A Long-Overdue Hello - Part II
Posted on Thu Dec 25th, 2025 @ 9:04pm by Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren & Lieutenant Vura
Edited on on Sun Dec 28th, 2025 @ 7:49am
1,467 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: Office of The Ship's Counselor - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD016 1100 hrs
She set them on the coffee table, then asked, "What do you want to drink with them?"
"Well, there's no alcohol as you suggested, so let's try the cinnamon tea that you suggested."
Alyssa nodded, hoping Vura would like the offerings.
She went back to the replicator to get two glasses of sweet cinnamon tea. Like some sweet teas, this was cold. She took the two glasses to the coffee table and set them down, then took a seat. "The best way to eat the fry bread is to spread the honey butter on top, then cut or tear off pieces to eat. It can be a little messy if you're not careful." She went back to the replicator for napkins and knives for the two of them, then sat down to spread her honey butter over her bread, then tore off a piece and put it in her mouth.
"I don't mind messy," Vura replied, relishing the potential sensation. She sat next to Alyssa and spread the honey butter with the knife. Delicately, she pinched some of the bread and tore it off the whole. She then placed it tentatively onto her tongue.
The moment that the flat bread hit the Deltan's tongue, her eyes rolled upwards and then her eyes closed. An audible "OhhhHHHhhh," could be heard rolling out of Vura's closed mouth. Slowly, she manipulated the honey butter and flat bread in her mouth. How much time passed, Vura was uncertain, but eventually, she swallowed. After she swallowed, she opened her eyes with a delighted smile. "What a lovely set of sensations."
"Yes. It is amazing. When I'm camping, I'll heat oil in a skillet and fry the bred over a fire. It tastes better outdoors." Alyssa's broke off another piece of bread. "At least, that's my opinion." Then she ate the bread and wiped her fingers on a napkin.
"What's the difference between eating this indoors and outdoors and how does that effect the taste?" Vura asked.
"Many people--myself included--think that food tastes better when it's cooked outdoors. Or maybe just when you're camping."
"I guess that you are going to have to make this for me in the outdoors one day, then," Vura concluded.
Switching the topic, Vura asked, "So that was quite the experience with the Silence, wasn't it?"
Alyssa paused for a moment. "Yes, it was. I feel sorry for them. They've been through so much because they didn't have anyone they could call for help. Well, until they finally tried to reach out to Vaebn."
"They have us now," Vura replied comfortingly. "Nobody is really meant to be alone." Saying that, Vura turned away for a moment. She then bent down and tore another piece of the bread away and stuffed it into her mouth.
Nodding, Alyssa ate another piece of bread, then drank some of her herb tea. "I hope they never have to go through something like that again, but if it does, we'll definitely be here."
She ate more bread before asking, "Since I have been remiss, how are you settling in on the Pioneer?"
"I've settled," Vura replied cryptically. "I suppose it is like anywhere else in the Federation. People come and people go, though I wish more stayed." Her voice became more wistful. "How long have you been here, Alyssa?"
"Two years. It doesn't seem that long, though. We've been pretty busy."
"Two years?" Vura asked. "I don't think that I've been anywhere for that long since I left home. How have you managed that? It just slipped by with all of the action?"
"That's most of it. But I've also made some friends. And I have someone on Empok Nor. They help make the Pioneer feel more like a home."
"Oh? Who is that?" Vura asked with a sly smile. She was glad that Alyssa had someone for herself, even though her soulmate had been ripped from her.
"His name is Jek'Lar. We dated several years ago, but his family needed him on Qo'noS." That was one way of putting it. "We reconnected when I joined the Pioneer. It's hard, because we're gone so much, but we try to spend time together whenever the Pioneer is at the station." Alyssa only knew that Vura had been engaged on Deltan and her fiancé died, but it wasn't something she wanted to bring up.
"But you're putting the effort into making it work and that is what is important. If it is meant to be, then you will get to be in one place, hopefully."
"We defied the odds by getting back together, so I think it'll work out this time." Alyssa finished her fry bread and wiped her mouth and fingers with a napkin before changing the subject.
She looked at Vura for a moment. "You said you haven't been in one place for two years since joining Starfleet. Do you plan on staying on the Pioneer long enough to make that record?"
Vura shrugged. "I don't know what my plans are with any certainty. However, right now, this seems to be the place where I seem to be needed." She then scoffed lightly, "Besides, I get the impression that the Commodore is not going to let me leave, even if I want to try to do so."
That made Alyssa laugh. "Probably not. He likes to hold on to the people he likes and I get the impression he likes you as the ship's counselor."
"I suppose that's a compliment," Vura answered simply. "My understanding is that the Pioneer was even rumored to have a curse on the Chief Counselor position. Nobody stayed. Is that so?"
"Not exactly. He went through a couple of chief counselors that I know of, but Zhara has been around longer than I have, and Amelia Zano was a counselor before she decided to spend half her time in medical as well. I think it was simply a matter of them not being the right fit and moving on."
"Amelia Zano...." Vura thought about that name. "She's in medical now, you say?" The Deltan pressed her lips together as she considered her private thoughts. "I wonder why Zhara did not apply for this position." She hummed lightly as she further thought about the counselors that had passed through before her.
"I don't know. I think the captain forgot she was there," Alyssa answered honestly. "But whatever the reason, the ship's busy enough that it needs more than one counselor, like it needs more than one doctor."
"I'm not certain how anyone could forget about Zhara. She has a certain presence about her, not to mention that cute therapy dog...."
"So do you." Alyssa took her empty plate and glass to the replicator to recycle. "I like Zhara and Sophia, but they tend to hang out around sickbay and counseling, so they fly under the captain's radar. You, on the other hand, are hard to miss--and that's not a bad thing."
"The mixed blessing of being Deltan. You're always noticed," Vura answered matter-of-fact. She was not bragging, nor upset. She simply accepted that between her pheromones and the fact that most Deltans never left home, she would stick out like a sore thumb.
"That's true. I think all three of you have a place on the Pioneer. You complement each other, and the crew is better for it." Alyssa looked around to be sure her dishes and napkins had been cleaned up. "And now I've probably taken up enough of your time for one day."
"You will never take up too much of my time. Never fear that, Alyssa. However, you have definitely given me some things to think about, whether you know it or not."
The science officer smiled. "Then I'm glad I stopped by. The next time we have shore leave on Empok Nor, maybe we can get a small group together and go camping."
"I would like that. I definitely would like to test your theory about cooked food tasting better outside than inside."
"Good. And I'm sure we'll have a chance to talk before then." Alyssa started for the door and paused, turning around. "It was nice to finally chat with you, Vura. See you later."
"Yes, we will definitely see each other later," Vura answered as she rose to show Alyssa out.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren
Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
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