Lt. JG Sera - Guess Who's Coming for Dinner

[Hope Forster]

((Temporary Quarters of Sera, USS Narendra)) 

 

Sera sat on the floor in a seiza-like position, posture upright, and her hands folded loosely on her lap.  A small meditation lamp had been placed in front of her, and its flame was guttering out as the fuel within it had all but run out.  Her focus had been strained for days…for weeks really, if she had been honest, as her leave on Vulcan had not been a restorative one.  Then combined with a rather…interesting first day on a new duty posting – well, this exercise in mental discipline had become rather necessary.   

 

Her unseeing eyes stared into the now guttering flame, seeing past it, through it, in the mental process to cultivate a sense of calmness and insight.  The taming of the chaotic, destructive force of fire represented by the candle’s light served as a metaphor for Sera, a starting point in the arduous mental process of regaining the tight-gripped control over her rather volatile emotions.  

 

Breathing slow and measured, Sera allowed her external awareness return just as the flame on her lamp died out.  She studied the wispy tendrils of smoke lazily rise from her lamp for a moment before the door chime fully pulled her from her reverie.  Although she had not been expecting anyone, she had to noted that their timing was rather…impeccable. 

 

Sera graciously got to her feet, pulling the edge of her grandmother’s meditation robes around her form and walked to the door, preferring to greet the unknown visitor face to face instead of calling to a computer to open the door in what was a most impersonal manner.  

 

Sera tapped on the control unit next to the door frame and the doors to her quarters hissed open.  Standing before her was the diminutive form of the security officer who secured their release on Bajor…Lieutenant Sherlock. 

 

Sherlock: Lieutenant Sera. 

 

Sera: Greetings, Lieutenant Sherlock.   

 

Sherlock: ::pointing towards Sera's face:: Looks like Sickbay got you all fixed up. 

 

Sera: Fixed up?  ::looks away thinking::  Ah.  Yes.  It was not a complicated procedure to internally reduce the fracture and manually realign it.  Although still slightly sensitive my breathing and…aesthetics is vastly improved. 

 

Sherlock: Oh, yeah, I mean, I'm glad to see you're doing better but that's not actually why I came by. 

 

Aine grasped and held up the satchel. 

 

Sherlock: Can I come in? I have a favor to ask of you. 

 

Sera regarded the raised satchel with slight suspicion.  The tactical officer was asking for a favor?  Did not such inquiries usually come from those had already developed a social association?  Most irregular.  Favors in essence, were a promise owed, and a promise was a prison.   

 

Sera: ::unsure of what else to say::  Please.  ::motioning for her to enter:: 

 

Sera walked over to the replicator and called up a small pitcher of chilled water and two glasses.  She then brought the items to the low table in the small seating area of her temporary berthing.  Efficiently, and with an ease that spoke she had performed this particular task many times before, Sera got to her knees and poured the water into the two glasses and presented one to the Lieutenant.  Hospitality must be observed, and Sera did not have the opportunity to perform such social niceties much since joining Starfleet.  Now that she thought of it, Lieutenant Sherlock was the second person ever to request entry into her personal quarters. 

 

Setting the pitcher on the table, Sera presented the glass of water to Sherlock with a subdued flourish not much dissimilar to the manner of the Japanese in presenting tea to an honored guest.  Which was, in essence, what Sera was implying in the gesture.   

 

Sera:  Some water for you, Lieutenant.  I am cognizant that my quarter’s environmental controls are set to the limits of most humans’ tolerance.  If I had known you were…coming, I would have adjusted the parameters to something more suitable to your comfort. 

 

Sherlock:  Response 

 

Sera:  ::tilting her head slightly in a Vulcan version of a nod::  You honor me with your visit.  Please, explain what I can do for you? 

 

Sherlock:  Response 

 

tags/TBC 

 

***************** 

 

Lt. JG Sera    

Engineering Officer   

Starbase 118 Ops    

J239812S14