Nyanla

Personal Area

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  "What could go wrong?"
  
  I should have known the moment I uttered those words, I had already jinxed myself. It seems that no matter how good the odds are in my favor, the moment I say that, things go sour.
  
  I really should introduce myself shouldn't I? I am Lydia Clarke, Junior Grade Science Officer in the fine Starfleet Republic. I had a pretty good life. A mother and father, three older brothers and one younger sister. Other than a transporter accident that left me how I look now, which is one hell of a story, nothing really unusual happened. I always poured over datapads about different cultures rather than play klingon and fleet games. Just knowing about old races and the like seemed to spark something within me to the point I couldn't get enough! And I knew the only way to learn more about those long ago histories would be to join Starfleet. My brothers had already joined so it seemed natural that I do it as well. And really, there wasn't anything to keep me on Earth so I put my sails up and left home and planet.
  
  I was stationed on the USS Nobel and soon learned to love my work. We didn't have the need to acquire wealth or other frivolous things. But I drank deep of the knowledge that I could. Now, to say everything was smooth sailing would be a lie. Yes, we had battles and traveled back and forth across the galaxy. And yet, even with all the bad things, I still loved my job. I was slow to move up in the ranks and that is partly because I tend to freeze up when taking a test. I still suffer from it and I would hazard to say it is a performance issue? I did try to overcome it with holodeck. They were my little dirty secrets really. I would enter and either have a Vulcan, Klingon, or Cardassian 'teacher'. I say teacher loosely because they were my Master for one whole hour. I would do what they wanted, without question or hesitation. And no, it wasn't sexual at all, but I did try it once but the Klingon bit me! So rather than having to go to the medical bay and explain such things, I kept it to just doing random things for them. Fetch a jug of water, bring them a drink, or even dance for them.
  
  So for the longest time, things were normal and I was enjoying life. But it would change with a trip to an archeological dig. Things were going as routine as always and yet something felt off to me. It took awhile and then I found what was making things feel wrong. A stone, carved into a snake with arms seemed to hum with life. No one else was taking notice of it and perhaps thought it was nothing of importance. So with those fateful words muttered under my breath, I touched the snake.
  
  The next thing I knew I was falling from the sky towards some jungle. At least the fall wasn't to far or I would have died the moment I hit the vines that seemed to string from one tree to another. My triquarter and phaser fell from my belt to shatter on the rocks below. And with those sounds came new ones. Hisses and the sound of scales on dirt, rocks and wood. It took me a moment to figure out what was going on, but it was clear that the statue I touched was a carving of what was now scaling up the trees to get me. Snake like creatures that were much larger than myself! But the added weight of one of them upon the vine I was caught on made it break and I clung to it with dear life as it swung me down to the floor and away from the snakes. Without a second thought, I ran. I ran for dear life and jamming my commbadge to see if anyone would hear me. The trees ripped at my clothing that slowly turned into tatters as I burst from the jungle onto a sandy beach.
  
  Just when I thought my luck was going to hold for a moment as the snakes seemed to back away from the jungle line, I turned only to find a net thrown over my body. Once again, I was surrounded by larger creatures that had the heads of horses and dogs. They yelled at the snakes, calling them naga while two looked me over. The conversation went quickly it seemed as they hoisted me up and carried me to a mountain. It must have been falling to night as we came near it for there were torches lighting our path. And I could hear the snickering of one of the creatures as I clung to the net, eyes wide and mouth hanging open. I wasn't sure if they had the technology to build such things, but the stones in the hallway we traveled through were smooth and seemed to fit together seamlessly. As wandered into the deeper parts of this mountain, it occurred to me. I must follow the Prime Directive.
  
  'As the right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its normal cultural evolution is considered sacred, no Star Fleet personnel may interfere with the healthy development of alien life and culture. Such interference includes the introduction of superior knowledge, strength, or technology to a world whose society is incapable of handling such advantages wisely. Star Fleet personnel may not violate this Prime Directive, even to save their lives and/or their ship unless they are acting to right an earlier violation or an accidental contamination of said culture. This directive takes precedence over any and all other considerations, and carries with it the highest moral
  obligation.' Or easier to understand 'No identification of self or mission. No interference with the social development of said planet. No references to space or the fact that there are other worlds or civilizations.'
  
  I could not tell anyone that I was from another part of the galaxy. Or that I was from the future, whichever it was. I closed my eyes, knowing that I would have to play whatever part that was needed of me and work on getting back home somehow. Yet those thoughts were disrupted when I was dropped on the floor. Without a word, they worked on ripping off the rest of my uniform and tossing it right into the fire. One of them found my commbadge and after pushing it a few times to hear it beep, they shrugged their shoulders and tossed it into a little linen sack. They even removed my bows for my hair and placed them inside of it.
  
  "Name slave." One of the creatures was sitting at a desk, a quill in his hands resting just above parchment.
  
  I glanced about as my hands clung to my chest, shivering on the ground before these strange beings. I guess I didn't answer fast enough for a hard slap came, enough to make my ears ring and eyes tear up.
  
  "Name slave." The creature now spoke in an almost bored tone while glaring at me.
  
  "Na-na-Nyanla. Sir." I rubbed at the slapped spot while watching him scratch my middle name into the paper.
  
  The rest was a blur. I was lifted to my feet and soon they were poking and prodding me, asking so many questions that I was sure my head was going to fall off or my tongue swell up from so much use. But the paper before the writer was filled to what he felt was proper and with a nod, I was tossed into a pen with other creatures. I did my best to rest, but without my bows I am sure I overslept or slept too little. The morning came and we were herded out of the pens and into a cold shower. Rough hands scrubbed at each of us, fingers working to the skin under my fur as if to check for fleas or ticks. Once the inspection was done, I was given a linen sack to use for a dress and a leather collar was snapped around my throat. It only held two things on it. My middle name. And the letters...
  

  TGT.
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