At The Appointed Time
Posted on 24 Nov 2023 @ 10:06am by Commander Calliope Zahn & Brek - Timeless Treasures Art Gallery & Krosin R'Trerah-Johnson
Edited on on 06 Feb 2024 @ 10:08pm
Mission:
M4 - Falling Out
Location: O.C - Promenade
Timeline: M4 D2 Afternoon
3049 words - 6.1 OF Standard Post Measure
At the appointed time, Ara presented herself on the deck indicated by Krosin, for a tour of the station’s promenade. Aged 90, what would be, for most people, a casual stroll, promised to be a grand expedition and she was dressed for the occasion, having donned a long steel grey dress with multiple pockets. She had expected Kreca to accompany her, but the young artist had decided that she was tired and she had retired to her quarters. Younglings were quite amazing: they often managed to be more tired than their elders. It was, truly, incomprehensible!
The old Ferengi noticed the presence of the tall Caitian woman, very remarkable she was, with her bright orange mane and her bare feet. Had she been 50 years younger, Ara would have found the young Caitian intimidating, but nowadays nothing mattered much to her - well except for the status of her children and grandchildren...
“Ah, Krosin!” Ara croaked rather loudly, in case the young woman had not seen her. “Am I glad to see you here. So, where should we start this magnificent tour? I must say right away, I only want to explore the best venues, especially the restaurants, and the spas too. Health through water, this is what, I understand Hewmons prefer to use, instead of mud baths. Although I’m told they occasionally use mud too.”
Krosin looked over at the approaching Ferengi and turned to her with a smile. "I don't know about humans but if I got mud in my fur, it would be incredibly uncomfortable." Krosin shuddered a bit at the thought. "As for the tour there are many fine restaurants, spas, and galleries we can see throughout the Promenade. I can also show you the environmental ring which is quite magnificent. We're just waiting for the Xeris to join us so we can begin."
“No mud therapy for you then,” Ara added with a nod. “You don’t know what you are missing, my dear. “Yes, indeed, the environmental ring sounds like a good idea. I like fresh air like anyone else. We mustn’t walk too fast, though. I have little feet...”
As if summoned at the mention, the Xeris seemed to exit the turbo lift on cue. Mr Xeri with his arms casually folded behind him, walking along with a pleasant unaffected smile over his face. His wife, who had changed her outfit for the third time that day (this time to include a tholian silk blend woman's suit jacket with very full puffed sleeves and highly detailed pin tucks) was looking furtive and irritated. They walked at two differing paces, but Mrs Xeri zig zagged while her husband moved forward, almost serving as an anchor to her flighty feet. Although they carried on a conversation the whole while, none around them were the wiser to it.
"Good afternoon," Irwin greeted Ara and Krosin as he approached. "Are we shy a couple of members of our party?" He asked, looking about for the other ferengi. "The artist? Has Ms. Pak yet to join us?"
“Good afternoon to you too, Mr and Mrs Xeri,” Ara said, with a quick glance at Mrs Xeri, who was unusually withdrawn. Something had gone wrong, and she had a clear idea what it might be. Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were all insufferable, when they had a mind to be. “The artist, as you said, will not be joining us, she is tired apparently. At her age! It boggles the mind, doesn’t it? What young people choose not to do...”
Krosin glanced at the Xeris as they approached, shifting slightly as she noticed Mrs. Xeri's posture. "Ms. Pak will not be joining us for the tour, so we are all here now. Any questions before we begin?"
"Not as such." Mr Xeri said pleasantly. "If any should come to mind we will be sure to ask."
Jalaine must have been offended by something her husband communicated silently because she huffed and put her hands on her hips, separating herself from him and electing to take up company by Ara's side. "Well!" she declared in his general direction. "At least we both know where Ibis gets that trait from!" And then to Ara. "He's simply incorrigible."
“Tsst... Men,” Ara said, her tone reproachful. “They are so lacking. No common sense, or sensibility, in most of them. I would have done entirely without them, had it not been for their... hmm... talents in other domains. My dear Mrs Xeri, you look a little chagrined. Nothing, I feel sure, that a drink cannot remedy. There is this Terran speciality, you may have come across... What is it called? A smoo-something. Fantastic mood-boosting, those are. Krosin, take us to the closest bar. It is an emergency.”
Krosin watched the strange exchange, then thought for a moment identifying the closest bar. "Hula Petes is nearby if you wish to go there." Krosin looked around the group
“Actually, my wife is abstaining.” Irwin interjected, certain that alcohol would only make matters worse until she could overcome the shock of all the recent developments. He’d long grown accustomed to declarations against men. Old biases being what they were, it was just matter of fact in Betazoid culture. It affected him little. “At least for today. I imagine perhaps some fresh air would better suit our nerves.”
"In that case nothing can beat the environmental ring in that regard. This way please." Krosin set off towards the travel core.
As the trio marched towards their new quest, Ara whispered a few words to Mrs Xeri. “Your family reunion seems to have gone as poorly as mine. Youngsters are like uncut diamonds, they say. But it is hellishly difficult to find the right tools to ‘uncut’ them.”
“Ah! As if there could be any hope in correcting them once they are off on their own paths!” Jalaine lamented. “What fresh grief does your grandson cause you now?”
“Sadly the grief is not fresh,” Ara said, shaking her head. “For the past eighteen years I have tried to find a suitable wife for him. He rejects them all. I’m beginning to think that he... no, I mustn’t go that road. I prefer to think that he behaves that way only to annoy me. Do you think it possible, Mrs Xeri, that a youngster would be awkward just for the sake of causing trouble?"
"He will not marry! Even when you present him a perfectly charming match! The artist Ms. Kreca, I presume." Jalaine put the pieces together from observation. She hadn't been entirely lost to her own concerns. "Meanwhile my daughter insists on an unsuitable match, made out of the most horrible of circumstance! He's not even her own kind, and this is a failing of my own, agreeing to bring her up among so many humans! Maybe if I can stall her long enough from making any vows she might come back to her senses from her terrible ordeal and call the whole thing off..."
Jalaine didn't see her husbands grimace and the gentle shaking of his head. Irwin was already of a mind to mitigate his wife's interference, but he knew voicing his opinion would only make Jalaine more determined in her feelings. It was best to handle such things with an innocent tact.
"What about you, Krosin," Ara asked. "Do you have children to worry about?”
Krosin looked at the inquisitive Ferengi, somewhat surprised by the question. "None of my own, but I have thirteen nieces and nephews mostly on my side of the family. Caitian families tend to be quite large."
“Good luck with those!” Ara said, somewhat amused. Despite the problems they often caused, she loved large families, finding that profits could often be made thanks to the hard work of younger generations. She then returned her attention to what Mrs Xeri had said moments ago. “Tsst tsst... those hewmons... They are everywhere, everywhere!"
"Are they ever! I suppose even if I would have raised her on my homeworld, she would have likely as not known as many Terrans as Betazoids." It was a point of consolation. The failing wasn't entirely hers.
"But tell me, Mrs Xeri, is your daughter under the subjugation of that undesirable male or is she in... in love? Again and again, I wonder: how far can we go to redress a situation?”
Jalaine mimed an expression of fainting, her arm across her forehead dramatically. "Ah! She believes herself to be completely smitten! He practically glows supernaturally in her esteem! But in reality, he's nothing to look at."
"Jalaine," Irwin whispered, before adding apologetically outloud for the others to hear, in defense of his future son in law. "Major Wallace is a Marine, a combat veteran, and suffered as well as Ibis did from near starvation and poor conditions in captivity. I do remember him being something of a strapping specimen some years ago. I'm certain that he will recover."
"Years ago! He was a brute!" Jalaine retorted. "Terrifying, rude. Nothing but unpleasant! I had to block him out, he was filled to the brim with vitriol."
"Yes." Irwin was forced to agree. "But that does seem to have changed."
Jalaine harrumphed her disagreement. "He was difficult to read. He dodged us. What could he be hiding? Bad intentions? Poor character?"
"Perhaps he simply is a private soul. In any event," continued Irwin, "his past nature has little bearing on our daughter's feelings for him now."
"Feelings she developed being trapped with him! Alone! On a wretched island! Tell me, dear Ara," She resorted to the advisement of the Ferengi woman who was fast becoming the most reliable ally she had in these matters. "Does that sound to you like an appropriate foundation for a relationship?"
Ara contemplated the situation. In her opinion, wealth could overcome everything, poor looks included. However she refrained from mentioning the word ‘latinum', as few species were capable of appreciating the sheer power of the precious liquid metal. “What you described is horrific, Mrs Xeri. It sounds like this combat veteran, this Major, is controlling your daughter.” She shook her head.
"Yes," Jalaine affirmed. "He seems to have some sway over her."
“She must have become blind to his true character... easy enough to do whilst they were both in captivity. What I would do, if I was in your position, is to observe this Hewmon, and make a list of all his faults. Then you will have a clear idea how bad he is. It is, in fact, your duty to do so. On my side I would not want an evil woman to approach my little beetle, that's for sure.”
That sounded to Jalaine like a proper approach. She would have to make her case to Ibis and convince her to come around to her senses. "I think I will do just that! You are very illuminating company, Ara." Jalaine smiled now, her heart lightened with hope.
“Are we far from the environment ring, Krosin?" Ara asked. "My feet are beginning to give me trouble. In all honesty, they are my worst enemies.”
Krosin gestured to the Travel core station the group was approaching. "Almost, just a quick tram ride." Krosin looked for and quickly found a car that was going up guiding the group into it.
Pushing past her husband as he tried to offer her a seat beside him, Jalaine purposefully elected to sit with Ara, instead.
"It seems," Irwin said aside to their guide, "That I find myself in the proverbial dog house."
"So it would seem." Krosin mused as she tapped the icon for the environment ring on the cars control panel. She then moved to take her seat, shifting her tail out of the way as she sat down.
Ara took place in the tram with great relief and some dazzlement too. You couldn’t do that on Ferenginar: travel in style, without paying anything. She enjoyed it, there was no doubt about that, but at the back of her mind there was an odd sensation, seldom felt, a sort of guilt. There was, after all, no such thing as a free lunch. Payment was always due, sometimes in the most unusual manner...
“Well, I’m not sure if I’m truly illuminating,” Ara said, resuming her conversation with Mrs Xeri. “I simply try my best to keep my family as a unit that works more or less together. Sadly everyone wants to follow their own path, and they do so using devious tactics at times. So, this Major who is plaguing your daughter, what is the worst behaviour you’ve seen from him, so far?”
"Where to even begin! He intentionally cold blocks me out. Why it's no fault of a Ferrengi that they can't be read telepathically, but he's human and he makes a whole effort of it! Clearly, he's hiding ill motives."
Ara kept silent. It was, indeed, a blessing that Betazoids couldn’t read the mind of Ferengis. Think of all the trade that would collapse, all the latinum vanishing because a telepath had made a sneaky reading...
"... And what he does reveal is crude and insensitive. Swearing and rude comments. He even outright let slip his sense of distaste! Towards me! He seems to want to hate me. With that attitude Ibis will have to see that he means to come between us, and then, surely, she'll see him for what he is. "
“I would imagine that he has discovered your intentions, and he probably sees you as his enemy. Thankfully, he has revealed his temperament to you right away. This is an asset.” Ara nodded her head at her own cleverness.
"I suppose it is!"
“It is sad to say, but it looks to me like those years he’s spent in captivity have turned him into a wild animal... He probably can’t behave decently anymore.”
"Anymore! Oh, he was always that sort of a darkly brooding disposition. I met him, some years ago. He hasn't changed his stripes! To say nothing of the fact that he's practically indifferent to Ibis's wellbeing! She has a terrible condition and he didn't even express any interest in her having it treated. He likened it to a few of his own rotted out teeth! "
“An animal, as I said. And a terribly selfish one at that.” Ara added. “A woman should always be treated as a lady. What sort of condition has befallen your daughter, my dear Mrs Xeri? Surely she hasn’t been impacted as severely as the Major, who barely looks human anymore, judging from your description.”
"She's lost her telepathic senses. Not even so much as an empathic connection. She was born gifted and now she is blind!"
“Oh...” Ara was pensive for a moment. “It is obviously a crucial skill among your species. As essential as a shrewd business acumen is to my people. My grandson, sadly, isn’t very gifted in this area.” She sighed. “His talent is rather directed at leisure it seems... Wickedness takes many forms...”
"Yes, I suppose it is like so many things, a matter of misplaced value. Throwing away great potential!"
"My thought entirely. Is there hope for your daughter, though? I don’t pretend to understand how telepathy works, but surely medical science can offer solutions? Perhaps with neuroplasticity? Is it the correct term?”
"I should hope so. Ibis refuses to return to Betazed where we might be able to secure a specialist. I would find her the very best, you know." Jalaine sighed heavily. "She tells me she'll have it looked into here."
“Well, as annoying as Starfleet can be, they have excellent doctors.” Ara conceded. “Your daughter will be in good hands. You will have to make sure she follows her treatment, though. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Major tries his best to dissuade her from seeking help. After all, for as long as she reminds ‘blind’, she cannot see his true nature, and this is obviously to his advantage...”
"Your vision is clear! Your words to the very quick of the nature of thing! Why, I don't understand how you are not an advisor of state with wisdom like yours, my dear Ara."
Ara glanced at Mrs Xeri. Those words, they sounded suspiciously like sarcasm, so this time, she decided to keep quiet.
Jalaine craned her neck to look around through the viewing windows of the tram car. "I say, I believe we are coming out of the tunnel now..."
The tram slowed and came to a stop as a computerized voice announced arrival at the environment ring. Krosin guided the group across the small lobby, and into the park. A trout pond and pine forests were visible in the distance. Krosin stopped and turned to the group her tail swaying steadily behind her.
"There are trails running all around this chamber through the forests, with picnic areas scattered around throughout. There are two ponds the larger of which residents and guests can reserve boats and go out onto. There is also a Stadium, an Ampitheater, and a swimming pool. And all theese trees are real, mostly they are Earth pine trees."
“Simply delightful,” Ara said. “An area like this, is also ideal for children, so much natural space, and wildlife too, where they can roam free, literally... I wish my people were more open to such concepts. They won’t of course. Every little park on Ferenginar is plagued with payment plans, basic and premium. ‘Invest in your children’ is one of their favourite catchphrases. And so we do, and we pay through the nose. Does anyone fancy a trip on a boat? I haven’t seen such clear water since... what feels like forever.”
"Yes, let's!" Jalaine enthused. It seemed to her that all of Ara's ideas were splendid.
As they exited the tram, Krosin took up the lead and Irwin the tail. He intended to enjoy the fresh air while he let his mind ponder all of the new revelations the day held thus far.
Ara walked by Krosin’s side, to make sure that she would be the first person on the boat, and hence secure the best place and be as comfortable as possible...
