Durga knew it was not nothing like the doctor kept on telling her and Captain Ramsey. She felt light headed and weak all over. Durga could see that Amina wasn't fairing any better. They had been transported off the planet below when they both started to feel symptoms and now it was a waiting game.

They were in a decontamination room, blue lights surrounded them, and they didn't know what was going on. Sitting down next to Amina, Durga rested her head against the wall and slowly exhaled. Feeling Amina's hand on hers, she knew Amina needed the comfort too.


It was day nine of isolation for Captain Amina Ramsey and Lieutenant Durga. In the small room they shared, Amina kept on getting distracted, sometimes she would just stare at Durga and get lost in thought, thinking about the Vulcan woman.

Nine days so far, only five to go to stop a potential outbreak on the ship. She could go five more days without revealing her true feelings. She knew she had feelings for Durga, she realised months ago, but trying to contain them while it was just the two of them was going to be mission of its own.


Amina only lasted twenty-seven more hours. As she sat on her bed, her eyes were transfixed on Durga, watching as she silently read a book while sipping on her tea.

"If I don't say this now, I don't think I ever will. Being in isolation with you has made me realise something. I like you Durga, like a lot and I think you deserve to know," Amina blurted out, feeling very exposed.

"I am fond of you too," Durga replied, turning to face Amina. "We could endeavour to see how this works out."

"I would really love that," Amina smiled.


This is not how Captain Amina Ramsey thought her isolation with Lieutenant Durga would go. It was day fourteen, the ending was near, but here she was, her head resting in Durga's lap as the Vulcan gently caressed her head.

"That feels really good," Amina said, enjoying the sensation.

"I am pleased to hear that," Durga replied, looking down at the woman.

"Durga, just think, in fifteen hours we're free."

"This isolation was not as bad as I thought."

"If it wasn't for being locked up in here together, I don't think I would have confessed my feelings."

"I know."


Sometimes Amina Ramsey didn't think and went head first into situations she couldn't get herself out of. And now, here she was, stuck in a prison cell, on an alien planet, for treason. She didn't know how she ended up like this but she could hear Durga speaking to someone, using nothing put pure Vulcan logic to try and get her out.

An hour later, keys rattled and her cell was unlocked. She was placed into Durga's custody and escorted back to their shuttle by armed guards.

As the back hatched closed, she looked to Durga and thanked her profusely.


Lying down in her soft bed, Amina rolled onto her side and watched as the stars flew past. Durga was still on duty, doing a double shift, and Amina wished that she was there with her. They hadn't really been able to spend much time together this week and Amina felt it getting to her. She longed for the gentle touches, soft kisses, and just enjoying each other's company. Amina didn't like to keep their relationship a secret but she knew, as captain, people would have issues with it. She loved Durga and she didn't want to hide any longer.


Amina was determined to get the replicator in her quarters working. Prying open the panel inside, she huffed when she noticed a relay that looked blown. Tapping her communicator, she asked Durga to bring a replacement and it didn't take long for the Vulcan to arrive.

Shoving her hand into the replicator, she pulled the relay out and tossed it aside. Making sure the connection was clear, she felt a shock run through her body her finger coming into contact with a live connection.

Durga was immediately by her side, asking if she was okay, a hand on her shoulder.


Amina always enjoyed going on an away mission, especially when it was just her and Durga. Together they didn't need to hide their relationship. They could be open with one another and not have to worry about anything. They could do things they never dared to do on the Oakland.

As they laid on the floor of the captain's yacht, set down on the surface of a moon, Amina rolled herself back on top of Durga and gently ran her hands over the Vulcan's naked body before she leaned down and softly captured her lips with her own, kissing her.


Durga was surprised that there was basically no resistance from the crew in finding out that she and Amina had become a couple. As she sat in the mess hall and ate her bowl of plomeek broth, she could just overhear some ensigns talking about her, saying that she could get it, but she didn't not understand the context in which they were talking about. Making a mental reminder to ask Amina what it meant later, Durga picked up her PADD and went over her schedule for the week.

Finishing her meal, she got up and went to find Amina.


Durga never really got why people enjoyed watching birds soar through the air but as she watched the pure joy on Amina's face when two birds began to twirl around one another she could appreciate it.

"Captain, we should continue on our mission," Durga said, pulling out her tricorder.

"You can call me by my first name, no one's here but us," Amina replied, reaching out and holding onto Durga's hand.

"We are on duty," Durga responded, beginning to lead the way through the field.

"We are, but we have definitely done worse while on duty," Amina winked, smirking slightly.


The ship had taken heavy damage, as Amina did her best to retreat from the situation, she was relieved to find that the warp engines were still online. Making the brash call to jump into warp, it was either see if they could stay in one piece at warp, or let an enemy ship destroy them. She was pretty sure it was the Pakleds again but she didn't want to wait around to see.

Jumping into warp, the ship shuddered and Amina found herself under Durga as a panel from the ceiling fell down, almost landing on top of them.


"We need to prepare for the worst, Captain," Durga said, a Borg Sphere directly in front of them.

"Have a little faith," Amina replied, raising shields, preparing for battle.

Watching as the phasers shot out at the sphere, Durga held onto her chair and tried not to go flying to the other end of the bridge when the Borg returned fire.

Feeling the sphere lock onto them with a tractor beam, Durga analysed the situation for the best course of action.

"Fire three photon torpedos to this location, it should disable their ship," Durga said, sending through the information.

"Fire."


"Oh my God, Durga, the reason I saved you is because I love you!" Amina said, frustrated.

"Letting emotion cloud your judgement is not condoned but I can see where you were coming from. When I heard you were safely back about the Oakland, I felt myself feel at ease," Durga replied, stepping off the transporter pad, battered and bruised.

"We should get you to sickbay, you're injured," Amina said, going over Durga.

"I will be fine, and while we are on this topic, it is only logical that I tell you of my feelings. I love you too, Amina."


Durga knew that she had a choice. It wasn't one she could lightly make but after a lot of thought and meditation she knew what her answer was. She found herself as what humans call 'in love' with Amina and she knew that Amina was her t'hy'la.

Writing a letter to her parents, she informed them she had found her mate. She asked if they could dissolve the arrangement to the man she was betrothed to and she found herself feeling a little unnerved.

Sending the transmission, she climbed into bed and almost smiled when Amina instinctively cuddled into her.


Amina felt herself beginning to tremble as the tears fell down her face. She failed at being a captain, she failed at protecting her crew, and she was blaming herself for what had happened.

Jumping slightly when someone softly began to rub her back, she breathed in deeply and knew it was Durga. Leaning into her partner, she held onto her and didn't want to let go.

"It's not your fault, Amina. We were ambushed, we did our best, you got us out of the situation, logically you did the right thing. You did what had to be done, t'hy'la."


As Captain, Amina could go on any away mission she wanted to without someone telling her no. Well, sometimes Durga told her no but as they were dating, she didn't think that counted. Durga had told her no for this latest away mission so instead of listening, she took Durga with her.

The planet was beautiful, the sun was shining, and the still, clear water glimmered. It was hot, it was very hot, so Amina stripped out of her uniform and jumped into the water, the splash wetting Durga.

"Come on Durga, it's so nice."

"Only for you, my t'hy'la."


Hearing the sound of thunder, Durga looked up to the sky and saw dark grey clouds rolling in.

"Looks like it's gonna be a big one," Amina said coming up behind her.

"A big one?" Durga questioned. "As in a big storm?" she said a moment later, still getting used to the way humans said things.

"Exactly. We should probably head off before we get trapped in it," Amina said, leading the way into the shuttle.

"Perhaps, when we get back to the Oakland, we could share a meal together in private," Durga suggested, getting a big smile in return.


Pacing back and forth in her ready room, Amina didn't know what to do. Hearing the door chime, she took a deep breath in and exhaled through her nose.

"Come in." Turning to face the doors, she was about ready to rip someone's head off.

"If I may," Durga began, walking over to Amina.

"Unless you're going to give me something to work with, make it quick."

"Would a hug suffice? You appear tense, my t'hy'la."

"That would actually be nice." Allowing herself a moment of private time, she felt Durga's arms around her, holding her, making her feel wanted.


Looking into Durga's dark eyes, Amina could see the devotion she had for her in them. She knew they were in a tight spot; they had been captured and now they needed a way to escape. She knew Durga was thinking of something but she didn't know what it was.

"What are you planning?" Amina asked, holding eye contact.

"I want you to run when I indicate, I will hold them off," Durga replied, her eyes scanning the area.

"No, Durga, we leave together."

"Follow me."

Kicking the back bars of the cage out, Durga grabbed Amina's hand and ran.


Durga knew that Amina Ramsey was a very attractive woman. It wasn't often she found herself getting frustrated by what some of the men on the ship said about her but she felt they needed to learn some respect. To Durga, Amina was her beloved, her t'hy'la, and when people talked about Amina behind her back, Durga wondered if she could demote some of them back to being a cadet.

"Damn, the captain has a fine ass," an ensign said.

Getting up out of her seat, she walked over to their table.

"You should all show your captain some respect."


Amina sat at her desk and took a sip of her Vulcan herbal tea. Durga had introduced it to her as a way of calming down and as she sat there thinking of what to write she knew she needed it. She had to record a message for Earth, she needed to inform Starfleet Command that they had found the USS Liverpool adrift in space with the crew missing.

Taking a deep breath in and slowly exhaling, she called Durga to her ready room and with the support and guidance of her partner, she was able to make the recording.


"Lieutenant Durga, please report to my ready room," Amina said, tapping her comm badge.

Today had been a long day and Amina didn't know what to do. She had sent an away team out to survey a set of binary moons, a few hours later they received a distress call, the crew were safe but the shuttle was nowhere to be found.

Hearing the doors swish open, Amina softly smiled when Durga walked in and went over and hugged her tightly.

"I don't know what to do, I know both team's reports are of value but they don't match up."


As Amina looked around her quarters, her eyes landed on the small rock on her bedside table that had Vulcan script on it. Durga had told her it said the word t'hy'la, Vulcan for my beloved. It was a thoughtful gift, one that was special to her, and looking at it made her miss Durga. Durga had gone back to Vulcan for two weeks, her great grandmother sadly passing away.

Picking the smooth, cool, rock up in her hand she held on to it tightly and closed her eyes, saddened to know Durga's great grandfather had lost his only t'hy'la.


Sitting in the mess hall, Durga slowly sipped at her herbal tea as she wrote her latest report. Around her other crew members sat and chatted away as knives and forks scrapped against plates. A group of ensigns sat behind her, talking about the myths from their home planets.

Durga found myths to be interesting. When Amina found out this fact, she gifted Durga with an encyclopedia from Earth for their first anniversary. Seeing Amina enter the mess hall, Durga looked up and watched as she joined her, exhaustion etched into her face.

"Have some chamomile tea, it will help."


Durga knew it wasn't in Vulcan nature to eat with your hands but when handling simple Earth foods like a salad sandwich, it was most practical.

Amina had packed them a small lunch to share together while enjoying some holodeck time. Durga wasn't one to simply enjoy the holodeck but when it was time she got to spend with her t'hy'la she made sure she enjoyed every moment of it.

Taking a bite out of her sandwich, she chewed thoroughly and realised she really liked it. Amina knew her well and she was grateful for it.

"Thank you for lunch."


Amina stared up at the ceiling with a small smile on her face. Durga was asleep, cuddled into her side, a peaceful look on her face.

It didn't take Amina long to realise that Durga only ever looked this peaceful after they made love to one another. Amina loved to show Durga how much she appreciated her and cherished her, and the small moans she got in reply were more than enough for her.

Holding Durga just a little tighter, Amina closed her eyes and let herself relax even further into the bed. She knew she would sleep well tonight.


As Amina listened to the transmission from Starfleet Command for the third time, she swore she could feel steam coming out of her ears.

The Oakland had been pulled from a crucial first contact and redirected to patrol the Neutral Zone. Picking up the stress ball from her desk, she angrily threw it across the room just as Durga entered.

"Sorry," Amina mumbled, taking a deep breath in and slowly exhaling.

"It is expected to be angered at this change, Amina," Durga said, going over to her and gently rubbing her shoulders.

"That feels good," Amina hummed, enjoying the feeling.


Noticing a shadow of a bruise under Durga's right eye as she entered sickbay, Amina went straight over to her, concern evident on her face.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Amina asked, gently touching the discolouration, not wanting to hurt her.

"I am mostly uninjured. We got attacked by the Pakleds, they now appear to possess Klingon weaponry," Durga replied, ever so slightly leaning into Amina's touch.

"Not the Pakleds again," Amina sighed, her shoulder slumping.

"Tonight we will relax and tomorrow we will deal with this new problem," Durga said, taking Amina's hands in her and softly squeezing them.


Durga had seen first-hand just how much of an amazing person Amina was. She had seen Amina face an enemy head on, fighting for what she believed in, protecting her crew and upholding the values of the Federation. She had seen the soft side, the tender caresses, the feather-light kisses, and the warmth of her love that Durga had felt every day.

There was only one side Durga didn't like seeing and that was when her t'hy'la was in pain or when she was crying tears of sadness. That was when Durga would hold her tight and whisper sweet nothings.


Softly touching her forehead against Durga's, Amina took a moment and closed her eyes, basking in the feelings she felt. Two of her fingers were pressed against Durga's and she didn't want to move them.

Feeling Durga move her hand so their fingers were now laced together, Amina softly smiled and captured Durga's lips with her own, slowly kissing her. Her heart felt full and the love she felt for the woman in front of her was like nothing she had ever felt before.

She loved Durga with every fibre in her body and she knew Durga felt the same.