A Child's Curiosity and a Woman's Quest for the Truth by Honey Fox
	Chapter 1: The beginning of the visits from the strangers. Clear blue inquisitive eyes peeked over the railing of a balcony, watching with a curious fascination the sight below. The courtyard, filled with bright colors of flowers and the fresh green of tall trees, harbored a cool shade from the warmth of the summer sun. Tall people in dark cloaks silently stood in the cool shade of the large trees waiting for something or someone. The blue eyes glanced around quickly, taking in the whole sight, wondering who the strangers were and why they were at her house. A woman walked out of the doorway that lead from the main part of the house; her dress, light in color and texture, contrasted greatly with the dark, heavy clothing of the strangers. Her long dark blond hair shimmered in the light of the sun as she went to greet them. The woman's posture was stiffly polite as she talked to them, asking what they wanted and why they had disturbed her household. The bright blue eyes watched as the woman slowly knelt down, reaching out hesitantly to touch a smaller version of the tall dark strangers. The blue eyes clouded with confusion wondering what had prompted the woman to reach out to the stranger in such a manner. A slender aging woman walked into the balcony room, "Ktaria! Where have you been, young lady? We have been looking all over for you, your mother is worried sick." She was wearing a dress similar in style as the woman in the courtyard, her silvery hair was braided, pinned around her head. The blue eyes clouded with remorse, as the 8-year-old Ktaria turned around, embarrassed that she had been caught spying on those down below. "Hello Nana, I'm sorry you were worried, I have been here the whole time. Who are the people talking with Momma in the courtyard?" Ktaria's blue eyes filled with curiosity as she looked up at her grandmother, her fingers fidgeting with the end of her long dark brown hair that was in one long braid resting against her shoulder. The older eyes, the same shade of blue as the young, appeared to be tired and weary. "They are no one, my dear. Come, your mother wants you to stay with me for the weekend." The older woman reached out while smiling at the young girl. The weary look now replaced with the warm expression of love shining from her eyes as she waited for Ktaria to take her hand and go with her. Ktaria glanced back at the balcony sighing softly, not able to see the strangers or hear their voices anymore. She took her grandmother's hand and smiled brightly, already forgetting the scene she had seen before her hiding spot had been found. "Can we make some wild flower tea tonight?" Small giggles could be heard as well as soft laughter from the pair as they left the room. Chapter 2: Childhood memories. 10 years later... ...a young woman with long dark brown hair pulled back at the sides into a small braid that rests against her back as her loose hair frames her shoulders. The sun was shining through the leaves of the tall green tress, causing her hair to shimmer with coppery highlights as the breeze lightly tossed her hair around while she hurried down the path. When she entered the fragrant coolness of the courtyard, the memory of tall strangers waiting beneath the trees came back to her. Her brow slightly furrowed as she peered up at the balcony to her long-ago hiding place, remembering the first hurried trip to her grandmother's house. Around the same time every year after, her mother made her spend a week at her grandmother's house. Never giving her a clear explanation as to why she had to go, with the exception of a harsh word and the denial of an answer to her questions. Suddenly a middle-aged woman appeared in the balcony of which she had been reminiscing. Ktaria's startled blue eyes cleared of the daydream as she was brought back to the present. "Ktaria! You had best hurry, you'll be late visiting Nana! She has been missing you since you've been away at the university." The woman on the balcony called out, her face slightly strained for some unknown reason, as she seemed eager for Ktaria to leave and hurry on to her grandmother's house. "I'm hurrying Mother, I just wanted to get some of Nana's favorite flowers from the garden." At the mention of the flowers, Ktaria held up a small bouquet of blue lilies. The woman's face relaxed as she smiled down at her daughter. "I'm sure Nana would love them, now hurry along dear, she's anxiously waiting for you." After that, her mother disappeared back into the house. Ktaria stared at the empty balcony again, remembering all the questions she had asked her mother that went unanswered. Sighing softly, she turned her mind back to the present again and entered the house to gather her bag, which was packed with a week's change of clothes and small items she would need for her stay with her grandmother. Glancing around the main downstairs hallway as she shouldered her bag, she took a long look at her home. Brushing back a wispy tendril of hair that had gotten loose from her braid, she tucked it behind her ear before turning and walking out the front doors, down the path to her grandmother's house. While watching the dwindling sunshine on the trees of the lane as she walked down the path, she remembered sneaking out of her grandmother's house six years ago returning home the day 'the visitors' were scheduled to arrive. A fourteen-year-old Ktaria, sat behind the bushes near the courtyard, hiding and waiting for something to happen, hoping to learn some answers to her questions, she sat and waited. Finally after three hours 'they' had arrived, but this time there were only two. Her curious blue eyes watched the tallest stranger walk up to her mother and stand, staring down at her. He slowly brought his hand close to her cheek as if he was going to caress it. However, he let his hand drop when her mother turned her head to the side before his hand could make contact. Huddled behind the bush, Ktaria's mind flew with thoughts, but was disturbed when the man spoke in a low guttural language. What even more disturbed Ktaria was that her mother answered him in the same language. Although she did not understand what they said, she recognized the language that they spoke. It was Klingon. Confused, her mind coming up with increasingly more questions, she sat there and watched as the man stepped back and motioned to the shorter visitor to step forward. After stepping out of the shadows, the child-like face of a young woman was revealed. She was unmistakably half Klingon and half Trill, betrayed by the faint ridges on her forehead and the dark spots going up the sides of her tanned face disappearing into her hair. Overwhelmed with confusion and hurt, Ktaria bolted out from behind the bush and ran back to her grandmother's house. She ran up to her room and refused to come out for the rest of the day, giving the excuse that she was not feeling well. Ktaria suddenly jerked back to the present when a large raindrop hit her on the head. Gasping slightly with surprise, she hurriedly ran the rest of the way to her grandmother's house to escape the sudden downpour of rain. Later that night Ktaria stared out the open window towards the direction of her home after catching up with her grandmother on the happenings while she was away at the university. Still smiling from her grandmother's stories as she prepared to go to bed, she recalled the surprised yet proud face of Nana's when she informed her of her intention of joining the Initiate Program. Nana, knowing how big of a decision this was for Ktaria, congratulated her warmly with a hug and a mug of her special wildflower tea while they talked. Sighing softly, still smiling about her time spent with her grandmother, she got into bed. However, the smile was short lived as she wondered how her mother was going to react to her news. Her lips pressed together in thought as she closed her eyes to sleep. Time passed as the night continued on, later finding Ktaria sleepless and tossing in bed. Her tired eyes stared at the shadows in the room as she thought about who she was, and about her parents. One tear worked it's way down her cheek as she thought about all the unanswered questions she had asked about her father. Wiping at the tear disgustedly, she hit the pillow in an attempt to gather her emotions and to try to get some rest before the night's end. Turning over and closing her eyes, sleep finally claimed it's victim in a dreamless slumber. At the end of the week, Ktaria finally returned home to spend the next week with her mother before returning to the university. While sitting down to dinner, Ktaria smiled at her mother, taking a deep breath, preparing herself for what she was about to say. "Mother, I've been thinking..." She paused to see if she had her mother's full attention before she continued. Her mother looked up, her face showing the usual strained and tired expression after her week-long visit to her grandmother's. "Yes dear, what is it?" Gripping her hands together under the table, she looked into eyes identical to hers. "Mother, I've decided I am going to join the Initiate Program." Ktaria sat and watched the subtle changes on her mother's face as she took the announcement in. "Ktaria, you've what! You just up and 'decided' you want to join? Just like that? Do you realize that once you are joined, you won't be YOU anymore? I don't want you to change, you're my daughter and I won't allow it! Why haven't you told me that you were thinking of this before? Then we could have discussed it like two reasonable adults!" Her mother's face and eyes showed her anger and hurt. "Mother, I think I am adult enough to make my own decisions. I have been thinking about this for a long time and I really want to do this." Her face showed her determination in her decision. "But why, Ktaria? Why do you want to change who you are by joining with a symbiont?" Sighing softly, getting a wistful look in her eyes as she answered her mother's question as best she could, "Because, Mother, I want to know who I am, and that I am a part of something greater than myself. If I am accepted, I will feel as if I've accomplished something and that's very important to me." Frustration taking over she sighed again, "maybe I will feel like I belong." "A part of something… belong? You are a part of this family, and you belong here! Why do feel you need to join with one of those things and let it change your whole personality… Why do you want to change who you are?" Her mother shook her head, not able to comprehend her daughter's words, not listening to the need in her daughter's voice. Ktaria closed her eyes, fighting back her tears and trying to control her emotions. "This family? It's just you and Nana, I don't have a father, you never tell me anything about him!" She got cut off by her mother's angry voice. "Your father, he is DEAD, that is..." "...is all you need to know." Ktaria cut back in and finished for her mother. "Yes Mother, I have heard that before, MANY times. But why won't you tell me of him? Surely, you loved him at one time. What is it? What happened that made you so angry with him... with me." Tears started to fill her eyes and slide down her cheeks as she stared at her mother. Her mother just sat there, her face flushed with anger and hurt at her daughter's words. "What do you expect from me?" Shocked and frustrated, Ktaria answered her in a half yell. "I want to know who my father was, and why you deny me any information about who I am!" Her mother continued to sit there and stare at her daughter as if she was looking at a total stranger. She then started to shake her head slowly. "You do not need to know. I have raised you myself, protected you from their barbaric traditions and their twisted sense of 'honor'. You need not know of those things, you are MY daughter! He gave up his right to you a long time ago!" Her mother's voice increased in volume turning hoarse, while her eyes filled with tears. After a few silent seconds her mother closed her eyes and cleared her throat, shaking her head once as if clearing her mind of the whole argument. Sadly, her mother stated, "I'm not feeling well, I will see you in the morning where we can discuss this more rationally. Goodnight, Ktaria." With that, her mother stood up and walked from the room, leaving Ktaria sitting at the table with a half-eaten dinner. The next morning Ktaria's mother woke up to a note on her bedside table. As she blinked the sleep from her eyes she read: Dear Mother, I am sorry for the fight we had last night, but I simply must find out more about who I am, and where I came from. Although you say my father is dead, I want to know who he was. I know it is hard for you to speak of him, but not knowing is even harder for me. I have already returned to the University and I have applied to join the Initiate program. I know you do not wish me to do this, but some day maybe I can make you understand how much this means to me. With love, your daughter, Ktaria Her mother closed her eyes, lying back down on the bed, and cried, not because her daughter had defied her, but because of the secrets she must withhold from her. She felt that she was protecting her daughter from something that could ultimately hurt her. Chapter 3: The visit back home before the Symbiosis Committee's decision. As the next three years passed, Ktaria graduated from the university with honors and was accepted into the Trill Initiate program. These years she later recalled as some of the most difficult and trying years in her life. While the Trill Symbiosis Committee reviewed her final application for being joined, Ktaria returnd home for a visit and to await word on her acceptance or denial. Like each visit, she always spent a week with her grandmother before spending the rest of the two-week visit with her mother. While walking through the garden one day with Nana, Ktaria vented her frustration with her mother. "I don't know how to make her understand, Nana. She never answers any of my questions and I don't think she ever will," Ktaria said sullenly, her eyes downcast, staring blankly at the beautifully colored flowers in the garden. Nana turned from picking a red flower from the ground and put it in her basket as she offered Ktaria some hope. "Your mother loves you, it's not that she is trying to keep things from you. She feels that she's protecting her baby." Giving a soft-loving smile as she patted Ktaria's cheek and gave her a hug. "Have faith dear, your mother needs more time. She still thinks of you as her little girl, she will realize that you are a grown woman and that you can handle the answers to the questions you seek." Ktaria hugged her grandmother back tightly, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I'm trying, but it's so hard, not understanding things when I don't know why I feel the way I do. I try to hide them, but it's getting harder and harder." Sighing softly, she released her grandmother from the hug, and looked into eyes that were so much like her mother's and her own. "I love you, Nana. Sometimes, I get emotions that take total control of me. I try hard to suppress them, but it is not easy. I just do not understand, is something wrong with me? Is that why Mother won't answer my questions?" Having said this, Ktaria's face puckered in a deep thoughtful frown, her eyes betrayed her worry. Nana patted Ktaria's cheek again, chuckling softly. "No dear, nothing is wrong with you." She stopped speaking, seeing the worry and fear remain in Ktaria's eyes. "Come, I will tell you something." Nana spoke softly as she took Ktaria's hand and walked through the garden back to the house. "Please sit down, this is not easy for me to tell you, knowing your mother's wishes on this subject," she said quietly as she poured them both a glass of tea. Ktaria sat at the table and watched, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited. After having set the glasses of tea on the table, Nana took a seat across from Ktaria. Reaching out and taking her hand, as she spoke hesitantly, "I can not tell you much, so please don't ask of me which I cannot tell you." She paused and looked into Ktaria's eyes, as if searching to see if she was ready to hear part of the truth. "Ktaria, your father…" Nana's voice trailed off as she decided how to say it, but realized the only way she could tell her granddaughter was to just ‘say it', "…your father's name is Korlan. He is Klingon." With this said, Nana continueed to hold Ktaria's hand and watched her granddaughters' emotions flow through her eyes and face. Sitting there in shock after hearing what her grandmother had told her, she blinked slowly as tears gathered in her eyes. Ktaria stood up and bent down to kiss her grandmother's cheek, "Thank you for telling me, Nana. I think I will go lie down and think for a bit. I will see you later." Offering her grandmother a small yet sad smile as she left the kitchen, heading for the guestroom she always used while she visited with her grandmother. After entering the room and locking the door, Ktaria laid down on the bed, curling up as she hugged a pillow. Her thoughts pulled her back into time, as she remembered when her mother took her to a city fair that ended in disaster. The day was a beautiful sunny mid-summer day on the Trill homeworld. Excitement could be felt throughout the city because it was Fair Day. Ktaria, 10 years old, was hopping with joy, her mother had promised to take her to the fair this year. "Come on Momma!" exclaimed an overly excited Ktaria, as she watched her mother grab a wrap before they headed out the door into the bright sunshine. Laughing softly, Ktaria's mom looked down at her and took her hand as they walked down the street. "Patience dear, the fair will still be there even if we are a little late." Ktaria giggled softly as she walked along next to her mother, slightly tugging on her hand as if to hurry her along so they might reach the fair sooner. The sun shone down through the trees from an almost cloudless sky, creating the perfect day for a trip to the fair. A cool breeze kept the warmth of the sun to a comfortable level that made the day one of the most pleasant that summer. As they neared the fairground, they could hear the laughter of the people gathered around watching shows, looking through displays and shopping through booths that merchants had set up. The banners of the fair gently waved on the breeze, flashing their bright vivid colors, drawing the attention of passerby's. Ktaria and her mom enjoyed the day, going through the fair, seeing the various displays by other cultures and the theatrical productions ranging from serious to very comedic. After watching a small play they stood up and turned to leave the main stage setup, until loud drums began to beat in a fast, driving tempo. Sitting back down, they waited to see what the next ‘production' was. The drums got louder and heavier, and a deep voice started to sing in a language that Ktaria has never heard before. So caught up was she in the music and singing, that young Ktaria did not notice that her mother had stiffened. Suddenly the music stopped and two tall, dark men jumped out from the sides of the stage. Both were holding metallic bow shaped weapons, and both were dressed in the same dark shades of gray leather. On their chests they wore what appeared to be silver pendants, each different. Their hair was dark, long and flowing free over their shoulders giving them a wild barbaric look. The music started back up in a regular taping rhythm as the men circled each other, taking battle stances. Intrigued, Ktaria sat up further in her seat so she could see better, her heart beginning to beat with the music. She felt a strange connection to the people on the stage, but she was too young to understanding it. Ktaria's mother, unable to listen to it anymore, grabbed Ktaria's arm and stood up quickly, "Come, we are leaving." Her face blank of all emotion as she stared almost hatefully at the stage and the two men who were mock battling for the audience. Ktaria was surprised at her mother's actions. "But why? I want to see the rest of it. Who are they Momma? What song was that?" Speaking dryly, her mother said, "They are Klingons, my dear. You do not need to know any more, we are leaving." "But why do we have to leave? I thought we were staying for longer." Ktaria's voice quivered on the verge of tears because she so very much wanted to stay and watch the rest of the show. Her mother looked down into her face, seeing her tears, but her heart hardened and she continued to pull Ktaria behind her, leaving the stage seating. After having left the fairgrounds, her mother glanced down at her, her eyes saddened because she had caused her daughter to cry. "I'm sorry Ktaria, you do not need to know about such barbarians as the Klingons. I hope you understand." Crying softly as she looked up at her mother's face, wiping away her tears, "No Momma, I don't understand. That music was beautiful, and the… Klingons… were interesting. I wanted to see more, I don't see the reason why we had to leave early. I want to know more about them." After hearing that, her mother stopped walking and knelt down in front of her, griping her arms tightly, "Ktaria, you do not know what you are saying. You do not understand, stay away from Klingons, or they will hurt you. Please, DO NOT speak of them again." Wincing from her mother's grip on her arm, she started crying again. Jerking away from her mother, she ran the rest of the way home and locked herself in her room, crying the whole night. She stayed there, locked in her room for the next day ignoring her mother's pleas to come out, still not understanding why her mother was so harsh with her. Only Nana was able to get Ktaria to open her door and let her in, and finally coaxing her out of her room. Ktaria jerked awake from her dream, hearing a soft knock at her door. She sat up in bed as the door opened, rubbing her eyes to wipe the sleep out of them she saw the loving face of Nana. "Good morning, Nana." Ktaria smiled, stretching her arms over her head, yawning before getting out of the bed. "I hope I didn't oversleep." "No my dear, you haven't. Hurry, we are going shopping today before you have to return home." Nana then giggled, which was a rare thing, and winked at her before shutting the door again, leaving the grinning Ktaria to get ready for their outing. The rest of the week Ktaria spent with her grandmother was wonderful. They spent most of the time in the garden, talking over cups of Nana's special wild flower tea, or just playing games. At the end of the visit they said their sad good-byes to each other. Nana hugged Ktaria tight while wishing her good luck on the final decision of the Initiate Committee. After having left her grandmothers' house, Ktaria pondered asking her mother about her father again. Also, she wondered why she kept the truth from her, and why her mother continued to deny her any knowledge of anything Klingon. Taking a breath of fresh air, she sighed softly, glancing around the familiar path, knowing that she was about to turn around the corner where her home and mother would be within eyesight. Smiling brightly, despite her thoughts, she hurried to the house to find her mother, and a hug, waiting for her. "Hello Mother!" A little frustrated that that was all she was able to say right now, her mind so preoccupied with other thoughts and even more questions than before. "Ktaria! My, how you've grown! Come in to the living room, and let me get a better look at you!" Her mother smiled as she took her hand, pulling her into the other room. Smiling back at her mother as she did a little turn in front of her. "Surely I haven't changed that much!" Ktaria said laughingly. Her mother's face looked older and more strained than in previous visits. Her dark blond hair now carried slightly grayish streaks. "Yes… yes, you have. My baby's all grown up!" She smiled at her daughter as she reached up to lightly caress Ktaria's cheek. "Mother, how have you been? Your last communiqué to me was a little vague." Ktaria's face showed her worry as she sat down with her mother on the couch. Her mother's smile faded slightly as she made a motion with her hands as if dismissing the question with a joke. "I'm fine, the doctors don't know much, I believe it's called 'old age'." Ktaria said lightly, "But you don't look a day over 25!" Smiling as her mother giggled, she hugged her mother again. Not wanting to upset her mother after seeing how tired she was, Ktaria decided not to ask her any questions tonight. So the rest of the evening went by quickly as they talked about the recent happenings, and about the Initiate program. The next day, a communiqué arrived for Ktaria from the Symbiosis Committee. With trepidation and her mother standing by her side, she opened the file and read the letter. To the Initiate, Ktaria Tian: The Symbiosis Committee has read your final application and requires a meeting with you before a final decision can bemade regarding your acceptance or denial of a symbiont joining. Please return to the Initiate program as soon as possible so the decision can be made. Signed, The Trill Symbiosis Committee Ktaria turned and looked at her mother in confusion. "I thought that they were making the final decision." She read the letter one more time, slightly confused, before closing the file. Her mother, trying to hide her obvious sadness at her daughter having to leave so soon, offered Ktaria an encouraging smile. "It's ok dear, I realize now that this is very important to you. Good luck, my dear child." Her mother's voice cracked slightly with sadness as she hugged her daughter tight before letting her go gather her stuff. As they said their tearful goodbye, Ktaria apologized that she had to leave so soon, and promised that she would return to finish the visit. Her mother hugged her tightly again, saddened but knowing that if she were to join with a symbiont before she returned, she would not be the same daughter she had always known.