It was still the grand opening for Kassia's little shop. In three days she had already had several customers. Her crystals were selling like crazy, in every size shape and setting. That included her colored crystal balls. She had also sold many candles and several sticks on incense. She had received a couple inquires for scented oils, but that one shipment hadn't arrived yet. It was due in the following day. But as time wore on, business slowed down to a trickle. She noticed a tall man enter. He looked Vulcan, but there was something different about him, as their eyes met. She busied herself stocking more crystals onto the shelves. Then suddenly, the soft tinkling of bells echoed through the shop once again as another person entered. It was a young man dressed in a Starfleet uniform. That of an Ensign in science, most likely, she thought, noting the teal and black of the uniform. His eyes darted around the place. She watched him intently, but without him feeling her gaze. She could sense that he was curious about her, but as afraid of her as well. As she continued placing crystals in vacant spots and rearranging small statuettes and candles, she noticed that he had wandered to the section with incense and elaborate holders. The Vulcan gentleman was in the section that held the books. The young Starfleet officer kept stealing looks at her. When she was finally done, she took the empty box in her hands, and placed it behind the counter. When she returned to the floor, she went to the young man. He had very light green eyes, copper hair and a splattering of freckles on his face.
"May I help you?" She asked him.
"No . . . no . . ." He replied, I'm just looking," he replied. His fear was apparent.
"Perhaps you would be interested in some candles or incense to calm your nerves after a long day," she suggested.
"Nerves?" he asked.
"You do seem rather stressed," she replied. "Unless you have another reason for being stressed . . ."
"Oh no, no . . ." he replied, trying to mask his fear. "I just heard about you and thought I would come see you for myself."
"You heard about me?" He questioned.
"Yeah, the news about you saving that Bajoran has been circling the station . . . Well, he's been telling everyone. What's his name . . . I can't think of it."
"Toren Len," Kassia replied with a smile. "Do you know how he is?"
"Well, when I saw him he was fine. He swears he's never going to drink again though. But he credits you to saving him and that he could have avoided it all together if he'd listened to you . . ."
"So you want to know if I can tell the future," she stated with a smile.
Fear went into his eyes. "I don't know about that . . . I'm not even sure I should be here," he replied.
"Why?" she asked, but she knew already. He was afraid of her. He was afraid of what she could do. She had encountered people like him before.
He was quiet and looked away at something on her shelves. An incense burner in the form of a dragon.
"You don't have to be afraid of me," she replied. "I don't create bad luck. I only see into the future and the future is always changing . . . What I might tell you is not written in stone. Nothing is ever certain. The future can be changed with a thought, an action or a word. Its nothing but an empty canvas that hasn't been painted on yet. If I tell you what I see, and its not what you want to hear, then you can take steps to change that . . . Do you understand?"
Something in his eyes and demeanor changed. Obviously something she said had struck a chord. Gently she took one of his hands in hers. Immediately she was hit by a vision of a lovely woman who appeared to be a Trill. The vision showed her carrying a baby, and this young man by her side as they walked through the station. She smiled.
"Your wife is a Trill, isn't she?" Kassia asked.
Surprise went into his eyes. "Yes . . ."
"And you've been trying to conceive for the last year."
"Yes," he replied again, with surprise.
"Then I have good news for you . . . Your wife is pregnant!" she said with a smile. "You'll have a very healthy baby girl when she's ready to join the universe."
"You're joking, right? This is a joke?" he asked wanting to believe her, but afraid to.
"I think you should ask your wife. She should have the results."
His smile was glorious as he hugged her. She laughed. "Thank you! Thank you very much! I'm going to be a father!" With that he run from the shop as fast as he could, whooping and laughing as he went.
Kassia laughed to herself as she watched him. She loved giving good news. That was her favorite thing with the visions. It was the bad news she had a hard time with. She was so lost in thought, she didn't notice the Vulcan come up to her.
"Forgive me for intruding, madame, but I could not help but notice how perspicacious you were with that young ensign. What brought his apprehension to your attention?" he asked curiously.
Kassia flashed a smile as she looked at this man before her. "I could sense it," she replied simply.
"How so? Are you a telepath?"
"As a matter of fact, I am," she replied. There was a twinkle in her green eyes.
"Intriguing," he replied, "I've known many telepaths but have never exhibited the ability myself. What is it like?"
"Well . . . " she began. "Its almost as if people are constantly talking with you. For me, sometimes, its as if someone is shouting out at me. Its not something that's easily ignored. You've had no experience with Telepathy, yourself then?" She asked again. She thought that was strange for a Vulcan. Perhaps he was a hybrid.
"Unfortunately, no," he replied, "Although I have had the experience described to me. How does one cope with the input?"
"Its not always easy," she replied. "But I have found ways to deal with it."
"Intriguing. Might I have the pleasure of your name?"
"My name is Kassia," she replied, smiling, "Welcome to my Cave. You're new to the Station, aren't you?"
"Yes; I've only been here since yesterday. I am Tarik, son of Takor and Belaz and have just been assigned to this station."
"Hmmmmm, I thought you were Vulcan, and yet, those names don't fit," she replied. "Are you . . . Romulan?"
She immediately sensed she was correct and yet waited for the answer.
"Yes. My parents defected to Vulcan shortly after the fall of the Thirty-Fifth Dynasty. I was born near Shi'Kahr."
"Well, that explains why I wasn't sure at first! You've had some Vulcan training then?" she asked.
"My entire education, with the exception of the Academy, was on Vulcan," he replied, "However, my proctors thought me too unstable to become a Kolinahr adept. Thus, I do not know if I have the Vulcan mental abilities. Many say that Romulans do not have these abilities but there is evidence in our history to the contrary."
"I believe you may have them. But they would have to be aggressively tapped. However that is too bad, if that's what you wanted to pursue . . . " Much to his surprise she took one of his hands in hers briefly. "Yet, I see a more fulfilling path for you in the future than that path would have held."
He was startled by this revelation, but intrigued. "Really? Tell me more."
"I see in time, you will gain a better position here. And if you stay with this assignment here on this station, you gain many friend. Something you have not had in any of your other positions. These people won't be just co-workers . . . And . . . there is a woman in your future," she smiled devilishly.
"Intriguing. I would be interested in discussing these things with you in the future."
"Perhaps sometime over drinks . . . " she hinted.
"Certainly. Do you think your palate can accommodate Romulan ale?" he asked.
She laughed. "Yes, definitely," she replied.
"Perhaps we shall have to put that claim to the test sometime. But regrettably I do have business to which I must attend.
"I know . . ." she replied with a sigh. "But perhaps you can come back later. We can continue our discussion."
"Of course. 1800 hours, perhaps?"
"I'll be here," she replied.
"I should hope so. After all, you know how we 'Vulcans' value promptness..." he replied with a hint of a smile.
With that she laughed good-naturedly. "And I'll have some ale waiting."
"See that you do. Until tonight, then."
"Until then," she replied back.
As he left she stared after him with a smile like a cat who had swallowed the canary. Troy walked in and saw her. He looked out the door to the man who was walking away.
"Who was that?" he asked.
"Part of my destiny . . ."