Breakfast

Posted on Mon Jul 29th, 2019 @ 1:50am by Lieutenant Commander T'Par

Mission: For Whom The Bell Tolls
Location: Mess
Timeline: MD4 0800
1219 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

T'Par selected gespar from the replicator. She took the tray containing the Vulcan rolls and her glass of water and briefly glanced about the mess hall for a familiar face. Not seeing one, she nonetheless made eye contact with a fellow Vulcan she had not met before. She started in his direction. "Good morning."

"Ma'am," Sekat responded in turn, "please pardon me not getting up to pull back your seat." It was the Human, and gentlemanly thing to do, but with his bad leg it just wasn't happening. He nodded towards the cane leaning against the table, as if it explained all. "Please feel free to join, however. I am Sekat." He hadn't seen her before either, even though he'd been aboard for quite some time now.

An arch of a brow showed her surprise. She would not have expected him to get up to pull back her seat. "I believe I shall manage," she said as she sat down. "I'm T'Par. I don't believe I've seen you around before."

"That is not impossible. I spend most of my time in sickbay." Surely his uniform gave at least a hint towards the department he belonged to. "I am one of the ship's physicians. You are in intelligence?" He nodded towards her grey collar.

"Fortunately, I have not yet had occasion to visit sickbay often, except for the initial physical," she commented. She chose to keep her recent visit to herself. It was not a lie. She had not been often. "Yes, I am in intelligence. I've recently become Chief Intelligence Officer."

"I offer congratulations ma'am," the older Vulcan said, inclining his head ever so slightly, "you have big shoes to fill as your predecessor has quite the reputation."

"I believe we are of the same rank. There is no need to call me ma'am," she demured. "Thank you for your good wishes," she continued. "I served under him briefly. He is a fascinating man. The emotional and cultural openness of his Betazoid upbringing is apparent in any casual interaction, enough that is mildly surprised me when I first met him. However, the discipline and aptitude for subtlety and of his Romulan heritage have been enormous assets in his career. He is a fine officer."

"He is an honourable man. At least from what I heard, I must admit that while I have heard many things about him, he and I have never met. He is Doctor Adamson's patient, not mine." There was something about the way he spoke the doctor's name, a minute smile touching his face. "Even if Commander Sommers does work the occasional shift, our paths have not yet crossed."

"You and Dr. Adamson are close?" she inquired. From a fellow Vulcan, that small smile seemed like a rather strong emotional display.

Sekat hesitated, but only briefly as he wasnt sure how public their relationship was. Then, he decided he didn't care at all about public opinion. "She is my mate," he answered honestly. "Do you have a mate?"

"Yes," she answered matter-of-factly. "My husband is on Tellar Prime."

"Children?" Now Sekat had to admit to curiosity as he lifted his mug to sip his tea.

"Not yet. We plan to have two in time." She took a bite of gespar.

"Two?" He arched an eyebrow at her even though it pained him greatly to talk about a child wish. "What if you cannot have two? Would you settle for just one healthy child?"

"It is unlikely the choice would present itself that way. If I were able to have a first child but not a second, it would likely be because of a medical difficulty which began during or after the first pregnancy." She tilts her head slightly. She hesitates before asking the next question. "Is there a particular reason you ask that?"

"My late wife and I were unable to bear children. In time, I do hope to be able to give Sandra a child, if she so wishes. I was married for twenty years, and my wife was barren." A sadness crossed his face at her mention. "Surely though, you would like to discuss more.. happier topics. I was merely curious to the point of your choice of two, it is very precise."

"Happiness is an emotional goal. However, I can see the topic is...unpalatable." Then she nods at the more specific question. "It is replacement level. Two parents, two children. The overall Vulcan population in the next generation will neither increase nor decrease on our account. It provides each child with a Vulcan companion of a similar age within the family while not unduly dividing parental attention."

"That seems logical." He sipped his tea again. "I have one sister, she is twenty-one years my junior. Do you have siblings of your own?"

"I have two sisters and one brother," she shared. "My brother and one of my sisters are also in Starfleet. My brother is seven years older than I am but my sisters are two and four years my junior." She pauses a moment as if considering commenting on that but she decides not to. "Are you close to your sister?"

"No. By the time she was born I was going through medical school on Vulcan. I was close to graduating in fact and I was already bonded to T'Lay. Ironic, is it not? My sister is young enough to be my own daughter."

"Ironic," she agreed, before steering the conversation away from somewhat troubling family topics. "Your medical training was on Vulcan then? Not Starfleet Medical on Earth?"

"I did not apply Starfleet until I was thirty-seven. I was a civilian physician on Vulcan until that time. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a doctor. Being in Starfleet will help me expand my knowledge and ability to help. Did you always want to be an intelligence officer? Do you have a specialisation?"

"I didn't," she says. "I wanted to be a science officer. I studied xenoanthropology at the Academy." She gives a small shake of her head. "On a starship, one must be something of a generalist."

"Then how did you end up in intelligence?" Mug poised halfway to his mouth, he peered at her, eyebrow lifted in curiosity.

"I found I had an aptitude for it," she answered simply.

"That is a good way to do what you excell at," Sekat agreed, "do you enjoy it?"

"I usually find it satisfying," she answered.

"Usually. At what times do you find it less than satisfying?" It was obvious the Vulcan was curious.

"Nothing is perfectly satisfying," she demurred. "I do prefer the analytical aspects of intelligence work. Covert infiltration often necessitates...unpleasantries."

Sekat nodded, even if he couldn't understand. "If you ever need assistance from medical in any form of fashion, let us know. I am certain we will be able to assist."

"I will," she agreed.

Reaching for his cane, Sekat pulled himself up to his feet. "Well, it has been a pleasure lieutenant but I have to head back to sickbay."

"Thank you, Sekat. Have a good day," she said as she turned back to her meal, not yet quite finished.

"And you," the older Vulcan replied with a nod.

Lieutenant JG T'Par
CIO

Lieutenant j.g. Sekat
Medical Officer
pnpc Lhaes