuller picture, though she still failed to fully understand what had happened.

The tablet fell to the floor, and she reached over to grip her father's arm seeking some kind of reassurance that things were okay.

"Dad, what happened?" Around them people gasped and stared, mouths opened in shock, while others tried to make calls.

"Poor things…" A woman looked their way and pity on her face pierced Nia's heart.

"I can't imagine losing it all like that…" another muttered. She squeezed his arm a little tighter.

To her surprise, he moved his arm from her grip and draped it over her shoulders, pulling her closer. Nia was afraid to voice her realization, to confirm her fear. A part of her, in denial, thought that maybe if she didn't say it, it wouldn't be true. They'd happily be on their way home in a few days. His hand tightened on her shoulder and she got an overwhelming grief from him. She had tears in her eyes.

"Is it…" she finally asked. Her voice cracked a little at the end and the silence from her father was deafening. Finally, he spoke.

"Gone." He finished quietly.


Ah! This final scene in the courtroom was honestly my favorite to write for this chapter and I'm pretty excited to finally get to this point. Only a few more chapter to go I think. Maybe.