When Suvuk left the Replimat, a dampening quietness spread over everyone for a moment, while all eyes wandered over to Jukka-Pekka. Turning back to whatever they'd been doing before, the bustle and noise returned, perhaps even a bit louder, as everyone asked their neighbour what that had been about. Äänekoski noticed a strange, somewhat clinging grin from the Cardassian at Dr. Bashir's table, aimed at him like a secret message, so it was his turn now to ask himself what that was supposed to be about.
"What was all that about", Ensign Andra Laz asked him, with a odd undertone in his voice suggesting he really didn't want to know. "I didn't know you spoke Vulcan".
"That was Finnish, my native tongue from back on Earth. The Vulcan speaks all sorts of odd Earth languages, it's his hobby. But I really don't want to talk about him".
Andra Laz seemed content with this answer, and energetically turned back to the guidance system diagrams, as if trying to dodge an inevitable certainty that would get at him sooner or later anyway, merely keeping it at bay by stalling for the time being.
The next days Jukka-Pekka spent on an entertaining, although marginal, Laz hunt. There was an element in the young Bajoran's nature that reminded him a bit of a small, half-tamed animal; he was very affectionate most of the time, close and trusting; but whenever the Finn would make a move to secure his prey, he'd skillfully evade it. They were at present working in the same shift, so they could spend quite a lot of time together, from a DS9 perspective.
Most of it was used for the visitor guidance system, though, and a basic introduction into Bajoran and Cardassian that Äänekoski got with it. But when they'd finished work for the day they always found a few moments together in a corner at Quark's, talking about themselves, holding hands or with their arms around each. On their way back to the habitat ring they might stop in some dark corner, kiss, let themselves grow tender or even passionate; but whenever Äänekoski thought he'd won at last, the Bajoran made his escape.
And then there were those small gaps in understanding, this strange, deep cultural estrangement that sometimes touched Jukka-Pekka like a ghost. Although Laz told much of himself and honestly tried to understand Jukka-Pekka, there were a few moments when he completely refused his emotional presence. When the Finn finally, one night, told him about his former lover who'd been killed when the old U.S.S. Roddenberry was destroyed, Laz only answered with a long, helpless silence before freeing himself from Jukka-Pekka's arms and calling up the diagrams on their terminal.
At this time, they had at least progressed far enough to sometimes work in Äänekoski's quarters; the Bajoran's quarters, however, remained strictly off-limit. Off-limit as well were many of his emotions and experiences. As the system finally neared completion, Jukka-Pekka again went out on a limb to ask Laz about his feelings towards death. Doubtlessly, as a Bajoran under Cardassian occupation he must have seen many things he couldn't forget.
The answer was a curt report on some extremely unedifying circumstances, marked by an emotional distance and suffused with irrelevant detail. It almost seemed as if the Bajoran used his complaining to evade his original suffering.
Jukka-Pekka reminded himself that he was facing a Bajoran, complete with earring and ridged nose; in some instances they would always remain strangers. Suvuk had taught him to respect diversity; and that included not only alien machinery, but all aspects of an alien culture; even such a psychological reaction was only part of that culture.
Suddenly he wished for nothing more than to peaceably discuss all that with Suvuk; suddenly the little Bajoran at his side seemed very wrong; suddenly part of him wanted to throw Laz out of his quarters and his life and immediately go to Suvuk and do whatever he wanted if only the Vulcan would talk to him again.
Immediately he felt ashamed of this pointless aversion towards the gentle young man in his arms who was completely innocent of anything; it was Jukka-Pekka after all who abused Laz as a mere distraction, and a strong reation in the opposite direction seemed the only way out. He had to tell Laz about Suvuk.
But at once, before he even opened his mouth, he realised it wouldn't work; it would only hurt the Bajoran and drive him from his arms and from his life. So instead he tried with renewed energy to seduce Andra Laz, and, powered b his bad conscience, he was successful.
"This calls for a celebration", Laz had declared the morning after they'd finished and installed the guidance system in an all-nighter. "I'm due on duty now, but if you meet me after shift at Quark's we can have some drinks with my sister; she comes to see me this evening. So I finally get to introduce you; she's terribly curious".
So, Jukka-Pekka was now sitting in Quark's, waiting for the Andras, while all around him the diversity of the unverse was manifesting in astonishing scope.
Rom was working behind the bar tonight, submitting to his guests' every wish with even more dishonest unctuousness than Quark usually displayed. Three more Ferengi were bustling through both levels on his orders while Quark stood in a dark corner and seemed to talk important business with an individual in a black cloak. Major Kira and Lieutenant Dax were leaning at the bar, obviously extremly amused about something behind them, while directly beside him Morn gave his usual silent attention to his drink.
There wasn't much business at the dabo tables yet; only at the middle one a young Bajoran woman in security uniform was winning small sums, encouraged by her comrades, Bajoran and Starfleet alike, and sometimes eyed by Quark who suspiciously glanced around the large cloak of his business partner. A thin, nervous Andorian bargained with Rom about something and finally crept upstairs, hiding the access chip for a holo suite in his hand, his antennae shivering from anticipation or embarrassment.
Three distinguished older Bajorans sat at the neighbouring table and seemed to wait for something indeterminate while quietly talking about nothing of importance. One table further out, a young humanoid in Starfleet uniform and of Asian descent sat holding hands with a a dark-skinned Bajoran civilian, whispering compliments to her. Apparently he needed some more practice, because suddenly she pushed his hand away, jumped up from her chair, hissed a malediction in Bajoran and rushed out of the door.
There, she ran into someone entering the bar with the same energy as she used on her exit; someone who wasn't higher than her hip, so she stared down and jumped aside to make room for three such persons entering the bar, slipping out in their wake.
The reason those persons were so far down wasn't that they were especially small; it was only that they walked, or rather ran, on all fours. They were three crew memebers from the newest ship that had come over from the gamma quadrant, from a species calling themselves Wianab. Four-legged, furred and with a humanoid head, they resembled the sphinxes from Terran myth. Their front paws they used, curled up, as feet as well as, opened, as hands. The Wianab were an energetic and boisterous species that seemd to regard the whole galaxy as one large adventure playground. The captain of their ship was said to have large red wings, and his first officer yellow ones, with which they'd actually flown about in ops. Äänekoski guessed that the winged Wianab must be their people's aristocracy.
But these three were common crew members, two males and one female Wi, who had to stay on the ground; at least most of the time. With the usual energy, the female Wi now jumped right up onto the bar itself, shouting: "We want wine! At once!" A passing Ferengi waiter touched her well-shaped behind and murmured some slimy compliment about her soft fur, whereupon she quickly and deeply dug the claws of her right front paw into his bulging forehead. "Take your dirty fingers off me, you hairless rat, or I'll rip off those revolting soup-plates you call ears!"
Her claws left now doubt that she was quite capable of doing so, which made the Ferengi retreat whiningly while the Wi's companions chirped admiringly in their own language. Quark emerged worriedly from behind that dark cloak to calm all concerned parties down, heaping abuse on Rom while at the same time leading the Wianab to a table in the far corner, with a good view on the dabo tables.
The four-footed people somewhat awkwardly crouched on the chairs and began, giggling and chirping, to comment on present two-legged company whom they seemed to find intensely odd. They pointed at a Klingon woman and almost fell off their chairs with laughing, so she stood up, drew her dagger and went over to teach the Wianab some respect. Quark hurried over to prevent anything unpleasant from happening, but even before he could thread his way through the thickening crowd of dabo players, the opposing parties had found a truce among hissed curses, and the Klingon sat down with the Wianab and shouted: "Where's that wine, waiter!?"
"Coming", Quark announced happily, turning around only to be recaptured by the his black-cloaked customer, which made Rom shoot out from behind the bar with a jar an four beakers as on cue.
"Hi, we're over here", a slightly sarcastic voice now said directly beside Äänekoski's ear. He looked up to see Andra Laz, who'd come in unnoticed in all that confusion. Beside him stood a short, fat Bajoran woman clad in several layers of civilian clothing, of which especially a brownish violet crotcheted waistcoat in the top layer stood out by extreme shapelessness. "Hi, I'm Andra Adarys. Don't you like my waistcoat? My grandmother made it".
"Ah, no", Jukka-Pekka answered, a bit confused by the suddenness of the address. Laz laughed and dropped a quick kiss on his lips before sitting down. Adarys sat opposite her brother and his new lover, regarding them for a while in earnest silent. She put her chin in her hands and declared to world at large, "Damn and blast, I knew I'd forgotten something important".
Jukka-Pekka and Laz both mimed their astonishment at this remark, so she conceded an explanation. "I've seen you before. I was in that shuttle with you that brought you from Marak II".
"Yes, I think I remember", Äänekoski answered, not quite fathoming why that should be important.
Adarys nervously fingered her earring before deigning to continue. "I don't want to cast any aspersions on anyone here, but but there was that arrogant pointy-eared fellow, a Vulcan; that blonde woman called him by one of those standardised S-names I can never remember. Like Sarak or Siguk or soomething".
"Suvuk", Äänekoski supplied darkly. He didn't all like the direction the conversation was taking.
"To be honest", Adarys now heaved forth, "I was under the impressioin that there was some sort of tension between you and the Vulcan, and I kept my eyes open during that flight. It somehow looked like trouble, and I know that my dear little brother has a tendency towards troubled men".
"Adarys, is that really neccessary", Laz interrupted, obviously embarrassed.
"Yes. Well, to be honest, I wanted to warn him before he'd again get used as somebody's emotional dustbin or psychological stand-in, but I forgot because a Ferengi pinched me on the behind".
"They always do that", Jukka-Pekka tried to distract her, feeling rather guilty.
"I know. They're all swine. Well, if you turn out as charming as my brother says, everything is okay of course, but I'd really like to know how accurate my instincts were. So, what was that business with the Vulcan all about?"
Laz looked extremely uncomfortable; it seemed he did not at all want to hear about Suvuk.
"I don't like talking about that, for fear of going on and on", Jukka-Pekka answered, caught between Adarys' curiosity and her brother's discomfort. He didn't like that Bajoran woman's disquietingly accurate instincts too close to his affairs, either. "Really, it's all history in any case. I'd much rather hear a bit more about the damage you've done to the Cardassian computers during the occupation".
That was enough of an encouragement to send off Adarys and Laz into a detailed shop talk that required no more from Jukka-Pekka than the occasional admiring commment.
A male Wi had by now jumped onto one of the dabo tables, triumphantly waving a small gadget he'd dug out from the mechanism; obviously a cheat. The Bajorans that had used this table made some aggravated noises, so Quark pulled out from behind black cloak to hurriedly assure them that it was all no more than a misunderstanding, and the gadget was no more than a monitoring device. His own fault; why did he place the Wianab so close to the tables; Wianab were renowned for being extremely clever and quick on the uptake.
The Klingon woman with the Wianab laughed out loud, so Quark intensified his endeavours to defuse the situation. Finally, the Wi sat down again with his companions, and the Bajoran dabo players left the bar in a huff. Idly, Äänekoski followed them with his eyes.
Through them, as if they didn't exist, an individual marked by the brightly blue-green middle of his standard Starfleet shipboard uniform stepped into the bar. He still refused to wear the mostly black station uniform, as he wasn't part of the regular station personnel and needed to demonstrate that.
He calmly went over to the Wianab's table, greeted them and the Klingon, and sat down with them. With the extreme politeness he tended to show towards the subjects of his investigations he picked up some object that had fallen from the table and handed it admiringly to the Klingon woman. She began to talk to him about it, and the female Wi chimed in. Consummate strategist that he was, Suvuk carefully and slowly shifted his attention to the Wi, and after exchanging some more sentences, the Wi jumped onto the table and began to sing a song in her own language.
"You, I asked you how you managed to crash the Cardassians' computer from aboard the Falcon", Adarys' voice now invaded his attention. Suvuk had discreetly pulled out his tricorder and was recording the Wianab's song; and indeed, the long, dark tones of the refrain had some similarity whith whale song. It seemed he had found an actual trail.
"You, Lieutenant Jukka-Pekka Äänekoski!", Adarys' voice insisted. "What happened? What is this charming music that has completely transfixed you?"
She turned around, and, following the Finn's line of sight, discovered Suvuk at the table with the singing Wianab. "Oh yes, the pointy.eared fellow who was all history anyway. What was his name again? Suvuk?"
As if his Vulcan hearing had picked up his name throught the loud, crowded bar, Suvuk's glance turned to the table where they sat. Feigning disinterest, his eyes glided over Äänekoski to fasten on Andra Laz. All research was forgotten, all pretense at diplomacy given up in an instant. He put his tricorder openly on the table, stood up and walked over in a few long, arrogant strides, almost toppling a Ferengi waiter's fully laden tray. Bewildered, the Wianab fell silent in mid-song.
He stopped in front of Laz, crossed his arms and regarded the Bajoran down his nose. "Ensign, I completely fail to comprehend how you can be sitting here, demonstratively off duty, although I transferred a long document for subspace transmission to Memory Prime to your console only twenty-six point eight two minutes ago. I had ordered to you to notify me at once when the transmission was confirmed. As due to the extensive length of the document and the time delay in subspace a confirmation cannot be expected any earlier than roughly fourty-seven minutes after beginning transmission - I am really wondering what you are doing here!"
This last sentence Suvuk hissed with such uncharacteristic sharpness and emphasis, Äänekoski got worried he was losing it. Secretly, though, he felt almost pleased: the only possible explanation for the Vulcan's wild behaviour was a raging, devouring jealousy against Andra Laz. He lifted his hand to touch Suvuk's wrist. Suvuk, you can really tell me more peacefully and privately that you love me. I love you, too.
Irritatedly, Suvuk stepped aside. "Well, Ensign, what do you have to say to this?"
"I was relieved", Laz tried to defend himself. "And I told my relief to send that confirmation of message received to your office as soon as it came".
"So, my office? What is my office to do with it if I am here? I told you send the confirmation to me, and I meant that!"
Adarys now stood up as well, put her hands on her ample hips and sidled in between the angry Vulcan and her brother. "Now, listen, Suvuk or whatever you want to be called. My brother's off duty, and what do you want with any confimation when you're busy listening to the four-legged one sing? But that's not the issue, aren't I right?"
Suvuk wordlessly shoved her aside, blocking her with his back. With unexpected agility she slipped around the Vulcan and from the other side put herself once more between Suvuk and her brother.
"Now, hold it there, pointy-ears! Just because my brother sits here with that miserable human you either deeply hate or desperately love, you don't have to order him around while he's off duty, as he rarely enough gets to be! Anyway, I always thought Vulcans didn't have any emotions!"
"We just don't show them", Suvuk now deigned to answer her.
"Well, you show yours damn clearly, no doubt about that", Adarys hooted.
As if noticing only now how far and dangerously he'd let himself be pulled off track, Suvuk quickly returned to his original problem. "Ensign, if you don't want me to complain to Major Kira about you - again, you will at once contact your relief and relay my correct orders to them".
"Well, and what are you going to tell me, Lieutenant? That a Bajoran officer dared not to stay on duty for all twenty-four of your unnerving Earth standard hours? Who do you think you are anyway? You get on everybody's nerves and afterwards have the gall to complain about it! Bajor had enough problems of its own before you came here!" Kira had came over from the bar and now threateningly stood right in front of Suvuk.
Jukka-Pekka now stood up as well, emphatically reaching for Suvuk's wrist past the irate first officer. Stop that! You don't have to cause all this uproar for me; I'm there for you whenever you want me. Forget the Bajoran, and stop making a fool of yourself.
Suvuk turned and stared at him, past Kira, while both Bajoran women continued berating him. Laz now got up as well, touched his comm badge and spoke a few sentences.
"So. Done. You'll soon get beeped, Lieutenant. Is your problem solved now?"
"Yes", Suvuk spat, tearing loose from Jukka-Pekka and storming out without getting his tricorder.
"No", the Finn heard Adarys say before he jumped off, grabbing the tricorder on his way to following the Vulcan out.
Jukka-Pekka had to run to match Suvuk's pace. The Vulcan cut through the Promenade throng as if they all weren't there, and Äänekoski, on his heels, had to squeeze through all the astonished clumps of people closing in his wake. From the corner of his eye he saw Odo stepping from his office and looking alarmedly after the two of them; but he was to busy not losing the Vulcan to spare an explanation for the security officer.
They were only stopped in front of the Bajoran temple where just now a small group of zealots equal to Suvuk in their arrogance was leaving after some edifying experience. At first, they tried passing through each other; being in the same universe, however, this didn't work for either party, so the Bajorans resorted to aggresiveness, in which they were clearly superior to Suvuk. A tall, black-bearded Bajoran who looked like the wrath of God grabbed the Vulcan by his shoulders and shouted into his face: "This is a Bajoran station! It's bad enough you off-worlders are here at all, but disturbing our contemplation after a deep religious experience..."
Suvuk tried to extricate himself from the Bajoran's grip, but was grabbed by some of his companions and shoved about some more. Alarmed, Äänekoski dug into the group to assist Suvuk, but only ended up in corner with the Vulcan, about to be taught Bajoran manners. The whole commotion vanished very suddenly when a quiet but commanding voice behind the crowd declared, "Ladies and gentlemen, you best end your righteous indignation right here, or you'll get to see quite a different institution on this station were you can calm down really slowly".
The Bajorans resumed their religious stance and marched off. The shape-shifter took a step towards the two Starfleet officers and suspiciously asked, "What was that all about? Are you hurt?"
Äänekoski quickly answered for both of them. "Just a few difficulties in getting through this crowd; too many people on the Promenade. No damage done":
"How reassuring", Odo answered, stalking off after a last suspicious glance.
So, they suddenly found themselves all alone in a corner besdie the entrance to the Bajoran temple. Suvuk gave weak signs of wanting to continue his flight, but allowed himself to be stopped by Äänekoski remarkably peacefully. He pulled his arm from the Finn's grip with a gesture signalling defeat; if a discussion was unavoidable, he could at least consent to it with some dignity.
"Suvuk, we have to talk. You must see yourself that we can't go on like this. We both look like complete idiots, and, additionally, you are getting extremely unpopular. If you don't want anything to do with me in that sense, which I somehow can't believe any more, let us at least make peace and get on with our lives before they kick out both of us".
"I do not remeber giving you the permission to address me in the informal mode of your language, and neither do I remember any hostile action between us. And my 'popularity' among any emotional life froms does not at all interest me, as you should know by now".
"But you don't live alone in a cave from catching and frying bats, Suvuk, you live in a universe full of diverse life forms the study of which, if I remember correctly, you chose as your profession. I don't ask you be friends as we used to be, I just want you to stop acting like that so we can get on with what we came here to do".
Suvuk's ramrod straight posture relented, and so did the formality of his Finnish. "I do not want to hamper you in continuing your life, your work and your - acquaintance with that irresponsible Bajoran Ensign. I only wish you did it all somehwere where I don't have to witness it all".
"As I said, I got at least the same right to be here as you do, and concerning Andra Laz, he's certainly through with me after what happened tonight. And to be honest, I don't think that's for the worst. He was just a nice little distraction for me, and that makes me very sorry. I'm sure he's a great person and could be a wonderful friend if I'd given him the chance; he neither deserves my dishonesty nor your - intense dislike".
Suvuk lifted an eyebrow, and a shadow of his old 'negative smile" wandered over his face. "I suspect I will never quite fathom the actions of emotional life forms. I have never shown any - dislike towards your Bajoran, only justified criticism towards his more-than-lax work ethics".
"Suvuk, it was plain as the nose in your face that you were just stinking mad at me and horribly jealous of Laz. His sister has watched us in the shuttle on the way from Marak II and looked right through us even then. Aboard the Falcon I took your rejection as what it seemed to be, but now, after all that has happened..."
"I will not discuss my personal affairs with you in public. As your typical human lack of control requires us to follow this to the very conclusion, I would suggest we continue our disputation in my office, only..."
"Suvuk, I promise you I won't force myself upon you, and go away when you tell me to. If you're as honest with yourself as you Vulcans always claim you are, then you know that I would never do anything to you against your will".
Suvuk stepped from the corner and went up the nearest stairs, followed by Jukka-Pekka. But at his door they were encountered yet another distraction. "Hello, Mr. Vulcan! Look what my daddy gave me!" The small creature extended an electronic pad towards Suvuk, who earnestly turned to Jukka-Pekka. "This is Molly O'Brien, the daughter of our chief of operations".
"I know; the O'Briens sometimes invite me for dinner. Keiko O'Brien coaxes great sashimi from those miserable Cardassian replicators. She'd certainly get them to produce tofu for you if you'd let people come a bit closer".
Suvuk reached behind and shortly touched Jukka-Pekka's wrist. Not now. Please. A child must always come first.
Suvk took the pad and looked at it. Äänekoski looked over his shoulder and saw an illustration that showed Bajoran faces.
"Fascinating", Suvuk said. "A book of Bajoran fairy tales. Bajroan fairy tales contain many wisdoms that can positively influence small persons like you".
"What is po- ah..."
"In a good way. But you have to consider that those stories are not literally true; they're just made-up stories from which you can learn what is good and bad for the Bajorans. Monsters like the firebiter don't really exist, and the good people always win. You don't have to be afraid".
Molly didn't seem very interested in this lecture. "Mr. Vulcan, can you read to me? The book can read on its own, but it's much better when someone real tells it".
Suvuk smiled. Äänekoski quickly looked again, but he actually smiled. "I have no time for that now, I am sorry. I know it's hard to understand for small persons like you that grown-ups always don't have time, but I have something important to talk about with the Lieutenant here".
Molly seemed to notice him for the first time. "Is he your friend?", she asked guilelessly. "He's a friend of my daddy, too. Hi JP":
Jukka-Pekka grinned into Suvuk's bewildered astonishment. "Shouldn't you be in bed at this time, little lady?"
"Did you wander off again", Suvuk gratefully accepted his help. "I am honoured by your visit, but won't your parents miss you?"
"My mommy is at a - confance on Bajor, and my daddy had to go and repair some damn Cardassian crap. He said, Taleel is going to come soon and I have to stay in bed, but she didn't come".
Suvuk smiled again, and Äänekoski laughed, but the Vulcan silenced him with a touch. Never laugh at a child, or make fun of it. It will come to the conclusion that it isn't taken seriously, and develop an emotional reaction to that which it might keep for all its life.
Touched by Suvuk's earnest thouroughness in dealing with the strange child, Jukka-Pekka controlled his impulse. He tipped at his comm badge.
"Äänekoski to O'Brien".
"What's broken now", the engineer acknoledged.
"Nothing. It's just your little daughter loose on the Promenade. It seems her babysitter didn't turn up as planned".
"Oh, damn. Lieutenant, can you watch her for ten minutes or so, then I'm through with this and come to get her".
Suvuk nodded, and Jukka-Pekka answered the chief, "Of course. We're in Lieutenant Suvuk's office at the upper Promenade".
If O'Brien was astonished by this, he didn't show it; but most likely he had too much to do to even notice anything out of the ordinary. "Thank you. O'Brien out".
Suvuk coded open the door to his office, and they went in. "Can you now read to me, Mr. Vulcan?"
Suvuk relented. He lifted Molly into the only chair in his tiny office and said "Plaese don't touch anything; I have many sensitive instruments here".
Molly nodded. "Just like my daddy".
"What story do you want to hear?"
"One that is all new".
"Do you know the story about the little girl and the mirs-berries?"
"Yes".
"And the one about Gar and the firebiter?"
No. Read that, please".
"Sounds dramatic", Jukka-Pekka objected.
"It is an edifying and humourous story. Also, the human tendency to try and protect children from unpleasant knowledge isn't always appropriate. At some stage in their life they will have to face reality, and if they have been too sheltered before, they will feel cheated of the ideal world of their childhood, and show an undesirable emotional reaction".
"I don't understand that. Read to me, Mr. Vulcan!"
"My name is Suvuk, small person. I just explained to the Lieutenant how Vulcans treat their children. Sometime grown-ups have to talk about things children can't understand, and the children can only wait until its over and ask questions until they understand everthing. Be patient with us, Molly. If you're impatient, it'll only take longer until you've learned it all".
"What is patient".
"That you learn to wait until the others are finished without getting angry or starting to cry".
Äänekoski laughed at this dialogue. "You'll make a Vulcan of her, Suvuk".
"That is not my intention; I do respect her difference as a human. However, my own Vulcan education will not allow me to treat any child, even a human one, emotionally and irrationally".
Molly didn't say anything during this exchange, just kicked her feet at the air. Jukka-Pekka took pity on her, although he would have loved to go on discussing Vulcan principles of education with Suvuk in their reawakened closeness. "Perhaps you should begin reading her story".
"JP isn't patient either", Molly giggled.
"He is human", Suvuk replied, carefully neutral. He sat on an inactive console and began to read the Bajoran fairy tale. He read more dramatically than Jaukka-Pekka would have expected, but of course he stayed completely calm even through the funniest passages of the story, so Molly laughed all the more.
After some time, she slid off the chair and demanded to sit on Suvuk's lap and look at the pictures, and the Vulcan let her, much to Jukka-Pekka's astonishment.
When finally the firebiter had its great entrance in the story, and Suvuk read "And then, a large violet firebiter rose from the ditch and said to Gar in a horrid voice...", Jukka-Pekka came to stand beside him and read with a hollow and hissing voice the extremly funny dialogue of the misguided monster. Molly giggled admiringly, and so he continued taking the firebiter's dialogue.
At some stage, Suvuk's comm badge went off and began transmitting the comfimation from Memory Prime, but he silenced it with a tap and went on with the story.
When O'Brien finally showed up, apologising profusely because of the delay, Molly refused to go with him. "Come on, Molly", the chief said, embarrassed. "I'll read the rest of the story to you at home".
"But JP is a better firebiter; he does such a funny voice", Molly protested.
O'Brien grew even more embarrassed. "Molly, you shouldn't do that. You can't disturb the Lieutenants for such a long time".
Molly made a face as if starting to cry. "Molly", Suvuk said calmly. "Do you remember what I told you about patience? I have to talk about something important with Lieutenant Äänekoski. If you're patient, you can wait for the end of the story until another day when we have the time to read it to you; but I'm sure your father will do the firebiter's voice just as well".
"I'll be patient. Daddy can read the story about the little girl and the mirs-berries again", Molly decided.
"Thank you", O'Brien repeated. "Molly, say good night to the Lieutenants".
"I can do that alone. Good night, JP. Good night, Suvuk", she said, walking off at her father's hand.
Now he was finally alone with Suvuk, Äänekoski didn't know what to say. After their mutual easiness in front of the child he didn't want to return to the former intense confrontation.
"It seems the conversation we should have had has been all but concluded 'between the lines' in the presence of the small person", Suvuk finally broke the silence.
"Most of it. All that's missing is your explanation why you keep rejecting me if you so obviously want me, and if we fit together so harmoniously".
"Between what I want and what my self-discipline allows me there is a distinct difference".
Pity welling up in him, Jukka-Pekka took a step towards Suvuk and touched his wrist to let him feel his compassion. "Suvuk, you know this isn't about sex or something but about love, about belonging and the way we worked together on the way here and even tonight. I can do without any further demonstrations of my love as long as you want if only I get back your friendship and you stop opposing everyone and everything. I am only human, but I know about patience and control, too".
"I don't doubt that. Our estrangement during the last weeks was as much due to my own lack of control as to yours. I wanted your closeness aboard the Falcon; but my conscious choice had to refuse what my emotions wanted. I am Vulcan".
"But even Vulcans marry. Even Vulcans have friends and don't live alone in a vacuum".
"I will not lecture you about the norms and standards of my culture. I can only request you to accept that just now your presence, even your sight, is intensely disquieting to me. I know full well that your love for me isn't driven by desires but by deep and honest care for me. So if you love me, leave me alone! When all this is over and I am once more fully in control of myself, we can redefine our relationship in an appropriate way, but please go now, and keep away from me".
Hunched and miserable, Suvuk sat on his console. The hand Jukka-Pekka had touched moments ago was shivering.
He didn't know what to say any more. An almost overwhelming instinct drove him to take the Vulcan in his arms and hold him and make him see that all this denial was so terribly unneccessary and illogical; but something in what Suvuk had said, and the respect for all things strange that Suvuk had taught him, kept him back. He found the strength to just answer. "I'll do what you want. I will be patient", and leave the room.
On the stairs down to the Promenade he remembered Molly's story and the promise the Vulcan had made to her. He would never break it, no doubt because of the reason that this would be extremely bad for the child's development. As soon as Molly came to demand the rest of her story, Jukka-Pekka calmed himself, Suvuk would have call him back. Perhaps he'd even be past whatever was bothering him by then.
Belatedly, Jukka-Pekka realised what exactly it was that was bothering Suvuk. That had been what made his acceptance of Suvuk's conditions possible at last. Suvuk had reached the point when his Vulcan nature was demanding its due, and he refused to give in to that phenomenon he seemed to have fought, unlike any other Vulcan, for all his life. At any other time he might gladly have accepted the Finn's company. He might even be able to love him afterwards, when he wasn't forced to any more. All was possible again, but care and respect were his best options in dealing with Suvuk just now.
Of course the Andras weren't at Quark's any more, and when he reached his quarters he found an unmistakably angry message from the Bajoran on his terminal, declaring he never wanted to see him again; he really didn't need to be treated the way Jukka-Pekka had treated him.
His first impulse was to send an apologetic and repentant message to Laz, but he didn't. Adarys had seen right through him and certainly lost no time explaining it all to her brother, with extreme prejudice and many exclamations on the line of "That swine!"
"What was all that about", Ensign Andra Laz asked him, with a odd undertone in his voice suggesting he really didn't want to know. "I didn't know you spoke Vulcan".
"That was Finnish, my native tongue from back on Earth. The Vulcan speaks all sorts of odd Earth languages, it's his hobby. But I really don't want to talk about him".
Andra Laz seemed content with this answer, and energetically turned back to the guidance system diagrams, as if trying to dodge an inevitable certainty that would get at him sooner or later anyway, merely keeping it at bay by stalling for the time being.
The next days Jukka-Pekka spent on an entertaining, although marginal, Laz hunt. There was an element in the young Bajoran's nature that reminded him a bit of a small, half-tamed animal; he was very affectionate most of the time, close and trusting; but whenever the Finn would make a move to secure his prey, he'd skillfully evade it. They were at present working in the same shift, so they could spend quite a lot of time together, from a DS9 perspective.
Most of it was used for the visitor guidance system, though, and a basic introduction into Bajoran and Cardassian that Äänekoski got with it. But when they'd finished work for the day they always found a few moments together in a corner at Quark's, talking about themselves, holding hands or with their arms around each. On their way back to the habitat ring they might stop in some dark corner, kiss, let themselves grow tender or even passionate; but whenever Äänekoski thought he'd won at last, the Bajoran made his escape.
And then there were those small gaps in understanding, this strange, deep cultural estrangement that sometimes touched Jukka-Pekka like a ghost. Although Laz told much of himself and honestly tried to understand Jukka-Pekka, there were a few moments when he completely refused his emotional presence. When the Finn finally, one night, told him about his former lover who'd been killed when the old U.S.S. Roddenberry was destroyed, Laz only answered with a long, helpless silence before freeing himself from Jukka-Pekka's arms and calling up the diagrams on their terminal.
At this time, they had at least progressed far enough to sometimes work in Äänekoski's quarters; the Bajoran's quarters, however, remained strictly off-limit. Off-limit as well were many of his emotions and experiences. As the system finally neared completion, Jukka-Pekka again went out on a limb to ask Laz about his feelings towards death. Doubtlessly, as a Bajoran under Cardassian occupation he must have seen many things he couldn't forget.
The answer was a curt report on some extremely unedifying circumstances, marked by an emotional distance and suffused with irrelevant detail. It almost seemed as if the Bajoran used his complaining to evade his original suffering.
Jukka-Pekka reminded himself that he was facing a Bajoran, complete with earring and ridged nose; in some instances they would always remain strangers. Suvuk had taught him to respect diversity; and that included not only alien machinery, but all aspects of an alien culture; even such a psychological reaction was only part of that culture.
Suddenly he wished for nothing more than to peaceably discuss all that with Suvuk; suddenly the little Bajoran at his side seemed very wrong; suddenly part of him wanted to throw Laz out of his quarters and his life and immediately go to Suvuk and do whatever he wanted if only the Vulcan would talk to him again.
Immediately he felt ashamed of this pointless aversion towards the gentle young man in his arms who was completely innocent of anything; it was Jukka-Pekka after all who abused Laz as a mere distraction, and a strong reation in the opposite direction seemed the only way out. He had to tell Laz about Suvuk.
But at once, before he even opened his mouth, he realised it wouldn't work; it would only hurt the Bajoran and drive him from his arms and from his life. So instead he tried with renewed energy to seduce Andra Laz, and, powered b his bad conscience, he was successful.
"This calls for a celebration", Laz had declared the morning after they'd finished and installed the guidance system in an all-nighter. "I'm due on duty now, but if you meet me after shift at Quark's we can have some drinks with my sister; she comes to see me this evening. So I finally get to introduce you; she's terribly curious".
So, Jukka-Pekka was now sitting in Quark's, waiting for the Andras, while all around him the diversity of the unverse was manifesting in astonishing scope.
Rom was working behind the bar tonight, submitting to his guests' every wish with even more dishonest unctuousness than Quark usually displayed. Three more Ferengi were bustling through both levels on his orders while Quark stood in a dark corner and seemed to talk important business with an individual in a black cloak. Major Kira and Lieutenant Dax were leaning at the bar, obviously extremly amused about something behind them, while directly beside him Morn gave his usual silent attention to his drink.
There wasn't much business at the dabo tables yet; only at the middle one a young Bajoran woman in security uniform was winning small sums, encouraged by her comrades, Bajoran and Starfleet alike, and sometimes eyed by Quark who suspiciously glanced around the large cloak of his business partner. A thin, nervous Andorian bargained with Rom about something and finally crept upstairs, hiding the access chip for a holo suite in his hand, his antennae shivering from anticipation or embarrassment.
Three distinguished older Bajorans sat at the neighbouring table and seemed to wait for something indeterminate while quietly talking about nothing of importance. One table further out, a young humanoid in Starfleet uniform and of Asian descent sat holding hands with a a dark-skinned Bajoran civilian, whispering compliments to her. Apparently he needed some more practice, because suddenly she pushed his hand away, jumped up from her chair, hissed a malediction in Bajoran and rushed out of the door.
There, she ran into someone entering the bar with the same energy as she used on her exit; someone who wasn't higher than her hip, so she stared down and jumped aside to make room for three such persons entering the bar, slipping out in their wake.
The reason those persons were so far down wasn't that they were especially small; it was only that they walked, or rather ran, on all fours. They were three crew memebers from the newest ship that had come over from the gamma quadrant, from a species calling themselves Wianab. Four-legged, furred and with a humanoid head, they resembled the sphinxes from Terran myth. Their front paws they used, curled up, as feet as well as, opened, as hands. The Wianab were an energetic and boisterous species that seemd to regard the whole galaxy as one large adventure playground. The captain of their ship was said to have large red wings, and his first officer yellow ones, with which they'd actually flown about in ops. Äänekoski guessed that the winged Wianab must be their people's aristocracy.
But these three were common crew members, two males and one female Wi, who had to stay on the ground; at least most of the time. With the usual energy, the female Wi now jumped right up onto the bar itself, shouting: "We want wine! At once!" A passing Ferengi waiter touched her well-shaped behind and murmured some slimy compliment about her soft fur, whereupon she quickly and deeply dug the claws of her right front paw into his bulging forehead. "Take your dirty fingers off me, you hairless rat, or I'll rip off those revolting soup-plates you call ears!"
Her claws left now doubt that she was quite capable of doing so, which made the Ferengi retreat whiningly while the Wi's companions chirped admiringly in their own language. Quark emerged worriedly from behind that dark cloak to calm all concerned parties down, heaping abuse on Rom while at the same time leading the Wianab to a table in the far corner, with a good view on the dabo tables.
The four-footed people somewhat awkwardly crouched on the chairs and began, giggling and chirping, to comment on present two-legged company whom they seemed to find intensely odd. They pointed at a Klingon woman and almost fell off their chairs with laughing, so she stood up, drew her dagger and went over to teach the Wianab some respect. Quark hurried over to prevent anything unpleasant from happening, but even before he could thread his way through the thickening crowd of dabo players, the opposing parties had found a truce among hissed curses, and the Klingon sat down with the Wianab and shouted: "Where's that wine, waiter!?"
"Coming", Quark announced happily, turning around only to be recaptured by the his black-cloaked customer, which made Rom shoot out from behind the bar with a jar an four beakers as on cue.
"Hi, we're over here", a slightly sarcastic voice now said directly beside Äänekoski's ear. He looked up to see Andra Laz, who'd come in unnoticed in all that confusion. Beside him stood a short, fat Bajoran woman clad in several layers of civilian clothing, of which especially a brownish violet crotcheted waistcoat in the top layer stood out by extreme shapelessness. "Hi, I'm Andra Adarys. Don't you like my waistcoat? My grandmother made it".
"Ah, no", Jukka-Pekka answered, a bit confused by the suddenness of the address. Laz laughed and dropped a quick kiss on his lips before sitting down. Adarys sat opposite her brother and his new lover, regarding them for a while in earnest silent. She put her chin in her hands and declared to world at large, "Damn and blast, I knew I'd forgotten something important".
Jukka-Pekka and Laz both mimed their astonishment at this remark, so she conceded an explanation. "I've seen you before. I was in that shuttle with you that brought you from Marak II".
"Yes, I think I remember", Äänekoski answered, not quite fathoming why that should be important.
Adarys nervously fingered her earring before deigning to continue. "I don't want to cast any aspersions on anyone here, but but there was that arrogant pointy-eared fellow, a Vulcan; that blonde woman called him by one of those standardised S-names I can never remember. Like Sarak or Siguk or soomething".
"Suvuk", Äänekoski supplied darkly. He didn't all like the direction the conversation was taking.
"To be honest", Adarys now heaved forth, "I was under the impressioin that there was some sort of tension between you and the Vulcan, and I kept my eyes open during that flight. It somehow looked like trouble, and I know that my dear little brother has a tendency towards troubled men".
"Adarys, is that really neccessary", Laz interrupted, obviously embarrassed.
"Yes. Well, to be honest, I wanted to warn him before he'd again get used as somebody's emotional dustbin or psychological stand-in, but I forgot because a Ferengi pinched me on the behind".
"They always do that", Jukka-Pekka tried to distract her, feeling rather guilty.
"I know. They're all swine. Well, if you turn out as charming as my brother says, everything is okay of course, but I'd really like to know how accurate my instincts were. So, what was that business with the Vulcan all about?"
Laz looked extremely uncomfortable; it seemed he did not at all want to hear about Suvuk.
"I don't like talking about that, for fear of going on and on", Jukka-Pekka answered, caught between Adarys' curiosity and her brother's discomfort. He didn't like that Bajoran woman's disquietingly accurate instincts too close to his affairs, either. "Really, it's all history in any case. I'd much rather hear a bit more about the damage you've done to the Cardassian computers during the occupation".
That was enough of an encouragement to send off Adarys and Laz into a detailed shop talk that required no more from Jukka-Pekka than the occasional admiring commment.
A male Wi had by now jumped onto one of the dabo tables, triumphantly waving a small gadget he'd dug out from the mechanism; obviously a cheat. The Bajorans that had used this table made some aggravated noises, so Quark pulled out from behind black cloak to hurriedly assure them that it was all no more than a misunderstanding, and the gadget was no more than a monitoring device. His own fault; why did he place the Wianab so close to the tables; Wianab were renowned for being extremely clever and quick on the uptake.
The Klingon woman with the Wianab laughed out loud, so Quark intensified his endeavours to defuse the situation. Finally, the Wi sat down again with his companions, and the Bajoran dabo players left the bar in a huff. Idly, Äänekoski followed them with his eyes.
Through them, as if they didn't exist, an individual marked by the brightly blue-green middle of his standard Starfleet shipboard uniform stepped into the bar. He still refused to wear the mostly black station uniform, as he wasn't part of the regular station personnel and needed to demonstrate that.
He calmly went over to the Wianab's table, greeted them and the Klingon, and sat down with them. With the extreme politeness he tended to show towards the subjects of his investigations he picked up some object that had fallen from the table and handed it admiringly to the Klingon woman. She began to talk to him about it, and the female Wi chimed in. Consummate strategist that he was, Suvuk carefully and slowly shifted his attention to the Wi, and after exchanging some more sentences, the Wi jumped onto the table and began to sing a song in her own language.
"You, I asked you how you managed to crash the Cardassians' computer from aboard the Falcon", Adarys' voice now invaded his attention. Suvuk had discreetly pulled out his tricorder and was recording the Wianab's song; and indeed, the long, dark tones of the refrain had some similarity whith whale song. It seemed he had found an actual trail.
"You, Lieutenant Jukka-Pekka Äänekoski!", Adarys' voice insisted. "What happened? What is this charming music that has completely transfixed you?"
She turned around, and, following the Finn's line of sight, discovered Suvuk at the table with the singing Wianab. "Oh yes, the pointy.eared fellow who was all history anyway. What was his name again? Suvuk?"
As if his Vulcan hearing had picked up his name throught the loud, crowded bar, Suvuk's glance turned to the table where they sat. Feigning disinterest, his eyes glided over Äänekoski to fasten on Andra Laz. All research was forgotten, all pretense at diplomacy given up in an instant. He put his tricorder openly on the table, stood up and walked over in a few long, arrogant strides, almost toppling a Ferengi waiter's fully laden tray. Bewildered, the Wianab fell silent in mid-song.
He stopped in front of Laz, crossed his arms and regarded the Bajoran down his nose. "Ensign, I completely fail to comprehend how you can be sitting here, demonstratively off duty, although I transferred a long document for subspace transmission to Memory Prime to your console only twenty-six point eight two minutes ago. I had ordered to you to notify me at once when the transmission was confirmed. As due to the extensive length of the document and the time delay in subspace a confirmation cannot be expected any earlier than roughly fourty-seven minutes after beginning transmission - I am really wondering what you are doing here!"
This last sentence Suvuk hissed with such uncharacteristic sharpness and emphasis, Äänekoski got worried he was losing it. Secretly, though, he felt almost pleased: the only possible explanation for the Vulcan's wild behaviour was a raging, devouring jealousy against Andra Laz. He lifted his hand to touch Suvuk's wrist. Suvuk, you can really tell me more peacefully and privately that you love me. I love you, too.
Irritatedly, Suvuk stepped aside. "Well, Ensign, what do you have to say to this?"
"I was relieved", Laz tried to defend himself. "And I told my relief to send that confirmation of message received to your office as soon as it came".
"So, my office? What is my office to do with it if I am here? I told you send the confirmation to me, and I meant that!"
Adarys now stood up as well, put her hands on her ample hips and sidled in between the angry Vulcan and her brother. "Now, listen, Suvuk or whatever you want to be called. My brother's off duty, and what do you want with any confimation when you're busy listening to the four-legged one sing? But that's not the issue, aren't I right?"
Suvuk wordlessly shoved her aside, blocking her with his back. With unexpected agility she slipped around the Vulcan and from the other side put herself once more between Suvuk and her brother.
"Now, hold it there, pointy-ears! Just because my brother sits here with that miserable human you either deeply hate or desperately love, you don't have to order him around while he's off duty, as he rarely enough gets to be! Anyway, I always thought Vulcans didn't have any emotions!"
"We just don't show them", Suvuk now deigned to answer her.
"Well, you show yours damn clearly, no doubt about that", Adarys hooted.
As if noticing only now how far and dangerously he'd let himself be pulled off track, Suvuk quickly returned to his original problem. "Ensign, if you don't want me to complain to Major Kira about you - again, you will at once contact your relief and relay my correct orders to them".
"Well, and what are you going to tell me, Lieutenant? That a Bajoran officer dared not to stay on duty for all twenty-four of your unnerving Earth standard hours? Who do you think you are anyway? You get on everybody's nerves and afterwards have the gall to complain about it! Bajor had enough problems of its own before you came here!" Kira had came over from the bar and now threateningly stood right in front of Suvuk.
Jukka-Pekka now stood up as well, emphatically reaching for Suvuk's wrist past the irate first officer. Stop that! You don't have to cause all this uproar for me; I'm there for you whenever you want me. Forget the Bajoran, and stop making a fool of yourself.
Suvuk turned and stared at him, past Kira, while both Bajoran women continued berating him. Laz now got up as well, touched his comm badge and spoke a few sentences.
"So. Done. You'll soon get beeped, Lieutenant. Is your problem solved now?"
"Yes", Suvuk spat, tearing loose from Jukka-Pekka and storming out without getting his tricorder.
"No", the Finn heard Adarys say before he jumped off, grabbing the tricorder on his way to following the Vulcan out.
Jukka-Pekka had to run to match Suvuk's pace. The Vulcan cut through the Promenade throng as if they all weren't there, and Äänekoski, on his heels, had to squeeze through all the astonished clumps of people closing in his wake. From the corner of his eye he saw Odo stepping from his office and looking alarmedly after the two of them; but he was to busy not losing the Vulcan to spare an explanation for the security officer.
They were only stopped in front of the Bajoran temple where just now a small group of zealots equal to Suvuk in their arrogance was leaving after some edifying experience. At first, they tried passing through each other; being in the same universe, however, this didn't work for either party, so the Bajorans resorted to aggresiveness, in which they were clearly superior to Suvuk. A tall, black-bearded Bajoran who looked like the wrath of God grabbed the Vulcan by his shoulders and shouted into his face: "This is a Bajoran station! It's bad enough you off-worlders are here at all, but disturbing our contemplation after a deep religious experience..."
Suvuk tried to extricate himself from the Bajoran's grip, but was grabbed by some of his companions and shoved about some more. Alarmed, Äänekoski dug into the group to assist Suvuk, but only ended up in corner with the Vulcan, about to be taught Bajoran manners. The whole commotion vanished very suddenly when a quiet but commanding voice behind the crowd declared, "Ladies and gentlemen, you best end your righteous indignation right here, or you'll get to see quite a different institution on this station were you can calm down really slowly".
The Bajorans resumed their religious stance and marched off. The shape-shifter took a step towards the two Starfleet officers and suspiciously asked, "What was that all about? Are you hurt?"
Äänekoski quickly answered for both of them. "Just a few difficulties in getting through this crowd; too many people on the Promenade. No damage done":
"How reassuring", Odo answered, stalking off after a last suspicious glance.
So, they suddenly found themselves all alone in a corner besdie the entrance to the Bajoran temple. Suvuk gave weak signs of wanting to continue his flight, but allowed himself to be stopped by Äänekoski remarkably peacefully. He pulled his arm from the Finn's grip with a gesture signalling defeat; if a discussion was unavoidable, he could at least consent to it with some dignity.
"Suvuk, we have to talk. You must see yourself that we can't go on like this. We both look like complete idiots, and, additionally, you are getting extremely unpopular. If you don't want anything to do with me in that sense, which I somehow can't believe any more, let us at least make peace and get on with our lives before they kick out both of us".
"I do not remeber giving you the permission to address me in the informal mode of your language, and neither do I remember any hostile action between us. And my 'popularity' among any emotional life froms does not at all interest me, as you should know by now".
"But you don't live alone in a cave from catching and frying bats, Suvuk, you live in a universe full of diverse life forms the study of which, if I remember correctly, you chose as your profession. I don't ask you be friends as we used to be, I just want you to stop acting like that so we can get on with what we came here to do".
Suvuk's ramrod straight posture relented, and so did the formality of his Finnish. "I do not want to hamper you in continuing your life, your work and your - acquaintance with that irresponsible Bajoran Ensign. I only wish you did it all somehwere where I don't have to witness it all".
"As I said, I got at least the same right to be here as you do, and concerning Andra Laz, he's certainly through with me after what happened tonight. And to be honest, I don't think that's for the worst. He was just a nice little distraction for me, and that makes me very sorry. I'm sure he's a great person and could be a wonderful friend if I'd given him the chance; he neither deserves my dishonesty nor your - intense dislike".
Suvuk lifted an eyebrow, and a shadow of his old 'negative smile" wandered over his face. "I suspect I will never quite fathom the actions of emotional life forms. I have never shown any - dislike towards your Bajoran, only justified criticism towards his more-than-lax work ethics".
"Suvuk, it was plain as the nose in your face that you were just stinking mad at me and horribly jealous of Laz. His sister has watched us in the shuttle on the way from Marak II and looked right through us even then. Aboard the Falcon I took your rejection as what it seemed to be, but now, after all that has happened..."
"I will not discuss my personal affairs with you in public. As your typical human lack of control requires us to follow this to the very conclusion, I would suggest we continue our disputation in my office, only..."
"Suvuk, I promise you I won't force myself upon you, and go away when you tell me to. If you're as honest with yourself as you Vulcans always claim you are, then you know that I would never do anything to you against your will".
Suvuk stepped from the corner and went up the nearest stairs, followed by Jukka-Pekka. But at his door they were encountered yet another distraction. "Hello, Mr. Vulcan! Look what my daddy gave me!" The small creature extended an electronic pad towards Suvuk, who earnestly turned to Jukka-Pekka. "This is Molly O'Brien, the daughter of our chief of operations".
"I know; the O'Briens sometimes invite me for dinner. Keiko O'Brien coaxes great sashimi from those miserable Cardassian replicators. She'd certainly get them to produce tofu for you if you'd let people come a bit closer".
Suvuk reached behind and shortly touched Jukka-Pekka's wrist. Not now. Please. A child must always come first.
Suvk took the pad and looked at it. Äänekoski looked over his shoulder and saw an illustration that showed Bajoran faces.
"Fascinating", Suvuk said. "A book of Bajoran fairy tales. Bajroan fairy tales contain many wisdoms that can positively influence small persons like you".
"What is po- ah..."
"In a good way. But you have to consider that those stories are not literally true; they're just made-up stories from which you can learn what is good and bad for the Bajorans. Monsters like the firebiter don't really exist, and the good people always win. You don't have to be afraid".
Molly didn't seem very interested in this lecture. "Mr. Vulcan, can you read to me? The book can read on its own, but it's much better when someone real tells it".
Suvuk smiled. Äänekoski quickly looked again, but he actually smiled. "I have no time for that now, I am sorry. I know it's hard to understand for small persons like you that grown-ups always don't have time, but I have something important to talk about with the Lieutenant here".
Molly seemed to notice him for the first time. "Is he your friend?", she asked guilelessly. "He's a friend of my daddy, too. Hi JP":
Jukka-Pekka grinned into Suvuk's bewildered astonishment. "Shouldn't you be in bed at this time, little lady?"
"Did you wander off again", Suvuk gratefully accepted his help. "I am honoured by your visit, but won't your parents miss you?"
"My mommy is at a - confance on Bajor, and my daddy had to go and repair some damn Cardassian crap. He said, Taleel is going to come soon and I have to stay in bed, but she didn't come".
Suvuk smiled again, and Äänekoski laughed, but the Vulcan silenced him with a touch. Never laugh at a child, or make fun of it. It will come to the conclusion that it isn't taken seriously, and develop an emotional reaction to that which it might keep for all its life.
Touched by Suvuk's earnest thouroughness in dealing with the strange child, Jukka-Pekka controlled his impulse. He tipped at his comm badge.
"Äänekoski to O'Brien".
"What's broken now", the engineer acknoledged.
"Nothing. It's just your little daughter loose on the Promenade. It seems her babysitter didn't turn up as planned".
"Oh, damn. Lieutenant, can you watch her for ten minutes or so, then I'm through with this and come to get her".
Suvuk nodded, and Jukka-Pekka answered the chief, "Of course. We're in Lieutenant Suvuk's office at the upper Promenade".
If O'Brien was astonished by this, he didn't show it; but most likely he had too much to do to even notice anything out of the ordinary. "Thank you. O'Brien out".
Suvuk coded open the door to his office, and they went in. "Can you now read to me, Mr. Vulcan?"
Suvuk relented. He lifted Molly into the only chair in his tiny office and said "Plaese don't touch anything; I have many sensitive instruments here".
Molly nodded. "Just like my daddy".
"What story do you want to hear?"
"One that is all new".
"Do you know the story about the little girl and the mirs-berries?"
"Yes".
"And the one about Gar and the firebiter?"
No. Read that, please".
"Sounds dramatic", Jukka-Pekka objected.
"It is an edifying and humourous story. Also, the human tendency to try and protect children from unpleasant knowledge isn't always appropriate. At some stage in their life they will have to face reality, and if they have been too sheltered before, they will feel cheated of the ideal world of their childhood, and show an undesirable emotional reaction".
"I don't understand that. Read to me, Mr. Vulcan!"
"My name is Suvuk, small person. I just explained to the Lieutenant how Vulcans treat their children. Sometime grown-ups have to talk about things children can't understand, and the children can only wait until its over and ask questions until they understand everthing. Be patient with us, Molly. If you're impatient, it'll only take longer until you've learned it all".
"What is patient".
"That you learn to wait until the others are finished without getting angry or starting to cry".
Äänekoski laughed at this dialogue. "You'll make a Vulcan of her, Suvuk".
"That is not my intention; I do respect her difference as a human. However, my own Vulcan education will not allow me to treat any child, even a human one, emotionally and irrationally".
Molly didn't say anything during this exchange, just kicked her feet at the air. Jukka-Pekka took pity on her, although he would have loved to go on discussing Vulcan principles of education with Suvuk in their reawakened closeness. "Perhaps you should begin reading her story".
"JP isn't patient either", Molly giggled.
"He is human", Suvuk replied, carefully neutral. He sat on an inactive console and began to read the Bajoran fairy tale. He read more dramatically than Jaukka-Pekka would have expected, but of course he stayed completely calm even through the funniest passages of the story, so Molly laughed all the more.
After some time, she slid off the chair and demanded to sit on Suvuk's lap and look at the pictures, and the Vulcan let her, much to Jukka-Pekka's astonishment.
When finally the firebiter had its great entrance in the story, and Suvuk read "And then, a large violet firebiter rose from the ditch and said to Gar in a horrid voice...", Jukka-Pekka came to stand beside him and read with a hollow and hissing voice the extremly funny dialogue of the misguided monster. Molly giggled admiringly, and so he continued taking the firebiter's dialogue.
At some stage, Suvuk's comm badge went off and began transmitting the comfimation from Memory Prime, but he silenced it with a tap and went on with the story.
When O'Brien finally showed up, apologising profusely because of the delay, Molly refused to go with him. "Come on, Molly", the chief said, embarrassed. "I'll read the rest of the story to you at home".
"But JP is a better firebiter; he does such a funny voice", Molly protested.
O'Brien grew even more embarrassed. "Molly, you shouldn't do that. You can't disturb the Lieutenants for such a long time".
Molly made a face as if starting to cry. "Molly", Suvuk said calmly. "Do you remember what I told you about patience? I have to talk about something important with Lieutenant Äänekoski. If you're patient, you can wait for the end of the story until another day when we have the time to read it to you; but I'm sure your father will do the firebiter's voice just as well".
"I'll be patient. Daddy can read the story about the little girl and the mirs-berries again", Molly decided.
"Thank you", O'Brien repeated. "Molly, say good night to the Lieutenants".
"I can do that alone. Good night, JP. Good night, Suvuk", she said, walking off at her father's hand.
Now he was finally alone with Suvuk, Äänekoski didn't know what to say. After their mutual easiness in front of the child he didn't want to return to the former intense confrontation.
"It seems the conversation we should have had has been all but concluded 'between the lines' in the presence of the small person", Suvuk finally broke the silence.
"Most of it. All that's missing is your explanation why you keep rejecting me if you so obviously want me, and if we fit together so harmoniously".
"Between what I want and what my self-discipline allows me there is a distinct difference".
Pity welling up in him, Jukka-Pekka took a step towards Suvuk and touched his wrist to let him feel his compassion. "Suvuk, you know this isn't about sex or something but about love, about belonging and the way we worked together on the way here and even tonight. I can do without any further demonstrations of my love as long as you want if only I get back your friendship and you stop opposing everyone and everything. I am only human, but I know about patience and control, too".
"I don't doubt that. Our estrangement during the last weeks was as much due to my own lack of control as to yours. I wanted your closeness aboard the Falcon; but my conscious choice had to refuse what my emotions wanted. I am Vulcan".
"But even Vulcans marry. Even Vulcans have friends and don't live alone in a vacuum".
"I will not lecture you about the norms and standards of my culture. I can only request you to accept that just now your presence, even your sight, is intensely disquieting to me. I know full well that your love for me isn't driven by desires but by deep and honest care for me. So if you love me, leave me alone! When all this is over and I am once more fully in control of myself, we can redefine our relationship in an appropriate way, but please go now, and keep away from me".
Hunched and miserable, Suvuk sat on his console. The hand Jukka-Pekka had touched moments ago was shivering.
He didn't know what to say any more. An almost overwhelming instinct drove him to take the Vulcan in his arms and hold him and make him see that all this denial was so terribly unneccessary and illogical; but something in what Suvuk had said, and the respect for all things strange that Suvuk had taught him, kept him back. He found the strength to just answer. "I'll do what you want. I will be patient", and leave the room.
On the stairs down to the Promenade he remembered Molly's story and the promise the Vulcan had made to her. He would never break it, no doubt because of the reason that this would be extremely bad for the child's development. As soon as Molly came to demand the rest of her story, Jukka-Pekka calmed himself, Suvuk would have call him back. Perhaps he'd even be past whatever was bothering him by then.
Belatedly, Jukka-Pekka realised what exactly it was that was bothering Suvuk. That had been what made his acceptance of Suvuk's conditions possible at last. Suvuk had reached the point when his Vulcan nature was demanding its due, and he refused to give in to that phenomenon he seemed to have fought, unlike any other Vulcan, for all his life. At any other time he might gladly have accepted the Finn's company. He might even be able to love him afterwards, when he wasn't forced to any more. All was possible again, but care and respect were his best options in dealing with Suvuk just now.
Of course the Andras weren't at Quark's any more, and when he reached his quarters he found an unmistakably angry message from the Bajoran on his terminal, declaring he never wanted to see him again; he really didn't need to be treated the way Jukka-Pekka had treated him.
His first impulse was to send an apologetic and repentant message to Laz, but he didn't. Adarys had seen right through him and certainly lost no time explaining it all to her brother, with extreme prejudice and many exclamations on the line of "That swine!"