The ship passed over mountains, a ruddy red-brown marbled with black and orange, flat that stretched on and on into the shimmering horizon. The blue sky had a purple tint and made for a breathtaking backdrop as the cloudless sky bore down. Slowly, scrubby grass and desert plants began to sprout up as they neared the radius of the habitable zone. Clouds gathered, gray and swollen near it, though no rain was predicted to fall anytime soon. The colony was nestled in a canyon cut away by time and long-extinct currents that carved a path through the thick rock. To the left of the colony a natural stone arch marked the visibly worn path leading down to the sandy beach of the Thanar Sea, the only ocean currently left on the planet. There were thick tubes that led into the water and connected to a small structure situated on a raised platform on the beach. A small desalination plant for the colony.
The wave of heat was immediate as Nia stepped onto the landing platform and she closed her eyes and let it soak in for a moment. The air was fresh and clean and, for a moment, she felt like she was back on Vulcan as the dry heat of the desert warmed her. The others must have felt similarly because she was not the only one to do it. She opened her eyes and looked at Torin, sharing an excited look.
"Please gather your things, we will head to the residence building in a moment." A man with a tablet in hand ushered them towards the path leading to the largest building. He wore simple work clothes — a tall and thin Vulcan man wearing a stained, dark gray jumpsuit tucked into worn brown work boots. It reminded her of something a mechanic wore. Likely he'd been one of the first here to help set up the base in Phase 1. Further along the path, a woman in similar work clothes led half of them towards the residence building.
Looking over towards their new home, she noted the colony was set up almost like a cul-de-sac. The buildings were plain on the outside, a sterile metallic silver, and rounded with a sloping roof covered in solar panels. They reminded her of large mushrooms. The residence building was the largest and had two stories, the living arrangements more like an apartment complex or dormitory until they were more permanently settled. At the center of the colony sat the medical facility, connected to the research and development center, where Nia would be spending most of her time. She was happy to find out that Torin would be in the research center for the most part, but would be helping out elsewhere as needed. A gentle touch broke her focus as Torin nodded towards the others. Not wanting to be the stragglers, Nia grabbed her bag and followed.
She was thankful she wore a light robe and boots as she walked on the dusty path. Dirt chafing against her feet would be a considerable problem — as would keeping her clothes clean in general. She understood the practicality of the jumpsuits now.
The inside of the residence building was climate controlled, though not significantly cooler than the outside.
"We need to make sure we ration our power in case of emergency," he had explained. Nia didn't mind, the dry heat was a welcome change. The woman who'd led the other group already now stood beside the man.
They began reading off names and numbers until everyone had been assigned a place.
"Please settle in and make yourselves comfortable. The remaining luggage will be brought in for you to collect. You will be notified of your job details and instructions personally. We will reconvene in the common area at 1700 for dinner and further directions as a whole. Please notify us of any questions or concerns you may have." He nodded and waited a moment for anyone to speak. When nobody did, he strode purposefully out.
"Room 33," Nia repeated to Torin. Without a word, he grabbed her suitcase in one hand, his own in the other, and walked up the stairs. Nia reached out to Torin to make her gratitude known.
Ahead of them in the hallway, she saw Sevek and T'Lann enter their room a few doors down. Alieth and Sekev, unfortunately, arrived at the door next to them. Before they could acknowledge each other, she quickly followed Torin inside and shut the door.
"That's unfortunate," she sighed.
"It appears we will not have to share quarters with them at least." Torin commented. Looking to where he stood observing the left wall where a door led to a common bathing room. Alieth and Sekev had entered the room to the right of them.
Small blessings. Nia walked over to investigate the room. There was a shower head attached to the wall, to her surprise, with only a button to turn it on. A toilet, storage cabinets, and a sink with a mirror were situated on the other side of the room.
"I'm surprised they don't have a sonic shower." She commented.
"It is likely more energy efficient to have timed showers with water and recycle the used water as opposed to using energy for a sonic shower that could go towards something more important." Torin carried the suitcases to their bedroom. Closing the door, she stood in the middle of the small apartment and took it in. There was a small living area that had a sitting area and a large open window with a view of the mountains sandwiching the canyon. A small door led to a balcony, just large enough for both of them to stand. Off the living area, and connected to the balcony, was the master bedroom. Their apartment only had one bedroom, though there were larger ones for the families on the first floor. The walls were white and the floors were made of beige, synthetic wood. Changing the white walls would be first on her list of changes to be made once they settled in. It didn't feel personal. It felt sterile and mass produced, and likely it was. The large window let in a lot of natural light, however, which was nice. She walked towards the bedroom as Torin walked out, his arm reaching out to rest on her shoulder a moment as she passed.
The room was just big enough for the double bed and two small end tables on either side. A decently large walk-in closet was attached on the wall opposite the balcony. Again, white walls and beige floors. She felt Torin come up behind her and rest a hand on her back. It was the first true privacy they'd really had since leaving Earth. She was mildly disappointed and concerned it didn't feel like home.
"Give it time," he assured her, reading her emotions. "We have only just arrived. It will feel like home in time." She leaned into him and wrapped an arm around his waist and sighed.
"It's hard to believe this is our new home," Nia spoke after a quiet moment.
"Do you regret it?"
"No." She pulled away and looked up at him. "I just need some time to adjust, I think." He took a step towards her and cupped her face, bringing his head down to rest his forehead against hers. She relaxed and enjoyed the closeness as their walls came down. He was anxious as well, but at least they had each other to lean on. He stepped back and let his hands drop as he released her.
"I will go see if our other bags have arrived." Nodding, Nia reached down and began unzipping the first bag she saw to begin unpacking.
The rest of the evening was a blur. Torin brought their last 2 bags and helped her unpack before they found some other ways to pass the time. Shortly before dinner, the man came back and formally introduced himself as Avarik. He was all business and straight to the point.
"Nia, you will be expected at the clinic at 0700. Hassue will have further directions for you. Torin, you will work with the resource committee to begin drafting the 5 year timeline. Meals are held downstairs in the common area. A morning meal will be available at 0600, an afternoon meal at 1200, and evening meal at 1800. If your work interferes with this, you may retrieve any leftovers or cook yourself a meal. Each household is given a water allowance. You may pick up your water ration at breakfast and refill it in the afternoon. Water usage is monitored. Please speak with T'Dar or I with your concerns. Weekly meeting location and times will be announced as needed to discuss current issues, concerns, and progress." He paused for a moment to let the information sink in before continuing on. "Do you have any questions?" She thought for a moment, but any questions she had were more about her job.
"No." Avarik looked at Torin expectantly.
"I do not have any questions."
"I will forward you your job details." Finished, he turned and headed towards their neighbors.
They remained in the same spot for a moment after they shut the door, a whirlwind of information to process.
"That was…"
"Yes," Torin agreed. In her hand, her tablet chimed as the promised information was sent to her. Turning, she went to the living room and took a seat on the low loveseat and read over the information, determined to translate it herself. Speaking solely in Vulcan for the last week or so had greatly improved her vocabulary and fluency. Torin came and joined her, reading over his own message.
"Guess we're jumping right in." Nia put her tablet down.
"Yes. They don't want to waste any time." He, too, put his tablet down. Torin looked around a moment before looking at Nia.
"I am curious about the properties of the minerals in the mountain." Smiling, she knew what he was getting at but decided to tease him instead.
"Interested in a career shift as a geologist?" She asked. He quirked an eyebrow in distaste at the suggestion. She reached over and patted his leg.
"I'm certain there's something like clay here. You could be the first artist in the colony. Design pottery to ship and sell off-world — maybe become famous and do gallery tours with your artwork." She added. His face relaxed and he shook his head slightly.
"I would not enjoy that much recognition nor would I enjoy moving around that much. I would much prefer to make a name for myself while staying settled with my wife and providing for my family." He reached out and took her hand, gently squeezing it.
"I'd prefer that too." She smiled. Both their tablets chimed as the dinner reminder went off.
"If we get down there quickly, maybe we can sit near Sevek and T'Lann." Nia stood. Silently agreeing, Torin followed her to the door.
Fate was fickle. One the one hand, they'd managed to sit near their new friends Sevek and T'Laan. On the other hand, they'd also had to sit near Alieth and Sekev. Nia made sure her walls were up and secure lest she accidentally cast out her irritation at them.
She fought back an eye roll as they pointedly greeted others around them, while giving Nia and Torin a curt nod. Torin sent gentle reassurance to her, calming her and keeping her from a biting remark that would only escalate the situation. That was part of the problem. Alieth and Sekev made backhanded compliments and other offhand remarks, careful to be vague enough that their meaning could be explained another way if confronted, but Nia knew they were being condescending and rude. It led to her calling them out and looking like a hot-tempered fool to others who hadn't been witness to the interaction. She was thankful T'Laan believed her, having been an accidental witness to such an interaction one night on the ship.
The food was served quickly and Nia was grateful to have freshly brewed tea instead of the replicated stuff. Taking a sip, she closed her eyes happily.
"Tea will be the first thing I attempt to grow on the balcony," T'Laan commented, sipping her own cup in happy agreement.
"There are a few sprouts in the greenhouse that appear promising," Alieth said. She took a tentative sniff of her tea, raised an eyebrow, and sat it back down. Nia gritted her teeth hearing Alieth speak to her in standard despite the fact she always responded in Vulcan on the ship and knew that Nia could understand her. Alieth must have caught on because she added in Vulcan "My apologies. You were raised on Earth, I did not realize you were fluent in Vulcan." Nia didn't respond but turned her attention back to the meal in front of her. A dish of fresh veggies sauteed and spiced served over rice and covered in a green sauce. Despite knowing she needed to eat, she felt her appetite recede. Torin's own irritation spiked and Nia was surprised at the amount of animosity he felt towards her. He calmed himself though, and sent an apologetic look at Nia. Whether he was apologizing for his sudden emotion or that she had to put up with Alieth's comments, she wasn't sure.
T'Laan sent Nia a sympathetic look and Sevek cleared his throat quietly.
"Balcony is nice," He commented, trying to change the subject.
"Yes. I'm interested in exploring the mountains nearby." Torin took another bite of his food. This being Sevek's interest, however, he tore his attention from his dinner and began interrogating Torin about camping. More relaxed now, Nia was thankful Alieth and Sekev didn't direct any more comments her way. Though, she didn't miss the reproachful look Alieth occasionally sent her when she showed any kind of emotion.
By the end of dinner, tentative plans had been made to go explore on their next available day.
Protein bar in hand, she made her way to the clinic.
06:40. Plenty of time. She'd been up plenty early, she and Torin had stood on the balcony watching the sun rise on their first day in their new home. The glinting sun cascading brightly over the marbled mountains, a slight mist burning away over the water in the distance, had been worth it.
She took another bite, fighting a grimace at the chewy, yet somehow powdery, bar. She chewed it as quickly as she could and swallowed, an aftertaste she couldn't quite place lingering on her tongue.
With the technology we have you'd think they'd be able to make a palatable protein bar.
She was tempted to take a drink of her water, but she didn't want to waste her ration. She had about 3 liters to last her until late afternoon. Hopefully those working outside got more. The sun now peaked out from behind the mountains and the rays on her skin chased away the early morning chill.
Walking inside the clinic she fought back a shiver as the cool air greeted her. The clinic had the best climate control, understandably so. A few paces in and she'd adjusted to the comfortably cool air. A small waiting room and a desk were the only furnishings in the otherwise plain and sterile room. Spotting a door beside the front desk, she headed towards it intending to look for the doctor. Stopping, she hesitated opening the door. She'd memorized the contents of the message that explained her job, but she didn't want to mistake him for someone else. All she had was his name: Hassu. She could hear movement beyond the door.
I work here, it'll be fine.
After quickly wiping any errant crumbs from her hands and face, she braced herself and walked through the door.
The area beyond had a general room for basic vitals like height and weight. A corridor held 6 doorways leading into private examination rooms. Beyond, through the locked doors, was the emergency care and ICU for more serious or extended visits.
In the small room immediately to her left, the doctor kneeled down calibrating the scales. Standing up, he was younger than she had expected. Older than her, yes, but younger than her father. She'd still not quite gotten the hang of guessing a Vulcan's age. His hair was neatly groomed with a small spatter of gray around his temples. He wore light gray scrubs, a stethoscope around his neck, and a scanner attached to his hip. Anticipation fluttered her stomach as he turned to face her now. He gave her a quick once over and brushed his hands off.
"Nia, I presume?" He quirked a bushy brow as he spoke, briefly glancing at one of the scales as they beeped, as if to scold it.
"Yes, that's me. You are Hassu?" She asked. She got the impression she'd made a mistake with the way confusion flitted across his face before settling back into an unreadable expression.
"Yes." His reply was short and he shifted his weight impatiently. There was a moment of awkward silence.
"What…would you like me to do?"
He turned his head in thought, going over a mental list of all the things she'd need to know.
"You will shadow me for now. You know how to take vitals, yes?" Nia opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off.
"Are you aware of basic Vulcan biology, viruses, and illness?" He added.
"Yes," She answered. She felt her face flush hot in embarrassment that he thought someone so close to graduation would be so incompetent.
"That is good. It is difficult to say what you know when you are instructed by humans." Either not realizing he'd insulted her or not caring, he turned his attention back to the scales.
"Watch how I calibrate it." You will need to know this." Swallowing a retort she silently obliged and moved to watch him carefully.
The rest of the day was uneventful yet long. There was no personal conversation, only instructions and explanations. Calibrations, temperatures, computer systems, storage methods, and other odds and ends of information and procedures flung at her. There hadn't been any patients, save for a few upset stomachs and scratches. Despite this, she was exhausted by the end of the day. The fatigue of travel, barrage of new information, and quizzing from Hassu drained her. Maintaining her mental walls alongside a professional demeanor didn't help with his occasional and unknowing barbs of backhanded compliments. She could handle Alieth, she didn't see her very often, but the thought of dealing with this from her boss every day was enough to deflate her. Occasionally she felt Torin reach out to her. Those brief check-ins were enough to ground her and give her the strength to keep her walls up and going strong.
Taking a small sip of her water, she had refilled it not long ago, she sank onto the edge of the bed in their apartment, waiting for Torin and dinner. He had a late meeting and couldn't walk home with her today, though he promised he would whenever he could. Rubbing her neck and letting a yawn break out, she decided to change into the casual robes she had brought. She glanced at the bit of dust that had followed her in despite her best efforts to keep it off her pant legs.
Leaning onto the balcony railing now, a light breeze ruffled her robe as she looked out over the large and descending white orb over the red, hazy mountains. She could see light foot traffic as others made their way to the common dining area on the first floor of the housing unit. Two children crouched in the dirt examining a scrubby bush with sharp needles and yellow flowers.
She sensed Torin before she heard him. In the bedroom Torin changed, removing his work clothes and changing into his own casual robes. She relaxed even more, welcoming the break as she lowered her guard and let the sun soak into her. A moment later, he stood beside her with a hand resting on her back lightly. He didn't seem as tired as her as she felt his contentment and ease.
"You are tired," he noted.
"Yeah," she sighed, "just a long day. A lot of information."
They stood in silence for a while before she straightened up.
"How did you enjoy your first day?" She looked up at him now.
"It was enjoyable. There are many things to be planned and implemented. Currently, we are researching and identifying how to better utilize the space given our current access to needed resources."
"That's great!" And while Nia meant it, she couldn't help but feel a tiny prick of jealousy at his satisfaction. He pulled her closer.
"What troubles you?"
Nia smiled, knowing the bond was a double-edged sword.
"I guess I'm just… concerned." She hesitated to explain his comments, afraid she was overreacting. In the distance, the sun finally began to hide itself behind the mountain range and canyon. Behind her, her tablet chimed indicating dinner would begin soon. She leaned into his arms. The events of the day came out and she felt tension leave her as he listened to her concerns. His irritation spiked at the comments she relayed, but he said nothing until she was done.
"You could speak with Avarik," he suggested.
"I could…" Nia chewed her cheek thoughtfully. "But I don't think it would reflect well that I complained after my first day. I need these hours. I'll give it a little more time and see how it goes." Torin didn't seem satisfied with her answer, but accepted it.
"If Talok continues to be disrespectful and make you feel uncomfortable, you need to speak with someone." He pushed. Nia looked at him, confused.
"Talok?"
Torin stared at her with furrowed brows, now equally confused.
"Yes. Talok, the doctor," he explained.
"The information said his name was Hassu." Realization came over his face and she sensed amusement, which worried her as cold suspicion that she'd messed up.
"T'hy'la, Hassu means doctor," he explained. Nia stared at him as she slowly realized she'd mistranslated her information and assumed his name had been Hassu. She rubbed her hand over her face in embarrassment before dropping them to her sides.
"Well, at least it wasn't an insult."
"It was an understandable mistake, you are still learning." His reassurance was appreciated, but did nothing to stop her from feeling like an idiot. "However I do stand by what I said about speaking with someone."
"Of course," Nia promised. Pacified, he leaned his head down and rested his forehead against hers.
"Once you get the hang of it I'm certain this job will seem easier."
"I hope so…"
Behind them, her tablet chimed again, indicating they were about to be late for dinner. Her stomach growled in agreement.
"Let's go." Nia moved away from him reluctantly. She looked once more over the balcony as long shadows cascaded over them from the mountains. She could already feel the desert air cooling around her and, in the distance in some unseen cave, something screeched.
The two turned, locked their room, and went to dinner.
A/N: Things will pick up! I rewrote a few scenes probably 4 times before I was happy with them, so they were delayed a bit. I'm in the final 9 weeks of school, so I'm hoping once I've had a chance to recharge I'll get over my funk. Thanks for the support!
