"Lieutenant Commander Duvek's log, Stardate 23065.0107. The Enterprise has been docked for repairs and refits, and much of the crew have been given leave during that time. Allowing for reflection on this past month and the changes to come. It's been eventful to say the least. For me and the rest of the crew.
Our captain, Christopher Pike, a man I've come to deeply respect, will be receiving the honorary rank of fleet captain. Can't say he hasn't earned it or that I'm not happy for him. But I'd also be lying if I said I didn't have reservations about upcoming Change in Command for the Enterprise…or any of the changes happening on that ship. Especially in terms of security…"
T'Anahos i-Rateg tr'Duvek looked at his glass of bourbon. The liquid rippled as he swirled the glass. It was a recipe for Mint Julep he'd been experimenting with.
"I have been briefed and even allowed involvement in the upcoming and recommended changes. Most of it is updated systems, including defensive and offensive. They claim they are going to take some of my requests into "consideration". Let's face it, if they do it will be some bogged down version. One they consider to be less "extreme". But most will be ignored, as always…"
He huffed, taking a sip of his drink. At least they were considering them at all. However, he really wished they would take the plasma-disruptor shield more seriously. They knew about the plasma canon, yet they brushed it off.
"Then, there's crew rotations. Of course, I have some worries, but nothing that isn't usual for this type of thing. However, being a Romulan does bring other concerns. I've faced resistance to my presence before, still do. Not many are fond of taking orders from a Romulan, full or half. Shocking, I know.
I'm more worried about the new captain. It's no good if the captain can't get on well with their security chief, especially if that chief is soon to be the official second officer. Well, he did request that I, along with Spock, stay. So, that's a good sign, I suppose."
T'Anahos tilted the glass. He had read up on James Tiberius Kirk. It wouldn't be the first time T'Anahos heard of him, having traded "sibling stories" with James' brother, George Samuels Kirk. T'Anahos wasn't sure how he felt about the man. Time should tell. Elements guide him if James Kirk turned out to be an arrogant pain in the ass.
But he trusted Pike's judgment and George's tales of James being a good brother. T'Ana could understand. Not like he was the most well-behaved Romulan who didn't drive his older sister up the wall from time to time.
He smiled at the memories, taking another sip.
"In the meantime, I've considered visiting my Terran family and checking in on a few friends…"
He ended the log and downed the rest of the drink. Licking his lips, he studied the now empty glass. A tad more mint. Perhaps add some cocoa to it…might as well have a variant I get drunk off of… Sighing, he stood and stretched before bringing the glass to the synthesizer.
There was a lazy croak beside him. T'Anahos smiled down at his Set'leth, Aensai, who rubbed against his leg. "Daelft aihkhmiite khia," He knelt and stroked along her side, careful not nick himself on her spines. "How 'bout it, Aensai? A quick visit to the family farm. All that natural sunlight and grass on your scales…I'm sure that sounds nice, ie?"
The Set'leth, which looked like a cross between a Terran chameleon and bulldog, blinked up at him with bright orange eyes. Her scales rippled with vibrant greens and blues and she huffed with an eager intrigue.
"Then I don't see why not. Besides, I'd prefer an actual house to these quarters…" He said, giving the temporary quarters a glance-over. "And it'll be a few days until the ceremonies…"
Aensai croaked and bobbed enthusiastically. She skillfully jumped onto his shoulder and maneuvered into a comfortable perch.
"Gaenoh, gaenoh…" He laughed softly and scratched under her chin. "Let's get packing."
T'Anahos had, of course, made sure to send the McCoys a notice. Granted, they were always happy to see him and likely wouldn't mind a surprise visit. However, T'Anahos still felt off around them. Not for anything they did, not particularly anyway. There was an air of melancholy whenever he was around, subtle as it was. Not to mention his own guilt, misplaced as that was. They didn't blame him. It wasn't his fault.
Eleanora McCoy, his mother, had been "captured" - for lack of a better word or perhaps it was the right one depending on how you looked at it - by his father, Pangaere tr'Duvek. She had been the chief engineer of the USS Gryphon when it drifted into Romulan space. An ill-fated battle with pirates had left it crippled. Of course, a Federation ship adrift in Romulan space would not and did not go unnoticed. Pangaere's Dreadnought had accompanied some scouts to investigate.
Given the circumstances, the crew were not to be harmed. They would merely be taken to Romulus, processed, then released back into Federation custody.
This was so long as the crew behaved.
Unfortunately, though expectedly, the idea of UFP data getting into Romulan hands did not sit well with most. Notably the captain and first officer. They tried to destroy the ship. Other members of the crew didn't trust the Romulans to keep their word or that they were telling the truth to be begin with. So, struggles and fights broke out between those crewmen and some of the boarding Romulans.
Eleanora and the CMO had tried to keep the peace, even if they agreed that Romulus shouldn't have UFP military secrets, they still wanted to see the crew make it out of that situation alive.
With the two main commanding officers encouraging resistance, Pangaere could no longer guarantee the crew's safety. But his father being the oddly compassionate commander he was, didn't want the innocents to be unnecessarily punished. He especially didn't want to see harm befall Eleanora, whom he had become enamored with.
All he could do at that point was give her a choice. He would do what he could to make sure the cooperative members avoided the worst fates but she had to testify against her commanding officers. Along with this, he could ensure her safety and perhaps greater improve the crew's chances if she became his wife.
That was the most T'Anahos knew of it. Or at least remembered. It was not a story his parents repeated often and he had only heard it in full twice in his life. Similar could be said for his sister, Fveikey's, knowledge of it.
It wasn't exactly your typical "how we met" story. Holding far more sorrows than warmth. And he could remember clearly the look of guilt and shame in his parent's eyes whenever it was brought up.
It was only as an adult when he truly understood why. As a defector he understood his mother's grief.
He wondered if Fveikey ever truly understood.
T'Ana sighed, finishing re-packing what few items he had. Some from home, most picked up during the Enterprise's travels.
The door buzzed, "Come in."
Christopher Pike peaked in, taking in the mostly barren and clean room, along with the duffle bags. Any remaining decorations were the standard. "Not interrupting, am I?"
"Not at all, captain. Please, be welcomed!"
"No need to get so formal, Mandukarus," Pike chided light-heartedly. T'Anahos' close name falling with a pleasant fondness. "We're off duty and the ceremony's not here yet."
He chuckled. "I know. Call it sentiment. With the change in command and all." And, if he were being honest, he still was not all used to the casual environment Pike fostered.
Pike hummed and Aensai padded out from under the couch. "Hey, girl!" He knelt to greet her and carefully caressed her scales. "Still keeping Mandukarus in line?" Aensai crooned and huffed, blinking lazily.
Duvek snorted, rolling his eyes with a fond smile. Pike just grinned at him. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"No, thank you. I think I had about enough while talking with Kirk earlier, but the offer is appreciated." Duvek inclined his head and Pike moved to the couch. "Speaking of, have you met your new captain yet?" He asked as Aensai jumped onto his lap, demanding more attention.
"Not yet. Been more concerned with the security and tactile refits- what Starfleet will allow me to be involved in anyway…" Duvek grumbled and Pike huffed, amused, knowing all too well the complaints the young Romulan had about Starfleet's security. Duvek gave a lazy shrug. "Now I plan to visit the family, check in on Sseadhe and Aehv, get more familiar with Earth... I can always get acquainted with him at the ceremony."
"Fair. Best to make the most out of your leave. Just try to meet him before the next run, alright? I know he's curious about you."
"I don't doubt that. I'll admit some surprise that he requested I stay."
"The kid's got a fairly open mind. Plus, you have my and Sam's recommendations. And Spock's. I doubt Spock would have been pleased to see you go."
He supposed that was true. Despite the differences in ideology, the arguments, and T'Anahos' own teasing jabs, he and Spock had grown quite close. It wasn't much of a surprise. In many ways, they were alike. Both hybrids. Both born to dignified families – the Duveks' and the S'chn T'gais' esteems were nothing to scoff at. The struggles faced due to these facts, within their societies and within Starfleet... Having to fight to prove that being half-Terran did not make them any less a worthy Romulan or Vulcan. Yet many still looked down at them for it. Then the prodding questions and barely veiled discrimination from so-called "enlightened" Starfleet officers.
Granted, it made sense when it came to Romulans, but Vulcans were a founding member. Though T'Anahos recognized that, along with Vulcans having bad blood with other races, their belief of repressing emotions wasn't always seen positively. As a Romulan, he would know. Romulans took whatever chance they got to point out the errors in Surak's teachings.
T'Anahos wasn't much of an exception, it made up the brunt of his teasing toward Spock. In turn, Spock would point out his intense and "illogical" emotional responses to things. A fair trade. It wasn't meant to be hurtful, merely banter. They'd both be lying if they said they didn't delight in these back-and-forths. Most of the time.
Then there was the ever-growing affection. To say T'Anahos had grown fond of the Vulcan would be an understatement. No, he had become enamored with him. The thought of them ever becoming mates was pleasing to him. It scared him. His love life was a disaster in several ways. The scars from accidentally leaving his last lover, Merken tr'Vreenak, not yet healed. It hurt. While, sure, Spock seemed to share in platonic affection, as much as a Vulcan could, T'Anahos doubted he was interested in pursuing a relationship. He seemed quite content to go through his arraigned marriage to T'Pring. Even if neither appeared truly interested in the other.
It was to please their families, their societies. T'Anahos could see that much.
And, to be frank, he did not trust T'Pring. Not out of jealousy, though that could be argued, but out of a general gut-feeling. He felt she wasn't being honest around Spock. That she was hiding something.
Or perhaps it was simply jealousy trying to justify itself. That and a mix of Romulan paranoia amplified by past Tal'Shair training…
But he also knew better than to ignore his gut.
It's not paranoia if it had merit.
It didn't help that T'Pring did not like him, either. Apparently having claimed he, Oallea, and Havraha were no better than the V'tosh Ka'tur and should be treated as such. Which was to say: as criminals to be sent to some Vulcan rehab and forced into the Teachings of Surak.
Spock had been the one to tell him this. He was surprised when Spock admitted to defending them.
So, yeah. T'Anahos didn't exactly like T'Pring.
"Mandukarus? You still there?" Pike's voice snapped him back to reality. He got caught up thinking about the Vulcan again. Fvadt.
He coughed sheepishly. "Sorry, got a little lost in thought." He silently prayed to the Elements that his face was not a deep green. The heat of embarrassment, anger, and desire flushing across his face, neck, and singeing his ears, and Pike's amusement, told him the Elements spared little mercy.
"Sure," Pike smiled, knowing about Spock and T'Anahos' shared pinning. It drove him and the crew up the walls. Several of the officers, Sam and Erica chief among them, had taken bets. No one had won yet. Those boys were simply too stubborn.
Aensai yawned and jumped down, having her fill of attention. She padded over to a half full food bowl.
Pike watched her go. "Nice seeing you again, too, Aensai."
T'Anahos grinned softly, then finally sat down.
"I'm going to miss it," Pike sighed "Commanding the Enterprise. Traveling space and getting into all sorts of trouble." He laughed, full of a rueful warmth that served to somber and sooth. "Leaving behind the crew who've become like family… Who made all the troubles worth it. You've all become very important to me. I don't think I express that enough." A soft purr nearly escaped Duvek at the fatherly warmth Pike exuded. The former captain had that air about him. Making one feel safe and in capable hands. It reminded him much of his godfather, Keras.
Even dining with the crew, Pike invited more than just the senior staff. Something T'Anahos found odd at first, especially when he, Oallae, and Havraha were invited while still wandering renegades. That was an experience.
"It will be different without you, sir." It would be different in several ways, with much of the crew rotating out. But a lot of those decisions was because of the command change. There were those that chose to give Kirk a chance, but whether they would stay in the long run… "It has been an honor severing under you. More than an honor, truly. You helped Oallae, Havraha and I in many ways... Gave us a chance when others distrusted us."
"Everyone deserves a shot to prove themselves," Pike said pointedly. "Even Romulans. We shouldn't judge someone based on a war that happened over a hundred years ago."
"I suppose not," T'Anahos mused that Keras and Pike would have gotten along well. Had they a chance to meet. "Unfortunate that not many share that view."
Pike hummed in agreement, then met T'Ana with a gleeful gaze. "I hear you're officially the second officer of the Enterprise?"
"It was surprising news, I'll admit. But they apparently trust me enough."
"They should. You've proven a good commander. Both as chief of security and on the bridge."
On more than one occasion had he been in command of the Enterprise. Commanding was not a foreign thing to him. It was expected of a Major. He's had to seize a Bird-of-Prey once.
But commanding a Terran ship was different in some regards. A task he proved able to take on.
Whether he ever got his own command was another story. Granted, it wasn't something he particularly cared about. If it happened, great, if not, he could do something else in Starfleet.
"And I'll continue to perform that duty to the best of my ability."
"I know you will. Just try not to rip any more uniforms, ya hear?"
Cheekily, T'Anahos brought up a hand and let his claws expand, clicking them together. "I'll try but…no promises."
Pike snorted and shook his head. How he would miss them all, indeed.
They spoke for a while longer before Pike bid T'Anahos farewell. Leaving the Romulan alone with his thoughts and Set'leth.
Sighing, he gave Aensai a smile and nodded to the duffle bags. "Well, guess it's time for us to head out. Let's get going. Don't want to keep the family waiting too long, do we?"
End of chapter translations
"Ahr'ehraet Hru'dheno" - "The head of security is tired" (dh makes a th sound)
"Daelft aihkhmiite khia" - "Good afternoon (to) you". "Khia" is the superior-to-inferior "you".
Set'leth - An animal on Romulus that is kept as pets. It is unknown if it is actually lizard-like.
"Gaenoh" - "Okay"
"Ie" - "Yes"
"Fvadt" - "Damn"
Other notes
Ssaedhe is Oallae
Aahv is Havraha