The Human Girl (A Star Trek Story)

09. Home

I woke up when Mazew sat up for work. I inhaled sharply and rolled toward him. Mazew looked back at me, smiling.

"Good morning, Zari."

I hummed, my eyes barely cracked. "I'm sore."

Mazew reached out and rubbed my side. "I can assume so."

I grabbed his hand and helped it. "I liked last night though. It was fun."

Mazew smiled, squeezing my hand. "I love you, Zari."

"I love you too."

Mazew got up and changed into his uniform. I laid there in bed and watched him get dressed. I was falling back asleep when Mazew kissed my forehead goodbye.

I fell asleep soon after. I slept for a couple more hours. I woke up after a while. I got up and stumbled. I caught myself on the wall. I was still sore from last night. I had wondered if I could get pregnant but I didn't know if that was biologically possible. I wouldn't know how to feel about it if I was.

I found some food. I began to think of Ayala. I made some extra food and left the room. I went to the cells and found Ayala. She was wearing clean clothes and had a nicer bed. Mazew had listened when I asked him to care for Ayala.

Ayala stood up and moved to the cell doors when she saw me. Ayala looked clean and had taken a shower recently.

I handed the plate through the bar. "I thought you would be hungry. I didn't know how well they've been taking care of you."

Ayala took a bite. "They've been taking good care of me. I've been taking showers and getting good clothes. I have a nice bed. Are you up to this?"

I nodded. "I didn't want you to get hurt or in bad shape. I wanted my friend to be taken care of."

Ayala smiled. "Thank you, Zari. You are what a true is supposed to be."

I nodded. "I know prison would be hard if I didn't ask Mazew to be kind to you."

Ayala reached through the bars and rested a hand on my arm. "Thank you, Zari. You're the only person on this ship I can trust."

I nodded. "I'm glad for that. You're one of the few people on this ship I trust."

"You know more people here?" Ayala asked.

I nodded again. "You, Mazew, and his cousin, Grerish."

Ayala withdrew her arm. "I am thankful you came, Zari."

"You're welcome, Ayala."

I left the cells and went back to my room. I laid down on the couch and rubbed my stomach. I truly wondered if I could become pregnant with Mazew's child. I didn't know how I felt about children. I didn't know how to raise kids, none the less a child who would be half an alien species. If I became pregnant, I decided I would love the child none the less.

I was lost in thought when Mazew came into the room. He gave me a kiss before going into our room. He came out not too long afterward in normal clothes.

He came over to the couch. I lifted my head and he sat down. I laid my head in Mazew's lap. He ran his hand through my kinky hair.

"Zari, I must tell you something," Mazew said.

"What is it?" I asked.

"There are other humans."

I sat up and looked at Mazew in disbelief. "Really? Where? Why didn't you tell me?"

Mazew nodded. "I didn't know how to tell you. There's the United Federation of Planets. The humans started it. I wanted you to know you're not alone. You have people like you out there."

"I've been here for six months, Mazew!" I exclaimed. "You could have told me! I thought I was alone. I didn't think you had made contact with my people. Why didn't you tell me after six months of me being here?"

Mazew placed a hand on my shoulder. "I didn't know how to tell you. I guess I was being selfish because I wanted you to stay here, with me. I knew if you knew there were Earth was closer and you could be with other humans, you'd leave." Mazew looked me in the eyes. "I'm sorry, Zari. I was being selfish. I can bring you back to your home if you want me to. I have to meet with some of the human ambassadors soon anyway. I can drop you off and we don't have to see each other ever again."

I took Mazew's hand and held it tightly. "I would like that but I want to stay with you. Mazew, I do truly love you but I want to see Earth. I want to see what Earth became in the time I've been gone. It hurt me that you didn't tell me about Earth and my people. It really did. But I forgive you. Please, just take me home so I can see what it's like."

Mazew nodded. "I will. I would never know what it would like to lose everything I once knew. You lost your family. You lost everything you once had, Mardi. I want to be like you. You are my home and I will follow you wherever you go."