Two times logical
Posted on Wed May 15th, 2019 @ 1:07am by Lieutenant Commander T'Par
Edited on on Wed May 15th, 2019 @ 1:33am
Mission:
Sojourn
Location: Planet's boulevard.
Timeline: TBA
1423 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure
Kav rather stayed on the ship to see if there were things needed. But his colleagues convinced to go see the planet and all its beauties. The one thing that convinced him was maybe to try the local cuisine. So here he was walking down the boulevard with his arms behind his back. He was trying to choose which place he would visit first. He hasn't met many of his colleagues yet. But he would be alright with just eating alone if he had to.
T'Par was making her own way along the surface. She, too, had originally planned to simply beam up and get settled in but she had been convinced to have a look around by her immediate superior. When she saw Kav, her gaze turned his way and she approached. Seeing as he was a fellow Vulcan, she raised a hand in the traditional greeting. "Live long and prosper."
Kav returned the greeting, raising his hand and said, "And you." He simply said. He looked this new person over. "You must be the new officer that is coming on board. My name is Kav. It is agreeable to meet you here."
"You as well," T'Par answered. "I can understand the appeal of this place as a shore leave destination. It does have the kind of environment humans often find relaxing."
Kav nodded. "It is true. I can see it too." He made a hand motion to the establishments at the boulevard, "Can I interest you in a refreshment at one of these establishments?"
"Perhaps a light one," T'Par said. "I have just eaten with the captain."
"Of course," Kav nodded as she selected one of the places and sat down on a table, on the terrace. The waiter gave a menu to each of them and put water on the table and some glasses. Kav looked over the menu. "They have some Earth dishes. That is interesting how they to great length to please all here. I think I have a pasta salad with salmon. It's light and not that warm for this time of day. What about you?"
T'Par took a seat across from her fellow Vulcan and glanced at a menu. Her brows rose curiously. "I believe I will simply have a salad. It looks like the salad here contains a healthful array of Earth fruits and vegetables." She set the menu down neatly. "Have you served on Majestic long?"
"I left dock with her under this captain," Kav explained. "So a few months, give or take a few days. Have you served on other ships prior to this one?" He returned a question.
"I was on the Pericles for seven years," she informed him. "I was satisfied with my service there but I am looking forward to serving on Majestic. What is your impression thus far?"
"The crew had a rough start, but it seems they have gotten used to each other. I think a harmony has formed," He replied. "Most of the crew is very eager, as you will find out. There are two other Vulcans on board, but they are not like us. But none the less it is agreeable to have them on board."
"In what way are they not like us?" she asked with a raise of an eyebrow.
"I think they call it not following the teachings of Surak. They are what we would call v'tosh ka'tur. Which is what my aunt taught me. She said my father was like that," He continued as he explained. "Well, aside from the fact my father expresses a lot of emotions, he is the most logical man I know. Just because someone expresses emotions does not mean they are without logic, I just think they could have a different kind of logic."
"A different kind of logic," T'Par repeated thoughtfully as if she was considering the thought. She now looked at the salmon in Kav's salad for the first time as well. "And your father also embraced this view? At least to the extent of freely embracing the public display of emotion?" She was not given to emotional inflection herself but the hint of curiosity and of mild skepticism was not hidden. "I have made some study of the ideas of the v'tosh ka'tur but I did not expect to find them so heavily represented here."
"My father is known to smile to everyone," Kav said, "and yes he does publicly displays his emotions. I did not expect to find it here either." He noticed she was looking at the salmon. "Having a chef as a father, I was presented with different foods. I find fish, such as salmon to be aside from having a distinguished taste to have nutritional value,"He explained. "I would indulge myself once in a while."
"I am a follower of the teachings of Surak," T'Par replied. Her tone never changed from curios and considering but, for her, that was practically a breakdown. Only three people living had ever seen her smile and not more than once or twice. "That does not simply imply an embrace of logic in a reductive sense but a code of behavior, a path of mental discipline, and a set of values. That code of behavior does include the prohibition on eating the flesh of animals except where necessary. I am aware that as an intelligence officer I might have to stretch the definition of necessary but the thought is a distasteful one to me. It is more distasteful to my husband. We had an extensive debate when I transferred to intelligence. However, those values include infinite diversity in infinite combinations. It is a curiosity about the workings of other minds, alien minds, other worldviews, that led me to Starfleet and an aptitude for following the internal logic of another belief system that led me to intelligence. Nonetheless, I find myself surprised by this same diversity of thought in my own people. I have come to regard the teachings of Surak as a core part of what it means to be Vulcan. Perhaps that is changing as we exchange ideas more with other species and as Vulcans revisit their identity and their ancient past in the debates over Reunification. Perhaps my assumptions are outdated." She arches a single brow and tilted her head. "Perhaps you might tell me a little more of your perspective?"
Kav wasn't expecting another Vulcan talking as much as he did. But he wasn't pushed back in his resolve by it. "I do believe that our exchange with other alien cultures has something to do with the changes among our people. I do believe that the teachings of Surak still hold value to even the Vulcan of today. Times are changing, but we should not forgot our violent past. The emotions and feelings inside of us, need to be maintained as much as we can." He took a bit of his food, and took that moment to choose his words to better explain his perspective. He then continued, "When I look at my father I can tell, despite his passion and his showing of affection, he is still in control of his emotions. In control of himself. And I wonder, if he is stronger than us Vulcans trying to ban all our emotions and strife to be without emotions." He put his fork down. "I think his understanding of the words of Surak is making him the man he is today." He then folded his hands and let it sink in with T'Par.
"You clearly admire him a great deal," T'Par noted. "Even outside the v'tos ka'tur, most Vulcans do not achieve and many do not seek kolinahr. It was one of our greatest contemporary minds who said that logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end, and it is the teachings of Surak himself which acknowledge that logic cannot be the only source to give us our ends. We must decide, for example, that we wish to respect life before logic can tell us anything about how we should interact with other life forms."
Kav nodded slowly, "Your words have wisdom too, lieutenant. I would like to discuss this topic with you again. Another time perhaps?" He offered. "I may even share some of my father's wisdom and one of his famed vegetarian Earth dishes."
"I would appreciate that," T'Par said.
They continued eating quietly.
Lieutenant JG T'Par
Assistant chief Intelligence officer
&
Lieutenant JG Kav
Assistant chief flight control officer & (Acting) Chief operations officer
(PNPC) Lieutenant Sandra Adamson
