Uneasy Lies the Older Brother

Posted on Wed 26th Oct, 2022 @ 9:41pm by Nicha th'Elex
Edited on on Sat 29th Oct, 2022 @ 8:31pm

1,102 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: The Hunted
Location: Bits & Bytes
Timeline: MD 9, 1524

"You should have long service from this unit," Tieran assured his happy customer. "If you run into any difficulties in installation, please call on me. It's part of the service."

"Thanks," the older Starfleet officer said. "Your instructions seem clear, and I expect it will be just what my granddaughter wants. I appreciate the help." He turned to walk out of the shop, standing aside as an Andorian entered the tech shop, his antennae waving slightly as he nodded to the officer.

Tieran's feelings were mixed at the sight of the other blue man walking toward him. On the one hand, he loved his younger brother. On the other, his brother often brought trouble with him. He greeted Nicho with a nod and a, "What's up, younger brother?"

Nicha laughed as he replied, "Be calm. I'm not in any trouble. It's been a while since I've seen you, though, and I was in the neighborhood. Thought I'd stop by."

"Ha, since when is Deck 641 in your neighborhood?" Tieran asked, part in humor and part in caution. It didn't do to take his brother's words at face value.

"Since I came to see you?" the other Andorian asked, managing to quirk both his left eye and his left antenna.

Glancing around the shop and seeing only one customer, being served by his assistant, Tieran nodded toward the door to the storage and office area. "Come on back, then. We'll replicate a couple of ales and there might even be leftover breakfast pastries from Orchids & Jazz, if you're lucky."

Nicha's eyes lit up. "Chocolate cream-filled orange scones?" he asked hopefully, following his brother's lead.

"No promises, but if not, at least an orange-cranberry scone. Amazing the fruits that grow on the pale-skins planet. I'd not trade the ice of Andoria, but if I can have the best of both worlds, I'll take it."

"You and me, both, big brother. In fact, I've lately begun to adjust to warmer temperatures. I'm not sure how happy I'd be to return to the ice caves where we grew up." Nicha pushed the door shut behind him and followed his brother into an alcove big enough to serve as a break room for employees. There were a couple of tables against one wall, and a counter with a replicator above it and cabinets below on the other. On the counter sat a lavender box with a silver orchid swirled diagonally across it.

"Check out the box," Tieran directed as he punched in the code for two Andorian ales and watched then materialize in frosty mugs. "Grab me one with a napkin, too. I only bought what I liked, so it doesn't matter which one."

"Yes!" the younger Andorian exclaimed. "One chocolate cream orange scone for me, and ... I'm not sure what this one is for you," he said, pulling out a frosted round pastry with tiny brown spots in the dough. He sniffed it carefully, then more fully. "Smells good, though. What is it?"

Taking the pastry from his brother, Tieran laughed. "Don't look so worried. The brown stuff is what they call cinnamon, and when it's combined with sugar, it is even better than our Andorian spice bread. Here, try a bite." He broke off a small piece and handed it back.

Tentatively, Nicha took it and pushed it into his mouth, chewing, then raising his eyebrows. "Better than even Gristhera! What's it called?"

"Uh, cinnamon roll? This one has orange cream cheese frosting, my favorite kind." He took his own bite, closing his eyes in pleasure, then opening them and turning to one of the tables. "Come on, sit down and tell me why you really came to see me."

As Nicha took his seat, nibbling on his own treat, between sips of the blue ale, he frowned. "Do I really come see you so seldom that my coming is suspect?" he asked.

"You really do."

"Wow. I don't even know what to say to that." He put his scone down on his napkin and looked at Tieran. "Maybe we need to plan a weekly get together. We can alternate my place and yours for family dinner."

"Have you learned to cook?" Tieran asked, raising his own eyebrows.

His younger brother laughed. "I'm surprised you'd even ask that. You know I haven't, but I do have a replicator, or I can get take-out from the Zodiac Market Square, or the casino. You heard about the casino that opened down there? It's doing a great business and providing a lot of jobs for the people in Brown Sector." His look grew serious as he talked about the place he'd made his home. "It was really needed. There's so much ... sadness and despair in parts of those decks."

"Then why did you choose it as home? You know you could have stayed with me as long as you want. Still could, bedroom's still empty." He was trying not to push, but he'd never understood his brother's choice of employment or living quarters.

"I like it," Nicha said simply. "It's real. All this," he waved his hand around to indicate the Promenade, "not you, but all the fancy businesses up here, ... that's not reality for most people in the quadrants, you know. I prefer to be where people may be living harsh realities, but it is reality." Before his brother could answer, he held up a hand. "I'm not criticizing your choices. You provide a tech service that's needed by the upper decks. Down there, most people are lucky to have communicators that work, but they also don't need them. Couriers and runners earn a living carrying messages and goods. It's ... I don't know ... maybe a freer life?"

Tieran didn't really understand it, and it occurred to him that perhaps he should spend a few hours in his brother's world, find out what he was talking about ... and if what he did was strictly legal. He'd never wanted to pry into that too closely, but he wasn't sure it was. Finally, he said, "Yeah, alright. Let's try that. This Friday at your place? Still the same apartment?"

"Same one. Improved since you saw it when I first moved in, though. I've added a few items from up here to make it more comfortable down there," he grinned. "No sense taking myself too seriously and living worse than I have to. And Sorra Yarime pays me well enough."

That sounded like the brother he knew in the past. "Right," he agreed, still feeling a little uneasy. He guessed he'd have to see for himself what was going on.

 

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