Chapter 4 – How to Break the News
This was not turning out to be a good day. First, she'd begun her menstrual cycle and the specialised absorbent panties she'd had to buy weren't the most comfortable things to wear. Second, Spock had gone quiet and she couldn't find out what was wrong. Third, the best thing that had ever happened to her was also killing her. Fourth, she was dying. Fifth, she didn't know how to tell her parents. Or her friends. Or anyone. How did you tell the people you love that you were dying?
"When's this friend of yours supposed to show up?"
"Any minute now, don't worry."
Zia and Jamie sat on one of the benches outside the theatre. They were an odd couple to passers-by, a pixie-like Vulcan and a drop-dead gorgeous Orion, and the men glanced at Jamie more than was polite.
"Hey!"
Zia smiled as Blair joined them.
"I'm glad you made it." Zia and Jaime stood. "Blair, this is Jamie, a woman a work with. Jamie, this is Blair, a good friend from the Academy."
"It's nice to meet you." Jamie beamed her vivacious smile and Blair copped it full-force. He blinked once and held out his hand.
"Blair Turon." He shook her hand and Jaime grinned at Zia.
"I take it he has his heart set on another woman." She giggled. "Rest assured my friend, I won't pull my pheromones out on you."
He cracked a smile. "Thank you."
They must look even weirder now: a Vulcan, an Orion and a Bolian. It was especially weird since most of Earth's population were humans and different races were always interesting. Jamie stood and crossed to an electronic poster-screen stuck on the theatre wall.
"Hey Pixie, check out these movie lists for next month!" she exclaimed. Both Zia and Blair joined her and they scrolled down the list.
Not Without My Latinum – Five Ferengi are thrown into a dangerous game of trickery and deceit, but only the winner takes all.
"That'll probably be a mystery," Jamie said thoughtfully.
"There'll be drama and action too," Blair pointed out, "and a lot of petty jealousy since there is Ferengi in it. What's the next one?"
Trouble With Tribbles – What begins as an ordinary day in space quickly morphs into a dire situation when a group of pesky Tribbles sneak aboard a Starship.
"This one should be good!" the Orion laughed.
"Tribbles are so cute and cuddly," Blair agreed. "The next one sounds interesting."
Ode To Space – Tulu Kalvin makes a comeback in this family flick filled with action, drama, song, and dance.
"It doesn't have anything about the plot," Zia complained. "Anything could happen!"
"That's the whole point!" Jamie grinned.
When on Risa – Two Starfleet pilots travel to Risa on shore leave, only to become suspects of the murder of a fellow crewmember.
"Ooh, I really like the sound of this one. I've always wanted to go to Risa," Jamie sighed. "That's a really short movie list for this month. There's normally about eight."
"Well this time there's four and the last one is a crime. It says, 'two Starfleet pilots' and they could be male and female, so it could be a romance." Blair shrugged. "So, what are we doing today? Zia just said we were hanging out."
"Oh, it's more than that," Jamie said dramatically. "We're visiting some of the major designers, trying on dresses and buying ones that make us look hot!" She smirked. "You bored yet?"
Blair tilted his head. "I suppose this would be a good experience. If I ever go dress-shopping with Tara I'd want to know what type of dresses look good."
"What does Tara look like?" Jamie asked.
Zia decided to explain, as Blair would probably go over-the-top. "She's got dark brown skin, black hair, she's tall and has a muscular shape."
"Colours like yellow, green, blue, and generally any light colours would look good on her. Zia, colours like any shade of blue, probably pink, a bit of purple and light green would look good. Wear red with that auburn hair and you'll positively ooze male appeal. Blair… darker colours, black and white would suit you, but do not go for loose clothes. I can tell you're muscular and that's something you should show off."
Blair glanced down at his loose pants and too-big t-shirt. "Do I need new stuff?"
"If you want some I'll get you some," Zia told him. "I've earned plenty of money and I haven't had a spending spree in a long time."
Their first shop was Eden's Male and Female General Wear. Zia browsed through the database, put together outfits and found some cute combinations. There was a pair of light-blue skinny jeans matched with a light-green singlet top and brown ankle-boots. She also liked the cream dress with pink, blue and green flowers, matched with pink sandals. Possibly the nicest combination was the pale pink singlet top with a white denim skirt and white knee-high boots. Each of those combinations got positive feedback from her friends.
Blair had found several plain shirts, either black or white, that were tight across his chest. At Jamie's insistence, he bought them. He also got some long pants and jeans that hugged his muscular form, as well as thick boots and several leather bracelets. When he walked out of the changing room in dark jeans, a tight white shirt and the bracelets on his right wrist, Jamie shrieked with delight.
As for the Orion, she bought a few dresses that made her look classy and beautiful. That woman could do any piece of clothing justice.
None of the other shops compared to the first one they visited. Zia got her hair cut to her shoulders and Jamie refused to have her long, luscious red hair touched by a hairdresser. Blair, of course, had no hair to speak of.
Then it was time to have lunch. The trio bought hamburgers, potato chips, a lemonade for Blair, an iced coffee for Zia, and gin for Jamie. They dangled their legs over the edge of the harbour while they ate.
"You're a real lady-killer now Blair," Jamie announced. "I hope this Tara sees what she can have."
"Same," he sighed. Zia wanted to smile. He and Jamie had hit it off quite well. But as much as she wanted to enjoy hanging out with them, she couldn't. She had the weight of her condition on her shoulders and she couldn't consult Spock about it. So, she ate her food, drank her iced coffee and feigned good humour and happiness. As soon as she got back to her room she had people to call.
o.O.o
She crossed her room and dialled her communicator furiously. It rang and was answered after five seconds.
"Hello?"
"Tara! It's Zia!"
"Hey! I didn't expect to hear from you."
"Well, it's important."
"Hold on for a sec. BREE! Stop shouting! Yes, I'm talking to a friend. Just get out of the room. Yes. Please. Okay. Sorry Zia, what were you saying?"
"I've got a huge problem and I really need your advice."
"Fire away."
"The mind-meld between myself and Spock, it's literally killing me. If I stay melded to him, I'll die."
There was a pause. "You're not kidding. Have you seen a doctor?"
"Yeah, Yeto. That's how I found out about the problem. Every time Spock loses control, blood vessels in my brain rupture and they'll get larger as time goes on. Eventually it'll be too much for my brain to handle and I'll die."
"How many times has he lost control?"
"Only twice, but that was enough. Yeto gave me Lexorin for the time-being, but I don't know what to do."
"Have you spoken to Spock?"
"He shut me out and I can't communicate with him. He's not picking up his communicator and I don't know where he is. I'm really worried."
"Maybe his shutting you out is a defence mechanism, given the trauma that your brain has undergone."
Zia groaned. "But I have no idea how to take care of it! I don't have the training."
"I'm sorry. That's all I can suggest at this time. Give me some time to chat with my parents and I'll call you back tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay. Thank you, Tara."
"Talk to you tomorrow."
Tara hung up and Zia collapsed on her bed and finally allowed the tears to flow. This was awful. It could be her fault that they couldn't communicate, and she wasn't a telepath by any stretch. No, no, no, no, no. What could she do? She dialled her communicator again, but this time to people she loved more than anyone.
"Zia, honey, how are you?"
Just bite the bullet. "I wish I could say I was good mum, but I can't. Actually, that's why I'm calling."
"Did Spock break up with you?"
"What? No!"
"Are you pregnant?"
"Wha- mum! No!"
"What's the problem?"
Zia took a deep breath and braced herself, "MymindmeldwithSpockistakingitstollonmybrainandifIdon'tdosomethingaboutitthenI'mgoingtodie."
"You spoke too fast. I didn't get any of that."
It was back enough saying it once, but twice? "My mind-meld with Spock is taking its toll on my brain and if I don't do something about it then I'm going to die." One… two… three… cue freak-out any moment now.
"NO!" Giana screamed. "You cannot be serious!" And there was the freak-out.
"Mum," Zia whispered. Her voice shook. "I'm being serious. I've got ruptured blood vessels in my brain to prove it and breaking the meld is probably the only way to make it better."
"Then break the meld! I'm not losing my little girl!"
"That's the thing! I don't know how, and I can't get into contact with Spock."
Patty's voice came over the communicator. "I'll find a way to talk to him!"
"No! Dad, I can take care of it myself. I was going to try contacting some of his friends to see what's going on."
"Honey do that right now!"
"Okay dad. I'll let you know what happens."
"You better."
Her parents hung up and Zia's hand dropped from her ear. This couldn't be happening. It just couldn't. She couldn't give up the best thing that had ever happened to her, she just couldn't. Her current psychological status was owed to the mind-meld. She swallowed, her mouth dry, and dialled her final number. They picked up after ten rings.
"Hello?"
"Uhura, its Zia."