Star Trek Adventurer

Chapter 4: A Thousand Worlds and Spreading Out

Taka shook her head.  She wanted to imagine it wasn’t.  She wanted to see someone else standing there, but she knew she wouldn’t.  “Netu Erra.”  And she was standing right in front of the Founding Memorial, just where Korolevna said she would be.  “It’s no wonder Captain Korolevna didn’t say anything about her.”

“Netu,” Taka said flatly.

“Zh’An,” Netu Erra replied in kind.  “Lanul.”

“Sholva,” Tanis muttered.

“You’re not needed here, Cadet Lanul,” Erra stated bluntly.  The scar along the side of her nose seemed to glare at Taka.

It was a brutal reminder of what had happened.

She tried to reign her irritation in, hiding her hands behind her back as they formed fists.  “I've been directed to see you,” Taka said.  She doubted her words didn't carry the aggression she was feeling.

“Yes,” Erra’s voice carried with it annoyance and irritation. “Not sure why Captain Korolevna would bother taking you aboard.”  Taka noticed Erra's glance at the Red Squad insignia on her lapel.  “I think she's making a mistake.”

“What's my assignment?” Taka asked firmly, though she knew it probably sounded more like a demand.

Erra glanced down the path at Tanis, who sat on one of the many benches.  “Doctor Tanis Lanul, I think she'll do well in that.”

“Look, Erra, let's get this out of the way,” Taka said, stepping in front of Erra's view of Tanis, “we don't like each other.  After what happened, I get it.  Now, what's my assignment?”

“Report to Captain Korolevna tomorrow aboard the Adventurer,” Erra paused with a frown and furrowed brow, “as executive officer.”

“XO?” Taka’s eyes widened.  “Are you sure?”

Erra sighed with irritation.  “Yes, I’m sure.  Why the Captain didn’t tell you, I don’t know.  And why she chose you for the position, I don’t know.”  She shook her head.  “There’s nothing else, zh’An.”

Taka glared before stepping back.  She pivoted and walked over to Tanis, who rose from the bench and stared at her girlfriend.  Taka smiled as Tanis joined her.

“What was the news?” Tanis asked, finally breaking the silence between them.  Her hand went up to Taka’s shoulder.  “It was good news wasn’t it?”  She glanced up at Taka’s antennae, seeing it shift slightly.  “It was.”

“The Adventurer,” Taka admitted.

“Helm?” Tanis asked.  “Couldn’t be, Straala was assigned there and she’s the best Helm Officer of the squad.”

“Not here.”  They walked in silence across the Academy to the transporter.  Taka nodded at the woman behind the controls and the Ensign smiled, knowing the destination even before anyone had said it.  “Did my requested items arrive, Ensign Calvert?”

“Yes, they did,” Calvert nodded.  She motioned to a storage closet behind her chair and Taka stepped over to it.

Inside, two extreme weather survival suits stared back at her.  Their cold weather abilities would definitely help Tanis, though the chills of Earth were nothing compared to the frigid environments of Andoria.  She handed one to Tanis, who promptly slid into the pants and jacket.  The Trill gave Taka a questioning glance but said nothing; this wasn’t the first time she had surprised her.

“I have the co-ordinates entered,” Calvert said.  “As soon as you’re ready, step on the pad.”

The two women stepped on the transporter pad and waited as the familiar sensation took hold and the sunny environment of San Francisco disappeared before their eyes.  As the transporter beam deposited them at their destination, it was definitely a change.  Even through her heated jacket and pants, Tanis shivered.

Taka held her against her body.

“Wish I had your heating system,” Tanis snuggled in closer.  Taka knew it wasn’t Tanis’ fault; Trill biology just made them more susceptible to cold and an average body heat colder than most humanoid species.  “Where are we?”

“Centuries ago, humans called this Alert,” Taka said.  “Now, Starfleet uses it to monitor Earth space.”  She stepped through the doors of the building and out into the cold wind, gently and patiently waiting as Tanis followed her out.  “We’re at the top of the world, Tanis.”

Their boots crunched the snow beneath them.  The wind died out and Tanis could see the sparkling white that stretched for kilometers around them, unbroken by human interaction.  What truly drew their attention was the colours of the sky.  The dancing streaks of endless light, beautiful in their movements and show.

Taka glanced over at her love.

Tanis was awestruck.  “It’s breathtaking.”

Not as much as you, Taka thought to herself before wrapping her arm around her girlfriend again.  “And so’s space.  And we’ll have the chance to see it all, firsthand now.”

The wind picked up and snow bit into Taka’s cheeks as Tanis buried her face to her chest.  Taka’s hands went up Tanis’ back and rubbed the suit; it wouldn’t do anything to warm her up, but it didn’t matter to her.  She felt it was what was needed.

“Let’s head back in,” Taka said.

Through chattering teeth, Tanis asked, “Are you cold?”

“Not nearly as much as you, my dear.”

“I know a way to remedy that,” Tanis said with a smirk on her lips.

Taka returned the smirk.  “I’m sure you do.”