Bringing Down The House: Part 2

Posted on Tue Dec 19th, 2023 @ 1:42am by Lieutenant Michael Amato & Ensign Carter Page & Ensign Tobias "Toby" Dienstag & Ensign Erahlik Ezazzan

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Mission 5: The Price of Paradise
Location: Deck 5: Dr. Amato's Quarters
Timeline: M5 MD06 (2268.07.29) 1845

As he moved inside, Erahlik kindly moved to one part as he observed the quarters. Quiet fell for a few moments as it slowly became an awkward thing. Erahlik realized he would have to bridge the gap, and soon. He cleared his throat as he looked at Michael.

"Lieu- ... erm ... Doctor Amato, these are your quarters, yes?" the Gorn inquired. He gazed around appraisingly. "They are ... quite suitable and comfortable. I thank you, and all of you, for inviting me for this meet and greet. It has been quite difficult associating with other crewmembers since my arrival. I was just recently made aware of the events of Cestus Three. I understand some of the expressions I have received, but my Clan left the Hegemony long before that event and we are not Gorn associated with such brutality. I hope my presence here is an assurance of that."

Straight to the point and blunt. He believed that by expressing his thoughts openly, his concerns, they could be discussed and possibly deliberated past. He gave all three crewman a glance as he awaited a reply. The music was not at all unpleasant now and the aroma's, as foreign as they were, were slowly growing on the Gorn. He registered this by a tongue-flick, this time one with a longer and more casual duration as he sampled the intricate nature of the aromas and ... unsurprisingly ... attempted to gauge the emotions of those around him.

"They are," Mike responded, "And thank you. I'm lucky enough to have my own being a doctor, so I'm the one who usually hosts the parties as it were." He chuckled, "It's hard to fit everyone into the junior officer half a shoebox."

Toby chuckled, "It's comfortable enough," he retorted, playfully.

"Well, most Starfleet officers... Most humans in fact have the natural instinct to be uncomfortable around the unknown, at least at first," Mike explained, "Although our natural curiosity tends to take over... In regards to Cestus III, it was unfortunate, yes, but that's the life on the frontier."

"Little callous there Mike," Carter chided.

"Well, it is," Mike said, "Look what we face every day."

"But they were civilians," Toby countered.

"Oh here we go..." Mike responded, "Squabbling in front of Mr. Erahlik..." He shrugged it off, "Regardless there's nothing to be done and you weren't responsible for it. Some mild good came of it, the Federation has managed to open a dialogue with the Hegemony, something impossible before... From what I understand, Captain Kirk allowed the Gorn to leave in peace after the encounter... No real details though, most of it is classified apparently."

Erahlik observed the back and forth and inwardly cringed at the rebuke from Carter and Toby. He didn't remark, however, and instead listened to Michael as he explained his position. Afterward, he replied.

"Clan Ezazzan has kept quiet on their knowledge of the affair, if they know anything at all," offered the Gorn. "My Clan, my Father, was always a proponent of peaceful coexistence. I recall one summers evening on Skoleos how he mourned the loss of the connection to the Hegemony. How brutal they were and how they couldn't move on. I wondered after my discovery of the information on Cestus why my Father - or anyone from Clan Ezazzan - hadn't informed me originally. I deciphered finally that they wanted to protect me, to have me focused on my objective of representing the Clan in earnest."

A soft silence as he blinked, looking down briefly before back up to Michael and the others.

"I am glad the actions of those we separated from are not greatly impacting my attempts of goodwill," Erahlik said after the silence, and a few thoughts and memories. "This meeting here is ... refreshing and ... very warm for me. To that end, I believe the objective here is to 'mingle', as it were. Associate. Shall we discuss with one another things to best approach this objective?"

It was very clear the Gorn did not, in any capacity, understand the simple idea of "mingling". He was pretending to and quite literally - quite possibly - failing at it. Part of him wanted nothing to do with it. His honor, however, obligated him. His speech was somewhat forced, difficult, yet he maintained a positive and - to him - approachable demeanour as he spoke. He only hoped his internal reservations did not ruin his attempts at goodwill.

"Ah sure," Toby interjected. Having spent a great deal of time with Dora, the Edosian science officer, he was quite accustomed to trying to help Starfleet officers of other races understand human customs. "It can also be called small talk, meaning talking about small or mundane things, so nothing too heavy... Or frankly important... Yeah, objectively it could be called a waste of time, but the point is the company and getting to know people than it is what is actually said."

"I'm sure you'll find that eventually you won't remember what's said, or what was discussed," Mike commented, "That is usually what happens anyway..."

"Especially if the Captain is hosting the party," Toby finished with a chuckle.

The Gorn nodded to the explanation, coming to some understanding of the purpose of "small talk" and "mingling". He showed his appreciation by nodding his head fully to Michael and Toby, a show of respect for his kind as his snout touched briefly his chest. It was an informal bow, but one designed to show trust - for a predator species, that is.

When Toby expressed his chuckle, the Gorn felt the need to try to emulate it. He smiled. Forgetting himself, his smile exposed his razor sharp teeth. His chuckle - or impression thereof - was not in any capacity normal. It sounded like dry heaves from a very scratchy throat.

"That is amusing to think on," Erahlik admitted. "The Captain, the Leader, unable to provide adequate entertainment. I see the comedy there."

 

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