Spock's daughter

III 25

Lil's POV

I walked into the Astrometric lab where I found Icheb sitting and working on something. I smiled at him.

"Hey", I said.

He looked up and smiled.

"Hey."

"Do you need help with that?"

"No I don't. But thank you."

I nodded and wanted to walk out again but he prevented me from that.

"You can still stay and watch if you like."

I smiled again and sat down next to him.

"Of course. By the way, what is it for? The First Annual Voyager Science Fair?" I asked curiously.

"Yes. It's a high-resolution gravimetric sensor array. It'll augment our ability to scan for the neutrino flux associated with wormholes. It could help Voyager find a faster way home. If it works."

"Of course it will work. It is constructed by you and your genius self."

"Thank you. I appreciate your presence and your words. ...
No I don't regret it."

I looked at him with a questioned look.

"What?"

"You thought it. Or thought in that direction. Listen, I will never regret it, okay. You're my precious mate. I won't ever leave you."

I nodded with tears in my eyes. I wanted to kiss him right now, but then my communicator made noise and I sighed.

"Better get to work."

I stood up and turned around. I heard him sighing behind me.

"Come here."

He grabbed my waist and turned me around, and then kissed me.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

He let go of me and got back to his project and I walked to the engine room.
There Vorik waited for me. This was the first time after the Pon farr case that I saw him again.

"Ensign Vorik."

"Lil."

He looked down at his feet before he continued.

"I hope the last events haven't harmed our friendship. Even if you hate me now, I wish for us to stay friends. Just friends."

"Vorik, I don't hate you. Sure I was not quite fond of this, but... I really don't hate you. We can stay friends. And see it that way; you have a new Vulcan sister. Well, half... Vulcan."

"Thank you. And I appreciate it."

I nodded and had a short flashback how I reacted when the doctor confirmed that I was indeed half Vulcan.

Flashback

"Lil, someone must have already told you, or at least a part of it, but it is true. You're half Vulcan and you have indeed suffered from the Pon farr."

"How do you know for certain?"

"You suffered from it before Ensign Vorik came into physical contact with you. And when you mated with Icheb, you use two traditional Vulcan things, used for mating. First the Vulcan finger-touching and then the mind meld for the telepathic mating bond. And... you have pointy ears."

Flashback end

When I thought about it, I automatically reached up and touched my ears. Yes they were pointy. But if I would have gotten the eyebrows too...

I would have screamed bloody murder.

Now that I know what I am, my memories were coming back slowly.

Time skip

[In the Mess hall]

It's the First Annual Voyager Science Fair, according to the banner. Janeway was looking at Azan and Rebi's exhibit.

"Why potatoes?" she asked.

"Their first idea was to clone Naomi, but I suggested they start with something smaller." (Seven)

"Quite a feat of engineering", B'elanna stated.

"It's a Teirenian ant colony. I infused the soil with a blue ion dye so it'd be easier to see the insects", Mezoti explained.

"They're luminescent." (Janeway)

"The drones produce a fluorescent enzyme that's activated by the Queen."

"Drones and Queens? I thought we were trying to get these children away from the Borg", Janeway directed the last part to Seven.

"The project was Mezoti's idea. I didn't want to discourage her individuality."

"I like bugs", Mezoti said.

"Well done. Let me know before you take up beekeeping."

"What have we got here?"

"It's Kataris", Naomi answered Chakotay.

"Your father's planet." (B'elanna)

"I've been learning all about it", Naomi said.

"Naomi programmed the geophysical and atmospheric conditions." (Seven)

"There's quite a storm in those mountains." (Chakotay)

"The Arpasian range is known for high winds and hail." (Naomi)

"I'll remember to bring my coat. Now this looks impressive."

"It's a high-resolution gravimetric sensor array", Icheb said.

"Ambitious."

"It'll augment our ability to scan for the neutrino flux associated with wormholes. It could help Voyager find a faster way home", he explained.

"The engineering principles are sound."

"I expected these projects to be interesting, but this is truly exceptional."

"Thank you, Captain. I am very interested in astrophysics."

"Well, you've obviously got a knack for it. Well done."

"How did you think of scanning for neutrino fluctuations?" B'elanna asked.

"I've been studying Starfleet records", Icheb answered and he continued under conversation.

"He's a remarkable young man", Janeway stated.

"He hopes to earn a permanent posting in Astrometrics one day."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible."

"Captain, the boy has a unique talent." (Seven)

"It's not a question of merit. We've made contact with his parents, and I've set a course for their planet."

They both looked at the former drone boy.

"My scanner is calibrated to pick up changes in neutrino trajectories."

"That's good news. ... But what about Lil?"

"She has to know too."