Food For Thought - Part III

Posted on Tuesday, 28 March 2023 - 2:37pm by Commander Soral & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali

Mission: Operation: Lobes & Liberties
Location: Captain's Ready Room | USS Standing Bear
Timeline: Current

{ON}

The night had been a rough one, T’Lanna had spent a long time wondering what to do to help Alex, and what to do about Soral. Arriving on the bridge, she’d decided to start with Soral, they needed to talk.

Soral finished adding his comments to the data pad. "Thank you ensign. Ensure engineering gets this right away."

He sat back tapping the chair's hand rest. In the background he heard the lift doors open but it was the bridge, he paid no attention to it.

“Excuse me Commander” T’Lanna gave Soral an emotionless gaze. “May I speak to you, in private?”

"Indeed." He motioned for one of the command team to take the bridge. "Captain's Ready Room." He stood and walked ahead of her.

Following Soral to the Ready Room, T’Lanna put Soral’s own teachings to use in keeping her objectivity. She waited for the doors to close before speaking. “Commander, we need to talk about what happened in the mess hall last night. I am concerned about where your loyalties lie.”

"My loyalties? I do not understand." He motioned for her to sit and headed to the replicator. "Drink?"

“No, thank you Sir” T’Lanna took a seat. “I refer to your behaviour in the mess hall last night. First of all, you forcefully eject a Klingon, granted he was bothering your...” She paused. “..date, then the two of you proceed to air your views about Starfleet in full earshot of the crew, and Lieutenant Kingsley. Before you both headed off to the holodeck together.”

He raised both eyebrows. "Hmm. If I were a human captain I would caution you about insubordination. Now, the Klingon you are referring to had earlier caused an incident in Ops with a young Bajoran Ensign and had been put in the brig. He escaped and was bothering a Vulcan Exchange officer. I ejected said Klingon so that further issues would not arrive after receiving permission from the Klingon captain who signed the exchange. As for the 'date' as you call it was a meeting with an old mentor's student that I had put off so I was meeting her for dinner. As for the talking I doubt the majority of the crew heard the conversation only the tables within ear shot and I said nothing that was not true. Starfleet did, in fact, let Romulus get destroyed. The Needs of the Many out weight the needs of the few is an old saying of Ambassador Spock that Starfleet has not embraced. That is the truth. What in that do you find inappropriate Lieutenant?" He ordered a spiced tea and sat down.

He sat down. "Furthermore, I did correct the young Sub-Lieutenant as to her views on Mars when we left. I saw she was getting emotional and even so she did point out that Starfleet ignored Romulus due to their saving those on Mars, a fact not a criticism. I cannot be held accountable for the misinterpretation of the crew. You were not there for the discussion afterwards when I took Ms. Belladonna to see Romulus, a home she will never see."

T’Lanna sighed. “My apologies Commander. I do not wish to appear insubordinate. As you know I was in the mess hall with Lieutenant Kingsley, she has been struggling with reintegration ever since her return to the ship. With untrue rumours about Alex and Lieutenant Knight, being spread, possibly by T’Paris, she found your apparent interest in the Sub-Lieutenant very distressing.”

He studied her. "I can understand this. It is not easy getting back and integrating. As for the rumours they are just that." He studied her. "What has T'Paris to do with all this?"

“Soral I’d have thought a man as observant as yourself, would be fully aware of the fact that a female Vulcan might view you as a prospective mate.” T’Lanna offered the first smile she’d given since entering the room. “T’Paris always, shall we say disagreed?... with your choosing a non-Vulcan as a mate.”

"But I had thought that to be over with." He sat down in the big chair and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Has she been causing problems for Alexandra?"

“Not that we can prove” T’Lanna sighed. “But someone has been making up rumours about Alex being involved with Lieutenant Knight. T’Paris is the logical choice.”

"Not exactly, she's the likely choice based on past history. I will look into it."

T’Lanna nodded. “Thank you, I appreciate that.” She paused. “With regards to your... relationship with Alex, is there anything I can do? I can arrange for the two of you to join a relationship-based counselling session if that would help?”

"Unfortunately, no. This has occurred before. We have had issues and I have always been persistent and worked to mend things. I do not know if I have it in me to this anymore. It will be up to Alexandra if she wishes to salvage the relationship. I cannot fight anymore for something that the other person is not fighting for. It is one of those things that may not work out."

T’Lanna nodded. “I see, and what if she needs to know that you still care? I take it you do still love her? And I mean Alex, not Lexi.”

He gave a nod. "I have been trying but there comes a time when one....to use a world you like, feels all tried out. When one person is trying and the other is not...one asks what the point is?"

T’Lanna nodded. “Put yourself in her shoes Soral, the two of you had your bond severed, Alex was bonded with Lexi, a version of herself that was willing to do... what Alex wouldn’t, who had a family unit that currently doesn’t exist, and was faced with a man who was the double, yet complete opposite of the man she loved. As far as she’s concerned you’re the one who gave her up. She’s struggling Soral, not just with you, but all of it.”

"And her struggle is greater than mine? I have struggled, counselor, all my life. I continue to struggle, to give, as humans would say, from a well that is near empty. I have fought to make things easier for her, my children, the crew, Vulcan who fights for me? I take care of others who will take care of me?"

Before he could go on the door chimed. He sighed. "Enter."

The door opened and Belladonna walked in. She stopped just inside. "Counselor...my apologies for interrupting."

Soral waved her away. "Not an issue Sub-lieutenant," he said using the Vulcan ranking. "How can I help?"

She handed him a Padd. "These are the reports you wished me to view. I have found a more efficient way of ranking them. It is something currently being used on Vulcan ships. I also have taken the liberty of looking up replicate orders. You have not eaten since last evening and it is pushing mid day. While that is not unusual for any Vulcan one must eat." As if she'd heard the conversation she went on, "You take care of the crew and ship it is time you are taken care of." She headed to the replicator and within a few moments she came back with a meal. "Please, Commander, eat."

Soral smiled. "Thank you Sub-Lieutenant. All of this is not necessary."

"Perhaps humans do not care for one another, we are Vulcan and both of us Romulan a rare pairing. We must care for one another. Now," She gave a bow to the Counselor. "My apologies again for the interruption. I have duties to tend to with the exchange program." She turned to Soral. "By your leave Commander."

He gave a nod and she breezed out of the office leaving Soral momentarily staring after her.

T’Lanna looked at Soral her expression more one of unemotional Vulcan than her usual smile. “It would appear that there is already one here that wishes to care for you Commander.” She stood ready to leave. “I will leave you to your dinner.”

He studied her. "What are you implying Counselor?"

“I am implying that the Sub-Lieutenant likes you Commander. Make of that what you will.”

"I am sure you are not understanding her. She is simply concerned as one Vulcan would be for another."

“Perhaps I am” T’Lanna nodded. “I am, after all, pretty new to Vulcan ways of doing things. It’s your teachings that have gotten me this far, but I still have much to learn about what it is to be Vulcan. Even if I am only half Vulcan."

"And you are learning. You are learning well and being half Vulcan has nothing to do with it. You are Vulcan." He sighed. "Now is there anything else that troubles you?"

“No Sir” T’Lanna shook her head. “As I said I will leave you to your food. Enjoy.”

He gave a nod. "Thank you for your concern T'Lanna."

T’Lanna smiled. “My pleasure Soral, you are my friend, and mentor.”

"As I will always be."

T’Lanna nodded, offering a more usual warm smile. With that she headed on her way.

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