Enlisting Help

Posted on Thursday, 18 March 2021 - 6:33pm by Commander Soral & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali

Mission: Operation: Trail of Tears
Location: Mess Hall | USS Standing Bear
Timeline: 2394

ON:

Soral sat with small group of Romulans that they had managed to rescue from the ship. He could tell their discomfort at being on a Federation ship and for once he didn't blame them. They had only managed to save a few, the last being a child whose father begged Soral to save his son. The boy now sat to Soral's right grieving the loss of his father in the ship and the crew and all grieving the loss of Romulus. All had been shocked to learn of its destruction yet more shocked to learn that the Federation stood by and did nothing.

Now she’d had adequate rest and the residual voices were gone T’Lanna was back at work. Wanting to be of help she walked into the room where their Romulan guests were, she wasn’t sure what kind of welcome she’d get but in a gesture of hope she’d tucked her hair behind her pointed ears something she normally didn’t do. She walked over to Soral and offered a warm smile. “Commander, I’m here to help.”

There were many suspicious looks around the table. Soral spoke up, "This is T'Lanna, she is a counselor." Gods know he needed to talk to one.

“I understand that my presence here most likely makes you all uncomfortable, but I’m only here to help you.” She looked around seeing a child who looked all alone. She could feel waves of pain and grief coming from him. “Commander, the boy?” She looked back at Soral her mothering instincts were to do what she could.

"His father, a great Romulan." He said looking at the boy. "He saved his son's life. He...remained on the ship."

T’Lanna gazed at the child. “I am so sorry!!” She slowly moved across knowing she needed to be cautious. “She offered a gentle smile as she crouched in front of him. “Your father’s sacrifice will be remembered. I know what it’s like to loose a parent, I lost my mother.” She gently reached out a hand and placed it on his. “If you need anything ...” She left it at that and turned her attention back to Soral. “What happened out there Commander?”

He looked around at the group of Romulans. "If you will excuse me." They just nodded. As he stood he felt a tug on his arm. Sighing he saw the boy took his hand. He crouched down. "Stay here," he said in Romulan. "I will return shortly. I promise."

"That is what my father said, that I should go with you that he would see me on the ship."

Soral sighed. He gave a nod. "I know. But I will return. I promise. I will be just across the room." The boy nodded bravely.

Soral motioned for Vali to follow him to a quiet table in the room.

T’Lanna followed, as they reached the table she took a seat and waited to hear what Soral had to say.

He sighed. He looked back at the Romulans they saved. They had asked to be ferried to Vashti. "They will need your help."

“That’s what I’m here for Soral, I was hoping they’d have a little trust knowing I was part Vulcan but I can see it’s not going to be that simple.” She looked at the Romulans then back at Soral. “What of the boy? What’s going to happen to him?”

"He has no other family." He sighed. "I... think he will wind up at a Vashti orphanage."

“An orphanage!” She kept her voice low so as not to be overheard. “So soon after losing his father? That’s just ... cruel.” She shook her head. “What about a foster family? Someone willing to look after him?”

He shook his head. "Vashti is a poor planet, many can barely feed their families." He sighed. "I am trying to find a family for him though. Vulcan needs to step up and absorb our Romulan brothers and sisters."

T’Lanna nodded. “If he needs a home, even a temporary one I’d be more than happy to help. I’m sure my father would be willing to offer assistance as well.”

"He needs to be with Romulans now, he's still very young." He sighed. "I wish ..." he shook his head. "It is not important."

“You wish what Soral?” T’Lanna looked at Soral curiously. “Tell me what you were going to say.”

"Nothing, my mind is just thinking of things." He looked at the Romulans. "They will have much to get used to."

“They will indeed” T’Lanna nodded. “Trust was hard before, it’s going to be even worse now. I want to help but I don’t blame them for being suspicious of me.”

He looked at T'Lanna. "You don't by chance speak Romulan do you?"

“I’m not fluent but I understand some words, I can muddle my way through.” T’Lanna offered a smile. “It’s not that far off Vulcan, Romulans are an off shoot of Vulcan’s after all.”

"Indeed." He suddenly seemed tired an old in an instant. "I find that I am ...not doing so well," he admitted in a rare show of emotion.

“Actually I think you’re finally becoming what nature intended” T’Lanna offered a smile. “Unlike Vulcans, Romulans are emotional by nature. You are of mixed race, like me. Perhaps it’s time you allowed yourself to experience feelings. I know it won’t be easy for you, but it’s all part of accepting who you are.”

He sighed, "I do not know how to even begin," he said honestly.

T’Lanna nodded. “Be with Alex, let her guide you. Feelings are ... tricky to say the least, in the case of us Vulcans anger can be a dangerous emotion but you just have to learn how to balance feelings. I’m here to help in anyway I can Soral, all you have to do is ask.”

"It was simpler when I did not know of my Romulan heritage." He sighed.

“I can imagine” T’Lanna nodded. “it’s not easy being torn between two worlds. It’s only since I met you that I’ve come to terms with my Vulcan side, so I understand how much this must hurt you.” She looked around at the survivors. “What is happening Soral? So much is changing and not for the better.”

He reached out and placed a comforting hand on hers. "I do not know. I know that we must push through it all."

T’Lanna nodded welcoming the gesture of support. “I don’t worry for me, I worry for Jayce and other children thrown into this torment. How could such violence towards not just Romulans but Vulcans too occur?”

"I am reminded of an old Earth saying. If we do not learn from history we are doomed to repeat it."

T’Lanna nodded. “That’s very true. What is that poor boy going to learn from all this? I feel so sorry for him.” She gave the young boy a warm smile as she looked across to him. “I know you said he needs to be with the Romulans but if I can be of any help to him, even just temporarily please let me know.”

He gave a nod. "Perhaps. Tomorrow we are having a ceremony in the cargo bay perhaps after. He is not dealing with his feelings well. I have tried to assist him but I am no expert in psychology."

“He’s a child that’s lost his father, he’s alone and he’s terrified. He’s hiding it well but I can feel it. Deep down inside he’s doing his best to bottle everything up and that’s not good for him. He needs to release those feelings or he’ll carry them with him for a very long time. Those feelings lead to hatred and that’s not what his father would want. What about his mother?”

"I do not know but he said that he only had his father." He sighed. "Perhaps I could introduce you two later. He may wish to speak with you more."

“I’ll do what I can.” She offered a smile. “Maybe it’s just my mothering instincts, being a new mum and seeing a child who has no one else ...” She shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe one of the voices I was hearing crying out for help was his. There were so many of them, I know some were residual. This was the second time I’ve experienced residual energies, it wasn’t pleasant the first time, I’d rather never have to do it again!”

"They are difficult to get used to. If you spend time on Vulcan there will be plenty of that in certain areas, the Blood Plains, the ruins and monasteries...it is difficult to avoid. As your telepathic skills get better it will be more of an issue."

“In that case I’ll steer clear for a while” She offered Soral a brief smile.

He gave a nod. "The boy, can you try to find out if he has any family friends or someone he could go to?"

“Does he speak our language at all? Having to use the universal translator might slow things down somewhat. Like I said I understand some Romulan but I’m nowhere near fluent.”

"He speaks a little but he is fluent in Vulcan."

“Excellent” T’Lanna smiled warmly. “In that case I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.”

Soral gave a nod. "I know something of what he feels. I was very young when I came home and found I was abandoned. It is not a pleasant feeling."

“I can understand and relate, I felt something similar when I was released from my life as a Borg without my mother. My father and I weren’t that close then, even though he did everything to help me.” She looked at the young boy. “I will do everything I can to help him.”

He gave a nod. "Thank you."

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