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Chapter Text

“Little Solar, you are so sweet and chubby!” The squealing laughter only infants could make sounded out soon after, as his current caretaker rained kisses upon his belly. Nefi beamed broadly at the one year old, freshly washed from their bath, as she tried to contain his chubby limbs to dress him. His mother would be arriving soon to relieve her of her duties, and the sixteen year old wanted to present her with a properly dressed child. “Come now, your ko-mekh is coming!” 

“M’aih! M’aih!” The boy exclaimed with his sweetly accented baby voice. She carefully avoided bending his pointed ears as she combed through his damp hair, and with practiced speed, he was soon dressed in an infants tunic, pants, and soft slippers. 

“Kan-bu! Kan-bu!” Nefi replied in Vulcan, her heart soaring as the child released another peal of laughter. She quickly dressed herself in a loose tunic and soft pants, and Solar sat dutifully in his little portable crib as she attempted to tame her mass of curly hair into a thick plait that fell to her waist. He babbled a mix of Vulcan, Standard, and baby language as she scooped him up to sit on the notch of her hip, and just as she reached the door, it chimed. “Right on time,” she said in a hushed, excited tone for the baby. 

He bounced and squealed joyfully as the door slide open to reveal the tranquil face of his mother, T’Sol, who he was named after. Nefi found herself laughing as the baby turned into a wiggling little mass of excitable Vulcan, and handed the boy over to the composed T’Sol. The older Vulcan allowed the barest ghost of a smile to grace her lips as she finally held her son. 

“Nefi, I thank you for the care you have provided for Solar.” The baby babbled as his name was said, Nefi hearing her own name thrown into the mix. T’Sol smoothed a calming hand over his back, but did not attempt to curb his excitement. Nefi bowed slightly, as T’Sol said this to her every day, as she had become the unlikely nanny to the researcher’s child several months prior. 

“And I thank you for allowing me to care for such a darling baby,” and she lifted her hand to squeeze his little covered foot, a smile blooming as he laughed. This routine had filled the teens idle days with joy, and so she did not resent that she was not compensated for the work. Her mother had once implied that Nefi was allowing the Vulcan to take advantage of her kindness, but her daughter disagreed. 

They were a small community on an isolated planet, and thus she found it completely acceptable to provide whatever help she could. Nefi was still too young to work in the mines, and she had no real interest in becoming a scientist like her parents and T’Sol, so why not play nanny? It did not hurt that Solar was the most agreeable baby, rarely upset or grumpy, always willing to drink his milk and eat the foods provided. She’d have to be a monster to turn the tired T’Sol away when the Vulcan had asked for help, a feat she no doubt struggled with. 

The female Vulcan raised her hand to bid Nefi farewell, and the teen returned the gesture. She watched as the two walked through the narrow walkways of the rustic, converted shuttle houses, a soft smile on her face in anticipation for the next day. 

Nefi woke with a start, pain seared through her side, and her head felt muffled and cotton-stuffed. She blinked away the sleep and delirium, and soon reality hit her like a Starship Plasma Canon. The roof to her shuttle home was gone, completely blown away, the edges of what was left were a smoldering red. She cried out slightly as the pain in her side flared, and she felt dismay as her hand touched the skin to feel it warped and hot to the touch. The girl sat, and ground down on her teeth to swing her legs over her cot, only to nearly fall at the sight of her parents side of the shuttle; it was gone, just as the roof was. 

Nefi’s mind screamed with emergency protocols as she stood, forcing herself to limp over to the still standing storage room that she knew contained medical supplies, and much more importantly, her phaser. She had to pry the door open, but managed it easily enough, and soon she was sitting on her cot, side wrapped and slathered in numbing ointments. She hissed as she slid on a thermal shirt, and slipped her feet into her boots. 

Nefi did not let herself think on her parent’s fate. Did not allow herself to dwell on the fact that she would never see her fathers warm, brown face smiling at her in the morning, or that she would never help her mother pull her thick, pin straight hair into a regulation bun ever again. If Nefi allowed herself to dwell, she would surely lose momentum and motivation, and the girl had to find the other colonists. She stumbled through the thankfully working front door, and felt herself gasp in horror. 

All that was left of the small science town was glowing, melted metal. Something large seemed to have taken out the majority of the shuttle homes in one fell swoop, barely missing her in the attack. Nefi was no weapons expert, had barely passed her phaser accuracy test, she had no clue what was capable of doing this. She stumbled, her panic raising more and more as she came across bodies, mutilated and burned, but she pushed on. She did not think of their faces, of the fact that she spoke to most of these people only a few hours previously. She could not. 

A loud cry, shrieking and shrill broke through the night, and Nefi felt her heart drop to her feet; Solar. Without thinking of her pain, she broke into a sprint to follow the wailing, avoiding the buildings and bodies. She skidded to a halt in front of one of the looming, natural mountains that cupped the village like nurturing hands, the baby’s cries coming from one of the many small caves that pocked it’s surface. Nefi followed her ears, calling out softly for the baby, if only to comfort him, but not wanting to be too loud lest their attackers still be near. 

She cried out triumphantly upon finally finding him, wrapped in a blanket, sitting upright and clutching desperately to the Vulcan equivalent of a teddy bear. His face was mottled green and wet, but she could have cried from how beautiful he looked, simply due to the fact that he was alive and appeared unharmed. She started forward, determined to snatch him up immediately, but froze. Just out of sight, hidden by shadow, was T’Sol. Her body was faced down, her feet pointed to the mouth of the cave. One arm reached for the baby, unmoving, her back seared and blackened. Nefi’s eyes closed, and she sank to her knees. It was too much, she was too young to see such a thing, all of it suddenly overwhelmed her, and her eyes began to burn with tears. 

“Nefi! Nefi!” The wailing increased in volume, but it was enough to snap Nefi out of her emotional tidal wave. Solar, bless him, now stood on shaky, chubby legs, and took a desperate step towards where the girl kneeled; Nefi released a choked sob as she realized that this was his fist attempt at walking. She stood, hurried to the boy, and brought him tightly to her body. He trembled in her grasp, still wailing in distress, and Nefi was at a loss for how to calm him. She was not Vulcan, did not possess any type of telepathy to connect to him as she had seen T’Sol done before. She cradled the thrashing child to her chest, desperate wishing she could simply run her hands over his face to calm him, however, it seemed to make things worse. 

In desperation, she grabbed his hands, something T’Sol had once warned her against, and it seemed to calm him immediately. She pressed his chubby palms to her face, wanting to push her calm and the sense of safety into his tiny mind, and they sat there until the sun rose, Solar’s hiccuping breathing and her soothing words in Vulcan the only noise in the night. 

Nefi was not sure what to do. The sun had risen, though shadows cast from the cliffs prevented it’s light from penetrating the remains of the village. She supposed that this was a good thing, as she knew that direct sunlight would accelerate composition. She used a sheet of sturdy fabric to wear Solar on her back, and went to work. Nefi allowed a numb sort of detachment overtake her as she accounted for all of their remaining supplies. 

Two of the shuttles were left untouched by the mysterious attack, sheltered from the blast by an overhanging rock face, however, they were unoccupied. It was a light in the darkness though, and she set up a little nest in one of them for Solar to rest as she got to work on the Shuttle’s old distress beacon. Nefi punched in the frequency she had been forced to memorize since childhood, and sat back to wait from an answer.  

Solar whimpered pitifully, and Nefi’s heart broke when she realized he was hungry. T’Sol could no longer provide milk, but the town’s food stores hadn’t been affected in the attack. She sat with him, feeding him soft, sweet fruit from her hands, and allowed herself to think. They had enough prepared and raw food to last them for several months, and even then, the greenhouse was automated, and would continue to provide for them. 

She did not let herself think on the consequences of the greenhouse failing for some unforeseen reason, and did not let herself dwell on the fact that she had no clue how to work the water filter. They had a few weeks worth of clean water, she could figure it out. She sighed heavily as Solar continued to whine, and attempted to give him more water, but he fussed and nearly knocked it from her hand. 

“Kan-bu, what is the matter?” She cooed comfortably, and gasped as his little hand nearly connected a slap to her face. She blinked down on his rapidly jade-tinted cheeks, before taking his hand into her’s and pressing it to her temple. The effect was immediate, and soon the baby was asleep. “I guess we both need something familiar to grab onto, huh?” She asked the sleeping infant, knowing he could not hear her or even answer. It took 4 hours for her distress call to be answered, but something dark and ugly unfurled from around her heart as she heard the voice coming through the speaker. 

She explained the attack, the fact that she and an infant were the only survivors, how they had medical supplies and food to last them for several months, but that she was not trained in maintaining the devices that would keep them alive. 

“Are either you or the infant injured?” The voice came through, thankfully neutral as Nefi was sure she’d break at hearing emotion other than her own. 

“Solar, the baby, he’s fine.” She looked over the still sleeping boy now in his makeshift nest. “I was injured in the attack, I’m not sure what it was, but the left side of my torso seems,” and she paused to take a steadying breath, “fused. Burned maybe? I have not checked since wrapping it, so I don’t know what it looks like in the light.” The voice on the other line instructed her to use a hypospray for antibiotics to avoid infection, but that the most she could do was continue with the numbing ointment until rescue came. 

“We are three days away at full warp, Miss. Please hang in there.” And then it was silence. Nefi sat there, wondering what she would do for three days, other than keep Solar clean and well. 

She began with gathering the bodies, wanting to avoid leaving them out to decompose in the open air. She completely emptied the second shuttle, thankful when it seemed it would be large enough to contained all of the corpses. It was slow work, and she needed to take several breaks to avoid breaking down and to care for the still distressed Solar, but Nefi had managed to stack the majority of the bodies in the shuttle. The last she’d need to grab was T’Sol, still face down in the cave where Solar had been; Nefi decided to leave Solar in the shuttle for this, rather than keep him on her back. 

It was oddly serene in the cave, as she now noticed the greenery, the small trickling water down the wall of it, and how the air seemed cooler, damp. T’Sol laid there, in a pose many could interpret as sleep, but the Vulcan would never wake, never hold her son again. Nefi took in a shuddering breath, before shoving the pain aside, and hefting the body to its back. 

T’Sol looked just as serene as she had in life, though she was stiff, and her face deeply green as the blood settled from her downward position. “I should’ve moved you last night,” the girl lamented, pushing the Vulcan’s bangs away from her beautiful face, despair and hopelessness filling her; Nefi was glad she had not found her parents bodies, unsure if she would have been able to cope. 

It took an hour to get T’Sol back to the shuttle, her body being the only once completely intact other than the intense burns on her back, but Nefi laid her close to the stacked bodies, and said a small prayer her mother used to chant when stressed. Nefi pulled out a green tarp from one of the side compartments in the shuttle, flicked it over the bodies, and manually shut off the life support; she did not want them to sit in an oxygenated space. 

“Computer, turn temperature to the lowest setting, please.” And it dropped so quickly that it surprised her. Nefi stepped out from the makeshift tomb, and closed the door with a sense of finality she had not felt till that moment. Solar’s wailing alerted her to him being awake, and made her way to back him. 

Nefi had been sleeping with Solar splayed across her chest and torso, when the queer feeling of transportation took over her. She woke with a start, blinking out the bright lights of what was obviously a sickbay, and gasped as a group of medical staff surrounded her, their faces concerned. The baby was scooped from her chest by a nurse, and Nefi watched helplessly as he startled awake, his eyes focusing, only to squeeze shut as he released a frightful scream; the nurse holding him did not seem affected. 

“W-wait,” Nefi called, trying to talk to the doctors, but kept interrupting her. 

“Nefertiti Hasegawa? My name is Dr. Smiths, I’m going to need to scan you, so please remain still.” Nefi could barely hear the doctor over Solar’s shrieking, and felt panic well up into her chest at the sight of nurse leaving with the infant. 

“No, NO! Give him to me!” But she could see the one of the nurses preparing a hydrospray of what was most likely a sedative, “Please, please, I can calm him, he needs someone he knows. Please let me calm him down.” She pleaded, eyes now wet with tears and she looked up into the old woman’s face. Dr. Smith gave a brief nod to the nurse hold Solar, and soon Nefi’s arms were filled with squalling Vulcan infant. She smoothed her hands over his pinched face, and cooed comfortingly, and he calmed to mild whimpers. “It’s okay, Solar. Shh, Kan-bu. My little khio’ri.” She continued to babble in her limited Vulcan as the nurses and doctor took their scans and samples. 

“I will need to look at your injuries, Ms. Hasegawa.” And so she shifted the baby to her opposite side, and allowed the nurse to cut off her shirt and bandages. She did not see the exchange between the doctor and an officer standing at the door of the sickbay, as Solar took that moment to tuck his tiny face into the crook of her neck. 

The next several hours were spent with her skin being regenerated, Solar sleeping in a makeshift cot at her side so her treatment could go on unimpeded. She was asked a very limited number of questions about the attack as they redressed her in a gown, to which she was grateful. The last few days were finally catching up with her, but Nefi kept startling awake as her eyes grew heavy. Dr. Smiths walked in, and gave the teen a soft smile. 

“Nefertiti, you need to rest.” But Nefi shook her head. 

“Solar-“ she started, but the doctor interrupted. 

“He will not be moved from your side, I promise. So please, rest.” And despite her best efforts, the girl felt her eyes grow heavy, and she drifted into a dreamless sleep. 

“Those poor kids,” Captain Fontaine muttered as she looked over the carefully preserved remains of the scientists that ran this particular colony. The shuttle’s air was still, and her breath misted in front of her. “Let’s get these people home,” and one by one, the remains were respectfully placed into preserver bags, and transported to the ship. The captain counted fifteen bodies in total; the number of colonists on recent recorded was fifty-seven.

The older woman felt her heart grow heavier at imagining the teenage survivor going through the rubble of her town, meticulously cleaning and stacking each individual in respect. It showed a rare kind of incentive for someone so young to know that cutting life support and keeping bodies cold would prevent decomp, but Fontaine acknowledged that the girl had been the daughter of scientists.

As Captain, the woman felt that it was her responsibility to go over and log the dead, so she actively assisted her crew in searching the remaining research colony, and compared the list of found remains to the list of previous colonists to prepare herself for the inevitable act of informing their families. 

She sighed as the days work came to a close, calling for transport, and ready for a stiff drink despite knowing she had reports to fill. Starfleet was itching to solve this attack the moment the girl’s tentative distress beacon came to their attention. Nothing about it made sense. If it were a Klingon attack, they would have at least raided what was left. Nefi and the Vulcan infant either taken or disposed of, and yet the human girl made no mention of seeing any beings responsible. The sheer size of the blast, as it appeared to be a single blast, was what boggled Fontaine’s mind. Paired with the fact that this colony was studying a mineral that was plentiful across that particular sector of space, and that there was hardly any violence in that system, made it even more puzzling. 

A random act of senseless slaughter was not an acceptable answer for her superiors. However, the captain quietly disagreed, it seemed random, senseless, and malicious. A small little town tucked away out of sight, but also an easy target to some sentient species with bigger guns. 

As much as she disliked the idea of not being the one to do it, she would need to send her first officer to speak with Ms. Hasegawa. Any little clue the girl might hold could be the answer. 

Nefi sat onto the bed of her new quarters with a sigh, glad to have been discharged from the sickbay. Solar was tucked into her side, a bottle of Vulcan formula in hand, and she smiled softly as he took in their new surroundings. The nurses had only attempted one more time to separate them, if only to change the one year olds diaper, but he was having none of it, and they left him to Nefi. She had explained that she had been an unofficial nanny to Solar for most of his life, and they accepted the answer easily. 

“Let’s have a bath, shall we?” She asked the unusually quiet baby, and stood to take them both to the restroom. Nefi took in the small, sterile place, before checking to see if the shower had water, or just sonic. She was relieved to see that it did indeed have water, hot water, and undressed herself-forcing herself not to stare at the new skin on her side- and the baby to step under the spay. It was no bath, but the soothing heat would have to do. Solar didn’t necessarily need a bath, but she wanted to keep up a routine for him, give him some sort of stability without his mother there. 

He dozed on her chest as the water rushed over his little back, and Nefi allowed herself a single sigh. The skin to skin contact allowed her to feel his wave of exhaustion and confusion and fear, and she attempted to feel nothing but content and calm for his sake. She stepped out of the shower some time later, dried them both off, before redressing him in the soft baby clothes provided. Nefi wondered if T’Sol’s relatives have been alerted to what happened, and wondered when they would come for Solar. Part of her rebelled at the idea of him being taken from her, but there was only so much she could do a Vulcan child. Not to mention that she was still considered a child herself. 

Solar blinked sleepily at her as she stood to grab the powdered Vulcan formula she was provided, and sat on the bed as she shook the bottle without much through. 

“Nefi, thas-tor.” He garbled sweetly, using her shirt to pull himself into standing, and tugging at the front of it. 

“Thas,” she replied, gesturing to the warm bottle in her hand. His face went green in frustration, and tugged more earnestly at her top, this time in an obvious attempt to expose her chest. She gasped and released startled laugher despite herself, and moved his little fists away. “Nefi no thas-tor, Solar!” She chuckled a reply in broken Vulcan. 

And she continued to laugh until tears reached her eyes, and soon the laughter turned into a choked sobbing. She ended up with her face pressed into the pillow, sobbing in earnest because she couldn’t give the baby what he wanted, and his mother was dead. 

Solar watched, oddly quiet and observant of her breakdown, and placed his chubby fingers onto her face. She smiled a watery smile at him as she felt his simple baby concern through the touch, before cradling him for his feeding. He did not attempt to remove her shirt, but his hands did move to kneed at her chest like a little Earth kitten, and she felt so sad by his loss that she allowed it. 

After a final diaper change and some singing on her part, they both settled under the covers to sleep, taking comfort in the familiarity and warmth. 

Chapter Text

Commander Torrent Yamada was a tenderhearted man. He rose in the ranks through his loyalty and valor, but deep down he was a bit of a softy. Which is why, when ordered by his captain to gently question the girl about the events following the attack, Torrent winced visibly. Louisa Fontaine, to her credit and his relief did not comment, knowing that the man was particularly sensitive when it came to children. 

“Now, remember, gentle but direct. Remind her that the smallest of details matter. What did the air smell like, what noises did she hear, was there any unnatural lighting that perhaps she caught in the corner of her eye, but dismissed?” The were walking swiftly down the corridor to the girl’s temporary quarters, as the captain at least wanted to introduce herself as she could not directly question the teenager. 

“Captain,” He started, tugging at his shirt in a show of mild distress. “Would it not be prudent to await the Vulcans?” Louisa clicked her tongue, a trait she was known for, and titled her head. 

“We need to hear it from her while it’s fresh on her mind. She seems like a resilient young woman, she can handle it.” Torrent pressed however, still uncomfortable. 

“Can’t the Vulcan do that mind thing?” Fontaine paused, her face an incredulous mask.

“‘Mind thing’, Commander? Really?” Torrent flushed at her tone as they continued down the corridor. “Do you honestly think her seeing it as clear as the night it happened would be any better than her naturally explaining the events on her own?” And the commander had no answer, not exactly knowing how mind-melding worked, unlike Louisa, and they quickly let themselves through the open door. 

It was a charming sight that met them, the young woman kneeling on the floor, shuffling backwards as the Vulcan baby took unsteady steps in her direction. She gave the adults a quick glance, but continued smiling and speaking encouragingly to the grumpy looking toddler. Torrent could tell that his Captain was taking in the teens appearance and demeanor with the Vulcan child. 

“Hello, Nefertiti, I am Captain Louisa Fontaine, and this is my first officer, Commander Torrent Yamada,” The teen stood, and scooped the child up onto her hip, and nodded. 

“Nefi is okay,” and the captain nodded, a pleasant smile on her face.

“Nefi then,” She gestured towards Torrent, who was professional enough to keep a straight, placid expression. “I understand that you have been through a very traumatic experience.” And Nefi nodded, “Your comfort and health are of the upmost importance, however, we would ask for your consent to ask a few questions about that night.” Torrent tensed slightly as the girl’s eyes cast down, her face closing off slightly. She was rightfully cautious, but his captain was correct, they needed answers. 

“Alright,” she said, and Torrent stepped in. 

“Very well, I will be conducting the interview. Would you feel more comfortable being in this room?” And Nefertiti shook her head. “Alright, please follow me.”

They parted with the captain, and Torrent braced himself as the girl and baby followed him down the hall. 

Nefi did her best to remain calm, but the idea of discussing the attack was threatening to overwhelm her. Each step they took felt like a death sentence, despite her knowing that everything would be fine. Solar began to whimper in her arms, sensing her distress, and Nefi felt her whole body seize with immediate panic. 

“I can’t.” She said, stopping abruptly in the hall, and causing Commander Yamada to halt his steps. His dark brown eyes were warm and concerned, and Nefi felt her breathing begin to accelerate. Visions of mutilated bodies and smoldering metal flashed before her, and she felt as sweat began to sting at her skin. Solar’s increased volume triggered the image of T’Sol, her face mottled dark green, never to move again. “I can’t.” She repeated, voice a harsh whisper, but Commander Yamada rushed forward to place his slender hands onto her upper arms, giving them a swift rub.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. You’re safe.” But Nefi could not hear him. Her parents, oh god, her parents. She could not even bury them, she did not even have their ashes. She choked on a sob, clutching the baby in her arms tightly to her chest. Nefi had no other relatives, it had just been her and her parents. She was alone, once Solar was taken from her, Nefi would be completely alone. Something cool on her cheek startled her into taking a gulping breath, and her eyes focused onto Commander Yamada. 

Some part of her mind catalogued the small scars on his face, absentmindedly wondering why he didn’t have them removed. How his bottom lashes are long and dark, how his lips were pink, and his bottom lip was fuller than the top. Her brain latched desperately onto the man’s features, the familiarity of her mother’s people in his face, to calm herself. He had his palm against her cheek, and she focused on the dry texture of his skin, the callouses on his slender fingers. She very hyper aware and numb all at once. “We need to get you to sickbay.” And she couldn’t even nod. 

Solar wriggled in her grasp, upset and loud, but Nefi simply readjusted him and continued to walk robotically beside the commander, his grip steadying and solid on her shoulder. Nefi now shifted her focus onto the baby in her arms. Solar’s weight was a reassuring anchor, his baby scent and soft body kept her from losing herself. His struggles continued, but he never turned his fists against her, even as a baby knowing he could still hurt her. 

Her desperate mind drew up a memory of his little foot kicking out at her in frustrated infant anger a month before, of his visible fear as her mouth bled, his Vulcan strength knocking out her top two front teeth. How it took both T’Sol and her husband, Sakiv, to calm the baby. She remembered Solar sitting on her lap as her mouth were repaired, how he reached out a chubby finger to touch the refitted teeth. She broke her train of thought as they turned into the bright area of the sickbay. Dr. Smiths looked up, and took one glance at Nefi before jumping into action. 

She led the despondent teen to sit on a biobed, before scanning her with a medical tricorder. Nefi could not understand the words the doctor said, as her ears felt as though they were stuffed with fluff, but she did not sound happy. Nefi peeled her eyes from counting the slots in the sickbay floor, to watch as the doctor seemed to scold Commander Yamada, both now on the opposite side of the sickbay. 

The man was flushed a deep red, and while his face remained blank, Nefi could see his dark eyes storm. He flicked his gaze over to the girl while the doctor spoke, but the teen was too numb to be ashamed by her blatant staring. He kept eye contact with her for a moment, before returning his gaze to the doctor, speaking with quiet urgency. “He’s handsome,” her mind supplied despite herself, but the distraction was welcome. 

He was tall and lean with broad shoulders and a tapered waist. His skin was fair, fairer than her mother’s had been, and his dark hair gleamed in the harsh lighting of the sickbay. The profile of his face was quite striking, and she wondered how old he was; he looked young for a man of his rank. Nefi flushed slightly, feeling marginally better, and returned her attention to the quiet child on her lap. Solar was watching the doctor and commander with the careful attention only a child of Vulcan could possess at such a young age, and Nefi felt charmed by his intelligence. 

“It’s rude to stare, kan-bu.” She murmured, but did not attempt to dissuade him. From her experience with Vulcans, they stared, a lot. It was probably some natural, instinctual trait. So she let the baby level the two humans with his laser focused gaze, and combed an idle hand through the cowlicks of his dark hair.

She began to hum a gentle Earth lullaby her mother would sing to her when they first moved to the colony. The melancholy melody broke Solar’s attention on the adults, and he peered up at her with his glittery, dark eyes. She smiled softly, and ran a finger down his chubby cheek. “Oh, how I love you.” She sighed, and gave into the urge to hug him. 

“Nefi M’aih.” He said into her neck, and Nefi felt her heart burst and her eyes water.

“No, Solar, Nefi isn’t mommy.” She said in standard, pulling away to look into his face, her voice trembling slightly. The baby’s face pinched into a mulish expression, but he did not reply. Nefi decided to ask the commander for the photo they have on record of T’Sol and Sakiv. It’s only been a few days, but she did not want Solar to forget his actual parents. She smiled, and smoothed her hand over his face. “Nefi is Solar’s,” she paused, trying to remember the Vulcan word for friend, “t'hy'la.” 

She wasn’t sure of the exact meaning, but had heard T’Sol refer to a friend she had on Vulcan as such. Solar looked at her, much too solemn for a baby his age; Nefi mourned the smiling, happy child Solar was before the attack. 

“T'hy'la.” He replied with surprising accuracy as he placed his hand onto her temple. She smiled as his simple determination echoed through her mind. She wondered if Vulcan parents bonded with their children like she knew they did with mates and family. If that was the reason Solar kept seeking out to touch her face, and why that physical connection soothed him when nothing else would. 

“Nefertiti?” Dr. Smiths interrupted gently, and Nefi blinked rapidly at the woman; Commander Yamada stood behind her, face unreadable. “How are you feeling?” And Nefi let her eyes settle back to the floor. 

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. 

“You needn’t apologize, it was much too soon for you to be questioned.” The woman’s voice was sharp, though Nefi had a feeling the tone was aimed at the commander rather than her. 

“I want to give my sincerest apologies, Ms. Hasegawa. It was never my intention to cause you distress.” The man stepped forward, blank mask breaking and genuine guilt shining through his handsome face. His arm was half raised towards her, as though he wanted to give her shoulder another reassuring squeeze, but remained prone. Nefi smiled softly at his apologetic air, and reached out with her own hand to grip his; he startled slightly, but allowed his fingers to close over hers. 

“It’s okay, it’s not your fault.” She replied, trying to sound comforting, however, his face only seemed to pinch with guilt further. She watched, fascinated as his thick brows furrowed deeply, and his pretty lips pulled into a pained frown. His fingers wrapped around hers more securely; Dr. Smiths cleared her throat. 

“Commander, compose yourself.” She said quietly, and like a flipped switch, he was the First Officer once more, releasing her hand to stand at attention with his arms behind his back; Nefi’s hand burned from his touch, and she resisted the urge to flex her fingers. 

The next hour passed with relative calm after the doctor shuffled Commander Yamada out to take care of Nefi herself. The two children sat quietly, watching the doctor flit about the sickbay like a busy bee, her many nurses solidifying the image of the sickbay being an organized hive. She ushered the children into a side sitting room, feeding them food from the replicator, and preparing Solar’s bottle. 

The little Vulcan seemed to be enjoying himself for once, soothed by the order of the sickbay, enchanted by it’s many lights and the monitors. He let out his first delighted laugh as a nurse tossed him a small, thin bottle of a bright blue liquid to play with. Nefi gave the woman a questioning glance. 

“Don’t worry, nothing dangerous.” And so Nefi relaxed to watch Solar tip the bottle this way and that, entranced by the air bubbles rising through the viscous fluid. Soon, however, an ensign came for them to guide Nefi back to their room. The young man did not speak to them until they arrived. 

“Commander Yamada requests permission to speak with you at 0900 tomorrow.” Nefi blinked, why would he need her permission? He could just walk to the room himself. 

“Um, sure.” She responded, shifting the now dozing baby on her hip. “Also, could I have some fabric? Something sturdy?” The ensign tilted his head, and the light caused a halo to form on his blond hair. “It’s for a baby carrier.” she gave him an approximate length that she’d need, and he nodded. Nefi did not watch him leave, but laid the sleeping baby down onto the bed with a sigh. 

Torrent’s mind was flooded with guilt, though he still managed his duties without a hitch. Informing Fontaine about the girls panic attack had not been... pleasant, but it was necessary. The captain had the grace to admit that she acted too soon. The commander scanned his PADD in the turbolift as he switched shifts, and made his way to his quarters. 

The man’s thoughts were plagued by the memory of Nefertiti’s panicked, pained expression as he prepared to retire for the night. Torrent sighed heavily as he stepped into the shower, upset with himself as he activated the sonic, but conflicted as well. 

It was logical of his captain to want answers, though sometimes what is logical, is not always what is right. He huffed a small, bitter laugh, as he knew the Vulcan were on their way for the child. Torrent knew that would break the girl’s heart, and the baby’s as well; they seemed very close, and were apparently inseparable according to the med staff. 

The man went through his nightly routine mechanically, his thoughts preoccupied by the girls wide-eyes, watching him openly as he spoke with the doctor. He blinked, suddenly uncomfortable with his train of thought as he lingered on the memory of her small hand encased in his own, the gentle lilt of her quiet voice, as she attempted to relieve him of his guilt. 

The song she hummed to the baby, a somber sounding Japanese folk song, was one he had not heard since he himself was a child. He laid in bed and closed his eyes, attempting to erase the image of her from his lids. He dreams of Ms. Hasegawa, her slender frame clad in a yukata, pink petals cascading down the dark fabric, softly singing “Sakura, Sakura” to him while perched on a biobed made of branches.

Starship time seemed to drag, but Nefi and Solar quickly adapted to the schedule. They were comfortable in their quarters and daily routine. Each morning Nefi would change and feed Solar, and then spend an hour reading to him from a phonetically simplified Vulcan and Standard dictionary she had requested. She’d then play with him, allowing the toddler to walk on his own, though he preferred to cling to her side. Or, she would pull the photos of his parents up on the PADD given to her, and tell Solar stories of his mother and father while the baby quietly listened. 

Commander Yamada would visit throughout the day when his shift allowed, bearing small wooden toys for Solar, and on the third day, the fabric Nefi had requested. She had run her hand over the indigo length of cotton, smiling and flushing softly at the pattern of sunset orange poppy flowers, her Earth birth-month flower. 

She’d wear Solar on her back, secured with the fabric, as she walked about the ship, staying out of the crew’s way, content to simply watch the ship function. It was on the fourth day that she found the observation deck, and Solar released a delighted squeal as the stars shot by. This is where Commander Yamada found her on the sixth day, his face grave and serious. Nefi somehow knew what he was going to say, before he even approached her. 

“They’re here, aren’t they?” She asks, her voice hollow. Commander Yamada-Torrent, she reminded herself, as he had asked her to use his first name,- inhaled deep and slow, his dark eyes intense and stormy. It was an answer enough, and Nefi turned her gaze back out to the stars. She should have known, as the ship dropped to impulse an hour before. Solar stirred on her chest, still in his wrap and sleeping but sensing her building distress. She felt something die inside her as she placed a kiss onto the top of his soft hair, and stood with a stiff spine. “Let’s go.” 

Comman- Torrent, looked as though he wanted to say something, but refrained. She guessed that it would have been an attempt at comfort, and he seemed to realize it would not be welcomed in that moment. Nefi felt much older than her years as they walked silently down the corridors, Solar still asleep, Torrent pensive, and Nefi lost in thought. The teen wondered if she should bother going to their temporary room to gather the little things they’d been given during their stay, but doubted that the Vulcan’s would allow Solar to keep them. 

The turned a corner into a large transport room, four adult, male Vulcan standing serenely with Captain Fontaine. The captain looked annoyed, and Nefi gathered that that was not a good thing. All eyes focused onto Nefi as she entered the room behind Torrent, the Vulcan’s quickly shifting their gazes to the sleeping Solar, and the captain leveling Nefi with a gentle smile. 

“Ah, Ms. Hasegawa, may I introduce you to-“ she started, but the eldest looking of the Vulcan’s interrupted her. 

“Nefertiti Hasegawa, I am Selkar, father of Sakiv, grandfather of Solar. Live long and prosper,” Nefi returned the greeting and ta’al, and nodded cordially towards the other Vulcan males. 

“I am very sorry for your loss, Selkar.” She replied, voice full and thick with her own grief. The Vulcan blinked slowly, but nodded. 

“You and Solar will return with us to Vulcan.” And Nefi felt as if ice water had been poured over her head. Her eyes widened in shock, and she heard Torrent’s sharp inhale. 

“W-what? I can go with Solar?” Her voice was breathy, and she took an impulsive step forward. The old Vulcan watched her serenely. 

“I have been informed of Solar’s attachment to you, and the previous care you had provided before the death of my son and his wife.” Nefi swore she saw something flash in the Vulcan’s dark eyes, but did not let it distract her. “To avoid further traumatizing the infant, you will assist in his transition.” Nefi’s heart soared, and her eyes filled with tears; Selkar noticed. “This causes you distress?” His head tilted, and Nefi quickly corrected him. 

“No, no!” She replied, her voice breaking into a watery laugh as she smiled. “I’m just so relieved.” And Solar took that moment to awaken. 

“Nefi,” he mumbled, head lulling back to look up at her. She smiled down into his sleepy face, the cheek he had had pressed against her breast flushed green, and his hair in disarray. 

“Solar!” She exclaimed happily, and the baby blinked himself fully awake to take in their new surroundings. Once he focused on the males, however, he curled into her chest again, watching them over his chubby shoulder, cautious and alert. “Solar, this is your grandpa, your sa’mekh’al.” She released a mental sigh, thankful that she said the word correctly, but missed the raised brow from Selkar. 

“You speak Vulcan?” He asked, and she felt herself flush. 

“Just a little, Solar probably knows more than me, to be honest.” She let out a nervous chuckle, noticing the other occupants of the transporter room watching the exchange silently, and she rubbed the baby’s back. She did not mention that his son was the one who had been giving her lessons, did not want to remind the old Vulcan of his pain. Selkar nodded, before gesturing to the younger looking Vulcan to his left. 

“Torrik will accompany you to gather your belongings.” And with that obvious dismissal, turned and began a conversation with the captain. Nefi turned, surprised to see the deep frown on Torrent’s face. Part of her wondered if the Vulcan’s expecting her to accompany Solar was what had the captain annoyed, as it seemed Torrent also disagreed with the idea. She wondered why, though the curiosity dissipated as the Vulcan accompanying her leveled Nefi with a pointed stare. Torrent beat her to speaking. 

“This way,” and he was off, long legs striding the hall in a way that had Nefi slightly struggling to keep up. He noticed, and slowed, but his pace was still brisk. He was upset, she could tell, but could not fathom as to why. He had also seemed upset by the prospect of Solar being taken from her, so surely it should please him that the two would remain together. The quick pace made the trip back to the quarters seem faster than normal, and Nefi handed a surprisingly compliant Solar to Torrent, before flitting about the room to gather their few possessions. 

She pulled a tote bag from one of the compartments in the room, and shoved in their clothes, the hair combs Dr. Smiths had given Nefi, the dictionary, her gifted PADD, and Solar’s toys. Nefi did not bother with gathering diapers or formula, as those would surely be provided on the Vulcan ship. Nefi cast a quick eye about the room, before adjusting the wrap to place Solar onto her back, making sure her long braid was out of the way. 

“I’m ready,” she started, but Torrent stepped in. 

“A moment, please,” he asked the Vulcan, and the male simply nodded before stepping from the room. Torrent closed the door, and looked to Nefi with a nervous expression. “So, you’re leaving.” And she blinked, unsure of where he was going with the conversation. 

“Yes,” was all she said, though she felt her brows furrow slightly. He nodded, and seemed unsure of what to do with his hands. She watched as he fidgeted, placing them behind his back, then at his front, before opting to leave them limp at his sides. “Are you alright, Torrent?” She asked, voice quiet. A flash of emotion passed through his face, and he seemed conflicted before reaching into his pocket to pull out a communicator. 

“I want you to have this,” he said, deep voice strained. “It is a direct frequency to my personal comm, if you ever need anything.” She took the device from his outreached hand, shivering slightly as their fingers made contact. “If you need help, or just want to talk to someone familiar. If I do not answer, or if I am out of range, I will attempt to contact you as soon as I’m able.” Nefi searched the man’s eyes as they bore into her own, and felt something flutter in her stomach. 

“Thank you, Torrent.” She murmured demurely, slipping the communicator into her bag, and peering at him from beneath her lashes. He really was quite handsome, like an old Earth movie star in the black and white films her father used to enjoy. In a moment of youthful impulse, Nefertiti stepped forward, and placed a chaste kiss upon his cheek. She lingered for a moment, feeling his hand ghost around her arm, his breathing shuddering at her touch, his heart thundering under the palm she placed onto his chest for balance. 

She retreated, taking the scent of him with her, something sharp and masculine, reminding her of Earth pine. His face was flushed, his dark eyes closed, and she could see the tremble of his lips. Nefi suddenly felt quite shy, remembering their differences in age. Perhaps it would be fine in those old Hollywood movies, but she was not some teenage starlet, and he was not some fine, Earth gentlemen pining for her heart. 

Nefi stepped back before the moment could linger, shivering slightly as her arm slipped from his loose grasp. His eyes opened, and his face was a careful mask. They watched each other for a moment more, before he turned to open the door. The Vulcan did not comment on the flush of Nefi’s cheeks, nor did he seem to pay them any mind. 

She did not speak another word, other than a genuine farewell to the captain, but her gaze did linger upon Torrent; the man stood tall and stiff, his handsome face severe. She wondered if she would ever see him again, some time in the future. Perhaps she’d join Starfleet when Solar became more comfortable with his blood relative. But she did not have the qualifications to enter into the academy, and even if she did, Nefi was not sure she could bear being that far from the baby Vulcan. 

She followed the Vulcan group onto the transporter, turning Solar around in his wrap to hold him close, and taking her side by Selkar. She scanned the faces of the crew, before locking eyes with Torrent. His smile was small and somewhat reassuring, but his eyes were so sad that she had to restrain herself from speaking out. Instead, she looked down at Solar and smiled. 

“We’re about to be transported, little khio’ri. It may feel strange.” He looked up into her face with his dark, shining eyes, before laying his head to her chest with a little huff. Selkar gave her a look that she did not catch, as she was distracted by the transporter activating. 

The first noticeable difference between the two ships, was that the Vulcan’s kept the climate very hot, and the humidity to a non-existent level. Nefi did not mind the heat, as the colony she grew up on was, on average, 35°C, however outside of the mountain valley that cupped the town, was a lush, tropical forest; she hoped her quarters allowed her to change the climate. 

The second most notable thing, was the dimness of the lights. It was low lit, and instead of white lights, the tinge of it was relatively orange-red. Nefi came to the conclusion that the Vulcan were attempting to replicate their home world’s conditions as much as possible. She looked down at Solar, watched as his pupils shifted to adjust to the light, how he sniffed around like a little Earth puppy testing the air. 

“Follow me,” Selkar instructed, and Nefi trailed behind him in silence, watching as the other’s went their separate ways without comment. They passed several more Vulcan, all dressed in the same long, dark, shapeless robes as Selkar, and all of which were male. A few of them paused to watch her with strangely intense stares; Nefi kept close to Selkar’s back. “Why do you call the child ‘Star’?” He asked abruptly, causing Nefi to startle slightly. She cleared her dry throat, and licked at her lips before answering. 

“T’Sol’s name on Earth is the same as our system’s star. And Solar’s name has a similar meaning. So, since she is Sol, the Sun, Solar is a little Sol, a ‘little star’.” The two were silent for several moments longer before Selkar spoke up once more. 

“Illogically romantic,” he replied, bland and unaffected, and Nefi felt herself bristle, defensive of the sweet nickname.

“Sakiv was the one who started calling him that,” and this caused the old Vulcan to pause. “My father teased T’Sol about the translations, and Sakiv went on to use it. I’m simply attempting to keep a pleasant memory for Solar alive.” They had both stopped at that point, and Selkar had turned fully to look down at Nefi with a curious tilt to his head. 

“I apologize,” he said, but turned once more; Nefi dropped it, but felt herself shaking slightly from the small confrontation. She looked down at Solar, and was relieved to see that he ignored their words to scan their surroundings. They entered into a large room filled with seated Vulcan, all of them eating. 

Like a wave at sea, their heads rose to look at her and the baby, and Nefi felt herself step close enough to Selkar that the loose fabric of his sleeve brushed her arm. Selkar also seemed perturbed by the reaction, and Nefi startled as he released a booming, bone-rattling growl from deep within his chest. The effect was immediate, and all of the Vulcan males returned to what they were doing. Nefi did not know that Vulcan’s growled, she was slightly intrigued. 

The old Vulcan said nothing as he ushered the two of them to an empty table, leaving briefly to fetch a tray, and returning with an amber-colored bottle of Vulcan formula for Solar, and a bowl of what Nefi recognized as plomeek soup for herself. 

“Human’s seem to find this dish most palatable.” And he sat to watch them eat, unsettling Nefi slightly. Solar reached for the bottle, and Nefi handed it to him. His little body attempted to lounge in her grasp, and prevented her from being able to grab the deep spoon next to her bowl. 

“Solar, you must sit up,” she said gently as she adjusted his position. The baby whined, and wiggled to try and be cradled once more. Nefi let out an unamused huff, and leveled the baby with a look and raised brow when she caught his eyes. “If you do not sit up on my lap, little one, you will sit on a chair by yourself.” She patted the empty, high back seat next to her for emphasis, and Solar’s little face pinched in baby understanding. He did not fight as she adjusted him, and stayed still as she began to eat. 

“Curious,” Selkar murmured, and Nefi looked up at him. He was watching Solar, and said nothing else. The soup tasted differently than what she was used to, though she supposed T’Sol adapted what she could to replicate the Vulcan dish on the colony. The broth tasted deeper, saltier, and the root vegetables felt soft and chewy, reminding her of savory rice cakes. It was heavily spiced, which she did not mind, and did not have the oddly empty taste of replicated food. As she finished her bowl, Nefi found herself pleasantly full and sleepy. Solar seemed to agree, as he released a large yawn she felt compelled to mimic. “Come, I will show you to your quarters.” 

They all stood, Selkar taking the tote from Nefi so she could adjust the baby onto her hip, and she sleepily followed him along the corridors, not noticing the looks she was getting from the crew. Selkar tapped a long sequence into the pad next to a door, and showed her in. It was even dimmer and hotter than the halls, but was richly decorated with draping, dark fabric, dark wooden furniture, and unlit candles. The bed was a nest of pillows and blankets, and Nefi found herself surprised at the level of luxury, as she always thought the Vulcan to be minimalists. She cast a questioning gaze over her shoulder to Selkar as he stood in the doorway. 

“This room is reserved for traveling dignitaries, however, it will serve as your quarters for the duration of our journey.” She nodded at his explanation. 

“How long will it be until we get to Vulcan?” She asked, her voice tired. 

“Ten days,” and he paused, “if you find it necessary to leave the room, I would ask that you contact me beforehand so that I may escort you to your chosen destination.” Nefi blinked, an odd feeling settling in her gut as she remembered the looks of the Vulcan crew, but nodded. “Rest,” and then he was gone, the door shut and most likely locked behind him. 

“Computer, please adjust the humidity to 50%.” The computer replied and within an hour, the room become tolerable. Little Solar did not seem to mind the shift of humidity, so she settled them both down to sleep after a quick exploration of the room, skipping their nightly shower.

Many things rushed through her young mind at that moment. Thoughts of her parents, of T’Sol and Sakiv, of the other colonists. Thoughts of Dr. Smiths and her string of friendly nurses, of Captain Fontaine, and her crew. She lingered slightly on Torrent, the memory of his trembling lips, and how tender the sadness in his eyes made her heart. 

And then her mind turned to the Vulcan, much more alien than she had originally believed, with their piercing, unwavering gazes, and the animalistic growl Solar’s grandfather released. She wondered if there at the reason as to why she needed the old Vulcan to escort her, but then again, she would not disobey. 

Solar shifted in his sleep, his form turning to settle across her chest and torso like a weighted blanket, his baby body almost purring in content. Nefi was thankful that she would remain in Solar’s life for a while longer, but could not help the trepidation she felt build in her chest.

The feeling followed her into sleep as she dreamed of being lost in a red, dune heavy dessert, dark eyes watching her, the faces they belonged to hidden by the sands. 

Chapter Text

Selkar sat rigid in a meditative pose, though all attempts to clear his mind proved useless. The loss of his son and T’Sol had worn the older Vulcan down much more than he realized. He recalled the sharp pain of their familial bond breaking, how it felt as though he had been stuck in the gut.

Selkar had collapsed on the bridge, and immediately knew that Sakiv was dead. The only light in this senseless loss was the survival of his grandson, and with the child, the continuance of their family line. Solar was healthy, and Selkar felt an odd tightness in his shoulders as he acknowledged that he had the human female to thank for it. He was deeply grateful, regardless of his outward demeanor.

Which brought up another conundrum. It had seemed logical at the time for the young woman to accompany him to continue providing care for Solar. Selkar was a busy Vulcan after all, and other than the infant, had no other family, and was a widower.

It was true that perhaps he could seek a temporary foster family for the child, but they would not provide adequate care, as Solar would no doubt reject them; Vulcan children were quite particular of their caretakers, regardless of relation. 

However, Selkar reflected on the reaction of his crew. Many of them were young, unbound males who have yet experienced their first Pon Farr, so while it was not unusual for them to turn their curious attentions to the young female, it was shameful that they would do so so conspicuously.

The fact that Selkar had to openly reprimand the males in the most primitive way possible had filled him with the barest ghost of irritation. To act that way, and in front of a human of all species, was a great lapse in judgment, as Vulcan’s did have a reputation to uphold. Having them leer at her like blood-fever addled youths was disgraceful. 

Selkar acknowledged that she was a lovely little thing, even by Vulcan standards, with her honeyed skin and exotic features. And it certainly did not help that human’s seemed to constantly smell as though they were entering a mating cycle, and the girl was no different despite her age; likely the reason the crew had stared so blatantly. Selkar himself had to exhibit slight restraint from inhaling her, and only managed due to his age and previous experience with humans. 

He would keep her separated from the crew as much as possible, lest a bolder male approach Nefertiti to take her as a wife. He mused on how humans would balk at such a thing if they knew, and Selkar had to give them credit: Human’s did not lose themselves to uncontrollable mating lust at the mere scent of another; Selkar felt a shiver of envy down his spine.

The briefest thought passed though him to claim her himself, and he titled his head curiously at the prospect. It would leave her his land and finances, give Solar the stability he would need in the future, and possibly another child to continue the line. But logically, he could also simply name Nefertiti as his ward, rather than his wife, and any child Solar sired would be adequate.

There was a risk of her being targeted by extremists, as the Earth Ambassador, Sarek, had been not too recently, however, it was a risk Selkar was willing to take. His family was not as old, nor as influential as the descendants of Surak, which lowered the chances of them being targeted. The Vulcan stood fluidly to his feet, and prepared to return to the bridge. He felt that this would be a tedious journey. 

Vulcan’s were weird, that was the final conclusion Nefi came to by her fourth day on the Vulcan ship. They were weird, quiet, intense, and oddly catlike. The last of which she had a hint of, as she had heard both T’Sol and Solar purring at multiple points, but she did not realize just how feline Vulcan were.

Nefi had owned one Earth cat at the start of her life on the colony, and while he passed of old age when she was still quite young, Nefi remembered his capricious nature vividly. The similarities in her old cat, and the Vulcan crew were almost startling.

Not a day went by where Nefi felt she could relax completely outside of her and Solar’s quarters, even with Selkar by her side. More often than once Selkar would release a low growl when a crew member approached her too closely, but sometimes not even that would not deter them.

Nefi would watch, absolutely fascinated as the older Vulcan would enter into an intense staring contest with one of his crew, and at one point, even sparring with a younger male. It was a very revealing time for Nefi, who grew up hearing about how composed and controlled the Vulcan were, and yet with first hand experience, she found them oddly animalistic. 

She did not bring up their behavior to Selkar, having the distinct feeling that any question would be ignored, and that she may embarrass the Vulcan with her curiosity.

Still, after the sparring, Nefi resigned to stay in her quarters outside of meal time, and she could tell that Selkar was quietly relieved. In turn, the older Vulcan visited the room as often as he was able, attempting in his own quiet way to connect with Solar. 

His subtle determination paid off, when on the fifth day, Solar allowed Selkar to hold him. Nefi had to be within eyesight, and he’d only allow his grandfather to hold him for a limited amounts of time, but it was progress.

She enjoyed the way the older Vulcan’s eyes would brighten, and the severe line of his mouth would soften as he held the infant. Nefi’s heart hurt for him, to lose his family the way he did, despite the fact that she did as well, and was glad that little Solar tolerated the reserved affection. 

It was when he handed the toddler back to Nefi, that Selkar surprised her with unexpected news by stating that he intended to make her his ward. “Oh?” She asked, unsure what this implied. 

“By law, you would be considered my foster daughter, and eligible to inherit my lands if you so wish.” Nefi felt her eyes widened. 

“What about Solar?” She asked, her voice tight as she bounced the baby on her hip. Selkar titled his head, and leveled her with a patient look. 

“The females of Vulcan families inherit the land of their clans. If there is no female, it then passes to the eldest male.” He explained, and Nefi tucked the new information away for later. 

“But I’m not Vulcan,” she said slowly, and he agreed. 

“You are not, however, as my foster daughter, you are my heir. If you wish to pass our lands to Solar when he reaches adulthood, you may act on your own discretion.” Nefi felt dizzy with an unexplainable emotion as the Vulcan spoke as though she were already his daughter, but nodded. 

“I don’t want to sound ungrateful, it’s just all very sudden.” And Selkar surprised her further by giving her shoulder a firm pat. 

“It will be done,” he intoned with finality, and Nefi felt herself nodding despite her mind racing. His hands clasped behind his back, “Do you wish to leave your quarters today?” And Nefi thought for a moment before shaking her head. 

“No, I’m sure it’s the best idea.” Selkar spoke, seeming to see something in her expression. 

“The crew do not wish to harm you.” She blinked, not expecting him to acknowledge the behavior of the Vulcan aboard. 

“I don’t think they would, it’s just,” she paused, “the attention is a little unsettling. I gather maybe they don’t have much experience with humans?” 

“You are correct in your assessment. In fact, I doubt that more than a handful of the older Vulcan aboard have spoken directly to humans before.” He hesitated, appearing unsure despite his serene expression, “They are young, and therefore more hormonal than the Vulcan who tend to interact with your people.” He paused again, before unclasping his hands to bring to his front. “It takes preparation for our kind to deal with humans and your... unique traits.” 

“Oh,” she trailed off. “Is that why they keep sniffing at me?” Selkar blinked. 

“Very observant of you.” But Nefi simply shrugged. 

“It’s hard not to notice, especially since only you and Torrik seem to not do it.” The younger Vulcan, Torrik seemed completely disinterested in her in every aspect. She did not mind. 

“Their indiscretion is regrettable,” and Nefi shrugged once more.

“Cultural differences,” she commented dryly, and Selkar raised what she interpreted to be an amused brow. 

“A rather conservative conclusion, though you are not entirely incorrect.” Nefi waited a breath for Selkar to continue, but he simply stood and smoothed his robes. “I will return at end meal.” And she walked him to the door. Selkar lifted a hand to run a gentle finger down Solar’s round cheek, and Nefi felt herself warm slightly to the Vulcan. 

Solar was napping, and Nefi suddenly found that she did not have much to do. Rather than nap with the child, she gathered her combs, and opted for a solo shower to detangle her hair. The girl wished she had the hindsight to ask the human crew for replicated hair cream, however, the lightly scented conditioner in the Vulcan shower would have to do.

As she gently finger combed the cream though her hair, Nefi thoughts drifted to Torrent. She flushed slightly as it felt inappropriate to think of him while she was nude, but her embarrassment passed. 

I should try to contact him today, she thought. There were several more hours to pass on her own, and she was lonely. A quick conversation wouldn’t hurt, she reasoned. With that goal in mind, she quickly, but gently, detangled her hair, washed herself with a spicy smelling bar of abrasive soap, and hopped out of the shower to dry and moisturize with an equally spice-scented bottle of lotion. 

Nefi dressed in a feminine Vulcan robe that she had found in the room’s wardrobe, and tossed her curly hair behind her to step back into the shower. She set the sonic to it’s highest level, and allowed the waves to vibrate the remaining water from her hair, leaving the long spirals to shrink from the back of her thighs up to her hips as it dried. 

Nefi felt nervous as she inspected her appearance in the long mirror, and despite the fact that the comm was audio only, ran her fingers over her cheeks insecurely. Nefi had never thought much of her face and how it looked, but suddenly felt compelled to scan it with a critical eye. She had inherited her mother’s facial structure and eyes, but her father’s nose and full lips. 

Nefi remembered humid nights as her mother would run a gentle finger over Nefi’s closed eyes and lashes, and softly telling her daughter how beautiful she was. Her father had once told her that the moment she was born, despite months of arguing over it, both of her parents finally agreed on a name: Nefertiti, “a beautiful woman has come.”

An ancient Earth name, and one Nefi once found ridiculous, or if anything, overly romantic. But while she personally still did not find the meaning of her name fitting, her tender heart wept for her parents, and now accepted it fully.

“I’m being ridiculous,” she huffed softly as her eyes began to sting with tears, and peeked from the room to ensure that Solar was still sleeping. Nefi tiptoed to her tote, and once she retrieved the comm, rushed back to the bathroom with quiet urgency.

The girl took in a deep breath to quell her trepidation, and pressed the comm. Each minute that passed with no answer had Nefi’s heart sinking in disappointment. He was a Starfleet first officer, after all, it was silly and naive of her to believe he’d drop everything for her call. At fifteen minutes, the girl decided to hang up, but then fumbled the phone as his voice suddenly sounded through the speaker. 

“Nefertiti?” And some small flower of youthful infatuation bloomed in her breast at the sound of his deep voice saying her name. 

“H-hello, Torrent.” she replied, stumbling shyly over the greeting, and pulling a face at her nervousness. 

“Is everything alright?” He sounded mildly concerned, and Nefi jumped to console him. 

“Yes, yes, this is just my first time doing something like this,” she explained, though did not specify whether she meant the first time talking on a long distance comm, or the first time talking on a long distance comm with a handsome, older man who seemed to have feelings for her. 

“Ah, I see.” He sounded relieved. “I hope the Vulcan are treating you well?” And Nefi thought’s brought up the lingering, intense gazes of the crew. 

“Yes, it’s been an enjoyable experience so far.” It was a lie by omission, but Nefi still felt guilty withholding the entirety of the truth. “Solar is finally warming up to his grandfather,” she mentions. 

“That’s very good,” and they lapsed into an awkward silence. “How much longer before you reach planet side?” He asked, his voice somewhat strained. Nefi did a quick count in her head and answered. “Not too long then, that’s good. I imagine you’d like some fresh air right about now.” And she agree. 

“How is everyone? I just realized that I did not get to say goodbye to the med staff before I left.” the gently lined face of Dr. Smiths popped into her head. 

“Well, Fiona, er, Dr. Smiths, was quite irritated by the fact that you were not allowed to give a proper farewell to the crew, but her ire is more aimed at your current hosts than anyone else.” A small flash of guilt welled up in her mind, but she continued with the conversation. 

“And you? How have you been?” She asked. 

“Quite tired, if I’m being honest. Sleep has been eluding me.” And Nefi tutted with worry.

“Oh no, nightmares?” The teen found it fortunate that she had not experience anything night terrors of the attack, but empathized with the commander. Torrent cleared his throat slightly. 

“Ah, no, the opposite in fact.” And the sentence seemed to linger with something unsaid. Nefi wondered what the opposite of a nightmare could be other than a good dream. 

“Well, then that’s good. It’s unfortunate that you haven’t been able to sleep, but I’m glad your dreams have been pleasant.” Torrent cleared his throat once more, and Nefi quietly hoped he wasn’t ill. 

“Hm? Yes, very pleasant.” And he sounded a little embarrassed, so Nefi dropped it when he made an obvious attempt to change the subject. “What are you up to now?” Nefi shifted her unoccupied hand behind her back, twirling the end of a curl between her fingers. 

“I just finished showering,” she said conversely, but blinked as she heard Torrent clear his throat once more and harshly. 

“O-oh?” He questioned, and her brows furrowed at the crack in his voice. 

“Torrent, are you ill?” Her voice was full of concern. 

“N-no, I’m sorry.” His apology confused her, but she accepted it. She heard something in the back ground, and Torrent rushed to speak. “I apologize, but I must cut the conversation short, I’m being called to the bridge.” Nefi found herself nodding, but then replied verbally since he could not see her. 

“Alright, I’m glad that we were able to talk.” She said sincerely. 

“Me too.” Torrent’s voice was warm and genuine, and Nefertiti felt her face flush. “Goodbye, Ms. Hasegawa.” And smiled at how proper he sounded. 

“Goodbye, Commander.” And when the line dropped, Nefi brought the comm to her lips. 

Selkar kept an idle pace on his way to Nefertiti’s quarters, content to take his time, as it was still thirty minutes before end meal. His thoughts lingered on schematics and meetings, before finally landing on Nefertiti as his foster daughter.

He had already filed the paperwork days before he broached the subject with the human female, and she now was officially and legally his ward. Once on Vulcan, she would need to sign certain documents confirming her identity, but other than that, Selkar had one less burden on his stiff shoulders. 

He entered the room without announcing himself, and froze in the doorway at the sight of her. She peered up from the PADD in her lap to look at him curiously, perched demurely on the lush sofa with her legs tucked beaneath her.

The deep green, shimmery Vulcan robe she wore-incorrectly-, split slightly to hint at her toned legs, and her hair, usually bound, now cascaded around her in a waterfall of wild, dark spirals. Her visage conjured memories of ancient Vulcan stories, mystical princesses, and the romantic and exotic tales now lost to most of Vulcan. Selkar felt himself blink. 

“It is time for end meal,” he announced, voice oddly hollow as he repressed any reaction to her beauty; the older Vulcan was not eager for the reaction of his crew. She nodded, and unfolded her long legs to stand.

Selkar found himself leaning forwarded as her hair and skin were perfumed with the scents of home and her female musk. His dark eyes drank in the image of her gently waking Solar with soft Vulcan words and a sweet touch, and a primal part of the older Vulcan urged him to mate her, to mark her. 

Nefertiti remained ignorant to his struggles as she hefted Solar into her arms, and turned to Selkar to await his guidance. He stood aside for the young woman, and gestured for her to lead. She tilted her head in mild confusion, but did not argue; obedient, he thought, and it pleased him.

The way she had elected to wear the robe accentuated the alluring curve of her waist, and he suddenly found himself regretting their position. She walked, now familiar with the route, her hips and bottom swaying with the complimenting fabric, her curls bouncing slightly with every step; it did not take long for his crew to notice. 

Selkar leveled each male with a pointed, venomous glare, his instincts closer to the surface than they had been since his youth. The older Vulcan did not attempt to hide the emotion from his expression, wanting the younger males to truly understand that if they were to approach his ward, the consequence would be painful and humiliating.

Selkar may be in his middle years, but he was an accomplished fighter, and quite large in stature, even for his kind. The human, thankfully, either did not noticed or ignored the now obvious leering in her direction. Little Solar, however, did, and despite his young age, emitted a growl that seemed to amuse his caretaker. 

She did not correct his behavior, and Selkar was pleased by her instinct. It was good for the young Vulcan to recognize and react to unacceptable advances, to correct impertinent males not related to him. Solar saw them as a threat to his interim mother, and thus his own survival, it was natural and expected for the child to display a certain amount of territorial posturing.

As expected, the attention she drew in once they entered the main eating room was... intense. However, to his mild surprise, Nefertiti took it in stride, elegantly floating to their regular table, not once making eye contact with any of the males quietly seeking her favor. 

The crowd was quiet, and Selkar spied Torrik with his husband from across the room, both watching the girl with curious, but unheated looks. He gave the younger Vulcan a pointed glance when he caught his eye, and Torrik nodded in understanding.

Selkar moved to seat himself directly next to his foster daughter and grandson, and Torrik’s husband sat across from her. The girl blinked, not having met the Vulcan before, and cast her gaze to Selkar to seek his approval; he nearly released a pleased rumble at her deference, and instead nodded. 

Torrik arrived soon after, with food for both Nefertiti and Solar, and took the seat on the other side of her. The older Vulcan relieved the girl of the infant, cradling the child to give Nefertiti her space to eat. With the human safely surrounded by capable, obviously protective males, the tension in the room eased slightly. 

Nefertiti released a please hum as she ate the spiced curry in her bowl, tearing eagerly into the provided flat bread to scoop up the root vegetables like a spoon. Her enjoyment of the dish, and the way she seemed adverse to using the appropriate utensil was mildly distracting, but endearing and oddly erotic. 

“This is delicious,” she commented quietly, turning to him slightly to give him a brilliant smile, and Selkar felt curiously elated at her obvious pleasure. She scooped up some of the thick stew, and released a feminine sigh of disappointment as some of it ran down her hand and wrist. He, and the rest of the occupants of the room save Torrik and Venor, watched with bated breath as her smooth, pink, alien tongue swiped a errant drip of curry from her thumb. 

He heard someone gasp as she innocently sucked the digit into her mouth, her full lips pursed around the tan and pink skin. Nefertiti’s lids fluttered shut with happiness, and the sight of her relaxed face stirred the tensions of the room back into full force.

“Mmm, very good.” Her voice was quiet and slow, and Selkar found himself cursing the naive female for her lack of awareness. The Vulcan felt his lok swell against his will as she further licked away the sauce on her wrist, before continuing to eat the curry with the spoon given to her. 

Throughout the unwittingly shameless display, several males had stood, craning their necks to catch sight of the girl eating, many of them never having experienced the odd way Human’s seemed to enjoy their foods.

Selkar could not find it in himself to blame them entirely, as the older Vulcan had had a similar reaction the first time he had been invited to a dignitary dinner. Solar, forgotten in the arms of his grandfather suddenly whined, catching Nefi’s attention. 

“My little baby, do you miss me.” she cooed sweetly in surprisingly fluent Vulcan, and reached for the child to extract him from Selkar’s grasp. Selkar threw up every single mental shield as her cool human hands made contact with his, and the Vulcan felt a tremble of shame coil through him as his lok weeped at the touch. No doubt, several of his crew would need to change. 

“Nefi,” the child pouted, and Selkar took the bottle from him in anticipation of the child’s intention to throw it. “Thas-tor,” and Selkar barely registered Nefertiti’s exasperated sigh as the Vulcan’s thoughts stuttered to a halt. 

“Solar, I’ve already told you, Nefi no thas-tos.” And she caught the baby’s wrists, seeming to know that he was going to attempt to dislodge the folds of her already precariously worn robe. Solar wiggled and whined louder for the human to breastfeed him, and she flushed in embarrassment.

“Solar!” She exclaimed, voice mildly incensed, but the child did not listen. And then she did something that nearly shattered Selkar’s already fragile control: she growled at the baby. It was not as deep or thrumming as a Vulcan female’s reprimanding sound, but it did what it intended.

The effect on Solar was immediate, as the baby curled into her chest to seek forgiveness, instinct overcoming his tantrum. Selkar tore his eyes from the display, and was slightly alarmed to find that Torrik and Venor were now standing, both in fighting stances as several of the bolder males seemed at their limit.

Fortunately, many of the more rational Vulcan also appeared to attempt to drag their companions out of the room to isolate them. Nefertiti startled next to Selkar, nearly hopping into his lap as Torrik suddenly threw one of the crew onto the ground. Enough was enough. Selkar took both the girl and child into his arms, and made his retreat back to her quarters. 

“What-“ she gasped, nearly weightless in his grasp. The Vulcan warred with the instinct to bite into the long line of her neck, and he shook his head to clear that thought from his mind. His ears twitched as he heard a mostly silent scuffle from behind them, but he did not dare turn to intervene; he would need to discuss active training for human/vulcan interactions with the High Command. 

If one little female could cause such descent with her innocent, but desirable, airs, he could not imagine the humiliation of a larger altercation at a professional function. “S-Selkar!” She cried out his name as he made a rough turn into her quarters, and the Vulcan released a deep growl at the sound of it on her lips.

She squeaked, clutching Solar close to her chest as he went directly to her sleeping quarters, and dropped them both unceremoniously onto the nest of pillows. Her scent was nearly overwhelming at that point, and Selkar held himself very still as he loomed over the girl, his eyes focused onto the wall in front of him. 

“Selkar,” she whispered, and while sounding unsure, she did not sound afraid. Against his will, his gaze wandered down to take her in. His nostrils flared and his lok hardened even more at the sight.

Solar had crawled to the opposite side of her bed, but her arm was outstretched to keep a grip on his ankle, her back arched to keep him from falling. Her robe had split, revealing nearly the entire length of her shapely legs, the tanned skin softly dusted with her human pelt, the slightest movement threatening to reveal her sex to him. The top of her robe was slightly undone, her neck, clavicle, and shoulders exposed to his hungry gaze. And her face, flushed with emotion, her dark eyes wide with uncertainty, pupils blown wide, her full lips parted to reveal her pink, human tongue. 

Selkar inhaled deeply and froze. Her scent was normally musky and sweet, as most human’s, but it deepened in complexity with each moment he scanned her. Slekar’s hands trembled from their place behind his back; Nefertiti was aroused. 

Nefi stared up at her foster father, surprised, confused, and... she flushed, feeling a familiar ache at her core. Why she was reacting this way to the graying Vulcan, the girl was unsure. His casual show of strength and speed had surprised her, and now he looked as though he would devour her.

Something soft and delicate in her mind enjoyed that look and his strength but Nefi was in control of her thoughts, and pushed away the reaction to focus on her concern. 

“Selkar?” She repeated, sitting up and pulling Solar back to her. The boy released an irritated squeal, and Selkar’s trance seemed to immediately break. He stepped back, face dropping into a frighteningly blank mask, and he turned his back to her; Nefi released a breath, bemused at his reaction, but silent. 

“You will remain in your quarters for the remainder of our journey,” he ordered, tone uncharacteristically monotonous and cold, “Torrik and Venor will bring you your meals. Do not open your door for anyone else.” And with that, he left with a billow of his dark robes, not even glancing back as the door shut. The computer alerted her to the fact that the door was locked behind him, and she huffed. 

“How would I even open it, if you locked me in?” She asked uselessly, before flopping back into the bed. It was then that she noticed that her robe had come mostly undone, and she gasped mortification.

“I am an idiot!” She near shouted, startling a whimper from Solar. She gave him an apologetic look, but rolled over to press her face into the pillows. Nefi almost wished Selkar had taken Solar with him, so she could have time alone to process through her feelings, but she had the distinct feeling that she would not see the older Vulcan until they arrived planet side. 

Solar placed a timid hand onto her face, and Nefi peered up at him from the cushion as his worry and anxiety crawled through her mind. “I’m sorry, Khio’ri.” She said, voice sad, “so much has been happening, I’m so overwhelmed.”

And the baby, ever sweet, began to gently pet her cheek. Nefi giggled, voice slightly wet as she felt tears well in her eyes. “Thank you, baby.” She pulled him close, rolling them both to settle more comfortably on the bed, and inhaled his comforting scent. “I hope things calm down once we reach Vulcan.”

Solar released a small hum, but vibrated with energy as he already had his nap. “Okay, okay, we can play for a bit.” And they sat together until both of their eyes began to droop, and went to bed soon after. 

Nefi was correct in her guess that she would not see Selkar for the remainder of the trip. Instead, twice daily, she’d be met with the stoic faces of Torrik and Venor, who she learned where married, as they offered her breakfast and her end meal.

With each tray, she would be given an extra serving of fresh fruit or bread, as they knew as a human, she ate more than two meals a day. Solar was also provided with extra bottles, and little solid snacks that Nefi was careful to spread out so he would not gorge himself at once. 

It was fortunate that they were on the tail end of the journey, as Nefi felt boredom overcome her. She had gone through the PADD multiple times, but it was fairly utilitarian, being a Starfleet device, and had nothing entertaining on it.

She tried writing out her thoughts on a journal feature, then verbal logs, but by the fifth hour, she sighed, and tossed it back into her tote. Nefi at one point, attempted to part and braid her hair as her mother once did for her over the years, and while it managed to take 6 hours out of her day, it also looked nothing like the neat plaits her mother would do. 

The teen decided next to stretch and exercise, as she had avoided doing her daily calisthenics since the attack, but soon found herself procrastinating to get through that as well. And there was only so much entertainment a grumpy toddler could provide, and while she loved him deeply, Nefi found that she was growing frustrated with the lack of personal time.

Even when she nannied for T’Sol, the female Vulcan would retrieve him at the end of the day. So while before, she would be watching Solar for 10 hours, now it was constant. Finally, snapping when an attempt to breastfeed had Solar accidentally pinch her nipple painfully, Nefi stomped up to the rooms wall communicator and pressed the button she knew hailed the bridge. 

“Do you require assistance?” Selkar’s dry tone answered almost immediately, and Nefi felt her temper flare. 

“Selkar, may I speak with you in private?” She asked as politely as possible. 

“Very well,” and the call ended. She let out a breath, glad to have that over with, and waited for her apparent foster father with a small amount of guilt. Several minutes passed, and Nefi jumped from her pacing as the door opened to reveal the severe looking Vulcan watching her with more than a hint of wariness. She immediately scooped up Solar, and handed him to the Vulcan. 

“Please, I need some time alone.” Selkar took the child, but leveled her with an unamused look. 

“You are his caretaker.” He said slowly, and Nefi felt her temper flare again. 

“You said I was coming with you to help him transition!” She exclaimed, her emotions suddenly raw. “How am I supposed to do that when we’re locked away, and you refuse to interact with him?” And Selkar blinked at her outburst, causing her to inhale deeply. She stepped into his space, and his eyes narrowed slightly. “Please,” she begged, voice quiet and urgent. “Please, just a few hours. I just need to have some personal time.”

Her hand hesitated, before resting on his side, where she knew his heart would be. The steady thump of it thrilled her for a moment, and Nefi was more sure in that moment that she needed some alone time. His pupils blew wide as he remained prone in the doorway.

She groaned in frustration, and thumped her forehead against his broad, solid chest. “What do I have to do to earn this?” She grumbled, and allowed her body to press fully into him, her hand falling limp to her side. 

To any human, the sight of the three of them in the doorway would look almost touching. Like a father embracing his children, but the tension between Selkar and Nefi was anything but familial. Even Solar seemed to sense something was amiss, and remained still and quiet. 

“3 hours.” His replied, his voice hushed and deep. Nefi’s face popped up to look at him in surprise, and then she beamed. 

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She chanted excitedly, and she stood on her tiptoes to place a kiss onto his cheek. However, Selkar chose that moment to turn his head slightly to look at what she was doing, and Nefi inhaled sharply as her lips met his.

Their eyes locked, both full of shock, and Nefi felt her stomach drop. She pulled back immediately, lips and body on fire from the very brief touch, eyes wide and hands clutched tightly at her back. 

Selkar’s eyes were also wide, though his face remained even. “S-sorry,” she spluttered, feeling her face burn at her audacity. This was not Torrent, a human man, Vulcan’s did not like to be touched. “I’m sorry, father,” she spat out unthinking in Vulcan, completely embarrassed, and Selkar blinked rapidly. 

“It is of no consequence, daughter,” he replied in kind, and turned to leave her with a staring Solar in tow. Nefi closed the door with a sigh, and her body tingled with awareness.

She suddenly regretted asking for a few hours, rather than just one, as she had no clue as to how she should calm herself, and would surely linger on that peck the entire time. 

She began to pace, Selkar and Torrent on her mind, her young body burning with shame and unwanted desire. Both were older, and considerably more experienced than she, and yet she found herself intrigued.

Selkar’s burning eyes did not repulse her, just as his first growl did not scare her. Torrent’s tender attention did not confuse her, and she felt quite deeply for him despite their short time together. 

But one was a commander on a Starship, and Nefi was not so naive to believe that Starfleet would be accepting of a relationship between them. And Selkar was now her foster parent, not to mention that he was most likely ten times her senior, considering the lifespans of Vulcan’s. 

“Also, stupid, you’re sixteen.” She growled to herself. She was a child in the eyes of Earth Law, and so she gave her face a sharp slap. “Stop it, stop thinking about them like this.” There was no possibility for a relationship with either male, at least, not until she was an adult.

Nefi dragged her feet to the restroom, and stripped her robe off ungracefully. With Solar around, it helped her retain an air of maturity, but now that she was alone, she felt every bit of her age. She looked at her naked form in the mirror and scowled. She stepped into the shower, and allowed herself to be blasted with cold water, desperate to scrub the heat from her skin. 

Chapter Text

The scorching heat of Vulcan’s star at early noon was unrelenting. Nefi swiped the sweat from her brow with the sleeve of her new robe, and took in the vast desert landscape with curious eyes. Despite the heat, the girl was relieved to have her feet on solid, real ground, and the reddish-orange environment appealed to her in an odd way. Solar was secured to her back with his carrier as they trailed along Selkar’s vast estate, babbling sweetly as he soaked in the sun. 

They had arrived on Vulcan a week prior, though to Nefi, it had felt like just a day ago. She had been rushed from the ship by Selkar, rushed through the absolutely incredible city of Shi’Kahr to meet her social worker, rushed through signing a seemingly endless amount of documents-drawn up in Standard for her benefit-, and then rushed again once more out of the city. Selkar had not spoken to Nefi at length, nor in private, since their final, tense moment on the ship, and Nefi did not mind. 

In fact, she had been so busy that last week, between caring for Solar, managing her new Vulcan handmaidens, and the sudden responsibilities that come with the title of being a Vulcan heir, that Nefi barely had time to herself, let alone to notice that the older Vulcan had been avoiding her. She was up by dawn, thanks to Solar’s baby schedule, and dead on her feet by the time the sun would set. Her new caretakers attempted to accommodate her human need for extended sleep, however, it was a very minimum amount of accommodation. 

Her handmaiden’s were quite relentless in their efforts to serve, regardless of Nefi’s reservations. Every morning after Nefi would bathe herself and Solar, the twin Vulcan would sweep into the room, and proceed to violate any and all boundaries the human girl had. Their firms hands would have her laced up in the restrictive, traditional corset and long bloomers Vulcan females wore, wrapped up in dark robes baring the symbols of Selkar’s house, and tugging her curls to braid them into a style that threatened to give her a headache. And all before their beginning meal was served. Solar barely tolerated this, seeming to become distressed whenever the Vulcan females crowded Nefi, but they did not indulge in the boy’s tantrums in his crib. 

They then fed her a similarly restrictive meal of carefully chosen human foods. Nefi at first, had informed them that she did not need any special treatment, but quickly gave up the effort. She was sure that she would eventually get sick of the same bland, though nutritious, vegan meals, but Nefi was never a picky girl, and accepted it all with grace. One thing she could not accept, however, was their refusal to allow her to leave the massive, mostly empty house to explore the grounds. Nefi would tolerate the lack of privacy, the food, the intensive curriculum they had created for her, and even the lack of sleep, but their clear intention to keep her locked away like a little pet threatened to trigger her anger. 

Thus, Nefi began to use her perceived human disadvantages to her benefit. She would feign fatigue to get out of lessons, only to sneak into the kitchens with Solar to snatch up whatever sweet, fresh Vulcan fruit were laid out for that day. Nefi would claim to need “human meditation time”, banking on the twin’s and staff’s ignorance of humans, and inherent respect for the privacy of meditation, to have time alone. During her “meditation”, she and Solar would listen to her favorite Earth music on a Vulcan PADD she had managed to take, and they’d play little games that Solar was not allowed when in the presence of other Vulcan. 

On this particular day, she had been able to shrug off her watchful, stoic handmaidens with the excuse of human mid-meal, and snuck from the massive house with Solar, some water, a blanket, and a bag of Vulcan citrus. The relatively mild hike to the carefully managed copse of what seemed to be the Vulcan equivalent of palm trees, had managed to lift Nefi’s spirits for the first time since their arrival. She was not ungrateful for the offer of home, and while the house itself was incredibly beautiful, Nefi preferred the outdoors. 

Selkar found her an hour later, reclined in the shade on the blanket, with Solar chewing on a slice of fruit. The Vulcan’s hands were kept primly behind his back as he approached. 

“It is unwise to wander alone, Nefertiti.” The girl propped herself onto her elbows, and narrowed her eyes against the sun to peer at him. He was wearing a dark red, casual outfit, in a cut that flattered the broadness of his chest and shoulders. It was not the long, flowing robes he had worn on the ship, and Nefi found herself liking how he looked in them. His hair was ever neat, and his even face clean shaven. 

“Sorry, I needed some fresh air.” He tilted his head at her answer, his gaze drifting to the toddler. Selkar stepped forward and picked a now squirming Solar up to his chest. Nefi felt amusement course through her as Solar did his very best to escape the iron grasp of his grandfather.

“Come,” he commanded, and she felt the urge to sigh, but obeyed. She shook the sand from the blanket, and stuffed everything into her bag to follow him back. It was a quiet, though not uncomfortable walk, however she could feel his mild disapproval at her act of rebellion. Once they reached the home Selkar turned to Nefi with a careful expression. 

“I will escort you to your quarters.” The girl knew she was making a face, but suddenly found that she did not care. She followed dutifully behind Selkar, ignoring the beautiful halls all together, and turned into her room once they reached it, also ignoring her foster father as he stood in the hall. She blinked as sudden humidity instantly coated her skin in blissful moisture, and Nefi turned to her foster father for clarification. Selkar nodded to large, white cylinder billowing mist into the air at the corner of the room. 

“A humidifier?” She asked, walking to the sleek machine and placing her hands over the mouth of it; cool water dripped from her palm and down her wrist. 

“I believe it to be your preferred environmental setting.” She looked over her shoulder at him, nearly startling as his intense gaze locked with hers. 

“Thank you,” she said quietly, turning to him fully and walking back to take Solar from his arms. Selkar raised his large hand, and she paused.

“I will care for him for the remainder of the day,” and Nefi blinked in surprised. 

“Oh, you don’t have to take him for that long, Selkar.” and he tilted his head, gaze flickering to her lips, before returning to her eyes. Nefi felt a tension in her shoulders from the memory of their accidental kiss on the ship, something the Vulcan clearly remembered, but ignored it. 

“You have made it clear that personal time is important to your emotional health as a human.” And Nefi felt herself flinch in embarrassment despite the gentle tone of his words. “And with your sudden arrival, I unfortunately found myself preoccupied with other matters, and lacked the time to retrieve Solar from your care.”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured. 

“Your apology is unnecessary.” Was all he said, steady and serene, and definitely about to leave without another word. And as he turned, Nefi reached out and tugged at his fitted sleeve, her heart in her throat. The Vulcan looked down at her with a raised brow, and she peered up at him through her lashes. It was strange, honestly, how much she wanted and yet had no clear grasp on just what it was that caused her to want. Nefi’s life had changed so much, and in that moment, she did not feel like herself. 

In fact, she felt almost disconnected from her body as she allowed her gaze to linger on his lips in an obvious message; Selkar swallowed. “You require further assistance?” He asked, tone as bland as ever, but lower in volume. Nefi felt herself nod as she stepped closer to him, and braved a finger to barely trace the side of his unoccupied hand. Selkar’s arm twitched at the contact, but he did not pull away. 

Many thoughts rushed through her mind as Nefi stood on the tips of her toes to look up into Selkar’s face. Thoughts on what Torrent would think, on what T’Sol would think, of what her parent’s would think. However, as Selkar bent slightly, mouth a firm line and eyes hooded, Nefi found that she did not care. A selfish emotion pulsed through her mind, and the girl clung to it as their lips finally met. 

It was different than the accidental kiss. Heated, yet chaste as their lips barely applied any pressure. Nefi kept her eyes open slightly to take in Selkar’s slightly relaxed expression, before falling shut to deepen the kiss. Her heart raced in her chest, and her stomach fluttered and lurched as her mouth opened slightly in silent invitation. 

Nefi, having never done anything like this before, trusted her instincts, and flicked her tongue against the seam of her foster father’s mouth. Selkar pulled away abruptly causing Nefi to stumble, his breath harsh, though appearing otherwise unaffected. Solar sat quiet in his arms, and Nefi herself felt unsteady and full of longing. 

“You are a child,” Selkar intoned bluntly, and Nefi felt the sting of rejection threaten to bring her to tears.

“Okay,” was all she could manage to say. Selkar did not move as she closed the door in his face. Nefi threw herself to the bed, deactivated the humidifier, and forced herself into a fitful nap. 

Her nap had not lasted long, unfortunately. T’Lo and T’Fae had gently awoke Nefi to inform the girl that she was to continue the studies she had attempted to run from earlier that afternoon. It was not that the teen disliked learning about Vulcan culture, nor did she mind improving her grasp on the language, however, her two handmaiden’s somehow managed to make the already dry material even more dull. She allowed the twins to pull her from the bed, did not fight as they took the time to rebraid her thick hair, nor did she argue as they stripped and changed her into a fresh robe. It was odd, but Nefi saw no point in fighting. 

They then dragged the girl to the room specifically set aside for Nefi’s lessons. She sat at the desk with a small huff, and took the PADD from T’Lo’s hand. Much of what she learned over her week of living on Vulcan, was specifically relevant to Selkar’s family clan. Through these lessons, Nefi had learned that the older Vulcan and Solar were the last blood members. It had been a sad revelation, and the girl admired Selkar’s strength. 

She also learned that his family had been prominent and wealthy merchants in the past, though eventually the needs for Vulcan goods lessened, as their culture preferred to isolate themselves to other planets, and monetary gain was no longer encouraged. And thus, while Selkar owned several merchant ships manned by Vulcan crews, those ships were often on loan to human crews to assist in trade nearer to Earth. Selkar himself kept his business on Vulcan, and only took his own personal ship outside of orbit during emergencies. 

Nefi’s thoughts kept lingering on the older Vulcan throughout her lessons, and she felt shame ripple through her at the uncharacteristic carelessness of her earlier actions. Selkar was correct: Nefertiti is a child. At least, in the eyes of the law. And as such, throwing herself at her adult guardian was not only rude, but illegal. She also felt guilt as she realized she had not once contacted Torrent since their arrival on Vulcan. 

“Lady Nefertiti,” T’Lo’s airy voice interrupted the young woman’s thoughts, and Nefi blinked up to see both of her maidens staring at her intently. The girl sat straighter in her seat, and allowed embarrassment to cross her features. 

“Yes?” She asked lightly, resisting the urge to fidget under the unwavering gazes of her caretakers. 

“You are distracted,” T’Fae stated bluntly, and Nefi winced. The twin maidens were not exactly kind, per say, but were more gentle than the other Vulcan Nefi had encountered during her short period of living on the planet. However, they both took her studies quite seriously, and when Nefi accidentally allowed her mind to drift, they were quick to correct it; she did not think it was fair, that they all expected so much from her after the tragedy she had gone through. Perhaps they did not realize that grief for humans was different, and could be incredibly varied within each individual. She had not been able to set up an altar for her parents, nor had the subject of their passing, or the passing of Solar’s parents, been brought up. 

In Nefi, her grief seemed to become a living thing of heat. And that heat continued to build with each day of careful, pseudo-Vulcan repression and lack of alone time. She did not want to study, she did not want the responsibility of being the human heir to an old Vulcan clan. Nefi was not sure what it was she wanted exactly, but the monotonous, drab tones of the twin Vulcans did very little to distract Nefi’s mind from the memory of her previous life; of her parent’s half of their shared shuttle home, melted and missing. She felt herself frown, eyes unfocused as she lost herself to her thoughts despite the obvious disapproval radiating from her maidens. 

Selkar would be an adequate distraction, she gathered. The large Vulcan’s dry, firm lips fluttered into her memory like the wings of a moth, and she felt her own mouth run dry. Yes, Nefi most certainly did not want to do her lessons, she simply wanted. Her thighs pressed together, seeking to ease the building ache between them. It was an odd sensation she had only felt a few times in her adolescence, as the colony lacked adequate privacy for such thoughts. She had felt it on the Vulcan ship, and now she felt it in her new home.

Nefi blinked to awareness when T’Fae audibly cleared her throat, and saw both of the twins looking tense and slightly flushed. Embarrassment flooded her as she recognized that she’d been completely ignoring the pair. 

“I apologize, I have a lot on my mind.” She murmured demurely as she corrected her posture, hoping the odd Vulcan sense of modesty would prevent them from pushing her into admitting her thoughts. The sisters exchanged a shared glance, before continuing with the lesson. Relief unfurled in Nefi’s mind at the lack of probing glances, and pushed the ache in her body aside to focus on the intricacies of Old Vulcan trade. 

Selkar’s mind was preoccupied with the young woman of the house. Her clear advances had stirred something deep and frightening within him, and the crestfallen look that had made its home on her lovely face at his rejection threatened to force him into rethinking taking Nefertiti as his wife. 

The days that followed their previous physical stumbling had the Vulcan locked away in his ship quarters for intensive meditation, and it would be a lie on his part if he denied that he had been avoiding the human. Each passing glance and soft spoken word from her lips provoked heat and possessive instinct in the Vulcan, and Selkar could not afford that weakness to be apparent. Perhaps if he discreetly took her to his bed, his bizarre fixation would lessen. However, she was quite young, and Selkar was not so arrogant to believe that his staff would allow the illegal act to transpire if he were caught. 

Nefertiti’s deep, dark eyes called to him, wanted him, and the male could tell she was not even completely aware of her desire. Would allowing her to kiss him cause harm? It was illogical, however, the lingering coolness of her lips on his felt intoxicating, dangerous. Selkar kept an idle ear in Solar’s general direction as the boy played with a holo-display of constellations, but his mind was completely lost to the odd little human a few rooms away. A primal need battered against his logic, and Selkar could feel himself on the edge of- something. He stood, decision made. 

“Come, Solar.” Selkar addressed the toddler, but the boy continued to ignore him. While Solar tolerated his grandfather’s presence, Nefertiti was often what prompted Solar into actual interaction. Selkar allowed himself a sigh, and picked the infant up. Solar, of course, did not find that at all agreeable, and began to whine quite incessantly in his odd mixture of Standard and Vulcan. Perhaps it would be appropriate to enroll Solar in an infant learning group, as he showed promise of becoming a great mind, while also needing social interactions for healthy development. For some reason, Selkar felt Nefertiti would agree, as it would also give the girl time to herself. 

As the two made their way to the room reserved for Nefertiti’s daily lessons, Selkar also thought of another benefit of the boy being out of the home for few hours. He decided then and there to assign T’Fae and T’Lo to care for the infant outside of the estate. They were capable educators and guards, and while it would be unorthodox for the twins to care for the boy rather than Nefertiti, they would serve without question. 

Selkar turned into the open room, and paused by the door to avoid interrupting. However the two Vulcan glanced up at their superior in sync, an unsettling habit they have mastered since infancy, and one that made him wary; his long time friend, and their father, had more than once commented on Selkar’s aversion to the pair, however he naturally denied it, as to fear the two willowy females was illogical. No, they were simply unsettling with their large, dark, and ever watchful eyes. It was why he needed the two out of the house. 

“You will take the infant until end meal.” Selkar addressed them both, and felt satisfaction as they both stepped forward without hesitation. Nefertiti watched the exchange with little reaction, though her lovely mouth did frown as the baby reached for her with a wail. “It is necessary for Solar to socialize, Nefertiti.” He commented once the twins were out of earshot, and the girl simply nodded. Selkar could tell that she was purposely closing herself from him, keeping her face void of human emotion, and while that should please him, the Vulcan found himself wanting to see more vibrancy to her features. 

Selkar gestured wordlessly for her to approach, and watched quietly as his foster daughter stood to her feet with her eyes downcast. She followed him, silent and obedient, as he led them through the halls. Through the many windows, he could hear Solar’s screeching voice, and the two Vulcan females attempting to placate him; Selkar ignored this. He paused once they reached his quarters, a moment of hesitation, bright and unwanted, flashing through his mind. But as Nefertiti stumbled into his back, clearly not paying attention, her soft body against his and her gentle grunt reaching his ears, Selkar felt his resolve solidify. 

She righted herself as he opened the door, and allowed her to step inside before him. In a moment of weakness, Selkar leaned towards her to catch her scent, and felt his blood heat. The image of the Vulcan Terran Ambassador and his little, human wife came to his mind. Their son proved their compatibility, that the parts did fit. Oh, and how he wondered how he would fit. Selkar blinked the thought from his mind, and closed and locked the door behind him. Nefertiti remained ignorant to his inappropriate thoughts, and he watched as she took in his sleeping quarters. 

“Was there something you needed, Selkar?” She finally asked, turning towards him. Her voice was quiet and calm, and her face remained placid, however Selkar could her the acceleration of her heartbeat, and knew she was unsure of what was about to take place. Selkar watched her still, and took a single step towards her. A dark thrill of something primal shot straight to his groin as she took a step back, her eyes widening at his approach. “Selkar?” She asked, her voice now colored with emotion, her face no longer blank. This is what he wanted, what he desired. 

“I wish to attempt something,” was all he said, refusing to elaborate as he continued his slow, stalking steps. Nefertiti admirably did not retreat further, though her heart rate increased, and her eyes continued to remain wide and shining. Soon, he stood directly in front of her, and felt pleasure thrum through his mind as she craned her neck to look up into his eyes. “Be still,” he ordered softly, and Nefertiti released the sweetest gasp as he bent to capture her lips with his. 

Selkar was not practiced in human kisses. He had, at one point, engaged in the act with a human colleague decades ago out of curiosity, but that was the extent of his knowledge. This did not seem to make much of a difference, judging by the girl’s reaction. Selkar’s lips were firm, but controlled, while Nefertiti’s were eager and seeking. Once again he felt her soft human tongue against his lips, and this time, he opened his mouth in response. His large hands grasped at her waist tightly at the surprised, erotic moan that tore from his ward’s throat, and he pulled the girl flush to his body, forcing her to arch her slender form to accommodate for the height difference.

Selkar curled his tongue alongside her own, tasting the muted, alien sweetness of her, and wondered if the rest of Nefertiti’s body shared a similar flavor. Her scent grew more intense and heavy, so thick he could feel as it coated the back of his tongue, and Selkar pulled away to look into her eyes. Her tanned skin deepened in color, her full lips swollen and slick, and her eyes were squeezed shut as she panted and whined. The loss of contact caused her to writhe against him in displeasure, seeking further touch, but his superior strength kept her at arms length. Nefertiti finally opened her eyes, and they were bright and heated, and surprisingly clear. 

“We will not have sexual intercourse.” He informed her, tone even, but tense with his own arousal. Amusement ghosted through his mind as the girl in his arms pouted slightly, but she nodded, ever obedient. In a moment of impulse, Selkar scooped the girl into his arms, and reveled in her delighted squeal of surprise. He quickly walked to his sleeping pallet, and laid her upon it as gently as possible. “I will, however, assist you in achieving your release.” And in that moment, he could have chuffed at her gobsmacked expression.