A/N
Dear Readers:
Please be advised that the correct chapter three was posted a short time after I added the incorrect one to the story. You might want to check to see if the chapter three posted is the one that you read.
Si'len and Be'na
Chapter Four
Upon returning to the ship, the latest messages were down-loaded and a message from Kalib III, the planet where he had the distinct displeasure of meeting again with Grup. It appeared that there was an extremely profitable shipment awaiting pick-up on an emergency basis. Of course it was most logical to back-track instead of going further away and then returning to that location. Si'len entered the coordinates and awaited S'Mat's presence.
They had received a message from their new pilot, who happened to be S'Mat and T'Mar's son. It appeared that he would not be relieved of his prior commitment before two Terran weeks, so that would require another back-track, but that was the nature of Si'len's business.
He spent part of his morning hours in the library and while deeply engrossed in an ancient Vulcan text, Be'na entered and quietly took a seat and took out her lesson and Si'len could not help but observe her intense concentration on what was in front of her. At one point there must have been a reference to another publication and she searched the shelves and finally found the reference sited and started reading the indicated text. One half hour before Second Meal, she quietly left and he noticed that her absence affected him. He found himself in the galley as the table was being set and for the first time he noticed how gracefully she moved.
He returned to his quarters and lit his asenol and knelt on his mat and allowed himself the freedom that meditation granted him.
After this period that provided his mental centering, he dressed in a pair of loose fitting pants and a sleeveless shirt topped with one of his robes, he made his way to the small area, on the lower deck, where the crew practiced martial arts. His object, putting in some time at practicing the discipline of choice for most Vulcan males, Suss Mahna. The ability of this form to be tailored either in defensive or offensive mode explained it popularity.
When he arrived he saw that she was on her knees scrubbing the floor in this area. He inquired whether his presence would be a deterrent to the completion of her task. She nodded in the negative.
He removed his robe and started his routine wearing his loose fitting black pants and a sleeveless shirt that emphasized his toned body. After Be'na had observed him disrobing her face colored and she did not raise her eyes again. As soon as she finished there were none of the usual pleasantries that she seemed to favor. She scurried out of the door and when out of sight laid her body against the wall and breathed deeply, and tears ran down her face as she lightly beat her palm against the wall while her forehead rested against its surface. She silently sobbed
It was agreed that this evening Si'len would relieve S'Mat after Last Meal so the usual silent 'changing of the guard' took place at that time. His tour of duty was uneventful. The ship's lighting mirrored sunrises and sunsets, receding and increasing light in order to allow for natural bio-rhythms to be established and maintained. As usual, the silent relief routine would be observed.
S'Mat checked the destination chart and with the sighting of a bit of debris the ship veered slightly to avoid impact. Si'len had just started to leave the bridge when he heard a sound like a crash from the cargo bay and indicated by gesture that he would check the area. Entering the cargo area just as the ship veered again, Si'len looked up to see a large package falling directly toward him. He attempted to dodge that object but failed, but that action did save himself from a fatal injury. After Si'len had not returned within a reasonable period of time, S'Mat sent Be'na to ascertain what was the reason for his delay.
Be'na screamed his name when she found Si'len pinned under a large, heavy crate. He was still conscious. She ran back and told S'Mat what she had discovered and several of the crew went back and moved the object pinning Si'len to the cargo bay floor. He had already determined the extent of his injuries. He informed them of his condition, which was indeed serious, but not one that would prevent his full recovery with time and a healing trance.
He informed them there was no spiral injury involved so that he could safely be removed to his bed. Besides the broken bones, he had suffered a few scrapes and suffered a minimal loss of blood. He knew he had to put himself into a healing trance but he first had to make Be'na understand what was going to happen and what he would need her to do, for unlike T'Mar, she could be taken away from her tasks without any ill effects to the efficiency of the ship.
Once in his bed he told Be'na to bring water. He observed that she had not stopped crying since she had discovered him injured. He wondered if this was just an indication of her emotional nature. She held his head up so he could sip the liquid. Through that skin to skin contact he found more was involved with her emotional outpouring. He could not determine exactly what his response to her feelings should be, for he discovered Be'na loved him passionately.
After she had given him his water she knelt down by his bed and wept on his chest. His response was to run his uninjured arm from the crown of her head down to her shoulders and told her. How illogical.
"You were wise to come to investigate my absence. I am certain you have saved my life."
Of course, his statement did not stop her flow of tears which now included her grasping his tunic and whispering,
"Please do not leave me."
Now sobbing, she repeated the same statement and Si'len responded,
"I will not permanently leave you but now I will instruct you as to my care."
Silen explained the nature of the healing trace, how long it was going to take for his regeneration and the exact time for his awakening, He also told her to have S'Mat awaken him. She nodded through shuttering breaths, and Si'len said,
"Repeat those instructions to me."
She did, and leaned over and kissed him on his cheek, her long hair draping over his face and her scent entering his nostrils and his mind.
She whispered,
"Please return to us soon."
Si'len then did something uncharacteristic, he kissed her hand and then after a deep breath, Si'len succumbed to the numbing effect of the tow-kath (healing trance).
During his entire regeneration, Be'na hardly left his side. She slept at the foot of his bed embracing his feet.
