How does a Vulcan show Emotion?

Posted on Tue May 12th, 2020 @ 1:26am by Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Legate Imik S'Niohun [Lia Taylor]

Mission: Season 3: Episode 4: Cause and Effect
Location: Counsellor’s Office
Timeline: During time in the zone
1651 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure

{ON}

Alicia was in the outer office when someone emerged from Savar’s office. Alicia hadn’t met her before so as she passed by she smiled warmly.

The woman's actions caught Imik slightly by surprise, "Blessings on your house, my name is Imik who are you?" She could see this was a member of the crew, but with the Elysium being so large there were many she hadn't seen or met.

“Thank you, I’m Alicia Kelea-Salik.” Alicia smiled warmly. “And you are?”

Imik looked around, "I am the Ojnas Envoy, and at this time not enjoying our present location". She walked slowly as this Human would not keep up at her normal pace, "Are you going to see the councilor also?"

“Actually...I’m the Chief Counsellor” Alicia smiled. “May I ask why you feel uncomfortable? Perhaps I might be able to help, although I did see you come out of Commander Savar’s office. Was he not able to help you?”

The woman's answer put Imik slightly on guard, "The councilor did what he could, but as a Vulcan I feel his emotional restrictions may have limited his aid. I have never met a Vulcan before this, but he differed in no way from what the computer told me". She held nothing against Savar, just as her species had their limitations so it seemed to her did the Vulcans.

“Actually Savar is...quite different to the way you’ve seen him.” Alicia smiled. “I know this as he’s my husband.” She smiled warmly. “Is there anything I can help you with? Maybe a different point of view.”

"Husband? Do you mean the Commander is your Patriarch? My apologise Lieutenant, I was unaware and would not have spoken as I did". Her embarrassment clear for all to see.

Alicia smiled. “Please don’t be embarrassed. Not everyone understands a Vulcan, to be honest I didn’t realise just how wrong outward appearances could be until I fell in love with Savar. He is anything but emotionless in private, but I would ask that you don’t repeat that I told you that.”

Imik looked at the councilor, "I find many people are guilty of doing that, myself included. We Ojnas are prejudged for our looks, we simply can not convince others that 8472 and ourselves are different species". She glanced around quickly then looked back at Alicia, "If I could be so bold, just how passionate can a Vulcan be? Their philosophy is to control their emotions, so to allow them to run free would be alien to them surely?"

“It’s difficult to explain” Alicia paused. “I never thought Vulcans were passionate but Savar is...one of the most loving and passionate men I have ever known. He loves me, I feel that through our bond every single moment of every day.”

The word bond made Imik stop and stare, "A bond? So a Vulcan male and his female companion have a bond, perhaps it might be similar to our Ojnas Link". She continued walking and thought about what the councilor had said, "Do you love your husband councilor? I did use the right word, did I not?"

“You did” Alicia nodded. “Yes, I do love my husband. He holds my heart and I hold his.”

This admission of love with a Vulcan made Imik think more, "I must apologise if I sounded dismissive of your Patriarch, but his attitude when talking to me seemed distant". She glanced at the floor, "We were once very similar to them, logical and distant from emotion. But the Tholian invasion made all our logic pointless, all our distance from emotion senseless. We have taken three thousand of your years to relearn how to show emotion, how to live with flawed logic and random mistakes".

Alicia nodded. “I understand. Perhaps I should re-introduce the two of you over dinner one night?”

"Are you sure that it would be no trouble? I would not wish to cause any intrusion in your home life". Imik would also have to ensure certain foods would have to be avoided, Ojnas have problems digesting particular meats.

“It’s not a problem” Alicia smiled. “I’ll speak with Savar and arrange for a suitable night for all of us.”

Imik nodded and then spoke, "I will give you a list of Human foods that we Ojnas can not eat or tolerate, that way I will cause you no embarrassment". She walked on for a minute or two then looked at Alicia, "I am glad the Matriarch of the household does not hold me in low regard for insulting her Patriarch, it would be a very long and difficult mission if that were the case".

“Mis-understandings are not unusual so it’s not anything to worry about.” Alicia smiled warmly. “As for my being a Matriarch, Betazed is a Matriarchal society but I don’t go by that in day to day life. It comes in useful if we come into contact with similar societies but that’s about it really.”

"But you and your......Husband are heads of the household, are you not?" Imik glanced at Alicia with a little concern she had gotten it wrong again, "Or do you both perhaps give that honour to each others parents? As we Ojnas do, even after we join as one".

“We are...heads of our household yes. But we honour our parents too. My double barrelled surname Kelea-Salik honours my family name Kelea and that of Savar’s father Salik. It gives me a married surname, which is what I wanted.”

She looked back at the floor, "Should I ever find a mate, our laws state I must take his name and swear allegiance to his family. But he must also swear honour to my family, as I am forever a member of the house of S'Nihun. Our children would be able to choose which house they want to belong to, thus all families continue".

“Our children when we have any, will inherit my surname hence both sides of our families are automatically honoured.” Alicia smiled. “I’d like to learn more about your culture if you don’t mind my interest? I like to learn about different cultures.”

"Ojnas culture has many strange laws, or so I am told by those who attempt to learn about it. The one thing many do not understand is our link, they see it as a Borg type intrusion. But from what I understand, it is nothing like that we are free to exchange what we wish. And withhold anything we desire not to have known, our link sustains and enhances our family ties and the Patriarch's ability to tell us his will". Imik looked at the councilor, maybe with her bond to her husband she would understand it.

“From what we all know of the Borg, their link makes everyone that’s joined to it mindless automatons. You most certainly are not anything like them. In fact your link sounds very much like the bond I have with Savar, we share each other’s thoughts and feelings. We exchange everything with each other, I’m still learning as our bond is new but it makes me feel...complete.” Alicia smiled warmly.

Imik now smiled and nodded, "Much as does my link, but we do not share everything. Ojnas know that some things are strictly for one or two only, and it is forbidden to intrude into those thoughts. Plus we are taught how to protect those thoughts from intrusion, which is why here I am alone. As it is forbidden to link with another, a rule the Federation made to protect those unable to use and protect their own thoughts".

“I completely understand.” Alicia smiled. “There are rules for all telepathic and empathic species, to use our abilities to read another is strictly forbidden. I rarely use my telepathy unless it’s needed, I rely more on my empathic senses to advise the Command team. I also use my empathic senses to help those who come to see me for advice.”

The Ojnas Envoy looked at the woman next to her, "Councilor, could you help train me to enhance my empathic abilities? As my people are joined from birth, our empathic abilities are not developed". Imik smiled and hoped her request would find a positive response, perhaps she wouldn't feel quite so alone.

Alicia looked surprised. “I would be honoured. I have to admit I miss being on Betazed, when there feelings are shared openly amongst the Betazoid people and shielded from visitors to avoid misunderstandings. It would be nice to have someone else I can share experiences with.”

Imik now breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you Councilor, I hope to be a willing student. But can a Betazoid handle an Ojnas physic link?"

“To be honest I have no idea. Plus I’m only half Betazoid, I’m not as powerful as a full blood Betazoid.” Alicia paused. “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”

She shook her head, "No Councilor, I will not attempt any connection with you. The risk is to great, and I have no wish to injure you or anyone else just for an experiment". Imik stopped to show she was serious.

“We could try and if anything goes wrong you can sever the connection.” Alicia smiled. “I’m not one to back away from a challenge.”

Imik could see Alicia was also serious, "I would suggest you speak to you Patriarch first, and then decide between you as to what further action will be taken". She bowed to Alicia to show her respect, she now admired both Alicia herself and Bajorians in general.

“A good suggestion” Alicia smiled and nodded. “I will speak with Savar”

She bowed again, and thought how this one person had helped her at this time.

{OFF}