Ripples and Reflections

Posted on Thu Dec 7th, 2017 @ 10:35pm by Captain Mrazak & Qurban

Mission: S1E1: Bynars Be Bygones
Location: Deck 1 - Arboretum
Timeline: MD1; 15.00

The arboretum was one of the sole bastions of solitude and natural serenity on the Overwatch station. Everywhere else was so utilitarian, so polished, so soulless in contrast. Mrazak cam here often. At times like this, he sealed the doors. Meditation for Vulcans Without Logic involved a lot less quiet and a lot more ranting.

"I hate her!"

Mrazak punched the empty air as he strolled between the auburn leaves. A low-hanging branch caught the draft of his swing, taunting him with its waft.

"Malicious. Pretentious. Belligerent!"

His open hand slapped the offending tree branch and its mocking leaves. They released their hold and fluttered lazily to the crunchy rocks on the path.

"I have spent years proving myself, and what does she have to say for it? A joke?!" He stomped his foot on the fallen leaves and grounded them into powder. "She is the joke. Withered, decrepit wretch who is evidently going senile in her old age!"

The walking path came to an end near the arboretum's center. A small fish pond surrounded by stone benches fed by recirculating fountainheads. When the scene came into view, Mrazak abandoned his hostility for the creeping calm endowed by the beautiful sight.

"Admiral Nyel," said a voice low and droll. "That one never fails to impress."

Mrazak turned to his old companion, Qurban, who sat at ease on a stone bench, hunched forward with his elbows on his knees and hands folded neatly.

"How did you know?" the Vulcan asked.

Qurban smiled knowingly. "Well, from your candidly vivid description, I thought of none else." The former Q looked distinguished with a touch of gray in his hair after the decade he had spent a voluntary prisoner of Memory Theta. He slid to make room and gave the bench a pat of invitation. "What does the old bird have to say these days?"

"That I have been passed over again!" Mrazak sat down with a huff.

"Ah. I see." Qurban leaned back and threw his arm against the backrest of the bench. "So who will administrate our luxurious home this time?"

Whatever equilibrium Mrazak had constructed then collapsed on itself again. "No one! That's the problem, Qurban! Starfleet would rather have no one as administrator than give it to me!"

Qurban nodded as he considered the information. "Yet you are still the leader of the field team? And the lead science officer?"

"Yes." Mrazak all but sulked.

"Then that is something." Qurban flicked a speck of dirt from the bench into the still pond. Ripples gently spread out through the shallow water in concentric circles. "There are no small roles, Mrazak. Have you considered that your permanent appointment to administrator could interfere with field missions? It would certainly cut into your hands-on research time."

He paused for effect, noting Mrazak's bright eyes burning in contemplation.

"Perhaps, you may come to find, Admiral Nyel did you a favor."

Mrazak snorted with disdain. "Since when did you reason for madness, Qurban?" He threw his head back and grunted. "Ah, I suppose you may have a point. But what about our work?" His weight shifted forward so that he could better look Qurban in the face. "Ten years have come and gone, my friend, and we are no closer to discovering the reason you are here." He traced a finger along Qurban's jawline, then squeezed his shoulder. "Whatever humanoid form the Continuum bestowed upon you does not share my own lifespan, and even I will not live forever."

"I know." Qurban offered a wry smile. "With or without your reminders. There is an old Earth saying that I hold onto in the darkest moments: que sera, sera. Whatever will be... will be."

"My convictions have not changed, Qurban," Mrazak said. "Even if we cannot find the truth, I trust the wisdom of the Q."

"That makes one of us," Qurban quipped. "But I see us having little choice."

The men sat together in silent camaraderie, enjoying one another's company even if there remained nothing else to be said. Time passed by at an eternal crawl while Overwatch station continued its geosynchronous orbit over the planetside vault. No sounds came save for the soft trickling of water from the foundations.

"We'll find a way," Mrazak said, interrupting the peaceful calm.

Qurban stared at the ground for a moment before responding. "And... then what?"

"I suppose we will cross that bridge when we come to it." Mrazak slapped his knees and stood up. "As for now, I have a Theta briefing at hand."

"Where did the report originate?" Qurban asked, his curiosity piqued.

Mrazak grinned. "1101001011001011-1001-0110."

A look of confusion briefly crossed Qurban's face before he brightened. "Oh. A Bynar vessel. What artifact or discovery from them could trigger a Theta alert?"

Mrazak grinned. "An android. No doubt Ferrofax will gift you with the dirty details once our briefing has been entered into record."

Qurban sniffed at that, then lowered his head in dismissal. When he made no motion to stand, Mrazak shrugged. "Right. Until next time, old friend."

"Indeed."

Mrazak carefully chose his steps through the arboretum stony path until he reached the distant door. The entire time, Qurban made to study the pond before him. Once he was at last alone again, he grinned into his own reflection.