Rura Penthe #14"
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.08 0125

=Teilani’s quarters=

It was late as Teilani woke from a bad dream. She remember it vaguely, it had been awful, she was covered with sweat and her heart was racing.

Getting out of bed she walked over to the replicator “1 glas of water, 5degrees,” she ordered. Slowly taking sips she sat down on the bed, trying to remember. She had been dreaming of home, her family.

Putting the glass at her night stand she walked to her desk and activate her console. “computer find the following members with the name Dane Joshua Alvin, Thompson Melissa Jade, Dane Eric Harris.

“This will take 20 minutes ,” the reply came. Teilani placed her elbows on the table and rested her head in her hands. She watched the information and the photos roll pass the screen until 1 of them came to a halt.

She sat up straight, looking into the face of her older brother Joshua Alvin. From what Teilani could remember he looked older on it. Fixing her eyes on his face she started to remember.

=== “No Josh,” I will not accept that assignment, Teilani said angrily. I don’t care if it is close to home, I want to see something of the world.”

“Lani,” Josh said, “you have no say in it. I am the head of the family now, you do as I say!”

“Yes well that is only cuz Mum and Dad are missing,” Teilani yelled. “Let me tell you, they are not dead. Mum wanted me to pursue a career in medicine and not become a housewife.

“Lani, it is my responsibility to keep this family together. You are not going,” Josh ordered.

“Yes I can and you can not stop me.” Teilani shouted. “I HATE YOU!!”

Teilani stormed out of the room. ===

Teilani blinked rapidly as she pushed some of the tears way. After this fight Teilani had left home and had never been back, not even for her sisters marriage. Teilani scrolled down the page and smiled as she looked into the face of her sister. The same green eyes and red hair as well as the same temper. Teilani knew that she had married Frank Thompson her old high school sweetheart so to speak and that they had got 2 children.

Teilani sighed she was an aunt and yet she had never seen the children for real. Some pictures were listed in the database but that was all. Teilani thought again back at the day she had left home.

===

“Lani, don’t be so silly, Melissa said. “You can not go run off every time you have an argument.”

“Look Mel,” Teilani said. “Ever since Mum and Dad are separated and missing Josh is acting like a tiran. Saying this is not allowed, or shouldn’t you do that. Well I am sick of it.”

“Teilani,” Melissa said, “get your temper under control before you say things you don’t mean.”

“Get my temper under control Mel,” Teilani yelled. “Look at yourself first, you are always agreeing with Josh, you never choose my side. Well not anymore I am going to make my own decisions and I am going to the Medical Academy.”

“FINE TEILANI,” Mel yelled back THEN DON’T BOTHER TO STEP 1 FOOT BACK IN THIS HOUSE. YOU ARE NOT WELCOME ANYMORE!!!!

“FINE,” Teilani replied as she stormed out of the room and made her way to her bed room.

In her bedroom Teilani stuffed all her belongings in a back pack, muttering to herself. ==

Briskly Teilani whipped the tears from her face as she shifted in her chair. She flexed her legs and straightened her back. She was a bit stiff and cold. She stood up from her desk and walked over to the little replicator.

“Coffee, Jamaican blend, double strong, double sweet,” she ordered. Waiting for the mug to appear she rubbed her temples. Come to think of it the argument she had had with her big brother was a silly one, but Teilani also knew from her self that she would never admitted it freely.

Taking the mug from the replicator she walked back to her desk and sat back down. She looked at the faces of Josh and Melissa and wondered how they were. There was a last page and Teilani smiled as she saw the image of Eric, or Squirt as she used to call him.

Eric was the only person who understood her, who understood her need to go out in the world and investigate, meeting new people, go out on adventures. In a way Teilani and he were the same.

A single tear ran down her face as she remembered the cries of her baby brother.

“Lani, wait you can not go,” Eric said sadly. “What about me?”

“Hey Squirt, she responded. “I have to go, you know that. Josh simply refuses to understand my arguments and I refuse to do what he wants. He always knows best so he says you know that.”

Eric walked over to her and put his arms around her. “I will miss you Lani, will you at least write to me?”

Teilani nodded as she desperately pushed away the tears. “I will Eric, I will I promise.” I will never ever forget you and if you need me no matter where I am I will come and see you.” By now the tears ran over Teilani’s face.

Teilani ruffed up her baby brothers hair. “Stay out of trouble Squirt.”

She slung the bag over her shoulder and left.

===

The last time she had spoken to someone of her family was when she got a message from Joshua saying that Eric has been missing. Teilani knew that indirectly Joshua blamed her for it.

Teilani took a sip of her coffee and touched image displayed on the console. “Where are you Eric,” she whispered.

Caressing the hot mug in her hand she stood up and watched out the window, stars were streaking by. She sighed despite her Zion colleagues she felt alone, alone inside. The only person who had managed to break a little piece of the wall around her had been Patia. But Teilani also know from experience that Patia also had her share of problems.

Despite her external control inside Teilani was still a little girl, wanting to be hold, wanting to have a family to go home to. She always managed not to let people get too close to her, not during her Academy years and not during any of her assignments. Nobody would ever know how many nights she had cried her self to sleep

She knew that during her Academy years some of her fellow students called her the Ice queen or cold hearted bitch but that did not bother her. As the other students when on breaks, she stayed behind, studying even harder. The only free time she allowed her self was going to the Japanese tea garden. An oasis of tranquillity.

Abruptly Teilani turned and walked back to her bed, she slit under the covers and curled up into a foetus position, crying herself to sleep.