<<Yet another backlog taking place during Charon's journey to the Stellar Nursery - before all Vulcan hell breaks loose ... >>
[USS Charon, Deck Six]
Marcello could have sworn he saw the Captain's pet grin before bouncing off with his lunch between its fangs. Madonna, the thing was fast. And big. And obviously hungry. Did no one feed the poor thing? The Italian briefly considered giving chase but remembered what had happened last time someone had tried that. Shrugging, he took the whole incident as a sign he should settle for lunch in Eris deck and went to find a turbolift.
"Fvah dha'nia Kholairlh-a nahi?"
Sakarra was not certain whether the boy's outburst had to do with the long legged riding beast racing past them with a most smug expression on its face or the fact she had picked him up and pulled him out of Nohtho's path – obviously the upgrade to the CO's quarters had been insufficient yet again and the Fvai had staged another escape. Fascinating.
Even more surprising, Nveid appeared genuinely amused and unafraid, letting his head fall against the Vulcan's shoulder while holding on tight to the basket with their food. At the same time the young woman heard paws scramble over the carpeted floor in a mad attempt to avoid a sudden obstacle, she felt the small body in her arm stiffen in apprehension.
"Ri'an'kharh, so-kan. Nam-tor py'ai-el."
Nohtho on the other hand eyed the gigantic person blocking his path with a playful glance, dancing back and forth after dropping an empty dish at the Russian's feet.
Nikolai had been returning from the gym after his extensive physical Therapy when he heard the sound of running feet. The Large Russian checked the panel on the wall to make sure the ship wasn't at alert status, after all running feet could mean anything.
He was about to take a combat pose when he saw the strange creature dropping an empty dish at his feet, with tremendous effort he managed to kneel down in front of the playful creature and pat it on the head. "Are you lost little one.. and Hungry?" he asked the creature in a warm and surprisingly affectionate voice. It was the voice he used when no one else was around, as he preferred to remain a cold and brutal seeming man to the rest of the crew.
"Greetings, Nikolai." The young Vulcan in her long, sea green robes tipped her head towards the familiar shape of the Russian after having put a still rather tense Nveid back on his feet and walked closer. The Fvai on the other hand seemed delighted to have found a new friend and took the opportunity to cover the amicable hand patting him in slobber.
"It has been my observation Nohtho will eat whenever the opportunity arises, so the answer is quite likely yes." A small hand slipped into hers, holding tight. And Sakarra had to admit that even crouching in front of a happy animal the marine was an imposing figure.
"I am gratified to see your recovery is progressing sufficiently for you to be able to leave sickbay."
Nikolai looked up at the young Vulcan and gave her a warm smile as only the Slavic Cossacks could. At first he didn't notice Nveid. He stood back up and winced with the effort."Sakkaravich it is a pleasure to see you my friend." he said to her warmly.
"Da, I have been allowed brief sojourns to the gym to try to undo the damage done by Neodyne." he said to her in his deep rumbling voice. As he stood to his full towering height he looked down at the young child and noticed the ears. "I did not know you had a child Sakkaravich, What is his name?" he asked looking at the boy.
Torn between the desire to hide behind his thaessu and the wish to be polite so she would not be disappointed, Nveid blinked at the gigantic soldier – and it had to be one, even though this one's voice was not harsh like he was used to from other Gai'Shian. A gentle squeeze of her hand made him square his shoulders and look directly at the bearded man's face "Nveid."
"I am rather young to have a little one, especially one of this age." Still, Sakarra could not hide a trace of amusement in her melodious voice. Nikolai was not the first one to come to this conclusion, especially after the crew had seen her with Brent and the Captain's twins several times now. "He is one of the two survivors of ch`Dabhae."
He looked at Nveid again and then gave a very brief nod of his head. "Nikolai.." he said back trying to be polite as he could.
Nikolai raised an eyebrow at that looking the boy over. "Ch'Dabhae...A Romulan?" he asked cautiously. He tried not to stiffen at the thought of being so near one of the vile creatures especially considering it was a child. He knew that Sakarra would know how he felt about the race as a whole.
"Yes." The raven haired Vulcan nodded calmly, noting the sudden and subtle shift in the marine's stance. And she could hardly blame him, considering she had not thought the counselor's suggestion she should spend time with the boy a wise course of action. And still …
"A Romulan whose parents were exiled for believing in peace, Nikolai. For following Vulcan ideals, however diluted and meshed with different beliefs."
Not to mention one who had lived through horrors no one should ever have to see, least of all a child. She could tell Nveid had picked up the soldier's changed demeanor because he kept inching closer to her, obviously torn between slipping behind his thaessu and defending her from perceived danger.
"I owe him my life." She stated simply. And it was true that the child's ill conceived attack onto the two Gai'Shian during the boarding had distracted them just long enough for the Vulcan to evade the disruptor blast, although Nveid held a slightly different opinion regarding the events. For starters, he was convinced the thaessu had saved him from the Demons, not the other way around.
Nikolai looked slightly surprised by that. "Then I would own his a debt of gratitude for saving you. I wouldn't know what to do without my friend." he said to her with a serious voice. He had come to rely on the Vulcan woman for her steady advice and stoic compassion.
"A shame I couldn't deal with the beasts myself.. I look forward to returning to battle against them someday." he said to her and then looked to the boy again. "So his parents are gone.. For trying to be something other than Romulan. And you are taking care of him...You are certainly a better person then I Sakarravich...I doubt I would be able to." he said to her.
"It was logical."
Before Sakarra could elaborate, Nohtho obviously got bored or simply got tired of not being the center of attention anymore because the Fvai began nibbling at his new buddy's hand, stepping onto his feet with big paws. And the young Vulcan was reminded that her holodeck reservation was limited as well.
"Would you accompany us, Nikolai?" she motioned towards the doors where her program was already blinking and waiting for confirmation on the panel. "I am certain the healers would not object to you getting rest on a terran beach rather than sickbay."
The large Russian looked down at the large creature and patted the Fvai on the head. "A Beach...I have not been to a beach before.. At least not to rest. If you do not mind the company then I would enjoy this." he said to her and gestured for her and the boy to lead the way. "So little one you are fortunate to be with Sakarra..You will find no better guardian." he said to the Romulan child.
Nveid cocked his head when he listened to the Vulcan's murmured translation and then nodded solemnly. "Ie."
A few quick taps at the console, and the holodeck doors opened, revealing a dazzling landscape of pristine sands warmed by a gentle tropical sun and palm trees swaying in the breeze. In the distance, the unmistakable shape of a volcano loomed, quiet and puffing only a few harmless wisps into the clear blue sky. Nohtho wasted no time in prancing past the two legged creatures and eyed the crashing waves with a look of dour suspicion on his canine face.
"I should in fact be pleased to have your company." Sakarra gently pried her fingers loose and motioned for the little one to follow the Fvai who was already examining a coconut, possibly in an attempt to determine if tasted anything like pinecones, and gazed up at the tall Russian with a tiny glimmer of amusement in her deep black eyes "Aloha. Welcome to Hawaii."
[To be continued …]
LtCmdr Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helm
Marine Captain Nikolai Chernienko
Platoon Leader
Nveid
&
Nohtho the Fvai
USS Charon
