The Gift

Posted on Thu Dec 28th, 2017 @ 11:38pm by Master Warrant Officer Tsabina & Captain Remas McDonald

2,017 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: S1:2: Rubicon
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: MD 6; 2300

Tsabina had dedicated her life to helping others. Ever since the catastrophic events that had rocked her homeworld of Risa, she knew that nothing would ever be as meaningful or satisfying as being the difference between life and death for another person. Flirty as she was, Tsabina always put her career before personal interests. She found that her late call to the captain was no different, from a certain point of view.

When she finally made it to the captain's quarters, the quiet hum of her nerves had distilled into a resolute determination. The gift wrapped in burlap between her hands felt almost weightless as she chimed at the door.

The door sighed open to reveal Remas standing there, the uniform coat of his station removed so the red undershirt stood out prominently. For just a moment his eyes focused on Tsabina, before recollection caught hold.

"Master Warrant Officer Tsabina," he said with a slight bow of his head.

"Good evening, Captain," Tsabina said, brushing past the man as she spoke. "May I come in? There is a concern that I must speak to you about."

Remas nodded, took a step back and gestured into the room. Given the Traveller's mission, all of the crew berths were spacious, but the captains quarters didn't' seem especially larger or more flamboyant than any other stateroom. Collector's items from the golden age of space flight for a half dozen species littered the wall, including a clunky almost fish bow style helmet caked in peach coloured dirt.

"Odd time of the night to be making a house call," Remas commented as he waved the door closed behind her.

Tsabina's eyes flew about the room, taking in the man's family heirlooms adorned on the walls, before turning back to Remas himself.

"It's an auspicious time for us all," she said, "but no less perilous for it. I am concerned that given the unfortunate events surrounding the launch, as well as whatever tragedy may come, could leave you in a sorry, doubtful state." Her voice lowered as she looked him deep in the eye. "And so I offer a gift."

She held up her hands to present the cloth. Her long, nimble fingers unwrapped it gingerly with care to reveal a horga'hn. "Do you know what this is, Captain?"

"I do."

The voice came from the bedchamber and a sleepy dressing gown-clad Zado Kasmir stepped forth. She walked over to the other woman, eyes lowered to the Risan fertility symbol with a smile.

"It's a Risan fertility symbol," she said with a nod. "Though if it has any other significance I'm sorry to say I don't know it. Social anthropology was never a strong suit of mine."

As Zado had entered the conversation Remas had drifted to the replicator. He returned with a tray containing a cup of something dark brown and steaming for Zado, and a pair of brass-rimmed glass cups with a sweet smelling tea.

Tsabina narrowed her eyes in concentration. Bolians were not... biologically compatible with most other humanoids. And yet the Bolian director came striding out of the captain's bedchambers wearing a nightgown.

No, this can't be what it seems, Tsabina thought to herself. If only...

"I had hoped to speak with the captain in private," she said to Zado. "Could you please excuse us?"

"You had hoped to speak with my husband, in private. with a Risian fertility symbol?" Zado said, eyes narrowing as he held the cup under her chin in thought, "I know part of the Long Jump Project concerns the future colonisation of Messier 4, so unless you're here to report the chemical reproductive inhibitors set into the replicators have stopped working...well I'm left with very few options to think about."

Remas settled back against a table, leaning on it as he sipped his own spiced tea. Zado turned to look at Remas, pointing with one finger at Tsabina.

"Is she even your type? The last one had...piercings? A tattoo or some such?"

"I'm more for redheads if truth be told, and she was a joined Trill: Fal. We've been in this situation enough times over the years, I'd have thought my tells would be obvious to you my love," Remas said, gesturing for Tsabina to sit down.

"I'm from a follically challenged species, pardon me for having a blind spot on hair," Zado snorted, sipping her rich hot chocolate. She studied Tsabina with a critical eye. "Discount the hair, she is pretty in a non-Bolian way."

She set the cup down.

"I'd approve if thats where this whole thing was going."

While the two of them bantered back and forth, Tsabina let her eyes jump between them, eyeing each speaker in turn.

"Since you have shown candor, allow me to do the same." She put the horga'hn in Zado's hands. "This is not a symbol of fertility, but sexuality. I have dedicated my life to saving and serving others. What with the casualties suffered during launch and the pressure of the unknown, the thought of Captain MacDonald sleeping alone, with no one to allay his crushing doubts, to strengthen his masculine confidence, well, to do nothing felt unconscionable. The captain's profile said nothing of a spouse..."

She pointed to the fertility idol in Zado's hands. "The horga'hn is offered on Risa as an invitation to greater intimacy--a ritual we call jamaharon, one which alleviates the stressful burdens of life that cannot be ignored."

Turning to Remas, she said, "I apologize for the offense I have brought to your home. Your personal profile said nothing of a spouse. I can see myself out."

"Tsabina..." Remas said, holding up a placating hand. "No offence was levied nor gained, and whilst I am a man of the old school and would have prefered a question to a file search: yes. You are right that Zado Kasmir and I, to the eyes of law-abiding society, are not wedded before the eyes of law."

He reached over, and took the fertility idol from Zado's hands.

"From the beginning," Zado said slowly. "We've known a Human and Bolian pairing would be...difficult. Apart from cultural difference, there is an entire tree of life that evolved separately from one another. We're as biologically incompatible as fish to land."

"Oh we tried."

"Many times," Zado nodded sagely. "But alas biology. At the best medically exceptional, an others...well...sufficed to say we will not be in need of sick bays services again."

"But we are as in love as the day we first met as we are now," Remas said, warmth in his voice. "But, we both knew the body has wants that neither of us could provide."

Tsabina cocked her head to one side as she listened. "Am I to understand that while my invitation to jamaharon was unsolicited, that does not make it..." A sparkle lit up her eyes. "... unwelcomed?"

"Well usually I-"

"-we," Zado cut him off with a koy smile, "like to put all our cards on the table. Not all of our partners enjoyed this arrangement, and some sought exclusivity that could not be had. We also like to get a feel for how our...associates, for lack of a better word in Federation Standard, are as people."

"Well you know I think the world of Tobin, fantastic card player that he is," Remas sniffed.

"Tobin is a hydroponics specialist and Bolian. We three met during the Traveller's outfitting and he see's to my needs," Zado said simply, fingers drumming along her cup. "And her name was 'freckles'."

"No, she had freckles. Her name was Hellen, lovely lass with a brogue to rival my own Rishian tongue. She stayed at Antares Fleet Yard when the Traveller shipped out to Far Far Away," Remas explained, before cocking his head towards Tsabina. "Do you have any questions? I canny imagine you've come across this sort of proposal before?"

Tsabina threw her head back, freeing her hair to cascade against her neck and shoulders. "I am from Risa, my dear captain. There are few proposals that I've never come across."

As she stepped closer, her voice turned sultry, her feet planted one in front of the other in an understated strut. "Attachments won't be a problem. Our arrangement is a simple one. I have something you need, and I offer it freely--for your own good and the good of the ship. It's almost clinical when you think about it."

She stood nose to nose with Remas, her eyes full of promise and an intensity usually reserved for the intensive care unit. "Any time you need me, Remas, do not say a word. Only bring me the horga'hn and--" Tsabina leaned in to his ear, her voice dropped to a whisper, "--then tell Nurse where it hurts."

Leaning back, she put her hands on his arms in a warm, neutral gesture. "Is that about the sum of it?"

"I think ya got the long and short of it," Remas said with a smile and nod. Zado remained silent, but a smile crept up behind the rim of the hot chocolate. "But this eve you will find me in need of such bedside manner as your my dear. Surely we have been tested but here we are, as fine a crew as I could wish. But tomorrow brings new challenges, new desires of the heart."

"We'll sort something out. The nights I spend with Tolbin should be free of awkward situations," Zado offered. "If you get a chance I'd suggest you two meet. Topman in his field, if your field is plant husbandry."

"Just avoid the wicked cards he conjures. I've played against Ferengi, and nor was one as devious and ruthless as our Bolian botanist," Remas muttered good-naturedly, before clapping his hand. "But I have the meeting in four hours with the astrometric's team who want to convince me an extra two months in Dark Space will be of 'untold use to the scientific knowledge base of the Federation'."

Tsabina had her brow arched at their opining of the perfect gentleman she had never met. "Your gentleman caller sounds lovely, as does the astrometrics team." She took a breath and held it for a moment.
"I would like our arrangement to be kept between us, if you please. There are a number of men and women aboard who would argue their need equals your own, and I already get enough attention simply being a Risian."

“A Rishian’s word is his bond,” Remas said solemnly. “I doubt many would have issue with this, but there are enough hard line puritans on the roster to make a go of a arguement. My lady fair and I are well versed in our defense, but we protect those who come to our aid.”

“We are all that we have out here,” Zado added thoughtfully. “It would not be much of a partnership if we did not all ensure the comfort of each other. If you ever have need of counsel or advice, I cannot promise much but a willing ear to listen.”

Tsabina nodded with friendly, noncommital caution. "Thank you."

"I wish you a good night," Remas said, and nodded to the door. "I am sure we will get to know each other much better as time wears on."

"No," Tsabina said with a bemused shake of her head. "We won't. But I will nonetheless see to your well-being." Her eyes flashed downward and then back up to meet his again. A teasing smirk crossed her lips. "Until next time, Captain."

Her parting look to Zado was equally teasing. As she left the awkward situation behind, Tsabina reflected on the situation. It did not go how she had planned, and yet it was exactly how she knew it must be. Few people could be there for Captain MacDonald in the way she could be--not without making it something more.

Tsabina rubbed the Risian bindi on her forehead, hoping that her compulsion to meet the captain's carnal needs would not extend to anyone else.

 

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