Extending The Olive Branch
After trying many new food items and deciding which she could adjust to, as well as adding a few Terran items to the list, Amanda returned it to the chef.
"O'opilsu T'Vie? I wanted to thank you for helping me identify a wider variety of food. I hope this will clarify my preferences," she said, handing her the list.
"Ah, this is useful," she paused halfway. "What is 'kwin-oh-ah'?"
"It is pronounced 'keen-wah', and it's a Terran grain. It's highly nutritious and would accompany many vegetable dishes well. I have some recipes if you would like to see them," she offered, hopeful of striking a common thread.
Amanda had decided it was time for her to stop waiting for invitation to join in, and apply the old adage of 'if you want a friend, you've got to be a friend'.
"That would be acceptable, Dr. Grayson."
"I understand we are preparing to leave Altair VI tomorrow. Would your schedule accommodate the afternoon?"
"Affirmative. I will send confirmation this evening."
"Thank you, and end-meal was delicious."
T'Vieh looked at her quietly for a moment, and then nodded, walking back into the kitchen.
Ok, Grayson, one down, many to go… she thought as she left the dining hall in search of Siimak.
Sarek sat in his quarters, having completed his duties for the day. The meetings and negotiations on Altair VI had been largely successful, and social issues within the Community were clarified. He picked up the folded paper he'd found in his chair and opened it.
"Strangely curious of experiences from before… worlds within I wish to explore."
It was her handwriting, but what did this mean? What was she trying to say to him? Had his offense been forgiven? Was this the proverbial 'olive branch'? Had she realized his efforts to gain her approval?
He thought for a few moments about his next step and decided on a calculated risk, and sent her a message.
Amanda made her way to the security desk, finding him exactly where she esteemed he might be. Did he ever sleep? Probably not… she chuckled inwardly.
"Siimak, do you have a few minutes? I'd like to speak with you, please."
"Certainly, Dr. Grayson."
"Firstly, I'd like to thank you for the modifications you made to my bathroom facilities. The hydro shower will make this travel much more comfortable for me. I appreciate your seeing it done on my behalf," she paused as he nodded.
"The honor of service is mine," he replied.
"Secondly, I seek your forgiveness, as I'm thinking I may have placed you in an awkward position the other evening."
"Clarify."
"It never occurred to me to tell you, or anyone else in the Community for that matter, what my needs were. Our cultures function in some very different ways, and for me, this was one of those."
"I do not understand."
"Well, it's like this: I have been responsible for my own welfare and care for many years. I have become very efficient and managing my own needs. Sometimes, in human culture, asking for help can be perceived as weakness, so we don't ask as often as we probably should," she paused as he commented.
"That is illogical."
"True, but it's human nature. So I saw a need I had and found a solution for it. What I didn't understand was that you were willing to help me accommodate that need. When we spoke about the sonic the other night, you were attempting to identify how you could be of service, yes?"
"Correct."
"This is my first immersive social experience with your culture, Siimak, and it never crossed my mind that you would help without judging a potential weakness. Asking was not a possibility for me then. I misinterpreted your desire to help as an invasion of privacy, which I realize now it was not.
"Thirdly, I was unaware of the protocol for scheduling transport outside of diplomatic function. I have been educated about why you chose to allow me to leave. I would ask for further enlightenment from you as to protocol for behavioral expectations as a member of the Community. I wish no further disruptions for you."
"I would be honored to provide instruction. We are departing the Altair system tomorrow at 1600 hours. Our next destination is the Cygnus system, requiring four solar days' time. Will that suffice?" He asked, enlightened by her clarification.
"Yes, of course. If the time is available on the calendar, consider it time for instruction. So, Siimak, will you forgive my offense against you?"
"With this clarification, it no longer exists, Dr. Grayson."
She smiled and nodded graciously to him and left.
He sat back in his chair. That was unexpected, and he was appreciative of it. Her understanding of the Community was increasing, it was clear she was more comfortable, and he was satisfied with her effort to engage.
Amanda paused in the hallway and thought about who was next on her list for making amends… Supek.
Sarek walked to the galley to make his evening tea, and encountered Soran making it for T'Lyra.
"Osu," he nodded in greeting.
"Soran, have you seen Dr. Grasyon?"
"Not since end-meal. Shall I find her?" He inquired.
"Unnecessary."
Amanda entered the transport room, and Supek looked at her with intense curiosity accompanied by mild wariness. He'd been admonished for his failure to instruct her in protocol prior to Earth departure, and was unwilling to make error again.
"Dr. Grayson. How may I assist you?"
"Could we talk for a moment?"
"Certainly."
"I owe you an apology for my unscheduled transport. I was unaware of the protocol, and my persistence put you in a position to make a choice that you should not have faced. I am sorry for that. I have been advised that you received instruction for that. I feel it is my fault."
He sat quietly for a moment. "Dr. Grayson, it is my opinion that what transpired this past evening was a result of overall misunderstanding. One must only seek forgiveness for failing to learn from misunderstanding. I do not believe you intentionally sought to violate protocol."
"No, I didn't, but my ignorance caused consequences for you," she interjected.
"Illogical. I failed to anticipate your need for instruction prior to Earth departure. I made the choice to not instruct you based upon assumption. I will not repeat that error. It is correct for me to have received warning. By making erroneous assumption, I failed to provide for your safety, and that cannot happen again."
"This process is new for me, too. I have never been immersed in Vulcan culture, and I am learning about how I function within this community. I will ask something of you," she hesitated, continuing when he nodded. "If you see I am not conforming to expectation, you'll not hesitate to guide my understanding?"
He nodded again. "I shall ensure your complete understanding, particularly when understanding lies solely in 'why'."
"Nemaiyo, Supek. By the way, I think you are doing an excellent job, for what my opinion is worth."
She turned and left, choosing to stop at the observation deck. Walking inside, she selected decaf coffee from the replicator and choose a seat by the large portals that comprise the hull. She was always fascinated with the technology that allowed that kind of observation and maintaining hull integrity simultaneously.
She looked at her PADD and saw she had three messages: one from T'Vie requesting time at 1530 hours to look at recipes, the second from Siimak for protocol education two days later, and a third from the Ambassador.
She opened it, hopeful, and a little uneasy at the same time.
"Fainu tushat opi ma'nash-veh, meskarau nash-veh rok. Zhav-tor na fulaya opi ma'nash-veh mol-kom. Ka'tor sa'awek opi nash-veh, psthan k'diwa t'nash-veh."**
Her mouth dropped open as she translated it.
"Because I have known despair, I hold hope. Because I have tasted frustrations, I have serenity. Because I am alone, I search for my beloved."
She remembered what Mitch said that evening before end-meal…
…I don't think this was some error in judgment. He would not do this if he were bonded, Mand… Coupled males and females do not focus on anyone outside of their bond-mate… it's an all or nothing proposition with them… Get it said out in the open. Complete mutual understanding…
She decided Mitch was right, that they needed to have a very clear, concise conversation; get it out in the open and talk. She sent a brief reply.
Sarek's PADD chime softly with an incoming message. He accessed it, and paused, noting it was from her.
"Delay is illogical," he muttered privately as he opened it.
"Sarek, we need to talk about this, and soon. It will only complicate this situation if we do not. I am in the observation lounge. We both deserve the respect of complete, mutual understanding. Advise if you are able to attend."
A/N: the message denoted with ** at the end is the work of Leonard Nimoy. Only slight modifications were made to accommodate the translation.