"Enjoyable Company"

[Guest TParek]

(Set on the Vulcan station, prior to Challenger's departure for the communications relay.)

 

Low lighting illuminated a large open room with many servers walking calmly amongst tables. Tucked into a side nook sat two officers engaged in casual conversation.

 

"What is this...?" Sean asked, poking at the food on his plate.

 

"Plo'mik leaves," the Vulcan across from him explained, lifting a forkful of purplish beans to her mouth. "They're best boiled, as they are served to you now, or soaked in certain kinds of oil to make broth."

 

Sean lifted a bit to his mouth, nodding as he ate the bite. Looking around the restaurant he noted the calmness and serenity of the atmosphere. "It's odd..."

 

"What is?" T'Parek asked, glancing about the surroundings.

 

"The utter serenity of this place." He said looking back to her. " I suppose I am used to starbases with officers and enlistees running along the corridors, madly trying to accomplish their tasks on time." He lifted a small mug with a yellowish liquid inside to his lips.

 

She shrugged. "It's orderly and rational in design and operation, as is our civilization."

 

He smirked as he spoke next, "I should have known." He looked up and out into the main chamber of the restaurant. "I do not suppose there is much in the way of entertainment aboard."

 

"There are various logic puzzles and some adepts available to mentor in meditative disciplines and the like. Otherwise, no, none."

 

"Well at least the company is not all bad," he smiled up at her, then his face immediately turned agast. "I'm sorry, that was pretty cliche..." His eyes quickly darted back to what was left of his food.

 

Expression characteristically not changing, she shrugged slightly. "It was cliche, though not unflattering." Sipping a glass of water, she shrugged again. "It is also not a phrase I'm entirely used to hearing, and thus less 'cliche' to me."

 

"Are you trying to make me feel better T'Parek?" The smirk immediately returned to his face as he flashed his eyes back up at the Vulcan.

 

"Not at all; merely stating fact. I'm no longer in the practice of mending emotions, no," she replied brightly.

 

"Do you always do that?"

 

"Do what?" she asked, a puzzled tone to her voice.

 

"State facts."

 

"Yes." Her tone assured, she took another bite of vegetables.

 

"You might try opinions every now and then, they can be useful."

 

"On occasion. However, opinions are backed by fact, and it's more efficient to simply state the facts themselves, rather than to overlay one's own beliefs across them while announcing information."

 

He smiled at her, simply shaking his head, then looked down at his empty plate.

 

Sliding out of his seat he offered her his hand. "We should probably return to Challenger."

 

"Indeed," she agreed, shaking her head nearly imperceptibly as she otherwise ignored the gesture. "Dinner was agreeable," she mentioned, inclining her head.

 

He sighed, inaudibly, "Yes, it was agreeable." He turned his head considering her for a moment, then turned and began to move off towards the ship.

 

Following, she considered for a moment. "We really must do it again sometime," she said off-handedly, brushing past him lightly as she passed him in the corridor.

 

He looked up as she turned the corner in front of him, a hint of surprise in his eyes. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but simply closed it, and rounded the corner after her.