First Days - Part 2
Laying on his back on his bunk, Sanek lay absolutely still... his fingers folded save for the index fingers which touched in a point lightly resting on the tip of his nose. He stared above at the low hanging ceiling... staring, but not seeing - completely lost in Kohl-tor as he moved his consiousness in and about his memories and recent thoughts. He meticulously examined each memory in turn; his interview with Rear Admiral Lenara Jern, his appointment of Lieutenant Solida as Cheif Medical Officer, his recent promotion by Starfleet to Commander almost immediately upon his acceptance into the Alpha Centauri Institute, and the recent assignment to a new vessel - a Hope class Research vessel, newly comissioned with modifications to the warp nacelles and hull.
Shifting, he turned to another recent memory - the reassignment of the Alpha Centauri Institute and his own subsequent reassignment to Starbase 39. He meticulously examined the billet orders, his assigned stateroom, the return trip to Sol Station to have personal effects and other articles of the crew moved to their new home.
As he prepared to shift from meditation to a consious state, a sudden memory - or was it a memory? - thrust forth. His father... years before his death. He had taken Sanek to the Vulcan Science Institute's outer gardens... waiting for Sanek's mother. Standing near a fountain - a rare enough sight on the dry, dusty planet - he had looked carefully at his son.
"Sanek," he said seriously, "when one deals with other races, especially humans, one must learn to allow some emotion to emerge at times."
Sanek remembered. "But father," he stated, his eyebrow raised, "that is illogical."
His father placed his hand on Sanek's shoulder. "You will learn that logic, offtimes, does not always hold the answer. Remember this, my son."
His meditation broken, Sanek stared at the ceiling above him for a few moments, his last concious meditative thought receeding.
"... Remember this, my son."
Unclasping his hands, Sanek slowly shifted his weight and sat up, turning to set his feet on the floor. Faintly disturbed by his last memory and how it intruded upon his consiousness, he considered it for a few moments. He glanced about his stateroom, decorated to Vulcan taste with earth tones and dim lighting, and finaly raised his left eyebrow quizzically.
"Intriguing," he said to himself.
He slowly stood and walked across the room to the round porthole, his meditative robes comforting after weeks of wearing his Starfleet uniform. As he reached the porthole he stopped and clasped his hands behind his back, looking out at the stars and distant gas clouds. He could almost feel the vastness of space, the fullness of the universe as he studied distant stars each in turn, lost in contemplation.
The sudden two-tone buzz of the entry query on his stateroom door broke his reverie. Turning, he faced the door. "Enter," he stated.
The door hissed open, revealing newly promoted Lieutenant Commander Vaareler. Sanek noted that her rank tabs had already been placed on the collar of her uniform as she stepped inside... the door closing behind her with another hiss.
"Sir," she began, "all provisioning has been accounted for and completed on the Archimedes. All stations report fully operational and ready to perform."
"That is good," replied Sanek. He briefly considered his new command... named for an ancient Terran scientist named Archimedes of Syracuse. A human of brilliant mind, attributed with the design of several ancient Terran theories and technological designs that helped bring enlightenment to early Terran civilization. He was slain by a soldier during the Seige of Syracuse by Ancient Rome.
"Sir," she began, "may I speak freely?"
"Lieutenant Commander, you know you always have leave to speak freely."
"I forsee possible trouble with our new Ensign, Oefoosyoo," she began. "His unfamiliarity with ship's systems and introverted nature could jeopardize the ship and crew at a critical moment. I recommend replacing him with a more capable officer."
As she finished, Sanek was struck by the intrusive memory during his meditation of his father. He considered that momentarily, and it's applicability to this development, before he answered.
"Negative," Sanek began. "Ensign Oefoosyoo will remain at his station and assignment. I will see to him myself."
Vaareler raised an eyebrow. "Sir? Very well, understood." She began to turn back to the door. "I will leave you to your meditation now sir, I apologize for my intrusion."
Sanek raised his hands and touched his fingertips together before his chest as he replied. "Vaareler, please remain for a moment." Their long association had developed a subtle discourse... whenever they used their proper names with one another it indicated a wish to dispense with Starfleet protocol and a desire to converse on a more personal level. Sanek noted the time on the wall chronometer before he continued. "You have just come off duty; it would be agreeable if you would stay and play a game of Kovlar." He turned and moved towards the cabinet near the porthole where his ceremonial tea set was placed.
Vaareler stopped and turned. "That would be agreeable, Sanek," she replied in a less stern tone of voice. She stepped further into the room, looking around at the various decorations and furniture before moving towards the low table and chairs, the Kovlar board precisely arranged on the glass tabletop. "Your stateroom reminds me strongly of Vulcan," she said.
"As was the general idea," Sanek said as he began to prepare a ceremonial mixture of Theris-masu. "One is more comfortable in one's traditional surroundings."
Vaareler turned to Sanek with a raised eyebrow. "Comfortable?"
Sanek paused for a moment, dipping the herbal mixture into the steaming water, before he replied. "A human affectation."
Vaareler looked at Sanek for a moment, his back to her, and then looked out the porthole. "I have found working with humans to be... difficult," she began. "They have little ability to control their emotional outbursts. It's quite illogical."
"And what of our other officers?" Sanek queried. "Andorians, Bajorans, Betazoids..." He poured the final mixture into the share vessel as he spoke.
She was quiet for a moment. "I should ask Sanek," she said, "about your intentions whereas Lieutenant Solida is concerned. It would complicate matters should her ego be bruised."
Sanek turned, the share vessel held in both hands. "Solida is aware of the situation between us. She chooses to interpret things in her own way."
"That is quite illogical," Vaareler said.
Reaching her, Sanek paused for a moment, facing her directly. "Solida is not a logical being... which is of itself logical, as she is a Betazoid." He raised the share vessel slightly and took a long sip of Theris-masu, looking at Vaareler as he did so. When he finished, he held the share vessel between them at the usual height. Vaareler returned Sanek's look as she took the vessel in both hands and drank as well herself. As she finished she held the vessel between them. Sanek reached up and held the opposite ends.
"You are first, as the results of our last game indicated," Sanek suggested.