Tara and Jayson stayed behind the station auditorium where the newly-formed New Canada Shakespeare Company had just finished its production of "Othello".
"It is so gratifying to see that Shakespeare still exists in the 24th century, and in another universe nonetheless!" Tara said almost effusively.
"I thought you'd appreciate this," Jayson said. "I figured a little touch of home would make you feel more comfortable. Shakespeare has undergone something of a revival during the past twenty years or so. The Klingons like to claim him as their own!"
"Do tell!"
"They claim that humans stole Shakespeare and then rewrote their own history to include him. Nobody takes them seriously, of course, but 'Hamlet' in Klingon is really something to see!"
"From what I've seen that sounds like the one Shakespeare production that's uniquely suited to them," Tara replied wryly. "Do any of the other races enjoy Shakespeare so?"
"It's debateable. The Vulcans like the sonnets, I'm told. And rumor has it that Colonel Tarik is busy translating 'Macbeth' into Romulan in his spare time."
"Don't say that!"
"What? It's just a rumor, and I'm sure he'd be flattered. His parents were writers themselves--"
"No, I mean the name of the play! You musn't refer to Shakespeare's Scottish play by name in a theatre unless you're actually performing it. It's bad luck!"
"I'd never heard that before," Jayson said with embarrassment.
"That particular legend may not have developed in this universe, but where I'm from it's taken for granted. A lot like breaking a mirror brings seven years' bad luck."
"Beg pardon?" Jayson asked, truly not comprehending.
"Nevermind," Tara asked. "I thought this was a rather interesting twist on the traditional Othello story--making Othello white and the rest of the cast black. The man who played Iago truly captured the essence of Iago's hideousness."
"I didn't see Iago so much hideous as embittered and resentful," Jayson countered. "From a certain point of view I could see his point. Othello managed to trump him socially and for a man of Iago's pride that wasn't an easy blow to overcome."
"Ah, men are so easily wounded!" Tara rejoined. "In the heart of every man lies insane jealousy--just like Othello experienced. Every woman is potentially a Desdemona"
"He was pushed!' Jayson protested. Then, he thought for a moment. "Do women really feel that way?"
"Sometimes," Tara said. "Men can be so petty sometimes, so possessive."
"That's true, but on the other hand, women can be pretty manipulative," Jayson retorted.
"Manipulative? Since when have I been manipulative?" Tara asked plaintively.
"You??? Never--I mean--"
"Never mind, dear," Tara said, taking his arm. "You're in big enough trouble already!"
Tara lead Jayson through the Promenade and the Holo Pursuits where they managed to get a suite. She quickly picked a program and they entered one of the decks. They walked out among ancient ruins located on a cliff that overlooked the sea. The sun was beginning to set turning the sky a pale blue and the cloud a bright pink.
"These are the ruins in Attica," Tara explained. "This is the The Sanctuary of Poseidon and over there is the Sanctuary to Athena... I used to come here often when I worked for Ta'al..." she explained as she looked around. "I still can't get over how real the holodeck feels... I really feel like I'm here... Or is it there?" She smiled.
"It's as much there as you want it to be," Jayson said. He entered a couple of commands, and the scene shifted to a dense tropical rainforest from which rose terraced rice paddies along the side of a mountain. Though the air was misty it was extremely warm, and tropical birds could be heard calling in the forest canopy. "Banaue, on Luzon Island. My home," Jayson shared. "Not quite home, but it suits me fine when I get lonely."
"It's beautiful..." Tara watched on with amazement. "You grew up here?" she asked, unable to turn her gaze from the world that was around her.
"When I was really little. Later on I went to Manila for school like everyone else. But this is home," Jayson said, losing himself in the image.
"I spent the first six years of my life in Britain... Stratford. It was lovely, but Greece has always been my home... My center" she explained. "I worked in the Athens Police Force and then I worked for Ta'al, Companion to the Mediterranean..." She sighed. "I didn't want to go to America when he sent me..." she said. "I tried arguing, but you can't argue with a Taelon, particularly one trying to keep you safe..." she smiled.
"They sound like pretty impossible people, these Taelons," Jayson said as he watched a group of rice farmers work the paddies. "Sometimes I think in striving so hard to reach enlightenment we forget what's real. The Taelons seem to have had that problem."
"Some of them did," Tara replied, "But Ta'al and those like him were striving to understand humanity. They wanted to understand us and be a part of us, not manipulate us like others," she tried to explain. "Ta'al was very special. I... could show you..." she said hesitantly.
"Maybe another time," Jayson said. "I'm still getting used to the notion of you being from another universe... and me--or rather a verson of me--being the father of your baby. Break me in slowly!"
She laughed softly. "All right," she smiled. "Point taken."
Jayson braced himself. Okay, do I or don't I? he asked himself repeatedly. This is either the worst mistake I've ever made or the best decision I've ever made, but I'm doing it! he finally decided as he placed his arm around Tara's waist.
She accepted his arm and rested her head on his shoulder a moment as she gazed out as a bird flew by. She felt very contented. Something she hadn't truly felt for awhile.
Without thinking, Jayson turned his head toward her and gently placed a kiss on her lips. He wasn't sure why he did it; it just seemed to be the right thing to do at the time. When he finished, he pulled away suddenly. What am I doing???? he thought with horror as he feared that he may have violated her trust.
The kiss was tender and gentle. As her green eyes opened, she looked into Jayson's dark eyes and was stunned.
"Oh my Lord..." she said as she gently touched her fingers to his lips.
Confusion coursed through her. She enjoyed the kiss, and the truth be told, she would have wanted him to kiss her again. But was this the right thing to do, she asked herself. Different images went through her head. She had only been in this universe a month an a half. She had only been away from Ron for that long and here she was, kissing someone else... But in some respects he was Ron. She also had this feeling she was meant to be with Jayson here and now. But what if were wrong?
"Oh--I'm so sorry!" Jayson said, flustered. "I shouldn't have done that! I'm really, really sorry, it won't happen again!"
"No... No..." she said as she caressed his face as he tried to turn away. "It's all right. I'm just a little... Surprised..." She smiled softly. "But obviously, you are not the only one that wanted that kiss," she admitted.
"I'm not? What do you mean?" Jayson asked, still flustered. What have I started? he thought anxiously.
Her cheeks tinted. "All I meant was that the kiss was enjoyable, and that... Well..." she sighed, "I wouldn't have objected to another... but, I don't know... Things are a bit confusing, aren't they?" She asked as her green eyes gazed at him.
Suddenly Jayson felt a bit bolder. "I'm not confused at all," he said as he delivered her another kiss, this one more purposeful... and longer.
Tara melted into his arms as she accepted the kiss and returned what she could. As the drew apart, she looked into his dark eyes and could barely contain the beating of her heart. Memories of Ron began filling her mind. She took a step back and sat down.
Jayson knelt down beside her. "Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
"Just some memories," Tara said as she took a deep breath. Then her daughter gave her a swift kick from inside. She didn't like the position she was in. She tried to move, but her daughter kept kicking as well. There just wasn't room inside her for her daughter to move much anymore. Tara tried to pull the focus of her mind off of Ron and onto her baby. Ron wasn't there. He wouldn't be there. They were forever separated... Jayson was here and he was wonderful... The more time Tara spend with him the more he captured her soul. Ron and pulled at her because of the pain and secrets they shared. Jayson and Tara had common interests and had build on more solid ground. But Tara and Ron had never had a chance for solid ground, she thought... "I'll be all right," she said.
"Listen, I didn't mean to stir anything up for you," Jayson said. "I'm really sorry, I won't let it happen again! The last thing I want to do is cause you trouble... maybe I should just go right now..."
"No!" she said as she gently grabbed his hand. "You just have to understand that things are a bit confusing for me. That's all..." He looked into his green eyes. "You're not causing me trouble. These are things I have to deal with if I'm going to live in this universe. You're merely making me deal with them more swiftly, that's all... And that's not a bad thing," she said. "It's just going to cause moments when my head will swim a bit... Like now... But don't go... Please..." Her green eyes pleaded with him.
"Okay, I'll stay," Jayson replied as he sat down next to her. "But warn me the next time that happens, okay?"
She smiled softly. "I'll try..." she said. Gently she caressed his face. "Thank you."
"I'm here for you, as much as you'll allow me."
Jayson put his arm around Tara's shoulders as Tara leaned into him. They watched the sun set over the jungle canopy, casting its red and orange rays far into the dusk. Maybe this isn't so bad after all, both of them thought at once.