"Hey Ben. How about letting me slide in there to bat again? We've got company and I wouldn't mind giving him a glimpse into his future."
Lochlan jerked her head in the direction of the stands. Sisko turned his head to find his old nemesis perched primly in the stands, posture ramrod straight and confident to the point of arrogance with his fingers steepled calmly in front of him in the Vulcan fashion.
"Just like the last time. Almost like deja vu…," Sisko murmured. "He doesn't seem as smug this time though."
Lochlan smirked and leaned against the railing, peering out in Solok's direction as the Vulcan continued his surveillance of the Niners practice.
Out on the field there were the usual sounds associated with baseball practice. The umpire calling the game, baseballs connecting with bats or landing in mits with dull thuds, runners sliding onto bases…
"I didn't tell him I was playing for you guys so I'm sure he was less than impressed to find me here," Lochlan admitted. "Not that he'll be any more concerned about a victory for the Logicians. You have one Vulcan. He has several. Still, it is rather satisfying to be unpredictable."
With a deep, amused chuckle, Sisko tipped his head in the direction of home plate and grinned hugely.
"Hey, Ezri!" He projected out that direction.
Dax turned her head in Sisko's direction with a questioning look and raised a hand to shield her eyes from the simulated brightness of the sun so she could see him better.
"Let Sadara go ahead of you!" Sisko finished.
The short Trill woman gave him a thumbs up and retreated back to the on deck circle for some more practice swings.
Lochlan strode over to where her bat sat propped up against the wall of the dugout. She grabbed it and jogged out to home plate, subtly pointing Solok out to the other woman in explanation for the sudden change.
Dax glanced back in the direction Lochlan was pointing and shook her head.
"He just can't help himself, can he?" She said in disbelief, returning to her warm up.
Momentarily, Lochlan glanced up to catch Solok observing her with interest and, she hoped, a touch of apprehension.
After a few practice swings, she decided batting right handed felt more comfortable. She wrote and ate with her left hand, but with sports, she sometimes had to feel it out first. In this case, right handed felt much better. Briefly she wondered if she could practice her way into a switch hitters position.
Settling herself over home plate, she turned her focus to Jake Sisko on the pitcher's mound.
He had returned from vacation on Earth that morning after his father had let it slip about the rematch and would not be stopped from helping the elder Sisko in this game. He promised he would return to Earth to finish visiting his grandfather immediately afterwards.
His expression was entirely too serious and full of concentration. If his father was only interested in having fun this rematch, it appeared as if the son hadn't received the memo.
That was alright with Lochlan though. He wouldn't play lazy if he was still feeling competitive, whether it was simply against himself or against the Logicians in the next few weeks.
She was also very competitive in sports so she was hoping for a few right on target pitches headed for home plate.
Stilling her movements to indicate she was ready, she saw the younger Sisko wind up for the first pitch.
"Strike one!" The umpire hollered behind her as the ball screamed across the plate and landed squarely in the catcher's mit.
The speed and accuracy with which the ball had been thrown impressed Lochlan. She hadn't participated in the first game several years ago, but it had reached her ears that by those that had that Jake had improved quite a bit since then.
Unfortunately for the Niners, the pitcher for the Logicians, blessed with advantages that came with just being Vulcan, would still likely fare better in the coming game.
"Strike two!"
Alright Captain Lochlan, enough horsing around. It's time to show Captain Solok exactly who he's up against, she thought.
The third pitch, Lochlan swung at hard and she felt, more than heard or saw, her bat strike the ball in a way that felt thrilling. Like she knew she'd gotten enough power on it to knock it out of the park and only needed to see it sail over the fence as confirmation.
She could still feel the reverberations through her upper body as she dropped the bat and trotted off toward first pace at a leisurely pace that only those who hit home runs got to enjoy.
Sisko's loud, gleeful cackling emanated from the dugout as she passed.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" He said to no one in particular, all fired up.
Lochlan continued rounding the bases in no hurry. Being half Vulcan, she chose not to showboat as she did so. That she'd hit the home run with as much ease as she had proved her point much better than any celebration ever could have.
Solok might not get the blowout victory this time that he'd enjoyed the last.
Lochlan was in Engineering when Solok stumbled across her later that morning. He was down there on ship's business himself, but waited patiently several feet away while Lochlan and the chief, Michalski was his last name, finished their discussion. Despite his distance, Solok's acute Vulcan hearing still picked up the conversation. Fortunately, it wasn't anything personal or he'd feel more uncomfortable than he did. He'd literally have to move out of line of sight in order to have a chance at getting out of earshot as well and he needed Michalski to notice him when he was free.
"Certainly. I'll just request guest quarters on the station until those upgrades are completed," Lochlan agreed amiably. "Do you need me to move my corgis now?"
There it was again. That undeniable, irresistible warmth that radiated from her like sunshine, even when she wasn't visibly emoting.
How does she put others so at ease without effort? He wondered, swallowing hard at the foreign emotions she evoked in him.
Michalski shook his head and tapped a few commands into his datapad.
"If you could just get them and whatever you need by 1900, that would be perfect. Gamma shift will be working on yours and the XO's quarters overnight," he said.
"I will do that then. Thank you," Lochlan nodded, turning to leave.
"Captain Lochlan," Solok inclined his head in greeting as she caught sight of him.
She smirked in spite of herself.
Probably recalling her home run from earlier. Arrogant hybrid… why does she have to be so… insufferable. And alluring…, Solok thought grudgingly.
"Captain Solok. You've been turning up quite a bit today."
He lifted an unamused eyebrow. She used human expressions quite often in her speech which he found curious given that her profile stated she grew up on Vulcan.
"Indeed. It is not altogether unexpected that we would encounter each other numerous times on a space station this size," he stated simply. "Would you remain a moment while I speak with Chief Michalski? I would join you for the walk back to the habitat ring."
"Of course," she said, schooling her face back into a more neutral expression.
Apparently, demonstrating a lack of humor at her more human traits seemed to be effective in raising her figurative shields.
Solok wasn't sure that was the effect he really wanted to have on her now that he was seeing it in real time. Discouraging someone from being themselves, whether intentionally or unintentionally, was not the ideal method of beginning a courtship as he was hoping to do shortly.
"I will be just a moment," he assured her and walked the short distance to where Michalski was now digging around in his toolkit.
"You failed to mention you had joined Captain Sisko's team," Solok mentioned as they began their walk back to the habitat ring.
"You didn't ask," Lochlan replied in the Vulcan fashion, sounding almost smug about it.
"I did not," he conceded.
They left the Engineering section via the lift that took them up to the more congested habitat ring. Whereas everyone in Engineering had been hard at work and concentrating, the habitat ring was filled with more leisure and frivolous activities such as meal breaks, shopping, gambling, and just straight social discourse. Solok inadvertently uncovered the topics of numerous conversations as they passed through. Some of them unsavory and inappropriate for public, at least by Vulcan standards.
"I do believe we were unintentionally treated to the entire gynecological and obstetric history of that poor Orion woman's sister," Lochlan muttered, covering her face with her hands.
Solok gave her a sideways glance.
"You suffer from second hand embarrassment?" Solok asked, genuinely curious.
"I do," Lochlan admitted. "And suffering is an appropriate description for it too. Some of the conversations non Vulcans have in public… Surak have mercy…"
"Indeed. I was unwittingly privy to even more obscene ones during my time at the Academy. Young people are especially prone to a lack of good judgment regarding appropriate topics in public spaces," Solok added.
They continued on in silence a bit further when Lochlan turned toward the replimat.
"I typically eat three times a day as humans do," she volunteered at his questioning look. "Doctors determined it was better for my health given my hybrid physiology."
Solok lifted an eyebrow.
"Interesting. While I personally have not browsed for any research on the topic, I have on occasion heard that research of Vulcan hybrids is finding that to be specific to Vulcan/human females."
"Our metabolism seems to need that boost during the day," she shrugged.
He accompanied her as she ducked into the Vulcan restaurant and found a booth against the wall separating the main dining room from the "patio" area. The restaurant was dimly lit which suited him fine as there was sufficient light coming from the habitat ring.
"Since we are on the topic of topics unsuitable for public discourse, I have something personal to inquire of you. As we are not likely to be alone in a private space in the near future, this secluded corner will have to suffice."
Lochlan's expression lit up with curiosity and intrigue and she leaned in some.
"I'm all ears," she said, gesturing for him to continue.
Before he was able to, the server arrived at their table to take their drink orders.
They glanced up at him and Solok gave a nod of acknowledgement.
"Spice tea," he informed the tall Vulcan male.
"For me as well please," Lochlan added.
"Your Terran manners are impeccable," Solok noted teasingly after their server retreated to retrieve their drinks.
"Thank you," she replied with a slight lift of her left eyebrow. Solok swore he could see amusement in her eyes though her lips remained still.
Reaching for her menu, she looked it over and settled on a slightly heavier dish than she usually had.
"You may continue with your inquiry," she reminded Solok as he continued perusing the menu. He decided he would enjoy a meal since he was already here with her.
He swallowed hard, suddenly nervous and he set the menu down, lacing his slightly trembling hands in his lap and out of view.
With an effort, he looked Lochlan in the eyes and reminded himself that rejection came with the territory of attempting to select one's own mate. But as he had often heard humans say in the past "if you don't ask, the answer is always no."
"I wish to begin courting you in the Vulcan tradition if you will have me."
Lochlan's dark blue eyes widened in surprise.
"I am half human. Are you certain that is acceptable to you in a potential wife?" She asked cautiously.
Solok sighed inwardly. She was not being illogical for her skepticism given his attitudes towards more emotional species, but he had hoped that his intention to court her was proof enough of his acceptance of her human half.
"I would not have declared my desire to court you were I not."
"Logical. I am agreeable to it. Perhaps we should attend Benjamin's dinner tonight as a couple then?" Lochlan suggested.
An almost visible sigh of relief escaped Solok, threatening to leave him empty, but the space was filled with joy and hopefulness. They were far from married, but he also was far from rejected.
"A most excellent idea. I am very much looking forward to it."
She held her right hand out to him with her index and middle fingers extended in the ozh'esta and Solok, scarcely able to believe he was being allowed to touch her mind so soon, eagerly reciprocated.
.