Do they have it, Part 1
Posted on Fri Sep 25th, 2020 @ 3:16pm by
Edited on on Fri Sep 25th, 2020 @ 3:18pm
2,800 words; about a 14 minute read
Mission:
Episode 10 - New Home, Same Pioneers
Location: Various
Timeline: MD010 2000 hrs
Do they have it, Part 1
Various
MD010 2000 hrs
"Well that was unexpected." Kalina said, as they left the wedding reception, and started to head back to Zaire's quarters. She did not want to take him to her quarters just yet. They were her personal sanctuary, and she was not sure, if she was ready to welcome him in like that.
“It was,” Zaire agreed. He walked along beside her. “I am glad we went together, I liked spending time with you.” They didn’t really have a lot of time to talk but just being together was good.
Kalina liked to hear him say that he also liked spending time with her. It was very sweet, and made her feel important to him. He could have said no, and gone with anyone.
But he did not, she was still not sure if it was because of choice, or obligation to the pending wedding. "Human weddings are very different from Betazed weddings." Kalina started to say, as they continued to walk towards his place.
“I had kind of mixed feelings,” Zaire admitted. “It was a nice wedding and for their culture it was considered beautiful but I am more of an intimate person.” He glanced at her. “You know what I mean?”
"No." Kalina said, as she wondered, where he was going with this line of thought. She was referring to the differences in how the ceremony was preform, to the parties, and the clothing attire.
“The wedding was based on human culture, I prefer something more like we do back home.” Zaire wasn’t thinking naked but he didn’t say that. “Do you think they knew all those people? I prefer having ones there who mean something to us is all.” He hoped that made better sense.
Kalina listened closely. "Our cultural is more open about itself. I suppose that translate to the fact that to us the body is a body, and nothing to idolize. Where theses human's cherish and idolize them. And then try to enhance them, by wearing unique attire that is form fitting to their physique." Kalina tried to explain. The wedding dress looked nice, but it was clearly designed to show off her body in a glamourous way.
“Maybe it is because they have to express all those feelings and do not have the connection our culture does. The body and how you represent it is very important to them.”
"I think you are on to something there. Lucky for us, we can reach out with our minds, to express our feelings, share our thoughts and even our memories." Kalina said, never really expressing those well in the past.
“I cannot imagine having secrets or things I could not share,” Zaire confesses. “A bonding is a willingness to be together in all ways.”
"That's only the surface of it, but I have a feeling we will get that chance, to share with one another. Assuming we are compatible." Kalina said, not sure how or when to start this. She had till they arrived at his place, to figure this out.
“I have an idea,” Zaire said as they walked. “Ask me something that you would like to know about me before we get to my place. Anything you want And I promise to be honest.” He glanced at her. “It might help us relax some.”
"Not a bad idea, but lets try it telepathically. I am surprised we have not tried that before today." Kalina suggested to Zaire. If they were going to share sensitive information, they should use telepathy to communicate it.
“That is a even better,” Zaire agreed. He was glad she didn’t think it was a weird idea. He just thought if they knew more about each other it would help.
"I prefer not to discuss personal matters in the open. You are familiar with telepathy yes? Weren't raised by humans for to long?" Kalina asked, half jokingly.
“It was only way we survived our mother,” Zaire said with a grin. “I am fluent in telepathy.” He hadn’t wanted to lose that growing up.
"Okay. But there is no such thing as being fluent in telepathy, its just another ability like talking and breathing." Kalina said telepathically to him.
”It was a figure of speech, Zaire sent back “I was being funny because saying good seemed lukewarm.
"Do you always try to interject humor into uncomfortable or boring topics?" Kalina asked, as the continued down the cooridors to his quarters.
”Not always,” Zaire responded as they walked. ”I wasn’t bored, just showing I am not always serious. It bothered you?”
"Right now I am trying to learn, what type of man you are, based on personality, and how you interpret things." Kalina logically explained to him, keeping her emotions out of it.
”That makes sense,” Zaire returned. He wondered what she was seeing. Zaire wasn’t certain how he would describe himself but actions spoke louder than words. ”Did you try to find out anything about me before you came to see me?”
Kalina wondered what he meant by that. "What do you mean?" She asked, hoping he would clarify his remarks to her.
”Get any details on my life,” Zaire explained. “That never even crossed my mind because I wanted to get to know you for myself but it would have given you something about my character. He hoped she understood what he was saying now.
"Where would be the fun in that?" Kalina asked with a grin on her face. Then she went on. "Plus the computer did not have a lot of information on you, prior to your entry to Starfleet." Kalina said to him, keeping that grin on her face.
”I spent my first years on our homeworld.” Zaire said with a smile. ”Then my mother decided she wanted to move her business to a station and so we moved and I was there until I joined Starfleet.” He wanted to give her a bit of background on his early years. ”I love that I got a real sense of our culture before we left.”
"What station, your service file was a little bare on that particular detail. Don't tell me Starbase 80?" Kalina said with a big grin on her face, as they started to enter the turbolift. Next stop his place.
”No,” Zaire replied quickly. ”Starbase Zenith,” . He had heard things about the other base.
"I have not, what was like growing up there?" Kalina asked, as she continued to work in small talk with him. She was curious to learn more about his past.
”At first I felt kind of lost,”. Zaire admitted. “But I made a friend and then some more. I think it helped me learn a lot about different cultures. It was where I learned about science and then Starfleet and made my decision to join.”
"Do you still keep in contact, with a lot of your childhood friends?" Kalina asked, as they started to approach his door way. This looked very familiar. She was standing at this spot, when she rang his door bell. To ask him on the date for tonight.
”Only a couple,”Zaire admitted. ”There is a lot of coming and going so it was mostly the ones who were there until they left on their own, like me.” He continued on. ”I have always been really close to my brother and sister.”
"Even though we are on a ship, and traveling a lot. I was just curious, if we would getting company coming over a lot." Kalina said, then realizing if they were going to get company, it would probably be from this crew.
”Maybe Jayden Robertson and Clarissa Rockwell,”. Zaire said after a moment of thinking. ”My sister is about to head off to the academy and Taran has a couple years to go get.”
"Why those two?" Kalina asked, wondering what she was missing. She had no idea, that he was friends with them, and had been a guest at their place.
”Jayden was one of the first crew I met and we have become friends.” Zaire explained. “Clarissa is his girlfriend and she listened to me when I needed someone to talk to. I’ve been over to their place to play games, they are good people.”
"I am glad you made friends." Kalina said, with a smile on her face. She had yet to make any friends. She needed to work on that.
”I think you will like them,”. Zaire replied with a grin. ”They are real nice. Have you met either of them?” He hadn’t thought to ask her that.
"Jayden in the arboretum, a few days ago. We had a small talk." Kalina said, barely remembering the conversation she had with him. A lot had been on her mind.
”Jayden is a good listener,”. Zaire responded. “Now, if you want someone to tell you the truth, it is Clarissa.”
"And if you dont want her, to tell you the truth?" Kalina asked, curious to hear what his response was.
”My guess is don’t ask her opinion,” Zaire replied. ”She doesn’t sugar coat things.”
"Did she give advice regarding us?" Kalina asked, wondering if she needed to work damage control or not.
”Yes,” Zaire had always been honest in all things. ”She suggested I wait for you to come to me and she was right.”
Kalina smiled, that was good advice. From what she heard it sounded like Clarissa and Jayden were good influences on Zaire. she hoped that she could join that circle of friendship and maybe get some of that good advice.
”It was good advice,” Zaire said, thinking of how impatient he had been. ”I needed to sort this out as well and showing up at your quarters would have been the wrong thing to do.”
Kalina was surprised and confused by his comment. She need some clarification. "Are you saying you do not want to meet up tonight? Do you need more time to process all of this?"
”Not at all,” Zaire returned, wondering how she came to that conclusion. ”I was talking about the morning after we found out.
"Found out, maybe you should start from the begining." Kalina said, feeling very confused, as they approached his door.
”Once we left the restaurant, agreeing to talk to our families and confirm it was true,” Zaire explained. ”I messaged you after I heard from my parents but got nothing back. I was thinking of just going to your quarters to talk to you but I knew you weren’t ready, it just took Clarissa saying the same thing for me to see I was right. “
Kalina and Zaire, were standing outside of his room, while they continued to talk telepathic to one another. She heard what he had to say. She was trying to process it, and how to respond. "You were right, I was not ready to talk earlier. Honestly I am not sure, I am ready to talk now, but here I am non the less." Kalina said, with a half nervous smile on her face.
”I think it is time,” Zaire said. ”We both know that we will be doing this, I prefer to see where it will take us.”
Kalina was not as convinced as he was, especially after the conversation they just had. But she had come this far. She debated about backing out. But for the moment, she decided to continue to give this a shot. "I'm not making you any promises."
”I know,” Zaire responded. ”What is bothering you?” He could sense she seemed different since they started talking.
"I am working on that still." Kalina said outloud, as she went on. "Should we go inside now?" She asked. Not really wanting to have this conversation outside.
“Yes,” Zaire opened his quarters and stepped aside for her to go in first. “Would you like something to drink?”
Kalina followed Zaire in. She walked over to the couch. "Water." Kalina simply responded, as she waited for the glass. She felt a lot of confused emotions, about this marriage, about him, about his personality. Deep in her mind she wanted it to fail, not because of him, but because of her distrust in the compatibilty test, that said they were compatible.
Zaire walked over and handed her the glass and sat down next to her, taking a drink from his own. “What would you be doing right now if you had chosen me?”
"Thank you." Kalina said, as she took the glass of water from him. "I have no idea, probably settling into my quarters." Kalina said, a little skeptical, and clearly not sure.
“I think I am not explaining this right,” Zaire said quietly. “You said your cousins chose their mates. What if we just try this the way you would if you were interested in choosing me.”
"No, I said my siblings got to choose their mates. My cousins were in pre-arranged marriages like us." Kalina quickly corrected him.
“Oh right,” Zaire nodded. “I confused them.” He looked at her. “What do you want? I don’t want you to be unhappy or forced to do something you are not ready for.”
"I'm not doing anything, that I do not want to do at the moment." Kalina pointed out to him, then continued on. "I am trying to come hear with an open mind, but I will be honest, my mind does not want to do believe so dumb algorythem can tell us, that we are compatible." Kalina pointed out to him.
“Then let’s ignore them and decide for ourselves,” Zaire said. “If there is something between us then we will move forward and if not we will stand united and be friends.”
"It does not work that way, but I appreciate the offer." Kalina said, with a small grin on her face. She thought to herself, nicely said.
“Thanks,” Zaire said with a smile. “This is uncharted territory for both of us.”
"Is it now?" Kalina asked, trying to be humerous, but feeling like her attempt fell flat on its face. "Well I am glad to hear that, they're may be hope for us both." Kalina snarked off. She liked to be snarky, when she was nervous. A natural defense mechanism.
Zaire laughed at words. “That was kind of lame of me to say. Of course it is.” He shook his head. “I am nervous, I don’t want to mess this up.”
"Hey you can take a joke, and admit how you feel. So that's a good thing." Kalina said, a little annoyed not at him, but at the stupid program. It may be on to something.
“I will do my best to be open with you,” Zaire said sincerely. “If we are going to make this work honesty and openness are important I think.”
"That is sweet, but there is an easier way." Kalina suggested to him, with warm half hearted smile on her face.
“Then what are we waiting for,” Zaire smiled back at her. He had a good feeling about this, he liked her already.
"I was going to suggest, the right mood." Kalina said, not sure what to make of his eagerness. Was it geared around her looks or her personality.
“You are right,” Zaire nodded with a sigh. “I am inexperienced and a little unsure of myself. We don’t know each other that well but from what conversation we have had so far, I like you.”
"Sometimes to much honesty, is not a good thing. If we are going to do this, then lets do this. " Kalina said, as she started to move her hands towards his face.
Zaire watched as her hands came closer and he closed his eyes at their touch.
End of Part 1
A joint post by;
Ensign Kalina Solwick
Flight Control Officer, USS Pioneer
Ensign Zaire Byrne
Science Officer, USS Pioneer
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