When Vulcans meet

Posted on Wed Aug 21st, 2024 @ 9:02pm by Sub-Lieutenant T'Hala & Lieutenant Darru

Mission: Remnant
Location: Science Lab 2
Timeline: Day 390
1961 words - 3.9 OF Standard Post Measure

It was somewhat surreal to walk through the corridors of Atlantis and to pass crew members that she knew, but none looked at her with a familiarity that was borne from service together. T’Hala was an outsider here, in a number of different aspects. Her alter-self never came aboard the vessel in this reality. Although one thing hadn’t changed. She was still an alien amongst the majority human crew…now with an Andorian doctor of all things. She was being challenged by her preconceptions.

Commander Jamesson’s question regarding berthing at least gave T’Hala a next step in navigating her new…life? Vulcan or not, she was somewhat…compromised by all of this. It would take time and intensive meditation to reconcile what had occurred and the difficulties they were now faced with.
However, that was a later problem. T’Hala hit the button on the side of the lab door and stepped through once it opened. Inside the science lab stood a tall male, with bronzed skin the color of the sands after a rare rainfall, and elegantly pointed ears. It was irrational to be certain, but to see another Vulcan was somewhat…comforting.

”Greetings.” T’Hala said in Vulkhansu. ”I am Sub-Lieutenant T’Hala. You are…Lieutenant Darru? Commander Jamesson has informed I should seek you out regarding berthing.”

The man turned as he heard a female voice speaking to him in Vulkhansu and automatically started answering believing it was the Captain before he realised it was not. “I am Darru. Welcome back Sub-Lieutenant T’Hala but I am not sure why I would be sought out for berthing but I do know where you quarters are.” Darru admitted taking in the woman in front of him for the first time. He had purposely avoided thinking on her or visiting her whilst she was struggling to regain consciousness.

"Oh. My apologies. Did you not inform Commander Jamesson that you had...prepared quarters for me?" T'Hala felt like she was trapped in steadily rising quick sand. She regained consciousness only to fumble around haphazardly, and now here she stood facing the only other Vulcan on board experiencing a sense of self-consciousness so acute she had to focus on maintaining her carefully cultivated exterior of calm. A confident first impression this was not.

Darru was still not sure where the confusion had come from as that did not sound like Commander Jamesson but he was not going to judge. Confusion happened when crew shifts or changes occurred. "I prepared them to be more adequate for a Vulcan as they were firmly set up for one of our Human Colleagues but I am not the Quartermaster." He said putting down the scanner he had been fiddling with as he transferred data from it to the console to make it easier to work with.

"I did not mean to imply that I considered you the quartermaster, Lieutenant. Commander Jamesson recommended I speak with you rather than the quartermaster. I was not provided with rationale why this was preferable. Regardless, You have my thanks for your consideration of my needs." Her eyes darted away from his face to focus on something nearby. It spoke of considerable discomfort that she looked away from his face. "I ask forgiveness. My logic is normally sufficient. Would you please show me to my quarters, or if I have disturbed you during important duties, tell me the location? I am, or was, familiar with the schematics of Atlantis' layout. I should be able to locate it on my own, but..." Her voice trailed off and she forced her gaze back to Darru. "It is agreeable to meet you."

The man surveyed her for a long moment before he nodded. "I will show you, Sub Lieutenant," He was not going to let the woman wander the ship alone when she had only been awake several days. It would not be logical in the slightest to him. "The commander would have done what is logical for him which as I have spent time there that was it."

She dipped her head in a non-verbal gesture of assent. She felt relief in knowing that he would understand her small gestures. The humans often had been mystified by the tiny micro-expressions of silent communication she unconsciously utilized, but she did not fault them for that. They too, made gestures, and sub-vocalizations, and employed what she learned they called 'figures of speech,' to convey various concepts that were utterly foreign to her.

"An interesting posit. I too have found the humans have consistently displayed their own particular 'Logic.'" T'Hala responded. She would have said more, but she was uncertain of Darru's sentiments regarding the round-eared aliens and did not want to cause offense. She wanted to ask more, but every question that came to mind was of a personal nature, and such inquiries were generally considered impolite to the Vulcan sense of privacy. Her mouth opened and shut a couple of times as she warred with her curiosity. "I am from Ra'al." She said suddenly, her desire to make a connection override her good sense.

"They display a lot of things that are particular their own version of things." The man said sounding fond for a moment before he rose from the chair setting about packing away the area of the lab that he had been using so that the space could be used by another when they had such limited areas to work in. "ShiKahr." He answered assuming that her offering where she had come from was a way to connect.

"Ah." It was unusual for a Vulcan to use a sub-vocal oscillation to convey understanding, but the scenario she found herself in was far from usual. She did not desire the conversation to end, but it was not the Vulcan way to simply ask personal questions. Privacy was paramount - and the last thing she wanted to do was the alienate herself from the only other Vulcan aboard. She returned back to Darru's answer. So they did not have geographical location as common denominator. "I relocated to ShiKahr to attend the Science Academy. I found it to be...hot." What are you doing? She silently thought, looking down to the ground to continue to chastise herself on the rather un-Vulcan-like attempt at 'banter.'

"It was." Darru agreed with a quirk of an eyebrow at her wanting to continue the conversation then looking aways he closed the station down and indicated that they could leave. "But Vulcan is much hotter than how our human or Andorian keep the ship." He explained as he walked along the corridor keeping a slower pace to allow her to keep up.

"Yes." T'Hala readily agreed as she followed Darru out of the lab like some kind of juvenile sehlat. She really needed to meditate; it was unlike her to wax poetic. "My old uniforms were more suited for such a temperature difference. This jumpsuit, however..." Silently sighing, T'Hala realized she sounded like she was complaining - which all things considered, she was. "My apologies. I have awoken to everything changed. My memories surrounding our transposition so far outside of known space are not accessible. I have yet to adequately reconcile...all of the changes."

Darru inclined his head at the uniform that she wore and pursed his lips. “The uniforms are not designed for us but I find if you wear MACO t-shirt and shorts underneath it helps the situation.” He advised. “If you speak to Warrant Officer Voznyuk she will help you.” Darru had no doubt the human would be the best person to help the other woman get better clothing to assist with temperature. “That is understandable in the current circumstance that you have faced in the other universe. Smith defied everything that we know about the universe as a species so that is a very logical approach to protect your psyche.” The man said hoping it would elevate her worries about the changed universe.

"Your observation is noted...and I will seek her out." There was much to meditate on, but perhaps...perhaps he was correct? Vulcan minds had the capability to excise trauma in order to protect one's mind...and enduring whatever Smith had done--along with the loss of every single bond--the cause was surely sufficient. Thoughts again turned inwards, and T'Hala lapsed into silence.

Darru nodded. He stayed silent as they continued there journey down to Deck D. He stopped at a door and glanced around before he indicated the door and pressed the control and then pulled the door open to allow her to enter first as it was her space.

T'Hala stepped inside what was her new domicile after Darru gestured to her. It was different than her previous berthing, set on a different deck along with the reverse layout, but there was a sense of familiarity about it. "Is there anything in particular you would care to point out, Lieutenant?"

"I believe it would be best for you to look for yourself and ask questions if you have anything." The man said stepping inside to close the door but he did not move any closer into the room but stayed there. This was her space despite him setting it up. "I will stay here to assist if you need anything moved."

T'Hala carefully studied the space. A serviceable floor pillow, stitched from what appeared to be discarded jumpsuit fabric. A small container constructed of engineering parts...a makeshift meditation lamp...and the warmth, blessed warmth. The ambient warmth of the room was set far higher than the common areas of the ship.

"Sanu — nar’voh neruk klem t’nash-veh." (Please accept my humble gratitude.)

She spoke a most formal 'thanks' to Darru - it was a rarely spoken version of expressing gratitude that she had never felt necessary to give to another person, but he had given her the tools to recreate peace within her mind where chaos now ruled. His consideration of her needs as a Vulcan was appreciated.

The man said nothing in response but nodded firmly. "I am assuming it is adequate?" He said in Vulcan back confirming that was her way of saying thank you. It had been a look like since he had spoken so often in Vulcan and he found his tongue rolling the wrong way in speaking thanks to do using it that way.

"It is most adequate, Lieutenant Darru." She responded, turning her attention from the space back to Darru. "Your consideration of my needs has been noted." T'Hala paused briefly in consideration, then continued, "I do not desire to keep you from any duties - but it agreeable to meet you." There was much more she wanted to say - but it could wait.

"It was agreeable for me as well." The man decided would be the best approach. "I will see you when you are feeling well you know where I work and my quarters are on the same deck so you if you need to find me." He said as a final comment before he opened the door and left.

T'Hala said nothing in return as he turned to leave. She did not even breathe until the door hissed shut behind him, but once he was gone she did inhale deeply. His scent was not overt, nor disagreeable...just different. As just about everything was now 'different,' it seemed fitting. Looking back to the small, yet agreeable space Darru had arranged for her, T'Hala quickly decided now was a more than acceptable time to begin her meditations. There was much to review since waking up.