From a Distance

Posted on 22 May 2013 @ 4:04pm by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Cyrus Kiwosk

1,963 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo: Observation Lounge
Timeline: MD8 1614

ON:

Spread out over the table in front of him were dozens of PADDs, stacked on top of one another, set aside. Some were on, scrolling, or in standby mode while others were periodically tapped, checked and sorted. Liyar's focus was absolute. It was, as usual, empty and devoid in the lounge, even after duty hours. Liyar found it fell just in that safe zone he appreciated. A public place, so it felt less claustrophobic and empty, but still, undisturbed. Many things were occupying his thoughts, but he was working tirelessly to submerge them all under the haze of mind numbing, tedious economic calculations. Rojar, MS1, Kaitan, Talar, Eridani. All checked, rechecked, rechecked, backed up, submitted, analyzed, projected, graphed, charted and organized fastidiously.

As Cyrus started his first rounds of the afternoon he rolled his shoulders unconsciously. The last few days had certainly been interesting. The surveys had been relatively problem-free barring the incident that with Kiwosk's group and the fatality resulting the original survey conducted by Lieutenant Stone. It seemed so odd for these creatures, as brightly coloured and feral as they were to resemble so closely animals on Earth. The six-legged wolves had been bad enough.

He made his way through the ship with relative ease. he was familiar now with ship now, and he had gotten a good feel for the nooks and crannies that certain individuals picked out for themselves.

So it came to no surprise to see Liyar sitting in the Observation lounge among a series of PADDs. "Busy at work eh Liyar?" He asked his favorite Vulcan.

Liyar leaned over and helped himself to a plate of steaming pre tarmeeli which rested on the windowledge beside him. He set the chopsticks down and rubbed the bridge of his nose, flicking the page on his PADD over to more Kaitan installation deficits. "Busy at work," he confirmed with a short nod, looking up to spot Cyrus standing over him. It was a wash of reality over a long, monotonous day, and Liyar felt as if he'd broken the surface of a deep and dredging ocean. So many PADDs, numbers, statistics, calculations. They blurred together in front of his eyes. Liyar made a few alterations in one of the equations and gazed over to the chronometer. It was shift end already, he realized belatedly. He set the PADD aside and gestured to the chair across from him.

Cyrus shrugged slightly and made his way over to the available seat and sat down, letting himself relax a little. "More economics this time, or is this something else today?" He asked, chuckling slightly.

"Economics." His mind was slowly morphing into a graph, a timeline of tedium. At least it was better than thinking. "How is the security department functioning? I understand Lieutenant Rhodes has been appointed chief in the wake of Lieutenant Stone's demise."

"Yeah..." was all Kiwosk was able to say for several moments. "Stone was a hardass and a basketcase...but he saw chinks in our armor that weren't visible before...Given time, he might have even came around to our way of thinking," Cyrus replied. "...Instead he got his internal organs splattered across the ground along with Sidi's..." That made him choke up more than anything... he had really come to care for the dog.

Liyar sat back from his calculations, folding his fingers together and laying his hands on the table, turning his attention to Cyrus. "Loss of life is always regrettable. I grieve with you."

Realizing he hadn't answered Liyar's question he forced a smile and nodded. "But yes the Lieutenant has assumed Chief Security Officer and has been doing a great job. It's almost like he combined what we were learning with what we already knew. Everyone has been widely receptive to his and Lieutenant Rice's promotions, and it never hurts to have the former CSec Officer on board either."

"Kestra Orexil," Liyar said. "She has expressed gratitude for being able to return to some form of duty."

"How's...uhhh...diplomacy---ing?" he asked.

"Tedious," the Vulcan replied, "but I am attempting to put things in motion. Politics," he shook his head. "Dull individuals debating which meaningless issue they ought to give merit."

"So business as usual then?" Cyrus joked, lifting a hand to run it across his short brown hair. "Liyar..." He began suddenly. "I need some advice..." Before he realized what he was saying and who he was saying it to. This is only going to go well...

He wanted desperately to change his sudden train of thought, but what his brain was screaming to his mouth obviously didn't register as the words began to form. "With Pola gone... I feel ...conflicted. "

"Pola," Liyar repeated the name. "Dr. Ni Dhuinn," he recalled promptly. The accompanying emotions that sprung up from that single word gave Liyar a fairly distinct impression, but he wasn't certain he understood it. "What about her departure has confused you?"

An odd way to phrase the question, but no less true Kiwosk admitted to himself. "I guess the best way to put it is that I'm worried about the relationship her and I had started..."

Relationship. There it was. Liyar blinked, looked down to his PADD, then back to Cyrus. "I am afraid the complexities of Terran relationships elude me," he said, "therefore I am unsure if I am the most qualified person to advise you." He steepled his fingers. "Do you intend to leave Galileo as well?"

"I'm not looking for the 'most qualified' person. " Cyrus retorted as he imitated quotations with his fingers. "I'm just looking for advice from a friend. No I'm not intending to leave the Galileo, I really enjoy the ship, but..." He trailed off slightly as he thought about what he wanted to say. "I miss her, it's odd not having her around. I mean it was only a month, maybe a little more...but it was nice to have that someone, you know?" He asked, and he smiled weakly. "I've never been good at relationships," he admitted.

"It appears that the fate of this particular relationship is not a result of whether or not you are good at it," Liyar pointed out. "Dr. Ni Dhuinn has left. If you have made no plans to follow her, there are only two options. Make them and find her, or end the relationship. Do not let it turn into a weight."

Cyrus blinked several times as he stared at his friend. Was it all that easy? Just simply carry on as if nothing had happened. "I see..." Was all he was able to say for a moment. "Have you ever had to deal with breaking a relationship?"

"Vulcans do not have relationships in the same way as Terrans," Liyar answered. "I was betrothed when I was a child and I married in adulthood. As it is for most Vulcans. Those who are not bonded in childhood will seek a bondmate later in life, but there is typically no dating involved."

"You guys don't date?" Cyrus could hardly believe it. "Marriage or bust, eh?" He chuckled. "So...no dinner and movies? No courting?" He asked, suddenly interested in the massive difference between the two cultures.

Liyar shrugged. "There can be, to a degree, but it is done to determine compatibility. If one is not bonded as a child, they will have to obtain a mate later in life, and such relationships are pursued with the intent to marry. I take it you do not share those intentions in your relationship with Dr. Ni Dhuinn?"

"Well...I uhhh....I don't rightly know...I mean, I never really gave it much thought," Kiwosk stammered at the bluntness of Liyar's question.

"Perhaps you should," Liyar said, arching an eyebrow and raising his chopstick. He tucked another bite of rice away. "If you do not plan to pursue her, your interactions will more than likely become a burden to you both."

"So you're saying that I should dump Pola?" he asked.

Liyar tilted his head. "I am unfamiliar with that terminology."

Kiwosk took a breath in an attempt to untie the massive knot in his stomach. Dump Pola? It seemed surreal, their relationship had just begun...shouldn't he at least try?

"So you're telling me that I should not continue my relationship with Pola," he rephrased.

About to speak, something from beyond Cyrus's shoulder seemed to capture Liyar's attention as his eyes drifted away and he rested his chin on the tips of his fingers. Similar advice had been dispensed to him, whether or not it applied, he found it difficult to take the same role now. He didn't have choices, that didn't mean Cyrus couldn't. "No," he finally shook his head and lifted his eyes again. "That is not my prerogative. It is your choice, to do as you see fit."

The stare was only a moment, but when Liyar broke eye contact for brief second he couldn't help but think that the Vulcan had experienced a terrible loss. "Very diplomatic of you," Kiwosk retorted dryly.

Liyar blinked and shifted his head to the side vaguely. "I endeavor to excel," he answered blankly. "No- it is not my place to determine your actions," he said, separating his hands.

Did...did he just make a joke? Cyrus thought to himself, but only responded with a slight chuckle and a shake of his head. "I suppose that's true. No one knows what to do but myself..." He heaved a sigh and shook his head. "I just don't know. I wish she hadn't have left so soon to my arrival...it would have made the idea of a long distance relationship easier..." He explained to his friend.

"The concept of a relationship surviving solely by indirect contact is positively alien to me," Liyar admitted. "But, if that is something that you believe can work for you, that you believe will benefit you, then I would encourage you to do what you think is best. Have you discussed the issue with her?"

Cyrus responded with a shake of his head. "I haven't had the courage to bring it up to her yet."

Somehow, Liyar managed to look skeptical. "Then I would highly suggest you do. Otherwise, it bears little relevance. If you wish to continue your relationship, especially indirectly, communication will be crucial."

Now he was just sounding patronizing. Cyrus felt like he was back in high school getting 'the talk' from his mother. "I'm not twelve, I know that." He began strong. "It's just...that...." He began to stammer. "It's..it's just that I want to be sure that it's worth it because I bring it up to her, you know?"

"I assure you, I do not," the Vulcan replied dryly. He continued on a more serious note, sitting back in his chair. "My advice to you, as you have asked, would be to decide with her if it is worthwhile. Discuss your reservations as well as your motivations to proceed as you are."

He nodded, eager to put the conversation to bed. "So tell me...how's that money coming?"

"Resource allocation," Liyar corrected absently. Willing to take the hint, he allowed the conversation to trail off and provided a summary answer. "I have thus far narrowed a list of planetary candidates down to approximately twenty potentially habitable areas," he slid over a PADD across the table and tapped it with the stylus, before launching into an abbreviated explanation about it.

OFF:

Lieutenant (JG) Liyar
Diplomatic Officer, VDF/SDD
USS Galileo

Chief Warrant Officer Cyrus Kiwosk
Security/ Tactical Officer
TRT squad leader

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