Muddy Waters
Posted on Wed Jan 8th, 2025 @ 2:14am by Commander Arianna Frost & Commander Jack Lashmore
2,977 words; about a 15 minute read
Mission:
Mission 0: Everybody Has A Story
Location: Tellar Prime, Temperate Zone - Dagosta Mountains, Shokoma Township
Timeline: Two weeks ago
Even for a vulcan, the climb was arduous. The Shokoma Township was up the highest mountain in the temperate zone of Tellar and it was only accessible on foot, no transporters were allowed and shuttles were only for supplies or emergencies. Only the most durable and strong willed visitors ever made it up there, and when they did, they were treated like prized guests.
The mud baths, said to have healing properties welcomed her and Jack, two of their only guests in the last five months with cantankerous yet generous, open arms, weighing on them hand and foot.
T’Rama had to admit, her sore muscles felt good as she slid into the mud, fully unclothed. Dunking her arms and hands into the mud, she felt a sense of familiarity as the texture danced over her skin.
”Liquid sand…” A thought brought a small smile to her face, a sense of connection, an ancient, primal connection that her people had to the deserts and sands.
She lifted her her arms out, the vulcan smeared some of the mud onto her face, the smooth, yet rough texture feeling even better on her skin.
Across from her in the same pool, equally emersed in the relaxing oddity of a natural geothermally warmed mudbath. The past femonths with T’Rama had changed him, healed him. Whilst he felt younger, rejuvenated even more centered he had felt he had given little to T’Rama in return. That was until months prior, he had convinced her to come with him and travel, live in the moment.
The famous mudbaths of Tellar were but one random chosen experience after another. For five months, they simply picked a direction and met what came.
Seemingly asleep for a few minutes, he opened one eye. “You smiled.”
Travelling had not been a foreign concept for T’Rama. Travelling for a a purpose, as her varied life and career were witness of. Travelling without purpose, for the sake of experience, for the sake of travel. That was new and with Jack’s enthusiasm, she could not say no.
It was refreshing and inspiring. She was seeing the galaxy with new eyes, less burdened by trauma and experience. Through the eyes of a human hungry for life. It was infectious, much as she would never admit publically.
His words were a tease, as much as they were the truth.
“Vulcans do not smile.” She replied in her usual even tone. “You must have dreamt it. I heard the faintest snore.”
“No,” a hand rose with pointed finger from the mud to amplify, “I almost choked upon seeing it.” Both of Jack’s eyes were open as he nodded, “you broken, you smiled.”
T’Rama looked over at him, raising a muddy eyebrow. “Then it is good we are in the elite Tellarite healing mud baths, is it not?” Another thing she would not admit to enjoying was this banter they had developed. It was free of condition and unnecessary emotion. “Maybe it will fix your eyes too…vulcans do not smile, nor do they lie.” She said as she turned to face him from her end of the bath and leaned back, her head resting against a perfectly placed pillow.
“As we cannot lie, I have to admit that this is…soothing.” She said and closed her eyes, looking actually relaxed.
Jack’s reply was cut short as he sat up to an amused attention when the approach of their hosts could be heard. Jack’s smile widened as two elderly, tellarite featured, overweight and completely naked male Tellarites waddled towards them, one with several rolled towels under arm and another with a platter of locally sourced snacks.
In true Tellarite fashion, the first bringing forth towels for their guests simply raised his arm lightly and let the towels fall where they were before turning away and waddling off.
“Love you.” Jack called.
The second simply interjected himself by stepping INTO their mudbath and holding the platter between them “Eat!”
T’Rama straightened out from her leaned position and reached over, picking a fork-like utensil and stabbed a piece of what looked like cheese and lifted it off the platter, “fine! We will!” She replied without preamble.
The Tellarite almost gave away its approval with a slight curl of the lips, but promptly covered it with an indignant snort before glaring at Jack. “What about you? Eat!”
Jack’s smile never faded, “you’re adorable.” Then, having once been Starfleet and very familiar with Tellarite custom. “If I must suffer Tellarite hospitality, I will at least pretend to enjoy it!” He in mock anger snatched two yellow…cubes of…best not think about it, from the platter and immediately placed them in his mouth and chewed furiously.
“Leave the platter and go,” T’Rama motioned over to the side of the mud pool.
“Fine!” The Tellarite waddled over through the mud to where she had indicated. He seemed to move faster through the mud than on clear surface.
He extricated himself quickly and sharply turned to them, mudd flinging everywhere as he did so. “I expect a favorable review to the Federation Tourist Board!” Without further ado he began stalking away before stopping as they all heard a voice that was very much not Tellarite that was talking very animatedly, yet struggling for breath at the same time.
Chuckling to himself for a moment as Jack leaned back in the bath to relax once more he winked toward T’Rama. “Y’know, despite Tellarites and the Vulcans having known eachother far longer than either of you have known humans. It’s surprising you two never properly allied up sooner. You’re perfect compliments to eachother when you think about it.”
The muddy eyebrow raised again, “it took humans to make us all truly understand each other, Jack. My people could not understand why everything is a fight with tellarites. To be frank, we still do not. Thanks to humans, however, we accept it and deal with them on their terms.” She turned to face him and took a ginger bite of the cheese-like bounty on her fork.
“Your kind carries a part of us all, and with all the dichotomy, you still find your way.” She said through chews.
It was punchy, flavorful and very very chewy.
“Even after years of being around humans, you still fascinate me.” She raised a muddy hand, “humans, I mean.”
“Just humans?” Jack smirked, “but ye got me figured out, though.”
“You give me too much credit.” T’Rama took another bite. “I am still as perplexed as I was that day we met.” Her eyes dropped for just a moment before she forced herself to pick it up.
“No, you don’t understand!” That voice that was clearly not Tellarite raised, in panic, and confusion.
“No unauthorized visitors to the spa!” The first Tellarite stood firm.
“But I must..!” The young, panicked voice persisted.
“There are rules!” The second Tellarite could be heard interjecting, “remove your clothes!”
Jack turned and sat up in the mudbath to stare across the secluded gardens tucked against the rockface where the mudbaths naturally occurred. It appeared to be a young man, apparently human with blonde short hair in a cadets uniform. A dirty, ripped in one place cadets uniform.
“This place certainly puts on a show…” Jack glanced towards T’Rama, “it’s been too long for it to be one of my strays.”
T’Rama raised an eyebrow, yet again. “I was not aware you had other children than Jade.”
“Please, I need to see Captain T’Rama and Commander Lashmore. I know they are here! They are right there!” The panicked voice continued on.
“Is this Starfleet business?” The first Tellarite crossed his arms on his hairy chest.
The young man nodded vehemently.
“Then remove YOUR CLOTHES!” The second Tellarite growled at the young man.
After being mentioned by name Jack sighed heavily for a moment before simply shrugging to himself and admitting defeat, “well, fuck it.” He got up and stepped out of the bath promptly, bypassed the towels and approached the fiasco before the young cadet was forced to strip on the spot.
Naked and dripping on mud Jack casually stood beside the first Tellarite and sized the kid over in a mock critical glance, honor local customs and all. “What do YOU want?” Jack demanded, trying not to crack a smile.
“I’m sorry, s-sir, I-”
“Remove your clothes!” The second Tellarite demanded again.
“Do I have to-”
“Do you wish us to dispose of your spawn?” The first Tellarite offered Jack.
Jack frowned, then shrugged, “he is not my spawn.”
The Tellarite then glared directly at the young cadet and replied lowly, “...he is someones spawn.”
“REMOVE YOUR CLOTHES!”
T’Rama watched the display from the bath for a moment before climbing out of the bath herself. She however took one of the proffered towels and wrapped it around herself.
“Cadet,” she said as she walked over, “remember your xeno-culture training. We are guests here and we must abide by the rules of Tellar and the Shokoma Township. Be not frightened or embarrassed.”
The young man listened as she offered him a lifeline. He digested the words and the change in his demeanour and became instantly visible.
“Alright! Then you will grant me access! I must speak with the Captain and the Commander!” he yelled in a squeaky tone as he hastily disrobed, trying his best to not immediately cover himself.
The second Tellarite nodded in satisfaction. “You have thirty minutes before I call security to escort you off the property for making an appearance without a booking!” With no more said, he waddled off.
“He is not a pet! Nor your spawn…” The first Tellarite turned to face both Jack and T’Rama with a warning finger pointed between them, “...do not feed it.”
Jack had to stare at the sky a moment to keep himself from breaking out in laughter, nodding twice in acknowledgement to the clouds in reply. With a firm nod and disapproving glare towards the cadet, the first Tellarite promptly stomped off.
Jack then focused on the cadet, who was at that moment holding his hands over his privates. “Stand to attention and report.”
The cadet squealed and snapped to attention sharply, before remembering himself. He bent down and retrieved a PADD from the pocket of his pants before snapping back to attention and handing Jack a PADD.
“Sir, I was sent by Admiral Alexander Night with orders for you, Commander!” he said in a strained but official tone glancing towards Jack.
Jack snatched the PADD from the young mans hands though caught himself from immediately reading it. He stared at the cadet and then asked. “So you did the hike to get here to deliver a PADD?”
“Yes sir.”
“I won’t tell the Tellarites if you don’t,” Jack turned and indicated the platter left by the mudbath. The cadet made immediate haste towards the offered nourishment Jack stepped over to T’Rama and offered her the PADD, “well, you’re the ranking officer.”
“But sir!” The Cadet complained.
T’Rama felt compelled to explain that she was never active in the rank got promoted only to go back to active reserve. She knew better, however, than to inundate the situation with superfluous information.
T’Rama looked over at the Cadet instead. “Cadet?”
“It’s Eyes Only classification, sir.” The young man insisted, then looked over at T’Rama quickly before re-focusing on Jack. “No offense, ma’am.”
The vulcan shook her head, “note taken, Cadet. You are following protocol and orders.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Jack simply eyed the Cadet, somewhat dully. “Well?”
“Sir?”
“You think I’ll read eyes only with a non-authorised cadet nearby? Scatter.”
The young man nodded and quickly gathered his clothes, “sir, ma’am.” He nodded to both before hastily making his exit, bare behind-ed.
Jack squinted at the sight a moment, “my butt was never that smooth…” With a sigh he pressed his thumb upon the PADD which after a few moments requested further authorisation. Bringing the PADD closer to his face Jack waited another moment only for the screen flash red. “Oh for fucks sake its only been three to four years.”
Holding the PADD a little further away from his face he clenched his jaw and settled his features, the PADD replied with a slight green flash before revealing its contents. Jack eyed T’Rama a moment before beginning to read the PADD.
Vague would have been an understatement, despite the authorisation even half the cover letter was redacted. “Jesus Christ get to the point…” He continued to read what little could be made out before he came to the end which was a touch more clear and non-redacted.
Another sigh, “say, T’Rama?”
“Yeth?” She said through a half chew of yet another colorful cube.
“Want my ride?”
T’Rama blinked, “I do not understand.”
“I’m giving you my ship, woman.”
T’Rama observed him for a moment. Whatever the contents of that PADD were, they pertained to the part of his life that was prohibited to her, by order of the same institution they both once served. Or rather she once served, and he seemed to be going back to.
“You have been reactivated.” She said instead, finishing her bite.
“Probably being a fall guy.” He admitted staring at the PADD once more, “a headache, can't say much more than that…” He tilted his gaze towards her with a shrug, “sorry.”
T’Rama nodded, “I understand duty, you know this. Go, I will stay for a little while longer, I think. I want to experience how I coexist with Tellarites on my own. And I will take care of The Ship. She will be well taken care of.” She said.
Jack nodded, trying not to get into his own head with the sudden information the PADD had bombarded him with - well what vague information it had revealed anyway. “As cute as it was just calling the ship, Ship, she’s yours now so…perhaps T’Sora?”
T’Rama canted her head sideways, “perhaps. It will be a surprise for you when we speak next. If we get the opportunity to.”
“You’ll hear from me soon enough, this at best seems temporary. Though, if you could make your next stop the bajor sector, that may sync quite well.” He tapped the PADD in indication with his spare hands knuckles.
T’Rama nodded, “I can do that. Believe it or not, I have never seen the Fire Caves.”
“Not any fire from what I’ve heard.” Jack almost winced at the thought, but more on remembering who had told him that fact. “Well…” A sigh, “no point standing around dick in the wind.”
He approached their bath once more, palmed a small orange cube and popped it in his mouth as he wrapped a towel around his waist so he could be at least half modest before he performed an action that would send shivers down any vulcans spine. He made to hug T’Rama.
Said vulcan stiffened a little bit. As much as she had been around humans over the years and had come to understand their customs, physical touch was usually a boundary she did not cross, unless circumstances truly demanded it.
Awkwardly she opened up her arms too and waited for him to embrace her.
Fully aware of the awkwardness Jack just smirked and went all in holding her tight, his forehead upon hers, eyes closed he whispered, “hey…thank you.”
Her embrace was still much more ginger than his. “And you, as well, my friend. Where ever it is you are going, may good fortune follow.”
“We both know thats not the way this works.” He slowly relinquished her and took a step back. “Promise me one thing?”
“We both know that is one of the few things people like us should not do, but continue.” She said as she too took a step back.
Jack eyed her in mock-seriousness, “don’t do anything stupid like being reactivated whilst I’m gone.” He tapped the PADD with his free hands knuckles once more.
“I have no proclivity towards returning to service at present.” She shook her head. “I have plants to grow and the sands to explore.”
Thank god she was a Vulcan, if she was any other race leaving would be a longer, more awkward affair. At least with her he could skip all the processes…so all he ahd to do was convince himself to get moving. He stared across the mountain-top tourist village and to the valleys below with a sigh. “Fuck it. Be seeing you elf-witch.”
T’Rama raised a hand, her fingers separating into the traditional vulcan salute. “Di-ftor heh smusma, my friend.”
“Against all odds, I’m sure.” Jack sighed as he stared at her once more before smirking as he pressed his thumb on the PADD once more, not having a care in the world that he left what little belongings he had behind, being engulfed in a shuttles transporter beam.
Once materialised in what appeared to be a type-11 shuttle Jack approached its interior cockpit controls and glanced out the front window, noting it must have been the shuttle the cadet arrived on, he glanced further up the relatively high peak of the mountain outside. Setting the PADD in his hands to the side he took a seat despite the fresh mud on his form rubbed his hands and conducted a quick scan of the area before tapping in an additional command.
With a brief flash of light, a thud quickly followed as a cadet attempting to get dressed appeared behind him, “Jesus Christ kid, hurry up.”
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