Saying Thank You (Part 1)

Posted on Tue Mar 14th, 2017 @ 3:04am by Lieutenant Commander Mira Jayde & Lieutenant Tristan Balor

1,132 words; about a 6 minute read

ON

Now that they were back on the Hyperion, Jayde went in search of Tristan. He'd had her back in the fight with the Romulans and she wished to thank him.

Tristan was in the holodeck, enjoying a nice and relaxing program of his homeworld. He had spent a lot of time in this program, mainly because it reminded him of his home and old life. Wondering the terrain, hunting, camping, and riding his faithful horse. It was safe to say that he was homesick. He sat on a log, sword impaled in the ground and eyes focused on the fire in front of him, remembering the events that had gone by.

Jayde found him on the holodeck. She paused outside the door, not sure if she should enter or not. She checked the program and noted that he hadn't locked it, so she walked in, hoping he wouldn't mind a little company.

Jayde loved the woods and spent a few moments enjoying the scenery before she followed his tracks to where he sat by a fire. She paused at the edge of the clearing and watched him.

Tristan removed a small pouch from a sack he had by his side and reached his hands inside, pulling out a hand full of a powdered substance. He stood up, after placing the pouch down, and looked toward the fire. Slowly, Tristan looked up to the night sky and spoke loudly. "Ancestors. I thank you for being at me and my crewmates side during the battle today. We fought hard and, more importantly, we fought together. We are grateful we haven't received an injuries, allowing our business there to not affected by the outcome. I thank you, on behalf of my crewmates, with this hearty fire and offerings of Kamassite dust from the homeworld." He tossed the dust onto the fire, causing the fire to burst slightly. "And of the only thing I have left, drops of my life's blood." Tristan removed a small blade from his belt and sliced his palm. Quickly, he closed his hand into a fist and placed it over the fire. He slowly opened his fist and allowed several drops of blood to drip onto the fire before taking it away and wrapping it up in a ritualistic like cloth. "May you safeguard us throughout our journey." He ended his ritual by saying a quick prayer, under his breath, in his native tongue before sitting back down on the log.

This was far too personal. She should not be here while he communed with his gods. Jayde was normally silent while she walked through the woods, leaving no trace of her passage. But this time she was not paying attention and stepped on a twig, hearing the snap echo in her ears. She stepped behind a tree, hoping he would pay her no heed so she could make a discrete departure.

"You must surely work on your stealth skills." Tristan replied with a smile, his head was still down as he focused on tying the cloth over his wound. "To be fair, I knew you were hear long before you stepped on that twig, so you may as well approach and enjoy the light and heat from the fire."

Jayde stepped out from behind the tree and bowed. "I did not wish to disturb you. I apologize for my intrusion."

"No need, Mira Jayde." Tristan replied with a smile. "If such an event was meant to be private the doors of the holodeck would be locked. I was just paying my respects and giving my thanks for another good day. Please sit down and join me."

With a nod of acquiescence, Jayde sat down next to him on the log. "I came to thank you for your assistance." It had been a while since she'd found a partner she trusted almost as much as Liang.

"There is no need for thanks." Tristan replied as he opened the sack at his feet again. "I will always fight along side you, although I am sure you didn't need my help all that much." He gave a soft laugh before pulling out a canteen. "Here." He said softly as he handed her the canteen. "Spring water from my homeland. You will find it is as cold, and as fresh, as the day I removed it from the spring years ago."

She took the canteen and drank from it. "It is very good." She handed it back to him with a nod of thanks. "No, I did not need your help, but I was grateful for it." She glanced at him. "Nor would you have needed mine. There will be other fights and other opportunities. It is good to know I can count on you as well as Liang."

"Needing ones help, and having ones help, are two different things. I may never need it, Mira Jayde, but I will not turn it away." Tristan smiled as he placed the canteen in his sack and removed a piece of fruit. He removed a blade from his sack and sliced the fruit in half. He took a moment to removed the seeds from the fruit and placed them in a different pouch before handing Jayde one of the halves of fruit. "Ommerana Fruit." Tristan said softly. "It tastes like sweetened chocolate. I've been told it can be quite addicting."

"Fruit that tastes like chocolate?" Jayde asked, taking a bite. It was not exactly like chocolate, but it was also like nothing she'd ever tasted before. She took another bite, savoring the flavor. "I see why you say it is addicting. One could definitely develop a taste for it."

She nodded to the pouch where he'd placed the seeds. "Do you plan on growing the plant?"

"Perhaps I can encourage whoever runs the Arboretum to plant one or two." Tristan replied as he took a bit out of his half. "In time, other members of the crew may share in something that was once foreign to them." He smiled a bit as he continued. "I also figure there is no need to throw seeds away on a holodeck when I can easily plant them somewhere."

"You could, or you could build a container in your quarters and grow it there. With the proper lighting and the right soil, you could have it as part of your home on the Hyperion."

"I could, but I wouldn't have the time, plus there is no telling how big it will grow." Tristan replied before taking another bite. "Besides, if I place it in my office, not many people will be able to share in its fruits." He smirked slightly. "No pun intended."

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant Commander Mira Jayde
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Commander Tristan Baylor
Chief Intelligence Officer

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