Betazed Story collection - Sakarra Tyrax

"Innocence" - Part I

[Vathax Mountains]

Okalan sighed in exasperation. She was up to something again. Looking out over the clear mountain lake where a few participants of the family picnic were enjoying themselves immensely by the sound of it, he already knew he would not find her there. No, she was … closing his eyes for a moment, he sought out a very distinct mind, which right now was vibrating with happy excitement and the usual mischievous tinge to it … up there.

Trying to peer through the dense jungle foliage the young man noticed some cliffs lined with Versina crystals and overgrown with flowering Toyar.

Of course.

Looking back towards the group of Betazoids - plus one Vulcan, strangely beautiful in Betazoid attire - still seated in the shade of an enormous tree, he heard some of the amiable voices engaged in a friendly argument.

“Now dear, you know Uttaberries don’t agree with your ….”

“If you hadn’t eaten all the Oskoids your wife would…”

“The argument is illogical, since the berries are all that is left…”

Chuckling to himself, Okalan Enaren of Betazed’s Fourth House wondered not for the first time how a lady from an alien planet so unlike this lush and lively world could move so gracefully amongst people who, by her standards, were the complete opposite of the spectrum. Wildly emotional and happily so, all the while ignoring all sense of Vulcan decency and privacy by casually tossing thoughts and emotions at their friends and fully expecting to receive the same in return.

Still, if T’Sora wasn’t Vulcan, he’d swear she was loving every minute of it…

Returning his thoughts to a more immediate concern, Okalan sent a silent question towards Rel Tyrax, who was still attempting to regain possession of the disputed bowl, spilling some of the sweet Uttaberries in the process.

The older Betazoid’s mind immediately focused on him, and the esteemed Lady Yulana Enaren, Ambassador Extraordinaire to the Federation, used the distraction to settle the dispute once and for all by snatching the bowl with a speed that would have put a Wanoni Tracehound to shame. Daring her old friend Rel to defy her with a look that clearly spelled “diplomatic incident”, Yulana graciously offered the hard-won berries to her favorite Vulcan.

Rel indicated his unconditional surrender to the forces that be by throwing up his hands and smiling gently, then nodded in Okalan’s direction.

‘Go ahead - and if you find some more berries, don’t hesitate to…’

‘Oh, first you spill them, then you make my grandson bring more?’

‘Since he’s going to find my wayward daughter anyways….’

The young man decided to ignore the amusement that erupted from the group - they were clearly thinking he had some type of ulterior motive for looking after his childhood friend - and made off towards the cliffs.

Pushing aside another tall fern, Okalan finally emerged at a small clearing. Which was just as well, because two more steps and he would have ended up in one of the small lakes that dotted this part of the mountains. Plucking some obnoxious burrs from his shirt, he scanned the cliffs overlooking the water. ‘Kara? Where are you?

“Up here, Lan!” his friends cheerful voice answered through a rustling of leaves. He followed the sound and found her - oh Four Deities, have mercy!- balancing on a branch near the top of the cliffs, reaching for an outcropping in the rock. Before he could shout a warning, her muscles tensed and she jumped, more crashing than landing on the frighteningly narrow ledge. Undeterred by the sound of pebbles falling away, she continued to climb towards the peak, pausing only briefly to wave reassuringly at Okalan who stood transfixed about 25 meters below.

Unable to utter a sound ‘if she falls, there’s no way … why is she…where are her ..’ , the young Betazoid saw Sakarra reach her destination, and found the answer to his questions when his frantic eyes caught a glimpse of the heap of clothes, carelessly flung into the soft grass.

“’Kara, NO!” he yelled, when he finally figured out what she had planned all along - but as usual, she didn’t listen. Okalan felt his mouth go dry as he watched the figure atop the cliff take in the splendid view “I can see grandma’s house from here!” and then, with a happy laugh, leap out into the air, arms spread wide like a bird taking flight.

‘Cliff diving into a lake she doesn’t even know‘, Okalan thought while racing around the water to the far side, where she should - where WAS she? He had heard the splashing of water, but now Sakarra was nowhere to be seen. No no NO this time she really got hurt…

“Oh goodness, COLD!” sounded a cheerful voice and Okalan felt his heart jump with both relief and joy. She was paddling towards the shore, and he slowly walked over to meet her. “’Kara, one of these days you’re going to give me a heart attack. One of these days you’re going to give yourself one. What were you THINKING…”

You’re such a worrier, Lan

Still grinning, the young woman pulled herself up onto one of the boulders lining the lake and started squeezing water out of her hair.

Stop giving me reason to, then! Your body isn’t meant to handle this cold water, and as for your relative weight…

Vulcans aren’t exactly first class swimmers, I know. But I AM half Betazoid, Lan

“You know, sometimes I wish you were a little more Betazoid” he said scrambling up to the boulder “NO empath would have done what you did after sensing how scared I was!”

“As I said, you’re a worrier” she turned to face her old friend, her expression softening when she saw the deep frown on his handsome features. “But I’m sorry I scared you. Friends?”

She held out her hand to him and he grabbed it with a sigh, noting with relief that it was almost as warm as it was supposed to be. “Ever and always, ‘Kara. You know that!” and with a little mischief of his own he added “but if we had an audience right now, they’d probably suspect something… a little more”

She looked back at him with a blank expression, then burst out laughing as realization dawned.

"Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind; The thief doth fear each bush an officer" Sakarra answered mockingly, poking Okalan’s shoulder.

“Hm, Henry six?” he grinned back at her “and I plead not guilty on grounds of possibly complete insanity.”

“Four, actually” Sakarra decided it might be a good idea after all to get back into her clothes, since a light breeze had started to rustle the leaves around them and she was starting to feel a bit chilly. “Insanity?” sliding off the boulder, she started walking back towards the patch of grass on the other side of the lake, her arm companionably wrapped around Okalan’s.

“Absolutely” he nodded, “as some of my friends and parts of both our families would not hesitate to point out”

“Lan, not THAT subject again, please…”

“Think of it like that, ‘Kara; as long as they believe - whatever they believe - there’s fewer admirers you have to fight off”

“Right….” Sakarra frowned. They had reached the spot where she had left her clothes and she started to pull the first layer of the dress over her head “You make it sound like… help me with this, will you?” Okalan couldn’t help but chuckle at the sound of Sakarra’s muffled voice and gently untangled her wet hair from the lacing. “Oh, better, thanks. You make it sound like half of Betazed’s eligible male population is standing in line at grandma’s door”

“Last I heard it was more like two third” he answered teasingly, quickly dodging the smack that was about to connect with the back of his head.

“Whatever you say, Okalan Enaren” she grumbled, adjusting the upper layer of her dress and brushing some grass off it. “But you MAY have noticed I do not exactly conform to Betazoid beauty ideals. I therefore submit you’re exaggerating as usual.” and in a softer voice she added “but I appreciate the badly hidden compliment I think you were trying to make me”

“And you’re missing the point as usual, Sakarra Tyrax”

Okalan smiled at his friend, who was currently trying to put on her sandals while at the same time pulling a branch out of her dark curls - how that had gotten there, the Deities only knew - and pondered what she had said.

True, she was rather lean and long-legged instead of curvy, and her skin had her mother’s copper-tone rather than the golden-bronze of a Betazoid who spends much time outdoors or the elegant ivory of one who doesn‘t. But he personally knew at least two young men who found precisely that her most endearing features. And several others who couldn’t care less what she looked like and were simply drawn to her vibrant, if sometimes unpredictable personality. He also knew that telling her any of those things would be pointless.

“Then enlighten me, please” she had finally managed to get into the footwear and stood up, vigorously shaking out her dress.

“Huh?”

“The point I supposedly missed!”

“It’s the ears” he said with a grin “They’re just irresistible, you know?” and remembering Rel’s request he added “What do you say we find some more Uttaberries for the hungry bunch down there?”

“Berries it is” she laughed “I think I saw some on the way up here” and with a leap she was off into the underbrush, waving for him to follow.

"O! she doth teach the torches to burn bright". Okalan thought, shaking his head slowly as he carefully navigated his way through the trees “That old earth writer must have known someone just like her. Wonder if he got into that much trouble for it, too….”

"Ashaya"

“Doubt that the stars are fire, Doubt that the sun doth move his aides, Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love”

(Hamlet)

[shores of the Alarmante Sea]

“It is scandalous, utterly scandalous!” Lady Lhorexa dabbed at her eyes with an exquisitely laced handkerchief “That a people who is not supposed to display any emotion whatsoever should be able to make others bawl like this.”

Sakarra looked over at her grandmother who was trying to balance her superbly elegant parasol, wipe some tears from her cheeks and remain utterly dignified at the same time. With a smile she noted that Lhorexa Tyrax managed all three with a fair amount of success.

‘I’m glad you approve, little one.‘

The Betazoid lady let the handkerchief disappear somewhere in her lavish sundress and gave the two young people seated on the blanket next to her a long look ‘Okalan, dear, here you go.’ Removing another piece of fabric from the seemingly endless depths of her pockets, she handed it to the sniffling young man who accepted it with a gracious bow. The fact that he was trying to bow while seated on the soft sand and almost toppled over in the process made Sakarra’s smile turn into a giggle. As the achingly pure sounds of T’Sora’s lute faded away and were replaced by the murmuring of waves, Lady Lhorexa gave a deep sigh ‘you seem oddly unruffled, little one’

‘Not at all, grandmother. I guess it’s just that M’aih has been singing for me since I was this big’ with a gesture she indicated a rather small child and smiled again ‘but I didn’t know you understood ancient Vulcan’

“I don’t” her grandmother replied ruefully and Okalan went wide-eyed “Are you saying the text is just as sad as the melody?”

“I wouldn’t exactly call it sad…” Sakarra leaned back on the blanket, enjoying the warm afternoon sun. “More like tender. Affectionate, if you will. And a bit melancholic, too.” she knew this wasn’t exactly a correct translation but she tried to put it into terms that a Betazoid could relate to.

‘Little one, you can’t possibly tell me we just heard a Vulcan sing a … LOVE song?’

“As close as it gets, anyways” Sakarra was grinning now, two sets of Betazoid eyes mustering her in utter astonishment.

“Oh, Mr Xeto, you’re such a dear” Lady Lhorexa exclaimed as her valet came walking with a plate of fresh Oskoid fronds. “See to my lovely T‘Sora and Rel, too, would you?” she had apparently recovered from the shock and delved into the food “And how is the rest of our esteemed company faring?”

Mr Xeto indicated with a wave of his long arm, that the twenty-odd other members of the Tyrax and Enaren families gathered on the beach were either engaged in swimming, eating, playing ball or sobbing helplessly, the latter mostly being those in closer proximity.

Sakarra quickly snatched one of the Oskoids, knowing that between the two of them Okalan and grandmother would make short work of the food. Looking across the beach for a sign that her cousin Olixinna had arrived (usually not too difficult, her favorite bright red beach dress could be spotted by a blind, three legged Tracehound two kilometers away), she noticed that her parents had left their blanket and were now walking along the beach.

Their conversation was drowned by the sounds of the waves, but when they stopped walking and faced each other, Sakarra cold see from her father’s face that he was teasing M’aih about something. Whatever she answered made Rel Tyrax smile even wider. He held out his paired fingers to his wife and she settled hers on them with a ceremonious gesture that nonetheless somehow conveyed deep affection and - at least to Sakarra’s sharp eyes - a hint of amusement.

Chuckling quietly to herself she noticed that Okalan was also looking at the pair now proceeding along the shore again, a half eaten Oskoid frond still in his hand.

“A heart to love, and in that heart, Courage, to make love known…” he sighed, then shot a mildly irritated glance at Sakarra who had used the opportunity to steal his Oskoid.

Munching and grinning at the same time, she pointed at the already empty plate and let him know that HE was the one who kept insisting she didn’t eat enough so don’t he dare make a fuss now.

‘No fighting, little ones! She DOES have a point, you know. And the two of you read too much Shakesbeer.’

“I am not bound to please thee with my answers” Sakarra said in the most solemn voice she could muster before the look on Okalan’s face ’Shakes BEER? The lady doth protest too much, methinks’ made her giggle again.

“Which proves my point, little one.”

‘Yes, grandmother’

Sakarra looked up at the soft, cloudless sky. Right now, right here, everything was good the way it was. And while M’aih insisted that change was an essential part of all existence, the young woman wouldn’t have minded to slow down time and extend this particular day for a little, let the universe protest all it wants.

Picking up his friend’s relaxed mood, Okalan smiled happily. He reached into the basket Mr Xeto had left before going to procure some fresh drinks for his charges and pulled out a Sadi fruit. ‘It’s not like Mr Xeto and I haven’t already conspired to feed you.’

‘Of course you have’ Sakarra chuckled, accepting the yellow fruit gracefully. Before she had a chance to take a bite though, she saw Olixinna arrive, with three more cousins (second cousins actually, but who kept score in these parts) trailing behind her. And those three were carrying what Lexie so aptly referred to as “those dreadful wood pieces that’ll be your undoing one day”.

“Surf’s UP!” Sakarra exclaimed happily and raced down the dune, showering Okalan and grandmother in a spray of sand while the Sadi fruit bounced off a parasol that was tilted both with great elegance and just in time.

‘Oh, little one - try not to skin any knees this time please’ turning towards the laughing young Betazoid next to her who was brushing sand off his clothes and shaking his head, Lady Lhorexa gestured towards the basket ‘Well dear, it seems we just came by some more food. If you would be so kind?’

"Gaudeamus Igitur"

[Kharazad, Betazed]

“I think you forgot the kitchen sink.”

“If you think it’ll help, dad…”

“Well, you seem to have packed just about everything else, Okalan.”

“Hm?”

The young Betazoid gave his father one of the looks that rank about a 7.5 on the scale of confusion and then experimentally lifted his bag. Wasn’t that bad.

The gentle, warm morning sun filtered through the leaves outside the library’s large windows and the cat on the windowsill moved lazily.

“You know how ‘Kara can get when she’s having too much fun.”

“So that’s all first aid equipment then?”

Reit Enaren carefully set down the large volume he had been reading, radiating amusement and just a little bit of curiosity.

“I got some food, too.”

“Of course you do.”

“Oh, my deeeeeaaars … has anyone seen my…”

The musical voice of the lady Yulana Enaren, Daughter of the Fourth House and Ambassador Extraordinaire to the Federation, came floating down the stairs, followed by the sensation of a powerful empath seeking out two very specific people and finally, the sound of a lush, multi-layered dress swooping into the library.

‘THERE you are! Shame on you for making me shout all across the house.’

“Hello mother.”

‘Good morning, grandma.’

Fists firmly planted against her hips, Yulana was about to issue another telepathic reprimand when the emotions present in the room suddenly made her break into a giggle. If it hadn’t been for her snow-white hair, carefully arranged and held in place by bejeweled pins, and the wrinkles around her eyes which spoke of both much laughter and way too much sorrow, one could have mistaken her for a girl 80 years her junior.

‘Eighty years? I will have you know…’

“Sorry mother. What were you looking for?”

But Yulana was not going to be distracted so easily. Standing in the middle of the warmly lit room with the old bookshelves lining the wall and colorful carpets complementing the dark red and browns of the large, heavy chairs, she looked from her grandson to his father and back.

“Actually, his other luggage is already in the aircar.”

“Oh, grandma…” Okalan groaned.

“Nothing wrong with that, dear” Yulana trilled as her huge manservant came around the corner, placed a Versina brooch in her outstretched hand and then silently moved on to pick up the last of the travel trunks that had cluttered the house’s spacious lobby. “First rule of diplomacy. One should always be prepared for any eventuality. “

“As in a sudden planetary disaster?” Reit picked his book up again but his silent chuckle did not go unheard by the two other Betazoids in the room.

“Dad, I’m not the one who brings seven weeks worth of clothes to a conference that will last seven days. And ‘Kara is NOT a disaster.”

“Of course the little dear is not, don’t be ridiculous. As a matter of fact, she could teach you a thing or two about having a good time, you know.”

“I’ll get right on that ‘good time having’ grandma, soon as I’m sure neither her nor Olixinna are going to set fire to anything. Or anyone.”

“Sakarra set fire to someone?” Reit nodded to the large, silent man who had appeared as if out of thin air and set down a glass of Jestral tea on a small table before disappearing again.

“Not quite literally, dear. But I think Okalan is referring to the camp fire incident last year that involved Olixinna and some tents.’

“Ah, that one.” The middle aged Betazoid in the chair chuckled again and then stood up to wrap both his mother and son in a warm embrace “Have fun, you two. Well, I know you will, mother. They don’t call it Pleasure Planet for nothing.”

[several days later, by the pool of The Grand Hotel on Wrigley’s Pleasure Planet]

“We could go orbital skydiving?”

“Oh, soooo … from me saying no to crashing into three meter waves on a flimsy wooden board you extrapolate I’d say yes to plunge my gorgeous body out of a shuttle towards a planetary surface?”

Olixinna Tyrax stretched on the pool chair, eliciting some very interesting emotional flares from assorted males in the vicinity.

“It would be fun…”

The other source of intense interest around the large pool was moping a bit now, although the ratio kept steady at about 55 to 45 percent in favor of the auburn haired young woman in the bright red bikini.

“Or we could just take those very nice guys up on their offer.” Olixinna reached for her multi-colored drink, her heavy-lidded black eyes almost flirtatious in the way they settled on her cousin. “Would be fun, too.”

“Wouldn’t be fair to ’Lan, though.” Sakarra was not going to fall for the innocent ’I’m too adorable’ routine and besides, paddling across a lagoon with some guys she didn’t even know sounded like another misunderstanding waiting to happen.

“Why, I already negotiated for a friendly and really pretty young lady to chaperone our chaperone. And I’m sure you’ll find some very interesting plants to occupy your interest. Just don’t shove a poor guy overboard before making sure he actually meant to be rude.”

“That was very thoughtful of you, Lexie.” Okalan walked up to his friends and handed the young woman stretched out in the sun a glass of cold fruit juice before settling down next to Olixinna who had chosen the shade of a palm-like tree to protect her from the tropical heat.

“Think nothing of it.” Lexie grinned, still watching her cousin intently. The young woman with the abundant black curls and pastel yellow bathing suit that really accentuated her copper-toned skin had taken a sip of her juice and returned to soaking up every ray of sun that happened to come her way.

“Besides, didn’t take too much convincing. Apart from the fact that you happen to be the most handsome man around, it seems Betazoids have a bit of a reputation. And this particular young lady seems eager to put same to the test.”

“Reputation?” Okalan blinked with mild confusion, noting the wave of emotions directed towards him amplified by Olixinna’s more finely honed senses. Still holding steady at 55/45, with a mix of female interest in… oh Deities, all three of them, and stabs of jealousy here and there. The rest was trying to figure out the dynamics of their little group or simply appreciating the view.

“And you are keeping tabs? For shame, Lexie.”

“Yes, and yes. Reputation as in..” she seductively ran a hand through her long, silky hair, briefly upsetting the balance in her favor and causing a poor waiter to add some Samarian Sunset to the water in the pool “this.”

She grinned and then frowned at her empty glass, sending two waiters and a complete stranger scrambling to be the first who would provide her with a refill. “And tabs because, well, if people keep throwing their emotions at me I might as well amuse myself with it.”

“Imminently logical.” Sakarra commented dryly “And the answer is still no. Unless there’s going to be cake.”

“Ask and ye shall receive. No, scratch that. If you ask for it, the boat’s going to tip over on account of being loaded with pastries. I’ll ask the hotel staff for a picnic basket.”

“Four Deities help us, we’re going to need a cargo ship.”

This time it was Sakarra who blinked at Okalan’s statement before breaking into a melodious laugh that tipped the odds for yellow bathing suit rather rapidly.

“So, we got a date?”

“It’s a date, Lexie.”

“Fantastic, I’ll let them know. And by the way, they mentioned that there’s a new bar down by….’

“Don’t push it.”

“S’called the Green Parrot. Lots of interesting character bound to be there. Meaning, types who like orbital skydiving, surfing and cruising around the galaxy in all kinds of ships. Got your attention yet? Or would you rather go to that soiree with mom and Lan’s grandma?”

“What if I say yes? To the latter.”

“Then you would contradict yourself. Quite a bit. Oh, thank you, dears.”

The last statement was directed at the two males and one female, all holding out cheerfully colored cocktails in Olixinna’s direction while the other two Betazoids shared a brief grin and wink.

‘My money’s on the Trill.’

‘Wouldn’t discount the Efrosian just yet. She’s got that smile.’

Olixinna pointedly waved her admirers to set down the drinks at the same time and then dismissed them in a manner so charming the poor Trill almost went the way the Samarian Sunset had earlier.

“You know, Lexie, you could charm the fins off a Pacifican.”

“Yes or yes?”

“If your mom’s the same way this conference is an exercise in futility. At least where any other delegate is concerned.”

“You bet. Yes?”

“If they find out we’re going to a place where disreputable characters hang out, we might get in trouble.”

“Stop being a worrier, Lan. Say yes.”

“Maybe.”

“Spoilsport. ‘Kara?”

“Okay, fine. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen….”

[That same night, or rather VERY early the next morning, Wrigley harbor Police Station]

The two grand Betazoid ladies in their magnificent dresses drew quite a few glances as they made their entrance through the battered old doors of the station. Well, ‘swooped’ was a more apt description, as well as ‘instantly the center of everyone’s attention’.

Yulana Enaren spotted the Constable in charge with a practiced eye and, not bothering with any underlings, sailed past counters and tables while snapping open her elegant fan.

“Well, dear Mr policeman, it seems our presence has been requested? What may we do for you?” The middle aged humanoid in the grey-ish uniform could not help but stare open-mouthed for a second before he slowly set down a file and rubbed his temples.

“Well, ladies - uh, here, won’t you sit down please?” he pulled out two ancient looking chairs and tried to wipe them clean with his sleeve. For a given value of clean, anyways. It had been one of those nights.

“I’m assuming you are…’

“Yulana Enaren, Daughter of the Fourth House, Keeper of the Scrolls of Khrysaros, Heir to the Sacred Shrine of Dalaria and Ambassador Extraordinaire to the Federation. And Lwanissa Tyrax, Daughter of …”

“Uh, yes. Madame. Mesdames.” This was not going exactly as he had planned. The women in their glittering dresses threw him a mildly reproachful look for interrupting but settled down on the chairs nonetheless. They looked like royalty that had just accidentally ended up in a third rate bar but were determined to make the best of it.

“Would you like some tea maybe? I’m afraid this might be… a bit complicated.”

“How thoughtful, and yes we would like some tea.” the other woman called Lwanissa seemed a little less, well, exuberant, but her black eyes rested on Constable Mjorn with an intensity that made him shift uncomfortably in his seat. “And an explanation, whenever you’re ready of course.” now she smiled and rested her chin on a delicate looking hand. Oh boy…

“Uh, Jaden, would you… thanks. Well, ladies are you familiar, I mean of course you are, you must actually be related, because…”

“What did they do this time?”

“Beg your pardon?”

“I assume,” the older Betazoid who had introduced herself as … someone with a really long name … seemed to almost purr when she gracefully accepted the dark, tart tea from a quite flustered young cop “you are talking about my grandson Okalan and his friends. They are some very nice young people who for some reason tend to get themselves into trouble here and there. I am sure it is just a little misunderstanding.”

“Uh, yes, I’m sure. Only, you see..” with a little frown, Mjorn picked a sheet of plastic off his desk and quickly read through it “We have .. . ah … charges of assault, driving under the influence, piracy..” he picked up another sheet, and another “Lots of wanton destruction, resisting arrest, and .. What the hell is this supposed to mean? General mayhem? Jorgin, what am I supposed to do with five pages of mayhem? Spine of the Mother Goddess.”

The blank looks of the lovely Betazoid ladies told the Constable that they probably didn’t know either. Or maybe they were just trying really hard not to laugh. Or get mad at him. Either way, this night wasn’t going to get any better. “Piracy, Constable? Correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t that imply commandeering something?”

“Yea, in fact it does. A police aircar, in this case. Although I’d put it down as ‘theft‘, since someone” a meaningful glance over his shoulder caused a young cop in the back to shrink behind his desk “left the thing unattended. But by the laws on this planets, technically..”

“Oh dear Constable, technicalities are usually such a headache. And paperwork as well. Are you sure they did not simply see the abandoned aircar and decided to return it?”

“Well, one could make that case” Mjorn smirked just a bit “Seeing as they actually dropped it off right in front of our door. In the middle of a flowerbed. After razing half of the shrubbery in Grand Park, knocking over…” he looked at his sheets again” “Twenty-four market stalls, well that would explain the mayhem, one of them loaded with, oh Goddess, Katarian melons which in turn.. Really? Wow.”

Yulana took a sip from her tea, trying not to think about Katarian melons on the loose, and then unleashed her most charming smile on the mildly nervous Constable.

“Please feel free to send any bills to the Betazoid embassy. And of course we will issue our most profound apologies to anyone whose property has suffered damage. Say, have you heard about this lovely new technology that reduces not only the noise of aircars but maximizes comfort for the driver? I’m sure we can replace your damaged vehicle as well.”

“You’re most generous madam. And really, I think we can drop most of this stuff on account of… hm, I didn’t know you could do THAT with an aircar. Dammit Jorgin either your witnesses were drunk or I want a picture of that, clear? Sorry ladies. As I was saying, we get all sorts here, and your kids did nothing that a shipload of Starfleeters hasn’t done before. Or Klingons. If you’re willing to pay for the damage…” wow. Lots of damage. But they sure looked as if they could pay it without blinking.

“Then there is only the problem of the bar owner insisting a little Betazoid started the fight that led to the destruction of his establishment and the Klingon sitting in block seven nursing a whale of a black eye. He insists that he be allowed to finish his fight with said little Betazoid, or maybe he wants to marry her, my Klingonese isn’t that good.”

Finally, Lwanissa had to fan herself or she would have spluttered into her tea. “Well, obviously that is out of the question. But started a fight? I’m sorry Constable, I have known my niece to finish fights, starting them she usually does not. Are you sure you got your reports right?”

“Considering the amount of alcohol each witness had consumed beforehand, the only thing I can be sure about is that people will be much less inclined to pick on Betazoids in the future, Ma’am.”

[Just a little later, cell block nine]

“Would you hold still, ‘Kara?”

“It’s a scratch, Lan. Stop fussing.”

“Green doesn’t look good on your shirt. Hold still.”

“You know they’ll get you on resisting arrest for insisting on that stupid med-kit.”

“Grandma has her ways, don’t worry. And don’t you to make me say ‘I told you so‘.”

A giggle from high up made the two young Betazoids look towards where Olixinna had settled on a narrow three-story bunk-bed. “You know, I just had the funniest thought.”

“Please do share, Lexie.” Okalan frowned at the scratch on ‘Kara’s shoulder and then sighed. It was dark and she was fidgeting. No way he could pick all the wooden splinters out. Not that she seemed to care much.

“You know that human cliché about how a good friend will bail you out of jail when you’ve screwed up?”

Now it was Sakarra’s turn to chuckle. “But your best friends will be sitting right there next to you saying: ‘Boy did we screw up’?”

Olixinna nodded high up on her bunk “But DAMN it was FUN!”

"Botany and the Cactus"

[Arandel]

“You’re coming in too steep, Sehlat. You’re going to miss your donut”

“Then I’ll have a cookie instead, Moshe” the young woman chuckled, leveling her aircraft’s descent a bit for the sake of avoiding an argument. Her eyes were already fixed on her target and she knew intuitively that she wouldn’t miss this one any more than she had the previous ones.

“Just need to show off, don’t you?” Moshe Astrun of Arandel Flight Control joined in Sakarra’s laughter but quickly got serious again “target confirmed, you have a go”

“I thought you’d never ask” with a grin Sakarra tilted the small atmospheric fighter’s nose and shot down the practice drone in an almost leisurely manner before banking sharply to port, accelerating fast, then turning the craft into an upward spiral.

“Whatcha doing up there, dancing a Tango? Crew Chief’s going to have your head on a platter if you make a mess of his baby again!”

“Moshe, let a girl feel the wind under her wings a little and stop acting like a mother hen. And I didn’t make a mess of his baby, those scratches were barely visible!”

Still, one didn’t antagonize the ground crew unless one was looking for serious grief, so Sakarra opted to be a good girl for once. She stopped her ascent, leveling out just under the pink cloud cover and marveled at the sight of Betazed’s sun setting in the distance.

“Humph, from what I hear you still had half a tree stuck under that wing. And speaking of hens - time to return to the nest, Sehlat.” Moshe sounded still mildly amused “Got you cleared for Two-East - no other traffic so come as you are”

“Roger that, Arandel.” The young woman went through her routine - weapons safe, engines and landing gear good to go…

“By the way, have you thought about sticking with us yet? I mean, botany… come ON!”

Sakarra chuckled again at the slightly scornful tone of Moshe’s voice “Thought about it, still thinking about it, will continue to think about it a little more. And don’t you say botany in that tone of voice either. Some plants can be positively vicious, you know?”

But truth be told, Sakarra could understand Moshe’s doggedness in getting an answer. Betazed’s tiny planetary defense force was grateful for anyone who signed up, since most Betazoids still found the whole idea of joining any type of military organization rather repugnant, no matter how informal and non-militaristic. Even the occupation had not quite changed the pacifist mindset of the people inhabiting the “Jewel of the Outer Crown”, although some concessions had been made. A little over two decades ago Betazed had learned the most bitter lesson of them all - that even those who wish no one harm cannot count on being left in peace.

With a small shudder the young woman thought about the few instances when her grandmother had remembered those times - thoughts, images, sensations still vivid in the elder lady’s mind - and the horrible price they’d had to pay to drive the Dominion off their home planet. But now as then it was painfully clear that if Starfleet couldn’t help them in an emergency, they were still ill equipped to defend themselves, new orbital defense system notwithstanding. Trying to contribute to her home’s defense, in whatever small way, was certainly a worthy undertaking.

But just as Sakarra knew that flying would always remain her first love, she also knew with every fiber of her being that she wanted to go out and explore. Be it toddling behind her father through Betazed’s wilderness or fly through space with M’aih, nothing could compare to the sense of awe and wonder she experienced during those times.

The young woman vividly remembered the time M’aih had taken her to an observation window on the Bellerophon to show her the magnificent swirls of a class 3 nebula - she must have been two years old, maybe three. So fascinated she had been, so completely enchanted, she had barely been able to believe her mother when she’d said there were many more like this in the galaxy. Some similar, none ever quite the same.

In her own way, T’Sora had given her daughter a first idea of “Infinite Diversity” and the expeditions with her father had only served to increase Sakarra’s curiosity and appreciation for the wonders of nature. There was something deeply satisfying about working with plants, from uncovering the delicate balance of an ecosystem to watching a tiny seedling sprout, knowing it would one day become a majestic tree.

Botany boring? Sakarra smiled. Only people who’d never experienced the adventure of wandering through a jungle in search of a rare orchid could say such a thing and mean it.

“Vicious, huh? That would explain why my neighbor’s cactus fell on my head last week. I knew that thing never liked me!” obviously Moshe had decided not to press the matter any further.

“That particular incident is probably more likely to be blamed on your neighbor’s wife, Moshe. As I recall, she wasn’t too happy about a bunch of rowdy flyboys trampling through her flowerbeds in search of you. Serves you right, too, after you left us hanging with the bar tab!”

Sakarra finally approached the runway and, just to spite Moshe who was probably expecting her to pull off some last minute mischief, she performed a textbook touchdown.

“Speaking of bar, Sehlat. That’s ten for ten for you today and the drinks are on you. Nice landing by the way, are you sure you’re feeling alright?”

“Oh, go eat a cactus, Moshe!”

---

Continued in: Betazed ~ Chapter Two