Deep Space Four, Stardate 2292.246

Amanda was initially surprised to hear that Vulcan man was the boy's uncle but after speaking with Sarek, came to the same conclusion as Dr. Naik - that Losha must be married to a Seenan woman. She did find it odd that he had a Seenan name though. Sarek's negotiations with Ambassador Tala resumed the following morning, leaving Amanda once again alone with her curiosity. Sarek had asked Dr. Naik to keep him updated on the patient's condition but Amanda decided to pay a visit to sickbay herself. She wanted to check on Naalem - she felt sorry for the boy. Before she made it to sickbay, though, she encountered him in the observation area, which was along the way.

"Good morning, Naalem. How are you doing?" She asked, approaching him as he stood with his back to her, looking out at the stars.

"Amanda! I am glad to see you!" He turned and smiled. "I'm fine. And your husband, how is he?"

"He's just fine. He's back negotiating with Ambassador Tala."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"How is your uncle doing?"

"The same," he sighed. "The doctor said he can't be woken until tomorrow at the earliest."

"But otherwise he will be o.k.?" Amanda asked.

"I hope so. She said there is a possibility that he could be blind. It's only a possibility though."

"Well, I hope that isn't the case." She gave him a look of understanding.

"Me too."

"You have no other family members here with you?"

"No. My uncle is my only family except my aunt Malar but she's on Risa now. Captain Jemel helped me send a subspace message to her yesterday but he said it will take a few days before she gets it."

"You have no family back on Senes?"

"No, they all died in the war."

"I'm so sorry to hear that, Naalem."

"It's the same for most people in Hakar. But they all died before I was born or when I was a baby so I don't remember them. It's not sad for me - that's how it's always been. You can't miss people you didn't know."

"Perhaps." Amanda wasn't convinced but she understood that that was probably the point-of-view Naalem had to take in order to accept the situation. "Tell me about your uncle and aunt."

"Well…they met when they were my age. My father and Malar had been going to this food distribution center in Undaa for a few years. And then one day they met Losha there."

The boy leaned up against the brick wall of the building, gazing out at the other children playing in the field beyond. The air was filled with their shouts and laughter. This food distribution center was very different from the one he and Kadren had been going to. That one had been close to the center of Undaa, on the ground floor of a former office building. It had been small and one had had to wait in line in the streets outside. There had been no place to eat there and people usually dispersed after picking up their food.

This center, on the other hand, was a school with a dining area and even this field. It was further from the city center and not as convenient to get to but he had no choice now that the center on Reveyen Street had been destroyed. A new one would likely open to replace it but for now he would have to come here. He had no reason to linger here after picking up the food other than curiosity at being in a new place. There was no need to return to the city center just yet. He had nothing left there anyway.

He was aware that he was being watched but it was a familiar feeling that he had learned to ignore. There had been few Vulcans in Hakar before the war began and since it had started, he hadn't seen any. They must have all left before the travel embargo had taken effect. Most aliens had, though he had seen a few humans over the past few years. Humans seemed to be everywhere.

Until coming to Senes, he had spent his entire life moving from planet to planet and on almost every planet he had encountered humans. Stateless people such as he and his parents were usually limited to spending 90 standard days in a 180 day period on any given planet. Had he been born on a planet that offered birthright citizenship, such as one of the numerous Federation colonies, things would have been easier for him. As that would not have made things any easier for his parents, there was little use thinking about what might have been. Senes did not have such a policy concerning non-citizens. In order to attract as many traders and business people to the planet as possible, they allowed non-Seenans of any kind to stay on the planet indefinitely. Even if he had wanted to leave Senes, there was no way to now due to the embargo. It was too dangerous for people to travel here.

He continued to feel eyes on him for several minutes. Whoever it was was more curious than the average Seenan. Usually they'd stare for a few seconds and then move along. Perhaps it was best to confront this person. He turned to his right and saw it was two children. They appeared close in age to him - young teenagers. The girl was tall, taller than he was, with hair pulled back behind her head. The boy was shorter, about his height. From the girl he sensed curiosity and suspicion. From the boy, curiosity also but no suspicion. He was surprised that they did not look away when he returned their gaze. People didn't like to be caught staring.

Slowly, first the boy, and then the girl began to approach him.

"Hello," the boy said, nodding his head. "I'm Joa."

"And I am Malar," the girl said behind him. He noticed she didn't nod her head.

"I am Losha," he said, using the nickname Kadren had given him. These strangers didn't need to know his real name. And now that Kadren was dead, he felt it was a way to keep his memory alive.

"You certainly are losha," the girl said, referring to the fact that it was an archaic Seenan word meaning "handsome." Now, however, it was only used as a name.

"You are new here," said Joa.

"Yes." He sensed a one word answer would not suffice with these two curious Seenans so he continued. "The food distribution center on Reveyen Street was destroyed. So now I have to come here."

"Yes, many people here today seem to be from Reveyen Street." Joa said. "You are from Vulcan?"

"Or Romulus?" Malar asked. Although he had sensed suspicion from her initially, he now found that her curiosity outweighed her suspicion. Prior to the establishment of the Romulan Neutral Zone, the Seenans had done quite a bit of trading with the Romulans and they did not view them with the same mistrust as those in the Federation did. However, it had been over a century since the establishment of the Neutral Zone and the end of contact with the Romulans since Senes was in Federation Space. Still, most Seenans were familiar with the Romulans' history as beneficial trading partners to them.

"I have never been to Vulcan but that is where my family comes from."

"So you're from here?" Her surprise was apparent.

"I have been here three years."

"And where were you before?"

"We traveled to many different planets."

"So now you're stuck here because of the war, huh?" Joa asked.

"Yes."

"Well, welcome to the Kolu School Food Distribution Center!" Joa laughed.

"And they have been friends ever since then," Naalem finished.