JP: Lt Zenno & Ens Saava - Hours of Time on the Telephone Line
Cobalt Penumbra
((OOC This is the latest of a series of JPs detailing Zenno & Saava’s friendship.))
((Zenno’s Place, Deck 3, USS Arrow))
The Bolian sat back in his chair and examined the Water Sculpture from Artisan Rexxa. It had only been delivered moments before the last mission had begun so he had not spent the time with it that he had wanted.
A few months ago, if anyone had suggested that he would be ordering an Ajah Mai, he would have laughed at the very idea. If anyone had suggested that Zenno would now own one made by the renowned Artisan Rexxa, he would have laughed so hard he might have had a rupture of some kind. But it had all come to pass.
Zenno and his Academy friend Saava had gone to see the Parisses Classic on Theta Reticuli and had found themselves in the midst of a cheating scandal which led them to being functionally banned from future matches. Not that there was any official action. In fact, the judges had been quite grateful for their efforts in uncovering the deceit. It was the fans who made it impossible for either of them to go again. There would likely be violence as the fans were quite boisterous and known to engage in such things. The Water Sculpture was in commemoration of this loss.
But it was more than that. He and Saava had played in the Squares and watched matches many times and going to Championships had been a convenient excuse to get together. Now that excuse was gone and she was stationed on another ship on the other end of Federation space. Not that he could tell her this, but he missed her. She was bossy and irritating. But he was accommodating and good-tempered and the friendship they had forged was complimentary and comforting to them both. At least, he thought so. If she did, she would never admit it and he knew and accepted this.
He ran his hand down the glass tubules of the sculpture and watched the water flow. Idly, he wondered…
Zenno: Computer, query. Ensign Saava on the USS White Pine. Is she scheduled to be on duty right now?
Computer: *Blip* *Bloop* Ensign Saava, USS White Pine, is currently in an off-duty cycle.
He considered things briefly.
Zenno: I’d like to make a subspace call to Ensign Saava.
Computer: Acknowledged. Connecting.
The view screen snapped on and now there was the visage of Zenno’s favorite Vulcan Chaos Gremlin. Without even being aware of it, a smile came to his face.
Zenno: Greetings, Honored Friend.
The Vulcan on Zenno’s screen raised an eyebrow. Only the upper part of her body was visible, but she was wearing something Vulcan, not a Starfleet uniform. She did not show any signs of joy or pleasant surprise in her expression.
Saava: You are 2 days, 4 hours and 12 minutes early, Zenno. Are you experiencing any kind of distress?
Their bi-weekly call-ins had become a habit if none was forestalled by a mission or a Sheliak attack. But Saava had noticed - with the utmost Vulcan curiosity - that her heart had made a little jump when she had seen Zenno’s face on the screen. It was a reaction she was familiar with when she was around him, but also a reaction she liked to stash somewhere deep down with all the other feelings a Vulcan was not supposed to have.
Zenno: I didn't mean to disturb but I have some news and also I wanted to see how things were progressing with Doctor Selenka.
Saava: I observe your Vulcan efficiency, my friend.
Zenno: ::thoughtfully:: There is a Vulcan in my acquaintance. ::Slyly:: Occasionally, she teaches me a useful thing. But only occasionally. ::Big smiles, pause:: But regardless, I am happy to see you. You’ve been well?
Saava: Pleasantries are irrelevant. ::pause:: Doctor Selenka seems to think otherwise. I have…
Saava paused - it had been hard for her to find the courage to engage in activities like this with a person she was not fond of at all. It seemed illogical at first sight, but it was in furtherance of a professional goal.
Saava: I have engaged in regular small talk with Doctor Selenka. It is tedious and troublesome, but I am beginning to catalog her interests. Our relationship has since improved.
Zenno: I am so glad! You are turning into a people-person, Saava. It’s delightful.
Saava: She’s not fond of Parrises Squares. She does not like sports with a high risk of injury. She claims there is no logic in pursuing it.
Of course Saava let Zenno’s observation go by without comment, just as he had expected.
Zenno: As we learned in the Academy, risk is our business. If anyone seriously read the reports on past Starfleet missions, we’d fold up the fleet, go home, and start a Sehlat Ranch. But if she doesn’t care for the Squares, I’m sure you can find common ground on something else. You’ll agree to keep at it?
Saava: Of course I do not agree. But that might be a topic for another day. ::pause:: How was your mission?
They had briefly talked when the Arrow had departed Deep Space 33 and Saava knew where they were headed. Usually, Zenno’s missions seemed to have a certain peril coming with them and she had just hoped that this diplomatic one would not. Saava did not like him being subject to hazards, but she knew he could handle himself when it came to enemies of the Federation.
Zenno: Thank you for asking, dear friend. Yes, we had quite the mission, and…
Without letting her Bolian friend finish, it came to Saava’s mind what the real danger might have been on a diplomatic mission.
Saava: Did you consume any alien foods?
Zenno: Of course I ate. We got invited to a banquet by some wee metal-colored aliens. They had tails too. Wild. You should have seen it. But there were some vegetables that appeared to be quite harmless.
Saava: Appeared? ::raising eyebrow:: Did you scan them?
Zenno: ::exasperated:: No, I didn't scan them. It was a first contact situation! ::Throws hands up:: Who does that?
Saava: Every responsible Starfleet officer should. ::pause, suppressing a sigh:: Did you encounter any distress?
He suppressed his desire to groan. If there was one thing Saava could do, it was to evoke emotional reactions in those around her. Zenno was sure it was some kind of secret Vulcan spoken martial art and she had a black belt in it.
Zenno: No. But I had to simulate that I had some distress. We were called upon to create a distraction and it came in handy. It was harmless, but it gave the Captain the time he needed to finish his task before our hosts demanded his attention.
Saava: ::raising eyebrow:: You simulated digestive distress? What kind of Captain would ask that of you?
Zenno: The Captain didn’t ask for anything but a distraction. I volunteered this stratagem.
Saava: It might be advisable for me to speak to him about your situation to keep him from asking such things.
For just a moment, Zenno seized up as fourteen different emotions roared through his consciousness. It was the sort of thing she might do, but then he realized she was having him on, in her way. He was mildly annoyed at himself. He should have caught on sooner. Much sooner.
Saava knew exactly what kind of reaction she provoked from her friend. She knew how her reaching out to Doctor Ohnari had been received by the Bolian. Although she had only his best interests in mind, she accepted his reactions and would not dream of contacting his Captain - for now.
Zenno: All I will say is that we should consider ourselves fortunate that our Doctor Ohnari didn’t get angry with those recommendations you had sent… about assigning a diet spy and all that. The Captain would be a whole different world of pain for me if you did that. ::beat:: But I wanted to show you this. It is the water sculpture we spoke about on the shuttle back from Theta Reticuli. I must tell you that discussing it with anyone else besides me is a great scandal and a breach of trust. But since you were a part of the reason, I can share it all with you. Observe. ::touches the glass and the water moves up and down::
Saava observed the movement of the water. It was aesthetically pleasing, even to her Vulcan sensibilities. Zenno’s warning faded for a second and Saava felt the urge to touch the glass herself. It almost looked like a musical instrument that - instead of playing music - was playing the water.
Saava: It resonates with a symphony of precise design and elegant simplicity.
Zenno: I am glad you think so. Does it evoke a feeling?
Saava was immediately taken back to her childhood. Her parent owned a collection of resorts on Vulcan that had certain benefits desired by the population every seven years. Accordingly, Saava’s family was among the richest and most prominent on the planet. The name of the chain in Vulcan was difficult to translate, but the closest approximation would be “Hotel Pon-Farther”, words that Saava could never get herself to say. And she most certainly would never talk to Zenno about the family business.
A famous Vulcan artist, a friend of her Father’s, had routinely invited them to private art viewings. Their fame and wealth had brought them into contact with a lot of entitled people - especially at these gallery shows. Saava had despised the people she found there. They were arrogant, even to a Vulcan, and they had no sense for anybody else but themselves. The art, however, Saava had always enjoyed. She would have never admitted this to her parents, but even as a child she had looked forward to those events. Her Starfleet career did not offer much space for aesthetics, so she took every chance she could get to appreciate art when she could find it. She quickly pushed this secret aside and tried to focus on the conversation again.
Saava: I accept its beauty, Zenno. Don’t make me give an emotional description.
Zenno: I won’t push. Unlike some *others* we might know, *I* respect the correct boundaries. Well, most of the time. I, quite impudently, requested this work from one of the most celebrated artisans from the Home World. It was a miracle she accepted the commission. So as soon as I had a spare moment, I wanted to share it with you. I hope you get the chance to see it in person sometime.
Saava: That would be a pleasant occasion.
Zenno: ::teasing:: Your chronic understatement is a constant comfort to me. It’s a warm and cozy blanket. ::Noticing the time:: And now I must go. The ship is undergoing maintenance and I must evacuate my cabin for a short period of time.
Saava: Remember to follow your nutrition plans, my friend!
Zenno: Will you continue being a delightful social butterfly with Doctor Selenka and the rest?
Saava: I will continue the tedious habit of small talk, but I cannot transform into an Earth insect - and I don’t see the relevance.
She raised an eyebrow. If she would be honest to herself, her attempt at Vulcan logic was a lame one to keep Zenno longer on the line. The reason for this was - as usual - buried under a pile of other emotions in a dark place in her mind. One that she had learned to leave alone for quite some time now.
Zenno: Know that I am wishing you every success, Honored Friend.
Saava: Thank you, and I for you as well.
This was the point where most Vulcans would engage in their habit of saying ‘Live long and Prosper’. Instead, Saava tried to give him her most happy expression. To a Vulcan, it would have been an outrage - to everyone else it would be almost not noticeable.
Zenno: I will see you at the appointed time.
And with a click of the button, Zenno ended the call. He loved speaking with Saava, but when the calls were over, he became wistful. But there was no time for that today. He had to pack up his Water Sculptures and beam over to Deep Space 33.
END
Ensign Saava
Nurse, Medical Division
USS White Pine
As simmed by
Lt. Connor Dewitt
Engineer
USS Arrow
A239901CD3
And
Lt Zenno
Security Chief
USS Arrow
A240006Z13