Why Me?

Posted on Tue Aug 16th, 2022 @ 10:55pm by Lieutenant Commander Tiandith 'Tia' Tobru

1,499 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 5 - Objects In Motion
Location: Ferryman Lounge, Promenade

Tia had decided to come down from her upper pylon. Daydreaming of home only got her so far and in truth did make her kind of homesick oddly.

To think she missed a blood soaked galaxy, where hope is squashed and the idea of a different way of life stomped on just to maintain the status quo of Dominion rule.

She had found herself drifting through the sea of people on the Promenade. Their emotions washing over her as she walked through the crowd. Sometimes she liked just to feel something other than her own feelings and if she closed her eyes and let it wash over her it was a unique and wonderous feeling.

Most walked around her like one would in a busy street. They minded their own business as they had things to do, places to go and Tia ended up drifting into the Ferryman Lounge where that Orion had been nice to her.

Niska spotted her appear in her bar again and smiled. "Hey there sugar. I was hoping to see you again."

She seemed deflated. Sensed like she was pondering on the past. "Why so blue?" Niska found herself asking.

Seeing the woman in green did give her a slight lift, a little flutter inside that was nice. Of course externally she did that fact but knew Niska was an empath and would probably notice.

"Starfleet, Captain Haistro, have offered me a position on board... they want me to stay." she said sitting down with a umph. "I don't understand why..."

Niska took a small breath and patted a chair. “I know exactly what this needs. Chocolate,” she winked at her and waved over one of the boys she had taken on. “There’s a cake I made this morning for the dinner service but that can’t wait. Two slices are needed here stat.”

He nodded and zoomed off as Niska sat down next to her, “now these fleeters in my experience most of what they do doesn’t make a whole lot of sense and a good whack of it doesn’t but occasionally… very occasionally,” she grinned at her, “they do get it right.

The Captain can clearly see potential in you, you need a purpose and what is your alternative? Do you want to try find a way back to your prior situation? Would that be better?”

The cake looked incredible, covered in a sheen of red from the Alverian rose chocolate she had managed to import.

For a moment Tia's eyes were simply drifting over the cake being brought towards them. Even it only being two slices didn't take away from the impressive sight before her.

"I guess going back to a galaxy where oppression and subjugation are mainstays might not be the best idea I have ever had." Tia spoke and mouthed thank you to the server who placed the plates down.

She turned to Niska, "I spent over 40 years in Starfleet, I was there for the end of it. Haistro would be a fool to not see the potential in someone who has my experience, but it is just Starfleet is quick to trust..." she sighed. "As far as I know my counterpart here died commanding the Sitting Bull at Wolf 359 in defence of retreating ships. That sounds like me, but a lot has changed in the 30 years since. I'd feel like I'm letting my own people back home down if I just let them believe I was dead... I mean, what was the last 25 years for? Did they even mean anything?" she asked feeling a slight spiral coming on.

“You can’t think like that,” Niska said seriously. “Maybe this was meant to happen you coming here. It could be the next part of your destiny. Maybe your supposed to get thrown in with all us lot.

And if not you could try staying and can always change your mind. I mean nothing is set in stone right,” she mused digging her fork into her slice of cake.

"So, are you a believer in fate?" Tia asked. Niska's description of how her journey was preordained to lead her there peaked her interest. "As for being set in stone I am afraid that at the moment I am very much a statue... I am unsure how to get back to my universe, even if I did want to."

"I didn't used too believe in fate but then a Betazoid goddess invaded my dreams," Niska said. "Sometimes things happen to make you revalidate things. Although I'm not adverse to any "goddess" being in my dreams," she winked at her.

Turning serious again, she added. "Well if you're stuck here regardless, I'd urge you to try things out here and make the best of it. If you truly hate it, like I said you can always change direction again. Although if you stayed I admit it would be nice to get to spend more time with you."

"That does sound nice." Tia commented when she thought of spending time with Niska. "It has been a LONG time since I have been in a relaxed atmosphere with someone I feel like I can trust." she smiled a little. It looked more like a grimace as she was out of practice, but when she smiled... goddess it lit up a room like you wouldn't believe. "Have you been here long, on the station?" Tia asked.

“A few months. I came over when Liam got drafted in. He’s my … it’s complicated .. I. Not sure this is the correct definition in Orion it’s “misanoli”…. step Half cousin? … he and his family have been good to me since we found that out. I had built a business on another station but … well let’s just say I needed a change of scene.

"Well if its something I know, its complicated." Tia tried making a joke. "But that is quite the journey you've been on. I can understand the need for a change of scenery, for any reason really. It is by the grace of Kobral, goddess of luck, that you have fallen here seemingly when I needed someone to lean on the most." Tia's eyes widened, she hadn't meant to be this truthful. "I am so sorry... that felt like a lot..."

Niska found herself doing something she didn’t expect. Leaning in she placed a kiss on her lips. “I don’t mind.”

Electricity, warp plasma... anything hot that if fired through you, you definitely feel it.

It had been a long time since she'd been affectionate with anyone, there always seemed more important things to do... life and death and all that. The kiss had her gripping the bar with surprise, but a nice one. Tia heard a muffled 'are you okay' as she realised she had been frozen for a couple of seconds after the event.

She blinked back into the present, "That was... unexpected." Tia spoke the first words that came into her now restarting brain. Her feelings were clear to any empath, she liked it and it made her feel good even if her words did fail her on more than one occasion.

“Do you mind?” Niska said simply.

"Not even a little." Tia responded positively, and with a little smile to boot. "I think this universe might be worth staying in after all." she hinted at Niska. "You don't kiss every woman that comes to your bar, right?" Tia joked.

“They usually try kiss me,” Niska said not joking. To be fair it wasn’t just the ladies ….

“But for me to kiss someone they have to be someone incredible. Beautiful, intelligent…. Intriguing….”

"Ah so I should be wary of potential suitors." Tia nodded to herself. She did not blame them, she did find Niska very attractive as well.

"But I am honoured you think those things of me... I do not consider myself to be very interesting." she said quite honestly. It was strange given her long life and 'turbulent' history. By far she was probably the most interesting person on the station, but right now she was happy to be the focal point of someone in the bar.

"You seem to have been beat down a bit. Not believing in yourself. Spend some more time with Niska and she will help you with that." the green hybrid Orion said simply.

"It is not that I do not believe in myself. I am all I have really had for a long time now, but I have never really looked at me. If that makes sense?" Tia asked. "I have spent the last few decades on the run, protecting my group and, well... me fell to the wayside." she shrugged. "I still find myself looking over my shoulder, I think that will be with me for a long time."

"That will ease. You are safe here. Let yourself find yourself again," Niska smiled. "Let me help."

"Then I am at your mercy, Niska." Tia responded.

 

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