What you don't have you don't need it now
What you don't know you can feel it somehow
What you don't have you don't need it now
What a beautiful day
(U2)
[USS Charon, Deck Three]
"Tteishkou ehifahn."
"Fascinating."
Nveid looked up from the sweet bread on his plate and blinked. Slowly, a smile crinkled the corners of his mouth. "Fas-natingh."
"Indeed."
Sakarra motioned for the boy to continue the meal, since he had deemed to voice his approval of it. They had finally managed to establish a more or less practical method of communication, mingling oddly accented Vulcan with Rihannsu words and throwing in some Federation Standard for good measure. Though oddly accented was perhaps not correct – this far, the young Vulcan had detected the melody of Insular and Rum-Ne Golic, mostly rendered in formal mode, in Nveid's attempts to translate his native Rihannsu dialect to the woman he still thought of as 'the thaessu'.
Obsolete and partially obscured words aside, it was a most interesting exercise. Still, it might be advisable to instruct the little one in the most common Vulcan dialect as well as Federation Standard.
Collecting a few more items of clothing to place neatly in the waiting bag, Sakarra pondered how such archaic dialects should have survived in a culture that for the most part deemed anything Vulcan undesirable.
"Hal-tor pok, ha."
"Au'e!"
With the vigor of a seven year old, Nveid picked the last crumbs off his plate and jumped towards the Vulcan, only to pivot around again and collect the dishes he had used. Placing them neatly in the replicator to be recycled, he managed another tiny smile at Sakarra's nod of approval.
Small fingers wrapped around the young woman's hand and she allowed the little one to gently pry the basket from her grasp – it would be slightly heavy for one so young but he obviously wanted to be helpful.
Side by side, they strode out into the corridor and towards the turbolift, the Vulcan still in uniform and carrying a rather large bag, and the Rihannsu child alternating between happiness and trepidation.
Nveid's face became an image of astonishment when they rounded a corner and found themselves in the middle of a veritable flock of thaessu'a. Tall, every one of them, taller than 'his' Vulcan, and except for two males, wearing those heavy robes that billowed around them at every move. They were obviously waiting for the lift, too, but with a surge of pride the little boy noticed how they moved out of the way for them, the males giving elegant bows as they did so and the females nodding back at Sakkara's slowly inclined head. He gripped her hand tightly and made sure he was not gaping at what to him were towering figures, regal in their clothes with the shimmering letters bound into collars and in one case running down the entire length of a chest. He noticed they were looking back at him and held on to the warm, reassuring fingers until his thaessu almost winced, but she floated past them, barely sparing a glance.
To Nveid's relief, the turbolift doors opened after only a few seconds and two bewildered Starfleet officers found they had to navigate through a by now slightly crowded corridor. He would have snickered at their funny faces, only he could still feel eyes watching him and the young woman and she seemed … just a tiny bit annoyed.
[Deck Six, outside Holodeck Two]
They emerged from the turbolift and Nveid's eyes immediately widened at the sight of what was waiting for them. Of course she had explained whom they were going to meet and he tried to put on a brave smile while carefully moving behind the young Vulcan, but the Fvai was looking very bouncy, and the human was … intimidating.
And still, he could feel the change in the thaessu, as if all tension and irritation had simply ceased to exist, and her musical voice was warm, even tender. He had never heard her like that.
Sakarra noticed the little one's hesitation and slowed their approach, although she would have very much liked to do just the opposite.
"Good afternoon, Brent." She had to fight hard not to outright smile at the mild exasperation on his face, as a happy Fvai tried to run in circles, encouraged by a laughing Nnoil. "Pehka'uh." Nudging aside an inquisitive furry face, the young Vulcan looked up into blue eyes and lightly placed her fingertips against an outstretched hand.
"I believe we should proceed before our charges decide to take over the ship, yes?"
"Pet watching," Brent said with incredible annoyance in his voice. "I have been reduced to a pet watcher here," he said as he took Sakarra's hand into his and felt the affection he had for her begin to melt the annoyance he had for the Captain's decision. "At least I have good company," he said with a smile before he squeezed her hand ever so lightly, just barely enough for her to feel before he let go and lead the 'pack' of his apparent charge into the holodeck.
He looked around and nodded at the display of the forest on Earth that he had chosen. He couldn't remember which one it was but it had large trees, that were centuries old, having survived all wars and all governments up until the Federation where they were once again made sacred. He smiled at their surroundings. "So. What does everyone want to do now hm?" he asked Nnoil and Ael. Both of which seemed to be entranced by the large trees and their surroundings.
It seemed quite obvious what the large animal wanted to do – run until it toppled over from exhaustion. "Perhaps we should let them explore?"
Adjusting the bag she had slung over her shoulder, Sakarra looked over the landscape. The azure sky was dotted with small, feathery clouds and a forest of truly gigantic trees seemed to stretch on past the horizon.
She followed the sound of a small waterfall to a clearing where soft grass surrounded a crystal clear pool and nodded. With the Fvai off to sniff for only he knew what and the twins already investigating pine cones, Sakarra spread out the large blanket she had brought along and settled down. Quite unexpectedly, Nveid had taken his leave after having placed the basket carefully next to the young Vulcan and was quietly ambling among the trees, apparently keeping an eye on the younger children from a wary distance.
Remembering that the village on the little one's homeworld had been nestled among hills and forests, the young woman breathed a small sigh.
"It does seem as if the number of beings you are asked to watch over is increasing steadily." Sakarra noted good naturedly when Brent had settled down next to her.
"But the twins seem rather fond of their new friend. Still, one should hope that holographic pine cones do not disagree with a Fvai's stomach." Rather than retrieve the things Nnoil was throwing for the animal, it apparently preferred to swallow them whole. Fascinating.
It was difficult not to notice the irritation still lingering in subtly furrowed brows and the expression of deep blue eyes. Lifting her serene features to Brent's face the young Vulcan gave what qualified as a wink among her kind – a mere fluttering of silken eyelashes, combined with a sparkle in dark eyes.
"I am gratified you find the company agreeable. Perhaps even more agreeable than the food Nveid has so graciously carried down here?"
Several people back on Earth and a few on Gilgamesh IX said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. For Brent it was almost doubly true. He tended to run over seven kilometers a day and his parents insisted that he had a hollow leg where he stashed all of the food that he ate at home. "Food," he said quite interested at the idea. It was enough to distract him for a few moments before Brent realized that there was in fact another Romulan child out there with the twins. "I recognize that kid. Shouldn't I?" Brent said as he looked into the bag that Sakarra was motioning at.
"Where do I know him from," he said looking up at Sakarra. "Wait," he said as the gears in his head began to turn. "No way. He was that little child we brought up from the planet," Brent asked looking over at the young Romulan boy interacting with Nnoil and Ael. Brent saw the not-dog apparently trying to eat the pine cones only to be confused when they disappeared in its mouth.
"Yes." The young woman stated simply. "And yes."
She reached over the Marine's outstretched legs and managed to pull the basket next to them, holding on to his shoulder for balance although that would not truly have been necessary. With an expression that for a Vulcan qualified as outright merriment, Sakarra lifted a plate wrapped in heat preserving foil out of the assortment of food and beverages and placed it into Brent's waiting hands before retrieving a bowl with fresh Oskoid fronds.
"Compliments of Miss Betty. When I inquired on how to best meet your culinary needs, she became rather enthusiastic about something called "Porterhouse" and apparently there are bells and whistles, too. I must assume the latter will be the appropriate side dishes for a steak."
[To be continued ... ]
Brevet 1st Lieutenant Brent Warren
Marine Commander
Lt Cmdr Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helm
also starring:
Ael&Nnoil
Nveid
& Nohtho the Fvai
USS Charon
