Kinship Through Science

Posted on 27 Jun 2014 @ 9:16am by Lieutenant Oren Idris Ph.D. & Lieutenant Jared Nicholas
Edited on on 27 Jun 2014 @ 10:25am

1,954 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Multi-purpose lab
Timeline: MD04 - 1500hrs

ON:

Having sent out a quick message to a friend back at the Daystrom Institute, Oren couldn't help but start feeling excited about starting work. A mining colony of Cardassians and Humans was an extremely interesting population to analyze and, wanting to be able to dive in head first the next day when his first official shift began, Oren decided it best to try and find his office ahead of time.

The doors marked 'Lab - multipurpose' seemed like a good a place as any to begin his search, so Oren went in. As the doors closed, he stood just inside the lab, looking around to try and see if there was anyone he could approach.

Jared really didn't use the lab all that much. Most of his work he could do in his and Min's cabin. But he did go there once-in-awhile just to keep up appearances.

Min was working so Jared could have had the place to himself, but he didn't really want to be alone at the moment. So he decided to head to the lab. He was dressed in his uniform, but his jacket was open

As he was walking in he noticed a new face one he didn't recognize. "Hey, can I help you? You look like you're lost."

Oren turned to look at the man behind him. He smiled in greeting. "Hello," he began, looking around. "Yes, I'm new and I was looking for my office. Oren Idris." He held out a hand in the traditional Human greeting.

"Jared Nicholas," he responded taking the hand. "Glad to meet you and glad to have you around. I'm a language specialist, I was just coming to brush up on my Cardassian, what's your field of study?"

"Socio-cultural Anthropology and Exoarchaeology," Oren replied, pleased that he'd met someone else from his department. "I sympathise. Written Cardassian was easy enough but pronouncing it is a real pain," he added with look of understanding on his face. "So, I was wondering. On the mining colony," he began after a moment's thought. "Which language do the miners speak most of the time?"

"Well most of them are Cardassians for the most part. Of course there are some exceptions, but most everyone down there speaks Cardassian, though there are some interesting dialectical twists. I'm pretty good with pronunciation, but I have to admit I struggle with some of it."

"It does take a lot of practice and some serious tongue twisting," Oren agreed. "What's your favorite language?" he asked suddenly, curious.

"Romulan," Jared quickly answered, "It was the language of my rescuer my first love."

"No way! Mine too!" Oren said, genuinely surprised and delighted. "I spent years living on a Romulan colony, Al'Asayan, and I have to say, Romulan culture is amazing!" he gushed.

"Really?" Jared replied switching to Romulan,"I do find the culture fascinating. Some people believe they are all conniving and underhanded. They just don't understand. Not that there aren't those who fit the stereotype, but for the most part they're just misunderstood."

Oren switched to Romulan naturally as he replied. "I know! And, I don't care what people have to say about other species, but Romulan passion, in my experience, is unparalleled. And even though there's like a million traditions and customs, it all just effortlessly pools into this beautiful ceremonious existence. I just...I have no words." Oren sighed, almost longingly.

"You speak like a man with experience. That is one of the things I appreciate about the Romulans is there passion. That passion just infuses everything about them, from the way they make love, fight, study, play music, or whatever."

"I completely agree. And then there's the raw power and magnetism in their mere presence that's so electrifying."

Oren put his bag onto the nearby deck and pulled himself up until he was sitting on it. "I loved living with them. It was a real breath of fresh air for me."

"How long did you live with them?" Jared asked with raised brow.

"Six years, in Terran terms. On the colony it was more like ten."

"Colony?" Jared said as he leaned against the bulkhead, "sounds fascinating. You tell me your story, I'll tell you mine."

Oren smiled, then was quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He wasn't used to being the one to talk for extended periods of time.

"Well," he began, thinking back. "I remember it was a few years after I officially began working and the Daystrom Institute informed us that the Rihannsu were establishing a small science colony near the Neutral Zone. Apparently, they had found archaeological evidence that may prove that one of the original ships which took the first Rihannsu to ch'Rihan crashed there. Naturally, Starfleet was a little paranoid about it." Oren chuckled, crossing his legs.

"So they asked the Daystrom Institute if there was a way one of their scientist could go and assist the Romulans in their expedition as a type of scientist exchange program. I was chosen because I technically was not a Federation citizen per se, so the Romulans didn't have that big of a problem
"I stayed with the House Merek, whose hru'hfirh was very courteous, if wary of me," Oren continued fondly, a small smile on his face. "In the end, it turned out that the vessel they'd found was old but, unfortunately, wasn't as old as they thought. Still, they allowed me to stay for as long as I wanted to observe and live there, as long as I didn't stick my nose in where it didn't belong."

Jared thought of how much he wanted to reveal to a man he had just met. "Well I was a guest of some Orion traders until I rescued by a Romulan pirate and his crew. They became a family to me."

Oren frowned, looking at Jared. His eyes revealed a lot of empathy, but no pity. "I can't even imagine what you went through," he said sincerely. He knew exactly what Jared meant by 'guest'. "I'm happy you were found by someone kind so that I could meet you," he finished with a smile.

"I'm pretty glad myself," came the reply, "I get to meet you and I've made other friends, I'm even getting married."

Oren grinned brightly. "Oh! Congratulations! Who's the lucky one? Besides you, I mean."

"Min Zhao, the new Operations Chief, she's even expecting a daughter, almost any day now."

"Wow! That sounds so exciting!" Oren said, genuinely pleased to hear of Jared's good fortune. Judging by his history, he deserved it. "I know it probably sounds strange because we've just met, but I'm really happy for you."

"Why thank you, I can tell you that this is the first time in my life I've really, truly been happy."

"That's wonderful. What kind of wedding are you going to have?" Oren had always been a romantic at heart and wedding traditions were always fascinating to him.

"We'll probably invite the whole ship. I'd like to do it before she has the baby, but we want to do do it right too, so we may wait til after our mission is complete."

"What kind of ceremony? Traditional Terran?"

"I would imagine so, but the baby is half Bajoran, so perhaps we'll include some of that tradition as well."

"Bajoran weddings can be beautiful," Oren said with a nod of agreement. "It's nice that you're keeping the baby connected to it's species' culture."

"It seems like the right thing to do for her."

Oren nodded. "She's very lucky to have both of you," he said.

"Thank you for that, "Jared replied. "but we've been talking all this time about me. What about you? Do you have a significant other?"

An odd look passed over Oren's face for a split second but was soon covered up with a cheerful shrug and a shake of his head. "Me? No, not at this time. Don't think I've ever come close to marrying, really," he admitted.

"Really?" Jared asked missing the odd look altogether, "not even close? I would think that a man as good looking as you would have no trouble attracting suitors"

Oren smiled. "Attracting isn't the problem," he admitted. "Getting things to work out long term is."

"Oh I see, well I know what you mean, relationships are more difficulty than trysts. Are you actively looking, or just going to wait until something happens?"

"Honestly?" Oren began. "My brain is working hard to convince me to wait until something happens while by heart is actively looking. It's a dilemma." He smirked.

"Again, I know the feeling. Are looking for one gender in particular, or is that any of my business?"

Oren chuckled. "It's fine. No, I don't really pay much attention to gender," he said.

"I didn't use to either. I may have a friend then. His name is Keval Grayson, he's in operations. An Andorian."

The El Aurian couldn't help but laugh. "My, my Jared. Half an hour and you're already trying to set me up? I'm flattered," he said playfully. "I'm sure he's lovely, but I think it's a little early for me to start getting into those types of things. It's a small ship and, should things go south, I wouldn't wish to alienate anyone so soon." And chances were, Oren thought, that things would go badly. His romantic history was hardly a point of pride for him.

"Sorry," Jared apologized, "I get ahead of myself sometimes. He is probably not interested, I think he's seeing someone. Perhaps we should talk about something else.

We study similar fields, linguistics and the development of language plays a vital role in the history of various species, at least in my opinion. What do you think?"

Oren gave Jared a slightly questioning look as he said the man he'd tried to set him up with was seeing someone. Why would he do that? But he let it go, deciding it was wiser not to comment. Instead he focused on Jared's question. It was much safer.

"I think that language is one of the most important indicators of a person's thoughts. That extends to the entire culture or subculture of a people. After all, the quality of our thoughts is ruled by the quality of our language. And the way we think is, after all, what fuels our behavior which, in turn, affects and builds our culture. Over several generations, culture, language and thought become intertwined. I believe that is the fundamental reason why introducing change into any culture is extremely difficult, since it would necessitate the change of language and thought as well."

"Yes, exactly. Do you know how many people fell to grasp what you just postulated? Many don't even think of linguistics as a real science."

"Well I've learned people can be idiots," Oren admitted with a shrug. "They think that, unless it ends up in turning the tide in some conflict or another, it's useless. Science doesn't work that way."

"You're right, they do. And for the most part everyone here on the Galileo would agree with that. But there are even some scientists who don't take my field seriously."

"Well, don't let it get you down," Oren said with a shrug. "People don't take seriously things they don't understand."

"Fair enough, I suppose. They'll either get it or they won't. Hey, I'm hungry. Want to get something to eat?"

Oren thought about it for a second, then shrugged. "I could eat," he
admitted.

"Good, my treat, I know a great lounge."

"Excellent. Lead the way."

[OFF]

Oren Idris Ph.D.
Archaeologist/Anthropologist
USS Galileo

Lt. Jared Nicholas
Language Specialist
USS Galileo

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