Reunion and... (Part II)
Posted on Sun May 3rd, 2026 @ 5:01am by Captain Elijah Rutherford & Lieutenant T'seng & Chief Petty Officer Jemimah Weatherly & Lieutenant Junior Grade Tara Marsh & Lieutenant JG Vanya Karolyi
1,390 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Scientific Diplomacy
Location: Earth
[PREVIOUSLY]
"Pistachio," the counselor said to the diplomatic officer. "Nut from earth that is packed with nutrients. Which helps counter all the sugar in the ice cream, chocolate. The bananas are good for you though, so that helps." He accepted the two cones he'd ordered from the vendor and stepped over to T'Seng, offering the cone.
[CONTINUED]
"Thank you." T'seng replied, taking a bite of the cold sweet concoction.
"Anyone know if dragons like ice cream?" Cade asked.
Vanya was growing increasingly frustrated with the situation with Rystix. To the point that she was tired of standing around waiting for something to happen.
She went over to Tara. "I think we need to find our own way to the dragon and talk with him. This situation is making me increasingly uncomfortable."
Tara looked first at her group and then at Vanya. Her priority was the crew but they had their orders to meet with the dragon. After doing a mental calculation in her head, Tara concluded, "There is something unsettling here, I agree. I'll have your back. Let's move quickly."
Vanya looked from Abner to the boy. "We're going to see the dragon now. You can point or lead the way--and no raffle tickets without Rystix' permission."
The boy took one look at the rest of the angered people, fled the scene! Exit stage left is what he took, disappearing into the crowd, being rather fleet of foot.
Tara looked at Vanya and slightly chided her. "I think that was a tad over the top for someone that young. Impressive; but, still, a bit over the top, don't you think?"
"I think their behavior is a tad over the top," Vanya replied quietly. "Well, the admiral's, and our guide's. The boy was only doing as he was told and I should have given him a coin."
Tara gave Vanya an approving nod and said, "We can discuss that later." She the looked at the boy and said, "Sorry about that. Just keep that coin and our going in to see the dragon between us right now, OK?"
Vanya looked around for Abner, but didn't see him. She did see a tent that was taller than the rest in the center of the large courtyard. "I think that's our destination," she said. She waved to get the others' attention and indicated where they were going, then headed toward the big tent to see the dragon.
When the group arrived at the tent they could hear raised voices.
"Admiral Isaacs, I told you that Rystix wasn't an object to just be gawked at!" Abner shaking his finger at the admiral just beneath this nose. " He is a sentient being even though he is made out of metal."
"He isn't sentient at all, he's just something filled with computer components, data crystals, just an automaton. I do not care that he is from the Ithenite world. I will be famous in the discovery of such an extraordinary find."
"Isaacs, you--you haven't changed one bit. not one iota." Abner's face turning rather red.
"I am an admiral, and I am where I am supposed to be, and you are beneath me. A common civilian scientist." Issacs responded, a piece of spittle flying out and landing on Abner's nose.
Abner reached up and wiped it off.
Vanya had enough of this pompous prattler. She walked calmly into the tent and announced, "I beg to differ admiral. My name is Karolyi and I'm with Starfleet Intelligence."
An interruption? An interruption? Issacs turned his attention towards the bungler who dared interrupt him. "Excuse me? How dare you-" it having not hit him yet what Karolyi had said.
Abner just folded his arms not saying anything waiting for Issacs to register what Vanya had said.
Boom. There it was, and Abner grinned, like a cat who ate the canary.
Issac's eyes bulged out, just staring at Vanya, his face draining of color.
He spluttered, trying to say something but nothing came out coherently.
"Exactly. We're here for Rystix. You are Admiral Isaacs, correct?" Vanya asked, pulling out a PADD to take notes. "You do realize that it is a crime in the Federation to hold a sentient being prisoner? I could add exploitation as well."
Finishing his cone by popping the last bit into his mouth, Cade said. "Good pistachio." He could feel the Admiral's thoughts and labeled them simply as twitchy. "Seems to be some very heated opinions here. Pistachio is good for calming you down. I have a couple of gallons on order. Perhaps we should all find a place to sit down and discuss all of this rationally?"
"It is Rystix to whom I wish to speak," T'Par said as if everything else being said around her were simply a distraction. "Logically, determining his wishes and current condition comes before presuming to undertake action or advocacy on his behalf."
Vanya nodded her agreement and raised an eyebrow as she waited for the admiral's response.
Tara's eyes bulged. She could not stop Vanya as she moved towards the Admiral and when she interrupted, Tara could only stand and watch the scene unfold before her. Normally, Tara was fearless, but this was an admiral! What did Vanya think she was doing? Before her mind could process any of this, she stood up and said, "I would not recommend that anyone interfere. If Rystix is sentient, as believed, then I would have to take anyone into custody, regarding of rank, that would interfere with his free will." To confirm her stance on the subject, she put a hand on her phaser in its holster.
A piercing whistle sounded in the air, it was from T'seng who had finished her pistachio cone a few moments ago.
"Everyone just take a deep breath and take a step back or two." patting the air as if to try to soothe the tension down.
She made a side comment to Cade, "The pistachio ice cream certainly did the trick for me." then T'seng turned back to the admiral waiting for him to answer the questions.
"Well, I- that is-" the admiral began, "I don't know that he is truly sentient, that is still debatable."
"There is no debate, about whether he is or isn't. " T'seng began, "I know that he is sentient. "
Admiral Issacs looked from one to the other, his eyes hovering on Tara whose hand seemed to be twitching over the phaser she wore.
It was as if Isaacs were a balloon, that had been pricked, the air escaping from it. His shoulders slumped. Without another word he stepped to one side.
T'Par arched a brow in curiosity and perhaps something like surprise, but she said nothing as she walked past the admiral, seeking the dragon.
Tara smiled pleasantly at Admiral Isaacs and to emphasize her point allowed her index finger to inch closer to the holster. She then told the Admiral, "I appreciate you stepping aside, Admiral. I'm not particularly fond of messes. That means that I would have to clean it up and I don't really have a lot of time for that."
Vanya watched T'Par waltz past the admiral without him noticing. She wanted to follow, but that would draw attention to both of them. So, she just folded her arms across her chest and raised an eyebrow as she glared at Isaacs.
Impressed by her fellow crew members, JK gave Isaacs a wicked smile. "Admiral." She said as she walked past him.
Cade followed after retrieving more ice cream and paused near the Admiral, "Try some pistachio, sir," he said. "It's very good and a better prescription I couldn't write for trying times and such a short analysis. I am fairly sure the Federation council and Fleet Behavior-Protocols department will find the paper I'm writing fascinating. Perhaps I could interview you later?"
Isaacs opened and closed his mouth as if gasping for air. Then he followed after T'Par, saying to Cade over his shoulder. "Sure, sure, whatever you want." not particularly paying attention as to what he had said to Cade.
(To be continued...)
Cadence Tyree
Chief Counselor
USS ORcrist
T'seng
Vanya Karolyi
Data Anallyst & Archivist
USS Orcrist
Lieutenant Junior Grade Tara Marsh
Assistant Chief Security Officer
USS Orcrist
Abner
T'Par
Chief Science Officer
USS Orcrist
Jemimah Weatherly
Chief of the Boat
USS Orcrist
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