Reunion Call (Nira Said)

[Nira Said]

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

Nira had just finished. Normally, with her new schedule, she'd be in the holodecks practicing, but she had some urgent paperwork to get to. She never thought she'd finish the day in her office.

Finished, Nira sighed. She was amazed at how far she had gotten. She thought of her old ship, her old departmental head. She had to admit, being around Mister Graham made Nira nostalgic for the Athena. She realized she missed her old colleagues.

Of course, she had no idea where she might find them. No way to get in touch with the Athena, for all she knew, it could be far away. She did know that James Carter was an admiral, but she couldn't even tell where she could find his office...did he have an office next to his father's...? No, he's more likely the kind of admiral to just administer a whole sector from a starbase...

She then remembered that there was someone from the Athena she knew, that she was also on Discovery when she transferred over. Their time together was brief, but Nira had grown to admire Ruth Sigurdsdottir. High-ranking as she was, she could also provide advice about running a department...

Seeing she had nothing further to do, Nira decided to make a call to Ruth.

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

Nira had just finished. Normally, with her new schedule, she'd be in the holodecks practicing, but she had some urgent paperwork to get to. She never thought she'd finish the day in her office.

Finished, Nira sighed. She was amazed at how far she had gotten. She thought of her old ship, her old departmental head. She had to admit, being around Mister Graham made Nira nostalgic for the Athena. She realized she missed her old colleagues.

Of course, she had no idea where she might find them. No way to get in touch with the Athena, for all she knew, it could be far away. She did know that James Carter was an admiral, but she couldn't even tell where she could find his office...did he have an office next to his father's...? No, he's more likely the kind of admiral to just administer a whole sector from a starbase...

She then remembered that there was someone from the Athena she knew, that she was also on Discovery when she transferred over. Their time together was brief, but Nira had grown to admire Ruth Sigurdsdottir. High-ranking as she was, she could also provide advice about running a department...

Seeing she had nothing further to do, Nira decided to make a call to Ruth.

[Ruth's Quarter's - USS Challenger]

Ruth's computer chirped with an incoming message, and she swung her legs off the bed where she'd been reading a novel, as it happens, one of her favourite Sherlock Holmes mysteries, 'The Blue Carbuncle'.

Switching on the computer she saw the flashing icon and activated it then smiled as she saw the Arabian features of Nira Said come onto the screen.

"Nira!  Long time no see.  How's life on the Discovery?!" Ruth asked happy to see her Science buddy from the Tempest.

[Nira Said]

[Ruth's Quarter's - USS Challenger]

Ruth's computer chirped with an incoming message, and she swung her legs off the bed where she'd been reading a novel, as it happens, one of her favourite Sherlock Holmes mysteries, 'The Blue Carbuncle'.

Switching on the computer she saw the flashing icon and activated it then smiled as she saw the Arabian features of Nira Said come onto the screen.

"Nira!  Long time no see.  How's life on the Discovery?!" Ruth asked happy to see her Science buddy from the Tempest.

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

Nira smiled in delight at the sight of seeing Ruth. It definitely had been a long time.

"Life's been excellent. Plenty of unexpected developments," she said. "Been promoted to Lieutenant and I've replaced Commander Felder as departmental head. Sorry we couldn't get together when the Challenger and the Discovery were together at Katra."

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

Nira smiled in delight at the sight of seeing Ruth. It definitely had been a long time.

"Life's been excellent. Plenty of unexpected developments," she said. "Been promoted to Lieutenant and I've replaced Commander Felder as departmental head. Sorry we couldn't get together when the Challenger and the Discovery were together at Katra."

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

"You missed some fun with the Julbukking, that was complete madness!!,  and if I recall you're one for letting your hair down when you can!" Ruth replied with a chuckle.

"Congrats on the promotion.  I've been demoted, promoted...  sort of.  Long story, they moved me to the Discovery following the Leyton battle, and I was demoted to Commander... then Commander Briggs who was the former XO under Captain Galloway who I think you know since he was XO of the Discovery before coming here... well Kyle moved to Katra and Galloway has made me his XO... I still keep half an eye on the Science Department of course!"

Her face had a shadow pass it momentarily but she brightened.

"I've also been married, widowed,  but have a newish relationship with a very sexy Andorian!" the redhead said with a grin.  "What you been up to?!"

[Nira Said]

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

"You missed some fun with the Julbukking, that was complete madness!!,  and if I recall you're one for letting your hair down when you can!" Ruth replied with a chuckle.

"Congrats on the promotion.  I've been demoted, promoted...  sort of.  Long story, they moved me to the Discovery following the Leyton battle, and I was demoted to Commander... then Commander Briggs who was the former XO under Captain Galloway who I think you know since he was XO of the Discovery before coming here... well Kyle moved to Katra and Galloway has made me his XO... I still keep half an eye on the Science Department of course!"

Her face had a shadow pass it momentarily but she brightened.

"I've also been married, widowed,  but have a newish relationship with a very sexy Andorian!" the redhead said with a grin.  "What you been up to?!"

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

Nira smiled as Ruth spoke. Sounded like Ruth moved from position to position about as frequently as a Bedouin moves from one place to another. When she mentioned her relationship with a sexy Andorian, she smiled wider.

"Well, funnily enough, Ruth," she said, "I'm in a relationship with a sexy Vulcan. Long enough in a relationship that he recently proposed to me! I think you'd like him, and he's an interesting Vulcan. He's a little unusual in that he doesn't behave like a typical Vulcan. He tells me he's from a cultural group called the V'tosh Ka'tur. Translates into 'Vulcan Without Logic.' Basically, this group learned to exist without having to surpress emotions, they believe logic, will still essential, compliments emotion, not excludes them. It's fascinating, but there's hardly any left; it's a dying culture among Vulcans. But we also have a good relationship in that we're both telepaths."

She sighed...swooned, more like the sound of it...at the sound of their linking their minds.

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

Nira smiled as Ruth spoke. Sounded like Ruth moved from position to position about as frequently as a Bedouin moves from one place to another. When she mentioned her relationship with a sexy Andorian, she smiled wider.

"Well, funnily enough, Ruth," she said, "I'm in a relationship with a sexy Vulcan. Long enough in a relationship that he recently proposed to me! I think you'd like him, and he's an interesting Vulcan. He's a little unusual in that he doesn't behave like a typical Vulcan. He tells me he's from a cultural group called the V'tosh Ka'tur. Translates into 'Vulcan Without Logic.' Basically, this group learned to exist without having to surpress emotions, they believe logic, will still essential, compliments emotion, not excludes them. It's fascinating, but there's hardly any left; it's a dying culture among Vulcans. But we also have a good relationship in that we're both telepaths."

She sighed...swooned, more like the sound of it...at the sound of their linking their minds.

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

"Whoa!  Engaged! Congratulations...where's the ring?  I guess if it's flashy you can't wear it on duty though! I've heard of V'tosh Ka'tur, although not done any major studies on them even for my Anthropological research, but what I got was that they are all the best bits of Vulcans!  And of course one needs logic... but like most things, everything in moderation and for the proper use!"

She smiled through the screen at Nira.

"You must let me know when anything happens, you know like you getting married.  If I can't come celebrate with you, I will definitely send you and your Vulcan a gift! It'll probably be a long while before that happens for me, such is the nature of Andorians but y'know I actually think he's been totally faithful to me and that's quite a commitment!  Tell me more about this charming Vulcan of yours!"

[Nira Said]

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

"Whoa!  Engaged! Congratulations...where's the ring?  I guess if it's flashy you can't wear it on duty though! I've heard of V'tosh Ka'tur, although not done any major studies on them even for my Anthropological research, but what I got was that they are all the best bits of Vulcans!  And of course one needs logic... but like most things, everything in moderation and for the proper use!"

She smiled through the screen at Nira.

"You must let me know when anything happens, you know like you getting married.  If I can't come celebrate with you, I will definitely send you and your Vulcan a gift! It'll probably be a long while before that happens for me, such is the nature of Andorians but y'know I actually think he's been totally faithful to me and that's quite a commitment!  Tell me more about this charming Vulcan of yours!"

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

Nira smiled. "No, of course not," she said. "Especially not a ring from Sultan's Jewelry all the way from Katra Station."

It was true, in point of fact. Nira never wore her engagement ring on duty. Being from Sultan's Jewelry, it was a little flashy. She only put it on when she went off duty, or at least, whenever she returned to her quarters.

"Of course, Ruth," said Nira. "I'll be sure to let you know when it happens. Might be a while, though. My family...my human family...believes in long engagements."

When Ruth asked for what her Vulcan was like, Nira smiled and elaborated. "His name is Savar. He's a junior lieutenant in the Science Department. From what I understand, he joined Discovery just before we went to this interesting binary system. We met a little later while we were at Policyon II, right around when he was feeling his urges; he was undergoing Pon Farr and I gladly helped...though one reason for the engagement was so he can feel a little more comfortable, given Pon Farr is a mating ritual. But to me, it was..." she sighed with a slight swoon... "...the most stimulating experience I ever had. Especially given we're both telepaths."

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

Nira smiled. "No, of course not," she said. "Especially not a ring from Sultan's Jewelry all the way from Katra Station."

It was true, in point of fact. Nira never wore her engagement ring on duty. Being from Sultan's Jewelry, it was a little flashy. She only put it on when she went off duty, or at least, whenever she returned to her quarters.

"Of course, Ruth," said Nira. "I'll be sure to let you know when it happens. Might be a while, though. My family...my human family...believes in long engagements."

When Ruth asked for what her Vulcan was like, Nira smiled and elaborated. "His name is Savar. He's a junior lieutenant in the Science Department. From what I understand, he joined Discovery just before we went to this interesting binary system. We met a little later while we were at Policyon II, right around when he was feeling his urges; he was undergoing Pon Farr and I gladly helped...though one reason for the engagement was so he can feel a little more comfortable, given Pon Farr is a mating ritual. But to me, it was..." she sighed with a slight swoon... "...the most stimulating experience I ever had. Especially given we're both telepaths."

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

"Sultan's Jewellery, wow!  My Yuletide pressie was from there I think..." she drew up the chain out of her collar and showed Nira the necklace Lahr had given her at Yule.  It was a snowflake on a delicate silver chain with blue sapphires and diamonds representing the cold climes of both their homeworlds... or least Ruth's part of Earth.  "...not a ring but for Lahr to buy me jewellery was significant, as was the item... it's very symbolic.  It's difficult for Andorians to commit to one person...given their quadratic relationships normally."

"I've only heard of Pon Farr, never actually seen someone ah... not sure if 'suffering' is the right word given that if Vulcans mate anything like humans do that can be um... fun!" Ruth said with a giggle.

"And great that you can connect on other levels other than at obvious points! That's gotta be pretty special.  Lahr and I aren't telepathic but we're close enough to know what the other is thinking, just not in a mind reading ... well not literally, I mean how humans say 'Oh you read my mind'... when you were thinking about having a particular drink and your significant other fetches you one without asking."

[Nira Said]

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

"Sultan's Jewellery, wow!  My Yuletide pressie was from there I think..." she drew up the chain out of her collar and showed Nira the necklace Lahr had given her at Yule.  It was a snowflake on a delicate silver chain with blue sapphires and diamonds representing the cold climes of both their homeworlds... or least Ruth's part of Earth.  "...not a ring but for Lahr to buy me jewellery was significant, as was the item... it's very symbolic.  It's difficult for Andorians to commit to one person...given their quadratic relationships normally."

"I've only heard of Pon Farr, never actually seen someone ah... not sure if 'suffering' is the right word given that if Vulcans mate anything like humans do that can be um... fun!" Ruth said with a giggle.

"And great that you can connect on other levels other than at obvious points! That's gotta be pretty special.  Lahr and I aren't telepathic but we're close enough to know what the other is thinking, just not in a mind reading ... well not literally, I mean how humans say 'Oh you read my mind'... when you were thinking about having a particular drink and your significant other fetches you one without asking."

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

"Oh, I know the expression, Ruth," said Nira with a smile. "I've often heard it jokingly at the Academy, even though I never use my telepathy at all."

Feeling the need to elaborate, Nira explained, "Of course, when he says suffer, it's that in Pon Farr, the urge to mate requires him to find one, otherwise, he has all this pain to deal with. But, yes, it was fun," she added with a smile. "If one is a telepath, again, it's so stimulating."

Nira raised an eyebrow at interest at mention of Andorian relationships. "Fascinating," she said. "Reminds me of back in Arabia. There are stories of powerful rulers, sultans, emirs and caliphs, who had more than one wife. I believe it's known as a harem. These Andorian relationships remind me of a harem."

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

"Oh, I know the expression, Ruth," said Nira with a smile. "I've often heard it jokingly at the Academy, even though I never use my telepathy at all."

Feeling the need to elaborate, Nira explained, "Of course, when he says suffer, it's that in Pon Farr, the urge to mate requires him to find one, otherwise, he has all this pain to deal with. But, yes, it was fun," she added with a smile. "If one is a telepath, again, it's so stimulating."

Nira raised an eyebrow at interest at mention of Andorian relationships. "Fascinating," she said. "Reminds me of back in Arabia. There are stories of powerful rulers, sultans, emirs and caliphs, who had more than one wife. I believe it's known as a harem. These Andorian relationships remind me of a harem."

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

"I'd not thought of it like that!" Ruth admitted.  "Although in our particular relationship, there's no others, well that I know of.  If we decided on having children there would probably have to be another male, a thaan.  Lahr's a chan, and you need a thaan, chan, zhen and shen.  Now if I was to mate with Lahr somewhere down the road, as I understand it... The gametes of each "male" sex contain one third of the number of chromosomes necessary to produce offspring. During the conception of an Andorian child, the thaan fertilizes a shen's egg with his gamete. The chan then also fertilizes the egg. This produces a fertilized egg that develops into a zygote. The shen then transfers the zygote to the zhen's pouch, where it develops into an embryo. The Andorian fetus is incubated and nourishes to term in the zhen's pouch. The zhen does not contribute genetically to offspring, thus, I can fulfill the requirements of both zhen and shen, but we'd need a thaan's gamete... I'm assuming and hoping this can be done either artificially or well like artificial insemination and I don't need to actually... y'know!  I want this to be just my and Lahr's child, no other person involved.  It's not something we've fully talked about yet but something I've really thought about and found out as much as I can.  I need to speak to a doctor about it though."

Ruth shrugged and then said "Right now we're just enjoying being together but if we want kids, I think it's going to have to be sooner rather than later... we'll work it out!  So other than getting engaged what you been having fun with?"

[Nira Said]

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

"I'd not thought of it like that!" Ruth admitted.  "Although in our particular relationship, there's no others, well that I know of.  If we decided on having children there would probably have to be another male, a thaan.  Lahr's a chan, and you need a thaan, chan, zhen and shen.  Now if I was to mate with Lahr somewhere down the road, as I understand it... The gametes of each "male" sex contain one third of the number of chromosomes necessary to produce offspring. During the conception of an Andorian child, the thaan fertilizes a shen's egg with his gamete. The chan then also fertilizes the egg. This produces a fertilized egg that develops into a zygote. The shen then transfers the zygote to the zhen's pouch, where it develops into an embryo. The Andorian fetus is incubated and nourishes to term in the zhen's pouch. The zhen does not contribute genetically to offspring, thus, I can fulfill the requirements of both zhen and shen, but we'd need a thaan's gamete... I'm assuming and hoping this can be done either artificially or well like artificial insemination and I don't need to actually... y'know!  I want this to be just my and Lahr's child, no other person involved.  It's not something we've fully talked about yet but something I've really thought about and found out as much as I can.  I need to speak to a doctor about it though."

Ruth shrugged and then said "Right now we're just enjoying being together but if we want kids, I think it's going to have to be sooner rather than later... we'll work it out!  So other than getting engaged what you been having fun with?"

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

"Fascinating," said Nira. "And it sounds like that's complicated to have children with an Andorian. In all fairness, Savar and I agreed with only having one child, but I'd much rather clone myself to keep my legacy going. To be honest, I don't like children. Their minds and feelings are strong and unpredictable. When my telepathy manifested, I became reclusive to avoid crowded play areas and classrooms, so many strong emotions. Plus, I once passed a day care center and I came down with a hangover-level headache."

At Ruth's other question, Nira replied, "Been enjoying work. Of course, I had recently went through a bout of mind control on my last away mission. I was integrated in a town that shouldn't exist, and I came out with memories of a different life. As someone with a photographic memory and strong observational skills, I can't help but dwell with what happened. Been working fifteen hour days, maybe more, to get my mind off them. Overwork as it is, at least it keeps my mind off, but thinking of them...this alternate life, the memories of it, they keep me awake at night."

Nira, of course, realized how much she was talking about, but in all fairness, she needed someone to bring it up. Someone from the Athena.

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

"Fascinating," said Nira. "And it sounds like that's complicated to have children with an Andorian. In all fairness, Savar and I agreed with only having one child, but I'd much rather clone myself to keep my legacy going. To be honest, I don't like children. Their minds and feelings are strong and unpredictable. When my telepathy manifested, I became reclusive to avoid crowded play areas and classrooms, so many strong emotions. Plus, I once passed a day care center and I came down with a hangover-level headache."

At Ruth's other question, Nira replied, "Been enjoying work. Of course, I had recently went through a bout of mind control on my last away mission. I was integrated in a town that shouldn't exist, and I came out with memories of a different life. As someone with a photographic memory and strong observational skills, I can't help but dwell with what happened. Been working fifteen hour days, maybe more, to get my mind off them. Overwork as it is, at least it keeps my mind off, but thinking of them...this alternate life, the memories of it, they keep me awake at night."

Nira, of course, realized how much she was talking about, but in all fairness, she needed someone to bring it up. Someone from the Athena.

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

"Keep forgetting you're Betazoid, and yeah, kids can be overwhelming for you as they have no way of shielding emotions either, well maybe a Vulcan child could, but in general, children are, by nature, exuberant and as such I guess if one were to make a drawing of emotions and feelings of a child, it would be like giving a red wax crayon to a 2 year old and an outline drawing of a person and asking them to stay within the lines.  You and I both know there would just be this red 'explosion' on the paper...and possibly on every other surface in the room you left them in!" Ruth chuckled.

"As for complicated with an Andorian..." she sighed.  "Ah well... cross that particular bridge when we come to it, although we'd better not attempt it on the Bridge.  Ian might have a few things to say about that.  He mostly turns a blind eye to the coded messages Lahr and I exchange, since about 90% of the crew know we're dating, it's not a secret and it's been approved. But you know there are lines that have to be drawn, and not by the aforementioned 2 year old with his or her crayon!" the Challenger's XO grinned.

"Nira, I'm worried about you. 15 hours is not healthy. I know you probably don't want to talk about this to a counsellor but... I'm here, as your friend..." she pointedly took off her rank pips one by one and put them on the table in front of her and unzipped her uniform to show the shirt underneath and look a bit less formal and XO like.

"Whatever you say will go no further if you need someone to talk to, about anything. I can even erase this conversation from record if you like, expunge it like it never happened if it comes to that."

[Nira Said]

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

"Keep forgetting you're Betazoid, and yeah, kids can be overwhelming for you as they have no way of shielding emotions either, well maybe a Vulcan child could, but in general, children are, by nature, exuberant and as such I guess if one were to make a drawing of emotions and feelings of a child, it would be like giving a red wax crayon to a 2 year old and an outline drawing of a person and asking them to stay within the lines.  You and I both know there would just be this red 'explosion' on the paper...and possibly on every other surface in the room you left them in!" Ruth chuckled.

"As for complicated with an Andorian..." she sighed.  "Ah well... cross that particular bridge when we come to it, although we'd better not attempt it on the Bridge.  Ian might have a few things to say about that.  He mostly turns a blind eye to the coded messages Lahr and I exchange, since about 90% of the crew know we're dating, it's not a secret and it's been approved. But you know there are lines that have to be drawn, and not by the aforementioned 2 year old with his or her crayon!" the Challenger's XO grinned.

"Nira, I'm worried about you. 15 hours is not healthy. I know you probably don't want to talk about this to a counsellor but... I'm here, as your friend..." she pointedly took off her rank pips one by one and put them on the table in front of her and unzipped her uniform to show the shirt underneath and look a bit less formal and XO like.

"Whatever you say will go no further if you need someone to talk to, about anything. I can even erase this conversation from record if you like, expunge it like it never happened if it comes to that."

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

"That's a good point," said Nira. "But then again, I'm a Betazoid raised by humans. I only learned about being a Betazoid when I met other Betazoids at the Academy. I learned to use my abilities as a tool, and it was there I also developed my photographic memory."

Nira raised an eyebrow when she saw Ruth take her pips off after expressing her concern about her. Seeing as this was looking like a definite girl-to-girl talk, more emphasized rather than officer-to-officer, Nira also removed her pips.

"I appreciate it, Ruth," she said. "Expunging it might be idea; it's bound to be a sensitive topic. I can't go to a counselor about it, they wouldn't understand about being subjected to mind control. Especially when there are ten years' worth of memories that I never lived implanted in my head, let alone in the right time period. As a telepath, it could even be regarded as tantamount to rape.

"I just can't stop dwelling on these memories," continued Nira. "They come to me whenever my mind wanders, and that's virtually when I eat or sleep. I mean, it's so vivid to remember them, particularly with my photographic memory. My last away mission...the away team, including the Captain, were...integrated in a town that shouldn't be thriving. These...creatures, they gave of a sort of natural hypnosis biologically, and they speeded up the process. We were forgetting about who we were, we had different identities...in living there for less than two days, we attained ten years' worth of memories; had we remained for more than a week, our pasts would've been rewritten completely.

"Fortunately, the crew saved us," said Nira, sighing at times, "but...well, we got the scars, and with my telepathy and photographic memory, my mental scars run deeper. I'm trying to work hard to keep my mind off these memories. But...what can I do, Ruth?"

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

"That's a good point," said Nira. "But then again, I'm a Betazoid raised by humans. I only learned about being a Betazoid when I met other Betazoids at the Academy. I learned to use my abilities as a tool, and it was there I also developed my photographic memory."

Nira raised an eyebrow when she saw Ruth take her pips off after expressing her concern about her. Seeing as this was looking like a definite girl-to-girl talk, more emphasized rather than officer-to-officer, Nira also removed her pips.

"I appreciate it, Ruth," she said. "Expunging it might be idea; it's bound to be a sensitive topic. I can't go to a counselor about it, they wouldn't understand about being subjected to mind control. Especially when there are ten years' worth of memories that I never lived implanted in my head, let alone in the right time period. As a telepath, it could even be regarded as tantamount to rape.

"I just can't stop dwelling on these memories," continued Nira. "They come to me whenever my mind wanders, and that's virtually when I eat or sleep. I mean, it's so vivid to remember them, particularly with my photographic memory. My last away mission...the away team, including the Captain, were...integrated in a town that shouldn't be thriving. These...creatures, they gave of a sort of natural hypnosis biologically, and they speeded up the process. We were forgetting about who we were, we had different identities...in living there for less than two days, we attained ten years' worth of memories; had we remained for more than a week, our pasts would've been rewritten completely.

"Fortunately, the crew saved us," said Nira, sighing at times, "but...well, we got the scars, and with my telepathy and photographic memory, my mental scars run deeper. I'm trying to work hard to keep my mind off these memories. But...what can I do, Ruth?"

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

Ruth saw Nira follow suit with the pips and smiled, hoping Nira would relax a little.  Then she got the explanation and Ruth had to stop for a moment, and while it was only to ground herself a little at the shock of what Nira said, had to rely on her officer and command training to actually think of a solution.

"Well, it was a form of rape.  I'm not sure if your regular medical staff could help, as in erase the memories, but then that would probably have to go thru the counsellor, or they'd want you to see a counsellor...hmmm."

Ruth thought for a while and said.  "How about, I know you want to repress them but I'm available this sort of time for the next month, how about you talk me through them, sometimes, there's an old Earthen adage of 'A problem shared is a problem halved.'  I might not solve it for you, but we could at least look at it from all angles, approach it as a Scientific problem and see if we can't close the matter for you.  I am working one kind of idea but it's not fully formed yet but I'll float it by you. Give me a sec."

Ruth stood, disappeared from the screen momentarily, crossed to the replicator and came back with a Ratkajino.  "Unlike Mr. Holmes, I don't smoke, do drugs or play the violin, but a good coffee helps, this may be a 3 mug conundrum!" she joked.  "OK, did you lose any of your Nira as Nira memories... I mean are these fake memories like an apocrypha or do they totally replace.  I mean..." the redhead sighed and blew on her coffee then took a sip.

"OK, we know that you were in this town for 2 days I think you said.  So if you can separate what actually happened just those 2 days, those are semi-true TN - that's True Nira - memories as you actually lived those days.  If you can analyse those and deduct them from all of them, then, the only thing I can suggest is... hmmm!"

The Viking XO smiled a secretive smile and then pulled a moue "I wonder.  You said Savar, your fiancÁ© is Vulcan.  Does he know about this? I can't assume.  If so, it won't hurt to talk him through it more and, Vulcans have a way of controlling their minds, marshalling thoughts.  Maybe he could have a technique to repress the memories.  If that also means losing those 2 days of TN you, then I think that would be small price to pay for... ironically termed this... Peace of mind."

[Nira Said]

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

Ruth saw Nira follow suit with the pips and smiled, hoping Nira would relax a little.  Then she got the explanation and Ruth had to stop for a moment, and while it was only to ground herself a little at the shock of what Nira said, had to rely on her officer and command training to actually think of a solution.

"Well, it was a form of rape.  I'm not sure if your regular medical staff could help, as in erase the memories, but then that would probably have to go thru the counsellor, or they'd want you to see a counsellor...hmmm."

Ruth thought for a while and said.  "How about, I know you want to repress them but I'm available this sort of time for the next month, how about you talk me through them, sometimes, there's an old Earthen adage of 'A problem shared is a problem halved.'  I might not solve it for you, but we could at least look at it from all angles, approach it as a Scientific problem and see if we can't close the matter for you.  I am working one kind of idea but it's not fully formed yet but I'll float it by you. Give me a sec."

Ruth stood, disappeared from the screen momentarily, crossed to the replicator and came back with a Ratkajino.  "Unlike Mr. Holmes, I don't smoke, do drugs or play the violin, but a good coffee helps, this may be a 3 mug conundrum!" she joked.  "OK, did you lose any of your Nira as Nira memories... I mean are these fake memories like an apocrypha or do they totally replace.  I mean..." the redhead sighed and blew on her coffee then took a sip.

"OK, we know that you were in this town for 2 days I think you said.  So if you can separate what actually happened just those 2 days, those are semi-true TN - that's True Nira - memories as you actually lived those days.  If you can analyse those and deduct them from all of them, then, the only thing I can suggest is... hmmm!"

The Viking XO smiled a secretive smile and then pulled a moue "I wonder.  You said Savar, your fiancÁ© is Vulcan.  Does he know about this? I can't assume.  If so, it won't hurt to talk him through it more and, Vulcans have a way of controlling their minds, marshalling thoughts.  Maybe he could have a technique to repress the memories.  If that also means losing those 2 days of TN you, then I think that would be small price to pay for... ironically termed this... Peace of mind."

[Lieutenant Nira Said | Security Office | Deck Ten | USS Discovery NCC-78393-B]

Nira hung on to every one of Ruth's words and thought a moment. Technically, her memories weren't erased, she remembered what happened in the town when she was Najwa Said, the runaway harem slave turned saloon girl.

"Not necessarily," she said. "It's more like a computer, and these memories were a file that was put in there by somebody else. Suffice to say, I was using a cover story, even using a full Arabic name, Najwa, for that...then suddenly, the cover story turned real. Those were just two days, yes, but it felt a little longer than that. I remember when I met that particular creature, then a blank. These false memories, including the ones over two days that I technically remember, they're also more of an overlap, though given enough time, they would've overrode my past memories before my whole past could've been rewritten.

"Savar knows about them, too," she said. "We have a sort of bond created in Pon Farr. I feel his emotions at times. Or rather, sometimes I'm feeling what he's feeling, and vice versa, but we've worked on that. But when we were in the past and I became Najwa, he could see something was wrong with me, and he was worried that the bond would work two ways, that he would fall under the same mind control as I have. He didn't, thank Allah, but nonetheless, he was very concerned. However, as a V'tosh Ka'tur, he was a recluse before we met. He stayed away from even other Vulcans, taking work assignments that involved isolation. I'm not sure he knows how to repress them.

"In addition," Nira added, "I'm somewhat fascinated by these memories. I like to review them sometimes. They're fascinating, the life I technically didn't live, I would've made Scheherazade jealous. The problem is that these memories come to me absolutely at an Allah-awful inconvenience, especially the more shocking moments.

"However, I can talk to him," she said. "See if he has anything that can help, maybe to help me stop dwelling on these. He probably might know something, who knows?" she added with a shrug and a smile.

"Oh, pardon for going off-topic," she added, "but how's I...Captain Galloway?" She stopped herself in time. She had been about to use Ian Galloway's first name, but she remembered he's a captain now, even though she had gotten on a friendly enough basis with him before his promotion to know his first name, particularly when flying with him in the holodeck with his and Don's favorite program.