To Recognize, To Respect, To Revere

Posted on 07 Aug 2016 @ 9:12pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen M.D. & Lieutenant Benice Gyce Ph.D. & Lieutenant JG Eelim Galan

2,494 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 11 - Divinum Mundi
Location: USS Galileo - Various
Timeline: MD 40 - 1405 hrs

[ON]

Eelim had finished the final security check reports. He had finished his shift and changed into just a pair of dress pant and a shirt. He flung his messenger bag over his should and headed to Gyce's office to drop off the final reports and a few other things.

He got to her office and buzzed the door.

"It's open," Gyce called as looked up to see Eelim. "What can I do for you Lieutenant?"

Eelim handed her the PADDs. "All reports complete, all weapons and security features tested, I tuned up a few phaser rifles. Also updated a few things that I caught that were a bit out date ma'am."

"Very good Lieutenant." Gyce stored the PADD in her messenger bag for later filing. "How goes the settling in?"

He smiled and shrugged. "Day by day. Still can't get used to not being stuck in a corner like a leper and ignored. People actually talk to me here and it's kind of cool." For a big mean Cardassian he looked quiet vulnerable. He cleared his throat as if he were to say something and then because Gyce already started speaking he waited.

"Science ships are filled with idealistic, open-minded, passive people," Gyce explained. "It is both a blessing and burden. Blessing because they strive to advance our known universe for good in a non-violent manner. Burden because they cannot see that this universe is not the utopia they believe it is. It is ripe with violence and corruption - which is what you and I are here to prevent."

Eelim smiled. "Permission to speak freely ma'am?"

"Granted," Gyce nodded.

"You are sooo intense sometimes." He grinned. "Nevertheless. On Cardassia we have a holiday. Little like International Women's day on Earth and bosses day. We honour women who are in a command position. That would be today." He pulled out a little pink rose from his bag with a little card. "We give flowers and a little card telling the female superior what we respect and recognize in her. It's called Mekvor day." He placed the flower with attached card. "Happy Mekvor Day."

"Thank you," Gyce blinked for she had not expected this at all. "If I remember correctly, females of your culture strive most in intellectual fields like science and medicine." She she spoke, Gyce went to open the card.

"Yes they do tend to go to the scientific sections." He hadn't expected her to read the card in front of him so his neck ridges blushed a pinkish colour. Inside he'd drawn her face on the front of the card using pencil and shading. The likeness was right on. He added a few extra curls in her hair. On the back it said I respect and honour you on Mekvor Day for your courage, your intensity, dedication, but most of all your kind heart. The rose is for you because it has thorns and can be rough but all that is nothing compared to the beauty of the rose and the petals which conceal the heart of the gentle flower.

"Oh..." The dip in her voice meant Gyce was truly touched. "Thank you Eelim."

For the first time, Gyce was lost for words. She was not one to strive for popularity. She only wanted to do her job objectively and correctly. A complaint some in the other departments made to their peers, Gyce knew. And yet her subordinant had just rewarded her for those attributes that made her come off as, 'Too Serious'.

He smiled. He pulled out a box of chocolates. "These are for the other ladies on staff. I know it's about those who are in a position of power but I think all ladies should be honored on Mekvor Day." He smiled again. "Okay. Well my shift is over I have a few things to do." He gave a bow. "Have a good shift ma'am." Eelim headed out the door.

"You too," Gyce nodded smiling more comfortably that she had in days.


Second Flower Delivery

Eelim arrived in sickbay and rang the door chime for the CMO. He waited patiently.

Allyndra looked up from reading a bit of old reference and trying to match that with some of the data they had obtained when the door chime to the office rang. She closed the ancient tome and said, "Enter"

Eelim entered the office and smiled. "Hello Allyndra! How are you?" He walked up to the desk. "Thanks for those cookies you left for me. Your cooking is amazing!"

She was curious as to why the security man was here but he mentioned the cookies. "You are most welcome. I could always use a critic since I cannot taste most of what I make."

He smiled. "You'll have to explain why to me one day. I came because I wanted to give you something. On Cardassia we have a day that honours women in power. It's called Mekvor day and to honour that and you I have something for you." He pulled out a flower that looked something like a bird of paradise but was deep violet. It had a card attached to it. "Happy Mekvor day. This is Cardassian sprite flower. If you tap the stem you'll be surprised."

Allyndra cocked her head. She picked up the beautiful flower and gently tapped the stem.

As she tapped the flower two beautiful silk like membranes shot out from the stem like glittering wings flashing rainbow colours and then settling on a translucent violet colour. The looked like butterfly wings. He smiled watching her reaction.

Allyndra jumped slightly but then laughed. "Oh how wonderful and such imagination. Thank you Eelim!"

He grinned and pulled out a box of chocolates. "For your department to share." He said his farewells and headed out leaving her to read the card.

"Thank you sir," Allyndra took the box and nodded. She stood and made a bit of curtsey. "Twins bless you."

The card consisted of a sketch of her and on the back the following was written, I respect and honour you on Mekvor Day for your kindness, your clever mind, your way of seeing things. You have a joy of spirit that is rare. I have noted a tendency, my friend, in you to withdraw a bit but know that when you do you deprive those around you from your beauty of spirit. I choose the Cardassian sprite flower because the wings on it remind me of yours. They both have a mystical beauty to them that brings joy to those who see it. Never loose your playful heard and always keep dancing.

Allyndra took the card and then put a note on the box for the rest of the staff but not before taking one herself. It was one of the few things she could have and enjoyed the sweetness. She would definitely have to return the favour in kind and was already planning on making champagne infused swiss chocolate truffles. First though she had to get a beaker with water for the flower.


Third Flower Delivery

Just as Eelim left the CMO's office he ran into Tuula. "Hi Tuula. Got a second?"

Tuula's eyes perked up at the sight of Eelim. "Let me guess," she replied in a mischevious tone, "some sort of embarrassing medical condition... can Cardassians even get mono?"

He laughed. "Nothing like that." He reached into his bag and puled out a Romulan Passion flower. "I got something for you." The flower was stunning on the outside it was multi-coloured. "Peel the green petal back." He knew the inside held a wonderful little bud even more beautiful then the outside, and as always attached to it was a card.

Tuula's eyes lit up in surprise as she pushed herself a little closer to Eelim. "That's so sweet; you shouldn't have," she replied as the took the flower into her hand and gently pulled on the green petal. As she did so, the flower opened up and turned itself inside out, blossoming from a thorny, multi-coloured flower to a soft, velvet-like black blossom.

"My favourite colour," she whispered, enthralled by the spiral patterns in the center of the flower. "How did you know?"

He smiled. "On Cardassia we it's Mekvor Day a time to honour ladies in power and ladies in general." He gave her shoulder a squeeze. "Read the card. I got to run."

"Awwwww, that's so sweet," replied Tuula, turning her head to Eelim, but he was already out the door. So, like he said, she opened up the card.

The first thing she saw was the portrait. He had shaded in a very telling likeness of her, though he had taken a little creative license in adding a number small bats tattooed on the side of her neck -- a little detail which made Tuula smile. Her eyes then moved over to the hand-written text.

I respect and honour you on Mekvor Day for all that you are. Like this flower there are thorns and layers but they are covers for a beautiful and playful heart. You are intelligent and very dedicated to the job and your friends but I sense you like to pull away. Do not fear those around you and always remember those who don't take the time to know you are not worth your time. Happy Mekvor Day Tuulip.

Tuula smiled at the card. Tuulip, she mused. At least it's better than Liz, she thought, thinking back to her old nickname at the academy. Though normally the nickname Liz in and of itself wouldn't be that bad, Tuula really despised that nickname for what is was short for -- Elizabeth Bathory, the infamous and bloody Transylvanian countess.

Placing the card and the flower on her lap, she rolled towards the replicator, realizing she would need an equally beautiful vase to complement the beautiful flower. "Computer, replicate me a vase... in the shape and pattern of a human skull..."


Fourth Flower Delivery

It was his final stop. He waited outside the CO's office as he buzzed.

"Come!" called out Lirha who was in the middle of snacking on a plate of freshly-replicated fried wing slugs. The crisp breading and gooey insides of the finger food made it a one of the Orion's favorite snacks, and she happily munched away for a short moment before wiping her chin with a napkin in preparation for her visitor.

Eelim entered slowly. "Hi Ma'am. I hope i'm not interrupting."

The rear admiral took in the familiar sight of the new Cardassian security officer who had helped her several weeks earlier with one of her EVA missions. Then his question registered, and she blinked and looked down at her plate of food before looking back up to him. She slowly nodded in reply, but then swallowed and spoke. "Just my afternoon snack. Nothing punishable by brig time," she said in half-jest. "What can I do for you, lieutenant?"

He smiled. "On Cardassia we have a day that honours women in power. It's called Mekvor day and to honour that and you I have something for you." He pulled a flower out of his bag. A Vulcan rose but not just any Vulcan rose. This one he'd replicated specially for her. It was green with a red outline. It too had a card attached. He presented the flower to her.

"Oh." She was quite surprised by the thoughtful gesture -- she couldn't think of a time when one of her crew had presented her with such a candid gift. Lirha looked at the plant which was admittedly quite beautiful. "I...well, thank you," she smiled, feeling a bit flattered. "But I am sadly dating someone right now. I hope you understand."

He smiled and blushed a bit. "It wasn't meant that way ma'am." His face looked stricken..."Not that I'm saying your not beautiful....I mean you are but I can't notice that cause you're the CO....I mean..." He sighed rather flustered. "It's just for Mekvor day."

"Mekvor day..." she repeated, letting the unfamiliar Cardassian word roll off of her tongue. "I suppose there are many ways to...honor someone," she winked with 150% ambiguity. For some reason, she began to take pleasure in teasing the young security officer.

His neck ridges flashed red. "Um...yes ma'am." He pulled out chocolates. "These are for the lades on the bridge to enjoy too." He slid the chocolates.

Another gift! Fortunately Lirha already had a healthy serving of food in front of her otherwise she might have begun to devour the sweet treats. "I thank you again," she smiled. "I hope I am not the only woman you are devoting all of your Mekvor attentions to?"

"No ma'am." He kind of looked down. He had the distinct feeling she was teasing him.

"Well then...it must be a very busy day for you." If he was visiting all of the women aboard Galileo in-person, that certainly was a commendable action. "I should not keep you waiting any further. You must have many others to visit still on your list," she assumed.

He smiled. "I do. Hope you like the card!" he smiled and headed out.

Her card also had a sketch of her face and on the back it said, I respect and honour you on Mekvor Day for your kindness, your intelligence, your passion and devotion to your crew and your job. You are kind to everyone, no matter who they are and I can honestly say you are the only Commanding Officer whose made me feel welcome even though I am a Cardassian.

Once the door swished shut following his departure, Lirha let out a soft breath and looked down at the final piece of Galan's good will. The card he'd offered her along with the flower and chocolates was sealed in a small envelope, and she skilfully sliced it open with her sharp fingernails.

It didn't take long for her to read through the words that were inscribed. It took much longer, however, to process the affectionate and respectful nature of each sentence. She couldn't help but suddenly think that she had been overly-dismissive of the new lieutenant...partly because she had never experienced a new crew member on the ship of such traditional Cardassian nature, and also because she, herself, had let her commanding officer duties force an artificial wall in-between her expected conduct and her natural friendliness. And also because of the wing-slugs in front of her.

She smiled to herself and mumbled, "Thank you, Eelim.."

[OFF]

--

Lieutenant JG Benice Gyce
Chief Science and Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

&

LCmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

&

Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen
Medical Officer
USS Galileo

&

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

RSS Feed