Story [Star Trek: SNW] The Need To Remember (La'an, Pelia, ref to JT Kirk)

Title: The Need to Remember
Author: brodiew
Characters: La'an Noonien Singh, Pelia, ref. to James T Kirk
Fandom: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Genre: angst, grief, slight humor.
Author Note: Tag to and SPOILERS for SNW Season 2, episode 3 'Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow'.

The Need to Remember

The chime at Pelia’s door range 2100 hours. She was just setting into place the last of her recently arrived furnishings.

“Come on in,” she said, lyrically. “No sense beating the door down.”

The doors swished open to reveal Lieutenant Commander Noonien-Singh. Her arms were clasped behind her back, but the Lanthanite could see the pain in her eyes, though the woman had taken steps to hide her recent tears.

“What brings you to my humble quarters this time of night?” Pelia asked.

“You quarters are hardly humble,” La’an replied. “It practically a museum in here.”

“All legally obtained as we established earlier, right?”

“I think we can put that matter to bed, Chief,” La’an replied.

“A place I was just about to visit before you arrived,” the Chief said with a twinkle in her eye. “My bed, I mean. No what has you all in lather?”

“A lather?” La’an said, curiously.

“Maybe that wasn’t the right phrase. I’m pretty sure you’re not angry. However, it’s clear something is on your mind. Now, at ease, Soldier. This isn’t the bridge.”

La’an released a breath she had been aware she was holding and left her hands fall to her sides. “Yes, Ma’am.”

“What is this?” Pelia said, point to object in La’an’s left hand. “Did you bring me a gift?”

La’an looked down at the watch she was holding. “Umm, no. It’s not a gift.

“It looks old enough to belong in my collection,” said Pelia, approaching La’an, and stooping slightly to get a better look.

“You really don’t remember, do you?” the Lieutenant Commander said, closing her hand more tightly over the watch and turning away from the Chief Engineer.

“Remember what, My Dear?” Pelia replied, cinching her eyebrows and squinting in confusion.

“The strange visitors you had in your antique shop in Vermont?” La’an questioned, incredulously.

“I had plenty of strange visitors in that sh-wait a minute. Vermont, you say? That was 300 years ago. What do you know about it?”

La’an turned and looked at Pelia, who interest was piqued. “I was there. With a man. 300 years ago. I was told not to say anything to anyone. And, for the most of it, I will keep that promise.”

“You were there?” Pelia rasped, confoundedly. “With a man?”

“Yes, I can’t say why, but I can tell you what were there to find.”

“By all means! What were you looking for in my shop 300 years ago?”

“This,” La’an said, extending her hand and producing the watch she and James Kirk had acquired at the time.

The Lanthanite took the proffered ornament and examined it. “Pretty much junk. I had a fair amount in those days.”

“We came looking for an Engineer,” La’an said, retrieving the watch. “We needed the you, now, back then.”

“You wanted me to build something, didn’t you?” Pelia said, eyes widening in remembrance. “A radiation detection device?”

“La’an smiled to herself. “Something like that.”

“I remember, now,”Pelia said, knowingly, placing a forefinger over her lips. “Very hush-hush. Though the two of you seemed…?”

“Seemed what?” La’an pressed, raising her voice an octave.

“Close, I’d imagine,” Pelia said, slightly arching an eyebrow. “Easy in each other’s company.”

La’an fought a swell of emotion, but her eyes welled. She wiped them briskly.

“Oh, Honey,” Pelia, said, touching La’an’s arm. “Is he what this is all about?”

“I…Yes. I, er…he didn’t make it.”

“Oh, dear. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you, but what I really need; what I want, is for someone else to remember him.”

“I remember,” Pelia assured her, guiding her to a couch in the living room. “It just took this ancient brain a moment to catch up. What was his name?”

“James Tiberius Kirk.”

“James Kirk is dead?” the Chief Engineer said in surprise. “Oh my! This is new I did not expect.”

La’an touch her knee and shook her head tightly. “Different James T. Kirk.”

“Different?” Pelia replied, with that same twinkle in her eyes. Well, that does make things more interesting. And, explains directives of secrecy from the secret secret keepers.”

“I never said anything about secret secret keepers?” La’an said, through half a smile.

Pelian shook the comment off with a shrug of her shoulders. “Let me tell you what I remember about your James Tiberius Kirk and then, maybe afterward, I’ll tell you about our James T. Kirk. Perhaps, it will easy your troubled soul just a little. How does that sound, La’an Noonien-Singh?”

“I think I would like that very much.”

 

This was so touching and intriguing, and with some great banter on top of it all!

This was the intriguing part! I enjoyed this fic and this glimpse into the characters' lives even without knowing the backstory but it sounds like there's a lot of really cool backstory.

Aww.

This line got to me, because sometimes that is what we need most. To know that we're not alone in our grief and our memories. Just a really great line.

Awesome work, and always glad to see you writing again!