Tea and Conversation

Posted on Sat Apr 20th, 2013 @ 10:11am by Lieutenant Anandra Delair & Ensign David Brody

5,467 words; about a 27 minute read

Mission: Mission 82 - The Aggressor
Location: Near Starfleet Command, San Francisco
Timeline: Immediately following "Lunch and Reflection"

ON:

Anandra was unusually drained after the events of the day; it was a condition she blamed on the tension and excitement of being around some of Starfleet's top brass. Not to mention the previous day's emotional weight still bore down on her, as she expected it may for a while yet.

It had been a long, but enjoyable lunch in the company of some of the most promising minds that Starfleet had to offer. Now that her belly was full, Anandra felt slightly more able to concentrate and thus she wanted to get her reports out of the way before she decided what to do with the rest of her free time. After leaving the restaurant in Charleston she beamed up to the ship, where she needed to grab her PADDs containing a few notes. She'd left them in a small tote bag in her quarters, along with the book she was currently reading which she intended to crack open the moment her reports were filed.

After gathering her things she beamed back to the surface, the closest location to her intended 'quiet' spot being Starfleet Command. The cafe was just up the street, so Anandra passed through the massive lobby, breezed through the security station, and out the front doors..where she spotted a familiar figure walking up the street. She waved.

Ensign Brody had returned to San Francisco as he was in the mood for just a little more fog and a misty breeze following the lunch in Charleston. He hadn't made his intentions known with anyone but the Transporter Chief, so he was a little surprised to see Lieutenant Delair following the events of the day. "Lieutenant? What a pleasant surprise. What are the odds of us bumping into each other like this?"

Brody was still trying to get a read on the Lieutenant. She seemed very friendly, but he would make no assumptions just yet. He learned that being a Junior Officer limited him in the friendships he had been able to form in previous postings. But if his intuition served him, Delair would be a great resource in getting a feel for his new crewmates.

"Hello Brody! It's a pleasure indeed." she said with a friendly smile. "Where are you off to? I was about to grab some coffee or something of the sort - there's a cafe just up the street if you'd like to walk with me."

Brody considered how heavy and sluggish he felt in Earth's gravity. Somehow he could always tell the difference between actual and artificial. "A walk would be nice." Brody extended his arm, with a slight bow. "After you, Lieutenant".

Anan nodded a thank you as she started down the sidewalk. She walked in silence for a moment before her natural curiosity got the best of her. "Have you got any family or friends that you're planning to visit while you're here?"

"As a matter of fact, I was born on Luna. New Berlin to be precise." Brody soaked in his surroundings. "This is only my second visit to Earth after my time in the Academy. I was actually able to make a brief trip to New Berlin yesterday." Normally, Brody would have stopped there. He was typically reserved when it came to personal matters. But there was something about Delair, perhaps her El-Aurian nature as a listener, that made him feel comfortable enough to continue. "Unfortunately, I won't be visiting any family. My parents were killed in action nearly twenty-five years ago, I haven't spoken to my siblings in years, and my Uncle and I have a rather adversarial relationship."

Realizing he may have sullied the mood and concerned he would start addressing the Lieutenant as 'Counselor' following their lunch, he cut himself off. "My apologies. How about you? Any visits planned while we're here."

"You've absolutely no reason to apologize, Brody!" she assured him. "I am very sorry to hear about your family. Regretfully, I can relate." she said, but gave no further details in her own effort not to sully the mood. She decided to focus on brighter things and steer the conversation elsewhere, but she did make a mental note to take a look at Brody's personnel file as she was now further intrigued. "But I do have some visits planned - I hope to catch a couple of friends while I am here. I believe this is only my second visit to Earth since I was in the academy as well." she noted as they approached the cafe she had spoken about. "Ah, here we are."

When they walked through the Cafe door they found themselves in an open room that made the cafe appear much larger than it had looked from the outside. Several tables and lounges were spread throughout the room, many of them occupied. The atmosphere was very relaxed, and they weren't the only Starfleet Officers around, though a quick glance around the room proved nobody familiar was present aside from Brody. She lead him to a table off to the side and sat down, watching as a member of the staff immediately approached the table and set down two small glasses of what appeared to be some kind of tea. Anandra went into her bag for her PADDs, then changed her mind, at least for the moment. "I promise not to talk about work all afternoon, but how are you settling in here?" she asked, lifting her glass of tea and inhaling its earthy aroma as she debated whether or not she wanted to drink it.

Brody swirled his tea in its cup before taking a sip. It was unusual and like no tea had tasted before. He was letting the aftertaste linger some before deciding whether it was worthy of a second gulp. He returned his attention to Delair. "Well, let's see. In a matter of twenty-four hours, I went from a ship where I felt about as useful as a maneuvering thrusters in an ion storm, to a half empty Starbase, to the Durga." Brody chuckled to himself. "Most of my effects are still in storage containers in my quarters back at SB400. This may even be my only uniform." He picked a piece of lint off his pant leg and flicked it on to the cafe floor.

Brody looked at the menu PADD and took notice of the extensive selection. He looked at Delair, dropping all levity. "In all seriousness, though, I've read through many of this crew's mission logs. What exactly have I gotten myself into?"

Anandra was not surprised at his sentiment regarding the mission logs, for she had felt the very same way after familiarizing herself with a bit of SB400's history. "Frankly, I don't think I can answer that any better than you, I haven't been here very long myself." she looked him over discreetly, trying to get a read on him. "I suspect, however, that even if you don't know what you've gotten yourself into, you are more than qualified to handle it. I get the sense that you're a strong person."

"I guess we'll both figure things out as we go." Brody considered Delair's observation of his strength. Was she genuine, or did she sense that he often puts up a front? El-Aurians are quite an intuitive species. "Honestly, I spent the last few years aboard a research vessel and counted the days until my posting concluded. I'm a trained Tactical Officer, so naturally I feel more comfortable at the controls of phasers and photons." Brody paused, "Don't get me wrong. I'm no warmonger, nor do I enjoy or seek out conflicts, but I've always felt a sense of order amidst the chaos of a firefight."

Just then, the waiter arrived at their table, inadvertently interrupting their conversation. The young man was dressed in the styles of the current Earth fad. He tucked his shoulder length hair behind his ear and looked at the pair with his PADD at the ready. Before the waiter could speak, Brody indicated that he was satisfied with only the tea. The waiter fumbled with his PADD, trying his best to take their order. "What about you, Lieutenant. How did you come about this posting?"

She listened with genuine interest as he spoke, though she barely had time to formulate a response in her mind before the waiter came to take their orders. She was mildly surprised at Brody's manners with the waiter, but she chalked it up as a matter of personality, not rudeness; the vague difference made sense in her mind, anyway. She watched, feeling awkward for the young waiter, flustered as he attempted to enter the order. "One moment, Ensign," she said, giving the waiter her attention for just a moment, where some small-talk seemed to ease his tension slightly before he took her order - just tea, no dessert - and was off. Anandra lifted her glass, arching a brow at Brody. "Excuse me, I just - you barely gave him a chance to speak, I think you may have flustered him a little." she teased with a gentle laugh. She let out a sigh before addressing Brody's question. "I was chief counselor aboard the USS Vincennes, I was promoted to Lieutenant just before being stationed here..I can't begin to fathom why, but I imagine Starfleet has their reasons." The counselor in her focused on what he'd said about his feeling a sense of order; though she would not be analyzing him now, it would be food for thought later on, no doubt. "Look at us, I promised we wouldn't talk about work and that's all we've done. Tell me something about you."

Brody noticed Delair's reaction to his encounter with the waiter. "I should probably apologize when he returns. I didn't mean to be rude to the boy." Brody offered Delair an uneasy smile. "All the time I've spent aboard starships, one gets used to everyone performing tasks and functions, giving and following orders. It's easy to lose sight of how simple it can be to offer a 'please' or 'thank you'. Especially with civillians." Brody hoped Delair wouldn't think him a jerk and returned to their conversation. "To answer your question, I've recently taken up participating in holo-novels. I'm currently a third of the way through the second series of ViceSquad. It's an Earth law enforcement drama; circa 1985." He sipped his tea, still unsure if it was something he could enjoy. "I also have an extensive phaser collection from various periods in the Federation's past. They are authentic, mind you, not replicas."

Anandra understood and appreciated Brody's explanation. While that one small incident would not likely have been enough to label him a jerk, she was quite pleased by his latent response and desire to apologize, it said enough about the kind of guy he really was. "That is truly fascinating, I would love see it sometime!" she said with apparent enthusiasm. "I am a big fan of holo-novels myself..especially those of a historical nature." While she never quite understood people's propensity for 'collecting' weapons, she appreciated the mindset of one having something to collect, especially in instances such as these where the items collected were of historical or social value. "I'm sure this phaser collection is quite impressive, I wouldn't mind taking a peek at that as well." she offered. "I used to have a collection of Vulcan lutes myself."

"Well, the main character has a partner. I usually run the program with the computer filling that role, but you're more than welcome to join me some time. The program can be a bit provocative at times, as the 1980s of Earth was a tumultuous period. As for my phasers, you're more than welcome to see those as well. It's not so much about the weaponry itself, rather how a device so small can shape the history of the Federation." Brody turned his attention to Delair's lutes, always admiring talents in others that he himself did not possess. "Did you collect lutes for their aesthetics and craftmanship, or are you also a musician? I must say, Vulcan music is very...interesting."

"I would love to, absolutely. You'll have to fill me in on the full story, but 'provocative' is one adjective that always piques my interest." She said with a smile. "And I totally agree,interesting is certainly one word for it." She laughed. "I would never call myself a musician, but I do play the Vulcan lute as well as piano, and I dabble here & there with other things. I'd have to say that piano is my instrument, though. I have always felt a deep connection to music."

"I'll be sure to give you a full synopsis before we activate the program. I'll make you a deal, Lieutenant. I'll bring along to the holodeck if you agree to play me something on the piano." Brody shot Delair a smile just as the waiter returned to refill their teas. Brody made sure to apologize and the waiter reacted as if there was no problem to begin with. Brody was relieved.

"I think we have ourselves a deal mister Brody." She said with a huge smile, pausing for a sip of tea, then adding "I'll even let you select which piece I play..but I'll need some time to practice if I'm not familiar with it."

"I've had more surprises over the last 48 hours with this crew than I've had over the last 48 months. I'd like to request one more surprise and have you pick a song for me." Brody laughed. "Besides, with my musical aptitude, I'd probably pick the most horrendous melody." The Ensign reflected once again as to how open he was being over lunch. It was no wonder El-Aurians made excellent Counselors. Speaking of which, Brody thought, "Your species is known for it's lengthy lifespan. If it's not too inappropriate, may I ask your age?"

She found herself relating to his statement about surprises, there was just something about SB400, apparently. "Alright, I'll pick one for you." she agreed with a laugh. "It's not at all inappropriate, I'm met with that curiosity nearly as often as people learn that I am El-Aurian in the first place. I'm one hundred and sixteen."

"Remarkable! You don't look a day over twenty-five Earth years." Brody considered the nearly 700 years she had yet to live and dizzied a little. He was immediately jealous of, yet sad for, Lieutenant Delair. "Do you ever find it disconcerting being surrounded by species that, in comparison, live their lives in the blink of an eye?"

Anandra's face may have reddened a slight shade or two over the compliment he paid her, but she smiled graciously. "Well," she said with a sigh, considering her response for a brief moment. "It is definitely disconcerting at times to think of the people in my life and to know that most of them will be gone centuries before my time, but I can't overlook the fact that having such a long lifespan offers me the opportunity to explore, learn, and do more than most people could ever imagine in one lifetime. My father always said 'time is what you make of it' - I've come to believe that wholeheartedly."

"I'm reminded of another El-Aurian quote. I believe it is 'time is the fire in which we burn'." Brody could not help but be impressed by Delair's ever so positive demeanor. "It's nice to see you don't subscribe to such pessimism." They had promised each other not to discuss work, but Brody knew Delair was his best, if only, ship resource. "What can you tell me about our crewmates? What little you've been able to discern thus far. And in a non-professional capacity, of course."

"Well, I haven't spent enough time with most of them to discern who they are personally, but from what I've seen..or read in personnel files; as a whole I'd say this is one of the brightest, most competent crews I've served with." Of course, one of the things that really struck her about this crew is the amount of collective suffering in their lives, be it past or present, and the fact that most of them have overcome their individual tragedies..or at least managed to functionally move forward from them. "We have a lot of strong people on this crew - not only strong, but tenacious, and loyal." she paused momentarily, then chuckled sheepishly. "I'm afraid I can't offer anything much more useful as of yet."

"I look forward to getting to know them all in good time." He smiled sheepishly, "I don't mean to pry, but it seems you and Ensign La Barron have become fast friends." He did his best to hide his chuckle. "Sorry, but I watch people for a living. It's been very easy to spot the glances you two exchange on the Bridge."

Her face flushed slightly and she made a mental note to try to be more..subtle, in the future. "It's nothing serious." she said with a bit of a coy smile. "He's really the first person I've connected with around here, we have a few similar interests and we have fun together whenever we can." said Anandra, arching a brow at him. "You certainly don't have to apologize, but I will watch my step around you from now on." she teased.

"I hope I haven't embarrassed you. There's no need to watch your step." Brody laughed. "Besides, he seems a charismatic young man. It can be a lonely time out in space, so I wouldn't be surprised if you found someone to spend your time with. Romantically or otherwise." He laughed again, more playfully this time.

"Only a little," she admitted. "And not because of anything you've done, it's just been..a long time since I was involved in anything that could remotely be taken as romance, I'd forgot what it felt like to be accused of ..exchanging glances, and the like." The truth is, Anandra had been alone for years but only just begun started feeling the loneliness while she was stationed aboard the Vincennes. It had begun to nag at her more since she'd been stationed here; arguably, she thought, because of her budding friendship with La Baron. While she hadn't exactly been scouring for eligible singles, she had been longing for that intimate connection with someone - a relationship - just as Ensign La Baron came along, and their connection allowed her a tiny taste of just that, even if she didn't expect things to turn 'serious' between them. Her El-Aurian life span played a role in complicating matters, as she feared falling for anyone at all when she knew she'd only lose them long, long before her time. La Baron was indeed a charming young man, and she likely would as they say 'go for it' if the relationship turned toward a true romance, but because of her own complications, Anandra would not be the one to push things in that direction. "And it would seem I'm having little trouble finding someone to spend time with," she said, flashing a smile.

"No need to explain yourself, Lieutenant. You're talking to the man that's been labeled 'ill-equipped' to maintain a monogamous relationship." Brody attempted to hide his smirk. "I've relegated myself to dalliances, trysts, and the occasional violation of Starfleet Health Regulations on the reporting of intimate relations with alien species." Brody winked as if to create suspicion as to whether he was being serious or whimsical.

"Alright," she said with a laugh. "But I'm curious whether you labeled yourself that or if it was someone else?" she arched a brow playfully as if she were analyzing him.

"The origins are lost in time, I'm afraid," Brody said with an impish grin, "but I am afraid I own it nonetheless." His smile dissipated. "Besides, marriage and children would only serve to cloud my judgement and diminish my ability to remain objective in a dangerous setting."

"Oh, I don't know about that." she countered. "There are countless Starfleet officers who manage to balance the challenges of parenthood with those of their career. The stakes do become higher, of course, when you have people waiting, expecting you to come home safe; but the experience and joy of having a family far outweighs the possible consequences, I would think."

Brody attempted a return to levity. "Is that a personal observation or a professional suggestion, Counselor?" He had considered the notion of children and a wife waiting in his quarters while he was busy fending off a Borg invasion. "I think a family will have to wait."

"Well," she chuckled. "I can't say from personal experience, but I have made that observation personally." she said with a wry grin. "And it's a professional observation as well...but I wouldn't suggest a thing. Waiting is..logical."

"At this stage in my life, I feel all my needs are met. Perhaps there will come a day when all of that changes and I actually desire the serenity of a research vessel. But for now, the action and intrigue of a starbase on the edge of chaos suits me just fine." Brody shifted in his chair, becoming more rigid. "It seems things have been a little too quiet as of late. This sudden increase in Gorn activity and continuing stagnation in talks with the Typhon Pact...I feel like we're on the verge of something...troublesome."

Anandra completely agreed with his sentiment - her strong desire for action and intrigue was still a main driving force in her life - but Brody's sudden change of posture took priority over discussing that point, especially when she listened to his concerns. They were not unfounded. Anandra had a lingering sense creeping up on her since she'd settled in on SB400, as if something was out of sync. She might have shrugged it off if it were only herself, but she'd noticed similar concerns in some of the other crew, and the mystery surrounding this Admiral Sevlek only added to the sense of foreboding. She shifted in her seat, calculating a response. "I can't deny my own sense of..caution." she paused thoughtfully, trying to put her finger on the cause of it, but she merely shook her head at a loss. "I'm going to look into this Sevlek, I think." She certainly didn't intend to conduct an investigation, but she did have a strong urge that she couldn't ignore.

"Be cautious, Lieutenant. People in positions such as his often have a network at their disposal. You never know. If you'd like, I'll keep my eyes and ears open for you."

"You know, I'd appreciate that. You'd certainly be the man for the job. But I'm inclined to urge you to be cautious as well - not that I don't think you can handle yourself."

"Well, I don't mean to come across as a braggart, but I feel my rank belies my abilities and talents. My first Captain had actually tasked me with ferreting out a data selling ring aboard our ship. It involved some of my superiors, so I'm accustomed to covertly investigating Officers. Granted, I've never looked into a Fleet Admiral's comings and goings, but if there's something to be found you'll be the first to know."

"It's alright, I wouldn't consider you a braggart. I like a man who knows his worth." She said, bringing her glass up for a sip. "I'm sure Bremer and others will recognize your talents and appreciate having you as part of the crew." She hesitated, wrestling with her concerns and her desire to clear her mind of everything work related - she would definitely be getting some meditation in asap. "If you do find anything..alarming, I think the admiral should be the first to know; but I will accompany you in that, if you'd like."

"Of course, commanding officers aside, I'll be sure to notify you if our joint suspicions are warranted. It's like the old Earth saying 'where there's smoke, there's fire'." Brody reflected briefly before offering an alternative. "Then again, we could just both be a little paranoid". With her El-Aurian intuition working in the background, he knew it was unlikely.

Anan was silent for a moment, pondering his alternative. She really wanted to agree, but the sense of caution lingered even in the face of a more probable solution. "Could be." She gave a shrug. "Let's hope so at least, right?"

"Right!" He wanted to know a little more about his new friend and tried redirecting the conversation. "So do you have any specific projects or research you're looking to pursue aboard SB400?"

"Not really," she responded thoughtfully. "I mean, I do have long term aspirations of maybe getting into diplomacy somehow, but I don't feel any urge to push that. I have plenty of time ahead of me I'd say, and I am quite comfortable where I currently am professionally. What about you?"

"For starters, I'd certainly like to dissect our tactical systems and see if I can get permission to make some modifications. I've found there's always room for some improvements. Beyond that, I figure its high time I focus on my career and possible advancement. I never used to worry myself with promotion, but lately I've been motivated by the thought of additional pips".

"Well I'm certain the Admiral would be open to suggestions, and he may appreciate you taking the initiative to try to make improvements as well..you'll be on your way to extra pips in no time, I'm sure."

"I appreciate the vote of confidence." Brody was pleased to see she she was genuinely supportive after have only just met. He knew Delair could be a great friend. "And how did you end up in Starfleet?"

"Well, sparing the unnecessary details," she said, doing her best not to smirk. "After I had spent some years on Vulcan, I couldn't handle it any longer - so they pointed me in the direction of Starfleet. I think they were as eager to get rid of me as I was eager to move on to bigger and better things, so to speak."

"Interesting. My brother does contracted work for the Vulcan Science Council. I don't know how either of you could stay on Vulcan." Brody's mind flashed to several encounter he had had with Vulcans in the past. "Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Vulcans. I just feel as if I'm constantly being judged as 'too feeling' in their presence." He looked at Delair, looking smart in her uniform. "Whatever your path, I'm glad you chose Starfleet."

"Oh I am too, very glad." she said, smiling at him. "I'd love to hear your story, tell me how you got here."

Brody sighed and took a deep breath. His story was one he typically didn't share. But, his instant bond with Delair gave him the sense of comfort needed to continue. He cleared his throat. "My father was the XO aboard the USS Harbinger and my mother was a Science Officer assigned there as well. Both my parents were Starfleet Officers. When I was 9, our ship traveled beyond the Federation border to catalogue habitable planetoids and seek out cultures worthy of acceptance into the Federation." Brody took another deep breath. "Our ship was attacked by an unknown vessel. We were overpowered and bordered within minutes. Our Transporter Chief rounded up as many of the children as he could find and stored our patterns in suspended animation. He saved our lives. A month later, we rematerialized. We were confronted by what the crew of the other ship had done to our families. It was...unspeakable." Brody felt the rage coming over him. It was the same anger he kept bottled up and buried for decades. He pulled himself back and began to summarize his account, leaving out the gruesome details. "A long story short; our warp core had been sabotaged and we lacked the technical skill to repair it. There we were, a crew of children, inching our way home under impulse. It took us six years to reach Federation space where we were rescued. Shortly there after, my siblings and I went to live with my aunt and uncle." He smirked slightly, "It was my uncle, an instructor at the Academy, who pressured my brother and I to join Starfleet. I remained while he withdrew. And that's how I ended up in Starfleet." He looked at Delair, studying her eyes for any signs that she was looking at him as a patient and no longer a friend.

She could tell by his demeanor as he began that the story was a difficult one to tell. As she listened, she began to feel a little sheepish for asking, but she knew that Brody wouldn't have shared if he really didn't want to. His story was indeed sad, yet here he was, a fine officer and fascinating man - Anandra had no idea that he'd suffered such trauma in his past. "I am terribly sorry to hear about your ordeal, Brody, I had no idea." she said in an apologetic tone. "Your story is remarkable, you've come a long way to become a fine addition to Starfleet. I appreciate your uncle's influence."

"I suppose it's his influence that's made me who I am, for better or worse. When it comes to strategy and tactics, he's a savant. I've absorbed all he had to teach. However, in regards to family and personal relationships, he's a total bastard. We aren't exactly on speaking terms at this point."

The more she heard about his background, the more Anan couldn't help empathizing with Brody; or being fascinated by his remarkable story. "Well I am sorry to hear he's a total bastard." she said, giving him a wry look, trying to express her empathy and lift the mood a little at the same time. "If it's any consolation," she said, her tone slightly more serious. "You could have absorbed his less desirable attributes, but you chose the better path. I think my instincts were right about you, you are a very strong person."

"You are too kind, Lieutenant. I appreciate you lending an ear. I guess it the curse for a species of listeners that someone is always talking to you." He laughed, which felt nice since letting his anger creep up. "I feel I should return the favor. Just because you're a 'listener', it doesn't mean you don't also need to talk. If you ever feel the need to vent, my door is always open."

"Well thank you, I'll keep that in mind." she said, accepting the offer with a gracious smile. Brody didn't know it yet, but in ironic contradiction to her chosen career path, Anan didn't often find it easy to talk about the more serious, non-professional aspects of herself and she had a propensity for bottling things up until they spilled over. The likelihood of her going to him to vent was probably slim, but that did not void her appreciation. "I do most of my venting physically, however. But if I ever need to, I'll drag you down to the holodeck and we can run some training programs."

"Hey, whatever it takes. I'd be interested to see just what kind of programs you're running in your spare time." Brody could just imagine Delair engaging in a sparring program surrounded by three Nausicaans.

"Well I'd be happy to share. Why don't we try to make a day of it when we get back to the base..whenever we can both find the same day off." Before he could answer they were interrupted by a COMM transmission.

='USS Durga to LT. Delair'=

Anan tapped her commbadge. "Go ahead."

='I'm sorry counselor, you have a message coming in, where would you like it?'= Anan recognized the voice of the female crewman, but could not recall her name.

"What's it marked?" Anan looked over at Brody, trying to figure out who would be contacting her.

='Personal, sir..but he says it's urgent.'=

"Put it through to my quarters, I'll be over in five minutes." Anan sighed and apologized to Brody. As she shifted to move out of her seat she paused, looking at Brody. "I've really enjoyed talking, it's been wonderful getting to know you a little better." she said with a bright smile, patting him on the shoulder as she stood. "Don't be a stranger, alright?" And off she went. It seemed rude not to excuse herself from the table before requesting a beam up, which she did when she made her way out to the street.

Until next time, he thought. "Brody to Durga. One to beam up"

OFF.

RSS Feed