The Past, the Present, and the Future
RP Scenario played by Sanek and Allahweh as Solida
Sanek stepped outside the foyer doors and into the noon sun. For a brief moment he stood there, looking across the grounds at the Academy Headquarters building and the immense spire that shot into the blue sky from it's roof. He reflected on his own years here. He had spent many of those years inside the very building he stood outside of now, the Department of Astrophysics, deep in study of the very scientific pursuit that kept him busy with the Institute. He momentarily watched the individuals and groups of cadets as they walked across the grounds, and not for the first time projected what path his life may have possibly taken him had he accepted an assignment with the Vulcan Science Academy instead.
Bringing himself out of his momentary reflection, he stepped to one side. Pulling his PADD from his belt, he completed archiving lecture and subsequent question and answer period on Astrophysics he had just completed. No more than two hours and forty-six minutes in length, with approximately two thirds of that question and answer time, it had been an elightening period. The students were eager to learn and quick to ask questions, and their grasp of some of the more complex equations had been a testiment to their academic abilities and instructors.
As he tapped the last few buttons and placed the PADD back on his belt, he began to walk down the broad steps. His time here was complete; once his lecture had concluded he had seventy-two hours of leave available to him. In most cases Sanek would have spent this time flying from place to place on the planet to study it's history and historical sites; in fact, his next planned visit was to the Mediterannean Basin, and the ruins there.
However, this particular leave had a special purpose.
He had analyzed the particulars and possible outcomes of this potential meeting since proposed to him almost a week before; all the more so since certain recent events had occurred in his life of a rather significant sort. His experience with Betazoids was limited only to his association with Admiral Davin Felth and his ship's Chief Medical Officer, Commander Solida T'yra.
This promised to be intriguing.
As he reached the broad walkway across the plaza he turned left, and began to make his way to the main cafeteria building, walking briskly under the hot sun. Acknowledging the salutes of the cadets as he went, he checked the time; it was now 12:18 hours. He'd suggested meeting at the cafeteria at 12:30 hours local time... and he knew Solida would hold him to it. He had just twelve minutes.
Solida sat on a small bench under the shade of a large oak tree, enjoying the rather mild mid-day weather. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the tree, creating a calm and soothing sound. In the distance, the hum of excited cadets could be heard, no doubt talking about an instructor or officer they had been dealing with, or complaining about their rather large volume of work. The hum grew louder as the cadets made their way towards the nearby cafeteria. DFAC, she reminded herself. She had always been one to call it the cafeteria when she was at the Academy, but her instructors and superiors were always quick to remind her that it was, in fact, the 'Dining Facility.' She smiled at the thought, and nodded at the cadets who passed by on their way to get something to eat.
She had planned to meet Sanek for lunch this afternoon, but Sanek had been unsure of the exact time he would finish with his duties at the Academy. He had imagined that it would be sometime between 12:00 and 12:15, so she had decided to get there a little bit earlier and wait for him. She didn't mind waiting, of course, because on a day like today, the weather was absolutely perfect for the region. It wasn't too hot nor was it too cold, and the gentle breeze circulated the air and made it a true joy to be able to be outside and enjoying it. She found herself wondering why she had gotten away from enjoying some of these simple pleasures lately; after all, her work now kept her so busy that she often found she didn't have time to enjoy a quiet afternoon like this.
Things were changing for her, of course. In fact, recent events during the past weeks had really changed her outlook for the better. It was no secret to anyone who associated closely with them that she had feelings for Sanek that went back many years, but it was only recently that he had made known his own feelings for her. She had counselor Nyssa to thank for this, of course, but she had known of Sanek's feelings for quite some time. It seemed that it took a major life-threatening event, and the wise words of a young woman, to show Sanek that now was the time to seek what he desired. Thus, now, while their ship was stationed at Sol, the two had planned to spend some time together on Earth. Sanek had to present some findings at the Academy, but now that that was over, they planned to enjoy a nice lunch together here on the grounds and then head off to visit with Solida's parents.
She realized that she had been lost in thought, for though she was staring down at the ground ahead of her, she could sense the presence of someone. It was an unmistakable presence...That of the one her heart belonged to. She looked up, and sure enough saw Sanek walking briskly towards the cafeteria building. She remained seated, but smiled and waved at him as he approached her...
As Sanek strode down the walkway his mind was still deeply analyzing such topics as the properties of thermodynamics, electromagnetic theory, or quantum mechanics and the Planck constant. He had made a mental notation to pursue the hypothesis a student had projected regarding wave-particle duality and the Uncertainty Principle. He was still considering an equation when he rounded a bend in the path and noticed Solida in the near distance.
He watched her as he approached. Her hair was free and blew slightly in the breeze. He rarely saw it that way, as she preferred to keep it bound in a tail while on duty. It brought to mind another day, similar to this one, on another planet not so long ago where he had given her a Muktok flower that she kept to this day on her desk in her office. The now familiar sense of carefully controlled attachment rose as he continued to watch her.
She looked up then, and seeing him, waved. He knew she had felt him, as she looked directly at him. He had seen her do this many times. He walked up somewhat more slowly and stopped to her side, close to her.
"Doctor," he said. "My apologies; the students' question period ran longer than anticipated."
She smiled and waved the notion off, as if it was rather silly to her.
"It's perfectly fine, Sanek. Besides, I've just been out here enjoying the rather serene weather, and observing these fresh new cadets as they make their way around the grounds." She leaned back in the chair for a moment and brushed a little bit of hair out of her face. "I am certain they must have had lost of questions, and can you really blame them? That whole experience in Delta Volanis..." She allowed her voice to trail off a bit. Certainly, that experience had been astounding in the field of research, but that trip had much more meaning to her - much more significance. She thought she had lost Sanek for a while, and several of the crew, including their guest, Chief Richards, had been injured in the...incident. No matter what their findings might mean for the future of science, she would never forget that day for as long as she lived.
She shook her head, realizing that she should focus on more positive things now. She looked up at Sanek, and for a moment he could probably sense the longing within her. She rose and briefly hugged him - she knew how Vulcans felt about public displays of affection, and she also knew that it was somewhat 'unprofessional' - but she found the need to do so.
When their embrace parted, she smiled at him and said, "Are you ready for lunch?"
Before he could reply to Solida's comment about the Delta Volanis trip, she had stood and embraced him. He stiffened slightly as she did so. Despite the new revelations whereas their relationship was concerned, he was still Vulcan... and such displays of emotion in public locations was vulgar at best. However, he did not wish to offend Solida either; so rather than say anything he waited for her to finish her embrace. When she stepped away, he pulled at his uniform top briefly to compose himself somewhat.
"Certainly," he stated in answer to her question. "I have not eaten since early this morning, and find myself famished."
"Great!" She said, an obvious excitement in her tone. She stayed close to Sanek and the two of them walked the short distance to the doors of the dining hall. Upon entering, the murmur of cadets, crew, and officers speaking as they ate their meals could be heard throughout. And, despite their positions as officers of Star Fleet, they were not immune to the fact that they would have to wait in line for several minutes before they obtained their meals - whatever they were to be for the day. That, of course, largely depended on the schedule and the available menu for the day. Generally, however, the meals prepared were very good and set to the special dietary needs that could be found in such a diverse compliment, so one would unlikely be wanting for anything.
As they stood in line, slowly making their way forward, she looked at Sanek, gazing at his wonderful countenance in the rays of sunlight that were entering the room. Just observing him for a few moments, and sensing what she could of his own emotions, meant a great deal to him.
"So...How did your presentation go today, Sanek? It must have been interesting since you got so many questions."
It had been some time since Sanek had been inside the Academy cafeteria. While he listened to Solida's question he looked about the vast room at the decorations and cadets moving about, reflecting on the time he had spent here during his own academy years for a brief moment before he responded.
"The presentation itself was academic," he answered. "The new data uncovered by our short examination of anomaly DC-8538-AA raised intriguing questions from several students however. One student's query may provide an eventual solution to the Uncertainty Principle as applied to white hole mechanic theory."
As they slowly continued down the line towards the food, Sanek looked over at Solida for a moment.
"I trust your morning was agreeable thus far?" he asked quietly.
"A solution to the uncertainty principle in regards to White Holes? Can I ask what this possible solution might be?"
She smiled, knowing that again she had possibly forced him to explain something very detailed in a brief period of time, yet she knew that he would not mind doing so. He seemed to enjoy it, in fact, and she didn't mind encouraging him every now and then.
"Yes, in fact it was. I managed to find some time to catch up with a couple of old friends as well as some of my past instructors who are still teaching here. Then, the weather was so nice that I decided to simply take a walk around the Academy grounds, enjoying the gentle breeze and the warm sun. I had just finished that walk, in fact, when you found me sitting outside the cafeteria just a few moments ago."
"It is pure conjecture at this juncture," Sanek responded. "He merely projected a possible equation that may provide a possibility to accurately measure two separate properties at the same time via quantum mechanics. It is an interesting plausibility; one which requires my attention when I next have the availability."
He listened to her describe her morning as they drew closer to the food bar areas. He had been unable to spend much time with her lately due to his duties; specifically the repair and refit of the Alan Shepard, as well as preparing the data for his Admiralty hearing regarding the near loss - and resultant crew injuries - of the vessel. The damage to the vessel was severe... much of the ship required complete replacement in some form, and the extent of the damage had only been realized after the first few days when the vessel had been scanned; approximately seventy-six percent of the frame and structural bulkheads had been distended due to oscillations.
As she finished, they reached the food bar. Sanek stepped to allow Solida to go first, and then began to search for the general area where Vulcan meals were typically served.
There were several food choices available to them as they reached the main serving area, encompassing a wide-variety of races and cultures from around the star systems. For some reason, though, she found herself in the mood for breakfast, regardless of the fact that it was now well after noon. As such, she made her way to the griddle area, and ordered herself a ham and cheese omlette with a side of hashbrowns. It was nice to see someone actually prepare the meal by hand, rather than quickly replicate it. She nodded to Sanek as he made his way to get his own food.
It took a few moments for her food to be ready, and she nodded at the cook, thanking him for his time and also for preparing her some toast, even though she had not requested it.
She made her way over to the beverage bar where she proceeded to pour herself a glass of fresh orange juice, and then picked up a small container of strawberry yogurt. Now, she stood patiently and waited for Sanek to get his food so he could accompany her to find a seat.
Sanek moved around Solida to the far area where the more exotic non-Earth dishes were routinely kept. After reviewing what was available, he selected a bowl and had the attendant - who was wearing gloves appropriately - pour him a serving of Shur t'plomik, a thick Vulcan soup made from the plomik vegetable. He then used tongs to carefully select two servings of Vulcan kreila flatbread, and followed that up with a bowl of fruit that included kasa, hirat, and pla-savas. Picking up a selection of utensils, he then moved to the beverage area and picked up a glass of water.
Joining Solida shortly thereafter, he looked about the room and then back at her.
"Please, Doctor; select a seat at your discretion," he said a bit loudly over the chatter of the cadets around them.
Solida nodded and, her tray in hand, proceeded to make her way through the main dining area, careful not to bump into any cadets or officers along the way. In the distance, she had spotted a seat on a raised portion of the cafeteria floor that was right next to a window. She quietly pointed it out to Sanek as they walked, and within a few moments they had arrived at it. She sat her tray down on the table and then took her seat, waiting for Sanek to do the same.
"It seems you found something that you enjoy? For some reason, I had been wanting a real breakfast for some time now," she said, shrugging, and taking a sip of her orange juice.
Sanek sat and carefully arranged his meal before him, being careful not to touch any of the food with his hands.
"A simple desire to sate my appetite with a familiar repast," he said quietly. He took a drink of water, and then indicated Solida's meal before he continued. "I have found it interesting that some cultures differentiate specific types of meals for different times of the day."
He picked up a soup spoon and stirred his soup for a moment before taking a spoonful into his mouth and swallowing. "It has been some time since I have tasted non-replicated Shur t'plomik."
Solida had not given much thought to the idea of different types of meals for different times of the day. She was curious about something.
"I must admit I had not given that idea much thought, but now I wonder - do Vulcans have different types of meals for the different hours of the day? Do you have an equivalent to 'breakfast?'"
She picked up her fork and knife and carefully cut into her omlette. She took a small bite and smiled. It was almost perfect, the soft melted cheese meshing perfectly with the ham contained therein. She looked over at Sanek's soup-like dish.
"What exactly does Shur t'plomik consist of?"
Sanek ate several more spoons of his soup, and then took a drink.
"Not as such," he replied to her initial question. "Vulcans may occasionally eat various meals during certain hours; however, this is more an affectation than a tradition of culture." He put down his spoon and, picking up a fork, meticulously cut a square from his kreila, speared it on the tines and then ate it.
"Shur t'plomik is a soup made from the paste of the plomik plant, a Vulcan delicacy," he continued in answer to her second question. "To the paste is added water, kheh - a grain, spices, and other vegetables such as fori, ihntya, and bertakk." He looked up at her then.
"Is your meal acceptible, may I ask?"
Solida listened with great interest as Sanek described the dish he was partaking in. Her own knowledge of Vulcan dishes was rather limited, and that was something that she hoped would change in the future, given time.
She sipped her orange juice once more, then placed the glass down and picked up her toast, taking a bite of it. For such a simple food, it was quite good - the cook had put just enough butter on it during the toasting process that it really brought out the simplistic flavors of the bread. She smiled at Sanek.
"Oh, it is quite good. It isn't too often that I get to have a true breakfast, so I thought today might be a good day for it. The eggs are more than satisfactory, and this orange juice, freshly squeezed, is wonderful."
She understood the Vulcan stance on trying others' foods, especially in public, so she refrained from offering him any for the moment.
"Are you looking forward to visiting my parents this afternoon?"
Sanek ate some more of his meal and drank a few swallows of water before he replied.
"Certainly," he replied, as he looked at her for a moment. "I am understandably curious to meet them, as well as gain an understanding of your past."
He was quiet for a moment as he reflected on his own parents, both deceased. It was well for her that she still had them both. As he continued to eat, carefully ensuring he did not drop any food or touch it with his hands, he considered the upcoming meeting, and analyzed the possibilities one by one.
"I must ask if you feel that a single afternoon will provide the time you require," he continued. "It is possible to remain longer if you feel necessary."
Solida considered what Sanek had asked. She hadn't really thought much about that, actually. She had assumed that Sanek might not want to stay for a long time. What if their meeting was rather awkward somehow...Would it be fair to ask him to stay longer?
"To be honest," she said, sipping her juice, "I had not given that much thought. I was unsure of how you would feel about that, and to be quite honest, I was unsure if we would wish to stay longer. I wondered how the initial afternoon would go, perhaps whether it would be awkward. But...If we are having a good time, perhaps we can stay longer? I suppose we should just see how things go?"
Sanek took another drink of water.
"The length of time we remain with your mother and father is, of course, entirely your decision," he replied.
He finished his soup, and then proceeded to carefully and somewhat slowly consume the kreila bread, cutting it into small squares before spearing each on on his fork and eating it. He alternated now and then with fruit from the bowl he had filled.
"I must ask, however," he continued a few moments later, "why you would consider the possibility of such a visit to be... awkward."
Solida thought carefully about a good way to reply to Sanek's question. She picked up the toast and proceeded to eat it, enjoying its simplistic flavors.
"I suppose that I was simply wondering how this afternoon will go. I hope that the afternoon presents an interesting time to talk, share stories and similar interests, and proves enjoyable for all. But...What if that's not the case?" Solida wasn't exactly sure why she wondered about this, but it was certainly on her mind. She believed, in the end, that she probably had nothing to worry about, but she simply hoped that Sanek and her parents would get along wonderfully together.
"Anyway, I...I suppose it's nothing to worry about, is it?" She finished the last bit of her juice, and then turned her attention to her bowl of fruit.
As she finished, Sanek analyzed her comments. He had never seen her with this level of indecisiveness before, and it intrigued him. He realized she'd be sensitive to any further discussion on the topic in and of itself, and decided to allow the topic to terminate.
"As you suggest," he replied quietly as he finished the last of his kreila bread. He began to finish what was left of the fruit in his bowl, carefully spearing the fruit one at a time with his fork and eating each piece slowly.
"I am unfamiliar with where they live," he continued after a moment. "Do they reside in the city proper, or in the officer's quarter suites at Starfleet housing? As I recall, they are both Starfleet officers."
As one of the cafeteria staff walked by their table, she paused him for a moment. "A warm cup of coffee, please."
"Would you care for cream and sugar with it, ma'am?"
"Yes, please," she said, and he walked off.
She sat back in her chair and watched Sanek as he ate the fruit. "Oh, no, they reside in a nice neighborhood in the city. I believe they take their housing allowance and simply apply it to their own home. I believe they have always found the independence it provides to their liking. And, I have to admit, I have always loved where they live."
Sanek quietly finished his meal, and drank the remaining portion of water in his glass. He then placed all the dining ware on his plate and set it near the edge of the table for one of the cafeteria staff when they came by again. He leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table and folded his hands, looking at Solida for a moment before he responded.
"The desire for independence is understandable," he said. He was about to continue when the man who had left to retrieve Solida's coffee returned with a steaming cup of the liquid, and a small saucer with sugar cubes placed around a cream pitcher. Setting it before her, he took Sanek's dishes and left.
"In any event, this meeting shall be intriguing," he continued. "Many cultures consider such meetings a step towards taking the involvement down a more serious path."
He looked at her for a moment, and then raised his right eyebrow.
A step towards a more serious path? She allowed herself a slight giggle upon hearing those words. After all, she considered what had been going on between them in recent weeks a step in that direction already, as certainly their love for each other was not a new development.
As the coffee was placed before her, she gently picked up and placed two of the sugar cubes into the hot liquid, and then added a generous amount of cream to it. She stirred it slightly for a moment, and then took a sip, nodding that its flavor was rather enjoyable.
"Indeed, the traditional idea of taking one to visit their parents. Though, in all fairness, wouldn't you say that we've already begun that journey - towards a more serious path?"
At her laughter, Sanek's eyebrow raised, if possible, even higher. He considered her comments carefully for a moment before he decided to respond.
"That would be my assessment as to the nature of our association, yes," he said. "I was, however, merely attempting to set a precedent related to cultural diversity."
Since they were in public, he decided to divert the conversation to something more socially acceptable to Vulcan sensibilities. He had been examining a particular subject since Solida had suggested the meeting with her parents, and decided now was a good time for the query.
"I am curious; have your parents had much contact with Vulcans in the past?"
Solida sipped her coffee gently, as it was very hot, as she listened to Sanek's question.
"I cannot say to what exact level they have had associations with Vulcans, but I do know that they work with Vulcans somewhat regularly and once in the past they traveled to Vulcan, perhaps out of interest, but I believe there was a conference that they were to attend. Maybe at the Science Academy, or something? It was a while ago. But, I do remember them talking very fondly of the trip. Perhaps that will be a good 'ice breaker,' so to speak?"
Sanek raised his eyebrow.
"I was unaware that your parents have had the contact with Vulcans, and apparently Vulcan culture, that you describe," he stated. "It will be intriguing to see their level of interest and knowledge in that regard."
He watched her for a few moments as she sipped her coffee.
"If I may; are there any traditions I should be made aware of," he queried. "Akin to either family tradition, or Betazoid tradition?"
She placed her napkin down on the table before her, her meal now complete, and looked at Sanek.
"There are many traditions in Betazoid society, but I am not certain that any of them will be a particularly relevant matter at this time." She considered the idea of a Betazoid wedding and laughed a little bit to herself, knowing full well that Sanek would wonder what was on her mind.
Sanek raised his eyebrow again at her chuckle.
"I am unaware of the humor in your comment, Solida," he stated. He decided to forgo continuing that particular line of thought as well, as the only other Betazoid custom he was familiar with was the rather infamous wedding ceremony tradition of appearing without clothing. He again decided to shift the conversation topic.
"If I may; how have your duties been progressing," he queried. "Are there any medical issues that have required attention as of late amongst the crew?"
Solida smiled a bit - she could tell he was perhaps slightly uncomfortable with the current line of conversation, or at the least that he did not feel it was quite suited to such a public place. She gladly accepted the change in topic.
"The other day we had to remove Crewman Matheson's gall-bladder, but the procedure went very smoothly. He should be back with his maintenance team within a day or so now," she smiled, obviously a bit proud of her work. "Other than that, the usual complaints. There seems to be some sort of bug going around, something akin to what humans call the 'common cold.' Again, not really a major issue."
She wondered if she should reciprocate the question a bit.
"How about you? Have you made any progress regarding the...hearing?"
"Not at the present time," he replied. "The Admiralty is still collating data and mission transcripts. Damage as severe as what the Alan Shepard was subjected to rarely results in the vessel returning to spacedock; as a result, this is an unprecedented scenario. Some delay is, as a result, expected."
He looked at Solida for a moment, and decided to inform her of the possible results of the hearing.
"It is possible that I may be found at fault for the damage to the vessel and the crew," he continued emotionlessly. "If that is the case, it is likely that a formal reprimand will be entered in my file; which, of course, would result in an assignment to a starbase, at best." He watched her for her response for a moment. "You needed to be made aware of the gravity of the situation."
"Reprimand?" She was rather surprised to hear this. Of course, she realized that this could very well be the case - that the admirals would look at the matter objectively - that the decision made would reflect the fact that the situation occurred at all, not simply his actions to save the crew. Because of the nature of what happened, she had little choice but to see his actions as valorous, even though he had insisted on several occasions that he acted simply as any Star Fleet Captain in his position should have acted and, as such, that his actions were merely what was expected of him.
"I know you have told me that you acted simply as what should have been expected of you, but...I just hope that the review board sees the matter as I do." She shook her head a little.
"Perhaps a reassignment would do you...Would do us...Some good. Maybe it would be a bit more safe? Maybe you could actually tend to the research that you enjoy doing so much, without dealing with as much administration?" She really did not know what else to say, though she could sense a slight bit of apprehension from him in regards to this hearing.
"It is standard procedure of Starfleet to hold a hearing whenever a vessel is lost or severely damaged," Sanek responded. "As such, the possibility of a negative verdict on the part of the acting captain is always a possibility."
He shifted his weight a bit and continued to look at her directly.
"I have reviewed my actions and have found nothing that would indicate a lack of adherence to Starfleet regulations or mandates," he continued, "but that will be for the Admiralty to decide. As for the possibility of re-assignment, it is likely that should that come to pass, what you have indicated as a desire may come to pass; that we will have a more permanent billet aboard a starbase."
"I believe I could get used to that," she said, smiling at Sanek. Deep in her heart, she knew that everything would work out just fine with the hearing, and even if the verdict did end up being less-than-desirable, they would work with whatever the outcome was and ensure a good future for themselves and their staff.
"I don't suppose we should wait here too much longer, do you?" She said, noting the time. While they had not given her parents an exact time at which they would meet them, she thought it would be rude to arrive too terribly late.
"We can leave for your parents when you are ready," Sanek said. "I have procured the use of a shuttle; it is ours to utilize as we see fit until tomorrow evening."
Solida stood up and smiled at Sanek. "Then, I see no reason to wait any further. Shall we?"
The two quietly made their way through the main dining hall floor, nodding at the cadets and staff members as they did. Walking back outside, Solida noticed that it was refreshing to once again be outside in the fresh, breezy air. It was one thing she greatly enjoyed about being planet-side. Thankfully, they were not too terribly far from the shuttle bay, so it would only take them a few moments to reach it.
As they walked, she turned to Sanek.
"I...I wanted to thank you for accompanying me to visit with them. It means a lot to me, you know..."
As they continued walking, Sanek looked over at Solida.
"I understand," he said simply. He knew that this meeting not only meant much to her, but also that it also had a great deal of significance to her as well. He knew she might not discuss that with him, but it was immaterial to ensuring that what was important to her was met.
As they reached the shuttle, they both climbed in. Sanek took a few moments to bring the engines online, and then turned to Solida.
"If you would like, please enter the course to the nearest shuttle dock to your parents abode."
"Certainly," she said. She entered the coordinates for the dock that was closest to their home - right on the outskirts of the city-proper.
And with that, the doors of the shuttle closed, and she sat back in the seat and prepared for the brief journey as the shuttle lifted slowly from the ground and rose into the air. It would only take a matter of moments for it to reach its destination. She wondered if perhaps she should make her parents aware that they would soon arrive. She decided that it would be a wise idea, and thus used the communications terminal to send them a brief message.
She hoped that when they arrived, they might be awaiting them.
As the shuttle began it's journey, Sanek watched the city below as they passed over it. Such differences between cultures and architecture; most Terran buildings were typically blocky and square by comparison to Vulcan architecture, which contained spires and many thin minarets that seemed to raise the city into the air. In it's own way, however, the scene was interesting to watch as they continued.
The journey did not last long at all, and before either of them had really settled into their seats the shuttle was beginning it's descent onto the landing pad at their destination. Sanek completed their landing clearance procedure and, once their clearance was granted, set the shuttle down gently on the pad. He tapped a few buttons and brought the shuttle offline, and then tapped the key to the side door - which opened with a hiss. He turned to Solida.
"Welcome home, Solida," he said.
'Home.' She was already home. Sanek had become such a large part of her life that she considered anywhere the two of them were together to be like Home. At this moment, Sanek could probably ever-so slightly sense the feeling of happiness, yet nervousness, within her, as they prepared to exit the shuttle. Their connection that had grown over the years would easily allow such a slight feeling of emotion between the two partners, even though unsaid.
As the doors opened, and they stepped out into the afternoon sun, Solida smiled as she saw her mother and father waiting just a few paces away.
"Mom! Dad!" She yelled, excitedly, and ran over to hug the two of them.
"Oh, it's great to see you dear!" Her mother said, as they parted their embrace. "But are you going to introduce us to your Vulcan friend?"
Solida laughed, having been caught up in the moment. She turned and smiled at Sanek, hoping he would understand and come over to greet them with her.
"Mother, Father...This is Sanek, the Captain of my ship and..." She thought for a moment on how to finish that phrase, and almost wondered if Sanek might finish it for her.
Sanek followed Solida more slowly out of the shuttle, appraising both her mother and father quickly as he did so. Obviously they were happy to see her. Neither of them were as elderly as Sanek had surmised they might be; at least they did not appear to be so. Some of that may well be the influence of Doctor T'yra himself, as he was deep in the medical field - specializing in Neurosurgery as Sanek recalled, as well as biologic sciences.
As Solida turned to Sanek and introduced him, he stepped up next to her, hands clasped behind his back.
"Doctor T'yra," he began, "your reputation as a Neurosurgeon precedes you." He turned slightly to his wife. "And Mrs. T'yra. I have heard much about you from your daughter." He paused for a moment and looked at them both before he continued. "I am honored to meet you both." He bent at the waist and bowed lightly to them, expressionless as always.
Solida's parents regarded Sanek for a moment as he spoke, and then emulated his bow out of respect.
"It seems my reputation precedes me, dear," her father began, in a cheerful mood. "I assure you, based on the high regard in which Solida holds you, the honor is ours."
In a teasing manner, not unlike her daughter, the mother smiled.
"And you realize you will have to tell me what it is my daughter has told you of me."
At Solida's mother's comment, Sanek raised his right eyebrow slightly.
"I shall endeavor to do so, Mrs. T'yra," he said. He watched them both for a moment and realized immediately where Solida's humorous and teasing nature had come from. He considered how best to respond, and then decided that he would take Solida's suggestion as to how to... as she said, 'break the ice.' It was somewhat rude to ask such a direct question, especially of those whom one had just met, but he knew this initial social etiquette was important to Solida.
"If I may," he continued, "Solida has informed me that you have both spent some time on Vulcan. May I inquire as to the nature of your visit?"
Her father smiled at the question, somewhat surprised to be asked such a direct question by a Vulcan. However, he also knew that this was perhaps a somewhat new social situation for him, and thus he figured that it was his attempt to perhaps break any initial tension that pervaded. Quite understandable.
"Ah, she told you that, did she?" He began, with a wink in his daughter's direction.
"Yes, we have both spent some time on Vulcan." He was going to say 'your home world,' but thought that was a bit presumtuous, though he recalled that he was, indeed, from Vulcan. "I have some colleagues that come from the planet, and have been invited on several occasions to visit with them and discuss various topics at-length with them. And once..." He turned and looked to his wife.
"Once he had a conference there, I believe? It was many years ago..."
"Ah, yes! That's right!" He chuckled. "You see? Sometimes I think she's in my head! I don't know WHAT I would do without her!"
"Indeed," Sanek responded. "I must apologize for the direct nature of the query."
He paused then, uncertain exactly how to proceed. With Solida, as things had progressed, social interaction had come naturally due to the attachment they both shared. However, this was altogether different. For certain apprehension wasn't an issue; as a Vulcan he didn't sense such emotions normally... interestingly though he found that Solida's earlier comment in the cafeteria regarding awkwardness was suddenly quite apt. Despite his initial comments, he was still bound by decades of Vulcan sensibilities, and to continue to be the one to initiate conversation was simply unheard of.
He turned and looked at Solida... and almost involuntarily his eyebrow raised again.
Solida smiled at Sanek, the gesture he made not at all unexpected. She then turned to her parents.
"Shall we go, or did we wish to stand here all afternoon?"
"Well, we COULD, you know?" Her mother asked, laughing.
"You'll have to excuse Nichole, Mr. Sanek, she and her daughter seem to share the same sense of humor at times," he said, nodding at him.
They were lead to a small ground-transport device, which would apparently lead them to their destination. "All aboard!" Her father said.
Sanek acknowledged Solida's father with a slight nod of the head in response. Humor. It seemed that for the next several hours he was going to be exposed to a great deal of it. He resolved to attempt to understand some of it at least during that time... even though he was rather certain that his own inability to process much of it would lead to humorous emotional response by Solida and her parents in any event.
He had not informed Solida of this prior to their departure on this journey, but he had spent no small amount of time in study of social interaction and customs whereas meetings of this sort were concerned. As his exposure to such social nuances was limited, he felt it necessary to gain some insight prior to the meeting. However, despite all the knowledge he had - he'd thought - gleaned from such social study, it had actually availed him little once the interaction began.
He did, however, find it fascinating. Like a complex algorithm with a multitude of variables that changed at an exponential rate, requiring re-calculation every few microseconds.
Sanek selected a seat in the rear of the transport at Solida's father's gesture. He felt that was the correct social protocol for the moment, allowing her mother Nichole to sit with her husband in the front seat.
As the transport hurried along to its destination, Solida looked over at Sanek, trying to gauge whether he was enjoying this interaction. She understood that it was a bit outside of his 'comfort zone,' so to speak, but she knew that this was, in no small part, done by him in order to show his caring for her. And she respected and loved him even more for it.
Her father, James, turned around for a moment, still keeping his eyes ahead, and looked at Sanek.
"So, captain, what brings your ship to Earth for such an extended time? I thought you were stationed out of...Oh, what was it...?"
"39-Sierra, dear."
"Yes, that's right. 39. So what brings you back here?"
As much as he expected questions of this nature, this particular question was quite a shock to his Vulcan sensibilities. Naturally his face remained an impassive emotionless mask; however, he was for a brief second uncertain how to answer. The full truth would of course invite a lengthy disclosure of the situation, which he was certain would not be appropriate at the current time. Furthermore, he was unaware if Starfleet had placed a classified status on the situation as well; his contacts outside of Starfleet were slim. He decided to make a brief mention of the vessel's state, and provide any further details as required.
"We recently returned from a scientific research voyage," he began. "During the study of an unknown anomaly, the vessel was damaged; as such I have been briefly assigned to Sol until repairs can be affected to the ship pursuant to the continuation of our research."
He reached for his PADD, and did a quick scan while he finished speaking to ensure his suspicions were correct; and indeed they were. Information related to the incident had been placed under confidential status until the hearing had been completed and adjourned.
Turning to Solida, and noting the slight smile on her face, he showed her the status notation of the Delta Volanis mission to ensure she was aware of the closed nature of it's data.
Solida simply nodded at him, indicating that she understood what he was trying to say.
"An anomaly that damaged the vessel?" Her father continued, obviously still wanting to pursue this topic.
"It's nothing to worry about, dad. It's under control. You know how those guys are on Sol - the ship will no doubt be fixed and back in the field in no time."
She gently placed her hand on his knee for a moment to give it a reassuring squeeze.
"Besides," she continued, "It has provided us with some time to come and visit you, hasn't it?"
"You always did have a way of looking at the brighter side of things," he said, as their vehicle began to slow down. It seemed they were nearing their destination.
Sanek placed his PADD back on his belt as the vehicle slowed and then came to a stop. As James and Nichole exited the vehicle, Sanek himself stepped out and looked about him.
It was the first time he had experienced what could be called suburban San Francisco. Stepping aside to allow Solida to exit the vehicle, he closed the exit behind her, placed his hands behind his back and stood for a moment looking around. Despite the differences in the architecture, flora, and atmosphere, there was a strikingly similar sense about the area to similar sections of the city of his birth on Vulcan. He could smell the flowers and other decorative plants, and in the distance make out what appeared to be the sound of children playing. The sun was still high in the sky as it was only shortly after 1:00 pm local time, and it was rather warm.
He stepped slightly to allow Solida to assume a position in front of him, and turned to view the nearest home the vehicle had stopped in front of, surmising that this must be Solida's parent's abode.
"Well," she said cheerfully, turning to Sanek. "We're here." And with a waving motion, she indicated that the nearby house was that of her parents. The house was rather large, perhaps about five bedrooms, the architecture primarily of stone, but with a modernistic feel to it. Refined, yet practical. The house still made use of a chimney, perhaps for more ornamental reasons than anything else (though Solida admitted to herself that the idea of curling up in front of the fire was rather romantic), and the chimney itself was constructed with what appeared to be river stones.
There was a gate around most of the property, which opened as they drew near, and beyond it was was a well-manicured lawn, with what appeared to be a Japanese rock-garden near the oak door that would lead into the house.
"Well, what do you think?"
"It is very... comfortable," Sanek replied somewhat carefully.
In truth, it did appear to be a place where one could easily find peace of mind and rest from daily responsibilities. His practiced Vulcan eye appreciated the artistic flair of the stone architecture that gave the house a rustic nature despite it's obviously more modern design. He turned to Solida.
"Am I correct in my assumption is that you were reared in this abode, and no other?" he queried.
"It is," her mother said in reply, turning around and facing Sanek for a moment. "Though, it has changed a bit over the years. Over time we've added new features here and there and expanded a bit."
"We thought about buying a new, larger home at one point, but...Well, sentimental attachment, I suppose?"
Solida smiled at Sanek. "In other words, yes, it is."
And with that, they passed through the gates and walked down a small cobblestone walkway towards the main entrance, passing a few flowerbeds in which grew irises, lillies, and roses.
As Sanek followed Solida and her parents towards the front door, they passed the gate and flowerbeds and eventually came up to the Japanese rock garden. When Sanek reached it, he stopped and clasped his hands behind his back as he carefully examined it. He had, of course, never seen one before; however, Vulcan artists had a theme with a similar notion, and he immediately recognized that it had a significance other than simply as a decoration. It had a singular and immediate mathematical procession of the rocks and sand, which he carefully considered for a moment.
Turning slightly to Solida when she realized he'd stopped, he glanced at her, and then back to the garden as an indication.
"My apologies," he began, "however, this particular decoration is designed to promote peace, or tranquility, correct? On a subconscious level of course."
"Yes, it is." She tried to think back on some of her Earth history lessons, and thought some about Buddhist culture. Was 'Zen' the word she was looking for?
"Many find its simplicity rather tranquil and relaxing," she began, "And from what I recall of my studies, there are some monastic cultures that create similar 'gardens' for the purpose of cultivating the mind, not vegetation. Those sand gardens are a good example," she said. 'Sand Gardens?' She laughed, knowing that wasn't the term she had in mind.
Her father unlocked and opened the front door, and they followed her parents inside, where her mother motioned for them to take a seat in the sun-porch down the hall.
"We'll be with you in a moment, dear," she said, and walked away with her father.
Sanek stepped into the house behind Solida, and ensured that the door closed behind them. He then looked about the areas of the home that he could see. It was, as he expected, distinctly earth like in it's decor and arrangement... although he could see various artifacts of non-indigenous nature here and there on shelves or the like.
As her parents receded into the house, he looked carefully at Solida for a moment.
"Shall we proceed?" he queried. "Unless you have a desire to provide a tour, of course."
"I'm sure we will have plenty of time for that," she said, looking down the hall. "Besides, I'd like to be able to just sit and relax for a while, wouldn't you?"
They walked slowly down the hallway, passing a few portraits of what must have been distant relatives or ancestors of Solida and her parents. Solida pointed out a couple of them and gave brief descriptions as they walked, hoping that it would give a little more insight into her own history to Sanek. It did not take long for them to reach the sun-porch, and Solida stepped out and then walked across the room, taking a seat on the couch that was facing the room itself, providing a 360-degree look around. The weather was gorgeous, and as such, the room was filled with the natural, enhanced warmth of the sun.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Sanek carefully filed away each of the relatives, and the information she provided about them, as they continued... making a special note of their appearances and ensuring he could recall the details at a later time. He was intrigued of course to see Solida's lineage. Several older photographs showed a rather clear resemblance to Solida herself... and of course must have been direct descendants from which she had received her genetics from.
As they entered the sun-porch after, Sanek stepped into the room for a few steps and stopped, standing in his usual pose as Solida seated herself. The room was quite similar to many he'd seen on Vulcan; in fact, his own living area in his Clan house had a similar design. The arrangement was carefully designed to allow those seated to not only fully partake of the sunlight, but also to view the remainder of the room completely.
"Certainly, it is," he replied. He began to move across the room toward the couch where she was seated.
"This is one of my favorite parts of the house," she said, as he took a seat across from her. "Mother and I always used to spend our afternoons out here, just talking about whatever was on our mind. Boys, school-work, you know, the usual stuff," she said, with a wink.
"It does remind me of one of the sections of your own home though, Sanek. And you know, if I...We...Ever have a home to ourselves, I would like to have a part very similar to this."
As he seated himself he sat in, what was for him, a relaxed pose; upright and straight with his hands folded in front of him on his lap. He regarded her as she spoke, and realized that he'd never seen her in quite this state before... almost a reflective state of mind coupled with a dreamy mood. It intrigued him, and in many ways served to increase his attachment to her.
"If such a scenario comes to pass," he responded, "I will endeavor to ensure such a room is available for your use, as it, quite obviously, provides you with no small amount of peace."
A thought crossed his mind at that moment. It was unlike him... well, perhaps not quite unlike him as it was not quite something one would expect of a Vulcan for the most part... but he dwelt on it for just a moment.
"If I may," he continued, "should such a scenario come to pass, where would you desire such a residence?"
Solida was rather surprised by Sanek's question, as she did not expect such a direct inquiry from him. She was unsure of how to react to it, but in her mind, she wondered if this perhaps was meant to show that he, too, thought about the future...their future.
"There's an old human expression that 'home is where the heart is.' Have you ever heard that?"
She laughed, but then grew a bit more serious in her tone.
"I have not really thought about it much, Sanek. I guess I always thought that my 'home' would be anywhere that I was with you. It doesn't really matter to me. I just want to be with you, whether on Vulcan, Earth, Risa...Or wherever our adventures take us."
Sanek regarded her response for a few moments. He hadn't expected a response from her like this; however, knowing her as he did he admitted that it shouldn't have come as a surprise.
"I understand," he responded. "My query was simply conjecture; should you have the choice of location, my assumption is that you would have a preference."
'A Preference?' She thought about this for a moment.
"If I had to pick, I guess it would be..."
And just as she was about to finish her statement, her mother walked out onto the porch with a small serving tray upon which sat what appeared to be glasses of iced tea.
"I hope you are thirsty," she said, looking at Sanek and smiling, then proceeding to place one of the glasses down in front of him.
"Thank you, mother," Solida said politely, taking one of the glasses into her own hands. She took a sip, and then nodded - it was a mint-flavored tea, not unlike what one might be served in the Mediterranean region of Earth. "It's very good."
"My thanks, ma'am," Sanek stated.
He picked up the glass and took a sip. A curious mixture of an Earth tea concoction with an additional flavor that was cool to the palette. A bit bland to a Vulcan, but it was none-the-less lightly flavorful.
Setting the glass back down in front of him, he eyed Solida for a moment.
"Please, continue," he began. "You would guess it would be..." He raised his eyebrow.
Solida's mother mocked the raised-eyebrow look Sanek gave her, and noticing this, Solida stuck her tongue out at her.
"My preference is simply to be with you, Sanek. While I might enjoy Earth and have grown rather fond of it over the years, I have enjoyed our visits to your family home on Vulcan. It has a certain charm to it," she said with a smile. "If we ever reach a point to where we can settle down, I think that would be more than 'acceptable'."
Sanek nodded, and appeared to immediately shift subjects as he again picked up the glass and sipped the tea.
"An intriguing beverage," he said, "one I do not believe I have imbibed before." He sipped again, and held the liquid in his mouth, tasting it, for a moment before he swallowed. "I am unfamiliar with the ingredient that leaves a cool sensation on the palette."
"Mentha sachalinensis," her mother replied, "Or, more simply, mint. Have you ever had the opportunity to taste a peppermint, Mr. Sanek? On Earth it seems to be a favorite winter-treat."
"Admittedly, I have not," he responded. "I have, of course, heard of such confections, but I have had little opportunity to sample one."
"Then we will have to remedy that, won't we?" Her mother said, taking a seat across from them and sipping her own tea. She then turned and looked at Solida.
"I must admit, it was a pleasant surprise to hear you would be able to stop by this afternoon to visit with us, dear. You know we always worry about you out there."
"Oh, mother, there's nothing to worry about. Well, other than a mishap in the medbay..."
Her mother glared at her for a moment. "But, what about that incident you were telling me about...?"
Solida sighed for a moment, and then glanced over at Sanek before replying. "That was a bit different..."
"Different?"
"Yeah...No one could have predicted what was going to happen, not even the captain."
Her mother's tone grew a bit more serious. "And yet, those things we cannot predict are often the most dangerous, wouldn't you agree?" She turned to look at Sanek, as if waiting for him to provide an answer.
"That is correct, ma'am," Sanek answered. "It is a truth that cosmic exploration can provide scenarios that result in unforseen situations."
He shifted his weight slightly and took another sip of tea.
Her mother laughed at the formality and bluntness of Sanek's statement though she, too, had come to understand and expect this from Vulcans.
"If the situation was unforeseen, Mr. Sanek, would that not free you of any guilt associated with it?"
Sanek set the glass down, and then placed his hands in front of his chest, fingertip to fingertip, as was his habit.
"That is not necessarily the case, ma'am," he responded. "As a Starfleet captain it is my duty to ensure the safety of the vessel and the crew. Safety protocols are in place as regulations that moderate the safety of a vessel and it's proximity to unknown phenomenon directly." He watched Solida's mother for a moment, attempting to gauge her reactions, before he continued.
"As such," he said, "guilt may be applied as a result of adherence, or lack thereof, to regulations regardless of circumstances - predictable or otherwise."
"But you did everything you could have done, Sanek," Solida said, looking across at him. "Even though there were injuries, everyone lived and now seems to be well. You would think they would see this - the fact that you were able to take a challenging situation and recover from it - and would therefore forgive you."
Her mother nodded. "I would think that would be the case, Mr. Sanek, but perhaps you are right - I do not think we can speak for what the Board may decide."
"That is correct, ma'am," Sanek responded. "It is under the prevue of the Admiralty to determine."
He sipped more of his tea.
"Well, I'm sure everything will work out as it was meant to," her mother replied, a smile on her face. It was somewhat unclear if this was meant to be reassuring or if it was, in fact, genuine.
"May I ask what it is you plan to do, captain, after this...Board meeting?...Is held?" The voice of her father said as he entered the room, sitting next to his wife.
Sanek looked at Solida's father for a moment. He'd been with Solida long enough to realize that the true, logical facts in this scenario were not what he was looking for. Still, it was not Sanek's nature to conjecture unrealities unless they presented themselves as possibilities for the future. He thought about his answer to the query, and decided to provide an answer he thought would satisfy him.
"My direction after the Admiralty Hearing will be dependent upon the outcome," he said emotionlessly. "However; should the Hearing end with a positive result, I have been offered Executive Officer status with the 16th Mobile Fleet at Station K-7."
"And should the result be not-so-favorable, Mr. Sanek?" He asked, in reply.
"Then it would be logical to assume my future plans would be dictated by the decision of the Admiralty," Sanek stated.
Her father couldn't contain his laughter at Sanek's comment, though he did know why he said what he did. Did he expect anything less from a Vulcan?
"What I meant, captain, is if there was something that you yourself desired or planned should the outcome not be to your favor?"
Sanek was genuinely perplexed at Solida's father's question. What plans he may have had would be irrelevant should he be found guilty by the Admiralty Board, regardless of what those plans were. It was quite likely he would face a courts martial, and possibly even lose his ability to command; indeed, should things go badly, he may even face prison time.
"I must reiterate my original comment, sir," he stated. "Any plans I may have will be superseded by the Admiralty should the hearing end with a negative result. As such, any plans I may have will be irrelevant should that result come to pass. It is because of this possibility that I have not made any plans for the immediate future."
It looked as if the man had something else that he wished to say as a follow-up, but Solida turned to Sanek and said, "You'll have to forgive him...He shares my curiosity, you know?" She gave him a subtle wink as she said that, and then took another sip of her tea.
Not wanting the conversation to be dominated, she sat back in her chair and gave Sanek a reassuring look, wondering if he perhaps had any questions for them.
Sanek nodded at Solida's comment.
"That is somewhat understandable, of course," he stated. He considered the question still, however. It was obvious her father was looking for some kind of response, and wasn't getting what he was looking for. He could only conclude that it must have something to do with what Sanek planned for the future with his daughter, as that was a logical query concerned the present circumstances.
He therefore made the decision to mention those plans; as they were Solida's parents, it was only logical that they be informed.
"My assumption was that your interest lay in my career choices, which are on hold pending the hearing results. Admittedly, personal plans I have considered that are not affected by the hearing outcome for the future include your daughter," he began. "As such, it is only logical that I discuss such plans with you."
Such forward personal comments would be considered, usually, a breach of protocol on Vulcan; however, whereas courtship situations were concerned, it was typical to bring the matter directly to the parents, thereby ensuring no misunderstandings were conveyed prior to the Kun-ut Kali-fi.
Solida's father looked at her mother, then to Solida, and then back to Sanek.
"Is that a fact?" He asked, giving him a curious look. "We had suspicions of such, but Solida has always been somewhat vague on this topic."
Her mother nodded. "We knew for a while she had feelings for you, Mr. Sanek, but she always told us that her relationship...Your relationship...Was complicated."
"Oh, mother..."
Her mother raised her hand. "So, then, what are your plans?"
Sanek took another drink of tea, and considered how best to respond, careful to consider their emotional states.
"Solida and I have discussed the possibility," he began, "however I wish to stress that at this time no direct time frame has been stated." He paused for a moment, and decided that some background might be in order. "In Vulcan culture it is traditional to discuss the Kun-ut Kali-fi with the parents of a prospective mate. My only future plans, at this time, include that possibility with your daughter when she feels prepared to take that step at some point in the future."
He paused long enough to sip again from his tea, and then set it down, carefully folding his hands across his stomach.
"I therefore submit my humble request to you, Mr. and Mrs. T'yra, that you will consider myself an acceptable suitor to your daughter when the time is appropriate." He paused for a moment again. "I must apologize for my bluntness with this request; Vulcans are not an outgoing race, and such requests are usually outside the bounds of standard social protocol."
Solida gazed over at Sanek, a great amount of affection apparent in her look. Although she had spoken with him at length about her desire for a true courtship, to discover, together, the meaning of their love for each other, every time she heard any mention of marriage, her heart skipped a beat.
"A suitable mate?" Her father said, with a chuckle. He realized, of course, that Sanek was serious, and when his wife slapped him on the knee, his mood grew a bit more serious.
"Mr. Sanek, I ask only one thing of you. I want nothing more than for you to make my daughter...My little girl...Happy. If you can complete her, be there for her in all times of need, and put her above yourself and your career, should the need arise, then you already have my blessing."
"He's right, Captain. All we want is what's best for Solida."
Solida looked at both of her parents, and then back at Sanek. He might not have taken this moment to be as emotional as it was, but deep down inside, she was a mess of feelings. She truly did not know what to say, but she attempted in whatever meek way possible.
"Mom...Dad...All I've been able to think about for YEARS now is Sanek. Every time we go on a mission, particularly a dangerous one, he's always on my mind. I find myself crying even to think that there was a possibility of something happening to him, and during the incident with the white-hole...I just didn't know what to do. Despite how he might have acted at times, I knew...I could FEEL...How he felt, and even if it was only recently that he was direct about his feelings, I've known all along that we were perfect for each other."
Sanek nodded politely in acknowledgement of Solida's parents comments. He was about to respond when Solida spoke. This was completely outside what was typical of his familiarity, and as such he was unsure if her reactive comments were typical of the social etiquette related to such discussion. However, what she did say caused him to recall much of their association over the years, and the recent incident during their last voyage, acutely. She was correct, of course.
As he spent a few moments analyzing the scenario, he concluded that in many ways there could have been no other in his existence to which he could have become attached to in such a way. His quiet rejection of certain Vulcan customs had made it impossible, and he admitted to himself, not for the first time, that he'd known she was right from the beginning.
When Solida finished, he gazed at her for a few moments. He was certain not only she, but her parents as well, could feel his emotions quietly boiling beneath his placid surface, but irregardless his logic prose overcame any display of such. Turning back to her parents, he nodded solemnly once again.
"I am truly honored by your confirmation, Mr. and Mrs. T'yra; I shall endeavor to do what you request," he stated simply. He looked back to Solida.
"Oh, believe me, captain, you will," her father said, in a tone meant to be serious and threatening, but obviously joking.
"Don't mind him, Mr. Sanek. The truth is, we know you will do what is best by our daughter."
Solida's own gaze turned back to Sanek. She wasn't sure what she expected him to actually say, but perhaps she at least imagined that he might say more. This was one of those social situations in which she could feel his uncomfortability, but she had hoped that maybe he would let his emotions come to the surface and speak fully from the heart.
Sanek's response to Solida's father's comment was an involuntarily raised eyebrow. It took him a moment to analyze the comment before he understood it had been meant as a humorous dialog. His wife's comment a moment later confirmed that fact. He considered the situation a moment more.
He knew Solida enough to understand her and know that she wanted him to respond with more of an emotional prose in regards to the topic at hand. It was only logical, of course. This was, however, not a common situation... and for perhaps the first time in his life he felt truly uncomfortable. He did wish to convey to her parents his attachment to Solida, but it simply was not the Vulcan way to divulge such data to others, regardless of their affiliation with the person in question. As it was, he already had violated standard Vulcan etiquette by broaching the subject in the manner he had; on Vulcan, the topic would be discussed over a Tea Ceremony by the parents of the prospective couple.
However, he had wished to avoid the emotionless standard procedure of the Vulcan ceremony in particular due to his own personal convictions that contradicted Vulcan tradition whereas relationships were concerned. This, in and of itself, was difficult enough... but his attachment to Solida was such that he had decided long ago that such difficult scenarios would be possible in ensuring her needs were met on a base emotional level such as this. So, for perhaps the first time in his life, he attempted to curb his logic prose, and tell Solida's parents publicly the depth of his attachment to their daughter.
"Mr. and Mrs. T'yra," he began, somewhat haltingly, "what Solida says is, in fact, true. There could be no other in my existence that I could feel such an attachment to. I must ask you to forgive me, as I am not familiar with emotional context in such circumstances, but I do... love Solida, and wish only to ensure her future is... happy. She is, and has been for many years, very important to me."
The room remained silent for a few moments after Sanek finished speaking. Even Solida was slightly surprised by his direct, emotional (or as emotional as could be expected) response. Her parents were even more surprised. They were well aware of his caring for their daughter, but they imagined that he would approach the subject as logically as possible.
Her father sat there for a moment, a stunned look on his face, before speaking.
"You love her, Captain? That's a term I never would have imagined coming from a Vulcan, though you must forgive such line of thinking. But, if you love her, Captain, then what is it that you intend to do about it?"
While he understood his statement was out of character for a typical Vulcan, he was somewhat unprepared for the manner in which Solida's parents, and even Solida herself, responded to it. That, in and of itself, seemed to contradict what he understood of such discussions. Her father's comment illuminated some of reason for that response with his queries, bit Sanek was still slightly confused. His response was only logical, despite it's emotional context.
"Forgive my directness," he responded, "however, it was my assumption that such emotional context was desired as related to the current topic. While Vulcans may not display emotions, we do, as a race, have them - contrary to what is commonly believed. It is only logical that I would assert those emotions whereas my attachment to your daughter is concerned."
There were some things that even Solida was not aware of when it came to convictions about Vulcan tradition and belief in Sanek's nature. Because of the topic of the current discussion, and the fact that by marriage these individuals may be tied to him as family at some point in the future, he made the decision to attempt to explain some of those convictions to them.
"While I am Vulcan," he continued, "there are some Vulcan traditions that I personally perceive to be restrictive. We each have the choice of which paths to follow, and which traditions and convictions to adhere to, and one Truth is simply that emotions are part of the Vulcan psychology. I made the decision long ago to explore them in my own way to attain a deeper understanding of them, which is, I admit, atypical of standard Vulcan philosophy. This does not make me any less Vulcan; however, such exploration is considered vulgar in Vulcan society as one would expect." He paused for a moment to take a drink of tea. "In any event, the admission of emotion does not diminish myself as a logical being. As such, it is only logical that I submit to you the emotional sentiment that I have for Solida."
Setting his drink back down, he lifted his hands and brought them together fingertip to fingertip above his chest. Looking at Solida, he answered her father's second query.
"As for my intentions, I believe I have stated them," he said. "It is my desire to see your daughter, if you will excuse the term, happy; it is also my desire remain with her in whatever context she wishes; which may, in the future, lead to Kun-ut Kali-fi."
"The Vulcan wedding ceremony," her father said, rather directly. "Are you asking for our permission to marry our daughter, when the time comes, captain?"
Sanek raised his eyebrow.
"I believed I had already made that request apparent," he said. "However, to answer your direct query; yes, that is my request."
Although she knew deep-down that this is what Sanek desired...And she as well...It was still somewhat sobering, in some ways, to hear it directly from him, to her parents no-less. She sat there for a moment, letting her gaze drift from her parents to Sanek and then back again, trying to think of something to say. Yet, this was one of those times when any choice of words seemed as if it would fall short of the feelings within her.
From her studies, she knew that it was human practice for the would-be groom to ask the father for his daughter's hand in marriage, but certainly it was not something, in most cases, that the daughter would be present for. Normally such a talk would be a personal one between the groom and the father, or the parents.
Deciding not to say anything, a simple smile crossed her lips, and Sanek, should he be attuned to it, would be able to feel the joy within her.
Sanek noticed the smile from Solida, and turned to face her. He could sense some emotion from her, as it was obvious she was projecting some his way. He simply gazed at her, his expression his typical prose. The emotions that he typically, like any Vulcan, buried deep beneath logic and philosophical training churned quietly... and he had little doubt that, irregardless of his ability to now show it physically, she - and her parents - would be able to feel them.
Not for the first time he understood why Betazoids sometimes made Vulcans somewhat uncomfortable.
In his case, at this moment, however - it was a situation which he was no longer concerned with. His emotions where Solida were concerned transcended logic... or anything else.
He analyzed this realization for a few moments, and found it interesting that his existence had come to this point. As a Vulcan, this situation was not something he would have typically assumed he would find himself in. And, most Vulcans would not allow themselves to be in this situation in the first place. He was, however, no longer concerned with what was typical of social etiquette whereas Vulcans and companionship tradition was concerned.
A few moments passed in contented silence, everyone enjoying their tea and thinking about what had just transpired. It was Solida's father who finally broke the silence, much to her surprise.
"Now I understand why you wished for us to meet the Captain this afternoon, Solida. And now, perhaps even more importantly, I understand how wonderful you two will be for each other."
He turned and focused his attention on Sanek.
"When the two of you feel that the time is right, I believe I speak for my wife when I say that we fully support the both of you in whatever you decide to do. Please, just let us know if there is ever anything we can do for either of you...Or both of you."
Sanek acknowledged her father's comments with a single nod.
"I offer my thanks," he replied.
"So..." her mother began, trying to gently change the subject. "Is there anything the two of you wished to do while you were here, other than sit here and have tea with us?"
Sanek's attention was pulled to Solida's mother when she asked the question. In truth, Sanek really had little idea of what to expect or any activities associated with such visitations, so he simply raised his eyebrow curiously and turned to look at Solida once again questioningly.
"Well, I don't know, mother. I'm not sure we had honestly given much thought to our day beyond visiting with you all," Solida finally responded.
"Okay, I just wanted to be sure that we weren't keeping you from anything."
Several hours passed as Sanek, Solida, and Solida's parents talked about the goings-on in their lives and caught up on little stories. The afternoon was rather pleasant, both in regards to the weather outside and the company kept by them. Solida was really grateful to Sanek for wishing to visit her parents with her, as she knew much of the conversational topics were a bit outside his regular comfort zone.
As the sun began to slowly set on the horizon, Solida looked at her parents and then to Sanek.
"Mother, Father, it was wonderful to get to see you this afternoon. I really appreciate it."
"Oh, are you leaving already, dear?"
Solida nodded.
"Yeah. It's getting late and I'd not want to keep you all evening. Besides, maybe Sanek and I can have dinner somewhere."
She looked at Sanek to see if such an idea was to his liking.
Sanek turned to look at Solida, his eyebrow raised.
The day had turned out to be fortuitous, and the conversations after his initial request had been typical of what he understood as standard family social interaction... related to other family, current events, and other mundane information. Several attempts had been made to cast humor his way, and in each case he was slightly confused by the anecdotes and comments until he understood they had been meant as humor.
However, he sense that Solida wanted to depart, and as such he wished to acceed to her wishes.
"If such is your desire, Solida," he stated, "then certainly." He turned to her parents. "I must thank you for your hospitality, and it will be agreeable to see you again in the future."
"I am sure we will see a lot more of you in the near future, Captain," her father said with a warm smile. "After all, anyone who was able to win our daughter over is fine by us."
Solida's parents led them down the hallways and back to the entrance hall, where they offered their daughter hugs and farewells. Her father, knowing that Vulcans would shy away from such things, even a simple handshake, still offered his hand to the captain.
"Captain Sanek, it was our pleasure to meet with you this afternoon. I know you most likely do not care for such gestures, but I would very much like to shake your hand. You have made my daughter happy, and as such, I cannot thank you enough."