The shape of things to come.

Posted on Mon Jan 31st, 2022 @ 6:17pm by Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik

Mission: Season 5: Episode 3: CAPETOWN
1661 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Sthilg let out another yawn as he looked at the report he had spent the last few hours typing up. After this mission, he wanted to make sure the fleet had everything he and his team had encountered and seen.

His white eyes looked over at the security case which the future tech lay. How was he going to explain that they'd meet something from the future that had apparently met them before and was part of something called the temporal cold war?

He leaned back again taking in a....... His eyes flicked open. What was that smell? it reminded him off someone, but....

" Hello is sssomeone there? " he asked poking his head out of his office door.

A young woman appeared in the light of Sickbay, someone who looked remarkably like Sthilg’s Daugher Alicia, and granddaughter N’Vea rolled into one. She simply stood looking at Sthilg as though he was a sight for very sore eyes.

The gorn stood there in shock as he stared at the stranger in the strange-looking uniform. " Hello. " He finally managed to say.

“Hello...grandfather.” She stepped closer allowing Sthilg to see the pointed Vulcan ears, and Trill spots of her mother N’Vea. That and the unmistakable raised eyebrows of Vulcan heritage, her own father also being a Vulcan.

" Hello." his reply came feeling very confused at this situation. " I'm gussssssing you here from the future?" he evidently came to.

The young woman nodded. “I don’t have much time, but first...” She moved swiftly forward giving the Gorn a big hug. “It’s so good to see you Grandfather!!”

The gorn was startled at first before returning the hug. It felt so odd yet so familiar. " It'sss alright little one," he said reassuringly

“It’s T’Vala” She stepped back offering a smile. “I’m your great granddaughter, N’Vea is my mother. I’m afraid I can’t say much more than that...spoilers as my grandmother would put it!” She grinned.

" Nice to meet you T'Vala. " The gorn said as he noticed the badge on her uniform. A memory from one of the many books he'd read. "You're a member of temporal invessstigationsss? " He inquired.

T’Vala nodded. “That’s right, I’m here on assignment I’m afraid.”

The gorn sighed slightly as he looked back at the case in his office. " I think I can guessssss what your here for. Your here for the tech that....." the gorn paused as he thought through what word could best describe the thing they had encountered. " thing wasss usssing to try and open the time gate."

T’Vala nodded. “As per usual you’re quite correct. I can’t leave future tech here in the past it’s too dangerous. Besides it’ll give me a chance to spend a little time with you.” She smiled warmly. “I don’t get to spend as much time with you as I’d like now I’m flitting off doing my job. You know when you told me you’d see me again soon last time we talked, I wasn’t sure what you meant. At least now I do! For the future you, this had already happened.”

" I'm still alive and kicking?" Sthilg replied in astonishment. " What am I doing?"

“Uh uh spoilers!” T’Vala smiled. “Let’s just say you’re still as good a Doctor in my time as you are now.” She reached into her pocket pulling out a photograph. “I probably shouldn’t show you this, but as you know I’m from the future it won’t make much difference.” She held out the photo for him to see, showing a family portrait of herself with N’Vea, an older yet hardly changed Savar, and a much different Alicia, who was sitting in a wheelchair her older features changed by what looked like serious burn scarring.

the gorn figure drew across the image feeling so hurt at his daughter's appearance. What had happened to her." What happened to her and where is your father?" He inquired looking T'Vala.

“My father? At this point in time he’s off across the universe doing his usual job as the Vulcan Ambassador. Mum fell head over heels for a Vulcan just like Grandma. As for Grandma...I can’t divulge too much but she was caught in an explosion, damn near lost her that day! She died but you saved her, brought her back from the brink again!” T’Vala hugged Sthilg again. “You’ve always been our physician, wouldn’t have anyone else!”

The gorn returned the hug though his mind was already aching at what he could do to help Alicia. He couldn't even begin to imagine what she had or was still going through. " I'm glad that my family isss sssafe and that i can ssstill make myssself ussseful."

T’Vala offered a smile much like that of Alicia. “Don’t worry about grandma, she’s one of the strongest women I’ve ever known!” She walked towards Sthilg’s desk. “I’m afraid I’m going to need to take these off you” She picked up the two items of future tech. “I know I can trust you Grandfather, but please destroy any records you have of these.

" I'm going to need to explain thisss to the away team and the captain. I can't jussst tell them I lost them and what about the gate controller." He said looking at the pile of rubble in the case that had been the activation device.

“I’m afraid I’ll need to remove all evidence. Just...tell them the truth” T’Vala grinned. “Honesty is always the best policy after all. That way you don’t get into trouble.”

" Yesss tell them that my great grandaughter from the future came and took them." the doctor replied with a sigh, head shake and chuckle. " Thisss isss sssounding like a bad sssceince fiction plot."

“Then perhaps a little lab accident?” T’Vala offered a smile. “Nothing that will damage Sickbay, or the ship just a small explosion and fire that destroys the items? Unless you can suggest anything else grandfather?”

The gorn sighed. " I'll think of sssomething my dear. i alwaysss do."looking at her he gave her another hug. " It will be a long time before I sssee you again yet I'll be calling you when you get back."

T’Vala grinned. “We already have plans! But grandfather...don’t blame yourself, the you of my time has spent years blaming himself for not doing more for my grandmother. There was no more you could do, not even with future tech. She’s happy and healthy that’s all that matters.”

Grabbing his great-grandaughter softly by the shoulders the gorn chuckled. " My dear one of thessse daysss when you have children of your own you'll know that you never stop worrying about how you could have done better."

T’Vala grinned. “That’s very true grandfather, if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here to talk to you now. All your worrying, and keen instincts picked up on a problem anyone else would have missed...and thee I go giving away spoilers!” She shook her head. “I’m saying no more!”

The gorn chuckled as he hugged her again. " Good to know I don't loose my touch. Now go on I'm sssure future me will be wanting a word with you when you get back."

T’Vala nodded. “Of that I’ve no doubt.” She picked up the items she’d come to get. “I’m sorry I have to take these from you, but rules are rules.” She gave him one last kiss on the cheek before stepping back out of his office. “Goodbye for now grandfather.”

The gorn gave her a wave as he quietly spoke. " Goodby little one."

As his grandaughter faded away Sthilg felt a great sense of loss as if part of his soul was leaving with her.


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The future.

Having returned to her time, T’Vala returned the items retrieved from her great grandfather before returning home. Reaching into her pocket to retrieve her photograph she cursed herself when she found it wasn’t there. “Dammit!! I left it behind!”

With a bleep, her computer started chiming. =^= Incoming call from the office of the surgeon general. =^=

T’Vala smiled as she accepted the call.

The screen lit up as the old lizard appeared on the screen. His years as the surgeon general had aged him seemingly more than the rest of his years combined. A smile was on his face as he held up an old yet carefully looked after photo. " I think you lossst thisss little one."

T’Vala nodded. “I did indeed Grandfather, thank you for keeping it safe for me. It was, and still is, good to see you!”

" I know little one. I know." The old lizard replied early. If only his past self knew what was to come.

“I’m sorry I showed that to you, I shouldn’t have.” T’Vala hung her head. “I can only imagine what you must have felt back then seeing grandmother that way.”

" What'sss done is done little one. " Sthilg responded warmly. " I can't ssstay long I have half a dozen appointmentsss thisss afternoon. I'll sssee you thisss weekend at the family get together."

T’Vala nodded. “I’ll be there eagerly awaiting a hug!” She smiled warmly. “Nothing will keep me away.”

" I'll hold you to that. Talk to you later. " Sthilg replied as she closed the channel. His white eyes gazed over at the full photo of his family. His daughter, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren. All what he'd never thought he'd have, but now meant more to him than anything.

Smiling to herself T’Vala couldn’t help but think herself the luckiest woman in the universe to have an amazing great-grandfather like Sthilg.