Bread and pasta ...

[Shalin 0]

Events take place prior to encounter on Nike Prime

 

Shan was on down time, taking a moment to savor some chicken and orichette pasta who's flavor managed to survive Starfleet's brutal preservation processing of field rations. As he moved to the single narrow bench in the ship's cramped mess hall, he found T'Aral finishing a bowl of broth with bread. "Mind if I join you?"

 

T'Aral gestured for Shan to sit. He began to nibble at his pasta before looking over to the doctor. "I just had an interesting talk with the Capt ... well, yeah. I guess here she is still 'Captain'. Anyway ... Ms. Calestorm had some interesting things to chat about."

 

T'Aral didn't even raise an eyebrow. "Then you had an enjoyable conversation." She had noticed that Shan struggled with the Captain's demotion, but then it was a challenge for many of those who served under Ashton. Even she had developed a certain amount of loyalty to Calestorm. If that could be fostered in a Vulcan, she expected that emotional beings would respond even more intensely.

 

"Yeah - thing of it is, it wasn't like her. I don't mean that Cale' isn't interesting to talk with, it's just that having deep conversations about personal things isn't her style - she leads by example." Shan leaned over the table, his eyes locked on T'Aral. "It's so unlike her, in fact, that I gotta believe that somebody put her up to it - it's the only way that it makes sense."

 

T'Aral met Shan's gaze steadily. "A logical conclusion reached by logical means; I commend you." She nibbled on the bread to pause the conversation before replying. "Does your conclusion make a difference?"

 

Shan leaned back and smiled. "Nah ... just means people are looking out for me. I appreciate the sentiment. I just want to know - do you think I'm crazy?"

 

"I fail to understand why beings of considerable intelligence continue to frame complex matters in the simplest of terms." She set down the bread and faced Shan directly. "You have been trying to adjust to life on a front line vessel for some time. I felt that you would benefit from assistance in this area."

 

Shan smirked. "Well, I don't know. 'Don't fall into darkness' is really good advice, but it's a little light on practical application."

 

T'Aral nodded in agreement. "Oftentimes such advice is, as it is not meant to address any specific concern. What is your specific concern?"

 

Shan looked over to T'Aral, his eyes intent. Calestorm knew how he felt, but Shan didn't need empathy as much as he wanted advice. "Doc ... T'Aral ... you have to deal with people who are so different from you - and you have to do it all the time. Vulcans are like the most alien of the aliens because of the way you think - the way you block out what you feel. How can you stand to deal with everyone else?"

 

"It is done with patience, and a continuous effort to see the point of view of the other." T'Aral reached under her jacket, drawing out a small necklace. "Do you recognize this symbol?"

 

Shan nodded. "It's an ... IDIC, right?"

 

T'Aral managed not to wince. "That is a human term for it - an acronym. The proper term is a da-reh-vla-kuv; the recognized symbol for the philosophy of Kol-ut-shan. The human acronym, 'Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combination', is a simplistic way of describing the philosophy, though it is accurate.

 

"Within the universe, strength and growth come from the uniting of dissimilar attributes. It is the reason why Vulcans do not shield themselves from others: we cannot continue to develop as individuals or as a race unless our current state of being is continuously challenged. While I would admit that I find our latest challenge to be ... excessive, I am confident that we will prevail. The generations of Vulcans that will come after us will be stronger and more capable than we are.

 

"Lieutenant: you have accomplished what few of your people aspire to. You have become stronger than your predecessors. This was done through interaction with beings which were not like you. This process must continue if you are to continue to grow. However: there is one challenge that you must overcome. You must learn to accept others as they are, not as you would have them be."

 

Shan shifted back slightly. "Doc? I've never tried to change anyone."

 

"Not in words, or perhaps not even in deliberate intent. However, you struggle with accepting others as they present themselves. This is understandable - most intelligent beings prefer interactions which they are comfortable with. Yet to pursue this line of behavior is to seek to reduce the diversity and combinations available. The diversity is necessary, for not every situation can be most effectively addressed through a single approach."

 

Shan sighed. "I think I understand."

 

T'Aral finished her meal and stood. "As Morale Officer, I would insist on nothing less from you. If you were ever to seek to improve the morale of a Vulcan in the same manner as one improves the morale of an Argelian, our next discussion would prove to be far more difficult."