Si'len and Be'na
Chapter Three
The basic activities of the ship continued, delivery and pick up until they reached Celtus V where they would enjoy a five day furlough. Si'len knew that S'mat and T'Mar were looking forward to the privacy that the planet's villas afforded. The other males on board always had contacts on each planet where they would fill their own agendas. Thus, the question that loomed, was, what to do with Be'na the only other female on board.
After deliveries, although Si'len deemed it unnecessary, the ship was going to be checked out by their on-board engineer and an on-planet repair shop engineer. The items that had to be shipped out would be picked up before their departure.
Before their departure for the villas T'Mar suggested that Si'len and Be'na check into a residential area in separate rooms and spend time together exploring the interesting sights on the planet. Because that was the safest route for her Si'len agreed and they showed up looking like an odd couple at a very low key vacation residence. Si'lin noticed that the majority of people housed there appeared to be older individuals or couples. He could foresee some raised eyebrows during their stay at that location.
He carried both pieces of their luggage as they checked in and he signed for both room. Si'lin insisted that they not be adjoined and after depositing her in her room went to his and decided to engage in an extended period of meditation, and five hours passed. Just as he surfaced there was a soft tap on his door and a soft voice,
"T'kahv." (Teacher)
He was dressed in his meditation robe when he opened the door. She was standing there with tears in her eyes,
"T'kahv, I am afraid to be alone in this place. It makes me think of my punishment from Grup. I will sleep at your feet on the floor and not bother you if I will not have to be alone. Si'len looked up and down the corridor to see if there were any prying eyes and then stepped away to allow her entrance.
"Do you require sustenance?"
She nodded in the negative,
"I require very little food. I promise that I will be very quiet and not disturb you."
"Is it only at night that this fear overwhelms you?"
"If I am busy on a chore during the day it does not bother me. You did not know that at night I slept outside your door and felt safe."
She threw herself at his feet,
"Please, Kakhartausu (guide) I will be silent and read if you allow me to stay here."
Si'len closed his eyes and nodded. She kissed his feet and crawled into a corner, covering the back of her head with her arms, she was facing the floor; a posture of submission.
"Would you require tea?"
She rose to her feet as she stated,
"I am able to prepare tea."
She served him his tea and retreated to the corner again. Si'len stated,
"It is not acceptable for you to sit thus. It is demeaning and would seem to indicate that I view you as beneath me, that is not the case, pointing to a chair at the same table as he sat. She slowly stood and walked slowly with her head down, and sat facing him.
He was not sure how he should address her, the use of Be'na's first name was uncomfortable on his lips. Allowing himself to recognize the difference in their age he started,
"…Daughter…
She shook her head and said,
"I am not a fruit of your loins, nor your female offspring."
"I wish to allow my address of you to reflect the fact that I am much older than yourself, that I will not harm you, so you will feel protected."
"Your very presence itself assures me of that fact and…I thank you. Since your first contact with me you have always served me in that way."
He nodded and voiced the 'needs edict'. Be'na stood and took his tea service to cleanse it. As usual she was dressed in a long shapeless garment that really did not hide the fact that had been voiced by Grup, her form was indeed beautiful. To remove that thought and that picture from his mind he would return to his meditation. It was necessary for him to remain centered in order for him to be useful in his role as the ship's healer a tradition in his family that also went back generations.
Si'len's eyes opened and his normal senses returned to the smell of food. Upon the table was a meal set for one as she had moved her chair away from the table and had seated herself at a distance so as to only observe him eating his meal.
"Where is your portion?"
"I will eat what is left after you have finished."
"Why have you made that decision?"
"I am your servant."
Si'len stood up and secured another place setting and positioned them facing his and gestured her to come to the table. He stated,
"Your position on my ship is as a member of my crew, here at this place you are my guest. You need grovel no more, you are free, be convinced of that."
With her head still bowed she brought her chair to the table. Si'len felt compelled to lift her face to his and repeated,
"Be convinced of the truthfulness of my words. Now, we will share my portion."
They shared their first meal together. Many more would follow to T'Mar's satisfaction.
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The day for departure came and the entire crew was involved with the loading of the ship. There were already safety protocol in place that outlined the most efficient use of the cargo space. In addition safety measures addressing the stacking order of the cargo. One of the crew members had not followed this instruction when a last minute item was loaded and S'Mat had already checked off his list, although the loader did bring the matter to his attention, the problem was no one rechecked the size of the package.
Si'len always piloted his ship out of port and then would turn over control to S'Mat. As captain, he was aware that this was indeed part of the role in which he served. As he sat in the captain's chair, conferring with his navigator, monitoring dials, switches, buttons and watching monitors he felt completely satisfied, or did he?