Lt JG Sera - The Hlai Have Come Home to Roost – Part 3
Hope Forster
((Shi’Kahr District - Outer courtyard of the Temple of Amonak))
Giellun groaned in exhaustion as he fell sideways off his knees, barely getting his palms out to halt his fall in time before faceplanting onto the stone floor. He sucked in breaths but felt as if he had run for hours. Recovering, Giellun looked across from him, instinctually looking for…her. She had her back to him, looking to the priest.
Sera: Why…why this?
Nalaat: It was the only way to stabilize what you had done S’Ers-a-kam. What you are experiencing should level out. With separation and simple meditative mind techniques you will barely notice it after a time. You will both be able to go your separate ways without…untenable difficulties.
Giellun did not know what the man was saying, but it sounded…ominous.
Sera repositioned herself so that she was facing the Romulan. His confusion and…disquiet bled easily through the link they shared. It pained her to feel his distress.
Giellun stood and looked down to her, extending his hand in offer to help her up. He watched her study his offered hand, but she made no move, so he began to withdraw with a small frown…and then his hand was no longer empty as her hand found his and he smiled softly at her acceptance.
((Time skip))
Giellun: I must insist on accompanying you to your quarters.
Sera: Perhaps it would be more…prudent for you to return to sickbay? ::observing the medical scrubs he was wearing::
Giellun: ::looking insulted:: I most certainly will not. I have been laying around there for days, and as no one has come to drag me back yet, logically they cannot be too concerned about my well-being. ::he raised his brow in a mocking sort of manner, which completely went over Sera’s head::
Sera: but...Why?
Giellun stopped in his tracks, forcing Sera to do the same.
Giellun: You are seriously asking this? Why? ::sarcastic:: Because I want answers, my lady. Answers that you would not give in the presence of the priest.
Sera inwardly sighed and walked the few steps back to him. She ignored the urge to step closer, to reach out and touch him although not giving in felt like a pyrrhic victory.
Sera: Very well. I will answer that which I can.
Giellun nodded, satisfied for the moment, as they walked across the district in companionable silence. His eyes were wary. It was a dangerous world they found themselves in, both lulled into complacency regarding the overall safety within their lives. Now, who knows what would be? Could this tale be pulled back from the brink, or was it but the first moves in a long and bloody future?
Sera noticed his increased surveillance as they walked, and she could not fault his caution…but it brought forth questions in her mind. Who was he? Beyond names…what did he do…was…was he a good person? ::sardonically:: It would serve her right if she had managed to save the worst Romulan in the history of Romulans, wouldn’t it?
Giellun: ::studying her:: You are…amused?
Sera’s eyes met his in surprise.
Sera: ::deflecting:: Does that surprise you?
Giellun: I am honest when I say the last few hours with you have disabused many a preconceived notion I may have had about Vulcans, my lady. Nonetheless, you have not answered my question.
This time she did sigh.
Sera: Yes and no. My mistake gave a second chance of sorts…but what…what if…
Giellun: You are worried I might not be of a sort that deserves such a chance.
Sera’s brows rose slightly at his comment. He was very intuitive…or was it something else?
Sera: Do you wish to stop and discuss this further here? Now? ::Motioning to walkway which had numerous security forces trolling about purposefully::
Giellun: ::smirking:: …I will be patient, for now. But once we get to your quarters…::stepping closer and leaning in so his soft whisper would be only heard by her:: Perhaps we shall find ourselves otherwise occupied…::looking into her eye with a subtle rise of his brow as if adding an unspoken question mark to his statement::
He chuckled at her reaction, finding it…satisfying to see her cheeks flush green at his teasing. For being Vulcan – she was easy to provoke. He liked it.
Sera: Do not make me regret my invitation… ::her voice trailed off as she had no name to call him by::
Giellun: ::Filling the silence with an answer to her unspoken inquiry:: Giellun i’Ki Baratan tr’Pardek.
Sera gaped at him. She might not be Rihannsu, but Vulcans also considered names to be important…and at times, quite private. However, he had just given her all of them…
Sera: tr’Pardek…?
She had heard that clan name before…
Giellun: It is a large clan, my lady, but yes, a powerful one…::his smile faded and he looked away:: It was anyway…
Sera: Tushah nash-veh k'odu. <<I grieve with thee>>
Giellun: ::suddenly defensive, almost vehement:: Do you though? I mean can you even?
Sera blinked at his angry countenance, unsure of what misstep she had made.
Sera: Yes.
Giellun: Yes, what?
Sera: You asked me if I grieved – I will assume you meant on your account. The answer is yes. Then you asked if I was capable of grief. That answer is also, yes. I am capable of feeling a great many things, tr’Pardek.
Her calm reply shamed him, and the scathing retort died on his lips. She said nothing more, and neither did he till they reached the doorway to her apartment.
She entered her code and the door opened. Sera gestured with one hand that he may enter, and Giellun nodded at her gesture and stepped in.
TBC
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Lieutenant JG Sera
Engineering Officer
SB 118 Ops
J239812S14