In the Prophet's Lounge

Posted on Sun May 1st, 2022 @ 1:49pm by Lieutenant Commander Andromeda Lightfeather & Lieutenant Sarok
Edited on on Sun May 1st, 2022 @ 1:56pm

Mission: Mission 2: Chasing Shadows
Location: Prophet's lounge, Starbase 48

[ON]

Feeling a bit hungry, Sarok was looking for some lounge or bar on Starbase 48. There was still more than enough time before he had to report on his new assignment on the Endurance.

He did not like crowded places where it was loud and some people, but after a while, it seemed he had found the perfect spot. It was called "The Prophet's lounge" and seemed to be run by a Bajoran couple. There were not so many customers right now. Perhaps it was still too early. But too early for many was the right time for the Vulcan who enjoyed the rather peaceful and silent atmosphere.

He headed to the bar where he was greeted by one of the Bajoran bartenders. "Hello, Sir. How can I help you?"
"I'd like a coffee, black without sugar please," he answered. While he was waiting for his coffee, he was taking a look around to find himself a spot where he could sit and enjoy his favourite hot beverage. Suddenly his eyes rested on a person that seemed familiar. Sarok could not see the female Starfleet officer clearly as it was a bit dark and he could only see her from behind.

"Here you go. Coffee, black and without sugar. Enjoy." The bartender headed over to another customer and Sarok took his cup of coffee and headed towards the person. It was a bit strange and slightly illogical to assume that the person here on Starbase 48 was Miriam McCarthy, the Ensign he had served on the Mallory on. But he had learned on many occasions that the thing that humans called lucky coincidence happened more often than you'd expected if you did not just calculate the real probability.

When he was close enough he coughed slightly to get the person's attention without starting to talk to them immediately. That was another habit he had acquired during his time on Earth.

Andi was at the Bajoran run Cafe ordering her Bajoran herbal tea she was still in her uniform as she had headed straight to the Cafe the moment she was allowed to depart the ship and when a sudden cough coming from behind her made her jump internally. Quickly gathering herself she turned to face the noise was saw a Vulcan Lieutenant in Science blues, she could not help her left eyebrow-raising.

"Hello, Lieutenant?" She asked then turned to face the Barista who had her tea ready, Andi picked it up and took a tentative sip while she waited for a response.

Sarok looked at the Lieutenant Commander for a few seconds without showing the slightest reaction. A thousand different thoughts were flashing through his head as he realised that this was not at all the person he had expected. Deep inside he also felt some anger about himself as his original assumption had been illogical and very unlikely.

"Commander," he said after a short while as he tried to figure out what to say now. But being a Vulcan, lying was out of the question. "I am sorry. For a moment, I thought you would be someone else."

*slight smile behind her cup* "that is okay Lieutenant, I am Lieutenant Commander Andromeda Lightfeather First Officer of the Endurance, we were going to meet at some point anyway, may as well be now, please join me at the table" she said indicating an empty table.

"The Endurance," he said being totally surprised but still showing the typical stoic Vulcan face. "This is indeed ... fascinating. I am Lieutenant Sarok," he said and sat down at the empty table.

Attempting to use the Vulcan method "it is agreeable to meet our new Chief Science Officer, as I do not have your transfer Padd handy could you kindly give me a brief version of your service record?" Lightfeather asked.

Sarok slightly furrowed his brow as the Executive Officer was talking to him like that. Sarok had come across many humans who tended to do this when they were around Vulcans. But he was also not what he would call a typical Vulcan. He thought of his father and his way and felt the deeply hidden pain inside himself before he was able to pull it back into the box it belonged to.

"I did not expect you to have it with you, Commander," he started to what came closest to a humourous comment as it could get. " There are not really that many different assignments to remember. Before I was assigned to Endurance, I served on Starbase 228 as a science officer. Then I worked on the USS Mallory as Assistant Chief Science officer for the last six years."

He took a sip from his coffee. "I incorrectly took you for someone else from the Mallory."

"A Vulcan using humour, and I thought I had encountered it all, nice use of the humour aspect Lieutenant *she smiled*, so some experience then, well in Starfleet, I take it you have prior experience outside of Starfleet?" Lightfeather asked "as for the mistaken identity, no need to worry, the first time it has happened to me though, but all is well with the world" Andi added.

"I worked in the Vulcan Scientific Institute before I joined Starfleet," Sarok answered without making any remark on the humour. "But I prefer being out in space and seeing the objects and phenomena I am exploring than just sitting at a desk."

"I agree Lieutenant," Andi said and took a sip of her drink "being out in space and exploring has its advantages and also greater dangers, but both are usually worth pursuing," she said.

He looked at her with a curious expression. "I do not know if I understand you correctly, Commander. Isn't the idea of pursuing greater dangers illogical?"

"It depends on one's point of view Lieutenant, some get duty on ships out on the frontiers of Federation space for the thrill of adventure, others do it for exploration and scientific reasons, either way, one has a chance of facing greater dangers," Lightfeather said.

"I see", the Vulcan said sipping his coffee. "The concept of adventure and the thrill connected to it is not really the ... Vulcan way." His father would have disapproved of that kind of idea. "But I can at least understand that it might be the driving force of some of my colleagues in Starfleet." He took another sip. "If I may ask," he started giving the First Officer of the Endurance a somewhat curious look even for a Vulcan, "why did you choose to join Starfleet?"

Andi smiled "I am a Daughter of a Tribal Chieftain of the Sioux tribe on earth, my father is not a fan of Starfleet, I joined just to annoy him, and I have to say it worked, he did not talk or acknowledge me until I passed out of the Academy and got my first assignment, I assume my mother had a hand in my fathers change of attitude. Of course, I am just a regular person outside of my Tribe, I wanted more from life, I wanted that adventure" Lightfeather answered as she took a sip of her drink.

Sarok listened closely to the XO's history with her father. "It is indeed fascinating how much this reminds me of my own story." He looked out of a window watching some people passing by the lounge. Deep inside he felt all those emotions again - the disappointment, the anger and the fear as well. But of course, this was all kept safely within the Vulcan boundaries. Yet he accepted they were there and accepted them as part of himself.

"I joined Starfleet as a final act of emancipation from my father and I know that he still disapproves the decision with... every fibre of his being, as you humans tend to put it. So you could perhaps say that I also wanted that... adventure."

"I did not realise that there was still some stigma on Vulcan about their citizens joining Starfleet, I thought all Vulcans saw the logic in Starfleet, I am surprised such a thing still exists," Lightfeather said completely surprised "but then again there will always be detractors regardless of any planet they may be on" Andi added.

"My father strictly follows the way of Kolinahr. This meant that he tried to educate my sister and me by the strictness of logic and severe discipline." If you listened closely to the pronunciation of the word tried, you would have almost heard a bit of irony in it. "For him leaving Vulcan and joining an organisation full of emotional beings was almost unthinkable and absolutely illogical. For him, it is like a betrayal of Sarok's teachings."

"All families have such people in them, mine yours still I know from history that Kolinahr is someone in search of logic, but it is a life-long pursuit one I envy any Vulcan in taking, but even with the best discipline I could muster I could never even attempt it, but I can understand why a staunch logical person like your father would be upset at you joining Starfleet, sorry that you had to go through it though, it could not have been a nice experience," Andi said.

"Kolinahr is indeed a lifelong task that is not even mastered to perfection by Vulcans and it takes severe discipline," Sarok answered in a neutral, unemotional tone. "And some Vulcans," Sarok paused for a moment to find the right words, "choose a different path and come to a different understanding of logic and emotions."

Sarok stopped as this was a deeply personal matter and he felt the emotions in him that were connected to it. It took him a second to get them under control again, although, on the outside, nothing of that struggle could be seen unless you knew Sarok really well.

Studying Sarok she held her hand up "compose yourself, Lieutenant, I will not think any less of you, but I understand your viewpoint" she said with a smile.

"It was certainly not a nice experience, but in my view, it was the only logical choice. I was not alone in this, however, as my sister also chose a different path." Sarok stuck to the words he had chosen as he thought the metaphor of a way really fitted.

"Hmm... You chose a path of service, honourable what path did your Sister take Lieutenant?" Lightfeather asked finishing her drink.

He thought for a moment about his sister and the choices that she had made in her life. "I would say, she chose a path of independence." This was probably the best way to describe it.

Thinking over that answer "good description there Lieutenant" Andi responded as she finished her drink and checked her Chrono "dang it, got another appointment, so if you will excuse me Lieutenant" she said standing "I have enjoyed talking to you, it lets me forget about duty for a while, but all good things" she added.

As she pushed the chair back in she looked at the Lieutenant "I will see you on duty Lieutenant, once again welcome to the Endurance" she said using the Vulcan salute.

Sarok stood up as well and replied to the Vulcan gesture. “Thank you, Commander. Have a nice day,” he added a typical human form of greeting. It was only logical to honour human traditions if they also Vulcan ones like the Vulcan salute.

With a final nod and left the Lieutenant and went off to do her duties, she always liked meeting new crew it broke her day up and gave it more meaning.

[OFF]