Time: After "Girls' Week Out"
*Note: Most of this post is a flash back taking place before The Joining, but after Mission #1*
 

    Tara woke up slowly to the sun filtering through the tree branches outside her window. It sprinkled across her face, as if trying to wake her to the glorious new day. But Tara didn't want to get up. Slowly, she moaned, grabbing the extra pillow on her King-size bed and covering her face with it. But it was too late . . . Once awakened, her mind was off and running. At least this was her day off, she thought to herself . . . unless Zo'or decided to try to push some more of her buttons, and call her in for some menial project He had been doing that ever since her arrival, as if he were testing her.. Some days she was tempted to smash her global link to pieces, so he couldn't reach her. But, of course, she never did. She was always calm and ALWAYS played her part to perfection for him. Yet he still tested her . . .
    Suddenly, her global link sounded and she rolled her eyes. ~Speak of the devil!~she thought.
    She reached for the chunk of technology that she had come to resent, and answered it.
    "Hello?"
    In an instant, she realized it was William Boone.
    "Will!" she replied with surprise.
    "Did I catch you at a bad time?" he asked, noticing her nightgown.
    She smiled with embarrassment, as she pulled the covers over her white nightgown, and a light pink flushed her cheeks. "No, actually," she replied, "I'd just woken up . . ."
    "Well, I was in the neighborhood and thought maybe we could have breakfast together . . ."
    "That sounds wonderful," she replied. "If you can give me fifteen minutes to get ready, I'll be out the door . . . Where would you like to meet?"
    "We can decide that when I get to your place," he replied, "You don't mind?"
    "Not at all!"
    "Then I'll see you in a little while."
    As the connection broke, Tara got up and stretched. ~Maybe today will be a good day,~ she thought, thinking about spending the day with a friend.
 

    They had decided to eat at a little restaurant famous for its omelets. Tara tried a type with cheese and shrimp while Will had a ham and cheese. Tara found the place lived up to its reputation.
    "So how has the adjustment been since your first mission?" Boone asked.
    "Well, besides being worried for you, every other Implant and myself . . . I don't know . . . I just don't know if I fit in here . . ." she replied, suddenly not feeling as hungry as she had a moment ago. Memories of her recent visit with Ta'al played across her mind.
    "You still miss him, don't you?" Will asked, his hazel eyes gazing into her green.
    Tara shrugged," Of course I do . . . But there's nothing I can do about it . . . I can't go back."
    He sighed, regretting that he had brought the subject up. "How are things going in your department?" he said, trying to change the subject.
    Tara rolled her eyes. "Zo'or is driving me crazy! But I manage to live with it . . . I still feel alone here . . . My only comfort is seeing you when you come by . . . You're my only friend here, you know . . ."
    "Maybe we'll have to do something about that . . ." he replied.
    The rest of their breakfast was spent on more pleasant conversation, such as the sites in New York and recent good books . . . But as they got ready to leave, they noticed that the once brilliant blue sky had been covered over with gray clouds. Light showers had even begun.
    "Looks like it'll be a rainy day after all," Tara sighed.

    After a few more a hours together, they said good-bye on her door step. The rain was really coming down hard. Thunder could be heard and lightening seen in the distance.
    "I'll probably be back here in a week," he said, "You want to have lunch?"
    Tara smiled. "I'd like that a lot," she replied.
    "All right," he replied, returning her smile, "I'll call you with the details."
    They said their good-byes, and he vanished into the rain. Rolling her neck from side to side, she tried to relax. Relaxation had eluded her since her arrival in North America and she was afraid she'd never find it again. After a few moments of contemplation, she went to the kitchen. She needed a cup of tea. Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. ~Who could that be?~ she wondered. But as she looked out the peephole, she saw Will again. Instantly, she opened the door.
    "Back so soon?" she said with a laugh.
    "Well," he said, pulling something out from under his coat. "I found this little guy out in the rain, and  . . . I thought you might want to dry him off . . ."
    Tara could see that he held a little ball of fur colored white, orange and black. It shook and shivered, but slowly a little head popped up with two different colored eyes - one blue, one green -  that sparkled. Tara's heart melted as she took the precious little bundle.
    "Oh . . . you poor little thing . . ." she cooed.
    Will watched her with a smirked on his face. "I take it you like cats?"
    "I love animals!" she replied, cuddling the damp little creature, "But this little dear is not a boy. Usually calicos are female . . . and I would guess she's about six weeks old! And look how scrawny and dirty you are!" she said to the kitten, with concern.
    "You know, maybe she could be company for you . . . so you aren't so lonely . . ." he said, eyeing her and the kitten.
    Tara stopped and looked at him and then back at the kitten who had begun drying off and was contentedly purring in her arms. "I think you might be right . . . She might be just what I need at the moment . . ."
    "What do you think you'll name her?" he asked.
    Thinking of the kitten's eyes, there was only one name she could think of. "Jewel . . . She's as precious as any jewel I've ever seen . . ."

    Tara brought herself out of the CVI enhanced memory and smiled as she watched Jewel bat at a jiggling ball hanging from her cat tree. The kitten, now a bit bigger had become a greater gift than she could have
imagined . . . A reminder of a friend who was no longer with her . . .
    "Jewel . . ." she called in her special voice, reserved only for her companion.
    Instantly, the kitten stopped its playing and looked at her with those beautiful eyes.
    "Jewel . . ." Tara called again.
    In moments, the kitten ran to her and jumped on her lap. Tenderly, Tara stroked the soft calico fur, as the kitten purred beneath her touch. She was most definitely a precious jewel . . .

Tara Carmichael
Level 5
Assistant Head of Security to Zo'or