Chapter 5 – Of Sisters and Blood

The rest of their time in the Range went well, Sulu taking on Sarah as his apprentice while Bria got lost in her thoughts and the different scenarios up in the Nest. Before they knew it, it was nearly four and they scrambled to put everything away so not to be late for their appointment, hurrying to the turbo-lift. When they got down there, Bones was pointing something out to Ayano on the monitor, and she was saying, "...no idea they had those chips. That's /advanced/ tech, so how did they get them? Sure as hell they wouldn't have it in the time they came from."

"That's what I'm wondering too." Bones frowned, perking when he heard the lift. He turned to find the two woman, not exactly happy or upset at their presence. The doctor exchanged a glance with Ayano before motioning for the two to join them.

Sarah immediately became suspicious of the two medical officers. After years of imagine being talked about by people, the brunette knew when she was /actually/ the center of a discussion. Not to mention, Ayano had said something about the 'time they came from'. Unless there were some /other/ time traveling duo, they were referencing Bria and herself. Giving them an unsure look, Sarah followed after Bria.

Bones ignored the look as he jumped right into it, "Alright, you both better fess up right now. Who are you both /really/? Your stories aren't matching up with your results. You better come clean now because we don't deal kindly with being blatantly lied to." He didn't want to act like this, but the last time they trusted some with...similar unknown background, Jim almost died along with everyone on board. Bones never wanted to have that moment of helplessness over Jim's death ever again. Jim was his best friend too.

"What are you talking about?" Bria's brows furrowed, and she put her hands on her hips, "Unless you want our entire backstory, be a little more specific, because I don't feel like ranting and raving about my past right now."

Ayano looked at Bones before bringing up the first anomaly they found, "You two say you're not biological sisters, right?"

"Yes...Sarah grew up in Texas and I was born in California, lived there for about five years, and then I was raised in South Dakota after my family and I moved. I'm an only child after a long line of only children," Bria looked at Sarah. What was going on?

"I was born and raised in Texas." Sarah shrugged, "Bria and I met in person only a few years ago."

Bones raised a brow at this, not detecting any hit of dishonestly between them, "Well that is impossible. Here look at this," The doctor pulled up an image showing how two different DNA signatures on screen, Bria's and Sarah's. "Now these are your DNA signatures by themselves. Ayano noticed that similarities kept showing up, so I overlap them to compare them." He demonstrated this on screen, "And now you can see what might be a bunch of chicken scratches to you, but it shows results that siblings typically show."

Sarah's eyes widened and turned sharply to Bria, "We're /actual/ sisters?!"

"That's...but..." Bria stared at the screen, "How is that even possible? My blood's type A...what's yours, Sarah?"

"That's not the only thing that disrupts your story," Ayano pointed out, "The moles...cheek and chest respectively...are actually disguises for the chips underneath the skin. That's what we were talking about when you walked in. There's no way if you are /really/ from the past, that you could have those." She turned back to the computer, and brought up the x-rays.

Sarah's brows furrowed in utter confusion as she stared up at the pictures. How...how was that possible? Reaching up, the woman pressed her fingers against her beauty mark. It was warm, and mildly squishy like any mole would be. She even pressed on it to see if she could feel the supposed outline- which she couldn't...yet there was the proof right there on screen. It...looked like one of those implants that people could get of just a stud. "...A+...I'm A+."

"Not that makes a difference, but we already know that." Bones raised a brow at the two, "So one of you better start to confess, or do I have to call Kirk or Spock down here to force it out of you."

"We don't know okay!" Sarah snapped, "In fact, we /still/ can't explain why all of these things happened to /us/. I mean...just a few years ago we were perfectly normal people, living in a screwed up world where everyone was out to get us. Then...then that thing happened with the Cube and here we are. We /don't know what you're talking about/. It's impossible for two people that never met before, from families that were /never/ close to another, to be siblings. I was /born/ with this mark, it's impossible for it to be a...a chip or whatever you say it is."

"Really? Then would you like to explain /what/ you are since you are so set on thinking we're lying to you." Bones pulled up another couple of pictures, this time of Bria's and Sarah's DNA structure in it spiral form in one frame and a typical human structure on the other. "There's your DNA and that other picture is normal human DNA. Your structures are so similar to humans that at first we nearly missed the differences. My initial thought was that your time jumping cause changes to your DNA, but then I realized that you couldn't possibly be alive with those kinds of changes. Or should I say no /human/ could be alive. I put both of your DNA structures into the computer data base, and gone through /every/ known species of alien out there, and you two don't match any of them."

"Did that list include extinct species?" Bria asked, tilting her head, "Look, if you don't believe us, do you have a lie detector or something?"

"You mean one of those old machines police would use? Those were put out of commission years ago because of the unreliability," Ayano shook her head, "Too many people figured out how to get around them." She turned to look at Bones, "We could always use Spock to test them, if you are uncertain…he's got the mind meld thing."

"Mind meld?" Bria didn't particularly like the idea of someone going probing through the deep recesses of her mind, especially since she was so unpredictable and plus…it was /Spock/ and if he could glimpse emotions just by touch then what the hell could he discover with a mind meld? There were things she preferred to keep private…tell him on her own terms… "We're telling the truth, damn it."

Bones narrowed his eyes in thought as he looked over the two. He was starting to believe them, but he wasn't about to risk the ship for his on personal feelings. "I'll call Jim. He's the captain and should make the call." He sighed, walking away to com the captain.

"Why won't you guys believe us?" Sarah huffed, "Why would we lie about all of this?"

Bones had hit the button for the bridge Com anyway, and Jim answered, "What's up, Bones? You don't usually call me unless something's wrong."

"This is dumb," Bria looked at Sarah, "There's no way we're sisters...though haven't you ever wondered why we're so strikingly similar in appearance? You have blue-green eyes and mine /used/ to be blue, but they turned green as I got older."

"...What? Sarah and Bria are biological?" Jim sounded so confused.

"That's what I called about Jim. You and Spock better get down here, I'm going to have to turn this over to you." Bones sighed, "I'm not sure that these two are who they say they are."

"We would have told you about all of this stuff, if we actually did know about it," Sarah sighed, "I do wonder sometimes, I mean...we're so much alike its like we're supposed to be, but...it's impossible. Neither of our families were anywhere close to another, even if /that/ was a possibility."

Jim was quiet for a moment on the other end, probably talking to Spock, before the Com popped back, "Alright, we'll be down in a minute."

Bria threw her hands up, "Oh my god, really?! /Really/?! I've thought of tons of scenarios where I'd be questioned and interrogated and this has to be one of the /dumbest/!" She stormed over to one of the medical beds and hopped up onto it.

Ayano looked at Bones, "I know why you're doing this...but is it really necessary?" she asked softly. She knew about the whole situation where Jim nearly died...that was how she met Bones, because she bumped into him in that hospital and asked if he needed her help. She had been fresh out of the academy, too, but had been unable to get onto the Enterprise at the time.

Bones sighed quietly, "...Their stories aren't adding up, Ayano. And the last time someone like that came on board, several people died. So this falls under Jim's ruling. We get thrown under the bus either way..."

Sarah stood awkwardly by herself for a moment before walking over to Bones and Ayano. "Dr. McCoy, listen...the only thing that I have kept quiet about is this stinging pain in my right eye. I guess...now that I know there's a chip there, I know what causes it, but that's the only thing /I/ have kept secret."

"I'm sorry alright," Bones sighed and crossed his arms, "I don't want to do this, I would rather just believe the two of you, but...things happened and I don't have that luxury anymore."

"You...have a pain in your eye, sis?" Bria furrowed her brows and put her hand over her chest, "I have a pain in my chest here...but it only happens when I'm fighting, though after going through a bunch of simulations in the Sniper's Nest, the pain dimmed."

"Yeah, it just happens whenever I...have to calculate something, like when I was restoring the power to the shields, and when I was aiming the phaser..." Sarah nodded, "I mean I've never been able to do that kind of stuff before until that stinging happens."

"That's interesting," Bones murmured, glancing between the two. The doctor was about to start asking more questions when the turbo-lift doors opened. Well, he would get some answers now anyway.

Spock raised a brow at the others in the room, his eyes settling on Bria. Jim had told him that there was a possibility that she and the other brunette were biological sisters. This would mean that...something was not right. In order to be biological, they needed to have the same parents, yet, from what he gathered, neither seemed impossible. However, as he was both here and on New Vulcan aiding the recovery of his people, Spock was not one to lecture on the matter at the moment.

Bria stared at Spock in return, and when they walked closer she stiffened. Ayano noticed this and she decided to explain when Spock's held tilted, "I mentioned that Vulcans can Mind Meld in order to find out the information required if someone's lying or not."

"Oh boy...so what brought this on?" Jim sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Jim, we ran some tests on them to check for any abnormalities possibly caused by going through that portal. What Ayano and myself found was something more." Bones said before starting in on how he compared their DNA to find that not only were Sarah and Bria sisters, but not even human. He then went on to explain that they also found chips implanted into them, disguised as moles. "The technology on those chips is far more advanced then the tech their time has. It is technology /we/ don't even have."

"If you are afraid that I will perform this technique on you, Bria, I can assure you that I will only do this if you give me your permission or I am order to do so." Spock stated, unsure if this will ease the woman or not, but he wanted to...calm her fears.

Sarah moved beside Bria and spoke up, "If you have to do that mind...meld thing, I'll do it." Bria didn't look happy about the meld-whatever, and she figured it was because of...stuff. There wasn't anything in Sarah's head to worry over being out, so she rather her have to go through it if they would let her.

"I'm not afraid of the Meld or you," Bria told Spock, "I'm afraid of what you'll find. /I/ don't even delve into my own head. I've chosen to force down parts of my life and now unless it's brought up, I don't remember. Even then, there are things my subconscious locked away from my for one reason or another. Even if the Captain ordered you to, I'd fight you. You'll have to knock me unconscious, be my best friend, or we have to be in a dire circumstance before I let you into my head." She didn't mention 'or be my lover' because for one she doubted that'd ever happen, and had barely talked to /Max/ about the deep recesses of her mind. Mainly because she felt he woudn't believe her because she was so docile and 'cute' and it was hard for him to imagine she had a dark side.

"Which is why I offered," Sarah piped up, "I'll do it. Just...tell me what to do."

Spock raised a brow before turning to Jim, "Captain?" He...did not wish to go against Bria's wishes, yet if JIm ordered him to, he would have no choice but to comply. However the Vulcan did...want to have a glimpse into the woman's mind. Perhaps then he could understand why she lingered in his thoughts constantly.

"Considering the last time /I/ trusted someone without proper knowledge of them I nearly died," Jim grunted, "If Sarah is willing to comply, could you Mind Meld with her?" He glimpsed at the screen when something popped up, "Looks like you got a match on something, Doc."

Ayano turned around and looked at the computer, "The extinct species list...Leon...um...McCoy, it's coming up with...the Fylakas? Named after the Greek word for Keeper..."

The doctor blinked as he moved to the monitor, "That's impossible, that's a race that's been extinct for...at least two hundred and years, give or take."

"Fylakas? I am familiar with that species as are all Vulcans. However, by familiar I mean I am aware of their existence as Fylakas were a reclusive species, only revealing their presence in the last century before their kind was completely killed out." Spock stated, looking over the screen. "...Doctor, it may be possible that Bria and Sarah are telling the truth. It was rumored that the Fylakas had certain...abilities, including one such that allowed them to, as they claimed, 'Jump' to different locations. Such places as from planet to planet, or even through to different dimensions. It may be possible that Bria and Sarah were left in a different dimension and time period in order to protect them."

"We're technically 25 and 26, respectively, our birthdays next month October..." Bria reached out, taking Sarah's hand, "So...we're not human? And we're related...this is all really freaky and I have no idea what to make of it..." she gave a weak smile, "It...does explain the close connection we had since the beginning. Funny...to think we met online at 13-14 and here we are now."

"So, that's awesome, right? I mean...not that their entire race is gone, but that they're sisters and...stuff..." Kirk was confused by this just as much as everybody else in the room, "I think...we should try and piece things together a little at a time," he offered.

Ayano agreed, "We can do more research. You guys aren't going anywhere soon. The main thing is vitals and blood work are good. The antibiotics Bones gave you should be helping to clear your lungs, so no vigorous exercising until the pills are gone. Bria...we might be able to fix your arm, not all the bone healed through and that one spot looks flimsy." Bria rubbed the middle of her forearm, "You would only need a cast for a week or two compared to months. We are also going to start you two on some calcium supplements to rejuvenate your bones. That should fix your ankle, Sarah."

"Sounds good to me," Bria smiled.

Sarah grinned, glancing down at her ankle which she had wrapped in her ankle wrap. "It would definitely be nice to walk around without this thing on." Looking to Bria, her face fell slightly, "So...we're not human, but we're sisters, and the last of our kind. Oh and don't forget we have chips implanted in us disguised as moles...this is a lot to take in all at once...are you sure we're not just...sharing a weird dream together?"

"It would be highly improbable to share dreams as you do not have the ability to share minds." Spock stated, earning chuckles and a confused look from Sarah.

"I...I was just joking...um...are you being sarcastic?" the brunette, glanced around the room at the amused faces. "Because you just lost me."

Spock raised a brow, "I cannot possibly have lost you as you are standing in the same place."

"Lost as in confused, it's a figure of speech," Bria slid off of the medical bed, "Are we done here, Bones? Can we go?"

Ayano looked at her amused, "Got a hot date, sweet cheeks?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out," Bria grinned.

Jim chuckled and looked at Spock, "I'm going back to the bridge, you're free for the rest of the day," he patted Spock's shoulder and was about to head to the turbo-lift when he looked back at Sarah, "Would you like to come with me? Meet the crew properly?"

Spock watched the exchange between the women curiously before moving closer to Bria after acknowledging his captain. "Bria, perhaps now that you are free, I may show you the place I referenced before when you asked about a greenhouse? I am sure that you will...enjoy it." He had reserved the holodeck earlier that day in case she had free time as she did now.

"Like I could turn down a request from a Captain," Sarah smiled shyly. She was feeling that same...school girl feeling every time she realized that she was starting to have a crush on someone. Oh gosh now her cheeks were lighting up... "Right so...after you?"

Bria beamed, "Of course! That sounds awesome, Spock. Lead the way," she motioned to the turbo-lift. They didn't even hear if Bones had approved whether or not they were free to leave. Frankly, she didn't care.

Kirk chuckled and waited for the next lift after Bria and Spock left before stepping inside, "Just don't mind Uhura. She tends to hold grudges and is a bit unmanageable right now." She joined him and he nodded to the two doctors before the glass closed, "To the bridge."