[USS Charon, Holodeck One]
Brent knew that she wouldn't be late. He heard her approach and turned around to see her. He had a smile on his face that dropped into a look of amazement. "Wow," was all he could manage as he scratched the back of his head before nodding his head. "Yes that is very appropriate. You look fantastic Sakarra," he said before he managed to pry his eyes away from her long enough to load up the program inside the holodeck.
He opened up the archway and stepped in first, motioning that she should join him inside. The reason why they had dressed up in formal wear became apparent. Inside was an opulent concert hall. They could see the seats descend downward towards a large stage where a grand opera could have sat. Instead all there was, was a single piano. Two men came up to Brent and ask him for his tickets. He smiled and withdrew two holographic tickets from his pocket the men looked at them before bowing in an apology saying that he and the lady should follow them.
Others were filtering down into the seats in front of the stage, but the view of the stage was soon cut short as the two Starfleet officers were led away and towards a box seat. They were lead to a large sized box seat with two chairs sitting together as Brent held out the chair for Sakarra. "I didn't know what kind of music you liked, but to me the music here is timeless. It was written in the 1800s or around seven hundred years ago on Earth. I suppose I'll put my theory that the composers music can be recognized as exemplary across the galaxy."
To say that Sakarra was impressed would have been an appropriate statement, but she certainly was touched as well. The setting alone was unusual, and to have gone through all the trouble to provide an aesthetically pleasing experience…
Although the young Vulcan was quite busy taking in the details of their surroundings, she managed to settle in the offered chair with her usual easy grace and nodded a courteous thank you to the young Marine.
Seeing as the ambient temperature was just about what she could tolerate without experiencing any chill, she let the heavy mantle slide off her shoulders and folded it neatly in her lap.
"If I interpret the surroundings correctly, it should be precisely the type of terran music I favor. But I must admit to … astonishment. This is quite … extraordinary."
She looked up into his blue eyes, unsure how to respond to such a generous gesture. It had only been logical to assist with the little ones, and although there was nothing wrong with a small display of gratitude, this was truly unexpected.
"Glad I chose this instead of trying to find a rave or a rock concert then," he winked at her as she gave him a look of deep thanks. "It is one of the large concert halls from around the 21st century on Earth. I don't know if this concert was ever played here, although the composers music has remained timeless on earth even through the Third World War, so I imagine that someone played the music here."
Brent looked out over the concert hall and took in a deep sigh. "It's pretty unusual isn't it? Having a marine, a normally enlisted marine, be so entranced by classical music from the 18th century?" Brent said begining the conversation. "When my ancestors first crashed landed on Gilgamesh Nine many things had to change initally. First they had to adapt to the gravity and then begin to farm. Fortunately an eclectic enough mix of colonists survived that they were able to survive and struggle on. My first ancestor from the planet, a man by the name of William, was an architect. He was good at what he did too. Several of the old historical buildings were designed by him in the old city; they still stand to this day."
Bren smiled as he continued. "He was also a concert violinist. He had no delusions that he would be able to form a new orchestra here but he still took his violin with him to play for the colonist. He was one of the few musicians to survive the low gravity. He has the genius ability on the violin and he had an ear for music. He could tell if an instrument was out of tune or if someone had played a wrong note immediately. His music was an inspiration to the early colonists and their descendants. Over the generations every other or every two generations someone would seem to inherit his abilities. Until my generation anyways. This generation my brother and I split old Williams 'gift' as we call it. I have a perfect ear for music. If I had not seen this performance several times before I would know where the errors are soon after they were played. My elder brother has the talent with the violin, and I have the ear," Brent said as he pointed lightly at his right ear for emphasis.
Intriguing, although not entirely surprising.
Black eyes resting unwaveringly on the tall human, Sakarra nodded. It certainly explained why she found his even baritone so pleasant, as those able to hear music well tended to instinctively adjust their voices to sound right in their own ears.
And it partially explained why from their first encounter with a malfunctioning power conduit until now she never had the least objection to his close proximity.
"I have found it to be wise not to judge humans by what they seem to be, Brent."
He was still standing next to her chair, which made his towering stature even more imposing, and although by and large both Vulcans and Betazoids preferred to rely on more subtle things than a person's looks to gain a measure of who they were dealing with, she found herself studying the young man with new curiosity. What would others see when they looked at him? Really only what he referred to as 'a normally enlisted marine'?
Before Sakarra could ponder this interesting thought, another of the elegantly dressed attendants entered the box, balancing a silver tray with a bottle and two fragile looking glasses.
She watched with bemused interest as the bottle was opened with a quite loud popping sound and accepted the glass filled with bubbly, pale amber colored liquid, silently wondering whether this was holographic or rather replicated as the modern holodecks tended to integrate replication technology at a much greater degree. If it was not holographic, she would have to take care not to overindulge because she now recognized the beverage.
Exhaling softly, the young Vulcan returned her focus to Brent who apparently still had not moved from his spot and was still watching her with intense blue eyes.
"But yes, it is an unusual gift I should say. Perhaps Vulcans sometimes take for granted the ability to hear so acutely, when a human will be able to appreciate the inherent beauty and wonder of it. Still,"
she paused and used her free hand to brush an unruly curl from her temple – the loose knot at the nape of her neck was a practical and elegant Betazoid style, the name of which she would not have cared to divulge however, and it tended to set free a strand here and there at the most inopportune time – "it seems were share the fact of having uncommon talent in the family. Only in my case it is that the lady T'Leia is renowned for the extraordinary richness and beauty of her soprano. Something I appear to have inherited as well, if only to a lesser degree."
Brent almost seemed to frown as the liquor was brought in. "Ah a setting from when I was here last," he said. "I normally prefer to enjoy the music with something like this. If you wish for it to be a dry event though I will be more than happy to remove it from here," he said before Brent moved away from her at last taking his seat down next to her in his own chair. He smiled as she complimented him on his ability. "It is too bad I did not inherit old William's ability to play. I was pushed onto it several times when I was young. I could have given you a concert on your own if I had that kind of talent," he said almost wistfully at the idea.
He listened to her talk attentively watching as her hair seemed to always draw his attention to it and the delicate nape of her neck. Brent smiled when she mentioned that she had quite the singing voice. "I may ask you to back up that boast sometime Sakarra. The sound of a good tenor is a rare to hear these days. At least for me, normally we only hear drunken beer hall songs down in the barracks," Brent said. "Even I can sing those, which does not bode well for their sophistication."
"Boasting would be quite illogical, no?" Sakarra quirked a mildly amused brow at the young man which rose by another few millimeters at his mention of beer hall songs.
"While I can certainly not compare myself to she who is my foremother, the family's general consensus is that my voice is quite satisfactory. Even," this time there was just the tiniest glimmer of mischief in the depth of her black eyes "Klingon drinking songs seem to become a pleasant experience when rendered in a voice able to accommodate the necessary richness and volume."
She studied his smile and found herself toying idly with the champagne glass in her hand. The scent was certainly agreeable, but she knew from experience that the abundance of bubbles would produce a host of tingling sensations.
"As for the 'backing up', as you put it… I shall await your convenience. Perhaps a test of the acoustics in those barracks you mentioned?"
She had to inwardly smile at herself for even coming up with the idea, but for some reason Brent prompted this usually dormant side of her to surface with a vengeance. At some time or another she might have to give some thought to why this was so, but for the moment Sakarra was content to appreciate the sensation.
He laughed at her mention of the barracks. That wasn't quite what he had in mind but in a pinch it would do he supposed. "Klingon drinking songs. I might have to get you to teach me one or two of those. They might come in handy when the bar is filled with the Klingons," he said thoughtfully. He took a drink from the champagne and nodded. "Apparently I was feeling well off the last time I used this program. Normally I don't try to replicate such a brand. Normally I try to simply have a bit of whiskey available," he said almost sad that he had forgotten a flask...
[To be continued...]
Brevet 1st Lieutenant Brent Warren
Marine Commander
Lt Cmdr Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helm Officer
USS-Charon
