Sara

Posted on Sunday, 26 July 2020 - 1:12pm by Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Jabberwocky
Location: Sydney University Hospital, Private Research Facility
Timeline: MD7

So much to do, so little time.

With another glance at her watch, Doctor Sara Kingsley resisted the urge to once again call upon the good doctor and demand to know what was taking so long. Patience was not a trait often associated with her and she had no doubt time was not something on their side. Everyone who had ever worked with her knew that, once her mind was set, she expected results.

Especially now, when all of her work and the work of her mother, was unravelling. And while she had no evidence that this Soral was responsible, either in whole or in part, she had little doubt that he was involved.

When Laura had confided in her, telling her of what had happened the day before, Sara had felt a certain vindication as she had listened with faux concern. Had she not told her mother this would happen? That trying to supress whatever abilities had been inherited from Aaron would not succeed. That it was far too dangerous. Yet when it came to her ‘children’ the elder Sara Kingsley was blind to reason.

Which, by extension, included Alex.

Her mother had devoted her life, to the neglect of all else, to her work. It would have been commendable - if she was someone else’s mother. Even so, Sara had learned to appreciate her mother’s vision, the beauty of her creations and the possibilities. Genetic engineering was often vilified within the Federation yet what had been accomplished at Darwin Station was extraordinary.

Although not without cost. Something which had haunted her mother and driving her work even now, when she should be thinking of retirement. Of course she would not hear of it. Not while her work was allowed to continue. And while the elder Sara Kingsley had worked, her children had grown. Some even had children of their own. A new generation of perfection. Yet Aaron, the first born of all the children, had seemingly no interest in such things.

Until Nya.

Sara could still remember meeting the woman almost twenty five years ago. At the time she had been part of her mother's research team, which seemed so very long ago now. The search for a new medical officer had brought them Nya. A brilliant physician, the El-Aurian had an ethereal beauty and appeared so much younger than her years.

She quickly became an integral part of their team. It was perhaps her alien nature, or the fact that she had endless stories to tell or perhaps it was that she was so perfectly at ease around Aaron and the others... perhaps it was none of those things. What became clear after her sudden departure just after a year into her post was that their friendship had been much more than that. Eight months later, Nya was in a surgical suite on Mars, cradling her newborn daughter in her arms as she breathed her last.

Sara could vividly remember that day.

Normally withdrawn, content with his own company, Aaron had sought out her mother. A rare event. He told her - in his own way - of his child. What followed would change many lives. Through Aaron's unique abilities and a seeming connection to his newborn child, they knew where to find the infant. Within hours of her birth on Mars, she became the singular focus not only of Sara and her mother (who were acutely aware of the sever restrictions the Federation had imposed upon their research) but of the Trinity Foundation.

Mars. To her mother it seemed almost like divine intervention. If, as scientists, they believed in such things.

Sara's cousin - an engineer or something, she was not entirely sure - lived on Mars. And as they were unable to have children of their own, they were on the official register of approved families eligible to adopt a child. They were still someway off the top of the 'waiting' list, until one word from this Elise Corrigan woman had them not only moved to the top, but specifically granted custody of the newborn.

For Sara, it meant she would be sent away from Gargarin IV. The Trinity Foundation would create research positions for her wherever she needed to be, so that she could be close to the child. She would have everything she could need and more. And, to her credit, the Corrigan woman had been true to her word. Even so, at the time, her younger self had fumed at the thought of her own work being brought to an abrupt halt because her own mother was unwilling to do what needed to be done.

If the child showed any of Aaron's abilities, if anyone was able to join the dots back to Darwin Station...

Her arguments got nowhere. And so she was banished from her 'home' to play happy families with a cousin she had not seen since she was five years old. It was hell. Fortunately, she had already relocated before the attack on Mars. She had no intention of dying in that bubble of existence and had happily forgotten all of those left behind. Especially Andrew.

He was far too nice. But he was also very observant.

He often commented how some sickness or other had been going around the nursery or the school but his daughter was as healthy and happy as ever. An occasional fever was the best Sara could ever illicit from the girl, a headache or two, but no matter what she managed to expose the child to, within hours she was her hyperactive self again. It became something of a game - only Sara was the only one who knew they were playing it.

It was the day she overheard a four year old Alex in the workshop with her 'dad' that caused Sara concern. She was telling him of her imaginary friend that played games with her in her dreams and made toys fly. There was many apparent childish exaggeration in her tale ('and when I woke up Mr Boo was really flying daddy!) but when she then spoke of the man who appeared like magic to read her stories that had Sara's undivided attention. The colour of the eyes, the hair... she was describing Aaron!

After Alex had gone to sleep that night, she found Andrew in his workshop, fussing over designs but obviously distracted. She had admitted overhearing and he in turn confided that it was not the first time she had spoke of this man. She of course tried to appease him, saying how worrying it must be but what if her dreams were a sign of something more? She knew a specialist who could help, if he would let her. After all, they all wanted what was best for Alex...

As any parent would, he grasped at the offer of help. Laura had been more reluctant, saying it was so common and she would grow out of it in time. It was rare but Andrew put his foot down. Within two days, a young Alex met her new physician - Dr Innis - and after a few days she no longer spoke of the strange man in her dreams.

While they could not quite tame her brilliance - which could be easily explained - Sara's interventions (via the good doctor) had ensured Alex never displayed any other traits she may have inherited from her father. In truth they were unsure exactly what gifts she had inherited from him, but Sara considered it best to be overly cautious.

Of course it was ethically wrong. Morally dubious. But necessary. For if the Federation knew of what had transpired, if they discovered a child had been born outside of outside of Darwin station - then everything her mother had worked for would be for nothing. Sara would not let that happen. Her family had invested too much. And for a long time they had seemed to be succeeding.

However, as time went on it became more and more difficult to make a pretence for either Sara or Dr Innis to see her - especially when the girl decided of all things to join Starfleet! And then she just had to fall in love. With a Vulcan!

With a resigned sigh, Sara climbed to her feet. Her resolve set, despite what her mother had said. It was time to end this. Besides, there was a fairly good chance Alex would survive completely unharmed - if a little more 'normal' than before.

It was time to end this.