Recovery Drinks

Posted on Sun Jan 14th, 2024 @ 12:06am by

3,832 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: Mission Zeta: An Eerie Evening
Location: 10-Forward Lounge
Timeline: MD Holiday, After Festivus

"I feel like I should apologize for what happened back there," Zeke said to Fee as they walked into the lounge. "If I had any idea she was upset about it, I wouldn't have even brought it up. We've hung out at least half a dozen times since then, and I really thought it was ancient history by now."

Fee smiled lightly.

"It's alright, no apology is needed," she said. "Sometimes people melt down, particularly with stress and strong personalities at play," she said. "It was bound to happen eventually, I am just glad it didn't happen in a more public place, like the Lounge or Mess Hall," she said. "I think I should call a few folks in for a chat," she noted. She looked around. "Do you want a table? Or at the bar?" She asked. "I have a sitter until 2300, so I don't need to rush," she said.

"A table might be more comfortable, but if you have a preference, I don't have strong opinions on that particular question," Zeke responded a playful lilt to his voice.

Fee shook her head. "Same," she said. She led them to a booth near the middle-not in the back where people might talk, but not at the front so they wouldn't be spotted by loud mouthed types.

"What DID happen, anyway? What is the big beef, I mean?" She asked.

"With me and Annika? I hope it's nothing personal. I felt like I stayed out of her way anyway, but after Lieutenant Elliot got hurt she started talking about figuring out who did it on her own. I don't really know the details, other than she was shutting her colleagues out enough that command was worried she was going to try to pull a stunt like take a shuttle down to Campor by herself - without permission," Zeke explained.

"Anyway, security had orders to keep tabs so whoever was on shift could just go with her, rather than making a thing of having the bridge crew have to tractor beam her back in. I was the lucky winner who got to tag along." Zeke shrugged. "I told her I wouldn't interfere, and I didn't, but she was meeting a complete stranger at night in a shipyard. Not anything anyone should do alone, much less someone who graduated less than six months ago with a nursing degree."

He looked over at Fee. "She's seemed fine since though. We've seemed fine since. I don't like that I upset her, but I'm more worried that from what she said back there, she seems like she still thinks she should have been allowed to go alone."

Feeva nodded. "I see. That could be very dangerous," she said. "I will talk to her separately; that kind of thing could be a little damaging to ones' psyche," she said. "No one has informed me-I heard about Elliott, but, of course, I can't force anyone to see me, though it'd probably help," she said. "I doubt it was a personal thing-she is just probably tired of being monitored. Sometimes, it is best to let the youngsters do as they might. That's how they learn what is acceptable and what is not, and that we have rules and regulations for a REASON," she said. She looked around. "Drinks?" She asked.

Zeke caught the attention of one of the servers and raised his hand slightly, "We'll have a glass of Cabernet and ... " Zeke turned to Fee to let her give her order.

Fee smiled. "Oh, uh...do you happen to have any Vissian Cuttleberry wine? No? A white wine spritzer, please," she said. "And some water!" she asked. She had to be careful, she didn't hold her liquor well.

After they ordered and the server left, Zeke smiled at Feeva. "Have you and your daughter settled in well? Starfleet life can be a little strange when you're assigned to a new ship."

Feeva smiled lightly. "We are," she said. "More than that-ship life is different from Starbase life. We came here from SB17, over in the Beta Quadrant. I wanted DS9 but my direct department head thought that Ship life might help us adjust better," she said. "It's smaller, and slower, and the same faces every day. It gives her and I both a sense of routine," she said. "She struggled at first-the first week was the worst-she didn't sleep AT ALL. Now that she's become friends with some of the other children, she's doing better," Feeva said. She realized she'd been talking for a while. "What is Trill like? I've never been there," she said.

"Interesting perspective, on the Starship versus a Starbase. I wouldn't have thought of it that way. I'm glad you're both doing well," Zeke responded.

A server returned with their drinks. Zeke looked up and thanked him.

"As for Trill, it's not unlike Earth. We do less to moderate the climate, and let the natural weather systems play out other than dissipating the occasional storm that would have been destructive," Zeke said. "In a way I sort of prefer it to the "perfection" that they've created on Earth, if that makes any sense."

"And how would you describe Vissia?" he asked.

Feeva nodded. "I agree-I've been to Earth, and it's nice, but I do like seasons. We don't have climate control on Vissia-while we're warp capable, we're also not a member of the Federation-we remain neutral. We don't want to bother anyone, and don't want anyone to bother us," she said. "But I love it. My father owns a small farm and a mechanic's shop. I am trying to convince him to move here, with us, so I can help him and he can help care for Leena," she said. "He's getting older, and I worry about his health. He's only done manual labor his whole life," she said. "Otherwise, Vissia is indistinguishable from most planets-we have seasons, and regions that are grassy, icy, hot, etc." She smiled lightly at the memories. "What does your family do?" She asked. Awkward, but it was the first thing her brain came up with. She was rusty.

"Oh, no family business," Zeke responded modestly. Trill society still operated under a system where several larger families tended hold more influence than others. He thought that was what she meant, and he didn't want to mislead her into thinking he was someone he was not.

"They aren't connected to the government or one of the major industries. I grew up in a small town. My dad is a doctor, my mom is an engineer - she helps maintain power grids. My sister lives not far from them, a slightly larger town - she teaches physics at a preparatory school." Zeke took a drink of wine. "I take it you are an only child? Being worried about your father the way you are?"

Feeva nodded. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry; just..it's been a while since I've had a drink with someone...and it's the only thing I could think of," she chuckled. "Anyway, that sounds lovely. A big family! Yes, I am an only child. My mother...left when I was a baby. The stress of a child was a lot for her, I think. It was just the two of us until I left for the Academy, and, for whatever reasons, he's not remarried or anything," she explained. Vissia was more progressive in that way-relationships weren't necessarily sexual, but you could marry often and no one thought much of it.

Zeke smiled, "You didn't pry at all. It's just that - well I thought you meant... Trill a world that is still somewhat controlled by wealth and connections to particular families. Those families are usually tied to an industry. It was the way you phrased your question, I was trying to clarify for you that we weren't from one of those families." Zeke laughed at himself, slightly embarrassed. "But I don't know that many in the Federation even know that, so I don't know why I would assume that's what you were asking about."

Zeke shook his head dismissing the miscommunication. "That's unfortunate about your mother. Do you know anything about her now?"

Feeva nodded at his explanation. "Ah, so. I understand how that might've been your first assumption," she said. "I am glad to know, then, that about your culture," she said. "It is interesting to see how different races' planets work. For example, Vissia is also a class/caste system, but, unfortunately, everyone is "better" than the Progenitors," she said. "Which is so stupid, because without them, we wouldn't exist," she said. "So really, they should be honored." She paused a moment to cool down-she had a lot of opinions about her home planet's treatment of such an important part of their culture, but she couldn't do anything about it. "And thanks. Last I heard, she had joined up with some kind of new age-y religious cult, kind of akin to the Magna Romas, I suppose, and was living on Earth. That was when I was about eighteen, so only the Gods know," she said. "I just hope she's well." Feeva had mixed feelings about her mother. "I don't necessarily blame her...it's difficult to have a family when you have to have three people involved, and the Progenitors are required to decline someone who may be unfit. She was...mental illness, I think, and so...I think she just decided that if she couldn't do things her way, it was best for my wellbeing. I think she was right-my father wasn't perfect, but I never doubted that he loved me and could care for me," she said. She really needed to stop drinking on an empty-ish stomach. She needed to stop talking so much.

"And the progenitors, they don't have families then? Wouldn't have a connection with the children I mean?" Zeke asked.

Feeva shook her head. “Unfortunately, no. They are not allowed to have families of their own. And it’s generally frowned upon to have one of the progenitors involved with the child,” she said. “It’s one of the reasons that Eoin and I went to a specialist… he’s working on a method that will permit me, and others, like the Andorians, to procreate without requiring a third or fourth party,” she said. “He’s former StarFleet, on Earth now.”

"What was your husband like?" Zeke asked. "I mean if you feel like talking about him."

She smiled. "It's ok. He was...lovely. He was an Engineer," she said. "I thought he was brilliant, of course." She sighed. "He was actually originally dating my friend Elly," she said. "We didn't actually get together until our first posting. We served together on the Hyperion," she said. "Elly went off to do her own thing-she was more interested in the Shipyards. She was also an Engineer," she said. "He was a fantastic father. Very attentive. He was a very good employee, too. His file is thick," she said. "Everyone loved him. I miss him every day but I also recognize that he wouldn't want me to pine away my life, you know? It's been a year-a year and half-now, and I think he'd be OK with me starting to live a little now." She wasn't really sure who she was trying to convince at this point.

"Well, love for someone isn't something that ever goes away is it?" Zeke asked as he sat back in his chair and thought about what Feeva was sharing with him. "I suppose you have to find a way to keep that love alive without pining away as you call it." Zeke took another drink. "Grief is complicated though. There's a human proverb about how the measure of our grief is a measure of how much we loved someone. I've always liked that. There isn't a similar saying on Trill, the rules of the Symbiosis Commission govern society's thoughts on that a little too much in my opinion."

She smiled. "That's nice, I like that," she said. "And yes...my training-and my experience-has taught me that I will always love Eoin but there's room for more," she said. "More than that, Leena needs me to model healthy relationships and recovery from grief. That's, of course, my first priority." She stopped speaking to sip her drink. "How does the commission work? Is it a lottery system, or??" She'd always wondered.

"It's quite competitive actually," Zeke explained. "For every 5,000 applicants there are only around 500 symbiotes available. People who want to become a host work very hard from a young age to be considered."

She nodded. "Interesting," she said. "Is there like...a training program? Are the non-joined Trills still considered part of society, unlike the Progenitors?" She had SO many questions. "I realize I could probably find all this out in the library, so if you don't feel like talking about it, please say so. I just...don't get a lot of adult conversation so. I sometimes ask a lot of questions so I don't have to tell you about my favorite holo-cartoons," she said, a slight exasperation to her voice.

"No, it's alright. Most Trill aren't joined. I'd hesitate to guess on the population, but most of the people that I grew up with, my family and friends weren't interested in taking one. I had always heard it changes you - can alienate you from who you were before. Yet, you aren't permitted to consort with people from the symbiote's past either," Zeke explained.

Zeke smiled nervously as he rubbed his left eyebrow with his middle fingers briefly before speaking again. "Well they always say that. But, I uh got a chance to experience it for myself. My ex was paired, and, well it was just not going to work after that." Zeke looked across the table into Feeva's eyes and smiled. "But that's in the past."

She nodded quietly. "I see...that is an interesting idea. A little creepy, kind of, but...I could sort of understand how or why you aren't permitted to see someone from the symbiote's past...that could be messy," she said. "I am sorry that it didn't go well. I could also see how becoming joined could affect current relationships-with another person, or even more-in your head all the time, it would be difficult to separate them, I suppose," she said, stumbling over her words, but hoping that she was making sense. What she meant to say that she hoped that people could separate their soul from the symbiote's.

"I don't know that anyone who hasn't experienced it really understands it," Zeke said with a shrug. "I can just say that I saw someone's personality change in a flash. And it's not an uncommon story really."

"So tell me more about your daughter. What does she like to do? What did you say her name was again?" Zeke asked, looking to change to a more pleasant topic.

She nodded. "I imagine that that is the case. I haven't actually had to counsel anyone yet who was joined or in a relationship with a Joined Trill. Only unjoined folks," she said. She brightened a bit when he brought up Leena. "Leena," she said. "Well, she's four-she'll be five soon-and so she likes dolls, pink things, and holo-cartoons," she said. "It's difficult, sometimes, to learn how to spread my time out. With another person, it's easier...we worked opposite shifts so there was always someone available for her. Now it's just me, so I rely on sitters far more than I'd like," she said. "Now that she's old enough to attend school, it IS easier. She's made a few friends-Commander Razka's daughter, and also the Turner children," she said. "I try to find a balance between entertainment and enrichment in our activities-for example, tomorrow, the Astrometrics person is letting us see the Andromeda Galaxy, where Vissia is, and I plan to teach her about our moon and nearby planets," she said. "Sort of like a planetarium show, I guess," she said.

"That's great of the science officers to do that," Zeke said smiling. "I know the ship is large, but I imagine it can feel stuffy at times. Especially when we're stuck in orbit on a place like this where you really wouldn't want to take children off the ship at all."

"Pink though? Interesting color choice. I wonder why human children like it so much. Is it the same for Vissian children? On Trill young children all seem to gravitate toward yellow until the age of 5 or 6, then they start to individualize their preferences more."

"Really? I am not sure; I think it's probably just how she was raised. Perhaps? Eoin's family gave us a lot of pink things when we were expecting," she said. "Oddly gendered," she said. "As I said, I was raised pretty poor, so I didn't get to choose. I wore a lot of neutrals because my parents could dress it up or down if we had to for some reason," she said. "Do you have a favorite color? I like blue," she said.

Zeke laughed softly. "I don't think anyone has asked me that since I was young," he thought out loud. "I think I like green, the color of the grass on Trill. In the countrysides with rolling hills, it can be beautiful."

She smiled. "That's nice," she said. "Green. It's a pretty color," she said. "So. Did you grow up always wanting to join StarFleet?" She finished her drink then.

"No, that was something that didn't come to me until later in high school. To be honest, I was young, and thought - no I was in love. And it seemed as good of a career as any so I followed Kamin to the Fleet," he admitted. "Whatever the reason, I am glad I'm here now. I love my job, being a part of Starfleet. What about you?"

She smiled a little. "I did, yes. I recognized it as a way to affect change," she said. "If I can't change things at home and give a justice to the Progenitors, maybe I can at least help others," she said. "And the Fleet was the best way to do that for me." She explained. "Plus, it was a way out. I wouldn't have been able to see the Universe without it. I would just be a housewife," she did.

"That's what's expected of women on your planet?" Zeke asked his eyebrows furrowing. He did not realize that Vissia had societal roles so restricted by gender.

"No, but it's what my boyfriend at the time expected," she said. "His family came from a wealthier family, and worked for the government. I would've been well taken care of, but that's not where my passion is," she said. "Don't get me wrong, I love being a mother, but I am not sure I could be tethered to something like that forever, you know? I've always known there was more out here than just our simple lives on Vissia," she said. "And I want to see it all." She said. "Plus, as I said...I can help more people this way. On Vissia, we are kind of full for Counselors and health care workers. There's a lot of competition," she explained. "We do value holistic health along side physical health, and that includes a healthy mental mindset. We believe it's how society functions best," she said.

"Starfleet was a good choice then. They also invest in their officers' and their families' wellness. We're fortunate to have you," Zeke said raising his glass slightly in a friendly toast.

Feeva smiled, but blushed a bit. "Thank you," she raised her mostly-empty glass to give his a "clink." "To new friends?" she asked. "Do you want another? Did you eat enough?" OH great, now she REALLY sounded like a mom. "Sorry!! You're a big boy, you can help yourself," she said, setting the glass down after finishing it off. "Maybe you could walk me back to my quarters, though." She said. "The room gets spinny and stuff if I drink too much, and for me, that's not a lot," she said. "I've always been a lightweight."

"Of course, I'd be happy to," Zeke answered. "Are we ready now?" he asked. "You could have said something. There's no shame in ordering synthahol. Or lemonade," he added with a playful wink.

Feeva laughed. "The one should be ok," she said. "We just didn't eat much, but I feel fine," she said. "But yes, I am not much of a drinker. I don't know if it's just bad luck, or genetics or what, but I've never been able to hold my drink," she said, as they walked along. "Usually, for a second drink. I WILL have a lemonade or some tea or something," she said. "I am Deck 8, 206," she said.

"Deck 8 it is then," Zeke said as he walked with her to the turbolift. As they walked he turned his head slightly toward her. "I really enjoyed getting to know a little about you tonight. I'd be up for hanging out again sometime if you are interested."

They stepped onto the turbolift. "Deck 8," Zeke announced.

They rode in silence for a moment. "Thank you. I would like that, too," she said, after she collected herself. "Just let me know a bit in advance when you're free so I can find someone to care for Leena," she said.

Zeke turned and looked at Feeva. "Next week? Sunday maybe. If you don't already have plans."

Feeva nodded. "That would work," she said. "I don't usually make plans on the weekend to spend time with Leena," she said. "But now that I know, I can ask someone to watch her." She smiled.

The turbolift doors opened and Zeke walked her down the corridor to her quarters. "I'll let you pick the time then. So you can plan around Leena. It's my day off so other than... basketball practice in the morning, I'm pretty flexible." Zeke stopped in front of her quarters. "Room 206. Here we are."

Zeke took a step away so that he wasn't blocking the doorway. "I had a wonderful time with you, Feeva," he said looking into her eyes discerningly. "Has anyone ever told you that you're like a breath of fresh air?"

Feeva looked up at Zeke, accidentally through her eyelashes. Hopefully he wouldn't take it as flirting-she had just been momentarily distracted, entering her code. "I had a good time, too," she said. "And no, no one ever has," she said. She stood up to her full height and then leaned in. A hug was ok, right?!

Zeke matched her lean, and embraced her in a casual hug. "Well you are. I look forward to hearing from you about next week," he said, taking a half a step back from the door to watch her get inside safely.

RSS Feed