Taking Care of Saeri

Posted on Sun Oct 4th, 2026 @ 11:39am by Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari & Lieutenant Commander Kuzos

1,957 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: 11. Recess
Location: Kuzo's quarters
Timeline: Prior to mission

With Aidan and Sherlock currently in Sickbay and being treated by the medical personnel, Kuzos went to Aidan's quarters to get
Saeri. He pressed the door chime and awaited entry.

The door was opened by a Human looking female in her early twenties and she stepped aside to let the security chief in. "I'm the holo nanny," she stated, but was interrupted as a little girl with blonde hair and faint spots raced forward.

"Kuzos!" She called out, wrapping her arms around his leg. "Daddy isn't home yet, do you want to wait for daddy?"

"Hello Saeri." Kuzos said brightly to the little girl. As he bent down to give her a hug. "Actually, I'm here to take you to my quarters as Daddy and Sherlock are still in Sickbay."

"Huh?" The little girl looked up at him, face scrunching up on concern. "Sickbay? Why is he there Kuzos? Is he sick? Can I go see him?"

Kuzos knelt down to be on the same levels as Saeri. "He and Sherlock were sick but the doctors treated them both and both are recovering. Tell you what we'll go see them in a couple of days once they both had more times to recover. So, in the meantime you can spend time with me."

"Okay," the little girl agreed, "but where will I sleep? Do you have an extra room like we do?" She looked uncertain as she glanced back at her own room. "Why does it take so long for daddy to be better? It didn't take long last time though he couldn't see then..."

Kuzos smiled, "Yes, little one I have an extra room for you to sleep in. So get holo nanny to pack you some clothes and pajamas. As for daddy, this is just a precaution. Nothing for you to worry about."

The hologram had already done so and offered the security chief a small case. "All her necessities are in here please remember to deactivate me when you depart."

"If daddy is sick, Doctor Kholin will make him better," the girl said confidently, "and Sherlock will keep him company so he isn't alone right?" She looked up at the man in concern.

Kuzos took the bag with one hand with the other he gripped Saeri's small hand. "Daddy and Sherlock are keeping each other company so they get better together and quicker. Do not worry Saeri. Daddy is going to be fine."

"I know," the little girl smiled, "he always does." She swung the hand that held hers as they walked, a clear sign she was comfortable in the presence of the Vorta officer. "I hear people are taking vacation, they said something today at school. Are you going on vacation too?"

Kuzos walked along holding Saeri's hand. "That is correct. It is called shore leave. it is where members of the crew can leave the ship to visit the planet's surface. As for me going on shore leave, I do not know." He answered honestly as they reached his quarters. "Ahm we are here." He announced as he opened the door and stepped aside, "Ladies first." He told Saeri.

Confused, the little girl looked up at him. "Ladies?" She asked, as she took another look around. "I don't know what they are, if they're to go first, where are they?

Kuzos smiled at her, "That's you Saeri. females are sometimes called ladies as a compliment. I should have said young lady in your case. Now inside you go.

The girl beamed up at him as she stepped inside. "You're as tidy as daddy," she commented brightly as she glanced around. "But daddy has pictures everywhere..."

"Why thank you Saeri." Kuzos replied as he took her bag into the spare bedroom and returned a moment later. Kuzos looked at his mostly bare walls. There were several pictures of the Enterprise in her different classes. A huge aquarium filled with many brightly colored fish, Masks of comedy and tragedy and other non personal pictures. "Hmmm. you have a point. What would you suggest?"

"Well..." Saeri looked thoughtful, an almost exact miniature of her father as she pivoted around. "You have friends right? Why not make a few with them? Or maybe family? Or maybe get a few flowers?" She looked back up at him. "Though not everyone likes flowers...a pet maybe then?"

Kuzos considered the suggestions. "Pictures with friends is a good idea. As for a pet, I have no idea what kind to even look for." He admitted.

"I don't know either..." The little girl shrugged. "We have Sherlock but dad says he's more than a pet. I don't know what he means with that. But maybe you should try something small first? Maybe in the holodeck? The doctor has a holo-puppy in sickbay, did you know?"

Kuzos smiled. "Your father means that Sherlock is a valuable member of your family. That he is trusted and listened to as a close companion and is treated as one. As for the holo puppy no, I did not know."

"What kind of animals do you like?" She cast him a curious look. "Maybe you like birds? Or lizards? Or maybe rabbits?"

"That is an excellent question and my answer is I do not know. "I like Sherlock but he is hardly a bird. I don't think I would like a lizard or rabbits. I shall explore what other options as far as pets there are as well as do research in having one."

"Maybe we can go to the holodeck and try?" The little girl suggested, then giggled as her stomach growled rather loudly. "Can we have dinner soon?" She queried, "what do you usually eat? Is Vorta dinner enjoyable?"

Going to the holodeck is certainly an option and yes we can dinner soon. What would you like to have? Vorta meals are usually boring and bland but since my arrival here they have become much more varied and enjoyable." Kuzos explained.

"Do you know how to make pancakes?" The little girl ventured carefully. "It's fun..."

"Would you like pancakes for dinner and do you know how to make them?" Kuzos countered with a smile.

Saeri grinned broadly at him. "Of course!" But she failed to mention the accompanying mess that usually accompanied the attempts. "And your computer can probably teach you too."

"Then pancakes it is and what kind would you like?" Kuzos asked his violet eyes dancing with delight at the exchange with Saeri.

"Uh...I don't know? We used big pans...dad has this little stove thingy so we can make little things. . for fun. Or we go to the holodeck if we want more fun... You need to replicate a flat pan a bowl, a whiskey, eggs, flour and milk.... And the stove..." She picked off the required items on her fingers as she named them.

"A stove?" Kuzos questioned. "Saeri, perhaps it is better if we go to the holodeck for this. I do not believe there is room here for a stove." Kuzos replied.

Another questioning look that rather imitated her father's was cast in the Vorta's direction. "How else would you cook?" She queried in the fashion only a child could. "The holodeck might be best..."

"I think the holodeck would better serve our purposes Saeri." Kuzos replied, knowing he could replicate pancakes but he wanted to keep Saeri happy and occupied.

The girl nodded, and the pair relocated to the holodeck where the little girl summed up again what was needed to make the pancakes. She was delighted when the doors opened to reveal a well stocked kitchen counter and even a little step for her to stand on so she could help. "Everything we need is here," she smiled brightly as she took his hand to pull him along. "You put on an apron to protect your clothes, daddy always has me do that."

As Kuzos put on the apron he looked at Saeri. "You need to put on an apron has well as you are my number one assistant. Once you have done that, we can get started making pancakes."

Saeri giggled as she obliged, thinking the both of them looked a little silly. But as they started, the little girl got enthusiastic about making the batter, and within seconds there was more flour on them than there was in the bowl. She stuck out her tongue as she tried to break an egg or two, and one more because one ended up on the floor. "This is so hard," she complained as she tried to fish the shells from the mix.

"Easy Saeri, do not get discouraged. Think of how good they will taste once we have made them." Kuzos replied in a positive manner as he wiped flour off his cheek and used a fork to fish out the egg shells from the mix. "Have you decided what kind of pancakes you want?" As he was ready to get to actually making the pancakes.

"Cheese," the little girl beamed, "and plain... What would you like to have?"

"I believe I would like to try blueberries." Kuzos replied with a smile, his violet eyes alight with joy.

"Blueberries on a pancake?" She shrugged. "We'll need to replicate them because the program didn't provide them." She gripped the pan's handle with both hands and tried to flip the pancake. It landed half in and half beside the pan. "Ummm...can you do this?"

"Yes Saeri. you should try them, you may like them. It is why I am trying them." He chuckled and took the pan's handle and gave the pancake a gentle flip so it landed in the pan. "There we go."

Clapping her hands in delight, Saeri beamed up at him. "You're good at this," she praised as she sprinkled some cheese on so it could melt. "I love cheese pancakes, especially with a little syrup."

"Thank you and you are an excellent assistant." Kuzos replied as he flipped another pancake." he looked at the pancakes and the cheeses melting. "Do we have any syrup? These are almost done."

Saeri nodded and produced a bottle with a very dark and demi fluid goopy substance. "You'll want cream with fruit," she suggested.

"Let us start with the syrup first Saeri, see how I like that then if I need or want to, I can add cream. How does that sound?"

The girl nodded happily. "I think you'll like this, I mean everyone likes pancakes right!" In her childish and delighted reasoning, she couldn't imagine there were actually people who downright loathed them.

Kuzos smiled at her, "I bet you are right. In fact I am sure you are right." He added as he placed the pancakes on plates. "Now let us go and enjoy what we made. You okay with that?"

Saeri nodded and followed her flour covered caretaker to the table. She giggled as she watched him, not realising at all that she had a very similar appearance. "You'll love them," she promised.

"I have no doubt I will and I could not have done it without your help Saeri. Try your pancakes as well. I hope you like them." Kuzos told his little helper.

"I always like them," the girl smirked as she dug in.

Following Sari's example, Kuzos cut his pancake and took a forkful into his mouth. Having never had pancakes before he was pleasantly surprised by the taste of them mixed with the blueberries. It was a pleasant taste and he took another forkful. Swallowing he looked over to Saeri who was obviously enjoying her pancakes. "Thank you for showing me how to make pancakes with you. It was most enjoyable. We will need to do it again."

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