Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vora Zorell (Scientist) in Side Sim- Mining Colony of Feru III- The New Dawn Festival

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Avik (XO) in Side Sim- Mining Colony of Feru III- The New Dawn Festival

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vora Zorell (Scientist) in Side Sim- Mining Colony of Feru III- The New Dawn Festival
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻
For hours, Avik struggled with the invitation. In one version she sounded too forward and another too formal. How some races managed to find a balance between the two was a mystery to her. After her tenth attempt, Avik leaned back into her seat and exhaled to released the build-up of frustration. Even the thought of meeting Officer Zorell brought her anxiety to the surface against her will. Still unsatisfied with her request, Avik sent it through her PADD. The mining colony of Feru III’s held a new dawn festival every year to celebrate its origins and history.

Only her father, brother Kekec and his family would be attending the festival. Unlike most of her blood relatives, Kekec had chosen a human woman and conceived a child earlier than most of her family found logical. However, a small part of her envied her brother’s happiness. It was something she had once before her mate died.

The XO sighed then prepared for the trip a few hours from now. Officer Zorell would either decline or join her, either way, she was duty-bound to go.

-Avik, XO

The invitation sat unopened for about an hour before Vora was able to check her personal messages. Seeing the message from the first officer, Zorell opened it warily, wondering what she had done this time. After the turbolift, she felt like maybe they could at least get along but she had also gotten the impression that Avik had wanted to be as far from Vora as quickly as possible. Was she reading too far into it? Maybe. But she staked her life on her instincts and she felt that Avik did not care much for her, and that was fine. There was no rule that people had to like you, nor you them.

But reading the invitation set a whole swirl of thoughts and feelings through the Tenraith. Why? Why would Avik invite her on such a clearly personal trip? And after a few minutes of pondering this she could only conclude that the XO invited her as some sort of peace offering. Extending that proverbial Terran olive branch. And since it was the XO making the offer she also felt it safe to conclude that not only did Johann approve of the trip, but also of Vora going. Though she would definitely confirm it later.

Exhaling, the Tenraith send a quick message back, accepting the offer so long as her own leave was all sorted. She also asked if there were any customs or social mores she should be aware of. Naturally, she’d look things up, but it was nice to have Avik tell her what might be important to know rather than Vora reading file upon file on the place and having to make those determinations and maybe get them wrong.

~Vora Zorell, Sciences

It surprised Avik that Zorell would take her invitation then about the customs. For Feru III, there was very little in customs save the usual human festivals and laws followed by all Federation established colonies. The XO carefully selected some guides over interacting with Vulcans and information about the colony itself, but she worried it might not be enough. She did put clear importance on the strict emotional control and the value of logic in the culture.

When the day arrived, Avik stood on the docking platform. Her eyes briefly scanned the individuals disembarking for the festival. Already the crowds became thick with some vendors with trinkets and food for the new arrivals. Her family would also present themselves soon, but not before Vora.

-Avik, XO

There had been about a fifteen minute argument in Vora & Jerrin’s quarters before she left. Well… argument was a bit of a stretch. Mostly she was trying to get a basic agreement from him to be responsible and he was being recalcitrant. But it was the first time she was leaving him alone on the ship. She knew he had people he could turn to for help if he needed it, and he wasn’t a child anymore, but it was hard to leave. It wasn’t until he sighed, told her to stop worrying and kissed her on the cheek that Vora finally relaxed and left.

A bag slung over her shoulder, Vora made her way to where she was supposed to meet Avik. Dressed in slim grey trousers, a cream coloured cotton blouse under a brown leather vest and knee high brown boots, the tall Tenraith stood out with her pale yellow skin, mass of vibrant red hair and deep maroon eyes. Busy places and places of trade she was more than familiar with, but there was a sense here that she would not blend into the background the way she had done back on Tenra. “Commander,” she greeted softly as she approached. “Thank you for inviting me.”

~Vora Zorell, Sciences

Avik looked up to witness the yellow-skinned woman’s approach then placed her datapad away. She immediately corrected Vora’s tone, mostly to establish she was no longer her commander while off duty. In this situation they were equals.

“I prefer Avik when we’re off duty. My family unit should be arriving shortly, but my brother’s mate hasn’t informed me about our activities today. It is best not to expect a strict schedule.” The senior officer stated calmly.

As if summoning them, five familiar figures headed toward them. Avik immediately recognized the elderly man in front with pointed ears and a graying hairline. As if predicting the flow of the masses, he navigated the small group through the thinner parts of the crowd.

“Avik.” Sivr greeted when he came to the edge of her personal comfort zone.

His expression reflected the same stoic and calm most Vulcans were famous for. A soft pause stretched across the moment before Avik broke it. She began introductions immediately, her hand gestured toward Zorell.

“Father. As I mentioned in my communications, I decided to bring a second individual to join me for the festival celebrations. This is Vora Zorell, one of my officers serving on the Europa.”

Avik turned back to her family, her hand gestured to each person, and introduced them to Vora.

The oldest of the group was her father, Sivr. His image bore a simple grey tunic, pants, and an overcoat to block the chilly morning temperatures. He maintained a prime appearance full of order and a strong impression. Along his hairline, grey had started to spread out in streaks over his short, black hair. His posture remained rather stiff compared to Avik, her brother, or even her niece.

Kekec came next. With the softer aura of the two Vulcan siblings, he appeared relaxed and took in the pale yellow woman’s image. It didn’t diminish the firm control over his demeanor. He nodded his greeting then stepped to the side, his arm gently bringing his mate forward.

Cassandra rolled her eyes, smiling at his attempt to use her as a social shield. Standing next to him, the contrast was easy to note now. She had a darker tone to her skin and deep red hair flowing down her shoulders. Her height even fell nearly feet short of her counterpart, but it didn’t dampen her presence. Clinging to her side was their seven-year-old son, Jasper. Like many hybrids, he bore the dominant traits of his Vulcan heritage with a softened human edge.

“Jasper, you know staring is not the proper way to gain answers to your questions.” Bluntly spoke the final member of Avik’s present family, Kivl.

She was a teenager and occupied with a datapad, her finger finally clicked exit on the final document she read. Compared to her Aunt, father, and grandfather, Kivl’s fashion had been influenced by her time with Cassandra. It still remained prime and neatly kept, but the design took on a more creative flare. Most notable was the semi-tight fitting shirt and trousers. It was all framed with a sleeveless overcoat that draped from her collar down her curves, the back split into two tails. Bright blue lines traced along with the front opening. Her long hair was pinned up into a braid down her back, a hairstyle preferred on Earth.

-Avik, XO