A Friend in Need

Posted on Saturday, 22 August 2020 - 7:37pm by Commander Soral & Lieutenant JG Maximus Mackenzie

Mission: Operation: Dreamweaver
Location: USS Standing Bear | XO's Office |Deck 01
Timeline: 2393 - MD 01 - 2300 Hours

{ON:}

Mac got up, showered and was going to get ready for bed but somehow sleep seemed a distant want. He, instead, walked around the ship a little and found himself outside Soral's office. He wasn't surprised to see the hallways dark but the light filtering through under the door. He rang the chime and waited.

Soral had been finishing up some work. He had found sleep to be an elusive creature this night. There was much on his mind. He had many things to consider. The chime at the office door came as a surprise but a welcome respite from the paperwork, as it were. "Enter." He called out.

The door hissed open and he stood up. He had been just about to greet his friend when he noted an expression on Max's face. "What has happened?" He watched Max stride to the replicator order water, down it in one shot and then drop into the seat across him like a lead weight.

"He could have died."

Soral raised and eyebrow. He knew there was no point in asking. Max would talk in his own time. After a few minutes of silence he proved himself right.

"Soral I'm ... floundering. I was fine before this meld or link thing. Now I'm an emotional wreck."

Soral sighed and walked over to his friend. He was glad Alex was on bridge duty tonight. Not even asking he went to the cabinet and came back with a glass of whisky. Aldebran whisky. It was hard, heavy, and bitter as hell.

Sighing he poured himself a glass and set down next to Max. "It is... a side effect of the kind of bond you two had."

Max was silent or a moment. "Did you and Alex go through that?"

Soral shook his head. "No. Our bond was a marriage bond. What you two have...is deeper. It is literal the fusion of two Katra's or souls. It carries with it both personalities and both emotional states and thus it is rarely performed. The fact that the priestess did it means that you two were souls meant to be together."

Max downed the glass in one shot. "Yeah well will it settle?"

"It will. A few weeks at most."

Max leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes. "Do you think we're crazy for doing that?"

"No. I think that the bond you two share is rare and very strong. I am pleased that you two have undertaken this."

Both men were silent as Soral poured another glass for each of them.

This time they took their time drinking it down. "So what does this all mean. I understand the mechanics of it but..."

Soral sighed. "What part do you not understand?"

"How is it different from a marriage bond?"

"Well other then the soul fusion there are not many differences. The big one is the fusion and the fact that if one partner dies the other will too in a sense. It would be like loosing half of you soul. At worst the living partner would be a vegetable. But other the bond is like a marriage bond in that when Kaito goes through Pon Farr you will feel it and be drawn to him too. You will share a deep emotional understanding that not many married couples have."

"I see."

"The bond is not breakable so very permanent which is why it is not done often."

"What are the legal aspects? I mean Alex is your wife she is by that virtue a citizen of Vulcan. Lady of your house. What am I?"

"Well you are T'hy'la and that is a special designation in itself. It is rare and would be treated with respect on Vulcan. Citizenship? probably not but you could apply if you wish."

Max scrubbed a hand down his face looking tired. "I don't know man. I'm exhausted and it does not help that I cannot sleep."

"It seems to be a theme I am well acquainted with." He paused letting Max think things out.

"I feel confused."

"Indeed. It will pass." Soral placed a hand on his friends shoulder. "You do not regret your bond with Kaito?"

"No, never. I just feel off, like I am not myself."

Soral gave a nod. "It will pass. Now how about your file shall I update it. Do you wish to mention the bond in any way?"

Max hadn't thought of that. "I....am I suppose to? Starfleet is...is it something they recognize?"

"No, not in a formal sense but you can list him as a fiancé of sorts or partner."

Max hadn't though of that. "I think I'd like that. To make it more formal. I think that Kaito will not want to do that but I do. He is...well it's hard to explain but he's all I have ever dreamed of."

Soral allowed himself a rare smile. "I have experience with that. I shall figure out an amendment to the record."

Max was silent. "So how are you doing in all this? The kids, the twin... V'shar reboot?"

Soral sighed. "Truthfully not well."

Max gave a nod. He'd thought so. He'd seen everything from the shock, to the pain. He'd had his wife hospitalized, had a cardiac episode, had found out he was half Romulan, had two kids and a twin sister. Who would be doing fine. On top of that he was loosing his ability to control a childhood condition that he'd had no trouble controlling until now.

"I wish to spend time alone, to meditate, but...it is not an option."

"I hear ya. How can I help?"

Soral stared at the glass in his hand. "I do not think there is a way. Working is a distraction from thinking. Although I am starting to get the feeling that Alexandra is .... not happy with my working schedule. I keep telling her that I am not working to keep away from her. It is so difficult to explain."

Max gave a nod. "I can understand that but your wife is stronger then you think. Don't keep her out."

Soral was silent thinking about things. "To be honest there are days when I wonder what she saw in me."

Max laughed. "Yes that has crossed my mind too."

In return for his gibe he got a pillow to the face.

Max laughed. "There we go. The old Soral. How about we book some holodeck time and you can show me that program you run when....when your symptoms act up."

He gave a nod. "Tomorrow then."

"Indeed. Tomorrow." He downed the rest of the glass and then after saying goodbye he headed to his own quarters. He was tired but not sure if he could get some sleep. At least he could clean up a bit. He'd let his room get full of things that he didn't need. He also had to unpack and put things away.

Tomorrow was a new day for the whole ship and hopefully it would bring with it good things.

{OFF:}