As the clock struck twenty hundred hours, the Horin family entered the wardroom with great anticipation. They were instructed to be punctual, and they did not want to disappoint. They were struck by the scene’s grandeur before them when they stepped inside. 

Despite being no strangers to impressive sights, having been on Starbase Bravo for a considerable time, there was undoubtedly something special and different about Deep Space Nineteen. The station’s main conference lounge was a semi-circular room with tall, impressive windows that offered a stunning view of Kovar below. The Horin family was in awe of the sight before them. It was a different view compared to seeing Barzan most days.

The room was filled with the soft and calming sounds of light jazz music playing in the background over the internal speakers. It added to the already calming atmosphere of the room.

What caught their attention was the long table with a marbled top placed by the windows. It was filled with an extensive range of food and drink for everyone to pick from. 

After being offered a drink by a holographic waitress, Anizza Horin was starting to feel comfortable in the presence of her new comrades. She knew how important it was to build relationships with everyone she would work with. Admiral Jaret had gone out of her way to introduce her and her husband to those they had yet to meet.

Standing talking to the station’s chief counsellor, Lieutenant Commander Lenara Taf, a very kind, fun-loving individual, Anizza was trying her best to focus on what the joined Trill was sharing with her about how far things had developed for the station ever since the Synth ban had been lifted. However, at the corner of her eye, Anizza was trying to keep her attention on her son. Tateumm had taken a plate of food for himself and was picking at it alone by one of the enormous bay windows. She knew she needed to give him his space, but a Betazoid mother never kept out of the interest of their children. It was something her mother had always done when she was growing up, and to a certain point, Anizza knew she had done with her son. Though lately, it had become a lot. 

“He’ll be okay,” Taf whispered before adding one more word, “eventually.”

Anizza blinked a few times before turning back to Taf. “Sorry, who?”

Taf, holding her plate, which had mini-hasperats on it, placed her hand over her semi-full mouth and quickly swallowed what she had bit in. She cleared her throat, “I’ve been a mother before, and I know that look. You’re worried about your son, commander, and that’s totally understandable.”

Anizza could sense the genuine concern and branch of care that Taf was sharing with her. “Thank you, counsellor. It’s been hard these last few months.”

“I bet, however, he needs to find his own way back,” Taf indicated. “And that is both the mother and counsellor in me talking.”

“How much does a session cost me?” Anizza joked back as they walked towards an empty set of armchairs, far away from the main crowd and sat in them.

“It’s free,” Taf smirked as she got comfortable. “Has it affected his work?”

Anizza sighed and nodded. “He almost didn’t graduate,” She shared. Her concern for her son was deeply etched into her words. “Jaxxon and I have tried everything to help, and at one point, we thought we had a breakthrough with him.”

“What changed?” Taf asked, picking a piece of her hasperat off her plate and popping it into her mouth. 

“He fell in love,” Anizza said as she sipped on the Bajoran spring wine she had in her hands. “Though I didn’t initially agree with it, the relationship seemed to have turned him around. He was more positive, and the old Tate had returned.”

“What happened?” Taf leaned forward as she placed her plate down on the nearby glass coffee table.

“The problem was, we never met this new love interest of his until it all fell apart,” Anizza explained. She tried to justify her actions but knew she couldn’t be responsible for what happened. “Tate had fallen head over heels with an Orion Dabo Boy, and when he caught him in the act with a paying customer, it distraught him. One night, one of his classmates called us down to his shared quarters; he had gotten drunk on kanar and trashed the place. She had found him puking his guts up across their shared living space. He was a wreck.”

“Oh wow,” Taf replied. “That must have been hard for him as much as it was for you both.”

Anizza nodded. “Yeah, you never think that after seeing your son become a Borg Drone a few weeks later, you’ll find him at his lowest point. Almost on death’s door.” She rested back in her chair, looking over her shoulder to see Tate still by himself. Turning back to Taf, she carried on the chat. “Jaxxon and I took him under our care. He had a few more slip-ups, but we soon realised he needed a break from everything. So, coming here seemed like a good move for us all. A fresh start.”

Taf smiled and reached out with her hand. She pattered the top of Anizza’s hand. “I hope it is, and I promise that our tight-knit community will care for you and your family.”

“Thank you,” Anizza said. She felt comfortable and that she could trust Taf. She could feel a sense of genuine coming from the joined Trill. She took one more glance at her son. She noticed the youngest member of the senior staff approaching Tate. Lieutenant Thomas Hawkins was the station’s communications officer, and a few seconds later, the station’s chief medical officer, Doctor Jowain Parin, walked over. 

Instantly, Taf spoke up. “I promise you, Tom and Jowain will most likely take him under their wing and look after him.”

Anizza looked back at her. “What do you mean?”

Smirking, Taf explained what the two officers were like. “Tom is the nicest, kindest soul on the station. Like most around here, he will do anything for anyone, but he will do it with a smile and a sense of joy. Tom is a bit like a puppy. He wants to easily please others and is very generous with his time. That said, he has an impressive memory and is one hell of an officer. The admiral places a lot of faith and trust in him.”

“And Doctor Parin?” Anizza inquired.

“He is very much like Tom. I think it’s what makes them such good friends. They are always attached at the hip off duty. Jowain is like the big brother Tom never had. It’s kinda cute how Jowain looks out for him.” As Taf spoke, Parin looked over at her and instantly smiled in her direction, followed by a wink. She smiled sweetly back at him and copied his wink.

Anizza noticed the exchange and looked back at Taf. “Is there something more there that I should know, counsellor?”

Taf paused before responding. “It’s complicated.” she sighed. “We’re just very good friends.”

Pleased to hear some gossip on her first evening, Anizza nodded in approval. “Well, do tell me about our colleagues.”

Chuckling, Taf nodded in agreement. “Very well, but we need more spring wine, and I may need one of my accomplices to join us.” She gestured towards Fitzgerald to join them. 

For the first time in ages, Anizza felt her guard drop as she became comfortable with those around her.