Breakfast of Champions Part 3/3

Posted on 10 Aug 2012 @ 11:59am by Lieutenant Kiri Cho & Lieutenant JG Brayden White Ph.D. & Ensign Im'er Mor'an & Ansen Pawlak & Lieutenant Commander Chauncey Remington III (KIA) & Ambassador Si'tar Del'an

4,228 words; about a 21 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2, Mess Hall
Timeline: MD07 - 0530 hrs

[ON]

Kiri started back towards their table but the numbers seemed to have doubled. Now the Chief of Operations was there as well as someone else she didn't know. The change had made her very uncomfortable, she kept walking, knees now shaking slightly. Every step she fought them to stay straight but it was a mix of fatigue and anxiety that made them jitter. Finally reaching the table, holding her tray in both hands she waited for a pause before quietly asking, "May," She had to speak properly, "May I join you?" Somewhere inside of her right now she fully expected them to say no, why wouldn't they?

Brayden stood as Kiri returned and pulled another chair up to the table up along side his own to give her a seat. "Of course you can. That looks good," he commented towards her tray, as he waited to sit until she did.

Her heart breathing a sigh of relief Kiri took the offer and brought her tray silently to rest of the table. Bowing her head again she still spoke softly, "Thank you." Taking her chopsticks to hand she moved them towards the dumplings and looked first towards Brayden and then to the Lieutenant Commander, "Would you like one?" Since she was eating with people she had automatically made two extra, now there were two more people that was thrown out of kilter. It was normal for her when eating with her family to give one of the nicer food items to everyone else, who did so in turn. Since they were the two that were senior, they were the two she offered it to.

"I would like to try one," Will replied, "but only half, please."

Del'an was watching the newly arrived girl with her impassive eye. She had a gaze that made even Starfleet admirals uncomfortable, how much more so for a young, nervous ensign to have the Tarkannan elder peering into the depths of her soul? She seemed to be expecting something, but what, that was a mystery, except perhaps to the other Tarkannan.

Mor'an glanced between Del'an and Kiri, knowing that her mentor could make even the most hardened of people squirm. The last thing the nervous young woman needed was Del'an sizing her up. Mor'an caught her mentor's eye, giving her a look that meant Go easy.

Kiri froze and looked at the Lieutenant Commander as if he had asked the impossible before adjusting her gaze to her plates again. Looking up to make sure she caught the glower from the other new woman, it was mean, they both were. Chopsticks in hand she wavered, there was no way she could cut one in half, you were never meant to. If that was what he wanted though, she'd need a plate and a knife so she started to stand up.

Brayden rested a hand on her arm as she went to stand, and fished a clean knife off the tray Ansen had brought. "I can do it, Kiri. Why don't you enjoy your meal. The Commander and I can share your generous offering. Thank you." He held out his plate and winked at her with a small smile, trying to ease her concerns somewhat.

Again she froze up as she felt the weight on her arm, followed by his words again. Glad that they had accepted she was still at a loss with the simple matter of cutting food. It was bringing something up that really she had never had before. They weren't like her, they ate completely differently, after not eating in public for so long. It seemed she had developed a fear of it, that her normal would make her seem weird. She wasn't at home any more. Sitting back down without thinking she reached for the bowl of golden rice with her left hand while her chopsticks returned to her right. The girl was about to start eating when she stopped, lowering the bowl and taking a deep breath. Why did it feel like they were looking at her?

"Commander," Mor'an suddenly addressed Will in the hopes of removing the unwanted attention from Kiri, "Would you care to taste some Ta'rkan honey? It is very good."

"Oh, why yes, I suppose I might. Is it like Earth honey?"

"It is similar in its production, at least," Del'an said to him, "it is made by a different insect and has a unique flavor." Her eyes were already elsewhere, at the moment on Brayden.

"Give it a taste and wait an hour," Brayden advised. "The original flavor is richer than any honey I'd tasted before, and then after that, after a while, it's a bit like walking by the seaside. There's an explosion of these overlapping textures and tastes... I'm not really sure I can describe it very well. Do you know how it does that?" he asked, looking to Del'an.

"I do not," the woman replied as she delicately tasted the honey in question.

There eyes seemed to be off her at least, that was good. Rather gingerly with glances around every now and then she still held the bow but did so further from her face than normal. Pinching the first mouthful between her chopsticks she slipped it behind her lips, not really sure what to make about the talk about the different honey. Kiri wasn't very adventurous with alien food, after being put off of Klingon food for life it had made her shy away from trying anything else.

"Kiri, would you care to try some?" Mor'an turned to the girl who seemed so disconnected with everyone else at the table, despite being in such close proximity. Mor'an knew that Kiri obviously had some aversion to food that was not her own, but hopefully to Kiri honey was honey regardless of where it came from, and she would be brave enough to try it.

She knew what honey was, sometimes she even ate it, but rarely did she partake. A sweeter version of normal honey with an after-taste though, before a meal? Her rice was already rich with protein, to add monosaccharides fructose sugars in strong amounts would be too much. Plus, everyone else seemed to be using her fingers, she didn't like that. So she shook her head, "Could I try some later?" The girl was clearly uncomfortable with the situation. Trying to force herself out of her innate way of eating.

Mor'an offered her a small grin. "Yes, if there happens to be any left. Ask Del'an how much I enjoy honey and you will know your chances are slim."

A little bit of her hoped that there wouldn't be any left, that would solve her problems regarding it. Pausing longer she replied, feeling she should, "I see," Looking at the other Tarkannan, noticing the ridges and lines that make up their faces. She expected the other woman to be listening Kiri held off on asking the question again. Still looking tired, frustrated, worried and nervous.

Del'an was listening, but considering it a rhetorical question, she gave no answer. Will took that as his cue to leave, coughing slightly at the silence and standing up. "Ah, well, if you'll excuse me. I have duties." He gave a nod and turned to leave.

"Nice to see you again," Brayden said as he gave a small farewell wave to Remington as the other man rose and headed out. He glanced between Kiri and the two Tarkannans and cleared his throat, "So, we've learned your honey is some of the best. What's your music like? Ensign Cho and I were just discussing folk songs, and I realize I've never heard of any from your people."

Mor'an glanced over at Del'an with a look that said you take this one.

Whether she caught the glance or not, the Tarkannan woman's reply descended swiftly on the conversation like a hawk seizing upon prey. "There is little for those in the Alpha Quadrant to hear of our people. Your first contact is only a few decades old and an anthropologist called us reclusive." The way she said that suggested the poor anthropologist would find himself outgunned in an anthropological discussion. "Our music is for the most part ceremonial. Music is not simply sound, it is reserved for important occasions, like our alcohols."

Kiri found the answer rather flat, she liked music, it was was one of the few normal things she enjoyed. To only have it during certain times it seemed to be rather a deprivation. It wasn't for her to judge though, having listened carefully she now approached her food again pinching another mouthful of golden rice the longer than normal distance from her bowl to her mouth. Since the Commander left, she seemed to be able to think of even less to talk about, it didn't help she was tired.

"Learn something new every day, eh, Cho?" Brayden asked with a quick wink to her. "I think," he began again, looking to Del'an, "that even the non-ceremonial music we listen to in other parts of the universe isn't just 'sound' either. Humans, for example, can get deeply emotionally affected by certain songs. They actually create dopamine deposit reactions in our brains the same way that finding love or receiving a large reward does. Highly emotional responses. Have you had an opportunity to listen to any Klingon music? Ensign Cho was just showing me the most delightful variations on their pieces. Who was it you said played that last one?" he asked, glancing at Kiri.

Chopsticks rest on her lips for a second as she looked at him Kiri paused before lowering them. She didn't really know about that, not really finding music as much of a comfort. More as something that distracted parts of her brain that weren't in use while she worked on certain things, keeping them busy. She thought hard about the content of Brayden's words, she did like praise, rewards for hard work, but love, that was something she had no idea about. Quite clearly deep in through it took her a few seconds to muster a reply, "Quen Tinen, a Haliian folk artist." Looking down at her rice she felt that there should be something more. Though she wasn't meant to be making friends with him, Kiri liked Brayden most. After another pause she asked in turn, "What type of music do you normally like?" Glancing towards Mor'an as she did so.

Glancing up from the plate from which she had been eating, Mor'an looked over at Kiri. "Just as Del'an has said, we do not much listen to music outside of our ceremonies. I do, however, love the sound of waves. It is a music in its own right." She paused as she dropped her gaze to Kiri's bowl. "May I try a bit of your rice? It looks very different from what I am used to."

Del'an frowned ever so slightly at Mor'an when the younger woman asked to try the rice. "We listen to sounds in nature as you listen to music," she added, "Even the sound of your warp core is pleasant. There is something soothing about it, it's rythm, like warm waves from the central seas."

Intrigued somewhat Kiri looked to Del'an, that was something different that she was also getting used to. It was most noticeable when she first came onto the ship but even now she could hear the faint hum of the warp core vibrating through the decks. As she did so though her fingers moved without thinking. With a flick of her wrists her chopsticks turned so she could move some rice with the thick ends. Holding the small bowl out in her left towards Mor'an, She expected the other woman to hold out her plate so she could place some on there, but it might not be interpreted that way.

For a second, Mor'an was not sure what Kiri intended when she held out her bowl. But then, ignoring her mentor's frown, she held her plate under the bowl to receive the food. "Thank you, Kiri." Glancing over at Del'an, almost as though to ensure she was watching, Mor'an hesitantly places a bit of rice on her tongue. She let the flavors dance around her tastebuds before smiling at Kiri. "It is very good, but very...foreign. Is this a Trill food?"

Retreating the bowl back Kiri checked that her chopsticks were clean to use, giving a small smile to Mor'an. She felt it polite to look at who you were talking to and not give them anything less than her undivided attention. Really, dealing with aliens, more so than humans was new to her. Still speaking softly she answered, "No, it is from Earth, Chinese cuisine, just rice coated in egg," Pausing she looked slightly regretful, "I don't know very much about Trill food."

"Why not?" Del'an asked, ignoring Mor'an and returning to her own food and picking it at delicately. "You are Trill, are you not?"

That was probing, uncomfortable, it was even a little aggressive. Kiri shuddered slightly, she didn't like people bringing up this subject. That her adoptive parents were human, that she wished she was human so she would fit in better. Eyes downcast for a second she put on a small fake smile and answered, "I am, but, I've never been to Trill."

"Ensign Cho was raised on Earth, as was I. Trill or Human, we're both Terrans through and through." Brayden took another healthy bite of his roll. "And there's a wide variety of Earth cuisines. Every culture has its own unique spices and flavors they prefer. Quite an amalgam. Do you all have that in your home world?"

Del'an gave Brayden a curious look. "We have many dishes on Arun R'lantha, of course. I do not know a species that lacks for variety in their meals." She turned her gaze upon Kiri with a thoughtful expression then. "How long have you been in Starfleet, child?"

He'd meant an amalgam of different cultures, not recipes, but he didn't feel any need to correct the woman. This was Kiri's time, not his.

For a split second Kiri frowned before a fake smile reappeared on her face, being called a child by anyone other than her grandmother was demeaning. Making eye contact with the older woman she answered, "Four years." Her voice mixing between meek and defensive.

Noticing the change in Kiri's voice, Mor'an smiled. So she did have a bit of fire in her after all.

"You have just come from the Academy, then," Del'an mused, giving a barely perceptible nod as if she'd expected that. Mor'an would recognize her mentor's manner, even if no one else could fathom it. She was testing, searching, but with a goal only she could fathom.

Kiri wasn't really sure where this conversation would be going, even more so than normal. Remaining completely still in her head at least she fidgeted uncomfortably. Her rice was almost finished but she didn't eat while she answered, "Yes I have." Keeping occasional eye contact while she tried to understand.

"Did you enjoy the education?" The elder's voice remained soft as she spoke, keeping the sting out of her questions.

Relaxing slightly Kiri retained the smile, "Yes, it was fun, it still is," At no point did Kiri plan to stop learning new things. It was a quest that never ended with her rough goal of being a captain and beyond.

"What sort of experience was it?"

That, what kind of question was that? Any sort of answer escaped her for several seconds, it was so vague and wide. Then came a range of scripted answers she had heard elsewhere. Challenging wasn't it, other than the physical side there was nothing she had really struggled with. She already used fun, but was it really fun as a whole? She'd been so focused on getting to the other side that there didn't seem to be much in the way of experience to be had. It couldn't even really be said that it opened her eyes to a wider universe full of races she had never seen. Losing any sort of confidence in her answer she replied, "It was more complex than my secondary education, I achieved several merits and commendations." Looking down at her bowl she still couldn't come up with a better answer than that. Was she supposed to have talked about all the things she didn't do that she now realized she missed? It was all her fault for acting this way.

Whether the answer satisfied Del'an or not, the elder did not say. She gave only a slight nod and focused her attention on Brayden next. "What is your purpose aboard the ship?" she asked him.

"I'm a doctor," Brayden replied, more concerned about Kiri's emotional fluctuations than any effect the Tarkannan woman might have had on him. "Of medicine and the mind." He caught Kiri's eyes and lifted his brows slightly. "And what's yours?" he asked, interested, turning the question around on the other woman.

That seemed to amuse Del'an, for a smile threatened on the corners of her lips. "I represented our people," she made a circular motion with her hand to indicate herself and Mor'an, "They have sent me to learn about your Federation." Her hand drifted out towards Brayden, but her eyes fixed on Mor'an and asked, "This doctor of the mind, is he wise?"

Mor'an wasn't sure how to answer for a moment, not sure what Del'an was asking her. Was he wise in the way of the mind? Was he wise in the way of life? She didn't really know the doctor well enough to answer in a way that would satisfy both him and her mentor. "He is... educated," Mor'an said, hoping she sounded noncommittal. She didn't dare look up to see Brayden's reaction to her answer.

Kiri wasn't sure if it was her place, managing to find time to finish her rice she started to shift her bowls around as she looked up at the two Tarkannans. She wanted to hurt no ones feelings but remaining quiet right now might do that, "Yes, he is very smart." Her voice shrinking towards the end, giving a nervous glance around the table.

"Educated," Del'an said, her hand brushing Brayden's shoulder lightly. "Smart. Intelligent." She turned her gaze on the doctor himself, getting that soul-searching look. "But are you wise?"

Brayden wasn't concerned with being the topic of conversation, so long as it was something that would allow the ensign a couple seconds rest and breath. The question, however, was an interesting one. "There's not really a way to answer that without sounding like a ponce," Brayden joined. It was an opportunity to show Kiri a way of dealing with an awkward social situation. What people thought of him, personally, was so far removed from Brayden's mind, it didn't even occur to him. "I guess I'd say every culture has a different definition. If you're asking about wisdom the way my people think of it: being aware of the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of one's experience, knowledge, and good judgment... still don't know, honestly. I haven't had enough experiences in a wide enough variety of situations to say so unequivocally. I do my best to do what's right moment to moment. I figure - another fifty years - I'll have more experiences. More knowledge. But whether I'll be wise then... probably not by the standards of folks who've lived a lot longer, seen a lot more," he lifted a shoulder. "What about you? Are you wise?"

"Some say so," Del'an replied, "others say no, and I do not say. At the least, you are not a great fool." Her hand floated back to her lap.

"Only a so-so one then?" he asked with a sideways grin. "I'll take it. So, learned anything interesting? About our Federation?"

For a single instant, Del'an looked like she might respond to his "so-so" comment, but when he moved on she replied readily enough. "I have learned many things about your people and their nature." She did not elaborate further.

"Yeah?" Brayden asked. He was less and less affected by the terseness of this crew. "Such as?" he plucked another roll from the bin and broke it in half, smearing another kind of jam on the dark insides.

Kiri was feeling rather uneasy at the turn the conversation was taking, but she was hardly experienced enough to know much better. Suppressing herself to eat quietly she stared on her soup, plucking the solid contents with her chopsticks. Conflict didn't sit well with her but her only expressed reaction was a glance at Mor'an to attempt to gauge her reaction.

Finally finished with her meal, Mor'an now leaned back against the wall. She saw Kiri glance her way and she smiled reassuringly. This was simply Del'an being her typical self. In truth, Mor'an enjoyed watching people converse with her mentor -- it gave her a sense of what she herself should be.

Del'an did not seem to noticed the hitch in conversation. As serene as ever, she told Brayden, "I have learned your philosophy of the Prime Directive, and I have learned how you live it. What do you think of it? Do you follow it as your leaders would believe?"

"Haven't had many opportunities to follow or break it, to be honest. Since leaving Earth, I've been shuttling between ships and star bases. The Directive really only comes up when you're dealing with a race or planet that hasn't quite caught up to the technological standards of the Federation." Brayden peeled the jammed portions of the roll off with his fingers and ate them. "So far as theories about it go... well. I see why it was implemented. A lot of damage was done giving tech to cultures that weren't prepared for it. Then again, it's hard to think of all the planets that aren't advanced not being given the proper assistance in the face of certain dangers just because they aren't up to technological snuff." He looked at Kiri and Mor'an, "What about you two?"

Kiri had studied it in great detail, it was one of the most important tenets of the Federation. She felt that she understood it to a pretty deep extent. Sucking on her lips and licking the inside her mouth before speaking she tried and failed to look at everyone at the table at once. "I follow it," The idea that a member of Starfleet wouldn't was somewhat abhorrent, "Though it isn't sometimes true for every planet, most races are not ready to confront the difficulties of first contact until they have reached warp drive. It is also a matter of achievement, for a race to discover they are not alone before they have reached a full technological development could stunt their growth. Learning that everything that was new to you has already been built a long time ago by someone else can be rather disheartening." Realising she had said a whole lot Kiri fell silent, she'd gone and rambled pointlessly, it was silly.

"The Prime Directive is an important aspect of Starfleet," Mor'an said, "To be sure. But I do not think of it in one light or another. It is simply a rule that we must adhere to. Of course, if I ever found a viable reason to ignore the Directive, by all means I would." She glanced over at Del'an. "Sometimes I have a knack for not following orders."

Del'an looked at each of them in turn, listening intently as they spoke. When it was finished, she remained thoughtful until at last she spoke. "Each of you sees the Prime Directive differently," she said, eyeing Mor'an as if she knew the answer, "Is that not so?"

Mor'an felt her mentor's gaze and looked up. "Of course," she said, "Were we not all taught different philosophies? Different ways of looking at the same thing? That is called diversity and the universe would be for the worse without it."

"The brains of most sentient beings invent at least sixty percent of what they see at any given moment based on previous experience and expectation - and that's of the things that are immediately in front of us and verifiable," Brayden added. "Say the word 'chair' and every person in the room will be imagining something different. Is it any wonder that an abstract concept has the same issues with perspective?"

Kiri had never really struggled with such things and had never had any sort of conversation like this. Things were things, she worked with what she could prove or what was generally accepted as currently 'right'. Her mind never really stretched to what other people might interrupt from it. This wasn't a topic she felt she could comment on any further she finished her soup in silence.

An awkward silence fell on those dining.

[OFF]

---------------

ENS Kiri Cho
Science Officer/Sensor Specialist
USS Galileo

Cadet Senior Grade Im'er Mor'an
Red Squad Intern
USS Galileo

Lt. Cmdr. Chauncey William Remington III
Chief Operations Officer
USS Galileo

Si'tar Del'an
VIP
played by Psylus Anon

LTJG Brayden White
Counselor
USS Galileo
NPC'd by Kestra Orexil

Ansen Pawlak
Chef
USS Galileo
NPC'd Lilou Peers

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