The Ties That Bind
This story and all themes and ideas contained in said story are the sole ownership of J.L. Scott. Any copyright infringements can be prosecuted in a court of law.
To borrow a phrase: Star Trek: The Next Generation no mine...no money, no sue, please?
Will made an official announcement that morning at the senior staff meeting. Worf and Geordi were actually the only ones who hadn't known.
"We're having a sort of welcome on board party for her tonight, in Will's quarters" Deanna told them.
"I'd appreciate it if you'd all come" Will added. Everyone, of course, said they would. Even Worf, who generally hated social gatherings. Actually, Miranda very much reminded Deanna of Worf, now that she thought about it. They actually might hit it off.
"Wow! I mean, I can't believe the Commander has a sister!" Geordi exclaimed to Data on their way back to Engineering, "And his father never told him" Then Geordi chuckled, "Ooo, I can just imagine what this kids' going to be like"
"She is very pleasant" Data told him.
"Wait, you met her?" Geordi asked.
"She ran into me last night. She has some very interesting views on life" Data replied.
"You had a conversation about life?" Geordi repeated, somewhat disbelieving, though he knew Data never lied. With the exception of Wesley, Geordi found most 16 year olds to be somewhat less than philosophical. But then, he wouldn't put anything past a Riker.
"I have a feeling life's about to get a little more interesting around here" Geordi finished and Data didn't disagree.
That afternoon, while Miranda was in Deanna's office explaining why she hadn't gone to school and practicing her telepathic abilities, Beverly was asking the only other person who'd had interaction with her what he'd thought of her.
"I don't know" Wesley replied truthfully, "She was nice I guess, but, well, odd. She's not like Commander Riker at all"
"Really?!" Beverly exclaimed. She had thought the girl a bit quiet when they'd initially met, but had chalked it up to a traumatic event.
"Yeah. It was almost like she didn't want me there, like she was afraid I'd hurt her or something" Wesley expanded.
"Deanna said she had a difficult childhood. She's probably just not used to people being nice to her" his mother told him, "It may just take some time for her to get used to you" Wesley was about to reply but his com stopped him.
"Riker to Ensign Crusher"
"I'm here Commander" Wesley replied.
"Wes, would you do me a favor? Bring my sister to my quarters tonight?" Will asked.
"What for Commander?" Wes asked.
"Just tell her I want her to meet some people" Will replied.
"Okay" Wes agreed, sounding dubious. The Commander thanked him and Wes took off to work. When he showed up at Miranda's he was a little nervous. But Miranda opened the door with a smile. It made her look stunning and Wesley stared for just a second.
"Hey!" she greeted him, "We going to the holideck?"
"Oh, uh, well, actually" Wesley recovered, "I'm supposed to take you to the Commander's quarters. There's some people he want s you to meet" Miranda's smile immediately disappeared.
"You know you don't have to do everything he tells you to" she replied, but joined a confused Wesley in the corridor.
"So you work on the Bridge, huh?" she continued without giving him time to answer, "What are you, some kind of egghead?"
"Huh?" Wesley had no idea what she was talking about.
"You know...like, really smart?" Miranda expounded, not detailing the more derogatory meaning.
"Oh. Well, I guess" Wes answered humbly, "I mean, I'm pretty good at science and stuff" Miranda rolled her eyes, recognizing an understatement when she heard one. But by then they had reached Will's quarters, and so she put her mask of annoyed indifference back on.
The first person she was upon entering was Worf, and it took her slightly aback. She had never before encountered a Klingon, Bolgara being almost completely inhabited by humans.
"Ah, Miranda, there you are" Will said, noticing that she'd come in, "Mr. Worf, I'd like you to meet my sister, Miranda. Miranda, Worf is our Security Chief"
"It is nice to meet you" Worf replied, and Miranda could feel how uncomfortable he was. He did not spend much time with human teenagers. Miranda simply nodded.
"So this must be her" a cheerful voice said and the party turned to include Geordi and Deanna.
"That's her" Deanna affirmed with a smile. Miranda tried to hide her surprise and focused her gaze away from the strange eyewear the smiling man wore.
/Geordi's blind/ Deanna explained telepathically, / The VISOR lets him see/
"Not that there was any doubt" Geordi continued, "Talk about family resemblance"
"The legendary Riker good looks" Will agreed, and lifted an arm around Miranda's shoulders. She quickly shrugged it off and gave him an angry glare before stomping off across the room to talk to Data.
"Miranda!" Deanna cried. Geordi raised his eyebrows.
"Missed the gene for the Riker charm, huh?"
"Will..." Deanna started but Will cut her off.
"It's all right" he said, "Guess she just hasn't gotten used to the idea yet" What idea that was, he didn't say, and as Data wasn't standing there, no one asked. He reintroduced Miranda to the rest of the command crew, though he was noticeably much more rigid and formal, as if introducing a visiting diginitary.
Data noticed and questioned Geordi about it.
"Yeah. It's like putting a Romulan and Worf together" Geordi replied.
"I have noticed that Miranda is not speaking to the Commander" Data said.
"She may not be speaking, Data, but she's saying a lot. She can't stand him"
"You have a younger sister, Geordi. Did you often quarrel?" Data asked.
"Sure, we had our fights" Geordi told him, "All siblings do, but nothing like this. This is...well, serious"
The night ended much earlier than anyone expected. The tension between Will and Miranda created an uncomfortable atmosphere that everyone wished to escape.