[Hoboken Terminal, New Jersey - September 2075]

No, no seasickness, Saya replied with a slightly raised eyebrow. At least, I don't believe so. I've never suffered from motion sickness, however, so I believe I can safely generalize to water travel. She had to trot to keep up with the quickly moving family, but she was accustomed to keeping up with Judy, so she fell into a quick stride that she could keep up for extended periods.

Saya was grateful for this extended leave. The war had been brutal and had affected the young hybrid deeply. The turnaround of Bajorans helping liberate Cardassia still sent her reeling. And now Cardassia was in worse shape than they'd left Bajor at the end of the Occupation. Saya just didn't know what to think about it all. She'd had a level of prejudice against Cardassians since she'd been young, reinforced by her deep suspicion that her parents had been murdered by an agent of the Obsidian Order, though she'd always tried to not let it show if she had to be around Cardassians. Now she pitied them.

She shook her head to clear it and tried to look ahead through the crowds, but at 5'2", she just couldn't see over the majority of people. It was a good thing most of Judy's family was fairly tall. As long as she could keep Max in sight, she'd be fine.

[Hoboken Terminal - New Jersey]

Saya ducked her head and smiled at Judy's story. The older woman really had so many amusing anecdotes. It was difficult sometimes not to simply let go and laugh out loud. Saya'd been thinking recently about that, too, and why she continued to hold herself to such rigid standards, but it was so difficult to change after so many years of donning the mannerisms of a Vulcan. It was difficult to shed the facade.

She couldn't say no to the child who called her 'auntie'. The first time Anna had done so, Saya had had to leave the room to bawl her eyes out at the unexpected emotions that had overwhelmed her.

If you like, she answered easily moving to the railing of the ferry. Where would you like me to stand?

[Ferry - Hoboken Terminal --> Hudson River]

Saya shifted to where Anna indicated and stood still, though her silver and purple tunic flapped a little in the breeze. Her 3/4 sleeves were slightly wide and the hem draped to mid-thigh over silvery grey leggings. Her purple flats were comfortable for walking, as Saya expected to be doing a great deal today.

She nodded her agreement to Judy joining her and scooted a little further to the side to allow her friend into the frame.

Judy's comments made Saya smile slightly, something she would be surprised to see in pictures later. She was accustomed to being described as 'dour' and had no concept of how different she looked when she allowed a little bit of emotion to show.

It is a pleasant way to travel, Saya answered after Anna had snapped a few more photos. I am looking forward to seeing more of the city, as well. You've spoken of it so frequently, it feels as if I've already seen many of the sights.

[Ferry, Hudson River --> World Trade Center, Manhattan]

One side of Saya's lips tipped up at the family's teasing. It had been a difficult thing for her to get used to, these family dynamics. Her own family had been positively staid by comparison. Oh, there had been some teasing, especially her father to Saya and her mother, but it had always been gentle poking in comparison.

But Saya understood Judy's height difficulties, perhaps better than Judy herself, as Saya was only 5'2". Nearly everyone towered over her, including Judy.

She turned her attention to Judy's question, eyes narrowing slightly as she thought back over what she knew of Earth history. It might have been something Judy had mentioned once. I think so. Is that the one that was destroyed by terrorists in the early twenty-first century? Saya peered around with interest as they disembarked. She actually hadn't every visited very many large cities and always found them fascinating.

[World Trade Center - Manhattan]

There was much tragedy in Earth's history, Saya said with a thoughtful nod. She stopped to read the sign explaining the memorial as Anna ran ahead.

Oh, they used stones from all over Ireland. How interesting.

She smiled to herself when she realized that Max was chasing his daughter, and followed at a slower pace, examining the interesting contours of the memorial.

I suppose most planets have their share of tragedies, but humans seem to have a flair for marking them with interesting, and beautiful, memorials.

[World Trade Center - Manhattan]

It was so difficult sometimes not to simply laugh outright at the antics of Judy's family. They had so much fun and were so free with one another. Saya had loved her parents, and they'd enjoyed one another's company, but it had never been as light and carefree as this. Of course, she'd been raised on a ship, mostly alone with her parents as they carried supplies to refugees and others in need.

She watched with sadness in her eyes even as she fought the curl of her lips.

Saya hooked onto part of what Judy was saying and responded, It feels as if the multiculturalism of the Federation has been badly damaged in the last few years. People seem less trustful of others since the infiltration of the Founders. It's had quite a detrimental effect on, well, every aspect of life, it seems.

[World Trade Center - Manhattan]

Let us hope that those feelings will fade quickly, Saya said mildly as Judy led them off to another memorial, this being the one Saya had thought they were at before.



Saya's brows rose in surprise at the size of the memorial. At least, it appeared the entire area was dedicated to the event. She could see another massive pool beyond the one just in front of them, surrounded by many trees. 

She gave Anna a speculative look and said gently, Sometimes war is necessary. Would you have had Bajor remain under the control of Cardassia? Or should we all have stopped fighting and allowed the Dominion to overrun the Alpha Quadrant? I don't ask to be cruel, but to encourage you to think about the exceptions, those times when fighting is the right thing to do. Saya was afraid that Anna might still be a little young to completely understand such topics. From the little girl's perspective, war had taken her mother away and kept her family apart for a number of years.