Bittersweet Memories

[Alex Macen 0]

Alex Leans back in the chair, though it doesnt lean back very well, being not a flexible chair " So. Excited for our R&R at..." He looks at the brochure again "New Topeka?"

 

Sakura tests the word as if it were new to her "New Topeka... doesn't sound very relaxing to me."

 

He shrugs, tossing aside the brochue, "I heard of the original Topeka, before it changed its name or something for some silly reason. I think a cult had its headquarters there. Anyways, I hope its a lot more exciting then this brochure acclaims it or i'm going to be very bored."

 

Sakura turns a bit in her chair to look over her shoulder at Alex. "What does the brochure say?"

 

Alex leans over at the desk where it is. It has a picture of several cottages along a prarie along the background. A cornfield could be made out in the far corner behind the cottage, and a setting sun hovered itself upon the horizon "Not Much." "The usual peaceful, sounds of nature, anti-tech world they make it for us Starfleet"

 

Sakura brightens a bit and hops out of her chair to look at the brochure for herself. She leans casually over Alex's shoulder looking at the pictured sights of New Topeka. "Finally, I am so in need of this kind of peace," she grins.

 

Alex looks up at her "You like corn fields? You should see the Great Plains on Earth."

 

She shakes her head. "Not necessarily. I just need to get away from all of this," Sakura waves her hands around for emphasis, "technology. It's like a never-ending cycle of culture shock." Her laughter rings around the room, a sound that does not echo in humor, but in much needed stress release."I think being in a place like that will... make me more at home."

 

Alex Nods, "It's stressful, but it is what it is of course." He shifts gaze from the desk to her, changing to a more personal tone. "What did you mean by home? So you guys have corn on..." the name of the planet escapes him.

 

"-Warwick," She finishes for him. Noting his change in tone, takes a step back but remains at ease. "Well, Konohagakure didn't grow corn, but i'm sure it was grown somewhere else on the planet." Sakura chuckles lightly, "We had technology, we just didn't take full advantage of it. Sure, we had electricity, and even communicators, though much different than the ones we use."

 

Alex Nods, "Makes sense. Why fix whats not broken i suppose. Must be a living hell to be on this ship I bet."

 

Sakura smile turns into a sheepish grin. "This ship is a luxury, on my planet;anyone would die to be in my position. Stepping outside of your country's borders without permission is considered treason. I just... I loved it there, and I always thought I would live there and die there." She looks down at her feet, purposfully avoiding Alex's gaze.

 

Alex only nods, looking up across the room "Quite the Contrary for an El-Aurian. You could call us the vagabond race, as i think a few have noted in derogatory remarks."

 

Her eyes scrunch up a bit, and she looks back to him. "You've never told me what your home was like," She probes him

 

"Well..." Alex Sighs, "There isn't much to it really. We are a race that live for knowledge i suppose. We realized long ago that its better to expand and research rather waste time with protecting our cultures at home."

 

He pauses, gazing at himself pensively "We realised its better to share our experiences with other races and indulge ourselves on the cultures of others, and I suppose I've been on a mission ever since."

 

"But to not explore your own culture?" Sakura shakes her head a bit. "We are very deep rooted in culture. We even stop all missions for certain festivals, well maybe not festivals, but one. I think that if you looked into your own culture you'd find something you'd like, and you's stop searching for a culture you don't have." She raises her eyebrows at him to say 'Am I not right?'

 

Alex Chuckles a little, thinking to himself as she says that last phrase, her brow quivering. "No, No.. You are quite right. You merely must understand we live ten, sometimes twenty times that of your race. With so much time, we grew tired of belittling our cultures. Instead we focus on others, and try to increase our knowledge and use it towards advancing our own culture. We think of our culture, yes, but most importantly, we hear other's"

 

"I think i get it, if even a little bit," Sakura nods her head slowly. Then, her head snaps up to look at him closely, intrudingly close. "How old are you, Alex-kun?"

 

He scratches his head "That's not an easy question to answer, Sakura-chan..."

 

"...El-Aurians are aged on two scales. one is chronological, as in years, as most humanoids scale it. We then have our mental age, which ages at a very awkward pace."

 

She frowns in confusion. "So, what is your age in both... er, catagories?"

 

"I am, in Earth years, 488, i believe. But in mental age to scale, I think I am roughly..." He does some calculations in his head "twenty-five?"

 

"We age upon a scale that change very often. For example, we are through adolscence in no more than 20 years, but our premature stages and early adulthood stages can last centuries until they peak at, maybe somewhere close to 1,000 years old." Alex Says,

 

"...EHHHHH?!?!" Sakura quickly takes a few steps back, distancing herself from the... older man.

 

Alex sighs, reaching a palm to his forehead. "Pay attention... It's not the chronological age that matters, it never has in El-Aurian society. Otherwise it'd be a broken society as we all age chronologically the same, but mentally very differently."

 

She eyes him suspiciously, but does not comment on either age again. "Um, s-shouldn't we be getting close to New Topeka soon?"

 

Alex arches a brow, the swift change of subject was far from subtle.

 

Sakura shifts awkwardly, an odd action for her, under Alex's gaze.

 

Alex continues his gaze, but sees it to no avail. He thinks to himself for a moment, though not a mutter from his lips as lets a sigh and glances up at the ceiling, no longer leaning on the chair "I think the Captain said another hour or two."

 

Sakura feels her stomache drop. The back of her legs meet something hard and she is vaguely aware that the object is her chair. She sits down in it, hard. "Oh, yey," she deadpans.

 

Alex looks down from the ceiling, a little heartbroken from her reaction maintaining, but he thinks of the matter from her perspective, and understands. He looks up from the corner of his eye the chronometer and nods to Sakura, stretching. "It's late, I think I'm going to hit the sack and sleep off this paperowr," gesturing to the filed pile

 

At the mention of sleep, she feels fatigue pulling at her body. "Y-yeah, me too. Um," Sakura stands quickly and bows to her security partner, "I'm going to do the same. Good night." She hurries out of the room and into the hall.

 

Alex nods as she bows, watching with a frown about to consume his face. He stares at the steaming cup of tea at his desk, either half full, or half empty.