Tea Greetings Part I
Posted on Sat Apr 5th, 2025 @ 7:01pm by Lieutenant Commander Corin Layal & Lieutenant Siadra Molaur
Edited on on Tue Apr 8th, 2025 @ 1:21am
2,083 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2 - The Sins of History
Location: Quarters of Siadra Molaur - Deck 4 - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD011 1900 hrs
Inside her quarters, Siadra was looking at the manifest once more jotting down notes in a journal which had a dark blue cover. Sure she had the personal log she keeps on the computer but for her having an actual pen in hand and placing the words on paper, to her it was an exquisite experience.
Besides that it is easier to carry a small journal especially if a PADD wasn't functional. A name came up as she looked at it, someone newly added to the manifest. Commander Corin, Bajoran. A new prosecutor.
Pondering over this new development, Aardru piped up. A new prosecutor, do we know anything about her? You do not know anything about her except for she is Bajoran. New person, some new stories that you might find out." Aardru commented.
Yes, yes, you must find out and make sure you invite her to tea make it casual and friendly. Keema added.
"Well what if she doesn't like tea, not everyone likes tea you know." Siadra rolling her eyes. Of course this was a bit of an age old conversation with the hosts voices loving to give out advice to Siadra. Most of the time they were rather helpful.
What if she does? Besides you already know what to do, I think you do this just to argue. Keema letting out a huff.
"Yes you are right." Siadra giving a laugh. "At times I have to have a little bit of fun with the voices in my mind."
"Computer, what is the location of Commander Corin?" Siadra waiting for the answer before she went to deliver a personal invitation.
Layal was sitting cross-legged on the table in the legal conference room watching Gul Vamcet's interview for the second time. The first time she had watched straight through and took rushed notes. This time she was taking her time. Pausing. Going back. Supplementing her notes with quotes and observations. It wasn't that her office was small, but the change of scenery and the larger screen was a way to force a second wind when she was starting to lose steam.
The door to the conference room opened, revealing a woman with Trill markings. She was a moderate sized woman with wavy dark brown hair, having a pleasant, warm smile. "Commander Corin? I am Lieutenant Molaur, Chief Science Officer. Sorry to disturb you during your work. Do you have time for a break and some tea?"
Layal rushed to hit pause on the playback when the door opened, then slid off of the table standing to greet the new coming. "Hi, nice to meet you. You can come on in. Layal is fine." Layal looked back at the paused video and blinked a few times. Her eyes were dry from days of reading and looking at evidence.
Layal turned her gaze back to the Lieutenant. "Actually, it might be a good idea to take a break. I've been trying to cram so much information into my brain in such a short amount of time. I think I'm hitting that point of diminished returns. Walking a way for a bit might help hit the reset button. Where did you want to go?"
"Please call me Siadra. Where to go depends on if you want quiet to drink tea, then that would be my own quarters or we can go to the Sidebar Lounge which can be a bit active. I am good with either one. My tea selection is in my quarters, with some little cakes or tea biscuits which go well."
"Let's go to where your tea selection is then," Layal responded with some enthusiasm. "I'm sure that's better than what the replicator could conjure up."
"I prefer real tea, compared to the replicator style. Though at times just having the ability of getting a quick cup of tea when in a rush is helpful." Siadra led the way to her quarters, thinking that she was quite glad she got her quarters a bit more organized before this visit.
When they stepped inside, Siadra made a graceful sweeping motion, "Welcome to my humble abode" A quick look about would reveal a few of her hobbies. Above, to the left of the door in a corner of the front area would be a net with different colored balls of yarn. Beneath the net would be a dress form, black in color.
Just to the right was her work station, beneath it was a portable sewing machine. Built in shelves housed fabric, and sewing notions with scissors. An assortment of books could also be seen, some of which were the complete works of Shakespeare, there were books by the author Charles Dickens. Plus works of Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Separating the sleeping area from the rest of the quarters were dark blue velvet curtains which were closed. The sofa, which fit in a corner, was a navy blue with dark grey throw pillows for an accent.
"It's lovely. It looks like you keep busy off duty." Layal's face lit up when she saw Siadra's book collection. "Do you read a lot?" Layal asked with interest.
"Yes I do, I have a collection in storage as they wouldn't fit on the wall space that I have. I change out my library from time to time. How about you? It seems like you love to read. What are your favorite books to read?" Setting up a hotplate she had to heat up the tea water, along with the teapot which will whistle once the water was done.
"Just about anything really. Fiction, nonfiction. It was one of the few comforts during the Occupation. After we were liberated, I was so excited to be in school, I read anything I could get my hands on really," Layal replied with a hint of nostalgia in her voice. "When I got into Earth literature I found some of the ways they tackled religion and morality really interesting. Kurt Vonnegut, Margaret Atwood, Paulo Coehlo - so much variety among the authors, but they are all so creative."
She placed her fingers along the shelf in front of the works of Shakespeare. "I've seen a few plays. I enjoyed them quite a bit."
"I do love his works, I also have in my collection of books; Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. If you'd like to go through my collection, I wouldn't mind a bit." Siadra had noticed Layal's attention to the books as if seeing long lost friends.
"Really, are you sure you wouldn't mind?" Layal asked as she looked over at Siadra. "I'm not familiar with any of those authors. Maybe you could recommend something to start with."
Siadra thought for a moment, there were two others that she could let Layal read. She had just finished reading them. "I will be right back." Disappearing behind the curtain for a few moments then returning. "I have two books here. One is by George Elliot 'Silas Marner' and the other is Count of Monte Cristo of which I had mentioned." holding out the two books. "You can take both if you would like." giving a genuine warm smile.
"Thanks. Should be fun. Hopefully I get some time to read them," Layal commented as she reached for the books with interest. "I should make time. Brain resets are good for the soul. And this case is troubling on a few levels that's for sure. How did you get into Earth literature?"
"Well, back in the day. around the 2100's Jomod came across a collection of William Shakespeare's works at a booth. It seemed to have been well loved and read over and over again. The books were bought and thus began the intrigue and rich adventure of reading books from Earth. Plus also introduced the aspect of getting into the Earth theater as well, making comparison's as to the theater for Trill." Siadra having a smile of fond memories.
"I've never been to Trill," Layal admitted. "Or experienced Trill theater. What's it like having the memories of other hosts like that? I mean you have a memory of what it's like to not have those memories. Hosts and symbiotes are typically joined in young adulthood, correct?"
"Molaur and I were joined when I was 24 years old. And I have memories of my own, before I was introduced to Molaur. Funny story, I met Molaur's previous host, Keema when I had first joined Starfleet. Apparently there was something about me, I suppose that caught Molaur's attention." the teapot whistled announcing that the water was ready. Bringing out the tea, she set it down for Layal to have her choice.
"I do have their memories, in fact I tend to have a conversation with them, hosts offering advice or their own perspectives on things I come across. It has been very helpful."
Layal selected blend that she was familiar with and enjoyed ordering from the replicator, though had never tried freshly brewed. "Actual different voices in your head," Layal said thoughtfully. "I suppose that would be helpful. I have a constant internal monologue and can even hold a pretty heated debate with myself, but it's still always just my voice, just me, I mean."
"Each one has their own perceptions and I feel that they helped to develop me more. Up here in my mind I have the voice of the first host Jomod, an actor, a writer and a director. A rather creative individual. He lived a long and fruitful happy life,140 years. The next one, Aadru, interesting fellow he was a historian, a curator and an antique dealer. His lifespan was 120 years. Then there is Keema, a simple weaver, and seamstress. The third host, she lived until 93. Now I am the fourth host, I knew Keema when I was a child. All of the assortment of voices, to keep me company up here."
The teapot whistled shrilly letting the two ladies know the water was ready. She went to pour the water into the cups that were ready with the teabags.
"It must be comforting - knowing that when Siadra dies, she won't really," Layal commented. "I saw a lot of death at a young age, and I didn't think about it a lot. It was painful to lose someone. And it was painful to see other people hurting when they lost someone. But as I get older I think more and more about what if anything am I leaving behind."
"Possibly, it all depends on if the next host would want to have the voices in their head. Or go through the procedure to silence the voices of the hosts." Siadra's voice taking a solemn tone. "Or if Molaur can get transferred to another host, there are the possibility of both symbiote and host dying. I had a close call earlier, before you came onboard. We almost died as a result of some insect having been in one of my crates which bit me. I do not know how it got there, but it was there. Viessa and our former entomologist saved my life."
"I thought taking on a symbiote was a pretty competitive process," Layal commented as she furrowed her brow in confusion. "Why would you go through the process to silence the other voices. Isn't that the point?"
"There is the process of making certain if the Trill is compatible. Some are compatible but, at times one has been known where they do not want to connect with the memories of the other hosts, and that gives them psychological trouble. They wish to just be the only one in their head. It is sad when that happens, thinking of the history that can be lost."
Siadra poured the water into the cups for the tea to steep. "As for your wondering about what you may or may not leave behind. There are moments as life progresses that, just a momentary meeting, can leave a lasting impression. Or are you speaking of personal history wise?"
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Siadra Molaur
Chief Forensic Science Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Lieutenant Commander Corin Layal
Judge Advocate General, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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