LtCmdr Salkath - Perfect is the Enemy of Good

[Salkath]

((Fitness Center, Deck 4 - USS Artemis))

With the distraction in the exercise class averted, or at least minimized, Salkath turned his attention back to Vitor Silveira. The tactical officer had placed the distraction into a perspective that Salkath hadn't considered, and it showed an empathy that the Vulcan often lacked in his own considerations.

Salkath: ::turning back to Vitor:: I appreciate your insight. It is clear why you have been chosen to lead a department. You have tact and compassion. I often lack those skills, and is likely a leading reason I do not lead a department myself.

Vitor shook his head and raised his finger, and Salkath noted that the exercises had taken a back seat to their conversation now. He was certain that T'Nil would want to discuss his disturbing ways with him later.

Silveira: It’s more experience and truth be told I am not the best example for a department head. Hell I am barely an example as an officer. You outrank me. I am certain you have the potential and are certainly as able as me to be a department head.

Salkath: To be truthful, I do not avoid the responsibility of leadership, though I also do not seek it. I am a specialist, and am content serving a specialized role. Did you seek leadership?

Vitor turned his attention back towards emulating the class teacher in the current pose, and Salkath followed suit. He thought that perhaps Vitor did not intend to answer, but in a few moments he did speak up again.

Silveira: I did early in my career. If you mean a commanding position. But some wrong and emotional decisions had cut that path for me, by my own flaws and doing.

This was... unfortunate. Starfleet offered many avenues for its officers to pursue their personal goals, no matter how lofty or grounded they may be. To hear that Vitor felt doors closed to him based on past experiences... this was still an organization based on meritocracy. Perhaps Vitor just needed a reminder of this, that current and future actions could still help him attain his ultimate goals?

Salkath: A leadership role must have been important during our unfortunate events in the vicinity of Betazed, though. I served with you but a short time, however afterwards? ::pause:: If you would rather not discuss, I would understand.

He had discovered the hard way that the events around their time and space misadventures could be a thorny subject for some - or many, to be honest. Salkath tended to forget that fact until after he had brought it up, unfortunately.

And since he was already threading through matters of emotional and social import that he was unfamiliar with navigating successfully, perhaps he had stepped too far.

Silveira: ::shaking his head:: It wasn’t my first time facing CloQ, and by then Commander Dakora was with us. But admittedly, as before, meeting CloQ can be quite traumatic. And most of the time they are the ones leading us. ::He tipped his head, breaking the position.:: At least this time he didn’t worked on me.

T'Nil: ::projecting over them:: The next pose is lesh'riq. ::kneeling position:: Practice calm breathing while in this meditative pose.

This was an apt pose for their conversation. Meditative reflection.

Salkath: This time? You've met them before? And what do you mean by your last statement?

Vitor shrugged and replicated the new position that T'Nil was showing them.

Silveira: In our last encounter he… “Deaged” me. I look younger than I really am. CloQ thought it best to return me to an old trauma. ::Vitor shrugged:: They can really be a pain.

Salkath: By rights, they seem to be a childish and vindictive adversary. My experience with them was pedestrian and impersonal compared to others. However, they seem to have taken personal interest in you.

T'Nil: Loshirak is next, sit cross-legged and continue your breathing exercises. Quietly, if you will.

Salkath met their pointed gaze of disapproval with an equanimous one of his own. These two were choosing to meditate in their own necessary style, and he was newly aware that this trumped the stoic nature of traditional Vulcan exercise. Vitor paused, looking at the new position.

Silveira: Admittedly it is one of the most challenging opponents I ever encountered. But how about you? Where did you end up after we split? Have you ever encountered a Q?

The exercise program was winding down; these kneeling and seated poses were a sort of physical and mental 'cooling-down' period. Salkath closed his eyes, partially meditating while he continued to converse.

Salkath: Thankfully encounters with omnipotent beings are exceedingly rare. The logs about most encounters are heavily classified or redacted, and for good reason. We see how poorly they affect morale, there is no need to burden the rank and file over events they cannot control or will likely never see. They tend to favor particular ships or officers. This ship, and individuals such as you, appear to be of the 'unlucky' few.

Did this now make Salkath one of the 'unlucky' few? Perhaps. Though he highly doubted that he would become a personal target of this 'CloQ' or those of its ilk. Childish and mercurial, they tended to enjoy baiting officers with emotional or moral conundrums. A Vulcan, much less likely to succumb to such baiting, would likely be a bore to such a creature and therefore 'no fun'. Thank Surak for being boring.

Silveira: response

Salkath: And after the split and subsequent time-space displacement, I found myself with the captain and others in some alternate-reality penal colony. CloQ ended its charade before I could discern our reasoning to be there. Perhaps it had significance to the captain; she too is a recurring foe to the being. 

Silveira: response

T'Nil: And that concludes our class. I wish you tvi-sochya, or inner peace. I welcome back some of you next week, same time and place. 

Completely ignoring the pointed barb from the front of the room, Salkath rose and gave a slight bow to Vitor. It had been a thoroughly agreeable progress to what would have been a plain and uneventful class without his presence.

Salkath: Despite what T'Nil implies, I hope you will consider kheile'a again. It could help with perspective. Without distractions and judgemental teachers, it can be quite... soothing. For the mind and body both, even if it isn't always logical.

He said that last with a knowing glance, as close to a smirk as a Vulcan can get.

Silveira: response

TAG/TBC

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Lieutenant Commander Salkath

Engineer, USS Artemis-A

A239111MT0