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fandomweekly2016-03-01 12:11 pm
etoile_noire) wrote in fandomweekly2016-03-01 12:11 pm
Entry tags:
[#005] A Simple Lie (Star Trek)
Theme Prompt: #005 - Minor Characters
Title: A Simple Lie
Fandom: Star Trek Universe
Rating/Warnings: Mentions of racism
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 501
Summary: An 18-year-old Simon Tarses decides whether or not to hide his heritage.
Note: Since we actually don’t know anything about his grandfather, I just assumed he left the Romulan Empire sometime around Star Trek VI, since that was a period of non-hostility… mostly.
"You'll have to lie on your application," his mother had warned him.
Simon stared up at the stars. He knew that was where he wanted to be, where he was supposed to be. But his grandfather's people were The Enemy, and the Federation's notions of universal equality seemed to stop where The Enemy was concerned. Despite the fact that his grandfather had left Romulus nearly 80 years ago. Despite the fact that his grandfather had lost all ties to Romulus well before the Tomed Incident.
His mother never corrected people when they assumed she was half-Vulcan. For a brief time in his life, Simon didn't understand why. That understanding had come, slowly at first, when he learned history in school; when he'd learned about the destruction of Earth Outposts 2 and 3; the attempted sabotage of the Federation-Klingon Treaty (although some of his teachers had been willing to ignore the Klingon involvement there); the attacks at Narendra III; the Khitomer Massacre.
He looked down at the PADD in his lap, the application that glowed up at him like an accusing finger. He hated the shame that he felt; moreover he hated that he had to feel it. His grandfather's people were seen as treacherous and paranoid racists. He knew it wasn't wholly inaccurate, but he also knew enough about them as a people to have some understanding of why they acted the way they did.
He sighed irritably.
If he lied, he could get in without a problem and be at an outpost after completing the Training Program for Enlisted Personnel. He could be there in a matter of months. If he told the truth, he'd probably never see the inside of an interplanetary shuttle, much less an actual ship. But if he lied...
He knew there were other considerations. What if he took ill? What if he was injured? Despite appearances, physiologically Romulans were different from Vulcans. While he could be mostly treated with the same techniques as others of Terran-Vulcan descent could, there were more serious problems that could out him as being part Romulan.
He tipped his head back, looking back up at the stars. He realized he’d already made his decision. He wanted to be in space, whatever it took. He didn’t want to see in classrooms for four years, so he’d opted for the enlisted training. All that was left, was actually doing it, committing the lie to his records.
"Resume input."
The PADD beeped accommodatingly and the female voice spoke, "Name."
"Simon Tarses."
"Place of birth."
"Mars colony."
"Year of birth."
"2344, Solar calendar."
"Species."
"Mixed. Three-quarters human. One-quarter Vulcan."
The deed done, the lie told, he finished the remainder of application with little thought. His grandfather would be annoyed, maybe even disappointed, but Simon thought he would understand. And the odds of his heritage coming out really were low. There wasn't anything to really be worried about. Just the shame and guilt he would carry, the same shame and guilt he had always carried.
Title: A Simple Lie
Fandom: Star Trek Universe
Rating/Warnings: Mentions of racism
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 501
Summary: An 18-year-old Simon Tarses decides whether or not to hide his heritage.
Note: Since we actually don’t know anything about his grandfather, I just assumed he left the Romulan Empire sometime around Star Trek VI, since that was a period of non-hostility… mostly.
"You'll have to lie on your application," his mother had warned him.
Simon stared up at the stars. He knew that was where he wanted to be, where he was supposed to be. But his grandfather's people were The Enemy, and the Federation's notions of universal equality seemed to stop where The Enemy was concerned. Despite the fact that his grandfather had left Romulus nearly 80 years ago. Despite the fact that his grandfather had lost all ties to Romulus well before the Tomed Incident.
His mother never corrected people when they assumed she was half-Vulcan. For a brief time in his life, Simon didn't understand why. That understanding had come, slowly at first, when he learned history in school; when he'd learned about the destruction of Earth Outposts 2 and 3; the attempted sabotage of the Federation-Klingon Treaty (although some of his teachers had been willing to ignore the Klingon involvement there); the attacks at Narendra III; the Khitomer Massacre.
He looked down at the PADD in his lap, the application that glowed up at him like an accusing finger. He hated the shame that he felt; moreover he hated that he had to feel it. His grandfather's people were seen as treacherous and paranoid racists. He knew it wasn't wholly inaccurate, but he also knew enough about them as a people to have some understanding of why they acted the way they did.
He sighed irritably.
If he lied, he could get in without a problem and be at an outpost after completing the Training Program for Enlisted Personnel. He could be there in a matter of months. If he told the truth, he'd probably never see the inside of an interplanetary shuttle, much less an actual ship. But if he lied...
He knew there were other considerations. What if he took ill? What if he was injured? Despite appearances, physiologically Romulans were different from Vulcans. While he could be mostly treated with the same techniques as others of Terran-Vulcan descent could, there were more serious problems that could out him as being part Romulan.
He tipped his head back, looking back up at the stars. He realized he’d already made his decision. He wanted to be in space, whatever it took. He didn’t want to see in classrooms for four years, so he’d opted for the enlisted training. All that was left, was actually doing it, committing the lie to his records.
"Resume input."
The PADD beeped accommodatingly and the female voice spoke, "Name."
"Simon Tarses."
"Place of birth."
"Mars colony."
"Year of birth."
"2344, Solar calendar."
"Species."
"Mixed. Three-quarters human. One-quarter Vulcan."
The deed done, the lie told, he finished the remainder of application with little thought. His grandfather would be annoyed, maybe even disappointed, but Simon thought he would understand. And the odds of his heritage coming out really were low. There wasn't anything to really be worried about. Just the shame and guilt he would carry, the same shame and guilt he had always carried.