[snip]

‘’From Malta,well at least that’s were me and my twin brother were born but after mother died ,dad took us to America to live with relatives on mum’s side of the family ‘’the doctor responded as she glanced as the sun was setting ‘’It’s the same place Cross lived ,that’s why I understand her when she throw a word here and there especially when in a foul mood!At times I don’t know whether to get angry or fall about laughing’’ .

‘’What about you Lt? Your family must be far away.....’’ Marthese tailed off not quite sure whether she should have brought it up.

Tinga set aside the cheesecake with difficulty and took a drink of the hot chocolate. It was still a bit of a new flavor for her and she paused analyzing it.

“Well we have a typical Andorian family. My parents are spread across the Empire and I’m the second eldest of all the kids but I’m the only one in Star Fleet. I kind of loose track of where everybody is which is sad if I think about it, so, I try not to.” she explained before picking up the cherry cheesecake.

Marthese pondered on what the Andorion had said ‘’Guess its like what we humans had once, which included related families living nearby everyone took care and supported each other ‘’.

It was getting dark and colder ,not that Tinga seem to mind the doctor thought. ‘’Say Lt, I do not want to rush you or anything but perhaps we should start thinking about going back to the Academy?’’ .

It was then that Tinga realized her companion was made of much different stuff than her.

“Well this is actually bright and warm for me. Perhaps we should get some cheesecake to go. I’m thinking aobut catching a transport to see the glaciers and northern lights in a few hours, I can sleep later.” she said with a laugh.

‘’Oh’’ the doctor replied rather disappointed ‘’ Hope you don’t mind me tagging along then?’’ Marthese asked and for a brief moment she looked over her shoulder and shuddered.

Tinga was curious and wondered if something was wrong with her companion.

“Come if you’d like. Is everything all right?” she asked rising to leave.

‘’Oh yes,yes everything is just fine’’ the doctor tried to sound convincing ‘’Guess old habits die hard’’ marthese responded as she hasten her pace making sure Tinga was right beside her,though she did manage to grab another piece of cheesecake on the way.

With the sun gone the doctor realized how colder it was getting and pulled her Touqe woolly hat as far as it with go .As a doctor Marthese knew all about the Andorian’s physiology .... she could not help but imagine Tinga with a cap on allowing the antennas to stay exposed.

Tinga glanced sidelong at her friend. She didn’t quite believe what Marthese was saying but pushing the subject probably wouldn’t get her anywhere.

“Well, just remember, part of being a good comms officer is listening. So if you ever change your mind…” she trailed off.

Guess that what all she needed some one to listen ‘’My twin brother is behind bars for life… a serial killer and when the police told dad he committed suicide,as for me I ran as far away as I could possibly go’’ and with that she pointed to the sky ‘’He always owned money and would send them to my apartment, sometimes I’ll pay,sometimes I run ..sometimes I fought’’ and with that she heaved a sigh of relief, feeling some sense of solace having shared her secret worries.

After a few moments of silence she went on ‘’Oh I was send on the Merrimack ,see I use to work as a doctor at the academy but poor Cross was abducted,another doctor committed suicide and sickbay was short of a medical team,back then I was a Lt (j.g) ............’’ marthese tailed off before changing the subject ‘’You think we’ll be able to see in the dark?’’ the doctor asked Lt Tinga.

Tinga had listened to everything Marthese had said and could sense several emotions as she did so. But it was also important to know to leave things alone.

“If the aurora is strong enough, of course.” she said.

The doctor looked up in awe,it was the first time she was actually seeing it for real and for some time was left utterly speechless.
Then reality kicked in ‘’Lt these show up after a solar flare…right?’‘.

Tinga shook her head.

“Not necessarily. Although they are stronger during a solar flare general solar winds cause them also. I lived on an Andorian colony for a few years where things like this would last for days.” she explained.

‘’Oh then we’re safe’’ the female doctor replied with a hint of relief and looked again this time wonder-struck by the arrangement of lines and colors. Her character was perhaps unusual surprising and most definitely difficult either to understand nor explain.

Tinga glanced at her companion.

“Yes, of course, why wouldn’t we be?”

The doctor shrugged,she knew her character seemed off to others but if they knew the whole story ......’’ she looked around ‘’ maybe its best if we, em I head to our hotel?’’ she asked observing Tinga and watch the Lt’s reaction.

Tinga ran her fingers though her silver hair and yawned a bit.

“Yes, perhaps a nice hot cup of coffee, put me out for a two hour nap. That actually sounds good. I wonder what we’ll be doing after we leave Earth?” she asked the Doctor as they walked.

As they took the next corner they found Faith Hopkins and two other Yeoman from the Merrimack also watching the sky from beach chairs positioned around the hotel’s decked outdoor area.

“Oh!” exclaimed Faith, “We found you at last! We saw your invitation on the message boards to come to Diamond Beach and join you, all welcome. We weren’t really going anywhere else on Earth so we thought it would nice to get some sun on the beach, but we couldn’t find you, and the weather here is more than a little strange.”

“There was snow when we arrived, then there was sun and it all melted,” said the second Yeoman.

“And then it got real windy, and now it is clear and getting cold again. It’s like the weather changes almost every hour. I haven’t packed enough clothes for this,” added the third Yeoman.

“Also, that beach has black sand. it isn’t what we expected. So, we were inside at the bar getting warm but then the hotel staff told us we should come out here because there is going to be this incredible light show with green curtains and red streamers tonight,” Faith continued.

“They said we are very lucky because it is often cloudy or the wrong conditions,” said the second Yeoman. “And that this is the best time for 11 years to see it!”

“It’s natural. It’s the Aurora. And you can only see it near to the magnetic North Pole. Which moves around, apparently!” said the third Yeoman.

“They said there is nothing like it and not to miss it. Have you heard about it too?” asked Faith.

“I’m Karen,” said the second Yeoman.

“Sorry, I’m Beth,” said the third Yeoman.

• Faith, Yeoman