A Chat With Nice Company

Posted on 12 Mar 2012 @ 4:56pm by Tarishiana Barel & Lieutenant Commander Chauncey Remington III (KIA)

2,776 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 00 - Pre-Deployment
Location: Starfleet HQ
Timeline: MD5: 2000 hours

[ON]

Tarishiana was more then glad to accept the invitation to join Will for a stroll after the banquet. She had found him intriguing during their talk and his comfort around her was a pleasant change from the normal apprehension most people experienced.

Her mother would have been furious if she could have seen Tarishiana with her hand's hooked behind her back. No daughter of Diviana would have stood in such a submissive manor, but Tarish had long since given up trying to appease her. "So, Will...I must ask. You are more comfortable around me then most humans I have met." She looked over at him with a smile, "I am far from complaining, but it has piqued by interest."

Will smiled slightly and answered with a certain eagerness. "Humans tell me I keep to myself and don't open up to them. I guess it's true to an extend. The truth is, Betazoids are different. Your kind understand me better than humans and it would be foolish not to be open about myself. I've lived on Betazed and I know your culture, your ideas about privacy. I've always embraced your ways."

Tarishiana watched him as he spoke. She was glad he was eager to share with her. It was far nicer then having to pry the information from her company. "You lived on Betazed?" Her tone was almost amazed. "Not many humans chose to live among a bunch of telepaths." An gave him an almost mischievous smile. "I am kind of impressed."

"Oh, it's not that hard," he assured her. "But you know of all the inter-species relationships in the Federation, betazoid and human is one of the most common. We've even allowed ourselves to be genetically bonded." he glanced at her with a smile. "Every time I take leave, I spend at least a few days on Betazed. I've developed many friendships there."

Tarishiana couldn't help but let her smile falter at the mention of genetic bonding. She attempted to recover quickly look over at the Commander. "I guess it depends where you grow up. There were not many humans in the social circles I was raised in." She paused for a second before continuing. "Genetic bonding isn't all the hype would lead you to believe." she flashed him her best practiced socialite grin. "At least not in my experience."

"You don't want to marry your betrothed," he guessed, in the sort of tone that said he was familiar with such situations. "I never approved of the practice myself. I've seen it divide families. If you ask me, all it will take is enough social pressure and Betazoid culture will change, at least in that way."

Tarishiana laughed, "I didn't hide that very well did I?" She shook her head slightly. "And to answer your question, I don't." She figured she would clarify. "My bonding was made for...uh....political gain." She let out a sigh, "Most parents don't expect their children to follow through, but ours do." She smiled at Will, "I hope you are right."

"I'm used to Betazoids. You are an open race and I know what to look for. But... will your family be disadvantaged politically if you do not marry?"

Tarishiana laughed at the thought. "The only person who will feel disadvantaged would be my mother." She shook her head, "My family is more then taken care of and all my marriage would do is give her bragging rights." She turned towards the handsome man she was walking with. "I don't know about you...but I don't want to get married to a man I consider a sibling so that Diviana Barel can brag to her friends about it." she smiled lightly.

Will smirked at her, meeting her gaze from the corner of his eye. "I wouldn't marry a man I consider a sibling so Diviana Barel could have bragging rights either. Not that I need a reason to avoid it..."

Tarishiana laughed at Will's comment, despite the fact that at times it was a serious topic. "So now that I have embarrassed myself with my dramatic past...why don't you regal me with some of your history...besides your love of Betazed."

"Oh, it's nothing particularly interesting," Will replied, at least thinking himself that it was true. "I was just an operations officer aboard the USS Galaxy, but we did fight in the Dominion War."

He paused in the hallway, mostly quiet except for a security ensign walking by. "Where would you care to go?" he asked her, "HQ has plenty of gardens."

"I'd like that." Tarishiana smiled as they turned to head in the direction of the garden outside.

As they continued walking, he continued his story.

"The first time I ever went to Betazed was right before the Dominion invaded." He paused an glanced her way, hoping that she wasn't upset by the memory, then proceeded carefully in that gentle tone of his. "The Galaxy was participating in training exercises with the Tenth Fleet and the Jem'Hadar caught us off guard. I had disembarked that morning on a brief one-day leave... I ended up fighting the Battle of Betazed instead."

Tarishiana had been on board the USS Coltan with Lestian when the Dominion had invaded Betazed. She had been sick to death with worry about her parents. She had been relieved when she had finally gotten in touch with her mother. Her father and mother had come out the other side physically unscathed. "I have no doubt we were lucky you were there. I was fourteen when the Dominion invaded Betazed...but I was off planet on board the USS Coltan with Lestian...the man I am bonded too." She could help but feel a little guilty about her absence. "So I guess in a way I was lucky....depends on how you look at it I suppose."

"People died," he declared gravely, "you were lucky. But once I realized it was hopeless, I found a damaged runabout and got as many civilians as I could. Took some work but me and an engineering chief got us off the ground. We barely made it, but we made it." He smiled and looked at her almost apologetically. "Sorry, we should talk about something more pleasant."

Tarishiana turn and touched his arm with both hands, one on the front and the other opposite as she spoke, "Don't apologize." She gave him a genuine smile, "I am not opposed to changing the subject...What would you like to talk about? Anything you want to know?"

The human eyed Tarishiana's hand and followed up her arm to her face. With a slight nod he gestured to a nearby door that lead out of HQ. "Anything I want to know?" he asked, "What should I know about you?"

"Well you already know about my unwanted betrothal..." Tarishiana looked up at him with a grin. "Which normally I keep to myself." She gave him a wink. "I have an obsession for mythology and medieval Terran weaponry." She looked down at where her hands were resting on his arm, "I have been told I lack the understanding of personal space...much like most Betazoids I know, so if I make you uncomfortable please let me know."

Will placed his free hand atop hers reassuringly. "Betazed is the closest thing I have to a home off my ship; it doesn't bother me. So, Terran weapons?"

Tarishiana smiled at his response, "Yes, I love pretty much anything with a blade." She looked around the garden appreciating the beauty of it all, "My family doesn't approve...as you might have guessed..." She gave him a wink, "How about you? Besides Betazed, what do you love?"

"Oh," Will replied carelessly, "my parents. I have a few friends outside of Starfleet who are close to me." He paused to give an odd smile, "I have a son now too."

"Really?" Tarishiana asked with genuine excitement. "That is amazing." She smiled, as she thought over the idea of having children. The corner of her lips pulled up in a grin as she posed her next question, "So, is he back on Betazed?"

"Yes, he is. With m-" he hesitated for a moment, unsure, "with his mother, where it is safe." he gave a half nod and turned down a narrow path which lead towards a secluded section of Starfleet's grounds.

Tarishiana noticed the hesitation. She nodded as he spoke unsure if she was going to press for the information. "Are you and his mother still together?" She could have retrieved the information himself, it was sitting at the front of his thoughts but she was a firm believer in allowing her companions to have secrets from her. She easily followed his lead.

A moment's silence followed, but he answered. "It is complicated," he admitted, "we never really have been together. But we've been close... ever since we met, at the Battle of Betazed." He glanced at her, "Whenever I go on leave... I visit her," Will gave a soft laugh. "Betazoid or not, I've no place to be so open."

"I understand" Tarishiana said with a smile. "I didn't mean to pry." She pulled her hands from around his arm with the rouse of smelling a near by flower. In actuality she felt guilty. She hadn't meant to pry, it wasn't her place. She sometimes forgot how easy it was to feel close to someone she just met, yet another thing she should have warned the Commander of. She closed her eyes as she inhaled the scent of the beautiful purple flower. She placed her arm behind her back with her hand holding the opposite arm by the elbow. She took a few steps forward, "I think I love this place."

Will was not upset though, silently watching her as she turned away from him. At length, he looked around the garden. "Yes, I suppose it's nice," he agreed."

"While I am not a botanist..." Tarishiana started, "I love plants...they are a finicky as people on what they need to thrive." She reached out and touched a soft leaf allowing her arms to return to her side. "If only everything was so straight forward. She flashed Will a smile, "So, what should we talk about now? Since we have covered our awkward personal lives."

Will smiled back and knelt down beside her as she examined the plant. He turned his eyes to it as he spoke. "I think sometimes things are straightforward," he offered, "maybe it's us who over-complicate things that are really very simple?"

Tarishiana looked over at Will, appreciating his features before returning the plant. She gently touched the leaves with her fingers times as she contemplated his theory. "I might have to agree on you. While it doesn't apply to all situations I do believe we have to take part of the blame for the chaos in our lives."

He didn't seem to notice her looking at him in such detail, he gaze mostly fixed on the flower as if entranced by it. "I don't think I know nearly a much about that sort of thing as I should. Most of my life has been about serving Starfleet."

Tarishiana gave a little chuckle, "In contrast I have spent my life as a socialite...who has attempted to escape though service to Starfleet."

"Do you see it as more than an escape now?"

Tarishiana's lips curled into a grin as she rose to her feet. "Are you sure you aren't the ship counselor?" She laughed a little bit. "Starfleet is an escape. As long as I retain my position, I get to postpone my wedding, irritate my family, and avoid the parties of that life." Her tone was very matter of fact as she spoke.

"Sorry," he replied with a grin, standing up beside her. He appeared more serious as she continued to speak. "So, no fascination with seeking out new life and new civilizations? Come now, Tarishiana, doesn't it excite you even a little when you find a new particle or whatever it is you do in that lab?"

"I never said I didn't enjoy my escape." She started easily. "I have always enjoyed learning how other species communicate. While I am good at what I do, it is simply not what drove me to enlist. Nor is it was drives me to stay." Tarishiana paused for a moment pressing her lips together as she thought over how to phrase what was yet to come. "I enjoy my life...and I have fought hard to keep it...just not for the reasons most do."

"I see," he replied thoughtfully. "Well, if you are happy then that is all that matters, yes?" He smiled and after a time continued, "What do you think of the Galileo?"

"She is a ship." Tarishiana said matter of fact. "The labs are impressive, the crew is more them competent. Should be interesting." She took a few steps continuing their walk, "How about you? What are your feelings on your new home?"

"Oh, I like it well enough," he replied, "I am just used to bigger ships. I have served on a galaxy class ship and a station. My last ship was an Akira-class. A science vessel isn't too bad though, I wouldn't mind captaining one someday."

"I think you would make an impressive Captain." Tarish replied with a smile. "As long as I am around other people the size of the ship doesn't bother me much." She glanced around the garden. "I always tend to find interesting people who capture my attention." She turned to Will giving him a wink.

It was clear from his thoughts that he was pleased by her words, and when she winked he gave her a knowing smile. "With luck I could be there in a few more years, who knows." There was a gentle flux in his emotions as he considered the implications of being promoted. "What do you aspire to?"

The thoughts in Will's mind went back to the same women who had infiltrated them when he spoke of his son. She assumed she was the Betazoid on Betazed that mothered his child. There was more to the story and someday she might ask about it, but that day was not today. With a smile Tarishiana thought over Will's query. "I would love to be part of a first contact mission...I have been working on an upgraded version of the universal translator that requires less input from the language it intends to translate." As the words left her mouth she realized how different she was from the rest of the members of the crew.

Most of the people Tarishiana had met in her time in Starfleet had been more like Will. They had a desire to achieve which she lacked. She loved Starfleet and she loved what she did but she had no desire to accomplish much more then day to day things. The thirst for knowledge was only marginally motivating to her. She let out a sigh and shook her head. "You are probably wondering how someone with my lack ambition could achieve my position and rank...Lord knows some days I wonder..." She felt like explaining more, but she didn't know where to go. This conversation was one she typically only had with Lestian, and it never ended well. She flashed Will a smile in an attempt to cover whatever emotion was showing on her face.

"I enjoy first contacts," Will said with a smile. He could sense her unease, though he was unable to guess at its source. "What's wrong?" he asked, reaching out to lightly touch her arm.

Tarishiana's hand moved to rest on Will's. She appreciated the concern but felt guilty she had let her practiced lightness had faltered. That didn't happen around many people. She looked over at him, "It has been a long time since I have had anyone to talk that didn't have an agenda of their own...in fact I don't know if I have ever had someone like that." She smiled a genuine smile. "Perhaps you are more of Betazed that I first gave you credit for."

Will smiled at that. "If I have an agenda it's the well-being of my new family, Tarishiana. I won't think less of you for having less idealistic beliefs than most. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you."

"I appreciate that more then you know." Tarish said with a sigh. "Your family is lucky to have someone like you on their side."

"Well, I try."

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