Big News
Posted on Thu Oct 29th, 2026 @ 12:11am by Lieutenant Commander T'Par & Ensign Arlanya Valynn
1,445 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
A Day In The Life
Location: Science Office
T'Par was in her office. Her attention was on her console but she looked up, hearing Arlanya approach before she saw her. "Come in," she said simply.
Anya stepped in with a knowing, contented smile as she stepped into her office. "Good afternoon Ma'am, did you enjoy the party last night?"
"I appreciated it," T'Par answered. "What may I help you with, Ensign?"
She was still having a hard time believing everything and a hand absentmindedly drifted to her abdomen. She swallowed and stepped closer, "I just came from sick bay... I'm pregnant."
"Congratulations, ensign," T'Par said. Her stoic Vulcan demeanor remained the same but she did rise. "It is a lifechanging experience."
"Thank you ma'am, tat's what I'm finding out. Do you have children of your own?"
"I don't," T'Par answered her. "Not yet."
Anya looked questioningly, "Ohhh...planning for a family or just allowing for the possibility?"
"I am married," T'Par noted, with the same complete lack of affect as everything else she said.
Anya glanced down slightly, "This is a lot to take in...so much has changed in such a short time. Have you had others under you have kids before? Or do you know of anyone onboard that I could talk to? Guess I'm looking for a bit of advice."
"Is there anything in particular that worries you?" T'Par asked.
Anya took a deep breath and let it out. "Oh there is SO much that worries me. I just graduated. I wasn't planning a family this soon..."
All her fears and doubts seemed to bubble to the surface. "...I haven't even told my family yet. What are they gonna say? How is this gonna affect my career? How do I balance a family and my job? What about the dangers of raising a child on a starship? What about K'stahk? How will his family react? What if he leaves me or something happens to one or both of us?"
T'Par paused. She seemed to be considering. "Why would your family be displeased?" she asked. "However, the dangers of raising a child on a starship are real. Logically, you should consider them. There are also, of course, benefits."
Anya's breathing was becoming faster. Now on top of her previous concerns a new set of hypothetical scenarios flashed through her mind. All the possible objections her family could raise. All the possible dangers being on a starship...
"Calm yourself, ensign," T'Par said evenly. "Focus on my voice."
Anya had already closed her eyes, but took a deep breath through her nose, forcing herself to hold and slow her breathing. She did that two more times before looking back to her boss.
"I'm sorry ma'am all this has just hit me all at once. Then I let my imagination get the better of me."
"I could assist you with mental exercises, if you wish," T'Par offered.
Learning Vulcan meditation techniques couldn't hurt and keeping herself from stressing out could only help her pregnancy. "That would very helpful, but I wouldn't want to be an inconvenience."
"It's no inconvenience," T'Par reassured her,
"Thank you. So when could we start. Is there anything I need to do in advance?"
"Not in advance," T'Par said. "When are you available to begin?"
"Well I have nothing planned for after my duty shift, other than reading baby books so evening would work for me. But I can adjust to whatever time works for you ma'am."
"I will see you this evening," T'Par said.
Anya smiled and nodded, "Thank you." As she turned to leave she stopped looking back, "Umm, where did you want to meet?"
"You may come by my quarters," T'Par said.
Flashing an enthusiastic thumbs up. "Alrighty then, I will get back to work and then see you tonight; thank you again." Stepping through the door Arlanya head back to her station.
[1700]
Anya had told K'stahk about the what had happened and the Lieutenant's offer to instruct her in some meditation techniques to help calm her anxiety. She could tell that he didn't think it was needed or that the anxiety was an issue. But to he surprise he also also raised no objections, saying that it couldn't hurt and if it made her feel better she should do it.
Now she was walking the corridor outside the Lieutenant's quarter wearing a black one piece leotard with a cream thigh length knit top. Pressing the chime she waited.
"Come," T'Par said directly, almost as soon as she heard the chime.
Stepping into her bosses quarters ishe looked around. The Lieutenant was immaculate and orderly, but that was to be expected. Good thing they were doing this here...still hadn't finished unpacking, and her roommate was a slob. Good thing Dr. Montoya had already put her in for family quarters; a surprise she still had to let K'stahk know about.
"Thank you, So how do we begin?"
Not only were T'Par quarters immaculate and spartan but she had already prepared. There was a simple candle on the floor and a mat. "We begin with you sitting cross-legged. Attempt to still your mind. Focus on the candle."
Anya took her seat across from T'Par. Laying her hands in her lap she stared at the flame, taking regular breaths. She attempted to push her questions, doubts, and excitement about be a prospective mother aside but it wasn't easy.
Staying focus on the flame, "Focusing isn't an issue, but calming all the things running around in my head...not the easiest thing to do."
"Simply let them," T'Par said. "Don't try and force them down. Let them flutter around the edges of your mind. But keep your focus entirely on the flame. Don't speak."
Anya followed the advice and ignored the various thoughts and questions and focused only on the flame as she took slow regular breaths. At first she struggled as random thoughts distracted her and both her face and her breathing reflected her difficulty. She closed her eyes during a breath and when she reopened them they were zeroed in on the flame. As her focus narrowed and the edges of her vision blurred as everything else seemed to fade away.
T'Par said nothing, letting Anya lose herself in the exercise. She waited as long as it took before Anya moved or spoke on her own.
Anya focus didn't last long as her own nature betrayed her. Frustrated she looked to T'Par, huffing. "Not that easy is it?"
"You had it for a time," T'Par reassured her. "Stressing about the exercise isn't helpful."
She giggled a bit, "Here I'm stressing and something that is supposed to be helping with the stress. Uugh." She took and slowly released a deep breath.
Instead of focusing on the flame she closed her eyes focusing on the life growing inside her. The little being floating in her womb, cells dividing, limbs growing, heart beating. She was lost in the moment and completely unaware of how much time had passed. Eventually she drew away and opened her eyes, surprised to feel her cheeks wet from tears that had fallen.
"You had an emotional response," T'Par noted without inflection. "On what did you focus your mind?"
Her hand went to her stomach. "I focused on my baby. The order in his growth and development..." Reaching up Anya wiped her cheek. "It was beautiful...so peaceful."
"Perhaps that is natural," T'Par noted. "Among Vulcans, the purpose of the exercise is to suppress emotion. However, you found this experience helpful?"
Nodding her head. "I did. Since finding out I was pregnant I had been worried about my assignment, K'stahk's reaction, what my parents would say, the possible complications of a cross species pregnancy, all this...stuff.
I tried focusing on the flame like you said but it seemed just as chaotic as everything else but when I focused on my baby I found that...I found peace."
"Perhaps you should try to repeat the exercise," T'Par said.
She nodded. "That I will. But perhaps another time. I'm feeling so good right now I don't wanna ruin it. How often would you recommend I do this?"
"As often as you need," T'Par said. "I do it every night, except when duty does not allow me time."
Getting to her feet she smiled. Thank you ma'am. I'm sure I will still need your help with this. There's no way anyone gets this down in one session, but...thank you."
"It was no difficulty," she said.
Anya smiled as she nodded and left her senior officers quarters and headed to find K'stahk and tell him that news.
Ensign Arlanya Valynn
Science Officer
Lieutenant Commander T'Par
Chief Science Officer
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