Disclaimer as usual – I don't own anything, although it might be fun to own Solok.
Thanks to Garden Gnomie for the review and follow! I really appreciate it! You've got an impressive library yourself, but it is lacking Solok! I vote you write one next. ^_~
True Weakness
Ch.2 - Bearings
The stares and whispers followed Iris until the day she left. She knew exactly how the news had spread so fast, and before leaving she'd set a trap in the communal replicator for Vreeli. That Bajoran wouldn't be getting her typical Raktajino for a while.
Iris stared out the porthole. She knew down to the meter how large T'Kumbra was; she'd reviewed (for the 100th time) its blueprints during the journey. And yet up close, it seemed so much bigger. Her guts felt like squirming gagh.
It had been so easy to ignore the whispers until now.
'It's not like she's a top engineer.'
'Didn't she get in a fight with a Klingon on her first day?'
'She's gonna make us all look bad.'
'I bet that's exactly why Captain Solok chose her.'
Added to her own, the negative thoughts played on a loop in her mind. She'd even made the mistake of reading all of Solok's papers –
…We were there simply to observe, but in their inebriated state (and possibly even sober), the humans took offense to this…
…At first the debate was civil, but each new fact my colleagues and I presented only served to anger them more…
…In the end I had no choice but to accept the ill-conceived challenge. In my youth I was optimistic about humanity's potential for logic, and I truly believed I might yet educate Benjamin Sisko…
Aside from the Bolian who'd done little to quell her fears – 'Aren't Vulcans very dull? Why would you want to spend a year with them?' – Iris was alone during the trip. She was the only human en route, after all.
But now they had reached their destination, and she watched as the pod docked and the T'Kumbra connected with them. She wasn't the type of person who fainted, but that was looking like a possibility.
With a hiss of air, the portal opened and Iris saw one lone Vulcan woman. She had all the trademarks of their kind – olive-tinted skin, pointed ears, terrible haircut – and yet she was different from the ones Iris was used to. She wasn't very tall, and she was a little thick. Her face was round and her lips thin. Based on the handful of Vulcans Iris had known at the Academy, she assumed they were all tall, symmetrically flawless elves. But this woman was …average.
"I am T'Por, and I will show you to your quarters."
Iris did her best to wipe any hint of emotion off her face. Before leaving she'd spent over eighty hours with an acting coach. Together they'd worked on various techniques for controlling emotions and appearing calm. Iris yearned for the small pocket mirror in her satchel. If she could just pull it out and check her face she'd know for sure if she were pulling off a detached look.
"Thank you," Iris said, and she followed the Vulcan woman.
"There were forty-two available units for new ensigns. Each unit holds two persons. Generally, we allow people to choose their roommates, and rooms are chosen by first arrivals," T'Por said.
Iris had to quicken her pace to keep up with the woman. She already knew it would be the case on an all-Vulcan ship, but the gravity here was much stronger. Much more like Vulcan than Earth, and she had to work to maintain a normal walking speed. She was thankful they didn't share the same philosophy for the atmosphere – the Starfleet sanctioned oxygen levels were well within her comfort zone.
"However, we only have eighty-three new recruits," T'Por continued, and pressed a button for the turbo-lift.
When the doors opened T'Por paused her speech and entered. Iris dawdled, staring at the faces of at least twenty Vulcans who all looked at her like she was a lab specimen.
Once inside the human turned around and promptly stared at her feet. She could feel eyes all over her. She squeezed the leather grip on her suitcase, trying to relieve some tension.
Luckily they were only on the lift for one floor. Ensign quarters were in the lower decks, so it wasn't far from the docking ports.
"They've already settled in," T'Por said, coming to a halt at one of the doors.
"So I'm alone," Iris said, and T'Por opened the unit.
"For the time being," she said, and Iris took a step in.
The quarters were plain but spacious. At least here she could adjust the temperature controls. She wasn't sure, but it felt like eighty degrees in the corridors. Sweat had already begun to drip down her back.
She turned back to T'Por, "Thank you for showing me to my quarters."
"There is an introductory meeting tonight in Ten Forward. As an ensign it is required that you attend. Directions to the room can be found—"
"It's all right. I've studied the T'Kumbra quite thoroughly already," Iris said.
T'Por nodded, "I would expect no less."
Iris had to fight to stop herself from showing confusion, "But you were about to show me directions?"
"Yes, well," T'Por began, and if Iris didn't know better she would have thought the Vulcan was embarrassed, "They told us a human ensign might require more instruction."
The comment burned her, but Iris swallowed her feelings quickly. She wouldn't survive very long if she let every slight get to her.
"Well, I appreciate any help you can give me. If the information is superfluous, I will let you know," she said and gave a slight bow. The Vulcan nodded and left without another word.
Iris dropped her bag on the bed closest to the bathroom. On any other ship, an ensign getting a room to themselves would be like winning the lottery. But here she worried that it may not be such a good thing. A Vulcan roommate might've helped her meet people or get acclimated faster. As it were, she was alone. Even more so than she expected.
~000~
"They have a powerful odor."
"Like the Orions?"
"No. Theirs is an unpleasant one. During my time at the Terran academy I became accustomed to it."
Iris stopped dead in her tracks. She stood just outside Ten Forward, and by the sound of it there weren't many people inside yet. There were at least two Vulcans however.
"Where does it originate?"
"No one area. They have glands all over their bodies. When they become too hot, a fluid is excreted that cools them."
"How inefficient. Can they not simply lower their temperature?"
"They are not capable of this."
"Interesting. And at what temperature does this occur?"
"It varies depending on the human, but this one is pale which usually indicates ancestry from a colder region. Based on my experience I'd say that our new ensign will be constantly overheated."
"That is…unfortunate."
At that moment Iris was profoundly happy she'd decided to take a shower before coming down. And thankfully she'd brought along programs necessary to replicate extra strength deodorant and perfumes. Of course, she wasn't wearing any perfume right now. After a quick glance around, Iris sniffed her underarms just to make sure.
"Ensign—"
Iris dropped her arms with a clap and turned to find the owner of the calm voice addressing her.
~000~
When Solok approached the human, she'd been standing outside Ten Forward alone. He couldn't discern why, but humans often took confusing actions.
"Sir," she said with a slight bow of her head. Her cheeks were very red, but he assumed that was intentional. Females of their species had the curious habit of painting their faces with various pigments and creams. He had never gotten a clear answer as to why they did it, but assumed it had something to do with their overwrought mating rituals.
His eye fell to the glittering pendant around her neck. A blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds. She fingered it as he stared.
"Perhaps you have not had time to read the guidelines for dress here, but we do not wear makeup or jewelry."
"Makeup? I-I'm not—," the human stammered and stopped. After straightening herself she began again, "I'm sorry, sir. Being that this is a social event, I chose to dress a little more formally. I would not wear anything like this on duty."
Solok nodded, "I see. For future reference, it is not required during social events either."
~000~
Iris nodded and stared at her shoes while Solok passed her en route to the gathering.
Once inside, Iris made a beeline for the bar. She saw her reflection in the mirrored wall behind the liqueurs; the red burn of embarrassment had spread from her cheeks to her neck. Her expression was, at least, stone-like. She supposed her first interaction with the notorious Solok went better than expected, with only a slight admonishment from him. Next time she would do better.
From her safe space she noted the two Vulcan males who'd been talking about human body odor. Did they have no tact? They knew a human would be coming, but still they stood loudly discussing how the only one aboard would likely smell bad. When one of the males caught her eye she turned away quickly.
Part of her felt frivolous for dressing up, since most of the Vulcans here were still in uniform. But at the same time she was glad for her modest dress with its bare shoulders and scooped neckline. As more people filtered in, the eighty-degree temperature crept up another ten.
She drank an iced beverage that had looked like lemonade, but sadly did not taste like it.
"Is there some significance about the jewel you wear?" Someone asked, and when she turned she felt her cheeks flame anew. Addressing her was the one of the BO-curious men, and next to him stood his cohort.
"My parents gave it to me. To congratulate me on my assignment here," she said.
"Do humans often give their offspring gemstones?"
"Sometimes. But others—"
"I've noticed humans have an affinity for shiny rocks. Particularly women," said the Vulcan, addressing his friend more so that her.
"It's not just women," she said, a little insulted.
"Back when they used currency the expensive jewels spoke to one's status," the same Vulcan spoke over her.
"It's really just decorative—" she said, taking care not to raise her voice.
"I see. So it's more about announcing a pedigree?"
"And my parents replicated it—" she tried again.
"Yes. I believe she is attempting to display her worth."
"Can you not hear me?" She said, far too loudly. Both Vulcans, as well as a few surrounding, turned to look at her.
~000~
Across the room, Solok's watched the events unfold with a slight smirk. It seemed his assessment of the human had been spot on, and he expected her to provide many useful data points.
"I still cannot understand why you chose a human ensign," said T'Ri.
Solok turned to face the lieutenant.
"There were several reasons," he said, unwilling to elaborate further. "Has your brother been released from medical?"
"He has not, and I am meant to tell you – he will miss tonight's festivities."
"Understood," Solok said. He noticed that the slim Vulcan woman had stepped two inches closer to him.
"Any word on the mysterious photon emissions?" She asked, tilting her head to the side. This close her scent was unmistakable, and she knew it.
"That would be at first discussed with my number two. You will be debriefed if necessary," he said and stepped back a foot.
T'Ri stared at him for a second too long and nodded, "Understood, sir."
~000~
Iris cranked the temperature controls down to sixty and flopped on her bed. She'd nearly punched a Vulcan tonight. Well, about five of them. Somehow she'd been roped into a debate about the merits of human creativity at the expense of memory capacity. It was hard to argue clearly when so many of them piled on her. And it seemed every Vulcan was in possession of a sharp tongue. Too bad comebacks had never really been her strong suit.
So sure, punching one of them would have shattered every bone in her hand, but it would have been satisfying.
After taking another shower, Iris replicated some lotion and covered herself with it. After all this washing she was sure to have dry skin.
She laid out her uniform and set an alarm. They were closer to Vulcan than Earth, so any comm messages would take a few days to be received. All she could do was lie in bed and try to sleep.
~000~
"Father," Solok had been in his ready room for less than five minutes when the call came in. For productivity sake, it would be beneficial when they were out of range of Vulcan.
"Ambassador Stulan informs me that his son was rejected for a position aboard T'Kumbra."
More so than with anyone else, Solok had to control his emotions when speaking to his father.
"He lacked professional experience," Solok said.
"For an ensign?" his father asked.
"He applied as a lieutenant," Solok said, and his father went briefly silent.
They stared at each other through the comm, both understanding of the situation but unwilling to speak of it. It was a game anyone from the outer regions would be familiar with.
"You could have written back and offered an ensign position," his father finally spoke up, and Solok felt his chest tighten. At once he recognized the angry emotion, and with practiced ease he neutralized it.
"If an applicant cannot correctly determine their own capability, I will not do it for them," he said, and his father looked ready to say something else but there was a ding at the door. "I must go. We are leaving close range tomorrow, so I will speak with you again in six months when we return," Solok said and shut off the comm before his father could speak. "Enter."
In walked V'Lido, his second in command.
"Sir, we have further information on the unknown photon emissions," V'Lido said and placed a PADD on Solok's desk.
"And?"
"Based on the remnants, Tuval believes they are from a yield of 5 isotons."
With a quirked brow Solok raised the padd. He reviewed Tuval's equations for accuracy thrice. They were correct, but confusing.
"Even Starfleet micro-torpedos produce a yield greater than 5 isotons," Solok said, and V'Lido nodded.
"It would explain why no nearby bodies recorded a weapons discharge," V'Lido added.
"Do we have a likely route?"
"Coordinates are there," V'Lido said with a nod. "If we follow we would not be off schedule for longer than a month."
"Make it so," Solok said. "If someone is firing in this sector, even with feeble weapons, we must find out why."
~000~
Welp, this is going to be a slow-burn fic. I just don't think Solok would be an easy to get man, especially for a human. ^_~ But I do know where I'm headed with this, so hopefully you'll stick with me. Again, please review if possible! It keeps me going.