***
She went to the house on several occasions and spent much time with her father and her brother, Kyle. One of her first visits was on a party, celebrating the new year, 2372. She had seen her mother there too, but there were so many people that it was easy for them both to evade each other the whole evening.
Now, two months later, Romyana had passed all the courses and received outstanding exam results. Her father, brother and herself were celebrating this at home over a fancy dinner. They had just finished eating when the doorbell rang.
Romyana went to open the door and was pleased to see her mother there.
"Hello Mother." she said first.
"Hello daughter. I received your invitation, with the news you have successfully finished your third year." there was a nervous silence. "And I thought it worth a visit. Well done!" mother said.
Pleased Romyana showed her mother in and replied, "Thanks. I am glad you decided to come."
They all sat in the lounge with a drink and chatted. About mother's work, about what happened to Kyle this week and how Romyana's friend Nommi fared at the Academy.
When the evening drew to an end, more serious matters were discussed.
"You know I am leaving tonight?" Romyana said to her mother.
"Yes, I have read it in your message. You are going back to that station again I presume?" she said.
"Yes." Romyana replied.
"Well, if that is what you like." mother said.
"It is. I've made many friends there and I learn a lot from it." Romyana said carefully.
"I'm sure you have. At least it hasn't affected your study results in a bad way, so I think it is alright then. Though couldn't you have chosen a less dangerous position to start with, I still wonder." mother protested.
"Mother, you do your work here and you do it well. I feel I have to do my work out there and I also do it as best as I can. There is not much difference." Romyana said to convince her mother.
"It's time, Romyana." father said.
"Oh yes, I must leave now. Father, I will read about your solutions in the bio-medical bulletin soon, right? I'm looking out for it. And mother, don't be too hard on the boys in the office. Goodbye brother, take care of yourself!" Romyana said to each of them. Then she gathered her bags and went outside, the rest followed her to wave her off. Father and brother stood at the door, but mother walked out a bit further.
Carefully she pulled Romyana's shoulder.
"Oh, Romyana." she said. "You have grown up since you left one-and-a-half year ago. I have already forgiven your father and I now know that you couldn't help it either. You are so persistent in everything you do and you are not scared of anything new, unlike me. As a parent I should be proud of you, but to tell you the truth, I envy you and your strength. That is something I cannot help." her mother said totally unexpected to Romyana.
"Oh Mother. I'm sorry. I?" Romyana didn't know what to say. Instead she silently saluted her parents and left with her bags in the direction of the monorail station.
4. Welcome back
On her way back to the station, Romyana had time to think back to the previous day, when she had to say goodbye to Nommi. It was difficult for both of them, because they had grown very fond of each other in that short they time on the station together. Romyana had helped him with his difficult subjects and she knew he was on his way to becoming a fine officer one day. The only thing she could do now was to wish him good luck and the promise she would keep in contact with him.
Nommi promised her he would keep her posted about his progress on the Academy. Before she left he had also given her a present, to remember him by. It was a painting of one of the first space craft from Earth, but also one of the prettiest vessels of those days.
She took it out of it's wrapping and gazed at it again. She knew exactly where to put it in her cabin; on the big wall near the table, so you could see it from every angle in the room.
Then her daydream was interrupted, the ship had arrived at the station and she had to disembark. Somehow she had expected to find someone waiting for her just outside the docking port, but there was no-one. Usually Nommi would be waiting for her if she would come back from a field trip, but she realised that would no longer be.
She went to report to Commander Sisko. He would most certainly be glad to see her back.
When she entered Operations to go to his office, Romyana was surprised by what she saw. No, who she saw. She startled when the man turned around, so much that she bumped into Julian Bashir.
"Oh, a Klingon?!" she said to herself but loud enough for both to hear.
"Yes. And I would watch out for him if I were you. I haven't seen him in a good mood yet since he has arrived." the doctor said mockingly.
Worf, the Klingon in question, didn't say anything and resumed his work.
"You got away with that easily." Bashir said. "Maybe because he doesn't know you yet. Welcome back, by the way."
"I am glad to see you too." Romyana sneered. Kira looked up at the Ensign when she heard that, so Romyana added a quick "Sir".
She then entered the Office overlooking the Operations room, belonging to Sisko. He was sitting in his chair and was indeed glad to see she had arrived safely.
"Reporting as ordered, Commander." she said.
"Yes. Well, I am glad you're back, but I see you haven't learned anything in those three months." Sisko said gravely.
The Ensign was puzzled.
"As you can see on my collar I have been promoted to Captain, while you were on Earth scoring perfect marks for your exams. Congratulations!" he added and laughed.
"Thank you, Sir. Felicitations to you too." Romyana said proudly.
"Now because of this, I can now offer you a new position. One with more responsibility but one that suit you better as well, I think. You will now serve as Engineering Assistant. This way you now have command over some crewmen and you'll perform proper Engineering tasks. What do you say?" Captain Sisko said.
"Thank you very much, Sir. Do I report to Chief O'Brien now?" Romyana was very pleased with her new position.
"No, tomorrow. Today you can do whatever you like. Dismissed Ensign." he concluded. Romyana left the office with on her face the biggest smile possible.
Julian saw Romyana was in a happy mood and joined her on her way out of Ops.
"Wow, what happened to you in there? You had just been released from the brig while I was gone, you couldn't have been promoted, have you?" he wondered.
"No, I got a new post. As Engineering Assistant." Romyana told him.
"Oh, sounds pretty big." he said.
"It probably isn't. But I'm happy with it anyway." Romyana replied. "I see you have been promoted. Good job!"
"Thanks." Julian modestly said.
"Hey, while I was gone? Did you win that Carrington award, or not?" she asked in return, while they were on their way to Quarks for a welcome-back-drink.
THE END
storywriter
Becky Miller
produced by
Sylfaen Publications
Credits: This story is based on the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Star Trek is owned by Paramount and created by Gene Roddenberry. No permission was asked, though authenticity was maintained as much as possible. No infringement intended. Some characters and most happenings do not occur in the original tv series and were added freely by the author. This document or any of its content may not be reproduced or profitably sold in any way without written permission of the copyright and trademark owners. Becky Miller 2005, 2009.
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