Distraction Part II
Posted on Tue Dec 17th, 2024 @ 2:06pm by Lieutenant Vura & Lieutenant Mira Jayna
Edited on on Tue Dec 17th, 2024 @ 11:48pm
1,732 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Arboretum - Central Core Deck 6 - Empok Nor
Timeline: MD001 1700 hrs
"It is probably easier for the crew that way, too. Less trouble if you both have a prankster bone in your body. A lot of identical twins seem to enjoy playing games with significant others, bosses, and others. Apparently it is a game that never gets old." She shrugged. "I would not know as I am not a twin."
Suddenly the fact that Mira was part-Vulcan hit Vura. "More Vulcan? which of your parents was Vulcan? And was that parent on Bajor too?" This interested Vura to try and understand why a Vulcan would stay on Bajor when they were normally a peaceful race. Why not flee? Why be part of a rebellion. There was logic somewhere. Maybe it would help her understand Mira more.
"My mother was Vulcan. She was working on Bajor when she met and married my father." Jayna shrugged. "That's why I have a Bajoran name."
"And your mother was on Bajor, as well, during the Occupation?"
Jayna nodded, not sure why it seemed to matter to the counselor. "Yes. She and my father were killed by the Cardassians."
"I'm so sorry," Vura told Mira sympathetically, as her sketchbook hung limply from her hand. On it, if Mira looked, she could see a quite detailed sketch of Edmund Merrick. "How old were you when that happened?"
She did notice the drawing and wondered why the counselor chose the Marine. Did he sit for her or did she draw it from memory? "Jayde and I were eleven. We stayed with friends of the family until we left the planet."
"And that's when you headed to the Marquis?"
Jayna nodded. "We felt we could do more with the Maquis." She shrugged. "We did, for a time. Then Jayde and I joined Starfleet." It wasn't that interesting a story, as far as she was concerned. But she was still curious about the counselor. "Are you glad you joined Starfleet?"
"It was the right decision for me," Vura answered cryptically. "It is rewarding to help so many people from so many different places. On Delta IV, it was certainly a lot more limited."
Switching the topic back to Mira, Vura wondered, "It is rather interesting to see how many people come out of a terrorist organization and end up in Starfleet.... I wonder why that is."
"In my case, it was a full pardon--even though I didn't believe we were doing anything illegal. We were fighting the Occupation." Jayna shrugged. "A number of the Maquis joined Starfleet during the war. It was also a better opportunity for those of us who grew up under Cardassian rule. I've spent far more time in Starfleet than I did in both the resistance and the Maquis."
"It sounds like much of this happened when you were young, so I suppose that would be true, though I do not know your age, nor will I ask. So, why did Starfleet see reason to pardon you?"
"It was during the Dominion War. Starfleet needed personnel and offered a pardon to any Maquis who wanted to join them." Jayna decided that Vura could do the math herself.
Vura did not do the math, but had a feeling that there was something significant about the timing that meant something to Jayna. "So why did you want to join Starfleet? Why not stay with the Marquis?"
She shrugged. "A better opportunity. And there were some decisions I didn't agree with. You should read up on them. It will explain a lot. And now there's the New Maquis that are again causing trouble. But I don't think their motives are as clear as they were during the Dominion War."
"Reading gives the author's point of view. I would rather hear what you had to think about the particular decisions."
"Is it not the same thing?" Jayna asked with a shrug. "Whether it's written or verbal, you are still getting my opinion. One that was shaped by the opinion of my parents." She was a little surprised at Vura's fascination with her childhood and the occupation. Jayna had long ago come to terms with it.
"I only get your opinion, if it is your diary. Telling them to someone else puts their spin on whatever you told them." She shuffled herself a bit closer to Jayna. "Did you ever play an equivalent of that human game called, 'Telephone'?"
The half-Vulcan looked at her quizzically for a moment. "No. What is a telephone?"
"It is an ancient instrument that was used like a communicator. However, as I understand it, sound vibrations travelled along wire or cable to another receptacle. None of that is important, though." Vura shook her head.
"The point of the game was to whisper a phrase into someone's ear. They in turn would whisper what they heard into another ear and so on. Eventually, the phrase would get to the last person and that person would state the phrase. In most cases, the phrase uttered at the beginning was not the same as that received at the end."
"I can see that. Without a proper reference it's far too easy to misunderstand. Especially if it's only spoken once." Jayna raised an eyebrow. "I assume it's also whispered to keep others from hearing, which would also add a layer of possible misunderstanding. Most people misremember much of what they see or hear, even if they're trained to increase their ability to recall details."
"Correct," Vura answered definitively. "So, now, perhaps you can understand why I prefer to hear things for myself."
"That is a valid point. However, a book or article that has been properly researched is generally useful." Jayna also knew that individual accounts could be flawed.
"Useful, yes, but also could be flawed." She clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "See? This is where our fields tend to intersect. Trust but verify?"
"Always. And whenever possible, get multiple sources. Individual interpretations can be flawed." She also found that many interpretations were skewed, which made it even more important to verify the information.
The Deltan nodded and gave Jayna a small smile. "See? The nature of dealing with beings, as opposed to plants. They're much simpler, though at their root, pardon the pun, are not dissimilar. Everything needs food, air (or whatever they breathe), water, and care to grow."
"They are less problematic, in general. However, there are some carnivorous plants out there. Fortunately, they are mostly studied in labs." Jayna raised an eyebrow as she remembered something she read. "I did read of a scientist who mixed a carnivorous plant with Plomeek. The resulting plant chased a security officer down the corridor."
"Truly dreadful," Vura replied, her eyes widening. "But it would be rather interesting to witness." She giggled lightly, trying to see the humor in the situation.
"The report I read was definitely interesting. Apparently, it's not the first time this scientist has tried to create a hybrid plant." Jayna shook her head. She wasn't sure if she wanted him to succeed or not. "So, counselor, do you have plans for your shore leave besides spending time here?"
"Vura, please. Is there a preference how I should address you?" The counselor waited for an answer before continuing.
"Jayna is fine. I started out as a non-com, so I don't stand on ceremony."
"Jayna it is, then." The Counselor nodded definitively and continued. "Shore leave for me is all about experiencing new things. This arboretum is new. I will have to see what other sorts of things I might be able to experience. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them." The counselor moved forward to the edge of her seat and sat straight up, her eyes twinkling.
"I haven't spent much time on Empok Nor, so I don't know what's here." Jayna shrugged. "Have you tried learning something new? Pottery, woodworking, painting, or something like it?" She nodded to the sketchpad. "You draw, but have you tried watercolors or oil on canvas?"
"I have," Vura answered gleefully. "I like learning almost anything new. Sketching, though, well, it is easiest to transport and I'm not one that plans quite frequently. Why do you ask? Is there something that you would like to do together?"
No was her first thought, but Jayna didn't want to be rude. Just because she'd met the counselor a few times in Neil's company and saw the way Vura treated him didn't mean she had to dismiss an opportunity to get to know the woman. "I don't know if I want to try it myself, but I hear throwing pots can be quite cathartic--and a lot of fun, if you don't mind the mess. From what I've been told, it's best done on a holodeck where the slurry is only an illusion." She paused for a moment, then added. "I hear it's quite popular with couples."
"Throwing pots?" Vura asked excitedly and curiously. "I've never heard of such a thing. And slurry? Oh, do tell more! It sounds like quite the experience."
"I tried it once because it sounded interesting. You work with clay on a pottery wheel. The trick is to keep the clay centered and shape it into the form you want. The slurry keeps the clay damp and malleable. You can even find a program with a holographic instructor."
"Oh, you meant making pottery.... That's actually a hobby of mine. Never heard of it being referred to as 'throwing pots.' Come on, Jayna! Let's go do it! It would be wonderful to feel something right now and squish it."
Jayna raised an eyebrow as she considered it. She still wasn't fond of the counselor, but this might give her an opportunity to get to know the woman better and perhaps help her think better of Neil. "All right."
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Mira Jayna
Marine Corps Intelligence Command, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
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