Saying Thank You (Part 2)

Posted on Tue Apr 18th, 2017 @ 9:10am by Lieutenant Commander Mira Jayde & Lieutenant Tristan Balor

1,467 words; about a 7 minute read

[CONTINUED]

[NEW]

"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."

[NEW]

Jayde shook her head. "On the other hand, if it's in the arboretum, it may not have a chance to grow much fruit. It would be in great supply." She considered him for a moment. "Would it not be better to have it where you can take joy in the tree and share the fruit as it becomes ripe? There is a feeling that comes from living trees you cannot replicate on a holodeck. Take that for yourself. Then you can take the fruit to the lounge as it becomes ripe to share with the crew."

Tristan smiled slightly as he heard her words than nodded when she concluded. "You are right, Mira Jayde, but as I said I may not have the room for it in my quarters."

She'd pushed him enough. To her, the idea of having a living tree in her quarters--especially one that bore such delicious fruit--would be a treasure. But it was his to do with as he wished. "I am sure Lieutenant Val would be able to accommodate you," she assured him. "There is often space for growing trees in the arboretum or one of the workrooms beside it."

Tristan stared at the fire for a moment, taking another bite from his fruit, before looking over to her. "Is your quarters big enough?"

Jayde took a bite and considered his question. "Yes. I will be moving into larger quarters. There will be room."

"Perhaps you can planet them in your quarters. It will give me more than one reason to stop by." Tristan said softly as he looked to her and smiled.

Jayde looked at him for a long moment, then smiled. "I think I would like having you...stop by."

"So would I." Tristan replied softly, holding out the canteen once again to her.

She smiled as she took the canteen and drank from it, then handed it back. "Do you come here often?" she asked before taking another bite of the fruit. It really was quite remarkable. She wished the ship had the space to grow enough trees for everyone on the ship.

"Usually at the end of my shift." He replied softly, looking towards the fire. "It reminds me of home and is the most comfortable place to thank my Ancestors for a good day." Tristan looked over to Jayde and smiled. "I can do the ceremony anywhere, but here it feels right."

She looked around again and nodded. "Yes. This is a beautiful place."

"This is home." Tristan added, looking around for a bit before looking back to Jayde. "This is where I was born. Where I grew up. Where I trained and where I caused trouble in my youth. Where I searched for creatures from stories because I swore to my parents they existed. This is where I fought my enemies, stood by my friends, and kissed my first love. It is also where I lost her. This place is always in my heart and now, thanks to this holodeck, it is only a few buttons away. To some it may not be real, but to me its as real as it gets for now."

Jayde nodded, appreciating the importance of this program and what it represented to Tristan. In some ways, she missed her homeworld, but her memories were far different. She put those thoughts out of her mind and enjoyed the quiet while she finished her fruit.

"I have made many memories here." Tristan said as he looked towards the fire for a moment. He looked back over to Jayde and continued. "However, I also plan on making many memories here, as well. On board the Hyperion."

Jayde's eyes met his for a moment. "While it is important to remember the past, one should not live there."

Tristan smirked as he looked to Jayde. "I do not live here, Mira Jayde. I live in my quarters."

"I was not talking about physically living here, Commander," she assured him. "I was speaking in general terms." She stood. "Thank you for the fruit. I do not wish to intrude on you further."

Tristan stood up. "I knew what you meant. I was only make a joke." He smiled as he took a step closer to her. "I do not need a hologram to remind me of where I come from, Mira Jayde, for home is where I am. It is in my heart and in my memories. I need only close my eyes and there it is. It is always with me." He placed his hands in front of him and tilted his head slightly as he continued. "And you were not an intrusion. You were a welcomed change to my routine. I am happy to share this with you."

She needed to learn more about him and his sense of humor. "Thank you. I have always loved the woods. I am glad you let me share this with you." Her eyes met his again. She took a step towards him and smiled.

"I would be happy to show you more, unless there is something you would like to share with me. You know all this stuff about me and my world. Yet, without using my clearance, I know next to nothing about where you come from." Tristan replied, his eyes locked to her's as he smiled.

Jayde paused for just a moment. "Can we walk?"

"Of course." Tristan replied as he picked up his sack and attached it to his hip before motioning towards no particular direction. Once they decided on a path he walked with her, hands behind his back.

She walked quietly for several moments. "I was born on Bajor during the Resistance. My twin sister and I were taught from a young age to gather information." She glanced at him. "It was seldom legal and usually dangerous. One of us would get the information and the other would be the alibi. No one outside of our cell knew there were two of us."

"That is a very efficient means of getting information." Tristan replied softly as he walked with her "I am aware of a being who worked the same way. However, he did not work with his twin, he worked with a shapeshifter who became him while he was away on business. His family was aware of the shapeshifter, as a matter of fact, he was treated as a member of the family. He is very close with the man's daughter."

"Interesting," she said. "My sister and I had our parents, until they were killed. And we had our cell." She shook her head as she remembered. "As soon as the opportunity arose, we joined the Maquis."

"I'm sorry about your parents." Tristan said softly before clearing his throat a bit before he continued. "I remember hearing about the Maquis. If you excuse me saying, but it makes sense that a child born during a resistance on her home world would be drawn to a similar group."

Jayde put a hand on his arm. "Thank you. I learned to deal with loss at an early age." It wasn't by choice, but she had her sister, and they helped each other. "We enjoyed much of our time with the Maquis, but their actions were not always ones we agreed with. So, when Starfleet offered everyone amnisty, we took them up on it." She paused for another long moment. "My sister and I were the only ones." She shook her head. "The ship was destroyed a few months later. All were lost."

She turned, her hand falling back to her side, and continued walking in silence.

After they'd gone a ways, she stopped. "I should let you get back to your meditation. I didn't mean to take up all your time. I simply wanted to say thank you, and I've done that."

"Nonsense." Tristan said as he stopped in place and turned to look at her with a smile. "It was time will spent. I rather enjoyed it."

"So did I." She smiled back. "I like your world, and your company." She hesitated for a moment. "Until the next time."

"Yes, Mira Jayde." Tristan replied as he bowed his head slightly, smiling a bit. "Until next time. I will look forward to it."

Jayde returned the bow. "Computer, arch." With another smile, she walked off the holodeck.

____
OFF

Lieutenant Commander Tristan Balor
Chief Intelligence Officer

Lieutenant Commander Mira Jayde
Executive Officer

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