Whispers from a gentle soul

Posted on Saturday 5 December 2020 @ 10:39 by Lieutenant Nir’anyar

Mission: A Whale of a problem (We're going to need a bigger boat)
Location: The Round Table
Timeline: The evening before the ship's arrival to Earth
2587 words - 5.2 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Mathias while working in his science lab, paused and looked towards the small dark red clay pot where violets were in bloom.

"You were saying my beauties?" placing down his pencil and moving over to them. "There is someone who may need you, more than I?" he paused, for the hue of the petals reminded him of someone whom had arrived on the ship.

She had the same color of eyes as the flowers. For a moment he stood there, lost in thought then he snapped his fingers. Yes Anya! The delightful Benzite doctor. He had asked her to come along on the tour of the ship, and she agreed. He was delighted that she had. While they journeyed together, he was wanting to talk to her more in private and away from others. He wanted to learn more about her and her people.

Picking up the pot of violets he made his way to sickbay, hoping he would find her there.

Sickbay was quiet for the first time since Anya had arrived on Merlin, just two patients in care, the Chief Medical Officer taking some time away from sickbay and Anya being the senior most medical officer still on duty. She had set the team onto the task of restocking, cleaning and making use of this unexpected quiet time to dig into the jobs one didn't often get a chance to do.

She was stood in front of the main display reviewing records and ensuring they were filed correctly when the doors to sickbay opened and in walked a face she recognized.

"Lieutenant McPhee if memory serves... What can we do for you?"

"Yes it is. As far as seeking help, I've just come for a social visit." Mathias answered with a smile. "And to bring you this." bringing out from behind his back, the violets that were in the dark red clay pot.

"My mother and I believe that a little bit of greenery in the area that a person works in, helps to bring peace and tranquility." he continued. "Would you accept them as a welcome aboard gift?"

"You are very kind Lieutenant" she conceded with no argument at all. With the exception of the Chief Medical Officer, Commanding Officer and her dear friend Caroline, all of which had been incidental encounters, not a single member of the crew had gone out of their way to greet her. She shouldn't have expected more to be fair, she was after all a junior officer with no real ties to anyone on board and with this being a city sized starship it was no real surprise. The smaller the vessel the stronger the sense of community. It would be something she would just need to adapt to.
"I am due to finish my shift in the next few minutes... Would you care for a drink?"

I would be honored to have a drink with you. How about chocolate or tea. I don't drink synthehol as I am allergic to it." Mathias stated. "I will wait over there until you are ready to leave." indicating an out of the way place.

"No need Lieutenant, let us go!"
Anya handed her PADD to the medic on duty knowing that leaving a few minutes early would not damage the operations of sickbay not when this duty team was the same size as a Starbases duty team. They joys of having such a large vessel.

Anya fell into step by the side of the Science Officer allowing him to lead. Her own ability to navigate this mammoth ship still severely lacking.

Mathias led Anya to the turbolift and said. "Deck 10 please." the turbolift moving. The doors opened with a gentle whoosh opening for them to exit. Mathias led the way, to the entrance of the Round Table.

"I feel very relieved to have made it here, at least this is a place I'm more familiar with. " turning towards Anya. "Do you want to have a seat by the window there?" pointing towards one table with just two chairs.

"I put myself in your hands Lieutenant!"
She beamed, the first time she had felt like she was connecting with someone on the ship, other than her old friend and the Commander.

She wove her way through the throng of people, thankful that she was so slender in frame as it made that job so much easier before slipping down into the chair and waving over one of the waiters.
"I would like a white hot chocolate with raspberry please!"

"Dark hot chocolate with a peppermint stick and some marshmallows please." he stated, "and thank you." to the waiter.

Once the waiter retreated Anya regarded the officer before her, her own curiosity peeked.

"Tell me Lieutenant, how long have you been on Merlin?"

Mathias counted on his fingers, then answered. "It's been only a few days, from my calculations. Had barely arrived onboard when the ship was being covered with living stone. That was quite the beginning of my first day on the job. How about you? How long have you been on the ship?"

"About the same, although I missed the living stone!"
What had she let herself into on Merlin?

"At least on the ship you did. I heard that the living stone was on the planet's surface creating a cocoon of a sorts to protect the bodies, of the crews. It really concerned me that the stone was draining the power from the ship. Anyway, that is done, and we are now on our way to Earth with a diplomat. A diplomat who is currently residing inside the Captain's own daughter. I am at this moment, thinking that it is almost like a trill who is joined. Two personalities residing in one body."

He paused in his ramblings when the waiter brought over the two drinks. "Thank you."

Mathias looked over at Anya, "As it is, I will be getting to know.. Fay when I get the chance. I have so many questions about her people." he smiled at Anya. "That will be done later on. Right now, I am here with you. And I want to get to know you a bit more."

"I am just me Lieutenant. There is nothing overly exciting about who I am".
Very much hoping to change the subject but finding her ability to process information had left her at this very moment. Dredging up memories of a time so dark she thought she would never survive. Thankfully at that moment the waiter returned with the drinks, she took a moment to smell the sweetness of the chocolate and raspberries as it mingled together and hung in the air.
"The smell always reminds me of simple times".

"Simple times indeed." Mathias said in agreement.

Mathias noticed the common signs of someone being reluctant to talk about themselves. Possibly there was a history she may not be wanting to discuss. That would be understandable, he wasn't going to pry. However there were some things he wanted to know, things that could be considered safe to talk about.

"Anya, let me rephrase my question, please. Are there interests that you like participating in? I do know that you told me that you wouldn't accompany me if I were to play music in engineering, but other than that, and the fact that you are in medical." he picked up the stick of peppermint and stirred the now melting marshmallows into the chocolate before taking a sip. "On the part of the tour you came with us on, of which I was glad about, I found you interesting and delightful, with a distinct calming aura about you."

"I have been accused on more than one occasion of being overly involved with the recovery of my patients... I think one person even described me as a 'force of nature'... I am not well versed with human sayings but I chose to believe that was a good thing!"
She took a sip of her own drink, finding that the waiter had put whole raspberries in the drink, not to mention chunks of white chocolate that had started to melt with the warmth of the milk. It was divine.

"As for not accompanying you to engineering while you played music, that was more about my lack of musical ability. I managed to clear the shower block at Starfleet Medical when I began to sing in the shower".

"You cleared the shower area with your singing? I don't know if you are making a joking comment or, did that actually happen? He was actually sincere in his question. " I haven't been around anyone of your race to know the body language. And if I do or say something offensive, please let me know." taking another drink of his hot chocolate, and getting a marshmallow mustache in the process.

"I am not joking Lieutenant... Shatter glass!" she cocked her head just before pointing at her own top lip, attempting to indicate to him he had a stow away from the hot drink. "But I am also poking fun at my own character flaw. As for the sort of person I am, forthright, direct and not afraid of my opinions but my body language does not give much away and I can be very, very literal at times!"
She rattled off her own character as if she was reading through a medical journal. Matter of fact with no mirth. Again this was carry over from the time in the Romulan mines.

Mathias reached up to indicated lip discovering that he had marshmallow on his lip. He wiped it away with a napkin.

"Thank you." he then contemplated Anya for a moment or two, then said, "You must have hit that true note which would be able to shatter glass."

"Not so much a true note as some kind of note that has long last and detrimental effects to ones health... Apparently!"
This time she did chuckle, the first outward display of emotion she had really shown to anyone since arriving on Merlin. Perhaps she was starting to relax!

"Good heavens!" his eyebrows shot up in surprise, then chuckled along with Anya. "Are you interested in music? And what else do you like to do when off duty?" Mathias asked.

"My life is my work I'm afraid Lieutenant. I'm still discovering myself in regards to all other things!"
She sounded almost mournful with her reply and she took the mug between both of her hands, enjoying the warmth it provided.

Mathias hmmns for a moment, watching Anya, then he said, "If you'd like a friend to walk along side you in your adventure of discovering yourself. I volunteer wholeheartedly. Even just to sit and listen to your thoughts on different matters." then stirred his chocolate more, to make certain the marshmallows were now a more creamy texture.

"I appreciate that very much Lieutenant... I have been feeling somewhat lost on this ship. It has not been easy making new friends despite knowing the Counsellor"
She took another mouthful of the drink in her hands, draining the cup leaving the molten chocolate at the bottom of the mug with a few raspberries still stuck in it.

"Please excuse me a moment but this is the best bit of a hot chocolate" she thrust her free hand into the mug to scoop up the berries and the melted chocolate and eagerly placed it into her mouth, cleaning her fingers as she removed them. "I can not easily be called much of a lady either Lieutenant!"

Mathias watched with keen interest, as she finished her chocolate. "It depends on one's interpretation of a lady. I still deem you a lady, and I would have done, and have done the same as you. I even licked a plate to get the last of the berry juices from a pie I had eaten. Of course I was soundly scolded, on which I answered. "I just wanted to get the very last taste of this scrumptious pie. My mother relented and ceased her scolding. It was just us, we were not in the so called polite societal situation. She then to my astonishment, licked her plate clean. Then she tweaked my nose and said. "In truth, I wanted the last tidbit of the pie myself."

"She sounds like a 'Lady' after my own heart!" The Benzite jested.

Mathias chuckled, "Aye that she is. I will confess, I do at times eat like some would say a barbarian. But at times a fork or spoon just doesn't cut it when feasting on a particular food. Like say, a drumstick of a chicken or even wings. Or a turkey leg. I've even eaten a steak when cooled just enough, with my hands." saying this in a whisper of confidence to Anya.

"Wings?" she asked not putting two and two together. "Wings of what... So many of your Earth life forms have wings... or do you mean items of clothing that have 'wings' ?"
The latter didn't make sense even to the Benzite but not much about the Human culture did make sense to her. "Barbarian... Does that mean you prefer your meat protein uncooked... Is that not dangerous for Humans?"

"Some people eat the steaks barely warmed, which I feel is way too raw for my liking. I like mine cooked in a certain way. Wings as in chicken wings, we just shorten the name to just wings. As for barbarian, that is a term that some individuals like to use, in reference to those they think do not have the proper table manners. As in slurping out loud when drinking soup or tea. Eating things with your fingers or hands. " he shrugged.

" I once saw someone eat a sandwich which is supposed to be eaten holding in the hand and they used a fork and knife. To each his own in truth. Just as long as they enjoyed the sandwich." Mathias added.

Anya nodded her understanding but not really understanding anything about what was just said, she just hoped her lack of understanding within her own understanding was not that evident on the exterior.
"I still have so much to learn about your culture... It seems somewhat imperative given the ratio of Human's in Starfleet compared to the other species."

" I feel the same for the various races that are in the universe. I like to learn of their culture, their foods, religions, that sort of thing. I hope I can be helpful in your endeavor, in finding out about the human culture. "giving her a serious look, then added. "Even I am not wholly knowledgeable of the different cultures on Earth. I've read about them but not yet experienced some of them. And I would like to know more about yours.. That is if you are comfortable with that."

"Of course, it sounds like... what is the quaint human saying... The beginning of a stunning friendship!"
She smiled at the man sat across from her. He was a complex person, nuanced in many different ways but someone she hoped she would become good friends with over time.

"I agree." raising his cup of chocolate in agreement to her statement, towards Anya. "Definitely to a wonderful friendship." then drinking the last part of his hot chocolate.

Anya touched his heart and Mathias hoped sincerely, that they would continue on with this friendship. Anya, a gentle soul and a gentle heart which lay beneath her beautiful surface.

End