[USS Charon, Deck Ten]
Going over the last repair estimates on the PADD in her hand, the young Vulcan made her way down the corridor with her usual long-legged stride. All in all, quite satisfactory although she had come to expect nothing less than the extraordinary from Mr Calhoun. The Xenexian had taken the opportunity to not only repair the ship but with the unceasing determination of a good engineer implemented several upgrades.
Returning a friendly greeting from a surprised Ensign M'Riarr, the young woman rounded a corner and found the quarters she had been looking for. Logical that the counselor would rather have the meeting in less formal surroundings, considering it involved the child who was one of ch`Dabhae's two sole survivors. Still, Sakarra was not quite certain how she could render assistance in the matter.
The memo sent to her desk had not elaborated.
Tucking the PADD into her uniform jacket, the dark haired Vulcan pressed the chime precisely 2.5 seconds before the requested time.
Upon hearing the chime at the door sound, Kallistra rose from the seat where she was previously perched and meandered over to the door. From Bellona's room, she could hear nothing but the soft snores of the little boy.
"Good morning." She greeted the woman as she answered the door, her tone kind. On her face she wore a smile that conveyed warmth and offered a nod of greeting. "How can I help you?"
"Counselor." Sakarra returned the courteous nod, standing in her typical relaxed pose with hands clasped behind her back "Lieutenant Commander Sakarra. You asked to see me regarding the child Nveid."
Kallistra seemed confused for a moment then an expression of recognition crossed her face, a smile settled on her features once more.
"Of course, of course." She started then moved aside to allow the Vulcan to enter. "Please, come in Lieutenant Commander." The smile still played on her lips as she spoke in a hospitable tone, motioning over to the couch. "Would you like to take a seat? Can I interest you in a drink perhaps? I had a couple queries regarding the child Nveid. If you do not mind helping."
Accepting the invitation with a brief tilt of her head, Sakarra moved towards the couch indicated by the other woman and after a moment of consideration settled down near one armrest.
"Some Vulcan Spice Tea would be welcome."
Calm, dark eyes followed the other woman and Sakarra mentally added the distinct melody of Dalaria in the counselor's speech to the information she remembered from her file. There were a few more vaguely familiar things that caused an eyebrow to climb briefly and by less than a millimeter, but the young Vulcan decided to focus on the matter for which she had been asked here.
"Mind, counselor? No, I do not. Please state your queries."
Kallistra offered a nod to the Vulcan as she moved over towards the replicator and ordered two separate beverages, a Vulcan Spiced Tea and a Jumja Tea. Once the two beverages materialized into existence, she carried the Vulcan Spiced Tea over to the Vulcan, offering her a smile as well then moved over to the chair adjacent to the couch on which she was sitting. Bringing the tea to her lips, she took a small ladylike sip before setting the mug down on the tea table resting just in front of the both of them.
"I am glad you could see me on such a short notice, Lieutenant Commander." She started as she tucked one leg beneath the other, resting clasped hands in her lap. "The boy Nveid has been through quite a lot, it is all too obvious. First and foremost, I would like to ask. What is to be done with him? Do you know if the Captain has any premeditated plans for him? Furthermore, do you know if he speaks Basic at all?"
Giving a brief gesture of thanks, Sakarra accepted the tea and noticed yet again the demeanor of one not only accustomed to her kind, but rather at ease with the subtleties and small courtesies. Quite interesting. Folding her fingers around the soothing heat of the glass, the young Vulcan considered the questions.
"I am not aware of the Captain having any plans concerning the child at this juncture, nor am I certain how Rihannsu law and custom would apply in this situation. Logically, if there are any other of his house or clan in the Star Empire, they would be the first to have claim. However, ch`Dabhae was a colony of exiles, which may very well mean that none will acknowledge the child."
To the Empire, the people living on the doomed planet might as well have been dead already. And although the little one had been born long after the dissidents had left their homes and built their new colony, he would likely be unwanted as well.
"As for Basic, he does not seem to understand it, no. However, I have noticed that he seems to comprehend some simple words and phrases in traditional Golic Vulcan."
Whether it had been the sound of voices or a child's uncanny instinct, the subject of the women's conversation had woken up and padded into the room. He rubbed his eyes and with a lightning fast jump dashed for the young Vulcan seated on the couch who was once more grateful for her fast reflexes, else the hot tea might have gone airborne.
Small arms wrapped around Sakarra's waist and once more she got the impression of the little one wanting to reassure himself that she was real.
"I'nam'uh vohr'is, so-kan." She raised a mildly chiding eyebrow at being squeezed with a fair amount of enthusiasm but for the moment felt it not necessary to intervene.
From the chair on which she was seated, Kallistra smiled with contentedness as she witnessed Nveid dash over to Sakarra. She allowed her green gaze to linger on the two for a moment before peering over at newly awoken daughter, Bellona. Bellona, being the anti-social sort of child she was, stared at the strange woman as well as the Romulan boy. She was the very profile of a Vulcan, long dark hair, two obsidian eyes, naturally curved ears that met at a point, and olive-hued skin. Seemingly shy, she shuffled over to Kallistra's side, resting her hand on the armrest for a moment.
"Lieutenant Commander, allow me to introduce my daughter, Bellona. Bellona, this is Lieutenant Commander Sakarra." She made the introductions, playing the role of hostess for a moment before gesturing over to Nveid. "Would he like a beverage perhaps? Or some breakfast. The poor thing barely ate a bite last night." For a moment, she elevated the jumja tea to her lips, partaking of the sweet Bajoran tea then set it down on the table, allowing a smile shortly after.
"Ha'tha ti'lu, Bellona cha`Kallistra." Sakarra greeted the child with a small nod.
If the young woman seemed somewhat thoughtful for a moment, the impression passed as quickly as it had appeared and finally she decided to carefully loosen Nveid's still quite firm grip. "Ta'hlay." she murmured and with just a little reluctance the boy obliged. Still, he would not move from the Vulcan's side and kept glancing back towards her as if wanting to make sure she would not suddenly disappear.
"K'ahvon, ha."
Nveid seemed to ponder this a moment, head cocked to one side, and then nodded vigorously.
"Indeed counselor it seems he would appreciate food at this moment." Safe from any more sudden outbursts, or at least hopefully so, Sakarra picked the tea up again with a fluid, graceful motion and inhaled the soothing scent. To her mild surprise, Nveid moved closer again to inspect not only the beverage but also the young Vulcan's face.
"Perhaps he would like to try some tea as well? I am uncertain how to interpret this sudden interest."
She was the same, Nveid thought, and different, too. Her voice was even gentler than it had been back on the planet, and the fury he had seen in her when the Demons had boarded the ship was gone as if it had never existed. Now she was almost like the thaessu'a that hru'Nanov had talked about and her presence was just as soothing as the melody of that liquid language, though she had an accent that was different from grandmother's. And even with that thick, strange uniform he could feel the heat radiating off the woman, just like in the stories.
Suddenly, Nveid frowned when he remembered they were terribly sensitive, too. She had not flinched this time, but she had used a word sounding like 'lightly' and he wondered if he had hurt her. Impulsively, Nveid reached out and carefully placed a hand on the small woman's arm. Not knowing what to say, he simply looked at her eyes that were darker than a moonless night and hoped she would understand.
Kallistra offered the Vulcan a nod as she rose from the chair, moving over to the replicator. "A Vulcan Spiced Tea and a Hot Coca." She spoke in her usual quiet voice. Once the two beverages appeared, she elevated them out of the replicator, moving over to set the spiced tea on the small tea table before offering the hot cocoa to Bellona.
"Now, lieutenant commander. He seems to have calmed down quite a bit with you here. He has been having trouble for quite a while, poor dear. Last night he slept in with Bellona. She has an extra bed. He seems to regard me strangely since I do not have pointed ears." She declared, allowing a small smile of amusement. "Not that I mind in the slightest but do you think that possibly he would rather stay with you? There seems to be a kinship there. He is quite fond of you. Bellona seemed to allay his fears as well but he feels uneasy around me. That much is certain."
Quirking a mildly bemused brow, the young Vulcan glanced at the small hand resting near her elbow. Holding very still, she waited for the child to formulate a question, but Nveid seemed satisfied that she did not protest the touch and he eagerly picked up the hot beverage from the table, even managing the beginnings of a smile in the counselor's direction.
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Sakarra took a sip of her tea, pondering the circumstances.
"It would seem logical that the little one would seek out the familiar, yes. However, I believe the fondness you sense is only partially due to the fact that he recognizes me as a Vulcan."
Not that she was entirely certain why the child seemed to hold her in such regard, but unless he decided to make his reasons known, speculation was pointless.
"You are the expert in such matters, counselor, so I will defer to your expertise. While I am certainly accustomed to children of varying ages, I doubt I would be able to assist an obviously traumatized child in his recovery."
"An expert I may be, yes, but I know when a little boy has a connection with another. Yes, the reasons for his being close to you may partially be because of your being Vulcan, but I believe that there is another reason. Think of it this way, lieutenant commander, the boy lost his entire family. That alone could be at least one reason for his wanting to be close to another person." She paused for a moment to take a small ladylike sip of the jumja tea before setting it down on the tea table, a small smile forming at the ends of her lips.
"Often, when people mourn, they have the tendency to act out in certain ways or merely to make connections. I believe this little boy Nveid has made a connection with you. Your being a Vulcan probably does have a hand in the matter but I think you comfort him and bring him solace. We both know that he needs that now more than ever. It is necessary that he receives as much comfort, solace, and kindness that he possibly can. The poor thing must be grieving completely and with no outlet for his grief, he needs someone. The Captain instructed me to keep him here. And he shall stay here unless you would like to take him. I do not mind. He seems to get along well with Bellona. In fact, she has been very quiet of late and having another child around really seems to have brightened her up. If he does stay here, I suggest that you at least come and visit him over certain intervals." She cast a brief glance over to Bellona who was sitting there with her arms folded, staring down at the ground before looking at the Vulcan once more.
"I think you have a positive effect on him and that is what is needed right now. And the fact that you have experience with children is all the more a reason why you ought to at least keep in contact with him. What he needs right now is contact and communication. He receives that from Bellona, yes but I believe he needs to receive that from you as well. Call it a hunch."
She managed a deeper smile then allowed a serious expression for a moment. "So you see, it is paramount that you at least are around him to an extent." She paused for a moment, giving the boy a warm smile before glance over at Sakarra. "Aside from that. Do you mind if I make yet another query? One...that is in private."
The raven haired young Vulcan had listened in thoughtful silence, and finally nodded at the other woman's suggestions. A reasonable approach, and she was only mildly surprised that the counselor so frankly assumed Sakarra would be able to provide the solace and kindness she had mentioned. Most people would hardly have used those words and a Vulcan in the same sentence, and in a way they might have been right. But just as Nveid seemed content with the calm, steady presence of the woman he thought of as the thaessu, the counselor obviously was one who knew better.
At the mention of the private question, Sakarra marginally raised a row but then inclined her head in a slow, ceremonious way. Nveid had hesitantly tasted the tea and obviously found it palatable, because the glass was empty now and he had resumed studying the young Vulcan with a slightly calmer demeanor.
Leaning over to the little one, Sakarra murmured a few words in the fluid, lilting dialect of Nel-Gathelkh and he briefly looked between the two women before nodding and getting up from the couch. Still a bit hesitantly, but with a determined air about him, he strode back towards the other room.
"Please proceed, counselor."
"Bellona, go with Nveid." She glanced towards her daughter for a moment then watched as both children left the room. The next moment, she glanced back at Sakarra, mustering a slight smile, "Do you mind if I ask you a personal question, lieutenant commander?"
"As you are Vulcan, I would like to seek your expertise in a manner. Albeit I know very little about you. Might I inquire as to if you are familiar with the Vulcan practices?" She now assumed a serious facial expression.
Slender fingers wrapped around the glass with the hot tea, Sakarra acknowledged the question with a slightly tilted head and let her thoughtful dark gaze rest on the other woman for a moment.
"That would depend on which specific practice you are referring to, counselor. However, I must assume your question pertains to the little one, yes?"
Kallistra brought the mug slowly to her lips for a moment before setting it back down on the tea table, offering a nod in response.
"Why yes." She began, seemingly a little troubled by the topic though unsure how to voice it. "For a while, I've been struggling with something my husband, her father conveyed to me before he passed on. And at the funerary service honoring her father and his katra." She shifted in her seat slightly before allowing a small smile, "The Vulcan High Priestess approached me following the mortuary rites and told me how essential it is for Bellona to be allowed to be trained in the Vulcan tradition. Syrik, Bellona's father even told me that the majority of her insides resembles more so a Vulcan than anything else and that in time, the plak-tau will take effect. To be honest, I have no idea what to do."
It was at once familiar and very different.
"I understand, counselor." Perhaps few people would comprehend better than she. Exhaling slowly, Sakarra set down the glass and calmly steepled her fingers in her lap.
"By law and custom of both worlds, Vulcan and Betazed, you and your daughter are of the First House of Betazed. No Vulcan Matriarch would dispute this or interfere, although you are within your right to seek counsel. And of course Bellona is free to claim her father's heritage if and when she should choose so."
Sakarra had never found her dual heritage to be a burden, rather a marvel giving her choices even more abundant than many others had from the very beginning. But she could also see how it might entail complications.
Her unwavering gaze rested on the counselor's finely chiseled features, wondering just how little or much she might know and understand what it meant to be Vulcan.
"I am S`ak-hára cha`T'Sora, born into a Vulcan House, and even if I had chosen to live according to Betazoid custom, it is who I would have remained. What matters is, I was offered the choice. You ask what to do. As one whose parents have faced a similar question I can only advise that you show she who is your daughter what both worlds have to offer, so she may choose as well.
Yes, the call of a Vulcan's blood is strong and the Oreldai was wise to warn you of this. And in time, it may become advisable for Bellona to study ways to understand and deal with not only her Vulcan physiology, but soul. Still, she would not be the first child of two worlds to choose another path, and prosper." Although the young woman's features remained unmoved, there was the dawn of a smile in her dark eyes when she made a small, sweeping gesture with her hand.
"Kaiidth, Kallistra Grey. To be Vulcan is more than to be born with a mind and body who will answer an ancient call. It is a conscious decision to follow c'thia, and that decision only Bellona can make. However, I agree that it would be helpful for her to learn about the ways of he who was her father. And there are many ways to accomplish this."
Sakarra briefly pondered how to convey to the counselor how delicate the issue was, especially considering the little one was already unsettled and might not benefit from any kind of pressure, no matter how well meaning. And then she inwardly smiled at herself again, because the counselor was certainly perfectly capable of coming to this conclusion.
"There is of course literature which I can point out to you, and meditation techniques which a Betazoid will find familiar enough to master. However, most Vulcan children will choose a guide for certain disciplines of the mind, traditionally at the age of seven. And while this than-tha is usually a parent, in your case I might advise a trusted relative or perhaps the priestess you spoke of. In either case, it is paramount that it is by Bellona's will and her choice. And if she would agree, even I might be able to offer some small measure of guidance."
"But of course, lieutenant commander. I defer to your knowledge and your opinions here. Akin to the majority of Betazoid parents, I have the tendency to not force anything on Bellona. Even if that was my choice, the young one has a will of iron if you ask me. She has her father's spirit and his fire as well." She managed a soft chuckle of amusement, a smile etched into her features. "However, her father and myself never chose one particular path for her. Although I shall be blatantly honest with you here, I preferred that she at least be raised in the Betazoid tradition but now I realize that that is not the correct choice. The correct choice will be what she chooses precisely. It is a very difficult thing. You see, when the Oreldai approached me, I felt guilty because I had not exactly exposed Bellona to much Vulcan culture after the unfortunate demise of her father. The Oreldai, T'Laru was an old family friend of my husband's family. When he was young, she trained him and I would most likely have her at least acquaint Bellona with her ways."
She paused for a moment, her features becoming troubled slightly, "Although I shall tell you. I had concerns initially about the Vulcans not expressing their emotions. Syrik was quite devout in his ways and adhered to them strongly. Bellona is quite a deal like him and the more I see her interact with others, she becomes angry and upset. The child has quite a lot of rage. While there are people on Betazed that could aid her in the whole situation, I believe that maybe speaking to a Vulcan elder would really help her to feel at ease. Which is presently what she needs to feel. Weeks back, she started trouble in the daycare with the other children, doing all sorts of wicked things just to act out and to be noticed."
"It is … difficult to come to terms with a temper such as the one your daughter experiences." The young woman said mildly.
"Still, one should not disregard the Betazoid approach completely. Speaking from … personal experience," Sakarra decided it would not do to let the tea's pleasant heat go to waste and picked up the glass again, taking a small, appreciative sip "it was often my father's unwavering good humor which served to defuse a situation when even a Vulcan's unperturbed calm would not. The 'acting out' as you put it may well be an indication of the little one being at once overwhelmed and insufficiently challenged. Vulcan children have a reputation for being quite energetic, not to mention insatiably curious. The daycare center, while certainly appropriate to teach a young one social skills, may not provide a sufficient challenge in other aspects."
At this point, Sakarra could only venture an educated guess but she remembered all too well the havoc she had caused when left to her own devices on board the Bellerophon. Which was generally precisely the time her father had fallen asleep from exhaustion. And the counselor's daughter did not even have the benefit of a doting parent looking after her when her mother was on duty.
"I do not know what you would describe as 'wicked', however there was once an incident on board the USS Bellerophon when a small Vulcan and her Klingon friend became rather ... enthusiastic. According to the engineer logs of the time, it took three days to repair the damage. Subsequently, the teacher made it mandatory for her staff to schedule additional holodeck hours with Vulcanoid children. I might be able to access those files if you wish, some of the programs are quite interesting."
Kallistra nodded comprehendingly as she listened attentively, "I think that would be quite helpful. Bellona is quite enthusiastic." She paused for a moment. "Do you think that maybe I should at least have Bellona speak to that High Priestess when I next go on leave? She needs to speak to someone, I think."
"Yes." The young Vulcan inclined her head briefly "It would definitely give the little one an opportunity to gain another perspective. And often it is helpful to simply know another will comprehend certain things without having to search for the words to explain."
Sakarra finished her tea and set down the glass, giving the counselor another thoughtful look "With your approval, I had planned to invite Nveid to an excursion on the holodeck. Should duties permit it, and should you be interested, I would like to invite you and Bellona as well."
Kallistra offered an enthusiastic nod, smiling as she responded, "I like that idea. Bellona needs to do something constructive." With that, she rose from the seat and gathered the empty cups scattered around the general sitting area then disposed of them accordingly.
"However, lieutenant commander. I apologize but I really have to go. There is an appointment in ten minutes." She declared before seeing the Vulcan out. Before leaving, she delivered Bellona and Nveid off at the daycare then went off to work.
=/\= Counseling Office =/\=
Lieutenant Commander Sakarra
Chief Helm
U.S.S. Charon
&
Ensign Kallistra Grey
Chief Counselor
U.S.S. Charon
