JP: Lt Zenno & Ens Saava - The Scandalous & The Mandatory, Part 10 of 10

[Tim]

((Morning after the Party, Library, Saava’s Family Home, Vulcan))

The plan had gone about as well as they had hoped. Delvok had performed his mission admirably. He had been entirely undetected. Sevik, with Zenno’s help, made sure the replicator and computer logs were altered. Then it was a simple matter to dispose of the remaining soup. Zenno had advanced training in crime scene analysis and knew exactly how to clean and arrange everything. 

It was a bit challenging for him, to devote all his efforts to hiding a crime rather than trying to discover one. But if there was a single lesson he could take from his missions in the Alpha Isles, it was that real life was far less tidy than the rule books permitted.

All of the work had been done. Now there was one last task to perform.

Face to face, her hands in his, both leaning forward on the chairs… he said nothing. It was her place to begin and he was more than content just to look into her eyes, feel her warm hands in his and await her. 

She began after a time.

Saava: There was no cause for me to withhold the reason for this trip from you. Even less cause for me to subject you to the vicissitudes of my Mother without warning. These are my errors and I regret them, Zenno.

He smiled, his eyes full of kindness. 

Zenno: It’s an honor to know that I was the only one you could trust to navigate this. All is forgiven. I would have suffered much worse just to be able to hold your hand for a moment or to look upon you as I do now.

She didn’t say anything but she squeezed his hand in acknowledgment. Their friendship had been accelerated to Warp 10 over the last couple of days. And although that was what Saava’s brain told her, deep down she knew that those things she admired about Zenno had not come overnight; it was the result of their many years together in school and after.

Zenno: What happens now?

She let go and stood up to go look out the window. It was a view she had seen so often during her childhood. It was a view she had grown accustomed to look at while thinking and planning her escape from this estate. After a couple of moments, she began to talk.

Saava: Of course they have an idea of what happened and how. But as a member of the family, everything I do reflects upon them. They will not admit my part in anything. The greater shame would land upon them. The same goes for you as a guest in the house. The other families would not admit to being part of such a spectacle. Delvok and Sevik’s parts in all this remain hidden.

Zenno: And what of the business? 

Saava: Father’s cousin will take over operations. But we retain ownership and control. 

He rose to join her at the window. Just three days ago he would have kept his distance, but now he put his hand on her shoulder. She reached up with her own and put it on top of his. They both looked in the garden as a desert tortoise made his way out of his burrow hole, perhaps in search of a morning meal.

He would have been content to stay as they were for days on end. But she took his hand off her shoulder, turned to face him and took both of his hands in hers. She gazed up at him, studying the contours of his face. 

Saava: But that is not the most important issue. There is another matter that is unresolved. 

Zenno said nothing and waited. It was excruciating, as he was the one who had done most of the talking during their long association. Instead, he just nodded his understanding and waited for her to continue.

Saava took another moment to look into those familiar eyes. They had known each other for years. She never thought that this moment might indeed be part of their path together. The irony in it was that she might have to thank her mother for what was to come.

Saava: We do not often speak about such things, as everyone here understands how it works. But since you are uninstructed, I will explain.

She paused, trying to formulate the right words.

Saava: My family proclaimed a betrothal announcement at the start of that dinner. Such proclamations are not done lightly. It is part of our culture, it is announcing a type of… promise of a promise. And at the end of the evening, you were the last one standing.

A lengthy list of questions immediately came to Zenno’s mind. But Saava wasn’t done. She looked down at the small space between their feet for a moment. She always looked him in the eye when talking, there had never been a reason not to. But this step took more courage than she had thought.

Saava: Zenno… Zenno, my love… in my youth, I learned how to control my emotions. I learned how to suppress my feelings and act according to my species’ heritage. ::raising eyes:: You showed me that there is more to life than logic. ::pause:: Whatever I can say is insufficient to express my affection for you. ::pause:: As a result of the past day, In all the ways that matter, we are promised to be married… if you accept.

The avalanche of emotions that went through his body threatened to burst his heart open.

Without a word… gently, tenderly… in the light of a Vulcan dawn and witnessed only by the desert tortoise outside, he kissed her.

Lt Zenno

Security Chief

USS Khitomer

A240006Z13

And

Ensign Saava

Nurse, Medical Division

USS White Pine

As simmed by

Lt Connor Dewitt

Chief Engineer

USS Arrow

A239901CD3