Fan-tastic!
Chapter One
The intensity of the daylight was disconcerting on the day that changed Nyota's life. Although the forecast was for a solar eclipse, the day seemed unusually bright, the heat intense for an early spring day. Nyota was running through the square to catch her transport. Her supervisor was out, and the main librarian held the staff meeting. Nyota glanced down at her Padd. She had only eight minutes to get to the station. The next train would leave at 6:40. It would mean she would arrive at home at 8pm. That would leave her barely enough time to finish her application essay. It was due on Monday, and she still had get the essay proofed.
"Mr. Winston?" Nyota waved her hand.
He was in the middle of one of his monologues and he had long ago lost the interest of the staff. It was Friday evening and everyone had a trying week. Mr. Winston was a hands off manager, until he wasn't. He had the annoying habits or inventing new policies whenever, the regular librarian was off from work. This was happening more frequently as Ms. Welred was getting older, and she appeared to be suffering from the ailments common to women of a certain age.
"Yes, Nyota," he replied.
Nyota wrinkled her nose. He didn't address any of the other women by first name, just her. She wondered if it was ageism or something else.
"I have to catch my transport." She checked the clock on the wall. "It leaves at 17:30." She said.
He glanced up at the clock. Everyone knew that Winston's father was ex-MACO, and he used military parlance on every occasion. Everyone, except Mr. Winston knew that clock was six minutes fast. Still, even if he stopped now, she would have to run to the transport station. Nyota gripped her bag and waited for his response.
"Well, I guess I should stop. Let me say that this has been a rewarding week. I would hope that my new policies will improve productivity around here."
Nyota raised her hand again.
"I am sure they will. Thank you for letting me go," she said.
Nyota stood up and hurried out the side door. It was prohibited, but her buddy JC always turned off the alarm so that she could sneak out. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Then she dashed down the street, looking up at the central square chronometer. It kept track of time across the globe. She had only five minutes left. Nyota ran harder. The transport was at the station.
"Wait, wait," Nyota shouted and waved her arm.
A man looked over at her. Then he entered, and the door shut. Seconds later, Nyota reached the door as the transport was pulling away.
"Wait, please wait." She sobbed.
An older lady on the transport called out to the driver. He stopped and opened the door. It wasn't Buster, her regular driver. He always gave Nyota two minutes grace, which he would make up speeding through the tunnel.
"Thank you. The staff meeting went over." She said to the driver. She put her wallet into her peacoat pocket and zipped it up.
He sniffed and replied, "Take a seat. I am late because of you."
Nyota nodded and looked at the empty seat. It was next to the man who heard her cries but ignored her. Nyota glared at him, and then she plopped down in the seat next to him. She pulled out her padd. The man looked over at her screen. She switched over to net mode to visit the Starfleet Academy site.
Three years earlier, Nyota Uhura had moved to California with the goal of being accepted to the Starfleet Academy. Her grades were strong, yet the powers at the academy were unimpressed with her credentials. She was at the top of her class but attended a middling school in Kenya. It was all her family could afford.
So, she packed her bags and moved to Sausalito, taking a job in the local library as a page. Nyota had been saving money since middle school, doing lawn work working in her uncle's restaurant. When she first arrived, it was enough to rent a small study. After six months, she had to move in with three roommates. None of them liked her much. They just liked what she brought: a steady paycheck, great cooking and a willingness to clean.
By the second year, Nyota was sure it only required one more application, but she failed, and she failed again. This was her fourth application, and Nyota believed that they saw her name and tossed her application. Nyota was on her way home from work at the library. Her supervisor actually recognized that Nyota was a hard worker and promoted her after her first years. Technically, she was not a librarian. She did not have the credentials, but she did everything the librarians did to have the pay.
The used vehicle she bought when she first arrived was one of the first casualties of this failed endeavor. It needed work, and she didn't have the funds to repair the vintage vehicle. It was a beauty, a 2242 Mobilite Sprint, with sochromatic detailing reminiscent of the 20th century.
Nyota spent her youth helping her father restore classic vehicles, which he then sold in his dealership. Alhamasi Uhura hoped that his son Kamu would develop an interest and take over, but Kamu didn't like to get his hands dirty. Nyota was more than willing to help out. She learned the ins and outs of the business, but it was not Nyota whom her father hired as a management trainee; it was Herbert, her sister Makena's husband, whom her father trusted with the business he spent his entire life building. That was the last straw for Nyota. When she finished her bachelor's degree, she picked up and moved to the United States.
