In the Country of the Brown, Part 2

Posted on Sat 11th Jul, 2020 @ 10:15pm by Elizabeth Anderson M.D. & Lieutenant Damion Ildaran & Makila i'Hartelhai

986 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Resolution
Location: Brown Sector, Deck 2245
Timeline: MD 14, 0925

Previously, in Part 1, Damion was heard to ask ...

How dangerous are they? As in, do I need to start bringing a weapon with me?

And now, we'll find out....

---

As they traveled down a few more decks in the turbolift, Elizabeth leaned against the back of the moving box, and thought about what Damion had said about fighting. She hadn't given a lot of thought to whether or not fighting, of the type that could become necessary to defend one's self, was acceptable or not, at least for Damion. He had a boss, and he was in Starfleet. Neither of those things applied to her.

It seemed a given that self-defense was reasonable ... more reasonable than letting someone beat one up, at least. She was programmed with self-defense tactics, but the topic hadn't ever come up in their conversations. She made a little note-to-self to be sure they discussed that one of these days.

In the meantime, the door was opening, and the two of them were here to have a great day together. She'd been looking forward to it, and she wasn't going to let what might happen interfere with their day. As they stepped out of the lift, she felt bold enough to twine her fingers in Damion's.

Brown Sector was more crowded today than he had ever seen it, Damion thought as he curled his fingers around Elizabeth's more slender ones. "I wonder if they do the ceremony at a temple down here or just in a public area?" he mused aloud as they walked.

"I'm not at all sure, but I have an idea that if we follow other people, sooner or later we'll wind up where things are taking place. Are you going to make a scroll to burn?" Elizabeth asked, glancing at him. "I rather think I am. Can't hurt, right?"

Damion gave a wry chuckle. "I thought about what troubles me that I'd like to make disappear permanently. We'll see if it works." He glanced at her. "Do people tell each other what they write on their scrolls or keep it to themselves?"

"From my own experience, I don't know, and the database doesn't seem to have that information. I guess we'll have to ask the first Bajoran we see. I'm going to guess it might be like birthday wishes or wishing on a star. Though," she frowned slightly, "it isn't really a wish, is it?"

They headed into the main road that led to the center of the village on this particular deck. Elizabeth's own office wasn't far to one side, and the school ground where they'd watched children playing was considerably further on the opposite side. She wondered if the crowd were going through the market place.

"What's the difference between something that is really a wish and something that isn't, when it comes to religion?" Damion asked. "This is a kind of 'talking to the Prophets' ritual, right? If that's what it is, then it ought to be real, because the Prophets are real. That being the case, I think I'll save it for them." He shot her a smile. "You probably know what I would tell them of, anyway."

Makila stood at one of the small vendor stations, purchasing a pastry that was drizzled with red and white sauce. In her other hand she had one of the 'wish' scrolls, written in clear Romulan script. When she turned and saw Elizabeth, she raised her pastry in greeting.

Her companion saw the woman about the same time Elizabeth was waving to the woman.

"Is that the Romulan doctor's daughter by the food carts?" Damion asked, glancing toward Makila.

She nodded, and said, "She appears to be alone. Do you want to see if she'll join us?" While she really looked forward to spending time with Damion by herself, this wasn't exactly a by-yourself kind of day, as they were eventually likely to be hemmed in by crowds everywhere. Besides, Elizabeth liked Makila, and would enjoy her company, too.

"Fine by me," Damion said, "I've not met many Romulans."

"Makila and her father are both very nice. I think you'll like them both." Anderson said, as they walked over to the nurse.

Damion shot a sidelong glance at Elizabeth. "Nice?" he muttered under his breath. All the Romulans he'd ever met during his Intelligence work had been supercilious and arrogant.

"Hey, Makila, looks like you've already made out a scroll. Where did you find the blank ones?" Elizabeth asked her.

"They have little containers throughout the area. They look like the orb containers, like that one." Makila pointed one out that they were close to. Her eyes flickered to Damion, and she winced a little at the emotional output of distrust and misgiving.

"Oh, thanks! I didn't even see those. Let me get them for us," she glanced at her companion, "and I'll be right back." Disengaging her hand from Ildaran's, she went toward the container and retrieved two scrolls and two small pens. It wasn't completely innocently done. She knew Damion wasn't a real fan of Romulans, but Makila and her father were different from ones she'd encountered before, and proved that there were at least a portion of the species who were not schemers and spies. She hoped he might find that out himself.

Damion glanced at Dr. s'Siedhri's daughter and studied her from the corner of his gaze. She didn't have that expression of being better than everyone else on her face, so he could at least make a polite overture, he decided. If anything, her posture was a bit drawn back; she seemed wary of him.

"I'm Damion Ildaran. It's good to meet you," Damion said, inclining his head slightly. He paused. "Do you shake hands? I know it's nae polite among Vulcans. I dinna ken if Romulan manners are different."

... more to come.

 

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