Congratulations to CalligraphersNib for meeting the challenge! I admit to great love of King Arthur (And Atlantis, for those of you who have read the "Water" trilogy, where the two overlap).

I know, I said updates were going to be slower, but I really couldn't resist on this one. Oh well.

As always, special thanks to my beta TheWindowView.

The noise was incessant, and all too successful at pulling Nia from her sleep. She grumbled and rolled over to snap at the computer.

It was then she realized she wasn't hearing her alarm. She'd turned it off the night before, wanting to sleep in instead of getting up early to meet Christine for breakfast. Instead, she was hearing someone politely, but persistently, knocking at her door every few moments.

Groaning, she hauled herself up. Her shoulder no longer caused her any pain, but when she stepped forward once out of bed, she realized her foot was still just a tad sore. Doctor McCoy had told her that she might want to wear a brace the next day, despite having already taken care of the fractures, just until the tendons were fully healed.

Again there was a knock at the door.

Nia sighed, and hobbled to the door. She hit the button to open the door.

The door slid open to reveal none other than Commander Spock.

Nia froze. Of all the people to be at her door, he didn't make the list. He might have if she had been more awake, but even then he wouldn't have been at the top. If he had, she would have made sure to at least look halfway presentable and not like she had just rolled out of bed. Literally.

"Doctor Sargent, I have taken the liberty of speaking with the captain and obtaining permission for you to work in the sciences division for the duration of the trip." He informed her.

She didn't move and just blinked. "That's… some pretty great news actually. I assume you – I'm to start now?" Still groggy, she was fumbling for words.

The commander nodded. "Yes, though – "

She cut him off. "Give me one moment to get ready." Nia ushered him into the front area of her quarters and disappeared into the back bedroom area.

Spock waited without complaint as she readied herself. While normally it was illogical for females to spend an exorbitant amount of time on readying themselves for the day, Doctor Sargent was in clear need of something to be done. His first impression when she had opened the door was that she had been ill, and that was why she was not in the mess hall with Nurse Chapel, as she had been every morning since arriving on the Enterprise.

While waiting, he quickly checked her file on his PADD. He had seen her go to the med bay yesterday, Sulu and Chekov both helping her to walk, yet there were no alerts preventing her from being cleared for work. He was certain that incident was the reason for her slight limp as she walked away from him.

In the bedroom, Nia grumbled as she pulled on the slim brace issued her by Dr. McCoy. It would help her walk without a limp, but it still felt awkward on her foot, especially once she pulled on her laced work shoes. Just before she stepped out of bedroom, she snagged her Starfleet issue laboratory coat and slid it on over her fitted t-shirt. She'd brought it along, just in case she got put to work.

Standing before Commander Spock, she announced "I'm ready."

"Clearly." He said as he nodded.

Once in the hallway he began to lead her to the main labs for the sciences division. He didn't speak at first, and during this time Nia realized just how much taller he was than her. At 5'8", Nia was not short for a female by any human standards, but the Vulcan walking beside her was almost a head taller than her. Her forehead probably met his chin. While such a height was not abnormal, not many of the humanoid males she had met since working for Starfleet had been much taller than her. Even fewer females were taller.

In the turbo lift, she noticed how lean he was, something similar to the males on Palad. As a xenobiologist, she knew the differences between her and the Vulcan, but her knowledge was not particularly extensive. Her main focus had been crop and livestock oriented.

When they stepped off the turbolift, Nia asked "What exactly will I be working on?"

"Starfleet has forwarded us the majority of your previous research. It would be logical to continue your previous work, would it not?"

Nia couldn't help, but agree. "It would." At this point, she would have been fine working on someone else's project, but she was still grateful to be able to continue with her own work. "Will I also have access to the additional research and data collected by other starships?" She asked.

He nodded and continued speaking. He was informing her of all that would be expected of her, all of which she had already guessed. She watched him as he spoke though, allowing herself to drift close to the wall and her shoulder to brush the corners as she turned them. Doing so let her watch him for the most part and still avoid the crew members in the hall.

It was then that she noticed just how pronounced the green hue was on his skin, in comparison to the pink tinge her own skin was. She liked the green though. Even the green coloring on his lips. It was the exact same shade as a species of moss that grew on the tops of the trees on Palad. She wondered if the color was the only similarity; the moss itself was quite soft and –

Thump!

"Oof!"

Whack!

As a sound similar to a gong resonated through the pipe of the handrail Nia was currently bent over, Nia realized she should have paid more attention to her surroundings.

The pair had reached the sciences division and was entering one of the labs, where apparently there were a few short steps and handrails on either side for safety.

Nia was currently straddling one of the said handrails, hands braced in front of her from where she slammed them down to catch herself before she hit her head on the bar.

This was one of the few moments in her life where she has been insanely thankful for the fact that she was not a male. If she had been, then Nia was pretty sure she would have just eliminated all possibility of having children because the handrail was the perfect height.

Not daring to look at the male standing next to her, Nia very carefully backed herself off of the handrail. As she did so, she could feeling the shock wearing off and had to forcibly blink back the tears. Dropping those weights on her foot had been less painful and far less humiliating.

Yeah, this is why she was sparring with Sulu. Graceful warrior she was not.

Finding that walking was no more painful than standing, Nia began to step down the stairs. "So," she cleared her throat. "Is this it?" Hiding her face in her shoulder she sniffed as she felt the start of a runny nose due to the tears she was still blinking back. She was sure her cheeks were brilliant pink by now. Even her ears and neck were heating up with embarrassment.

"If by 'it' you mean the lab where you will be working, then yes." Spock stepped up beside her.

She still refused to look at him.

Waiting for her to look at him, Spock didn't speak. When he finally realized she wasn't going to look at him, he asked "Would not a visit to the med bay be prudent?"

Oh heck no. Nia thought to herself. Three visits to the med bay in less than twenty four hours? Not happening. Not even if she cracked her pelvis was she going back to the med bay so soon. "Um, no." she told him. "I'll be fine."

"Fine is not acceptable." He informed her firmly. "If you are injured –"

"I'm not – "

"Continuing to work with an untreated injury can prove dangerous for both yourself and – "

"Commander!" She finally raised her voice high enough for him to stop speaking. "I will go to the med bay if I need to. Please be satisfied with that."

He stared at her a moment more, face never showing anything that he might be thinking, before he nodded.

Wordlessly he showed her to her workspace. Her eyes widened at the array of hi-tech equipment spread out on the table in front of her. Nia felt love suddenly blossom in her for the new starship. All the equipment was new also, and in top shape.

"Oh this is lovely..." she whispered to herself, as she drew her hand along the edge of the table. Realizing Spock was still in the room, Nia turned to him. "Will I be working with a team? Do I report to anyone or directly to yourself?"

"Ensign Jenkins and Lieutenant McGuire will be working with you, though not on the same project. There are other crewmen available, if needed. As I am the Science Officer, you will report to me." Spoke told her. "I am due to report to the bridge. Any other questions?" He had his hands clasped behind his back again. Nia was beginning to realize that was his preferred way of standing.

"No, thank you. I'll speak with Jenkins or McGuire if I need anything." She said, and began to familiarize herself with the equipment. A thought crossed her mind, and she turned calling out "Oh wait, Commander?" He turned back to her. "What is the proper procedure to contact someone on the bridge? I had arranged to meet with Sulu this afternoon, but I don't believe I will be able to anymore."

"Will you not see him at the midday meal?" He asked.

Nia sighed. "I can tell him then, but I have no guarantee I'll see him then. He eats later than I do, that is assuming that I should still continue to eat at the same time as you." She paused for a moment, and rethought her last statement. "Never mind, I'll just make sure to find him later. And if not, it shouldn't be a big deal." She just shook her head and turned back to the table, slightly embarrassed to have asked him such a trivial question.

"Those on the bridge are able to receive private messages, though he will not be able to check it until his shift ends. Will that suffice?"

Nia just nodded. For no logical reason, she could feel her face starting to turn pink again, and remained silent until he left. Once she heard the doors to the outer lab shut, she breathed out a sigh before sitting down.

And yelped as the denim tightened around her crotch, pressing just so against her bruised pelvis.

It only took Nia an hour to get acquainted with her new surroundings and to familiarize herself with the new equipment. Then she settled herself down in front of the computer to review exactly what data of hers the Enterprise was able to get a hold of.

The files were easy enough to find. They had been loaded into a folder titled with her name and accessed with her authorization code. Maybe the Commander's code too, but Nia couldn't be sure. She gave her authorization code when the computer requested it, and felt her breath hitch at the sight of the first few files. She scanned through the rest of the folder, recognizing the titles and making a mental catalogue of the files she had available. Again, the top files caught her attention.

Commander Spock was correct that the Enterprise had been forwarded most of her research. What he failed to mention was that Starfleet had also forwarded her husband's research. Of course, she'd seen all the data before. Shortly after the incident, Starfleet had transferred her husband's project on to her and changed the authorization on his files so that she could access them. It had taken her weeks to understand the data, though, and then integrate it into her own. They say men are like waffles and women like spaghetti, and while Nia wasn't human, her husband was human and was definitely a waffle. Whatever Nia was, it wasn't a waffle and all too often Henry and she had butted heads because of it. The two just didn't think the same.

Nia had kept the files in case she had missed anything, but they were no longer her primary reference. She was surprised to see them, but realized that Starfleet had no way of knowing what files she did and did not use.

Nia remember how much it had hurt, to be forced to go through Henry's work and try to figure out what he was thinking, and to figure out how to continue. They had been working two separate angles to the same problem and her people needed Henry's work to continue. It didn't matter for her peoplethem if he had died,but or that his work didn't.

And so the short term solutions Nia had been seeking were transferred to another scientist, while the primary search was given to her.

Taking a deep breath, Nia shook the past form from her shoulders. Then she accessed the updated data forwarded from the discoveries of other starships.

Her eyes widened at the magnitude of information. Either there had been quite a bit of research taking place in the last week, or someone had been holding out on her. Nia, quite literally, had access to all the research. Even the completely unrelated information.

Nia paused, and looked towards the door of her lab. She had had information kept from her, despite Starfleet knowing how absolutely vital it was for her to continue her work with all the information that was collected. Then, Nia gets sent on a rescue mission on the new flagship. And what do you know? Instant access.

Shaking her head, Nia realized Wena just might have done her a favor by getting stuck on an uncharted planet. Tying back her white hair, Nia decided to get to work.

Before starting to integrate the data, Nia sent a quick message to Lt. Sulu. It appeared her previous assumption was correct.

This was going to take a while.