Thivi and Naliya

Posted on Tue Feb 18th, 2025 @ 10:58pm by Civillian Naliya & Lieutenant JG Thivi

2,118 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: The Menagerie II
Location: Barisa Prime
Timeline: After Medical Team Gone Wild (Shore Leave)

In the background of the bar the sounds of cheers of someone winning big at the Dabo table temporarily filled the room as Thivi and Naliya continued talking.

"It is - but I would call it very well worth it." Thivi replied with a grin. "I've never regretted walking this path. I do so much good here. Did you know there are still a ton of people who don't much like nurses and doctors?"

Naliya laughed. "I can imagine. Romulan children don't like them much. The old way was strict, after a certain age no showing of fear or apprehension would be tolerated. Parents would tell their children who cried that they didn't want to be weak like Humans."

"Really." Thivi smiled and sipped at her drink, but commented no further. It wasn't her job to comment on how other cultures raised their children. "What is the new way, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I haven't really made it back to Romulan space much, so I couldn't say how much has changed, if anything. Here, some children hope they might be welcome in Starfleet someday. Some are apprehensive, others supportive. But the Romulans here are at least learning to see other races as persons," Naliya explained. "Under the Empire, it was very... how would you say. Romulans were taught that they were the superior race in all things. That there was a need to conquer, because the galaxy was better off under the Empire's rule."

"They will be. I'm sure they will be. If anything I think the Federation is very much more willing to consider and accept change, especially necessary paradigm shifts." Thivi replied. "Maybe one day I'll meet them in Starfleet, at the Academy or elsewhere. What do you think?"

"You aren't the first Starfleet officer to tell us it is possible, so I believe it may be true. My people value honesty. Do you truly think that the Federation may learn to not fear the Romulans?" Naliya asked.

"We will, in time. Change takes time, big change even more so. But what I do know about the people of the Federation is that they are really very adaptable." Thivi replied with a warm smile. "I'm sure you will live to see the change happen. I foresee quite some history between our two powers in the days ahead,"

"Isn't that something? Centuries of war, and I'm alive to have seen us work together for the first time first over a common enemy at war, and now possibly forge an alliance in peace. Though I can guarantee the Tal Shiar are still around and will not approve."

"Enough about politics though. Tell me a truth about you?" Naliya asked, fingers brushing lightly against the back of Thivi's hand as she reached for her drink.

Thivi seemed a little surprised at the brief, if quite intimate, contact, but she said nothing about it as she sipped from her own drink. "I cook my own meals." She replied. "Let's just say I picked up a few things here and there. I love noodle dishes of every kind. Did you know that Earth has this delicious bowl of cold noodles with salty cold broth? Mmm. My favorite..."

"Human food, then. Romulans don't serve many foods cold or hot like Humans seem to enjoy. Though my exposure to their delights is limited and has all been here. My people used to grow and harvest everything, cooking and making almost everything with no replicators. We don't have the land here for it. Things have changed quite a bit," Naliya said with some nostalgia.

"Tell you what. If we're ever near here again, I'll treat you to something." Thivi replied with a kind smile. "Or we could find somewhere else that has it right now, if you'd like. How about it?"

"Sure. I wouldn't mind getting out of here. I do have a stop to make before it gets too late though. It will not take long. If that is alright with you," Naliya responded.

"That sounds wonderful to me. I'll be seeing you shortly, then! Back here at the entrance." Thivi smiled.

"Oh, you can come along. I thought we'd make it a stop on the way?" Naliya commented. "But if you'd like more time with your friends, I can come back."

"No, no. It's fine. We can go." Thivi replied. "Lead on."

Naliya smiled, she nodded to the bartender and held up two fingers. A minute later someone who appeared to be a manager came out and handed Naliya a card. Naliya thanked her and looked to Thivi, "Let's go then."

Naliya took Thivi to a transport nearby that was relatively closer than the one that everyone seemed to be using, and much less busy. "Locals secret, don't tell," She said with a wink.

They reappeared at a somewhat rural location. There were businesses, but it wasn't a city hub, and life seemed to move much slower here. It also appeared to be several hours earlier - the sun had not quite set, casting an amber hue on the trees and buildings in the area.

"There's an orphanage a few blocks this way. Whenever I win at any of the tables, I bring them my winnings so they can have extras, toys or trips or whatever," Naliya explained. "All of their basic needs are taken care of by the government here, but not much more than that."

"Do you! Well then." Thivi smiled. "That's lovely, Naliya. I don't think the children will take too kindly to seeing me, though, but I'll come!" She began to walk down the street with the Romulan in tow. "How long have you been supporting them for?"

"Oh, it's not me really. My community was relocated here about 18 months before the supernova. We brought almost all of the children with us - myself and a group of other women took charge of them because there wasn't enough room for all of the parents to go, and some still had business. Other arrangements were in place for them to join..." Naliya smiled at Thivi. "Anyway, a lot of things didn't work out as planned. It's a tragedy that most of their parents didn't make it, but they are growing up with more opportunities here than they would have under the Empire."

"But why do you say that they wouldn't take kindly to meeting you?" Naliya asked with almost a playful spirit. "We'll likely see some disappointed faces when we don't stay long. I'm sure they'd love to ask you tons of questions about Starfleet and your homeworld." As they walked side by side Naliya occasionally turned to the side glancing up at Thivi with a smile.

"Kids don't take too kindly to Kelpiens. Usually. They adapt eventually, but something bald, lanky and with weird feet sometimes doesn't always go down well with their senses." Thivi joked. "I'm just really, really different to the people they're familiar with, you know? Of course, there are always the brave ones who'll take the lead in asking questions."

"Maybe Starfleet has too many humans in it. The Hobus system was very homogenous - just Romulans with anything less being caste into something less, so the children didn't get a lot of exposure before we moved here. My... community has a long history of being sworn enemies against the Tal Shiar though, so we taught them differently," Naliya explained. "Barisa is so diverse. If they are not frightened by Lurians or Tellarites, I think you'll be fine." Naliya cast her a knowing look. She was talking to Thivi as if they'd been friends for weeks, or even longer, though they'd only known one another for a few hours.

The orphanage was located in a residental area and the grounds held three buildings. Naliya pointed out that the residence was separate from the main office, which also held playrooms, study areas, and first aid facilities. "They go to public school, and if they are sick we take them to the doctors and hospitals here, but we want to have a place for them to take extra classes, or if it's something we can treat, but maybe need to isolate a child to keep everyone else from getting sick we have space here," Naliya said as they arrived.

"The other building is a gymnasium, and other kids from the neighborhood come use it too, which is great. Same with the playground and courtyard. We welcome others to come here."

When Naliya and Thivi walked inside a woman wearing deep purple robes and a round head covering approached the two. She appeared to be several years older than Naliya and had stern features. Naliya held her hands in front of her, palms pressed together, and then opened them, like one would open a book. The elder woman did the same. "This is my friend, Thivi. She is a nurse with Starfleet. We just stopped by so I could bring you this. Thivi, this is Masha." Naliya handed the woman a card as two children ran up, an adolescent boy and a younger girl.

"Thank you, Sister Naliya. Would the two of you like some tea?" Masha asked.

"Did you come to read us a story?" The boy interjected before Naliya could respond, his young friend on his heels.

Masha looked at the boy sternly. "You must mind your manners, Kiev. Besides, it is past Jova's bedtime."

Jova pouted. "There's no school tomorrow, and I'm not tired anyway. I want to meet Miss Naliya's friend."

Naliya crouched down so that she was the children's height and held her arms open and the children came to her and nestled into her shoulders. "It is late, and we won't have time to stay. I will come tell you about my friend on another day. Listen to Mother Masha."

They murmured their 'yes ma'ams' and the boy took the child out of the front door toward the residence.

Masha bowed her head to Naliya as Naliya stood up. "Thank you for the gift. A pleasure meeting you, Thivi. A friend of Sister Naliya's is welcome here at any time."

"Of course. I'm honored to be here." Thivi smiled. "She comes here often, I take it, so the children know her by name. How many children do you have here, if I may ask?"

"Twenty-two children at the moment. A few of the children we brought with us have reached adulthood, and are free to stay here while they figure out their next steps in life. There is a lot of uncertainty about where Romulans are welcome these days," Masha explained solemnly.

After they finished talking Naliya led Thivi back out into the quiet neighborhood. It was starting to cool off, though it wasn't quite cold, at least by Romulan standards.

"There are a few spots here we could go to if you like a quieter scene," Naliya offered. "We could always transport to one of the cities. Or, I don't live far from here, if you'd like to come back to my place."

"Your place." Thivi decided, smiling at the Romulan. "You've got something in mind, I presume. And I'm also presuming that I'll find out what it is when we get there. Am I right?"

"I wouldn't presume anything, Thivi. I've still got a few bottles of Romulan wine lying around. We can put on some music or a holomovie, and just see where the evening takes us."

"Where the evening takes us." Thivi echoed. The offer was definitely sounding more and more like a date, if you will. The very thought of it made her stomach churn in the most wonderful way. It'd been so long since her last.

"Well, then. Lead the way." She said with a wide, craggy Kelpien smile, and held out her arm for Naliya to take. Hopefully she was reading the room right.

Naliya's apartment was a short walk from the orphanage, on the third floor of a well-kept but older building. Naliya took Thivi into the apartment that was a simple one-bedroom flat with a small balcony. "Make yourself at home. I know it isn't much, but I've always lived a simple life to be honest. Even before we had to evacuate my people weren't much for material things."

The kitchen and living space were one open room. Naliya gestured to the two small couches as she walked over to the counter, taking out a couple of glasses. She took a bottle of wine from a small display rack that held just a few bottles and began to open it.

"Make yourself at home," Naliya said, giving the Kelpian a warm smile. "I'll be right out."

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~tbc another time...~

 

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