Bloodlines. Rish’ha’vel-lar.
A short story by Heidi
Now finally coming out from the academy and leaving behind the title of cadet for that of ensign, Hecatius found even more satisfaction in her young life. Having come from an unhappy past where her mother had been murdered and her father proved to be a traitor, she had pursued her childhood dream to join Starfleet, making it a reality. At first Hecatius had found it hard to ‘fit in’, because she found it so hard to trust anyone. When she was 9 she had been interviewed by the authorities concerning her father, they were trying to establish the facts, but to a bewildered and frightened child, it seemed they were suspicious of her.
Then therer was the request that she submit to an interview by 3 admirals, when she had submitted her application to the academy. The Scottish admiral – Wharton had passed her and at last she was ‘living the dream’. The challenge of making new friends was not something Hecatius had felt inclined to do….
“I’m here to study, not socialise” she had told one exasperated Bolian tutor.
“But social skills are a necessary part of your ‘training’. The crew on a ship is a community – and even one as big as a galaxy class with over a thousand crewmen becomes small when you’ve been on tour five or six years.”
Hecatius had given it consideration and made more of an effort. But her unspoken fear was that when people got to know her they would do as her foster-parents had tried – to over emphasis her humanness while stifling her Vulcan heritage, and what would they have made of her ROMULAN blood if they had known?!. No, it was better that no-one get too close to Hecatius, she decided. But despite this, she had made her first real friend with an Andorian male called Arrax, and it was through him that she gained a small circle of friends. A small circle was preferable to a solitary dot!.
Even better was the fact that both of them were, upon graduation, assigned to the same ship – the USS Hawking under captain Delenay, and now at this moment in time, she was on an obscure M-class planet studying plantlife.
She hoped to specialise in Botany.
The away-team were unusually camping for 2 weeks while studying the planet. They had all given up their shore leave a month ago, due to an emergency and this was the captains way of making it up to them. Saavik, as commanding officer had the luxury of her own tent, as did security guard Tegloeg DuBrill (because he was the only male) Hecatius shared with medic Sally Swift and the other scientist Analise Perlman. It all seemed to be going so well, so routine. The planet was an unspoilt paradise – so pristine.
It was on the 11th day that the incident occurred.
CHAPTER 2
Hecatius occasionally suffered nightmares but woke herself out of them. They were caused by the trauma all those years ago. Today she awoke out of one just before dawn, and so decided to get dressed and go for a walk, maybe even fill her water-bottle up. The air was sharp, the water looked clear. Just as Hecatius was about to fill the bottle, there was a disturbance in the water…
Saavik had woken early as she always did, several hours before the others were due to wake. She would meditate then go to the river to bathe while she had the privacy to do so. Saavik undressed and slipped into the river, submerging several times to get the water through all her thick wavy hair….
Hecatius was taken by surprise at Saavik’s emergence from the water, who stood with her back to Hecatius, her shoulder-length hair hung in tight curls, the water level with the small of her back. Hecatius saw the mark on the left shoulder and felt sick- felt frightened. Felt ANGRY. It was no birthmark, it was the brandmark that Romulans give their children after they’re born, and Hecatius had seen her father’s once or twice, not knowing it’s significance at the time. But she knew now.
Saavik sensed some-one behind her, so she only turned her head. Hecatius muttered her apologies.
“I got up early, so I came to fill my water-bottle. I didn’t realise anyone was here. I’ll go fill my bottle elsewhere, sorry.”
Later that morning –
“I’m going twelve hundred yards up to that cave” Saavik informed the team “make sure you all stay within communicator range”.
Hecatius was seething inside, she struggled to do the ‘right thing’ which would be to take her suspicions to the captain, but there was also revenge to satisfy. She stalked up to the cave, phaser set to kill and walked boldly in.
CHAPTER 3
Saavik studied the little colony of ant-like creatures, but was also thinking she should interview the new crewmen under her command, to assess how they thought they were doing. Quosanz shz Arrax was doing competent and dutiful. Sally Hurst was like her sister (who served on another ship), she was a little flirtatious but professional enough to keep it for out-of-work hours. Hecatius was very quiet and efficient, but something of a loner. Somewhat private.
As Hecatius entered the cave, her conscience spoke "You don’t have to do this”
“I DO ! I DO !” she argued within herself, but the small still voice would not let her be. “You don’t WANT to do this”
“No – I don’t WANT to, but I HAVE to!” she reasoned, and now Saavik had turned to see her and not a flicker of surprise or emotion showed in her face as she noticed the weapon aimed at her. She simply asked “why?”.
“WHY?! – because you’re a ****** Romulan! I thought I could trust you!” yelled Hecatius, giving vent to her anger .
“And by what evidence have you come to that conclusion?” Saavik asked calmly yet fully alert for the possible opportunity to deal with the situation.
“I saw the mark on your back and I know what it means, what you really are! My father has such a mark!”
“I see, and you suppose that I am a spy or a saboteur?” said Saavik quietly.
“Yes! And a soon to be dead one!”
“You would kill me out of hand, placing yourself above the law of the federation and Starfleet – purely on circumstantial evidence then?”
Damn right I will – and avenge my mother’s murder”
“I am not responsible for your mother’s death, indeed, I am not the Romulan you suppose me to be, are you ready to be responsible for the death of an innocent?”
“INNOCENCE? What possible innocence can there be in a Rommie?!”
“What of a half-Romulan ? As I am, as YOU apparently are?. What of the innocence of my Vulcan mother whom a Romulan forced himself upon? and the child he scorned and rejected? Do you suppose that I asked for my heritage? You demand I prove my innocence. I ask you – are you acquainted with suffering as I am? Do you have ANY idea of what it means to be born an outcast – in the Romulan Star Empire?”
Hecatius’ thoughts raced. How could she of not considered this?!. Fear gripped her as she realised how close she was to killing some-one who could be innocent. But HOW would she know the truth? Hecatius agonised over the decision.
Saavik saw the conflict going on within Hecatius and pressed for the advantage…
“Ensign Hecatius., you cannot stand there indefinitely. You must make a decision and then act upon it. You said earlier you thought you could trust me..I AM TRUSTWORTHY . Believe me or not. But you must act”.
CHAPTER 4
That small voice spoke within Hecatius.” You’ll see the truth in her eyes – the eyes are the window of the soul”
She looked into those dark brown eyes searchingly and the seconds passed. She could see no deceit, in fact there was an openness, and a calmness to accept her fate. Hecatius felt empty and drained. The anger draining away too. The seriousness of what she had done and was intending to do meant her life was as good as over. It would mean expulsion from Starfleet and a lengthy prison sentence. All she felt now was shame. Hecatius lowered her arm and dropped the phaser to the floor. Her legs buckled and she sank to her knees to the floor. She found herself staring at the shiny black boots before her.
“Get up ensign. Stand to attention!” Saavik spoke with authority.
Hecatius stood to rigid attention
Saavik softened her tone. “Only you and I know what has passed here. It can stay that way. I understand your pain, more than you realise.”
Hecatius looked up at her in disbelief. Surely she had misheard?
“You….You’re not… going to report me? After what I was going to do? What I have done?!”
“No. I’m not. I believe you deserve a second chance. See this as a ‘learning curve’, a chance to grow and mature. I would see you reach your potential and become the scientist and even the officer I would nurture. It would be a waste if I took offence at one so young and immature”.
Hecatius blushed at the truth of the statement. “I don’t deserve this”
“What do ANY of us deserve?” Saavik asked. “Compose yourself and meet us at the shuttle for the meal-time. I'll give you ten minutes”. Saavik walked out of the cave.
Hecatius looked at the ant-like creatures swarming over each other, cleaning each other, touching antennae in communication. She recalled what the tutor had said about a ship’s crew being a community.
If Arrax and Saavik were anything to go by, Hecatius was going to enjoy belonging to this ‘community’.
THE END
