Deep In Discussion

Posted on Sunday, 16 August 2020 - 9:43am by Commander Soral & Lieutenant JG Maximus Mackenzie
Edited on on Sunday, 16 August 2020 - 9:51am

Mission: Operation: Dreamweaver
Location: USS Standing Bear | XO's Office
Timeline: 2393 - MD 01

{ON:}

Mac sat across from Soral in his office. They were going through some tactical issues. Neither of them was running on any sleep. When it did come, the elusive state known as sleep, dark nightmares kept them awake and even disturbed the peace of their wakeful life.

It was Mac who let out a frustrated sigh. "Sorry I just...haven't gotten much sleep." He stood and walked over to the replicator. "Coffee Hot. Extra strong." He looked at Soral. "No wait make it two Romulan coffees extra strong and extra hot." The replicator hummed and in a cloud of sparkles two mugs of steaming coffee appeared.

As Mac picked them up he carried them over enjoying the vague hint of spice, one that smelled like nutmeg. He placed one coffee in front of Soral and sat down wrapping his hands around the warm brew. "So...how's the holodeck time."

Soral looked up. "My symptoms have...lessed to where I can control them again."

Mac supressed a sigh of relief. "Good." He sipped his coffee letting he heat warm him from the inside. "There is something I wanted to discuss with you. About Chief Eyelaya."

Soral looked up. "Oh?"

He sighed. "I'm worried about her. I snooped and pried and that log I gave you that the EMH sent..well that wasn't all I found."

Soral put down the PaDD he'd been holding and took up his coffee. "What else?"

Mac sighed. "Well she made some log entries. It appears she met that red head with the mind link ball. Cassia-Ren and her husband. A human male with...I quote 'Cardassian eyes'."

Soral listed as Mac relayed the log entry. Some might view it as a breach of privacy but Soral was concerned with the crew's safety and Eyelaya was always that figure. They'd confirmed who her parents were and Soral suspected that her brother was out there. As he also suspected the Obsidian Order was out to find her...that added an element to his safety concerns not just for the crew but or Eyelaya herself.

He rubbed his face. "Alright. Let's put a hold on this for now. I do not think she is a danger to the crew. But we do need to look out for her. Has her...mood improved any?"

Mac shook his head. "No. She still comes home plops on the bed or sofa and just...stays there. She hasn't been tinkering on her projects nor is she her usual self. That message really threw her from that damned EMH."

Soral gave a nod. "I've asked Vali to assess him."

"Well she should. He's got the kid pegged all wrong."

"Indeed." Soral drank more of the coffee enjoying the subtle spice. He'd always loved Romulan coffee and the revelations on Earth were perhaps the eye opener as to why...or maybe it was just good coffee.

Soral looked up at Mac. "Are you alright?"

"I could ask you the same."

"Indeed. I did, however, ask first," Soral said.

"Irritatingly, yes you did." He paused. He liked this easiness between the two. When they spoke it was like brothers and friends and he hadn't realized how much he missed that.

"Well?"

"I don't know I've had this feeling...like something is wrong. These moments of dizziness and confusion. It's like I'm hurt but not me...It's ....frightening. Like being sealed up in a mine after a cave in. Stress panic...."

Soral raised an eyebrow. Just before he could answer the communications officer chimed in.

=/\= Chief Marotte to Lieutenant Mackenzie =/\=

Mac tapped his badge. "Go ahead."

=/\=Urgent communication from the USS Astraea.=/\=

Mac sat up.

Soral intervened. "Patch it through to XO main consol."

=/\=Aye sir.=/\=

The communications went off and soon the screen on the wall shimmered the logo being replaced by the face of Haru. He was dirty, blood seeped from his forehead.

Mac sat up. "Haru!" He stood.

Soral was surprised at the look on Haru's face and the shape of him. "Are you well?"

"Away mission," he said, "Cave in...or rather mine cave in. Just a little banged up."

That explained the feelings that Mac had talked about. Soral looked over at Mac, he could tell the panic on his friends face, it rarely came out but it was there. He was once again shocked that he hadn't noticed the relationship that had blossomed between two of his best friends.

Haru spoke. "I'm alright. About to get to sickbay to get looked over. I just...I..."

Mac's eyes filled with unshed tears. "I know."

Soral noted that Mac's hands had a death grip on the chair hand rests. He was still concerned. "Call me when you get out of sickbay."

Haru gave a nod. "I'm alright." He'd called because he'd needed to see Mac's face.

As the communication ended Mac sat back. He was unprepared for the tsunami of feelings that washed over him. He hadn't realized just how powerful this link with him and Haru was. His feelings now also cemented how vital Haru was to him. It also cemented that they had made the right decision. He could not live without him. Their relationship had always given him strength. More then just the romantic feelings but the friendship the bond that they formed.

Soral watched his friend. Never the overly emotive one he understood the power of what was between the two. "He is alright. He will be alright."

Mac gave a nod.

Soral paused. "Why do you not go and rest. Wait for the call. We are on our way to the next location anyway there is nothing to do. You are technically on your day off."

Mac smiled a little. "Yeah...I could never take those." He sighed. "You know we didn't want to hide this from you it...just happened from the Academy and then we just stayed friends...we spoke every week."

"Indeed."

"I mean it's weird but even without Romantic undertones this connection we have..."

"T'hy'la." He paused. "Rare, very rare and amongst my people, Vulcans," he clarified, "There have been only five instances of T'hy'la...Ambassador Spock being one of them."

Mac sighed. "Yeah. I never understood that part of his biography until now."

Soral allowed himself a smile. "Indeed. I am...happy for you both. You both deserve this and now, perhaps looking back, I can see it more."

Mac sighed. "Yeah. When did all this change? I'm the one supposed to be looking out for you after what happened on Earth."

Soral waved a hand. "I shall be fine. Go rest. We shall talk more later. Perhaps the holodeck? One of your fishing programs?"

Mac laughed. "Sure." He rubbed his hands over his tired face. "I think I'll take you up on the offer and go and rest."

"Indeed."

Soral watched Mac go and then leaned back in his chair. He closed his eyes to allow the headache to pass a moment and then reached into his drawer. He pressed the hypo Ryan had given him for headaches to his neck and hissed out a dose. He had to get through the rest of his day.

{OFF:}