A matter of curiosity

Posted on Wed Sep 10th, 2025 @ 1:57am by Lieutenant Commander T'Par & Lieutenant Cadence Tyree

2,172 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: A Day In The Life
Location: Duty Medical Officer's Office.
Timeline: Enroute to Deep Space Nine

Cade shut down the his small offices computer and rubbed at his eyes. He’d been browsing personnel medical files for roughly half his shift. There wasn’t a lot sick people aboard Orcrist at the moment and he’d walked slowly through his morning even so.

You can only set up your medical kit so many times.

Walk through med bay a certain amount of times.

Or get to know the staff (professionally) over coffee, before everyone needed to make it look like there was lots to do.

And to be fair, there was things to do. They were due to warp out from Deep Space Nine at some point, though that had been delayed and the rumor mill Cade had access to was vague on why.

It took less than a half dozen heart beats to clear his desk of PADD’s and flimsies. Clean and rack his Freudian Slips Happen to the Breast of Us, coffee mug with a cartoon representation of Sigmund giving the wording a smirk. Rupert had given him a week ago when he’d went through Empok Nor.

Stretching, Cade looked at the two remaining things on his desk: A glowing red, mini-lava lamp that looked like a volcano in a twenty centimeter cube flowed happily that his niece had made for a science experiment and gifted to him the last time he’d been home.

And the pamphlet from their visit to the Bajor. That exhibit had fascinated him and it would be nice to talk to an expert. The Orchist DID have a scientist. Specifically an anthropologist. Crossing his arms and tapping at his chin, he tested his memory. Science department head. Vulcan, but that wasn’t surprising. Cade was a firm believer in playing to one’s strengths. Lovely, though a brunet. But he’d yet to see a red headed Vulcan, except for that security officer aboard the Stray. But he didn’t think that counted. He’d been assured that painting one’s head red as a personal statement was logical, but he had doubts.

Shaking away the randomness, he tapped the comm badge that he’d attached above the pocket of his scrubs smock and said, “Lieutenant Tyree to Commander T’Par. I was wondering if you had a free moment, Commander? I have a curiosity I’d like to ask you questions about.”

"As you wish," T'Par answered him.

"Yes ma'am," he responded, "Should I come to you or I am in my office, should you like to stop by?"

"I'll come to you," T'Par answered.

It was only a minute or two before she arrived, pressing the chime outside his office.

Glancing around at the sound of the chime, Cade ensured (again) the small space was neat and orderly, he touched a control on the desk and it cycled.

T'Par stepped in. Her face was set in the traditional Vulcan impassivity, though she generally seemed more serene than cold. Generally. Her hands were clasped neatly behind her back. She took in the room at a glance. One got the impression that everything was noticed, though nothing lingered upon. She looked to him directly. "Dr. Tyree, I presume?" She showed no awareness of the Earth reference she was making, though she had to know.

"Yes Commander, and that make you Commander T'Par. Pleased to meet you. Won't you have a seat? I was thinking of making some Nit, a non-caffeinated, naturally sweetened Betezoid tea. Would you care for some?"

"Certainly," T'Par agreed as she took a seat across from the doctor. She crossed her legs casually and reached for the tea when offered. She took a slow sip.

Once seated with his mug of steaming tea, the service pushed to one side Cade said, "I found this curiosity on Bajor the other day and it simply fascinated me. A Bajoran Central museum was running an exhibit on the Cardassian Oralian Way. Apparently it's a very early religion that has remarkable similarities to the Bajoran religion. I thought I would share and ask for an experts thoughts."

T'Par reached for the pamphlet and seemed to read it carefully. She was not one to skim. Finally, she set it back down in front of Cade. "The Oralian Way was a product of the Hebitian civilization," she noted. "They are the first recorded civilization on Cardassia. Their scriptures are known as the Hebitian Records. They believe everything is written there. It is similar to the Bajoran faith and the two religions have no doubt influenced one another. As Captain Sisko demonstrated, the ancient Bajorans did have contact with Cardassia and, more recently, Oralians sought refuge on Bajor and, with refuge, the instruction of the vedeks. However, at core, the belief is similar to that of many religions. There is a transcendent being or beings, be it Oralius or the Prophets or the Four Deities or that which awaits us at Sha Ka Ree. Guidance and purpose is offered to us in our lives. Lacking the direct experience made possible to the Bajorans through the Orbs, Oralians take on the role of Oralius themselves. A worship leader dons a mask to symbolically become Oralius and address the worshippers."

Cade sipped at his tea. Bit his lip slightly and said, "Commander that kinda sounds like a library entry? Any theory on if those two societies might have influenced each other at some point without knowing it? Or perhaps the sufficiently advanced species influenced them? Perhaps where the Federation has the Prime Directive, another entity thought being gods were better jobs."

"Any number of things might have happened," T'Par allowed. "None of those ideas are unprecedented. There are quite a few recent developments suggesting cultural contacts between peoples earlier than was believed, unknowing contacts, contacts by means of more advanced civilizations. Looking at Bajor and Cardassia alone, we now know that the Bajoran Prophets are very real non-linear wormhole aliens and that there was contact between the two plants long before either developed warp drive. We cannot rule out any of these highly speculative theories. However..." And here she paused to sip her tea.

"I see no need for any such hypothesis and not only because we already have enough evidence of contact without one. However, I am not a proponent of the contemporary trend of immediately looking for some direct contact or external common source every time a similarity is detected. The more fundamental and, to me, the more interesting work of anthropology is not tracing hitherto unknown external influences but understanding other cultures, other minds, on their own terms, understanding their own internal logic, their evolution over time. It is fascinating to see different minds on different worlds grapple with sometimes similar problems and come to conclusions that are sometimes strikingly different but, also, are sometimes surprisingly similar. Even now, most examples are better explained by convergence than transmission."


Keeping up with most of that, Cade fidgeted with his teacup and said, "Very interesting, I agree. And convergence does have it's place and is a better answer most of the time I think. But given the meddling, specifically done to the Bajorans, it does make me wonder. According to the exhibit, the Cardassians did come looking to Bajor for answers while fleeing persecution by their own world."

Taking a sip of his Nit, Cade said, "From the flip side of that coin, the Bajorans apparently were accepting and open minded enough to listen to the Oralians. I wonder if they felt slightly cheated that their Divine didn't communicate with them like the Prophets did with the Bajorans." Chuckling, Cade said, "Though I suppose that would be better termed a crisis of faith."

"Perhaps," T'Par said. "Though some might say that worshipping and serving a concrete, knowable being takes something from faith. It is no longer that leap into the beyond. Humans and some other species prize the so-called leap beyond logic. One of the most prominent Vulcan thinkers of the last two centuries also came to embrace it over time."

"I don't know," Cade countered. "Many religions refer to various iconic miracles or happenstances that point toward their deity. Burning bushes. Orbs of the Prophet. That Golden Mushroom of Transcendence on Teller. Maybe there's a sliding scale of between faith and the guiding hand making sure someone takes notice. Faith is fine, but there have been several instances of whole populations losing faith and their belief systems degrading, leaving them in a march toward anarchy."

"There are also many civilizations that do fine without any belief in the supernatural," T'Par said. "Infinite diversity in infinite combinations. I simply noted one way people might react."

"True," Cade said, wondering why he had expected more of an exchange of speculation from a Vulcan, "It appears the Cardassians ran away from faith while the Bajorans embraced theirs and the differences between the two races displays a contrast. Instead of embracing similarities, the Cardassians were more interested in Empire building. When the Bajorans peacefully first accepted the Cardassians, they found a dog of a different color, as they say. The Bajorans taught themselves to fight back and still maintained their faith."

Persing his lips thoughfully, Cade finished, "Some even claim it strengthened it and the event definitively shaped both societies. It's an interesting case, don't you think?" Now the doctor was baiting the Vulcan.

Just a little.

"It did," T'Par agreed, "in measurable ways. However, it came at quite a high cost." She did not rise to the bait. She seldom did.

Smiling, Cade said, "Thank you for the invigorating discussion, ma'am. Since I'm new to the ship, perhaps you could tell me what the crew is like. From your perspective? Any fun ship's customs I can look forward too?"

"The crew is competent, diverse, and generally welcoming and supportive," T'Par said. "I've never had any issues. However, there are no unique 'fun' traditions that spring to mind, other than the usual."

Brightening slightly, Cade said. "Oh. The usual. Like the naked karaoke nights aboard Betezoid Defense Forces facilities? Those are fun."

"We do not generally have naked karaoke nights," T'Par noted drily.


Cade's eyes glinted with humor and said, "You don't know what you're missing Commander. "Though I do have to note you used the word generally. That means it's not something totally out of the question."

"I am a married woman," T'Par noted. "I have no particular interest in seeing others in the nude."

"Nothing like a private duet," Cade said. "I give you cheer in your marriage, Commander. That is yet another experience I haven't been made part too as of yet. How long have you been married, if I may ask. If you'd rather not, I understand completely of course."

"Twelve years," T'Par answered him. "We do not yet have children. My husband lives on Tellar Prime."

"Twelve years," Cade said, letting admiration creep into his voice. "That's a fair amount. From many people I talk to and what I've read, it can be hard to spend a lot of time apart. I've never had luck with long distance relationships."

"Not for Vulcans," T'Par said matter-of-factly, "though I do value my leaves with him."

"I can imagine," Cade said, deciding he'd probably pushed this conversation as far as he could without a pry bar. "I do appreciate your insights and tolerating my questions, Commander. Thank you. And if I can ever be of assistance, well you have but to shout. Or sing, if you like."

He was likely right. Like many traditional Vulcans, T'Par was a fairly private person. She did incline her head as she stood. "It was an interesting conversation. I hope to speak again soon. Do you play any games, lieutenant?"

"No ma'am," Curtis said with a bit of tongue in cheek. "I'm a fairly straight forward kind of man. No..Oh. Board and other games. Those I do dabble in ma'am, though I am by no means an expert in any? What sort of diversions capture your interest?"

"I find chess interesting," she said, completely incapable of being self-conscious about how stereotypical that was.

"Chess was required in the BDF," Cade said. "It's definitely good for strategy and learning how to order a mind. I completely understand your interest. Do you get to play much?"

"Not nearly often enough," T'Par said. "Perhaps we can play sometime?"

"Absolutely," ma'am, Cade said with delight seeping into his voice. "As strange as it sounds, I find it hard sometimes to actually be social aboard a new ship and I'd very much enjoy an occasional game. I'd enjoy learning more about the game so I place myself in your hands. I am at your disposal."

"Then soon," T'Par agreed.

Cade nodded and stood as the CSO departed, watching her go and musing over a variety of things before he turned his attention back to his desk and idly wondered what he should be doing next.

Cadence Tyree
Counselor
USS Orcrist

T'Par
CSO
USS Orcrist

 

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