[USS Charon, Sickbay]
She had to adjust her posture a bit to retain balance as she reached even further, and although she took great care not to increase any pressure her thighs might exert on the tall human's sides, she could not prevent some soft curls from spilling over her shoulders and onto his chest. Well, at least that should not be painful.
But the strand tickling her nose was becoming a minor bother.
"I have never considered the benefit of being taller than I am. However, I can see now there would be certain advantages"
The lingering sadness was fought by a brief surge of humor and just a little exasperation, and the young Vulcan decided to let the humor prevail.
He grinned a little at her attempt at humor and once more reached up and softly brushed her hair from her face. He carefully set the loose strands behind her pointed ears as she worked on his pressure points. "Well being large helps in some ways but my Drill Sergeant always told me I was a perfect target since because kneeling and ducked in cover I was as tall as most other Marines." he said attempting to lighten the mood with her.
This time she barely blinked at the touch, not only because her focus was mostly occupied by the issue of finding the right angle to apply pressure, but because it would have been quite illogical to chide him for the friendly gesture. Though even the brief, ever so careful brushing of fingertips across a Vulcan's face was something that could distract with the same surety as an electric shock, it was safe to assume he did not know.
A part of her mind commented rather dryly that it would also be illogical to protest something that had not been in the least unpleasant and she realized she had missed the presence of someone who had the right to show affection in such small, but significant ways.
"Yes, I see how that could be impractical. Personally, I have been taught to simply not be where a potential adversary might expect me to. Suffice it to say, size does not have much impact on this skill, something I learned only after acquiring an impressive collection of sprains and bruises."
He nodded as she probed for the correct spots in his body to dull the nerves. "Yes in any battle distraction is the best way to achieve victory. The men on full frontal assault will not survive against a cunning enemy." he said from experience." It is nice to be able to speak with someone that understands not only war but reason as well. You'd be surprised how often you can't find that." he said to her warmly.
"There are Vulcans who will point out that war and reason are mutually exclusive."
Somewhat unexpectedly, Sakarra found herself relaxing even more and it was not only due to the fact that the mental thread had been free of pain for quite a while now.
She pondered this for a few seconds while sliding down across the length of Nikolai's body to access pressure points that would allow the overtaxed muscles to relax and avoid toxic buildup, taking great care to not repeat her earlier clumsiness. Keeping her level gaze on his face to watch for any sign of discomfort, she balanced her weight and felt the silk brush ever so lightly against human skin.
Perhaps it was the Russian's deep, accented voice, sounding rather pleasant in a Vulcan's sensitive ears, that was part of the reason.
"However, I will have to agree that when one finds a fight unavoidable, it is wise to be unpredictable." She stated with a tinge of mischief to her melodious voice. "It is in fact by doing the unexpected that I have been able to at least force a draw against he who was my mentor."
He couldn't help but grin at that as well and nodded. "The first time I defeated my sensei was when I used a distraction on the field. Several of the other students thought it was a underhanded move but he agreed with me saying in war everything is fair because there are no contact rules." he said to her his deep voice relaxed and barely strained now. He felt her silk along his bare skin and couldn't suppress a shiver from the warm soft fabric.
"Sometimes there is reason in war and sometime there is not. Wars are brutal affairs I agree but on occasion necessary. Is it not true that when the Romulans invaded your homeworld that many of your people rose up to defend your culture?" he asked her.
"Is this similar to the human proverb stating all being allowed in matters of love and war? I have always found this rather curious." She paused once more and tucked a few more unruly curls away, black eyes shining with the gentle humor that only ever so visibly surfaced when she was at such ease as she was now.
"And yes it is true. However while some may argue defending was the reasonable thing to do, there also were those who counseled patience. The damage was already done, the planet occupied. I am betraying no secret when I tell you the uprising you speak of may never have occurred, had not one to whom Vulcans will listen declared her position openly by allowing those of her House to take up arms. Ri klau au ik klau tu. Nufau au sochya - yi dungi ma tu sochya. Do no harm to those that harm you - Offer them peace, then you will have peace. Those are Surak's words, and many more heeded them than most outworlders believe. And perhaps they were right, only we will never know now."
She made a small gesture with her hand, the Vulcan equivalent of a shrug.
"Was Gandhi of Earth a reasonable man, would you say? Or rather the human Washington who broke free from the same country India did, only by taking up arms?"
He returned the shrug as best he could from his laying down position with her on top of him. "They were both patriots in their own way, who is to say whose way was the best. I always admired Gandhi and what he was willing to do, but not everyone believes in compassion and mercy like the British finally did at the very end. Washington was a warrior from England of old and he did what came natural to him in the fight for liberty." he said to her warmly. "Each man's path is set for him long before he reaches the crossroads of decision."
"It seems we disagree again, Nikolai."
This time, there actually was a shift in her features, subtle and fleeting, only the dawn of a smile, but just as bright. "There is an endless number of paths, and as many crossroads. None is set unless we believe it to be so and thus make it to be true. Change is the essential process of all existence."
Quite satisfactory, that he should have moved like this without exhibiting the least sign of pain. In one fluent, graceful move Sakarra pushed off and rolled to the side, for one moment lying stretched out on the floor next to the tall Russian, her night black eyes resting on his face.
Silken robes whispering, she stood up and held out a hand "Unfortunately, I must insist on you resting now. Although Vulcans require less sleep than humans, it would be terribly rude of me to take up more of your time simply because I find your company agreeable. Not to mention the healers with be most annoyed with me."
He reached up and took her hand allowing himself to be pulled up by the much stronger Vulcan. His body felt tired but no longer in agonizing pain after the session. "Bah the Doctors coddle we poor sick people to much, your company and treatments do me infinitely more good than their dabbling with hyposprays and physical therapy." he said to her with a faint smile of his own. "But you came here in your home attire just to make a stubborn old bear feel a little better and I have no right to keep you from going back to your rest." he said to her and obediently moved back toward his bed.
His movements were not as stiff as before but the tiredness was still there, almost like he had worked out well past his limits. "I know it is a very intimate thing to do especially for your people but I must ask your forgiveness for this." He said as he carefully reached over and kissed both of her cheeks in the Russian way of close friends and family.
For this? What did he mean?
When two large hands ever so carefully held on to her shoulders, Sakarra gave the tall Marine a mildly bemused look, but when he pulled her closer she couldn't help but utter a small, startled sound.
Ah, yes. That explained that.
What …
Fascinating.
"A more … precise warning might be advisable next time, Nikolai." She managed to say, and to her own surprise her voice was calm, even soft.
His hands still rested against the fabric of her robe as if he were worried she might leave in anger, and she realized she had instinctively reached out and was holding on to his arms.
Like a small electric current, the echo of this unexpected … encounter … still traveled across her skin. Most of the time, a Vulcan's touch sensitivity was extremely practical to have, but when caught off guard it could be … well, overwhelming to put it mildly.
Especially when that Other was recognized as one who's unshielded mind she had touched before.
And still, there was no discomfort, only the slow, subsiding current of a mind link briefly flared to life with near painful intensity, and a silent, mirthful laugh rising like a tide.
She would do well to remember just how unpredictable humans could be.
Nikolai nodded to her and backed away slightly. "I shall be sure to warn you more precisely in the future as you say Sakarra. And I will bid you pleasant dreams for your mediations." he said to her and leaned back on his bed feeling completely relaxed after the session with the young Vulcan. He was starting to feel like a person once more instead of barely contained rage and revenge.
Her arms dropped away as he released her, and she let out a long, slow breath.
"And you, Nikolai."
Careful hands adjusted the covers over the Russian's imposing stature and she silently went about recycling the glasses and folding up the wool, leaving the copper bowl where it was to fill the room with a scent far more agreeable than the usual sickbay smells.
When Sakarra went to retrieve her mantle, she half expected to find Nikolai already asleep, since his breathing had sounded deep and steady in her ears all the while. But the dark blue gaze was still resting on her when she faced him, and with her composure regained, she moved to his bedside again.
There was a silent question in her night black eyes when she slowly tilted her head to one side, but with the current fading she knew she would have to ask, just as she could no longer sense what might ail him.
"Is there anything else you require, or any discomfort left that prevents you from sleeping?"
Nikolai looked up at her and shook his head. "No...No Discomfort physically." he said and sighed a little. It was embarrassing to him to admit this but he trusted Sakarra enough to tell her the truth. "I have dreams of many unpleasant things Sakarravich, things I would like to forget. Sometimes it makes sleep difficult for me." he said to her softly.
It was part of the reason he was still watching her of course but another was he had felt a connection to the woman. It wasn't perhaps in a way that would start a relationship but he felt close to her anyway. Her presence calmed him and made him forget the horrors of his life.
"I see."
Wrapping her overcoat around her slender frame, Sakarra settled in the large chair next to the bed with the patient, serene air of a Vulcan prepared to remain in one spot for an as yet undefined amount of time.
"Tell me, have you ever heard of Falor's Journey?"
Nikolai looked over at her and smiled very slightly. "I am not familiar with all 380 verses, but I am vaguely aware of the story." he said softly and turned over on his side to listen to her. "I would be honored to hear it from you." he said to her as he tried to make himself more comfortable on the bed.
The young woman nodded, and almost absentmindedly steepled her fingers in her lap.
After a few seconds of thought, her clear, vibrant soprano filled the room.
[End Log]
Lieutenant Commander Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helm Officer
&
Marine Captain Nikolai Chernienko
Platoon Leader
USS Charon
