Sonak meets the blue

Posted on Tue Oct 9th, 2018 @ 6:04am by Lieutenant Commander Thex sh'Zoarhi & Lieutenant Commander Sonak
Edited on on Thu Oct 11th, 2018 @ 10:16pm

Mission: Hera v Hera
Location: Gym

Having been working on getting the probes ready for the operation Thex now had some free time available. Dressing in the fleet standard issue gym clothes she made her way to the gym. It was rather empty apart from a few people using the treadmills so the andorian walked over to the gym bags and began to use one. She needed to keep her skills sharp especially with the upcoming mission.

Beyond the rows of training apparatus was a circular platform with half of it colored red and the other white. The nearest wall had racks containing a vast array of ancient weaponry replicas, from various swords to polearms of every configuration, from ancient Terran asian blades to modern ambojitsu staves; even a pair of klingon bath'leths and Vulcan lirpas could be seen among the impressive arsenal.

At the moment, there was someone on the vast platform. Wearing a red silky garnment that was vaguely reminescent of a Terran keikogi, it was however short sleeved and the leggings were skintight, with a large golden sash tied on the left side of the tall, lithe, athletic body filling up the suit. the green tinge of the sleek dry skin and the pointed ears, the oiled blue-black hair and the slanted grey eyes and the silvery metal band on one finger left no doubt as to who this was.

Sonak was kneeling, head bowed eyes closed over his joined thumbs and forefingers. His arms seemed to be tied with a long double band of what appeared to be white leather, with all four extremities ending in a metallic ball the size of a fist. But when he stood up, in a slow, deliberate, almost ceremonial manner, he started to do small circles with his hands that suddenly appeared to give the long leatery bands a life of their own. As his movements became wider, so did the twirling of the leather strips, until they were whistling around him in wide and complex arcs envelopping and darting in and out of his body.

The whole exercise looked like a dance. it was rythmic, fluid, graceful; yet, there was speed, power and precision in those moves, making the weighted leather bands look as living snakes swaying, striking and moving in obviously threatening movements. The martial allure of the solitary routine became all the more evident when he stopped, letting the whole thing wrap around his arms and hands and then spoke in a deep yet toneless voice.

"Computer: Kali-fee 9."

On the opposite side of the platform appeared the obviously holographic form of another Vulcan. This one was a colossus, a good head taller than the already tall Sonak and muscled like a weigthlifter under a silvery and black silky garnment like his own, also with a golden sash. he was holding a massive lirpa. The crescend head of of the blade and the heavy conical counterweight at the other hand made the polearm look as heavy as a bulkhead buttress. The holographic warrior wore an angular metallic masked helmet that covered his whole head except his eyes and his ears.

There was no ritual, not even a signal. The giant started swinging his heavy weapon to lop Sonak at the knees and on the return strike clobber his head to a pulp. It was so fast the lirpa became a blur. It was so powerful the air roared with the swinging of the heavy weapon.

But Sonak had already moved. he horizontally jumped over the dismembering blade and under the following head crushing blow and towards the colossus, his anh woon deploying each sides of him. He rolled right between his parted legs as the weighted ends of his own weapon wrapped around both ankles of his opponent. he rolled back swiftly, just before the heavy end of the lirpa crashed behind the giant's back where his head would have been.

Rolling back to his feet, he yanked on his anh woon. the leather became so taut and creaked so loudly it looked as it would snap under the weight and strenght of the giant. The blade of the lirpa was already swinging back to cut it to ribbons; but before it went halfway,Sonak stepped forward and slack his grip, uncoiling the leather from the ankles. Holding the leather taut between both hands to catch the pole itself behind the blade, he deflected the swing by stepping again and pivoting to turn his back to the other, stretching the leather in front and around his neck. As he finished back to back with the colossus, he brutally yanked with both hands the anh woon over his own lower shoulder.

Their was an ominous crack and the giant flipped backwards over Sonak's shoulder to land face first on the floor in front of him with a sickening thud. He was barely on the ground that Sonak jumped and turned to land on his back, one knee striking powerfully on the spine as he yanked again on the strangling leather. There was another crack when he landed and a third one as he yanked before the giant went limp, his masked head at an odd angle. Then the imposing opponent dissolved.

Sonak was barely panting from the effort a few seconds before getting back full control, of his breathing. Of course he was not sweating, since his Vulcan metabolism adapted to a desert planet rarely did.But the strain on his muscles was evident by the way he slowly coiled back his weapon around his hands and arms.

He was seemingly oblivious to the stares from his felow crewmembers on the treadmills.

Thex like the other crew in the gym had stopped and was looking at the Vulcan. She had always admired the way vulcans fight and their martial arts. It was in a fight with one that she had her antenna broken for the first time. It had hurt like hell, but the andorian had used that and powered through to beat her.

From the ring on one of his fingers, his identity was obvious as the former fiance of her best friend. " Impressive Sonak." She said calmly taking a break from her own workout.

He stood at attention and nodded to her in greetings.

"Andorian warrior prowess and culture has earned the respect of even the fiercest Klingons; your estimation is therefore well founded to be sure, Lieutenant Commander. That being said, if I was successful, it is not merely because of any proficiency on my part but only because I found out the limitation of the combat program."

He stepped down from the combat platform to come to her.

"If you would permit me to speak candidly for a moment, Lieutenant Commander; I have been made aware of the friendship you have built with Lieutenant Commander Paris; you may be aware how much this has proven critical to her mental and emotional recovery and stability after what she went through. She is my Thy'la..., more than a sister, more than a wife, more than a lover; a... soul mate if you would permit me the term. You as an Andorian, of all people, will understand the significance of such a bond, as you are known to even die when you loose one of your mates. You have been and you are a still a life anchor for her. For that, I am therefore in your debt."

" Don't mention it. She's a lovely woman who I'm honoured to be able to call my friend. She's saved my life already and i am forever grateful. Just look after her, keep her safe and happy and any debts we have will have been paid in full. " Thex replied honestly.

"I have for a long time now decided to dedicate my life to this endeavor," he assured her. "I hope you will still be there for her as well. As a Vulcan, I do not crave exclusive emotional attention from even my mate. As a Human, she can never have too much. I hope we can count on you to remain a close friend for a long time to come."

He made a pause before adding:

"I come from a time where relations between your people and mine had barely settled after centuries of misunderstanding, suspicion and even conflict. In your enlightened day and age, this seems to be a thing of the past. Rest assured I do not carry with me this historical baggage. I have a deep respect and curiosity about your people, especially on how you manage to prosper with so much passion and violence as part of your psychology and culture.Your music and your martial arts are most revealing in this aspect and a hobby of mine for quite some time."

He looked at her pointedly.

"I speak here in mere generalities of course. I look forward to really knowing you as the chosen friend of my mate; and in time me becoming one of yours as well."

" I never understood the conflict between our two races even when the nutters in the cult my family came from. True some of them blame the Vulcans for everything that' gone wrong from the borg to the dominion, but there a....." Thex began before realising she was only using the small number of andorians she had meet in the fleet and not the whole population. " Well, i hope they've gotten over it. I'll admit they're not that many of us in the fleet and you see less and less every year. We're not a good example of our whole species. " She corrected herself honestly.

"I would beg to differ, Lieutenant Commander.Maybe you mean that you are not typical of your kind... but to enroll, graduate and serve in Starfleet requires one to be among the best of one's people as it is demanding and highly skilled and risky work. Our current mission is proof enough of this. And it is by the example of her best children that a people rises, lives long and prospers."

His eyes glazed for a moment as if recalling something from memory.

"From what I have learned of your timeline, the distrust between our people may have very well been Vulcan's fault. There was a very notable historical event back in the 22nd second century that involved humans for the first time in this conflict that paved the way to it's resolution and ultimately led to the advent of the United Federation of Planets a few years later. In those days,Vulcan had lost it's way, forgetting and perverting the wisdom of Surak, father of what now makes us Vulcan. it was not unlike the humans' dark ages, when authorities perverted their own faith for political and personal gains. P'Jem hid a secret station to spy and plot against Andoria. The outrage and concern of your people, as illogical as emotions may be, was nevertheless justified. We had a Reformation since then in no small part thanks to Human involvement, and the true teachings of Surak were resurrected. Still, Vulcan has a lot to atone for in regards to your people."

He lifted his hand in the Vulcan salute.

"May we work and share life together aboard this ship as a small step towards this goodwill between our two people, if you are willing, Lieutenant Commander."

Thex was a little confused about the whole timeline talk, but she got that the vulcan was meaning. " Thank you i will be more than willing to further the goodwill between our species."

Sonak nodded in appreciation.

"Maybe when you will be off duty, I could learn more from you about Andoria and it's people. I am particularly interested in biology, music, philosophy and martial arts. Perhaps, when times permits, you could be kind enough to guide me in exploring these details of your society and culture?

" I'll be willing to help you with anything you want to know. I may not be the best suited, but I'll do my best." Thex replied honestly.

"Most kind. But I have been interrupting you long enough. My apologies, Lieutenant Commander. I will leave you to your exercise regimen. I am looking forward to discuss more about your people and culture in the near future. This will be most enlightening."

" No need to apologise Sonak I'll talk to you later." Thex said as she returned to her punching bag.

"May I ask permission to observe you while you train? I am aware that female Andorians are just as strong and as resilient as the males of the species; almost as strong as us Vulcans and as tough as Klingons, with superior reflexes, senses and balance. And I have not yet the opportunity to observe your Kharakom style, your striking martial art. With your permission, i would be honored for the opportunity to observe; unobstrusively of course. But if you find this undesirable or inappropriate, please state it plainly and without reservation. I am a vulcan; I have no ego to bruise."

" Well I don't know about the first half, but your welcome to observe. " Thex said as she got to work. Her family had made sure she knew Kharakom from the moment she could walk. Though her own style had added in new moves she picked up from her hobbies. She'd even added a few moves based on her danching hobby.

Sonak stood several paces back so as to not be obstrusively present while she attacked the target with a rich variation of strikes from all limbs. He knew Andorians were most pragmatic and he noted with interest that some moves seemed more inspired by aesthetics than pragmatism while a few others followed different body mechanics than the others; she obviously had added some prefered techniques picked up elsewhere than what her basic style provided.

She was faithful to her roots yet not bound by them, open to better herself and what she did but not discarding what she had learned on a mere whim; a true Starfleet officer. Vulcans students had a tendency to be tradition bound and less creative than what she exhibited.

And she was quite good. he could see her moves had been honed by actual experience, not just through technical practice or against unliving targets.

He nodded in appreciation.

The andorian grinned at the vulcans approval as she continued her workout. Finishing with a flying roundhouse that sent the bag flying backwards she brushed some of her hair our of her face before turning to look att he vulcan. " So how did i do?" She asked politly.

"Quite well," the Vulcan answered. "You are well coordinated and precise in your strikes. And you have also a surprisingly good ability to channel your emotional intensity into your techniques. This is quite fascinating to observe."

" Thanks. My parents may have been religious nutters but they at least made sure I could fight. From then i just kept adding to it. " She replied with a grin.

The Vulcan raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed? I was under the impression that Andorians had renounced superstitous beliefs centuries if not millenia ago; and those had been rather pragmatic even then, more akin to hero and ancestor worship than beliefs in supernatural entities."

" Well, sadly it's come back. My people's numbers and genetics problems have led to a lot of my people finding religion. The andorian government does very little to keep them in line due to them being such a large voting block." Thex explained.

"Every living thing is entitled to it's own beliefs. Your planetary government is wise and follows the charter of the United Federation of Planets, be it or not for political convenience. But I am a Vulcan; I can only accept as real what is evidenced. It is however a puzzling paradox for me to observe that in dire times, where rationality and pragmatism should be most needed, that certain individuals instead find refuge in feelings and emotionalism, even up to and including superstitions. May I assume by your comment that you do not follow in your parents' footsteps?"

" Well I had to run away from there compound and be pulled over a six-foot wall to get away from them so no i don't believe in there vodooo...... " She began before speaking again. " Sorry, that was rude off me. It's a sore subject for me."

"You should not have to excuse yourself for your convictions, anymore than they would theirs; especially not to me, Lieutenant Commander. Vulcans eschewed belief for reason, superstition for science and emotion for reason over six thousand years ago. Moreover, I am kolinarh; logic alone dictates my thoughts and actions. Belief-based thoughts are to me only an intellectual study and a component of interpersonal communication."

His grey eyes went to hers.

"In that last regard, words are there to express thoughts; and no mere word can harm me. If I may be allowed to remind you, I have no ego to bruise; and let me add, neither any belief to offend... or any offense to feel. Be free to discuss the subject with me in any manner you deem adquate if youn wish to do so. I myself find the subject of sentient beings voluntarily adopting irrational thoughts and behavior quite intriguing."

" Okay then. Well as I was saying I had to jump over a wall to escape my family's compound. I wanted to see the world not sit behind a wall and complain about how the federation was a crime against the Almighty." Thex responded.

"Curious; as far as I know, Andorians never developped monotheism. It is quite alien to their biological-driven mindset and societal structure. Have your parents adopted an old Terran faith or is your culture now influenced by one?"

" It's an andorian religion one that's seen a revival since are genetic problems started. I guess people looked back to the glory days with all the problems. Rather ironic given it's that religion that may have dammed my whole species." The andorian replied her voice becoming very bitter at the end.

Sonak nodded and waited a moment to let her emotion spend itself. Being married to a human woman, especially one as intense as Rita Paris, had taught him much about how to interact with emotional crewmates, more in fact than his decades of service in Starfleet. Then he took a beep breath as if to calm himself; meaningless to him but, he now knew, much significant for others.

"It is a well established fact that emotional distress is the most fertile ground to inspire faith and belief in the irrational. When one cannot find rhyme or reason, one may see only irrationality as an answer because it is comforting and easy... much more than thinking and working your way out of a problem. Your people is by nature passionate but also pragmatic. I am sure you will eventually find a real solution; and we are all here to help if your people so requires."

The vulcan looked again pointedly at her.

"And that is also valid on an individual basis as well, Lieutenant Commander. She who is my wife values your friendship most... dearly I think is the correct word. Be assured that Rita will be there for you if you wish it. And where my mate goes, I always follow... if it is required of me."

" Thank you Sonak I appreciate it. We all need to stick together especially with what's coming." Thex replied calming herself.

Sonak nodded.

"Indeed. That is what the United Federation of Planets is all about."

" Indeed it is. " thex replied with a grin on her face.