ILLUMINARRPG: (2-1830) CMO/3O Commander Quinna Solice and CSec- Lt. Commander T’Mur

[Al Muir]

Mission:  An End and a Beginning

Day: 2

Stardate:  2446.03.17


(Vulcan - Capitol City - A Taste of Home Restaurant -  CMO/3O Commander Quinna Solice and CSec-  Lt. Commander T’Mur - 1830)



T’Mur had taken  Quinna the long way back to the Merchant District of the city.  They ended up in a restaurant that she had remembered from her youth.  It had professed to have the best food on the planet.  She wasn’t sure about that, but it did have a rather eclectic menu of food from many cultures.


They had been seated and ordered their food.  By the time their food was being served they had fallen into a comfortable conversation.


“Might I make an observation about you and Michael Weston?” she asked.


“Sure”  Quinna said as she took her first bite of dinner.


“There appears to be some unspoken tension between you.  Might I ask what that tension is regarding?”


“Michael and I have things to work out.  There is a lot stemming around that little girl.”  Quinna hated the fact she was a grown woman and she felt a bit of jealousy with Leeza.  At first, it was funny and now it was starting to get annoying.  “It is hard.  For Michael, he has been gone for almost a year.  For me, it was a week.”  Quinna took more bites of her food.


“I can imagine,” T’Mur said.  “If Quinna had been on the Rhyne for that year it may have had catastrophic consequences to her psyche.”


“What have you observed?”  Quinna was wanting to get T’Mur’s point of view.


T’Mur took a morsel from the vegetable selection and popped it in her mouth.  “I have noted that you have an increased tension around Leeza Pel.  I noted that before the revelation of her… status.  But there’s more than that.  There is something between the two of you.  Like one of you is hiding something… or you both are.  I care for you Quinna.  And I have gotten a renewed appreciation for Michael Weston.  I could say that I even trust him.”


“I trust him, too.  I always have but then I had to go and fall in love with him.  He is ready to run off with this child if he had to.  He is willing to leave me.”


“I am uncertain if willing is the correct turn of phrase,” T’Mur said, “as I understand the phrase. He is … passionate about what is happening with Leeza. If her life were not at stake I seriously doubt he would even consider it. But if you were honest with yourself, do you not love him because he is willing to lay down his life for another?”


“As illogical as it sounds, that is the reason why I do love him.  I am just a big conflict of emotions.  I went into this relationship knowing that one day, he could leave.  Now, I cannot imagine what will happen if he does.”  Quinna needed to change the subject.


“Let me ask you, why are you and Sienna not having a traditional Vulcan Ceremony?”  Quinna asked.


T’Mur raised a questioning eyebrow, almost in amusement. “Have you ever seen a Vulcan wedding ceremony?”


“No.  I have not.”  Quinna said.


“They are very… logical ceremonies,” she continued. “Very solemn, and serious. And they are quite direct and to the point.  None of those attributes describe Sienna very well, do they?”


She took another bite from her food and continued, “Sienna had dreamed of her wedding for a very long time. I, on the other hand, have never considered a wedding at all. Marrying Sienna is the closest thing I have to a dream, and I don’t really have a preference of how the ceremony goes. If at the end of the day, she is happy, then my dream will be fulfilled.”


Quinna thought for a moment, “In the end, it is not the wedding but the marriage, but would you not want part of your culture featured in the ceremony?”  Quinna asked.


T’Mur shrugged, “Since I am involved, then by default, part of my culture is involved in the ceremony.  And there will be some of my culture evident.  However, since Vulcan ceremony is very… understated… then it may be that some would need to point it out.”


T’Mur finished her food and watch Quinna eat the last of her meal.  “I hope that you enjoyed your meal.  I have one more thing to do before I return to the Illuminar.  I believe that it will be cathartic to my recovery process.  I should take my leave of you now.”


“Would you like some company, T’Mur?”  Quinna asked.  “Especially if it has to do with your recovery.”


T’Mur thought about her offer for a moment.  She was completely uncertain what to expect.  “I should warn you that I intend to draw information from the mind of this T’Sol.  But your companionship would be welcome.”


“You have granted me the pleasure to of being on this journey with you.”  Quinna said.


(Vulcan - Capitol City - ShiKar Florists -  CMO/3O Commander Quinna Solice and CSec-  Lt. Commander T’Mur - 1900)



T’Mur and Quinna approached the door of the florist shop. It opened to admit them. They realized that it had been opened by the older Vulcan who ran the shop.



T’Mur raised her hand in the traditional salute, “T’Sol, I appreciate your time.”



“T’Mur, daughter of Jopek,” she said returning the salute, “I will do what o can to help you. Who is your companion?”



“This is Dr. Quinna Solice,” T’Mur said. “She is the chief medical officer of the Illuminar and my friend. I ask she be allowed to stay to monitor my progress.”



T’Sol looked at the doctor dubiously, “Do foresee any medical emergency?”



“I do not,” T’Mur replied, “but considering my history I thought it a wise precaution.”



T’Sol nodded, “Very well. Come into the back room.”



Quinna took a second to take in the flowers the aroma seemed a bit intoxicating.  She followed the two to the back room but could not resist touching a soft red flower.  The color was more vivid than she had seen.  She turned her head and continued behind T’Sol and T’Mur.



T’Sol pulled a pair of chairs from a table and dropped onto one of them. She looked up with tired eyes.



“We should get started,” the older woman said.



“Agreed,” T’Mur responded sitting the chair across from her. She turned to Quinna, “I would appreciate it if you would monitor my vital signs to ensure both my safety and T’Sol’s”



Quinna reached into her bag and pulled out her tricorder.  “I have it taken care of.”



T’Mur leaned forward and reached out with her right hand. She carefully placed the fingertips on the side of the older woman’s face, finding the pressure points and feeling the blood flow that would give her access to the other’s mind.



She closed her rush and began, “My mind to your mind. Your thoughts to mine.”



Her mind began to wade through T’Sol’s surface thoughts and memories, like waves in the ocean. Recent memories and recent thoughts that she went through without taking note of them.



::I need you to concentrate on that night. Focus on that moment. See it in your mind.::



A calm response of acquiescence came through their meld and T’Mur suddenly found herself in a vivid image of the Merchant District at night. She could hear a girls screaming and crying. The image followed the sound until it came upon a man laying on top of a girl. The condition of their clothes made it clear that they had copulated. The visual evidence was equally clear that the girl had been raped.



T’Mur could feel her heart start to beat faster. The hairs on her neck stood on end and her body temperature started to rise.





The male had his hands on the girl's head. ~What was he doing?  Was he… no… that’s… uncivilized.  Suddenly he stopped. He looked over his shoulder, his face covered by the shadow. Then he moved, ever so slightly, so that his face was caught by the light.



The scene froze as T’Mur, for the first time, faced the image of the man who had destroyed her life, her family, and her childhood. The rage that she had driven deep inside her began to burn through the box she had kept it in. She reached through T’Sol’s mind trying to touch the face that had only been a phantom until this moment.



Her focus on the face became more intense as she attempted to get more details from the image that it possessed by T’Sol’s memory. T’Mur’s breathing became ragged and irregular, and T’Sol’s heartbeat and breathing began to match.



Quinna jumped from her seat.  The reading she was getting was concerning.  Quinna knew she needed to end this, but how would she do that.  Quinna slipped her hand on T’Mur’s.  “I’m sorry,”  Quinna whispered and removed the hand from T’Sol’s face.  After gently placing the hand down, Quinna picked up her tricorder and started scanning again.



With the connection to T’Sol broken T’Mur withdrew her mind behind her shields and removed her presence from the other woman.  Shen noted her elevated heart rate and respiration and centered herself until they came back to normal levels.  T’Sol was also breathing hard and was looking a little dazed.



“Thank you, Quinna,” T’Mur finally managed.  With her eyes still closed T’Mur croaked, “Apologies T’Sol, I did not expect such an … emotional response to the image of my assailant.”



T’Sol shook her head, “I did not realize how hard I was trying to hide that image.”



“But there was more,” T’Mur added.



“Yes,” T’Sol said and paused.  Then she said it.  “I know who he is.  He was always a troubled child.  He has managed to rise above most of his troubles but he still drinks to excess most evenings.  Rumor has it that he is V'tosh ka'tur.  His name is Sukkah.”



T’Mur raised an eyebrow, “Indeed. That is interesting.



Quinna looked curiously “V’tosh ka’tur?”



T’Mur looked at her and nodded, “The V'tosh ka'tur are Vulcans who… embrace their emotions, even acting upon them.  As a whole, they claim not to have abandoned logic but found a balance between logic and emotions.  Unfortunately, that balance often comes through a path of destruction.”



She turned back to T’Sol, “I thank you for your help.  If I may ever be of service to you, please ask.”



“Your offer is appreciated, but unnecessary,” T’Sol stood up, still a little shaky, and offered a Vulcan salute.  “Live long and prosper.”



T’Mur returned the salute, “Live long and prosper, T’Sol.”  Then she turned to Quinna.  “It is time to take our leave.”



She led Quinna out of the shop.



“Ok, so what is our next step?”  Quinna asked.



Once outside T’Mur could still feel her emotions boiling, but still under control.  Then her eyes scanned the crowd and she froze.



Quinn moved to be in front of T’Mur and look at her face to face.  She placed a hand on her arm and called her name.
“T’Mur…”  Quinna paused for a response.  “T’Mur, where are you?”  Quinna added a little shake to her hold.



T’Mur’s eyes narrowed as she gently moved Quinna aside and strode purposefully across the square, her eyes locked on a male walking slowly.



‘YOU!” She said loudly and the man stopped and looked at T’Mur. “You are Sukkah?”



“I am,” the Vulcan nodded.  “Who might you be?”



“There is no might,” she said standing in front of the man.  “You do not recognize me?”



The Vulcan shook his head, “No.  Should I?”



“Twelve years ago you destroyed my life,” T’Mur said, her voice sounding very dangerous.’’



Realization came across Sukkah’s face, then concern, and then a smile, “So I made an impact on your life. You were my first, you know.  But not the last.”



“You will have had your last,” T’Mur said.  “You will come with me to the authorities and admit your transgressions.”



“I will?” he said tauntingly.



“You seem like you like to talk about this, why not talk to the authorities,” Quinna said.  “



The Vulcan smiled, “That’s cute.  You have brought a pet who wants to protect you.”



“Doctor Solice is not my pet,” T’Mur warned, “and her protection is not necessary.  The point is, you will come with me to the authorities.”  She stepped into a battle stance, “One way or another.”



Sukkah took a step back and winked, “I suppose it will be the other.”



T’Mur shrugged, “So it would seem.”



Sukkah made an attack gesture, attempting to use his greater size and strength.  This was what T’Mur had predicted would happen.  She easily evaded the attack, then delivered a blow to the back of Sukkah’s head, sending him flying to the ground.  As he attempted to get up T’Mur was already on him.  She could easily have finished with a pressure point nerve pinch.  Instead, she chose another path.  Her anger came to the surface and she delivered another blow to the side of his head.  This sent him rolling onto his back.



T’Mur moved quickly and sat on Sukkah’s chest and began to deliver blow after blow to Sukkah’s face.  Blood started to flow freely from the prostrate Vulcan, but T’Mur showed no sign of stopping.



Quinna jumped in.  She took hold ot T’Mur, “This is not the way!”  Quinna said, “This is not Justice.  This is Vengence.”  She looked into Quinna secretly palmed her com badge and reached behind Sukkah.  She placed her com badge to the back of his clothing.



T’Mur initially pulled away from Quinna pulling her fist back for another strike.  Then her friends came into focus, and for the first time, she realized that tears were coming from her eyes.  Her anger dissipated and was replaced by guilt and shame at her actions.



Suddenly she threw her arms around Quinna, and burrowed her face into the doctor's hair and with a scream released twelve years of anger and frustration.  Then she just sat there on the immobile Sukkah and sobbed.



Quinna held tight to T’Mur.  “Come on, get up.”  She whispered into T’Mur’s ear.  She reached for T’Mur’s chest and tapped her comm badge.  “Solice to the Illuminar, Lock onto my comm badge and beam directly to isoroom 2 in sickbay.  Engage security locking.”



Quinna paid more attention to the woman in her arms.  “Time to get out of here. Ok.”  She was not sure if they should stay on Vulcan or if they needed to be back on the ship.  She knew that Sienna would be all over her if she got the sense that T’Mur had an emotional outburst.



When the body of Sukkah disappeared from under her T’Mur backed up until she was against a wall.  Then she slid down to the ground and pulled her legs to her chest.  She was a fifteen-year-old girl, who had just been raped, and she was lost.



Quinna knelt down in front of T’Mur.  She put a hand on each shoulder.  “T’Mur, honey, We have to get off the street.  Do you hear me?”



Quinna’s voice cut through the emotions.  He took a deep breath and released it.  Her body shivered and she was herself.  She jumped to her feet and offered her hand to Quinna.



“You are quite right,” T’Mur said.  “Thank you, doctor.  Quinna.  If you hadn’t been here I might have… worked out twelve years of aggression.  We should get back to the Illuminar.  When Sukkah has recovered from his injuries we shall turn him over to the authorities.”  She saw the concern on Quinna’s face.  “Don’t worry, I am myself again.”  Then she smiled, her final show of emotion and affection. “I will tell Sienna.”   She reached out and touched her friend’s cheek.  “About everything.”



“Remember, it is my job to worry.  I will have to confess I am concerned.  Such an outburst could be attributed to Panar.  Even if you were treated for it.”  Quinna said. “Do you know where we can go?  Someplace quiet to get completely composed?  Would you like to go back to the ship?”  Quinna knew there were witnesses to the event but she wondered if were recorded.



T’Mur bowed her head, “It is not part of the Pa’nar syndrome.  That has cleared.  It probably has more to do with the PTSD I apparently have.  This I will have to work out with one of our counselors.”  She sighed, “Dr. Tate did warn me of this.  But now that I have experienced it, I may be able to control it.”



She hugged Quinna tightly and then released her.  She returned to her typical behavior patterns.  “Yes, please.  I would like to go home now.”



She tapped her comm badge, “T’Mur to Illuminar, two to beam up.”



“Make that one to beam up.  I have one more place to go.”  Quinna did not want to leave without visiting the Market.



(reply none)

(Posted by Al Muir and Kris B)


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