AN: I plan on mixing a bit of humor in the Vulcan's adventures with the humans, but it will be a darker story than the one presented on the show.
Welcome to Carbon Creek
Finding shelter turned out not to be as difficult as the Vulcans thought as old abandon buildings lined the edge of the city near the forest.
Littered with trash, rat feces, and roaches the building was disgusting and Mestral found him trying not to vomit.
However, they needed shelter and the building provided it.
T'Mir collected the trash, placed it in an old barrel, and started a fire as Mestral helped Stronn lay on a small makeshift seat.
Dirty, tired, hungry, and anxious, each of them just wanted the nightmare to be over.
T'Mir wanted to mediate, but in vain as hunger prevented concentration.
"The humans must be in the interior of the city," Mestral finished rebinding Stronn's leg.
Agitated, T'Mir began pacing, "This building appears to have been a factory of some kind."
"We need to come up with a story, a believable one as to why and how we got here," Mestral said.
Both T'Mir and Stronn agreed.
"Me and T'Mir are siblings whose vehicle broke down a few miles outside town," Mestral suggested.
Stronn still in pain caused by the fall interjected, "The part about you and T'Mir being siblings is fine. Just leave out the part about the vehicle; humans are very meddlesome creatures, the less information they have the better."
"We moved here?" T'Mir asked.
"Yes. If you talk about a broken down vehicle, the humans might want to check out the story," Stronn added, "Keep it simple. You and Mestral are siblings who come from a nearby town."
"And if they ask what town?" Mestral countered.
Stronn shrugged his shoulders, "If they are anything like the Klingons or Ferengi they will do most of the talking."
"We will need to get both food and medical supplies for Stronn," Mestral advised.
"Clothing?" T'Mir asked.
"We will do recon and see if perhaps we can acquire some," Mestral answered.
"I will be fine," Stronn closed his eyes, "I am going to mediate."
T'Mir and Mestral checked Stronn's bandages again before leaving the building.
The two Vulcans walked down a small dirt road and listened to the sounds of a city just starting to wake up.
Staying close to the building, T'Mir spotted in the distance a market square located in the center of the city.
A row of merchants hawked their goods to passing customers.
"I've got fish!" shouted one merchant.
"Apples! Blueberries! Raspberries! All the fruit you'll need is right here!" shouted another.
"Peanuts!" cried another.
Mestral could feel his stomach rumbling.
"Human diets are compatible to our own," Mestral whispered although unnecessarily as there was no one around.
"Medicine? Is that compatible?" T'Mir asked.
"Not sure."
"They are using a form of currency. We need to find a way to obtain this," T'Mir found herself whispering too.
"The city will get busier if we don't act soon…." Mestral stopped, something brushed against his leg.
"What is that?" Mestral asked
"I am not sure," T'Mir answered.
"Sela, get down! Leave those people along!" A woman rushes from around the corner.
Picking up the animal, she looks at Mestral, "Sela is just a puppy. She likes everyone."
Both Mestral and T'Mir said nothing.
The woman is about T'Mir's height, slightly heavier, dark skinned, hair is twisted in thick coils, and her eyes are a deep brown.
A small female child also comes around the corner. She is no more than two or three Earth years and a shade lighter than her mother.
Looking back up at the Vulcans, the woman smile fades into confusion and curiosity, "Who are you?"
Mestral keeps quiet.
T'Mir remembering Stronn's advice speaks, "My name is T'Mir and this is my brother Mestral. We have come to live here."
Perhaps it was the tone of T'Mir's voice or their appearance because the of woman's expression confusion deepens, "You come to Carbon Creek? Why? There isn't much here."
T'Mir swallowed hard; Stronn had one thing about humans correct; they are very inquisitive.
"We needed to leave our home."
"Mommy," the little girl pointed at Mestral, "Dirty."
"Don't be rude!" The woman chided the child.
"Well what city did you come from? Tri Mane?"
"Yes."
The woman laughed, "You left Tri Mane for Carbon Creek?"
"Yes," T'Mir answered.
"Tri Mane is a wealthy city although it's controlled by The Coalition, but even with all the bombings, no one would leave. Why didn't you just go to Titian? "
The Vulcans weren't sure if they should answer or not.
"We prefer the anonymity of Carbon Creek to the other cities," Mestral said taking control of the conversation.
Taking a deep breath the woman placed Sela on the ground
"Carbon Creek is an outliner city for good reason; people come here to escape the violence and hassle of the bigger cities. And while we might not deal with bombings, we all come from somewhere else and almost everyone have skeletons in their closet. I've been living here for several years, so I know everyone. I don't ask questions. None of us do. It's safer that way," the woman pointed her finger at Mestral, "BUT if you come here to start trouble you might as well leave now!"
The threat was not lost on the Vulcans. However, what did she mean about skeletons hiding in closets? How did that make any sense?
Shrugging it off as another example of useless and confusing human metaphor, Mestral spoke, "We don't want trouble, only food and medicine."
The woman touched Mestral's dirty clothing "Is this how the people in Tri Mane dress? Did you trek all the way here? It must have taken days."
Mestral said nothing.
"Sorry, I forgot our rules here at Carbon Creek. We don't ask many questions. Your business is your own," the woman smiled, "Where are my manners? My name is Davina and this little rascal is my princess Nell. Of course, you met Sela."
"Nice to meet you," greeted Mestral.
"First, let's get you some clothes and food. You two look like hell," Davina turned picking up Sela and grabs Nell's hand.
Mestral and T'Mir followed her, surprised and confused at how fast everything changed.
Davina took them to her place of business, a general store and began helping the Vulcans by feeding them and providing clean clothes.
(Three Hours Later)
"I thought the merchants supply the food here," Mestral asked. He noticed the attention he was getting from little Nell and her puppy Sela. They kept following him everywhere he went.
Davina opened a small brown bag putting cans of food and other supplies, "Yes, I have the only store in town. It's Sunday so I am closed, but everyone in Carbon Creek comes here. The merchants come only a few times a year to sell their harvests."
T'Mir found it hard to engage in conversation, Mestral seemed willing to talk more than she was.
"Those merchants are crooks!" Davina spat, "They come in from the rural areas just outside of Ember and overcharge us for their food."
Nell moved in and poked Mestral in the back. When he turned around she giggled and ran off.
"Stop Nell!" Davina shouted, "Leave the man alone!"
Davina continued her ranting, "When I first came to Carbon Creek, there was no store here, and needing to provide for myself, I opened one. The merchants don't like me. Though people here trust me and know I offer good service at a fair price. But the merchants do sell things I can't, like fresh fruit."
"I've noticed the customers," Mestral said.
"Yeah, well after the war, The Coalition began to ration foods. For those of us who can remember, fresh fruit and other goods like meat use to be in such abundance. We thought things would never change until they did."
She trailed off.
Mestral could detect sadness in her voice.
Handing Mestral the brown bag Davina perked up, "I put in cans of vegetables, chili, fruit, and pasta. Right now it's the best I can do until next week when a new shipment arrives."
Mestral jerked, Nell was back poking him again.
"Don't mind her; Nell doesn't get to see many new people. She and Sela are all the family I have. I keep them very close." Davina picked Nell up, kissed her cheeks and turned to the two Vulcans. "I am sure you are staying in those abandon buildings, but if you don't want to arouse suspicion you should make a plan to move into a small apartment."
"Does having an apartment require currency?" T'Mir asked.
"Everything requires currency. I own this building which includes my apartment above as well as the apartment in the back. No one lived there since Old Sam died, so if you find jobs, you are more than welcome to rent from me."
"And where are these jobs?" Mestral asked.
Davina appeared puzzled and then said, "Well, I know Omar is hiring, he needs someone to work on the pipes and plumping. Old Sam held that job for years until he died. And Logan needs someone to work at his restaurant. Carbon Creek is small and the work doesn't pay much, but it will keep a roof over your head and food on the table. These days if you have that, you are royalty."
Mestral nearly forgot about Stronn, "Do you have any medical supplies?"
Davina shook her head, "Medicine is expensive and must be ration out. I don't sell it here, only the twins Roy and Melvina do, and they are difficult to deal with. All I have is some disinfectant cream and bandages which I have to share with my own family."
With Stronn's injury in the back of his mind, Mestral pleaded, "Anything you can spare would be appreciated."
Taking a deep breath, Davina chuckled, "I can spare a little."
(Later That Night)
Mestral and T'Mir found themselves pleased their first day in the city had gone so well. What could have turned into a nightmare ended up becoming a dream come true.
Davina, treated them well, asked no questions and provided food and medication.
Still, T'Mir was cautious, "We must not let this woman get too close."
Mestral nodded his head, "Right."
"There is more going on here than we previously realized and I wish I understood what she meant by skeletons in closets."
"I believe she is saying everyone here has secrets."
"So if you have a dark secret you come and live in Carbon Creek?" T'Mir said, "Why here?"
Mestral carrying the bag Davina gave him which included hygienic products and fresh clothing for Stronn answered, "It's logical. Carbon Creek is a smaller city and isolated. Perhaps people come here for a fresh start. I prefer their philosophy of not asking questions."
Coming to the building where they were staying, T'Mir added, "Me too, however, we must be careful not get involved in whatever is going on."
"Agreed."
Stronn woke up when the two entered the building, "Success?"
Holding up the bag, Mestral responded, "Yes, indeed."
"We have brought both food and medical supplies," T'Mir added.
Mestral reached into the bag for the medicine to attend to Stronn's leg.
"Now what are we going to do next?" Stronn asked.
T'Mir and Mestral exchanged glances.
"Get a job," Mestral answered.
An: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I am aiming to post at least one or twice a week.