Lo'ren's Story

Ari Sia of Bajor and Dr. Tarven of Vulcan

Ari Sia in the Mines

"Keep working!" Glinn Demar yelled at their backs as he stalked the line. Ari Sia swung her tool at the tunnel wall again and again. The Cardassian was fuming, the quota had not been met for weeks.

Demar glared at the Bajoran workers, seeming to make it their fault that the dilithium was not coming. Sia knew - just as well as he did - that this mine was now dry, but Terok Nor didn't care about that. They wouldn't let the work stop long enough to find a new deposit, that would give the Bajorans time to start a revolt.

The officer marched along the line, slowing behind Elis Tam. Ari Sia watched the weapon go up. "NO!"

Demar stopped, startled. Sia placed herself between him and Elis Tam.

"Move." That one word was as menacing at it could get. She trembled, but she held her ground.

Demar continued his swing, adjusting the trajectory of his weapon. Sia felt, but somehow didn't hear, her knee blowing out and her leg shattering. Blow after blow rained down, pulverising her leg. Just as she blacked out she saw a Gul come around the corner and catch the weapon in mid-swing.

Dr. Tarven the Medic

Outwardly to anyone who looked, he was calm. Inwardly Tarven was feverish as he worked to save the woman's leg. Completely shattered from top to bottom, it was almost impossible with the tools he had - outdated as they were.

The angry Cardassian who had dumped her with him had stated that equipment had fallen on her. Tarven was in doubt of that. "This wound appears to have been caused by repeated strikes with a blunt object." The Vulcan Doctor spoke aloud, there was no one to respond to him and therefore he could not be harmed for stating his opinion in such a way.

Many times since his arrival on Bajor had Tarven come across such excuses. The Cardassians didn't really care about the Bajoran workers, they only cared that they worked, and to work they needed to be healthy... enough. The call for outside medical help had come and Tarven had responded. He had not been allowed on the planet until it was verified that he was an indepedent - not affiliated with any governing body such as the UFP. Since that time, several months ago, Tarven had worked, alone, in primitive conditions.

The woman squirmed under his hands. She was unconscious, and her body was acting involuntarily. He applied a dose of painkiller with his outdated hypospray and continued his work.

Weeks of Recovery Become the Foundation.

Ari Sia watched the thin, dark haired man as he worked. After several weeks being under his ministrations, she could see in his face what most could not. The worker who had come in had walked in under his own power and the wound was minor. Tarven was relieved, he was also tired.

"Miss Ari, please get me some bandages. I require some for this wound." Sia smiled slightly. She knew his aim was to get her to walk, stretching the muscles in her leg. She nodded, limped across the room, and retrieving the bandages, she brought them to the Doctor. She placed them on the table beside him.

"I also require a healing salve, not one for burns however." Some people thought he was brusk in his manner, Sia could hear the kindness underneath though. After all, he was a healer.

She was reaching the end of her flagging strength as she brought him the container. His fingers touched hers as he took the salve. Sia felt a slight jolt. ~Must be my imagination.~ She thought to herself. ~Or perhaps I'm making too much of my own feelings.~

Tarven of Vulcan let his mind wander slightly as he tended the minor wound. He was thinking of asking the Cardassians to let him train a nurse. Ari Sia was of little use in the mines now, with the injury she had sustained, she would be ideal; also, she seemed to be able to work past his logical exterior, saying or doing things that helped him more than one could guess.

"Dr. Tarven, I'm spent." Her voice, as tired as it sounded was still alive, and it could bring him nearly to break his emotional barriers.

Love Runs Hot

Tarven was sweating. He felt wild. He struggled to maintain his composure. He had to maintain discipline lest he fail to serve the Bajorans who now trusted him to care for them as they would one of their own.

"Good Morning, Doctor." The voice broke through the haze of emotions boiling beneath the surface. He faced her. Ari Sia - he was now fighting to maintain decorum.

Sia stopped, something was strange about Tarven today, in fact he had gotten increasingly odd over the last few days. "Tarven? What is wrong? Are you all right?"

The Vulcan shook his head, almost afraid to speak. She continued, "What is it? Can I help?"

Tarven's eyes flashed - she was dangerously close to being taken by him without her permission. He grabbed a writing tool and hurridly, violently wrote [I am experiencing Pon Farr, the Blood Fever. I must mate or die. I would choose you. Would you choose me?" It was as much as he could give her - he would have her by force if necesary. Tarven did indeed love her and he wished her to be happy in this, not forced.

Sia read quickly the note shoved at her. Her heart leapt, she had wondered if her feelings were reciprocated. "Tarven, I have worked with you for a long time now. I have come to care for you deeply. I love you and don't want you to die. Am I truly the one you would choose?"

All he could allow himself was a nod. His voice would not work. She could see tears in his eyes, could see his barriers crumbling in the fire of this Blood Fever.

Her voice strained with worry, fear, and love she blurted the question, "I do choose you! What must I do?" They locked eyes and in that instant they both knew they would forever be husband and wife. The official ceremonies could take place later. He lifted his right hand, two fingers extended. Sia understood, she limped forward and let him guide her fingers to touch his in the correct manner. His face already flooded with relief, Tarven moved closer as his fingers moved instinctually, tracing her hand and bringing his other hand to touch her face.

He croaked out the words until his voice was in her head and they spoke as one. "My mind to your mind. Your thoughts to ::my thoughts. We are together. Our minds are parted but never apart. You are my Telsu pudvel-tor (Chosen Mate). My k'hat'n'dlawa (Other Half-Soul/Heart). We are one::

A new life before it's begun.

Sia wiped tears from her eyes, He had found a way. She had begged him for years for this.

"K'diwa (Beloved), it will be dangerous." He held her eyes with his. Held her soul with his heart.

"I know." She whispered, unable to bring herself to speak louder, "I still would choose this, husband." She leaned her head against his chest. Being alone at night had it's advantages.

He nodded, "I will prepare us both for this. It will not be easy, but we will make it successful. The child must be within you for longer than you would be prepared for. Vulcan children gestate for 10 months, Bajoran children for 5. We must attempt at least something between the two."

She let out a breath, "I don't care about that Tarven. I'll do whatever it takes." Sia wanted a child and she didn't care how long it would take for her to give her husband a baby. If she need to have the child within her for longer, she would do it.

He was tender as he brushed his hands across her face, letting his mind ghost into hers a little more firmly than the usual mental link they shared. ::Rest now, my love. It will be done.::

She only drifted off to sleep herself when his breathing was deep and even in sleep.

Lo'ren Scar

Child Labor

Glinn Hareth glared at their backs as they worked. He was always in a foul mood. He had been relegated to supervise a children's work group and felt he was being punished for some unknown discretion.

Lo'ren kept her head down and worked diligently. She didn't want Snakeface to notice her again.

Hareth watched the children, including the one with the ears. he didn't trust any of them and suspected them to be terrorists. He stalked behind them, watching for anything out of line. A Gil came and whispered in his ear. More equipment had broken down.

"Half-breed, get over here." Hareth never called Lo'ren by name, prefering to degrade her by calling her half-breed or mongrel.

She placed her tools carefully and moved in front of the Glinn. He watched her every move. "Go with him," Hareth shoved a thumb at the waiting Gil. "You're the smallest and some equipment needs repair." Lo'ren was the smallest of the group, the rest of the children were 7 or 8, Lo'ren was 6 but very smart and made to work with them.

She followed the Cardassian out of the workroom and down the hall. He stopped in front of a large peice of excavation equipment and pointed to the access hatch. Peering in she saw the snapping electric charges and grasped the danger. As there was no other choice, she climbed in, pushing a tool kit before her.

As she worked the wires snapped and sizzled around her, she reached for another tool. Just at that moment a wire dislodged itself, dropping its end onto her toolbox. The plasma charge leaped up her arm, running from her fingers up to her temple.

She screamed, dropped her tool and blacked out.

Safe in Daddy's Arms

She whimpered, not wanting to open her eyes. She feared the nightmare and could still feel the plasma rippling up her arm. Lo'ren tried to borrow herself further into the warmth and sfaety that encircled her.

"Is she waking up?" Her mother's concerned voice filtered through her fuzzy head.

"She is." Her father's voice didn't come to her ears, but rather she felt it as she was balled up against his chest. His heartbeat filled her senses, comforting her.

She startled awake and clutched at him, "Daddy!"

He whispered to her as he held her close, "You are safe, little one. They brought you to me, you are safe." He repeated the words until she had calmed a bit and then he brought her over to her mother.

Ari Sia rocked her daughter and sang a rare lullaby to her, tears following freely in thanks to the Prophets for saving her life.

As Lo'ren drifted off, she heared her parents talking about her bandages and the scar that would be left. Lo'ren could feel the bandages pulling at her skin from her hand all the way up her left arm to her temple.

Introduction to the Conservatory

First Moments

Lo'ren had never heard anything so beautiful. She stood completely still and let the wind whisper beauty to her. The leaves spoke to each other, the branches danced and laughed with the wind - as if they were being tickled - and a Haren bird sang out joyously.

Ari Sia smiled down at her daughter with the alien ears. There were so many things denied to all the children of Bajor for so long, it was sheer joy to watch Lo'ren sway and dance with the wind. Sia walked with a distinct limp - a gift from the Cardassians - but still she took the moment and danced with the graceful child, her movements fluid with music.

Ari Lo'ren T'Vof cha'Tarven and her parents had come to the fledgling - brand new, in fact - Rakantha Music Conservatory for a concert. The first major one since the Cardassians had left. Ari Sia was to be one of the main performers and Lo'ren would sing with her mother in one song. Lo'ren stopped for a moment, watching the uniformed Starfleet officers milling about, politely making conversation amongst themselves and with the Clerics and other Bajorans present. Her eyes followed the gold uniforms. ~They came to help us, they saved us after the Cardassians left.~

"Well, daughter, are you prepared?" The stern-faced Vulcan looked down at his daughter, interrupting her thoughts.

The willowy girl smiled up at her father. "Yes, Father, I am prepared."

The tall, dark haired Doctor Tarven of Vulcan had the whisper of a smile on his face. His stoic discipline had eroded slightly in his time on Bajor, and he allowed his daughter to read the pride in his face. Lo'ren T'Vof let her smile grow wider in response. She may have been T'Vof to her father and Lo'ren to her mother, but they never let her be without the knowledge that they loved her deeply.

Ari Sia briefly touched her finger tips to Dr. Tarven's, "Husband, I and our daughter must go now." Sia had grown used to this formal way of speaking over many years. She understood how much it meant to him, especially now that Starfleet had come and Vulcans were a bit more plentiful.

Dr. Tarven nodded and moved to speak with an officer in a blue uniform as Ari Sia beckoned Lo'ren to follow her to the rehearsal hall for a warm up.

After the Concert

Lo'ren climbed up a tree. The branches were perfect for a ten-year-old to climb. She was compelled to do it, no child faced with a tree like this would turn down the opportunity. She found a branch and settled herself. She saw those Gold uniforms again and watched them. ~Starfleet... they are heroes. They helped us.~

Lo'ren had seen her father in the crowd as she sang. He had been proud of her, she could tell. Momma had been very proud too, she had clapped the loudest as Lo'ren left the stage after their duet.

Lo'ren had enjoyed the musical portion of the evening, but when the conversations started, she found herself bored and had gone exploring when she discovered the tree she was now perched in. She sat back and listened to the Haren birds calling to each other. They sounded like the lullabies her mother sang to her. Lo'ren asked to be sung to every night, she loved the lullabies - a rare luxury, all too often missed during the Occupation. Now, Lo'ren asked, just so she could go to sleep feeling safe and knowing the Cardassians wouldn't come back.

"Lo'ren, come down." Her mother was at the base of the tree, looking up at her. "Come, I want you to meet Master Tesel."

Lo'ren clambered down the tree and followed her mother, off to meet a man who would become her guide and compatriot in passion for music.