Love and Honor (Part 2 of 3)

Posted on 27 Feb 2015 @ 4:10am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Command Master Chief Markum Quinn & Lieutenant JG Dorian West & Lieutenant Aria Rice & Petty Officer 1st Class Siren Hex Saalm & Nesh Saalm & Aila Saalm

4,184 words; about a 21 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: Rigel VII - Vajripam outskirts, Kolj Beach
Timeline: MD 22 - 0655 local

[CONTINUED]

Quinn was already in his dress whites, and had found a great cup of coffee, which he was enjoying immensely with a some sort of hard pastry. It tasted and had the consistency of a Terran delight known as biscotti, and it was exceptionally tasty dipped into his hot coffee.

Allyndra had thought about what she might wear to the wedding party and after much troubling thought had decided that she would wear her formal Trellium spider silk dress. Yes, it would show off her wings, but perhaps it was time to put things of the past in the past. The few Orions that had any inkling of her people from the past, well let them and perhaps if they cared to make any contact it might give her own people a boot in the proverbial rear.

As she stepped out to the area of the wedding the sun caught in the silk of the dress and cascaded in bright scintillating rainbows of colour that rippled in every step she took. She had left her hair free rather than tied and had combed it until the blue metallic streaks in the black gloss shone. Along with the makeup which she had deftly used to highlight her compound eyes, was powdered crystal on her exposed skin and on her wings. She made her way toward the reception table with the small boxes she had brought for gifts. Inside one was a pair of near identical rings, set with stones one to the other, in red and amber. They were the colour of the twin suns of Akkadia, and a representation of the Twins, the mythical lovers. In another box, which she set on the table were a necklace for each. On each necklace was a pendant set with a stone. One red and the other pendant amber, one for each partner but there was a bit of clever device built into the necklaces. When they were brought close enough together a small simulated fiery light would jump linking the two and representing the Twins kiss. A sign in her culture of something momentous. She hoped that they would enjoy the jewelry.

Unlike Quinn, Wintrow had opted to attend in casual dress, thinking it far too hot for formal dress. Besides, weren't they on leave, technically? He was wearing khaki linnen pants, a light brown T-shirt and his straw hat to protect himself against the heat. His feet were covered in brown leather sandals. He knew he'd taken a formal suit with him, the one he'd worn on the first day of their trip but he'd long since reconsidered wearing it. He smiled as he spotted the doctor and for a moment openly stared at her. "Wow," he breathed in appreciation.

Allyndra turned and smiled. "Do I look alright then? I am never certain with alien ceremonies just how much to be formal and how much not to be formal. You look handsome yourself and probably dressed much more appropriately for the weather."

"Oh yes ma'am," the teenager agreed breathlessly, "I think you look gorgeous. From what I know of weddings, and that's only because I read about it, is that the only rule is not to outshine the bride." He blushed at her compliment, but really only because he still didn't know how to properly deal with one. "Thank you..." Since Nesh wasn't with him, Wintrow looked around and spotted a table with refreshments. "Would you like something to drink ma'am?"

Allyndra felt like the matron of the Guild with his references. "Please...Allyndra. You are making me feel like I am on my last wings." She eyed the table and then nodded, "I think a bit of something cool and sweet sounds perfect." She held an arm out, "If you do not mind escorting and 'old' lady."

"Aww...you're not old," Wintrow offered, offering her his arm, "my dad taught me it's polite to address a lady as ma'am, and I do try to be a gentleman..." He escorted the doctor towards the table, then selected a cup. "What can I get you?" he asked. "It's quite a wait, isn't it, but sure worth it I think. I can't wait to see an Orion wedding ceremony I've ever only seen a Human one. My uh..guardian got married a few months ago, but that was altogether different too because he married a man."

"Sweet tea is fine, thank you," Allyndra nodded to Win. She listened to the rest of his story. "I have never even see a human really, just a vid. Ours tend not to be so elaborate and almost all the first marriages are arranged anyway. Oh, don't get me wrong, we have some choice in the matter but ultimately one's Guild House determines if a match is suitable. My husband was actually an artisan. He specialized in painting with water colours and of a style many hundreds of years old. Well," Allyndra made a depreciating gesture. "Enough about me, tell me about your guardian. I presume that it was for love." Most cultures had such things some recognizing it some trying not to. Hers was no different and just accepted that such things happened. The story of the Twins had taught that love could even shame the gods.

"My guardian is really more of a big brother to me," Wintrow explained, happy to talk about the man, "he's a chief counsellor and you'd spot him in a crowd straight away because his hair is so white. He's still quite young though and yes he did marry out of love. Last I heard, he and his husband have a adopted a little girl, an orphan, like myself. Alex originally wanted to adopt me too but the age difference is too little for him to be any kind of parent, so we agreed this was best. Both are Human though...Alex and Mason I mean."

"I would love to meet them sometime. They sound lovely. Ah! I see Mister Quinn has made it," Allyndra nodded toward the COB.

Quinn smiled as he enjoyed his finger foods and cool beverage. He was eager to see what Lirha looked like, bit even more so, he wondered what her mother was going to be wearing.

Seeing Quinn, Wintrow held up another cup. "Would you like some too sir?" he queried politely.

Quinn looked behind him then realized the lad was addressing him. The old salt grinned and walked to the young man. "Thanks, kid." replied Quinn as he stopped beside Wintrow. "No need to call me, Sir. NCO's aren't ever addressed that way. Just call me Chief or Quinn while on duty. You'll need to get used to it for life after the academy. Off duty functions, just call me, Markum, or old man or whatever the hell ya want. So, you trying to score with the Lieutenant Commander there?"

"No s- chief!" Wintrow flushed scarlet at the correction and the suggestion. "Just trying to do what's right...and be polite. Dad taught me to address anyone older than me as sir or ma'am. Regardless of military." He handed the man a cup with some undefined sweet but cold liquid which could pass for tea, after giving one to Allyndra.

Allyndra just smiled at the way the Quinn got under Win's skin. She still had a bit of a time understanding that this was a sort of bonding, comradery ritual. "No, Chief, while I would be flattered I think he has his sights set on another. You are looking nice."

"I do still owe you a dance," Wintrow offered, feeling a little uncomfortable. "And yes ma'am, I believe I have..." He reached for a third cup and poured himself some of the liquid too. As half-Betazoid he was supposed to love anything sweet but he never did get a taste for too sweet. Like most Betazoids, he did love chocolate, but this.. He made a face and set the cup down. "A little sweet for my taste."

Quinn grinned at the Chief Medical Officer. "Thanks, Commander. You're looking ravishing for such a young, intelligent, beautiful woman." Quinn shook his head at Wintrow, while keeping an eye on Allyndra. "They can never be too sweet, lad."

"Thank you Chief and pleeeaasseee Allyndra. I don't even let my staff call me Commander in sickbay." She had caught the reference Quinn had made and smiled.

She decided to turn the tables slightly considering the way Quinn had been leering at Lirha's mother. "So speaking of sweet, if I am not mistaken looks like a sweet tooth for Aila. Looking to retire and settle down to a nice fat happy life?"

ALso understanding the reference, Wintrow nearly choked on his tea as he attempted a second sip. Better something sweet in this heat, than nothing at all, he reasoned logically. He stood coughing, trying to catch his breath while also trying to remain oblivious to their reference. But alas, he no longer could and his choking fit gave it away. "Let's hope they're done soon," he coughed, gesturing towards the tents.

"Looks like you took too much drink," Allyndra said to Win and with one hand on his shoulder gave a couple of wacks to his back. "There, better? I know the heat here not being used one takes too much liquid at a time. I nearly did that this morning and not a doctor in sight." She made the excuse for him.

It helped and the fit quickly subsided, leaving the teenager a little winded. "Thank you," he murmured, while readjusting his straw hat. "What's taking them so long?"

"Your welcome. I am guessing that the brides are fussing over their appearance. Either that or they are having second thoughts. One advantage of arranged marriages you have choice on the matter. One cannot....what is the term the humans call it... Ah!" Allyndra brightened as she remembered. "Cold feet. Though I have never figured out why they call it that since physiologically their feet do not get cold from overproduction of epinephrine."

"I always thought it was a metaphor for your feet being frozen and stopping you from moving forward to do whatever it is you're unsure about...." Dorian West had been moving over to join them, in time enough to hear the last fragment of conversation anyway. He wore a civilian suit, tailored, a dark blue in heavy silk that had a slight sheen in the right light. In all, he scrubbed up well. "But who knows. Maybe it's a symptom of really bad hang overs from the stag parties...."

Quinn smirked at the doctors wit. "Me? I doubt it. Tried marriage a few times, not for me I guess. I'm married to my ship, to Starfleet. I just want to enjoy the remaining years I have left, Allyndra. Aren't you ever up for just some good old fashioned fun?"

Turning, Wintrow smiled at West and held up a new cup in silent query whether the counselor wanted a drink as well. "I've not been married," he added quietly, "and I've had one relationship so far but we...drifted apart and broke up a couple of weeks ago. I was reassigned and he was reassigned, it just didn't work."

"Good day Dorian," Allyndra greeted the man. "You look wonderful." She answered Quinn next turning her attention back. "I think an advantage you have over others. Our culture we are taught duty first, much more rigid upbringing. Though I can not say that there were not fun times and of course I was considered a bit more rebellious than most. As for marriage, it was nice. I had a fine husband so perhaps I was lucky in that regard or perhaps we never had our time to grow apart before his passing. In any case, I would not mind thinking that another try is in order but I can not fault your thinking Chief."

"Lieutenant West, nice to see you." Quinn stated as he kept his attention on Allyndra. "I'm sorry about your husband, I had no idea. I'm very sorry."

Allyndra was not sure what to say and just kept quiet.

"I'm sorry too," Wintrow murmured, for lack of anything else to say.

Dorian smiled softly, shaking his head gently at Allyndra's words. "I'm glad you found each other and had the chance to make each others lives warmer," he lifted his glass gently to her. "To companionship?" he suggested as a toast.

Wintrow nodded and raised his glass. "To companionship," he echoed, looking around for the others to chime in.

"To companionship," Allyndra agreed and took a sip and then nodded her head. "Oh speaking of which I think they are finally ready."

---

Somewhere in the large beach crowd, voices began to hush which quickly spread throughout the entire area and resulted in an eerie silence for a few short moments. The nearby ceremonial drum players began to rythmatically beat on their percussion instruments and accentuate with with cymbal strikes to signify the wedding ceremony had officially begun.

Outside of the two brides' tents, a large fire pit had been kindled and was now roaring with large flames. Ceremonial masters dressed in elaborate garments stood circling the blaze, and the city's High Mistress sat perched on a small throne ready to wed the two lovers into a lifelong bond.

Led by her mother, Lirha was the first bride to emerge from her tent, and she slowly waded through the beach sand in all her sparkling, golden glory. The nearby guests all bowed their respects in unison before looking back up when she neared the High Mistress. Paying her own respects to the city's most powerful woman, Lirha knelt down on one knee and bowed before the throne while trying her best to not awkwardly topple over from the weight of her armor pads.

Allyndra shifted to side and watched the Orion guests. She was nearly clueless on Orion cultural practices and especially weddings. As the rest bowed she decided that it was not much different than greeting a senior Guild member. She made a small curtsey with bow of the head slightly spreading her wings as Lirha passed. A rustle of the crowd indicated they had resumed their previous posture and she did as well. She hoped there would not be much more as she had worn a slipper type shoe instead of the kind of sandals that the Orions wore and shifting her feet in the curtsey had allowed some sand to work its way into them.

Without her own mother to lead her out, Nesh had stepped into the breech for Siren. With Nesh leading her out of her tent, Siren moved with slow but steady steps, wearing the human dress, but with the Saalm crown. She didn't look to the large group of people, her heart thumping hard in her chest, knowing they were watching. She took a soft breath, looking for Lirha instead, smiling when she saw her, looking like some kind of goddess from legend. She moved to her side, kneeling as she did to honour the High Mistress, taking the chance to lower her face a little to catch her breath from her journey in front of the crowd.

Allyndra was impressed by the ceremony. It was very ritualistic and exotic even to the few others that she had seen and certainly much more so than what her own tended to do. The whole thing caught her attention and she drank in the details.

"Pretty neat to see how other cultures do it, is't it, Doc?" asked Quinn while watching the ceremony.

Wintrow watched in fascination his eyes darting from Lirha to Siren, to finally settle on Nesh. He drew in a sharp breath and held it as he watched the young woman, looking so regal and breathtaking. He was aware of all the emotions going around, mostly happiness and joy, but here and there he could pick up a sense of jealousy. And to be honest, he could actually understand. Here were two beautiful women, forever out of reach from any suitor from the moment the ceremony would be completed.

"Yes it is Chief. For all our other formality we have nothing quite so ritualistic as this but I suppose to a strangers eyes it might be that way. Certainly not so exotic or so...revealing." Allyndra managed not to chuckle. She whispered, "They look like most of those outfits could come apart or fall off at any moment. What was the term you humans used? Robe malfunticon or something of that sorts."

Markum laughed quietly, "Wardrobe malfunction, yes. There certainly isn't much left for the imagination. Just be thankful it's not a Betazoid wedding, or we'd be having an entirely different conversation right now."

"Ah yes, that is the term. I have heard about Betazoid ones. While we are formal in general most of us are not body shy." Allyndra responded.

Aria came running out of the tent, as discreetly as she could giving her heels. She wore a short black and white lace dress, the neckline high but the hemline short, complete with black and white feathers. A dress she could dance in, the way she saw it. She moved to grab a drink, knocking it back before spotting West and quickly moving to him, taking his arm. "What did I miss?" she asked in a whisper.

Dorian shook his head softly with a small smile, shifting up to make space for Aria to join the guests now her duties were finished. "Some pretty edgy firewalking," he teased with a soft smile. "Don't worry, they're just getting started."

When the High Mistress was ready and satisfied all parties were present, she rose from her seat and spread her arms wide indicating for Lirha and Siren to stand. The commodore briefly looked up and pushed herself back up to her feet, then looked over to her bride and beamed when she saw her. The white dress she was wearing was most elegant and a pleasant surprise -- Lirha'd expected her to be wearing tradition Orion attire, but the way the dress accentuated her curves and exposed the lovely white skin of her back was delightful. And the family crown looked great on her...as much as she was Human, she could easily pass for an Orion with a light shade of green skin paint. Lirha reached out and took her hand, and affectionately squeezed it in anticipation.

Two large Orion men walked over to the nearby fire pit carrying a large pan filled with a water as well as a large metallic grate which they laid over the pit itself. They then placed the grate over the coals and placed the insulated pan in the middle. The Walk of Fire, as it was known to Lirha, was a time-honored tradition, and it appeared it was to be the first of their ritual challenges to accomplish. The Drink of Flame would come next, followed by the Rite of Bond. And then the festivities could begin.

"Mistress Saalm and Mistress Hex. You desire to join your houses in the eternal bond of love, wealth, and prosperity," began the High Mistress in a rather ancient High Orion dialect that even Lirha had trouble deciphering. "Are you prepared to honor the Thousand Gods and perform the passage of Thakolarivaj?"

"I am, High Mistress," replied Lirha with a respectful bow.

Wiggling close to Siren, Nesh leaned over to whisper a word-for-word translation in her ear, following it up with a quiet, "I don't know what you were informed about or not... but it's probably gonna hurt a little."

Siren gave a small smile of both gratitude and reassurance to Nesh, nodding before bowing to the master of ceremonies. "I am, High Mistress," she repeated what Lirha had responded phonetically to try and respect her with her own language, even if it would be clearly accented and not perfect.

"Then let us begin," affirmed the High Mistress who then motioned to the grate over the fire pit which was filled with simmering coals. "The Walk of Fire is now your destiny. You may start."

Lirha looked over at what would no doubt be one of the most painful experiences she'd ever endure. The Walk of Fire required each bride to stand on opposite sides of the pit then walk over the grate until they stood together in the middle with their feet in the pan of water. The two Orion female servants stood nearby with dermal regenerators in their hands, ready to heal the seared flesh of the soles of their feet once they made it to the center and then back to the sand. As terrifying as the thought might have been for those unfamiliar with Orion customs, it was actually quite a practical challenge. If a couple loved each other and were devoted enough, then walking over fire to unite would be a rather simple task.

Taking a deep breath and giving Siren's hand a final squeeze of support, Lirha walked over to the far side of the pit and stood next to the grate. She kicked off her jeweled sandals until she was barefoot in the sand, and instantly she could feel the extreme heat of the coals on her toes. She briefly estimated it would take about six steps to reach the center of the pit, and squeezed her fists tight at her side in preparation for the pain.

Siren watched her, and despite the same trepidation of the pain, she seemed oddly calm about it. She even smiled to her, a glint in her eyes. Growing up on Nyx in the gang culture, there was a long tradition of initiations, rituals and rites they had to endure to prove themselves. Pain passed, it was just a moment. She'd learnt that back then. Instead, adrenaline washed through her and she delicately lifted the skirt of the dress to step up and take the walk.

Clenching her teeth tightly, Lirha set out on her painful voyage to the center of the pit. Her first step wasn't as bad as she'd imagined, mostly due to the second or so it took for the nerve endings in her feet to transmit the agony up to her brain, but the second, third, and fourth steps soon became excruciating. Her sharp nails dug into the palms of her hands and pierced the skin, and she silently screamed every obscenity she could think of inside of her head. The final two steps were a struggle and she tried to move as quickly as possible, but everything seemed to be in slow motion. Finally, after what had seemed like an eternity, she stood in the water pan and listened to the sizzle as the liquid cooled her smoldering soles.

Siren's jaw clamped shut with the agony, but she watched Lirha through it, not only for motivation, but she also physically matched each step with hers. It oddly helped in counting them down and seeing the end in sight. She forced herself to keep breathing, concentrating on the long, slow, deep breaths, accepting it as a brief pain that would be gone soon enough for better things. It was almost a mantra in her head. By the time she was stood in the water, she was shaking with both pain and adrenaline, but she reached out with her free hand, gripping Lirha's tightly to try and steady both of them in the aftermath, breathing hard through parted, dry lips. "Got you..."

Lirha blinked tears of pain from her eyes and forced a weak smile on her lips when she looked up to Siren. "That was not so bad..." she said in a shaky voice before leaning up to give her wife the customary Kiss Over the Fire.

Siren kissed her deeply, her breath shaking against her lips with the pain and rush of it. "Nothing for my warrior," she whispered with a soft chuckle, stroking her face and hair soothingly.

"Now we must return on opposite paths," said Lirha who rubbed Siren's bare back affectionately before stepping past her and taking her place, ready to traverse the coals once again. It would hopefully not be as bad this time considering their feet were soaking in water which would insulate the flesh for a few steps before it evaporated under the heat.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CDRE Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

Cadet SO Wintrow Paragon
Support Craft Pilot
USS Galileo
[PNPC T'Vanna]

Cadet FO Nesh Saalm
Scientist's Mate
USS Galileo
[PNPC Kita]

PO1 Siren Hex Saalm
Intelligence
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

LT JG Dorian West
Counsellor
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

LCmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

LT JG Aria Rice
Security
USS Galileo
[PNPC Devin]

Aila Saalm
Mother & Civilian
[PNPC Blake]

CMCPO Markum Quinn
Chief of the Boat
USS Galileo

 

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