In Between Hyacinths
Posted on Tue Feb 23rd, 2021 @ 6:37am by Captain Luka Mahone & Caithlin t'Leiya
2,080 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Frizzle
Location: Joint Hydroponics Lab, Haumea Proper
Timeline: MD 10: 1320 Hrs
Luka shifted back and forth on his feet as he sat waiting upon one of the various decorative benches. Around him were a pair of easily excitable scientists, one a Starfleet ensign and another a civilian botanist. The work they performed had become somewhat of a marvel with the rest of the science staff, but Luka saw it as a test of their cooperative efforts to create something so beautiful out of what was once a pile of dirt and dust, which was what it was when Starfleet first arrived.
He had arrived a few minutes earlier to inspect the garden, as both scientists had insisted members of their leadership come visit the unnamed and repurposed hydroponics lab. And he did not regret doing so, as the moment he entered the area, he discovered lush fruits and vibrant flowers covered just about every inch of the space. The walls had slowly been removed to allow for the vegetation to breathe in the air of the surrounding area, but was propped in such a way to be easily folded back up come Haumea's winter season.
He was given a sample of one of the various fruits they were growing, and prompted to try more. It was a native fruit of the area, that first bloomed during the first signs of spring. When he took a bite, he found flavors that reminded him of pomegranates and mangoes all at once. His reaction had the pair burst with a babble of enthusiasm, and he soon found a small basket of fruits in his lap with the promise that they'd also make sure the Admiral would receive some as well.
Luka merely suggested that they send some off to Cornelius. If anyone could make anything out of potential new ingredients, he imagined the brewmaster would have.
But that was not why he was here. While he could check up on the developments around him, he was told he had to speak with Caithlin one on one; Jason was insistent. The agreement to meet in the new hydroponics garden was one triggered by Davna, who had received the ten or so messages before Luka even caught sight of them. But being able to find time for the both of them to meet was the more difficult matter, as Caithlin was busy with whatever the Bray Corporation had her doing and Luka had a pile of trainings and paperwork he had to wade through.
But he found time, and soon after their first meeting as well. So there he awkwardly sat, frowning at one of the various flowers surrounding him with a thoughtful hum.
"And what offense has the flower given...?" Caithlin moved somehow rather silently despite her swirling silk robes, coming around from a path that led behind a nearby tree and a clutch of tall ferns. Her tone of ever-so-slightly coy, yet friendly, as she she moved to perch herself on another bench nearby.
"Hm?" Luka's head snapped over toward the source of the voice, blinking at the woman as she approached. "... They haven't. I was... I didn't..." his eyes wandered toward where he was gazing. Sure enough, there were flowers in bloom in that direction. "... I hadn't even noticed, to be honest. Simply thinking. Hopefully I didn't drag you from your work?"
Caithlin's eyebrows moved up-and-down in a sequence almost like a shrug. "By the standards of my profession in both our species, meetings are in fact a part of 'work'." Her gaze wandered around the gardens for a moment. "Though this is a more pleasant setting than most conference rooms or courts."
The Captain's nose scrunched in dissatisfaction. "I dislike conference rooms. There's a lot of bad news that passes through them." He gave her a half-hearted smile. "Hopefully the conversation we have will be more pleasant than that of conference rooms and courts. Mr. Bray seemed to get the idea that we needed to meet. He was, naturally, rather vague on why." Luka frowned. "You... wouldn't happen to know why, would you?"
Caithlin matched her earlier ton with a small, coy half-smile, as if she found the situation overall or the impetus for it from Bray slightly amusing yet charming. "Not entirely. I suspect Jason felt it would be advantageous overall for us to interact, as I am relocating to the colony with my children and my sister's family. No doubt he felt it would be good for the Foundation that we become familiar, as there will no doubt be occasion to work together on issues going forward."
"Mm, and considering our JAG team on base is not the most... adequate, I think you'll end up seeing more of me than you'd anticipate, especially with how adamant your employer is about the incident involving the shuttle. And likely whatever else he doesn't approve of." Luka turned on the bench to face the woman seated nearby. "But this isn't about him. You said you had family with you? Are they settling in alright? A move like this, so far out, I hope the adjustment will not be too severe."
"The...adjustment...will likely be rather easier than for the adults, at least, than any of our arrivals on core Federation worlds were. Truth be told, I sought something further from the judgements of such places. Or the visibility, constraints, and complications of them." Some small measure of safety and peace, for what little was left of now of their House and her family.
This piqued the Captain's interest so much that he almost leaned over toward her. Instead, he sat politely in place. Without knowing much about the woman, he was relieved he had set Lugh off with Davna for the day. The last thing he thought he needed was a giant puppy bounding all over the place. Especially invading the space of someone he had only met once. "... Something further? May I ask what that might be?"
"Ah. Again, with your language, sometimes, and its confusions. Something further away. From the main worlds of the Federation."
Luka's brow quirked. That was quite the admittance from anyone, let alone someone from a race that had somewhat of a reputation. It was something he would have typically not read into, but the recent string of events had him on edge. Which was unfortunate, as he saw Caithlin as nothing but a pleasant person to work with. Her statement did not color his view of her specifically, and he would later feel guilt for letting himself feel suspicious, but he did, seeing as that was likely part of why she was seeking something ... farther.
"Forgive me, you made it clear," he confessed, "I only wanted to make sure we had clarification. I can't tell you how many times I've had to re-explain myself to people who are more likely to take everything I say wrong. Or point a phaser at me." He offered a smile. "Hopefully Haumea will be far enough away for something... less charged, shall we say?"
"We shall see. I had no trouble when securing the space I plan to use for my legal offices; so that is a positive sign. I believe my..." Caithlin paused for a moment, searching for the human word. "...brother-in-law is slated to take over as principal of your school."
"Ah, yes. Tal is his name, yes?" Luka smiled warm. "Seshi has spoken highly already, even though... I am not... sure they've actually met yet. Ms. Macae is rather proactive for our non-Starfleet denizens, but since the departure of our former Civilian Director, she has taken up multiple more responsibilities. I'm certain the arrival of someone assisting in any aspect is a welcome sight, but she seemed doubly excited when I spoke with her last. I have to admit, I'm relieved as well. Having anyone with the proper qualifications at the helm of the school, which was admittedly not at the top of my own priority list, is simply another step toward helping this feel more like a community. Hopefully the rest of the colony sees the same view."
"Perhaps. If one has been on their own with small children and no assistance for long enough, the appearance of such a chance can give one to consider or accept things they would not have otherwise." The words referenced the colonists having a school in which to enroll their own young, of course...But in her minds eye, unbidden for a moment, Caithlin could still see her own desperation as the Empire had collapsed in the years immediately following the Hobus disaster; how her options--and those of the twins she had birthed mere months after the death of Romulus--had dwindled as the political players and states who arose from the ashes left her with nowhere else to go but across the border her sister had crossed a half century before, and that she had sworn she never would.
"That is one way to look at it." He gave her a sideways look. "But, the school does intend to teach these children more than the basics. I believe there were lesson plans submitted that involved farming techniques and methods of survival on the colony. Not that we expect anything to occur, but... they're going to live here, and this planet isn't exactly well-known for anything more than extreme snowfall and being, well... unknown. So it could easily be as you suggest, but I'm hoping the parents take some form of stake in their children's education."
"I am hopeful it will be a more useful curriculum than schools on Earth taught, yes." Caithlin's eyebrows moved up and down swiftly in a Romulan-style shrug of sorts. "There seemed to be little thought given to practical or survival skills at all, there. In addition to what a child's family would generally teach, we found ourselves having to cover a broad range of skills that in the Empire would have been imparted by professional instructors."
Luka's brow furrowed. "I haven't had a chance to get a good look at their lesson plan, but from what I'm understanding, there's less of a focus on seated education. I'm sure there's some of that, I saw history and science all over, but because this is a Federation-run colony as opposed to one simply run by humanity, the focus is more on a unified learning style that everyone seems to agree upon. But - I believe that's something to bring up with the civilian side of the colony. I have my awareness of it, but I claim no expertise in teaching. Far from it." He shook his head. "The only thing I think I could teach a school of children is first aid, or how to move about the paperwork."
"Ah. Well. I could teach the latter twice over, for your people and my own alike. Though, the Ferengi are perhaps the ones who have most...venerated...the legal profession; apparently they have a practice in their court system called "suing someone". Very lucrative...For them." For a moment it almost appeared as if she rolled her eyes.
"Maybe, but I think I'd like to keep any of our children or more impressionable adults away from Ferengi legal tactics. The only kind of paperwork I think we'd like to really see is the kind that keeps us at our current standing. With our resources, not as much trouble... that sort of thing. I can't imagine that trouble won't be ignorant of us forever, but one can hope..."
This last bit elicited a peel of laughter from Caithlin that seemed both genuine and yet a little too edged at the same time. "I should hope I have weathered enough of 'trouble' in the last fifteen of your years to last even one of our lifetimes. But I would doubt that, as well."
At this, Luka shook his head. "I'm sure between the two of us, there's enough experience for most troublesome encounters. Most. But that's why we have all the armaments and the Marine contingent and... well, survival training for the students." He gestured outward toward the rest of the colony. "I may not speak for all the people on the colony, but simply due to the unpredictable, I think we would be ignorant to think we know everything. Any perspective, however different, will never be turned away. Even if I have to fend off half the citizens to do so."
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