Posted by Lieutenant Commander Zef Rollo (Counselor) in Side Sim - Did You Say Brunch? (Day 2)

Sharl’s Bistro was already known for its brunch. So it was no surprise when the owner was contacted by the Poet Laureate of Vulcan herself with a request for a private table for two for a seating. Of course, they were booked solid for six weeks in advance. But there was always room for celebrity.

Vash’tur was welcomed by the Maitre’d and shown to a small dining area just off the main dining room. A manual door with frosted glass inlay separated the space from the rest, and it was here Vash’tur was seated. This had originally been set for her and her daughter… but recent developments had made a change to the dining card opposite her. Now… she waited for someone she did not know, and wished to be meeting under very different circumstances.

Vash’tur

Zef has been totally surprised to receive the notice from Alex’s mother. She’d thought about not going to the meeting, but in the long run decided things couldn’t possibly get worse.

Dressed in a long but casual gown that hid the pristine undergarment that would be a barrier between her and the world for the next week, Zef entered the bistro and stopped at the hosts desk. “Zef Rollo, I’m meeting Vash’tur Cochrane for lunch?”

“Yes, Madame, if you’ll follow me.”

He led her to a table that was as private as the eatery offered. When she saw the Vulcan woman already seated, Zef swallowed and took a deep breath. “Hello again. I wasn’t expecting a lunch invitation from you or your children.” The host helped her get seated so the two women faced each other.

Zef took a sip from the water glass and folded her hands in her lap. “This is your meeting, Vash’tur, so please begin.”

—Zef

Vash’tur was a striking woman. Flawless almost-copper skin and almond shaped eyes with dark pupils gave her an exotic look, even for a Vulcan. An ornate hairpiece lay on top of long, jet black hair. But there was an air about her… something ethereal, but substantial. Her gaze demanded attention, even though her demeanor was calm and peaceful. When she spoke, there was a refinement to her words; not an air of superiority, no. But the conveyance that her words were purposeful… meaningful… important.

“Tell me about you.”

Vash’tur

The request was unexpected. “Alright. I was born on the planet Baj and raised in a…tribe is the closest word I can think of, a vary large tribe. My childhood was normal. I had friends and family, went to school and was a good student. Somewhere around age 9 or 10, I became interested in the stars and I never lost my enthusiasm for them. When I was 16 I applied to Starfleet Academy and was accepted. I left my home world despite my parents pleas to stay. Living away from home I began to be influenced by other species and their lifestyles and did some experimentation.” Zef took another sip of water. “Is this the kind of information you are seeking from me?”

—Zef

“I requested that you tell me about you. While your biography is certainly helpful for context, it does not answer the question.”

Vash’tur

Light eyes closed for a long blink and then Zef just started talking. “I’ve spent a lot of my adult life without a significant partner. Aside from being a counselor whose job it is to know everyone’s secrets, there are some things about the Bajeen lifestyle that other species find difficult to accept once they know about them. Your son was open to some of these things when I reported for duty a year ago. He was funny and caring and honest and he’s the first human I’ve ever gotten involved with. Originally, we agreed to a non committed relationship but it turned out to be the most satisfying partnership I’ve ever had. I never meant to fall in love with him.”

—Zef

“But you did, I take it. When? And have you been involved with others outside of your own kind before him” she asked, her tone flat, but with an air inquisitiveness; and there was something… ‘unhostile’… about how she spoke.

Vash’tur

“Yes, to all of it. About a month ago, Alex told me one night at dinner that he loved me.” She thought back to the dinner. “He didn’t make a big deal about it—he invited me to dinner in his quarters and while we were eating, he just said it.” Rollo shook her head again. “I didn’t say it back, although now when I think about it, I know I could have because he was so much in my mind and heart all the time.”

“Then why not tell him then?”

She twisted the stem of the water glass between thumb and finger on the tablecloth. “I’d been involved with others for a short term before. I was even mated once—humans would call it married, but my mate died. Alex is the only human male I’ve allowed myself to get really close to.”

—Zef

Vash’tur

“I didn’t know it at the time. I told you I realized it in hindsight. I had other things going on too…things that involved my worlds way of life.” Zef grew quiet and bit her lip. “And we always think we have more time…”

—Zef

“So tell me of these ‘other things’. Logic leads to the deduction that these ways are central to your current difficulties.”

Vash’tur

Now Rollo sighed and shook her head. “I don’t understand why you want to know all of this. Alex knows everything, but he can barely stand to look at me. Your daughter doesn’t know the half of it and I think she could do away with me so I’d never be found if given half a chance.”

She emptied the water glass and waived over a server. “Do you have orange juice or something like it? I’d like a large glass with ice, please.” The herb cocktail she’d started drinking in her quarters was making her feel odd and she thought sugar would help establish a balance.

—Zef

Vash’tur shrugged slightly. It was a lot for a Vulcan.

“My son’s perspective and objectivity is, understandably I think you would agree, compromised by pain. My daughter is protective of her twin, as is he. Her perspective is filtered through his pain. And you are correct in your assessment of her. I would recommend caution around her should you find yourself alone near her.” Vash’tur spoke plainly, without a need to spare feelings or be ‘nice. She picked up a cup, sitting untouched until that moment, and lifted it to her lips. She set it back down and looked at Zef.

“I was mated. He was a truly remarkable individual. Intelligent. Honest. Compassionate, even for a Vulcan. He died. I and my daughter were filled with pain. Then I met Douglas… Alex and Racheal’s father. He… moved me. I knew that I would never feel the emotions I did for J’led again… and I don’t. But what I feel for Douglas is its own. And caring for… loving… a human is very difficult. They are a most chaotic species. But they love more intensely than any other species I have ever known. And that intensity makes them vulnerable.” and she took a drink.

“Please correct me if I am mistaken anywhere within my next statement. You became romantically involved with my son. You agreed to a non-committed relationship. That evolved into something more permanent. You were contacted by a childhood friend. You agreed to carry a child for your friend. That agreement is an honor among your kind. You, being what you are, agreed. My son told you that he was in love with you. You did not respond. A month passed. You reciprocated his feelings. You told him of your impending pregnancy by another male. You and Alex are now at the point you are. Is that chronology correct?”

Vash’tur

The juice arrived and Rollo took a long drink of it. “Yes, that’s the gist of it, but it sounds so unimportant when you list it out like that. You could be reading a grocery list or a contact form. Information out of context with no meaning.”

—Zef

“Young lady, events have no emotion other than what we give them. On their own, they are simply a record of events that happened. That is all.” and she took a drink.

“What I am finding most difficult to reason is why you would not, even in passing, discuss the honor visited on you by your friend with the man you shared your private life with? Or at least notify your Commanding Officer of your impending pregnancy? Both of those are logical courses of action to such an event… and logic dictates that an honor such as the one you received would be at a minimum acknowledged, and more likely celebrated. Yet you did not do either of those. May I ask why?”

Vash’tur

“There is no answer I can give you that will make the situation acceptable, because your son has been negatively impacted. But the simple truth is, this is a civilized contract among my people and it is my body. Aside from the ability to help a friend that is more like a sister to me, the agreement also comes with protection and financial assistance, should they need it, for my family for the next hundred years. It is a Bajeen practice so I didn’t see any reason to inform my Captain about it—it is a private matter.”

—Zef

Vash’tur looked at her and said simply “I am asking for no answers for I am not the one seeking them, and the impact on my son troubles me because I care for him, but I trust him to navigate this with his good judgement and his desire for what is best for both of you.” and she sipped her tea. “And it is not strictly a private matter, because it directly affects more than those involved in the contract. And is the truth really so simple, Commander? It is, of course, your body. And you as a sentient being have autonomy with that body, by law and by an agreed upon moral structure within the Federation. But your body and the mind in it are relied upon by others outside of you, are they not? Your vessel’s crew relies on you, both as a Counselor and an leader. As an officer, you have learned that. That what affects one affects the whole? It is a simple truth, but one that is most pertinent in this circumstance. Both with regards to your crew… and the man who loves you and whom you claim to love back. I would suggest taking a moment and attempting to look at the situation from a non-Bajeen point of view, as this is no longer a strictly Bajeen situation. Think of it as Alex.” and she gave her a moment to try.

“His choices as Captain effect the entirety of the ship, do they not? Yet he is in command. He has autonomy over it, just like you have over your body. But that vessel is not just him. He is joined to it, and has a responsibility to care for it and do whatever is necessary to make sure it lasts. The same happens when one cares for another… when that step is taken then you are not just you. You are joined. And that joining gives you great responsibility to the other. And even though the words had not been uttered when you made the decision, you and I both know the foundation was there. And you know that when he uttered those words that you felt the same. Then was when you should have spoken up, if not before.” and she took a drink.

“In this situation, you are not just Bajeen. You are also a Star Fleet Officer. And you love and are also loved by a man who is decidedly not Bajeen. Yet you, by your actions or lack thereof, expected him to accept your decision as if he were, with no warning or no say in the matter even though it will and does affect him on a fundamental level.” and she sipped her tea and looked at her over the rim for a moment. Setting the cup aside, she folded her hands slowly and deliberately on the table. “Logically, you are responsible for the situation. The ritual and contract you have agreed to was your choice alone. Remove the contract from the situation and the situation would not have occurred.” and she held up a hand to stop the retort of not being able or willing to back out now. “Nor am I suggesting that you try to extricate yourself from that decision. The decision is made. You made it on your own with no consideration of the one you have willingly joined yourself to. The damage is done. You cannot erase it. You, Zef Rollo, have caused great pain with your choice. The man you claim to love suffers under immense confusion and hurt. The only logical question that remains is… what do you intend to do about it? Nothing? Then your love dies, and the child you bear will be a reminder of what could have been. That is not a burden any child should have to carry. Do you leave your contract? Then you dishonor yourself and all of this is for nothing. Or do you do what you should have done from the beginning and include the man you claim to love in your life? Logically, if you had discussed the offer with him first, it would be statistically probably that rather than the two of us seated here talking there would be a large table of Bajeens, humans, and a Vulcan celebrating what should have been a beautiful event… rather than the statistically probable ending of something I have hoped for for my son for many years.” The waiter arrived and set a plate of fruit and vegetables on the table and left and Vash’tur rose from her chair.

She moved to stand next to the seated Zef and looked down at her. She placed a hand on her shoulder in a manner most un-Vulcan like and gentle fashion and said “I have great hope that you will weather this. But this time it is up to you to steer the vessel away from the rocks. You took the helm when you made the choice and when you chose to love him but not tell him. Steer wisely and well, Taluhk heh spoh ‘veh.” and she left the room without another word.

Vash’tur