Part I: Chance Encounter

Posted on Tue Jun 5th, 2018 @ 4:22pm by Lieutenant Commander Radak

2,582 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Misson 1 - Rebirth
Location: Starbase 54 - Coffee cafe
Timeline: 09th February 2395

ON:

Radak was nervous. Although he had to admit that he was pretty much always nervous. It probably wasn't the healthiest way to spend his life, but it kept him on his toes. They say that animals that are exposed to stress tend to be smarter, maybe he was compensating. The day of his new posting was drawing closer and closer, but for now all he could do was wait.

He had made his way to the small cafe he had come to enjoy in his last few days aboard the starbase. They served very good cold coffee. Something he had come to enjoy in his time on Earth. He was actually rather desperate for coffee this morning and had a rather difficult time not smiling at the girl who finally handed him his drink. It took it from the countertop and turned around, noticing for the first time that the cafe was almost completely full of people.

The starbase was often busy and crowded but the influx of people lately had made space a premium commodity. He took several moments to survey the situation before he made his way to a two seat table that only had one person at it and they didn't look like they were waiting for someone. The blond girl was definitely the most interesting person in the cafe that was also alone.

He stepped up to her table, drink in hand. "Excuse me... but may I have this seat?" he asked, loud enough to be heard over the people around them, but also not yelling in her face. The corner of his mouth twitched in effort to not smile again.

Ilana had been engrossed in her writing. She was excited. She'd been approved to go onto the USS Wolff in order to complete her PHD thesis and it would give her some much needed time to finish the book she was working on. In fact she would have access to Galatea Polaris, the one woman she considered an inspiration and who, in some ways, was the inspiration of the character in her book. Plus all the worlds and archeological info she would have access to. She was ready for some time on her own, she was ready to gather her thoughts and she was ready to just figure out her next steps.

She had come to the café in hopes of hunting down that delicious cold coffee with whipped cream. She'd had two already, well she was working on her second one and working on getting her Romulan character just right.

She had been so engrossed in her writing she didn't notice the figure walk up. When he called out to her she looked up and had to blink a few times. Typically she was quiet and introverted but hadn't she just said a prayer to the Vulcan logic gods again finding an opportunity to talk to a Romulan and here he was. She let out a startled gasp and fixed her glasses. "Oh! Yes yes please!" she quickly responded lest he run away.

"Thank you!" he said over the din of the crowd and sat down in the seat. He pulled the chair tight into the table so that he wasn't blocking anyone trying to get around him and then he took a long drink of his iced coffee and looked at her over the edge of his glass. "Are you new? You do not look familiar."

She gave a nod. "I'm only on the base temporarily. You are a Romulan!"

Radak almost choked on his coffee and his heart jumped into his throat. It had been a long time since anyone had accused him of being Romulan. He tried to steady his breathing and act normal. He shook his head. "No... I am afraid not. Vulcan. I was born in ShiKahr. However, Vulcans and Romulans do share a common ancestor, so it can be understandably confusing." He was counting his breaths, trying to stop the blood pounding in his ears. He tipped his head, looking at the woman across from him. "You also have Vulcan heritage. Am I correct?"

She smiled, "I do indeed. I'm half Kriosian," she said pointing to the spots on her neck. "I'm also half Vulcan." She tucked her hair behind her ear. "You do have Vulcan ancestry I can see that, but you've got Romulan features... somewhat and that is amazing because you are exactly what I need!" She righted her glasses again.

"I am exactly what you need?" he asked curiously, before sipping from his coffee again. "I do not understand. We have just met." He resisted the urge to look amused, even though he was. "How do you know that I am exactly what you need? Perhaps I am flawed in some way." He was teasing her just a little.

Ilana blushed, her mouth had run away with her again as it often did and what she said came out all wrong. "I... well that is...." She looked down and then sipped her coffee in a vain attempt to gather her thoughts and salvage the situation. She took a breath and continued, "I'm a writer... well actually an archaeologist and historian, but I want to be a writer. I'm writing a book and it has a Romulan, but I can't get the character right. I have never met a real live Romulan and I was just thinking about that and here you are the perfect person to help me, a perfect living breathing male Romulan to inspire me...." She blushed even more making her alabaster skin tint a dark shade of pink and making her eyes stand out even more. "I'm sorry was that horribly rude? Everyone says I have no filter I just blurt stuff out." There were a reason she kept her mouth shut and out of people's way.

Radak pressed his lips together tightly in an attempt to not snort in humor. Despite her protests to the contrary, he so far, had found her very entertaining. "But I already told you. I am not a Romulan. I am a Vulcan, but I might be able to help you a little bit. Romulans are rather like Vulcans, but more primitive. They are emotional and that makes them unpredictable. They are more apt to snap judgements." Even though he gave airs that he didn't know much about Romulans, he sure seemed to have opinions.

She waved her hand, "I'm part Vulcan and I'm as emotional as they get." She studied him with an assessing eye. "As for snap judgements we all make them. Now you, my friend, would be an excellent specimen of Romulanhood." She waved her arms around as she spoke. "Now take your build for example, Vulcan sleek, but romance novel muscular undertones and you look like you are a bit heavier, that's an eye appraisal but it's not flab but muscle. Your eyebrows are perfect Vulcan, I myself am glad I got the Kriosian eyebrows and the Vulcan ears which match yours but you have ridges very very very light." She seemed to be speaking in one breath. "You have..." She studied him a bit, "... dark hair, Vulcan hair is black like my raven pet but not you it's black but not that void of colour black that is Vulcan. Your eyes, hazel! What a colour! Romulans tend to have eyes like that those that grab you and say hold on to your hats you are in for an interesting ride! Your features are quiet soft... which... kind of doesn't fit the Romulan mold but the whisper of ridges makes you..." She noticed that he watched her. "Um... again foot in mouth syndrome." She sipped her coffee to allow herself time to just calm. She tended to get very animated. Normally she wasn't this unguarded but the stress of the last month had taken its toll.

Radak's eyebrows, which were indeed very Vulcan in shape, rose slowly as she talked. "Romulanhood..." he repeated, as if he was testing the word. "Are you alright? That was quite a lot to say. Thank you for the compliments. I am glad to hear that I am pleasing to the eye. Perhaps one of my ancestors leaned a little to the Romulan side," he lied. He was 100% full-blooded Romulan. She was completely right, but he had been a "Vulcan" for so long it was almost as if he believed the lie himself. He found being compared to a Romulan was almost insulting to him. He didn't want to have a fit at his new friend though and that also wouldn't be very Vulcan-like. He decided that perhaps they could talk about something that wasn't how much he looked like the family he hated. "Where is your next assignment? Are you here just waiting for your ship?"

While she didn't have full Kriosian telepathy she did have senses such as a half betazoid would. She could sense feelings and the man in front of her was hiding something she got a feeling... well like the past was not easy for him but then neither was her past easy. "Well I'm going to go on the Wolff," she said somewhat more quietly. "I get to work on my thesis and my book." Not to mention that she was running away from herself.

Radak's brows stayed up. "The USS Wolff? You are posted aboard the USS Wolff?" He leaned back in his chair, staring at her. She might be able to feel his surprise. "I am also waiting for the Wolff." He resisted the urge to smile. "Odd how things work out. You will get more than just one crack at me... is that right? I am not always sure of the human vernacular."

She smiled. "That sounds about right! I'm not actually posted there. I'm more of a civilian just riding along for a while." She shook her head as if she'd just realized something. "You know we've been talking all this time, but I don't even know your name. I'm Ilana Jareth." She didn't stick out her hand. She was never a fan of handshakes.

Radak was relieved that she didn't want to shake hands. It always made him feel awkward when humans insisted and when he was resistant, acted like he didn't know how. "I am Radak. It is a pleasure to meet you Ms. Jareth. I however, am posted to the USS Wolff. I will be their new Executive Officer."

She stared at him with her mouth open. "Ohhhh gods of Vulcan old!"

Radak lifted his eyebrows again in surprise at her reaction. He wondered if maybe something was going on behind him and turned for a brief moment to look. "Did... did I say something wrong?" he asked.

"No it's just that my lead, well one of my lead characters in the book is an XO. What are the odds?...but you're part Vulcan so that's not an issue. My character is full Romulan, a man running from his past. It's going to be a great story."

Radak suddenly wondered if perhaps she knew something that he didn't. Maybe she knew who he was. How was that possible? He had been so careful almost his entire life, but here was this woman, describing himself to him. He looked at her, trying to keep the unbelieving feeling he was definitely feeling. There was no way that she just hit on that idea all on her own, was there? He thought briefly about just bolting from the table in terror, but he had to know. If she did know him and who and what he was, then how. She would have to play her hand at some point. He would wait and be patient. "It sounds like it could be an interesting story," he finally managed.

"I've been thinking about it for years. I've avoided writing it but... I know I have to write the story. There is so much to say about this character. I've just never met a Romulan... at least I don't think I have so I have no idea what they are like." She shrugged and sipped her coffee. Maybe in part this character was her running from herself. "The character will be running from his past but... also from himself." Why was it that she could go days without talking and now she was all talk.

"I am afraid that I have never met a Romulan either." He drained his cup and set it on the table, but made no move to go. "I could help you with research... unfortunately the Romulans are none too fond of the Federation, so actually getting one to speak to us could be difficult. Not to inject myself into your project. I believe that Romulans and Vulcans truly parted ways through the Kolinahr. The Vulcans chose to shed their emotional boundaries. Romulans have never had that kind of discipline, or seemingly any desire to be disciplined. You should keep that in mind for your story."

She studied him a moment. "Well... in fairness Vulcans are not what they are made out to be." She covered her ears in an unconscious gesture.

"You are correct," he said easily. "I find that Vulcans spend a lot of time trying to uphold other people to their standards. While there is technically nothing wrong with this theory, it is not practical to hold people to standards they do not wish to achieve, or have already achieved in different ways. I only judge the Romulans this way because we share a common ancestor... but I cannot... say..." he looked around the room a little and pointed out a human. "... hold a human to that same standard. We have not shared experiences... while our histories might show similarities it is still not the same. Does that make sense?"

"It ..." Before she could respond her attention was drawn to the counter. "Oh no! I have to go," she suddenly said. It couldn't be. How had she been found so quickly! She looked at the woman ordering her coffee. "I should go, I have to go." She suddenly paled.

Radak followed her gaze. Apparently the woman at the counter was unwanted company. He couldn't help the little frown at his new friend's obvious distress. "Where are you going to go?" He rose when she rose and prepared to follow her. "I have quarters near here... I mean. Not to make you uncomfortable... but..." he looked over his shoulder at the woman again.

"I'll be okay." She stood and gathered her notes and bag. Just as she turned to go her name was called by the woman. Ilana bolted, "I gotta go."

The woman walked up to the table just as Ilana slipped out the door. She studied the man that Ilana was talking to. She headed out towards the direction Ilana had headed. She would catch up to her sister, they had to talk.

Radak stood there at the table and watched. He was very surprised at Ilana's reaction. He also hoped she wasn't in any sort of trouble. He had to admit that he had no idea who the woman was, but whoever she was she didn't seem to make his new friend very happy, since she up and left him and he was her perfect Romulan.

OFF:

Radak
Executive Officer
USS Wolff

&

Ilana Jareth
Civilian
Starbase 54 soon to be on USS Wolff

 

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