And the soul opens

Posted on Saturday, 24 July 2021 - 10:28am by Commander Soral & Lieutenant JG Hayashi Hamura

Mission: Operation: Lazarus
Location: Mess Hall | USS Standing Bear
Timeline: 2394 MD 06

ON:

Soral had been briefed on the briefing and was now sitting in the mess hall pushing his food around his plate not really eating.

“Senpai, may I join you?”

Soral looked up into the familiar eyes of Hamura. “Indeed.” He motioned for the Hamura to sit.

Hayashi settled into the chair and started unpacking the food tray. “If you push the food around any further, I think that the replicator will take offense.”

A ghost of a smile lit Soral’s mouth for a moment. “Indeed.” He studied Hamura. “You look…disturbed.”

Hayashi sighed. “I’m…processing.”

Soral knew that in Hamura speak that meant not happy in the least. “What has disturbed your balance Hamura-Kun.”

Hayashi smiled at the honorific. It had been a long time since Soral had used it. “This whole thing with the Trel.”

“It is…disturbing in some ways. It will not be an easy task but I am confident that you can do things safely.”

“Oh, absolutely now that the Cappy sees me for an idiot.”

Soral raised an eyebrow. “I do not understand.”

“Well, he’s got your wife watching me, and the counselor who is on the command track.”

Soral watched Hamura’s fingers as they air quoted the last two words. A sarcastic gesture that Soral was very familiar with. “I do not think that he meant it that way.”

“Please, I’m an Ensign who’s the head of a department. It doesn’t matter my skill the title is all that counts to fleeters.”

“You wear a uniform as do I. By that definition we are fleeters.”

Hayashi sighed. “You know what I mean. Fleeters are the hard noses that have sticks up their…”

“Yes, I am familiar with the way that you use this phrase.” Soral sighed. “I am sure that nothing like this has crossed the captain’s mind.”

Hayashi laughed taking a bite of the sandwich. “Yeah okay. A distinguished captain poached out of retirement has an ensign running engineering. He’s not afraid of looking like…”

“Hamura-Kun. You must not think that way. Alexandra will be of help and you know that Science and Engineering must work together on this.”

Hayashi sighed. “Yeah, that I know but why the counselor as babysitter? It’s bad enough I have to worry about you Senpai. I know you want to help and I just can’t risk you getting hurt.”

“I will not interfere,” Soral said. He wanted Hamura to know that his trust was without limits. As someone who had taken an interest in guiding Hamura he wanted the Engineer to feel that at least someone believed in the skills that were there. “You are capable of handling this and you have worked with the Trel before. You can do this I know that you can and I have faith in your skills. If you require my assistance you will ask.”

Hayashi sat there silently. “Thanks, Senpai.” There was a long pause before Hamura spoke again. “It’s good that at least someone has faith in me.”

Soral said nothing. He would have to speak with the captain on this. Even a perception that ones commanding officer had no faith in them was dangerous and for Hamura, Soral knew, it meant a transfer request may be pending. The ship could not afford to lose a fine Engineer even if Hamura’s assessment of Stillwater and his lack of faith were true, which he did not think were.

“Senpai, you seem…not yourself either.”

“Much weighs heavy on my mind.” It was the truth and one he only shared with Mac, Haru, and Hamura although to be honest, more so with Hamura. There was a long and complicated history there.

“Will you open your Katra to me?”

Soral gave a nod and watched as Hamura’s eyes closed. There was a moment and then the link of their souls. It was a Katra exchange that had happened years ago. In Vulcan history this was never done lightly. There were very few who did this. Sarek had this exchange with Michael when she almost died and when Hamura was at death’s door Soral had used a part of his own Katra to bring Hamura back. They were now linked for life. No matter the distance they could communicate they shared a soul, after all.

“Your symptoms have come back.”

Soral gave a nod. “Yes. My mind has been….not quite my own since the Andorian incident.”

“You have kept this from Alexandra and the doctors.”

Soral said nothing, Hamura was stating what was known between the two of them through the Katric link that they shared.

“You are worried about turning back into what you fought so hard to leave behind. You are insecure as to Alexandra’s feelings for you her wish to be a mother, your wish to have a child with her that you worry may never happen.”

Again, Soral said nothing he merely raised an eyebrow.

Hayashi smiled. “Yeah, well I like this Katra thing. Makes you easier to read.” Haya studied him. “You are afraid.”

“Yes,” he simply said.

“Afraid that you need to seek monastic healing on Vulcan.”

“Yes, and that it is selfish.”

“Because you feel you should see your kids on Risa. You worry that they will think you do not care for them if you do not go and see them, you think your wife will see you as less if you seek help on Vulcan and you are hiding the fact that you are going back.”

“Yes, I have asked the captain to keep Alexandra busy.”

Hayashi was quiet. Through their Katra link Soral’s bond with Alex was laid bare in front of Hayashi. “But in not telling her you are breaking your promise to her. You are sabotaging your relationship because you feel you do not deserve her. You are stumped by the fact that she, like most in your life, has not turned her back on you yet.”

Soral raised his head and met Hamura’s stare. “You are too perceptive. You should have been a counselor.”

“Insults, Senpai, are not needed.”

Soral smiled again for a moment and then stood taking his tray. “Indeed. Apologies. I must return to the bridge. You may think of taking some of your advice and speaking with Oriana.”

Hayashi watched as he walked away knowing that with just those few words Soral had struck home.

OFF: