The Measure of a Caitian

Posted on Sun Mar 8th, 2020 @ 7:56am by Commander Moni Nasao PhD & Lieutenant Commander M'Tillie Nasao

Mission: Mission 72: T'Would Ring the Bells of Heaven
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1800Hrs - April 5th, 2392

Lieutenant Moni Nasao had finished her shift two hours earlier and now she was wanting to connect with her twin, she had changed out of her uniform as she still wore it while on duty. Moni for her part was heavily pregnant with several kits, also she and Leadfoot had adopted several other kits so she was going to have a rather large household when all was said and done. The paperwork was still being processed however and things were in the works.

Leadfoot was on duty and Amira was off in the ships school, however Moni suspected that the small child would be happier pestering Leadfoot as she had really bonded with him, far more so then she had bonded with Moni herself.

In truth Moni didn't mind that little detail. Amira was a good kit and Moni never had an issue with her.

Nasao was wearing only a pair of jeans and a tank top, it complimented her fur which kept her warm as the doorbell beeped at her, her ears turned towards the sound as she spoke. "Enter."

The door opened as her twin entered the quarters. M'Tillie looked left and then right, seeing the evidence of children everywhere as Moni's voice came from the large desk that had been set up in the large living space. "Over here."

M'Tillie moved over to her twins side. "We're almost ready over here." she explained as she tapped the display. "Our call is now placed and we're waiting for it to....connect." as an image of a Caitian appeared on the screen, this one was clearly female. "Moni.. How are you dearest?" she paused. "wait.. I'm seeing double...or is that on your end.?"

"No. Thats on my end and its not an optical effect." Moni Nasao explained to her mother. "This is my twin from... another reality, she is stranded here and has no family, she has taken the name M'Tillie to separate herself fro my identity... But the two of us are alike in every single respect."

"Oh." T'Nomi responded as she peered at the two women before her. "I would have sworn that you were playing a prank on me."

M'Tillie spoke up then. "This is no prank Mrassian.." she spoke the Caitian word for 'matriarch' in the human language as T'Nomi regarded her with a critical eye. "I am indeed Moni Nasao from another universe... Its.. complicated but what is not is that I am stranded here and while I have no family left, they are all dead... Here my family is alive and well." M'Tillie explained evenly.

T'Nomi regarded the two younger female Caitians who looked identical as she realized why the second version of Moni had addressed her as Matriarch, she didn't wish to offend her or cause problems. "I see... Well.. I have heard tales of alternate realities and the like. I am not sure of what to make of all of this.."

Moni nodded her furry head. "I understand mom." she responded with a smile. "Leadfoot sends his regards.."

"Oh right. your mate... When is your due date again?"

"In another couple of months." Moni explained patiently.

"I keep forgetting to book time off to come and visit you." T'Nomi admitted. "Being a Doctor is exhausting most of the time."

"I know." M'Tillie and Moni both said at the same time before they exchanged a look.

T'Nomi chuckled softly. "M'Tillie... Are you presently on assignment with Starfleet?"

"No. Not at present." the twin of Moni responded.

"Good.. Why don't you come home to us here on Cait. It'll be good to meet you and get to know who you are." the older female spoke. "I'd welcome the chance to know my new daughter and I'm sure you'd welcome the chance to see family again."

"I would. yes, very much so."

"Well Koi will be visiting shortly as well. You'll have the chance to connect with him too... I know he will like the chance to meet his new sibling." as she regarded Moni. "Will you try and get leave time too?"

"I can try." Moni responded evenly. "But a lots been happening recently.. the Klingons civil war is deepening and looks to be getting worse almost by the hour... I have a feeling that the Federation might get dragged into it sooner or later mom."

"Okay dear." T'Nomi responded evenly. "I understand thats what you signed on for when you went to join Starfleet.. you and your brother. I didn't understand why at the time but... Now I do." the older female explained. "Time has proven you wise.. and I was too proud and ignorant to see.."

"Its okay mom." Moni responded evenly.

"I wanted to say... I'm Sorry Moni." she turned to M'Tillie. "I imagine something like this happened between you and your mother?"

"Actually no. She encouraged me to leave citing it was one less mouth to feed." M'Tillie responded.

"I don't think I would have liked the other me in your native reality." T'Nomi responded.

"You wouldn't matriarch.. She was a cruel woman, vain and imperious."

"Would you call her harsh?" T'Nomi inquired.

"I would."

"I am not her. I have a family I am happy with, I am also soon to become a Greatmother.. Moni is having children and then there is Amira." T'Nomi smiled. "I do not abuse my children.." the notion made her blood boil. "Yes I am convinced that the T'Nomi in your home reality will need my foot up her ass..."

"Yes. I see you were right Moni. I apologize." M'Tillie responded.

"I did tell you." Moni chuckled softly.

"Tell her what?" T'Nomi inquired, as she regarded the two younger Caitians before her.

"M'Tillie told me that you would be like the one she left and I said no. I told her to wait and see.." Moni responded evenly.

"Ahh." T'Nomi regarded M'Tillie with dark brown eyes. "Its time you had a proper family. I assume its been a long time since you've been home?"

"Home was turned into a planetwide open cast mine. The Federation in my reality became an empire in all but name." M'Tillie responded.

"Ahh." T'Nomi responded with a soft sigh. "I understand now." she paused a moment. "How long before you can get time off?"

"I'm not assigned anywhere here... I can be on my way within a couple of hours.."

"Good. I'm looking forward to meeting you." she nodded before she turned to Moni. "I must go. I have ninety minutes to prepare for work and I must get going... take care of yourselves my children." and with that the screen went dark.

Moni Nasao regarded her twin. "I need to head on down to the personnel office anyway, get you added as my sibling."

M'Tillie smiled. "Thank you." she responded evenly. "I'd best go head back to my quarters and pack." and with that the the second Nasao turned and departed, leaving the pregnant Nasao alone.