Nepor Community Spaceport: Nepor Village, Romulus
Trallian and his family concealed themselves in the cramped space between a pile of rusted cargo containers and the outside wall of a hanger. Sevon and Sepinia were wrapped in two blankets stolen from the laundry bin of a nearby passenger shuttle. Samilla still watched over her children with the teral'n in her hands. Trallian sat in the dirt with one arm around his wife. He stared at the metal wall in front of him. Valaa, wrapped in a cloak lifted from an unoccupied office, kept watch looking outward. Suddenly, Rellas appeared and stepped into the hiding place.
"It's arranged," he said opening an old nylon bag and pulling out a loaf of bread and some fruit. Samilla immediately put down her weapon and broke off two pieces of the loaf. She handed one to each girl. The children started devouring the food. They hadn't eaten in almost twenty-six hours.
"The shuttle has a cloaking device and should have enough range to get you out of the empire. They're fueling it now," Rellas continued. "Then, the ground crew will take their evening meal break for exactly thirty minutes. What happens during that time, who knows? Are you sure you can fly?"
"I travelled a lot as a younger man," Trallian replied. "I know my way around a helm console."
"I still don't know how you can be so persuasive to non-Romulans, Boss," Valaa said. "They'll catch hell for letting a shuttle get stolen."
"True," Rellas said. "But it's a very useful skill in my line of work. Besides, if you convince them it's to make a Romulan's life harder, they're a lot more willing to cooperate."
Valaa laughed. Samilla did not.
"I cannot thank you enough," Trallian said. "We're all alive because of you."
"I can say the same thing to you," Rellas replied putting his hand on Trallian's. Then, the Gralluscan turned to Valaa. "It's still not too late. There's nothing left for you to prove. You can go with them."
"Are you still going to Hobus?" the Orion asked him.
"Of course," Rellas answered. "I promised Seebo and Esrak I would."
"Well, you're not going to face whatever's there alone. That's final," she said sternly.
"It's not too late for you either," Trallian said. "Rellas, you can come with us too. You can go to Subik IV and live the rest of your days strong and free in the Klingon Empire."
"No," Rellas said turning back to Trallian. "That is not my destiny. However, if you ever see Lucretia again, give her my best regards."
Trallian nodded.
"And if you ever see the Son of Tigranian," Rellas added. He reached into his pocket and handed Trallian a PADD. "Please give him this."
The former senator inhaled sharply. He knew what this meant: Rellas didn't expect to ever return from the Hobus system.
"I give you my word, I will find him," Trallian said placing the PADD into his robes.
"Sevon, Sepina," Rellas called out to Trallian's children. The girls looked over to the tall Gralluscan. "I wish you both health and long life. Know that your father is a man of honor and your mother is a brave warrior. They will always have my respect. Qapla'."
Samilla stood up and slowly walked over to Rellas. She looked him straight in the eyes. He expected her to lash out. He expected her to accuse him of destroying her family, her wealth, and her name. He was ready for that. Instead, she merely leaned forward and planted a kiss on his cheek. This kind act caught him by surprise.
"I know you don't believe in our gods," she said softly, "but I pray they will watch over you all the same. Thank you."
"And I pray that Kahless will guide you as well," Rellas replied.
Then, Rellas and Valaa turned and disappeared. The Trallians were left alone. They had lost their villa. They had lost their name, but they hadn't lost each other. The family spent the final moments on their home planet in each other's arms eating a stolen meal of stale bread and bruised osol fruit.
Trallian looked down at the hunk of blue loaf in his hands. Then, he held it up to his nose and inhaled deeply. A smile crept across his face.
"What is it?" Samilla asked concerned.
"I can smell the kheh," Trallian whispered as he looked into the faces of his wife and daughters. "I can finally smell the kheh again."
Star Trek: New Horizons Season 7, Episode 7 (And the Blue Fields Ran Green With Blood) by captaintigranian