Ensign Lera Michaels - The Queen of New Mexico

[steve...@yahoo.com]

((Deck 14, Room 148, Michaels’ Quarters, USS Khitomer))

The question Lera had posed to herself during her run with Ezra continued to nag at her. If she were to bring Ezra to visit her parents in Marathon, how would they take it? Would they consider a relationship with a Trill to be inappropriate? Would her mother immediately begin to badger Ezra about "getting busy" producing grandchildren? Yet again, she was reminded that she was not a Vulcan. Intellectually, at least. A Vulcan would conclude that further thought along this line would not yield a conclusion and would be, therefore, a waste of time and effort. A Vulcan would give it no further thought. Lera could not do that.

But there was one person she could ask about that, who, assuming Lera could get a straight answer out of her, might actually be able to help her. Once she got past the teasing part.

Lera immediately sat up in bed.

Michaels: Computer. Lights on.

The lights instantly came on, self-moderated to a late evening level.

Michaels: Computer. What time is it in San Francisco, California?

Computer: It is now 8:17 AM in San Francisco, California.

Michaels: Computer: Initiate a subspace call to Starfleet Academy Cadet Katherine Michaels.

With a speed that defied relativity, Lera's sister's face appeared on the screen. Judging from the tumble down mess of hair, Katie had been sleeping just moments ago.

K.Michaels: Sweet Cheeses! Do you have any idea what time it is... Lera? Lera! All right. What is the nature of the emergency?

Michaels: There is no emergency. I simply wish to talk with you.

K. Michaels: You never call unless there is some freakin' desperate emergency.

Michaels: There is no emergency. I require some advice from you.

K. Michaels: Advice from me? ::Katie began to laugh. :: You'll excuse me while I alert the press. Dare I ask what the subject is?

Lera took a deep breath. This was, more or less, what she had expected from a conversation with Katie. She knew what the next turn of the conversation would be. There would be no avoiding it and no alternative to simply forcing her way through it.

Michaels: I wish to ask you about romantic relationships and what our parents are likely to think about a particular individual.

K. Michaels: Romantic relationships? Advice from me?

Michaels: You have more experience with such things than I do and have seen how our parents react. You are the logical person to ask.

K. Michaels: Hang on. ::smirking:: I need to revise my press release. :: pause while Katie makes adjustments off-screen. :: And I'm going to record this conversation for posterity.

Michaels: Katherine.

K. Michaels: Fine. I have two questions for you. Who are you really, and what have you done to my sister?

Michaels: I am your sister.

K. Michaels: Yeah. I know. No really. You are Joe, aren't you, doing some alleged gag with an AI version of my sister. Well, Joe, let me tell you something. This is not funny. My sister is the Ice Queen and would never, in her life, ask me about something like that. So you just take this, whatever this is, and put it where the sun doesn't shine.

Micahels: Katie. I am your sister. And you know that Vulcans can not lie.

K. Michaels: Gotcha you there. My sister has lied to me on numerous occasions.

Michaels: I have selectively told you the truth. I have never lied to you.

K. Michaels: Good job, Joe. But I know it is you.

Michaels: I am not this Joe person. Do I need to prove I am your sister?

K. Michaels: How? Let's see what you got, Joe.

Michaels: Have you ever told anyone but me what you wanted to be when you grew up?

K. Michaels: :: laughing again. :: I am dying to hear your guess, Joe.

Michaels: You wanted to be the queen of New Mexico. That was after you learned that Texas did not have a queen.

Katie's laughter died abruptly, and she stared at the screen. There was an extended moment of silence before Katie shook her head.

K. Michaels: Well played. Damn, you're good, Joe. Someday you will have to explain to me how you found that bit of trivia. :: another bit of silence.:: Or you are Lera.

Michaels: I am Lera. And you have a tattoo that you have never shown our parents on your... ::Katie cut her off before Lera could say the next word.

K. Michaels: Hi, Lera. Okay. Let me see if I have this straight. You actually have a boyfriend, and you actually want advice from me.

Lera relaxed. The part that Katherine always seemed to enjoy the most was over, Truth be told, Lera had always enjoyed the back and forth with her younger sister as well.

Michaels: I am uncertain if he meets your definition of "boyfriend," but yes. We are good friends and he is male.

K. Michaels: Send me a picture of him. I'll bet he looks like he's on the wrong side of death.

Perhaps the back and forth was not over just yet.

Michaels: I am happy to prove you wrong about that.

Lera tapped a few buttons and sent the photo from Ezra's personnel folder. Katie sat back and whistled.

K. Michaels: Wowsers. When you decide to go for it, you don't scrape the bottom of the barrel. He is seriously cute.

Michaels: What did I tell you?

K. Michaels: Does he have a younger brother? Can you arrange an introduction for me? A Trill. Is he joined?

Michaels: He has a younger brother. I can arrange an introduction, but it will cost you. He is not joined. How do you think our parents will react if I bring him home to meet them?

K. Michaels: Mom will be ecstatic. She's been worried that you were more interested in girls than boys when you brought your engineering friend to visit.

So her mother had discussed Ginny's visit with Katherine. And, apparently, had expressed concerns.

Michaels: Why would she worry about that?

K. Michaels: :: rolling her eyeballs :: You know how Mom is.

Michaels: Yes. I know. She wants a grandchild. I am surprised she has not been on your case about it.

K. Michaels: What makes you think she hasn't bothered me about that? :: Katherine shook her head. :: As for Dad... He and Mom have both expected you to find a "nice" Human or Vulcan fellow. Dad won't have any problem once he's convinced your Trill... what did you say his name was?

Michaels: Ezra. Ezra Zerva.

K. Michaels: Once Dad's convinced your Ezra Ezra Zerva is a good guy, he won't have a problem. Just how serious is this relationship, Lera?

Michaels: I am hoping it is serious. He is a really nice man. But... :: Lera shrugged and looked down at her hands. :: Given my experience level, I am uncertain.

K. Michaels: I'll buy that. You never even dated in High School. ::beat:: Have you and Ezra done it yet?

Michaels: I do not understand what you mean by that.

K. Michaels: You don't fool me, Lera. You know exactly what I mean.

Michaels: On advice from my counselor, I respectfully decline to answer that question.

--— ☼ --—

Ensign Lera Michaels

Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2