Interlude – Generations meet
by (G) Arrain - Lieutenant Arrienye t'Merek & (G) erie'Riov - Sub Commander Rianni Monteros-t'Khellian
Post Details
::ON::
"You don't have to do this. It's just a suggestion. I can call it all off whenever you want."
Dominic sighed and turned to the tall Deltan next to him. The man looked back at him with those big blue eyes. Even if Dominic couldn't read his father's emotions the way he could read his, and even if he couldn't decipher pheromones, those eyes always seemed just as readable. "Dad...I'm fine. I know how much you want to go on this trip. And no..." he stopped the Deltan from speaking, cutting him off.
"No, you're not staying. I'll be perfectly fine. Now before you go quoting that therapist we saw about how I need to stop doing things to make you happy, I'm going to tell you that yes, I am doing this because you want to go. I'm not particularly pleased that we'll be apart for so long, but I do like that I can do this and that because of it, you'll go and do something that makes you happy. Because I like making you happy. It's what we do." That was the motto Dominic had grown up with. He'd been surrounded by Deltans his entire life and, with that, learned that one of the best ways to really feel happy and fulfilled was to do things that made those around you satisfied. It was how they lived and even though he knew that, being human, he could never really be a part of that, he still found himself feeling more connected to that view on life that any other.
Ai'lani looked at him for a moment before pulling him into a hug. Giving him an affectionate squeeze, he finally let the teen go. "Thanks, Domy," he told him, grinning brightly at him. Putting an arm around his shoulder, he led him down the promenade and towards the Arboretum where Gregori had agreed to meet with them.
Gregori instantly recognized Ai'lani from Rianni's description, leaving little doubt as to who the boy might be, "You must be Dominic." Gregori smiled, clapping the boy on his shoulder, "I am Gregori Monteros, it is my pleasure to be your host while your father keeps my granddaughter out of trouble, my boy."
The boy was unprepared for the clap on the shoulder and held onto the man's arm to keep from losing balance. He looked up at Gregori but before he could say anything Ai'lani spoke first. "Mr. Monteros, you have no idea how much I appreciate this."
"Yeah," Dominic added in agreement, pulling at his shirt.
"It will be good to have him!" Gregori laughed, "I am about to set off an a grand adventure, my boy, and I am thrilled to have you along for help. My boy," He smiled broadly, wrapping an arm around Dominic, "you and I are going treasure hunting!"
"Whoa, one moment. Treasure hunting?" Ai'lani asked, not really liking the sound of that.
'Oh, yes." Gregori nodded eagerly, "I have reliable information that there is a trove of ancient Iconian treasures somewhere not far from here, I have the general location but we'll have to search and dig a bit. Just imagine the stories you'll have to tell your schoolmates, no? And the story your father will have to put in his newspaper, all about his boy, the great explorer!"
"Isn't that dangerous? And risky?" Ai'lani asked in concern, looking down at Dominic, then at Gregori again.
"Do not worry, my boy." Gregori reassured Ai'lani, "I will not let your son get into harm's way, even if it means we leave empty handed. And the place we are going is remote, very quiet, the whole time we're there we might only see each other."
"I don't know..." Ai'lani said unsure, looking back at Dominic. "Please, dad!" the boy begged, knowing his father couldn't really refuse him anything. Ai'lani sighed. "Alright. But please, please, please, keep him safe," the Deltan begged of Gregori.
"Trust me, my boy, he will be as safe as if he were with you." Gregori laughed, "I've not lost one yet, you know."
"Well please don't start now," Ai'lani told him, the worry practically seeping off him. Dominic walked over, putting his hand on his father's arm. "Dad, relax. We'll be fine. Besides, I'll be worried about you too. This will help me take my mind off."
"Well, you are both in good Greek hands, so fear not." Gregori laughed, "When this is over I will return your son to you here as my granddaughter returns you to him, both with many stories to tell!"
"Okay," Ai'lani nodded. "Well, I suppose I should go and let the two of you get better acquainted. I'll be back in about an hour."
"Dad, I can walk back," Dominic pointed out. Ai'lani smiled nervously. "Right. Heh, sorry," he muttered. "Have fun!"
"Your father us a good man, my boy, very loving and involved." Gregori nodded approvingly, "You are lucky to have such a man in your life."
"Yeah, dad is...something, alright," Dominic nodded, watching his father stop with someone for a chat.
"He is a good man." Gregori nodded, "I am seldom wrong about people, my boy. I know he is a good man, just as I know you and I will be good friends for the rest of this old man's life after this great adventure we're embarking upon. So, have you eaten, Dominick?"
"Not yet," Dominic shook his head. "But, I'm not really hungry, thank you," he declined politely. "Maybe just some tea?" he suggested.
"Yes, tea, I enjoy a good tea." Gregori smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder gregariously, "We should go to the Romulan Cafe my granddaughter speaks of so fondly, she says they serve a very good tea."
"I haven't been there. My dad is insisting I spend as much time around Humans as possible. He's apparently hoping their habits will eventually rub off and he won't mess me up too bad," Dominic revealed with a small laugh.
"It's harder than you think." Gregori nodded with a small laugh, "I've been there, trust me, it is not easy. Well, come, let me get you some tea and maybe you can learn some human habits from an old man who managed not to screw up anyone's life too badly."
Dominic smiled with a nod. "Alright. I don't really know much about humans anyway," he said, as if he weren't one of them. "Only the history and some that I've met," he admitted.
"Well, you can learn much history from Gregori." The old man laughed, "I saw most of it firsthand."
"I've been interesting in how many wars you've had," Dominic told him with a nearly accusatory frown pointed at the man.
"Hey, don't look at me." Gregori playfully protested, his hands up in a gesture of mock surrender, "They weren't my idea."
"Deltans never had a war," he said, in an almost bragging tone.
"Well my boy, since joining the Federation many Deltans have had many wars." Gregori replied, "But war is a funny thing, it is when you see nations at their very worst and people at their very best. You will make bonds with people in war that you would never even meet in peace time, but the horror that builds these bonds, that inescapable horror, never leaves your mind."
"There is only a handful of Deltans in Starfleet, Mr. Monteros. Those who are not stay on Delta for the most part. It is one thing to be attacked. Another to bear arms and go into battle," Dominic told the older man, looking up at him with dark eyes.
"Sometimes though, we must go to war if we have any hope for peace, my boy." Gregori sighed, "It is a sad truth of our existence."
"Fighting a war for peace," Dominic said simply. "That's the most hypocritical thing I've ever heard." There was no ill intent in his words. They were just the words of a young man raised with a very fine, idealistic set of principles and Gregori could notice that right away.
"It certainly seems that way, doesn't it?" Gregori agreed, "But, the truth of the matter is sometimes things arise that become such a threat to peace that the only solution is to go to war with them to restore our peace, lest the destroy it."
Dominic shook his head. "I don't understand," he just said, moving to sit down at the nearby empty table.
"Take the Borg for instance." Gregori offered, "They have no interest in peace, no concept of it, the only way that other species can over hope for peace is to stand and fight against them, because you can't negotiate with them and even in space there is only so much room to run from them. The same with the Dominion, they had no interest in peace and, let run unchecked, they would have enslaved the entire quadrant, we were left with no choice but to stand our ground and fight them. Peace is the most beautiful thing man can ever achieve, but there come times when we must draw the line and say 'This far and no further.' or we will be destroyed. To enjoy peace, Dominick, we must first survive to see it, and sometimes that means fighting."
Dominic sighed. "Let's talk about something else," he decided, not wanting to dwell on such an ugly subject as war.
"A good choice." Gregori nodded, he'd seen plenty of wars, that didn't mean he necessarily wanted to discuss them, though, "So, do you like art, Dominic? Or perhaps architecture? We have so many beautiful ancient things to see in Greece, I would like to have you and your father there one day, maybe he can do a story about the crazy, old, retired executive who became an explorer or something."
"He would probably enjoy that," Dominic smiled. "I've never been much of an artist. I suppose I don't have an eye for it. I know I have no talent," he chuckled. "I've always been more interested in people."
"Then you do have an eye for art." Gregori smiled, "It has always been my thought that people are the highest form of art."
"How do you figure that?"
"Oh, my boy, it's so plain to see!" Gregori replied with gusto, "What have you seen more beautiful than people? Not just humans, but Deltans, Klingons, Romulans, Vulcans, all of them. We are the pinnacle of the creation of the Divine Artist, sculpted in their own image, simple in our complexity, wonderful in our design."
"You're very enthusiastic about everything," Dominic told him, noting the excited way Gregori spoke of most things.
"And you should be too, my boy!" Gregori laughed heartily, "Life is an adventure, meant to be shared with family and friends and lovers and even enemies. You will never see any man's tombstone say 'I wish I had enjoyed life less.'"
"I guess you're right," Dominic nodded. "So, what's this expedition you're taking me to?" he asked.
"We're going after a treasure of an ancient civilization, the Iconians, I'm sure you've read about them in school." Gregori replied, happily flopping out an old paper star chart to show Dominic, "They had their empire not far from here, and had outposts all over the region. This place we're going is rumored to have been one of these outposts, and the things we might find there are the stuff dreams are made of, my boy!"
"And what do we do when we find the things?" Dominic asked, looking down at the old paper chart.
"Well, these things, they're best put on display for others to enjoy and learn from." Gregori said, "I think it would be best to present them to museums across the galaxy, maybe even a Deltan museum among them, let generations yet to come enjoy the fruits of our labors. What do you think, Dominic?"
"I think that's a good idea. I might suggest the 'Laraiah' museum on Delta. It's furthest from the coast so that, should the weather turn nasty during the changing seasons it'll be safe."
"A good idea, Dominic." Gregori nodded enthusiastically, "In fact, I will let you make the arrangements for whatever artifacts we choose to send there. Yes, that is very good! The plaque will read 'Donated by Dominic Ai'lani and Gregori Monteros.' I like that!"
"Dominic Poulsen," the teen corrected. "My dad thought it was good that I keep my mother's last name. And if I'd taken dad's last name it would be Elley. Ai'lani is a first name," he corrected further.
"Well, it is good we have that straightened out before they made the plaque isn't it?" Gregori laughed, he hadn't been too sure about the naming arrangement with Dominic and had been further confused by one of his clerks referring to 'Mr. Ai'lani.'
Dominic smiled. "Yeah. My dad thought it would be best if I kept a least some of my mother with me. Since I don't remember her," he shrugged.
"That is a pity." Gregori nodded sadly, "Some of my best memories are of my mother, and my wife, Eleni's mother, taken from me so long ago. But, you must remember that everything happens for a reason, and though it seems harsh, sometimes the worst things you'll ever experience lead directly into the best things."
"You don't need to comfort me. I'm over it. I mean, I never knew her so..." Dominic shrugged.
"Comfort? There is no comforting, and you never get over it." Gregori shook his head, this Dominic sure wanted to prove himself, not just to him but to everybody, "But you move on, you do good things, and you hope you make those you lost proud. At least, that's how I do it."
"It's hard to comfort someone who doesn't know what they lost in the first place," Dominic said quietly. His father was all he had. He had absolutely no memory of his mother's appearance, let alone anything she may have provided.
"That is both a blessing and a curse, my boy." Gregori said, "And it's all a part of being human."
"Everything bad seems to be a part of being human," Dominic commented. "So far I've heard it's part of being human to get hurt, to lose people, to go to war, to go through an ugly puberty..."
"Puberty seems ugly when you're going through it." Gregori nodded, "But trust me, it's all beautiful when you come out on the other side."
"We'll see," Dominic smirked, sipping his tea.
"Oh, yes, you will." Gregori smiled, finishing his own tea and motioning to the waitress for a refill, envying his new young friend the wonders he was about to experience.
-Off
Dominic Poulsen
Confused teenager (NPC by t'Merek)
Gregori Monteros
Wise Old Man (NPC by Rianni)
by (G) Arrain - Lieutenant Arrienye t'Merek & (G) erie'Riov - Sub Commander Rianni Monteros-t'Khellian
Post Details
| Title | Generations meet | |
| Mission | Interlude | |
| Author(s) | (G) Arrain - Lieutenant Arrienye t'Merek & (G) erie'Riov - Sub Commander Rianni Monteros-t'Khellian | |
| Posted | Sun Nov 14, 2010 @ 9:44pm | |
| Location | Promenade | |
| Timeline | SD35 - 16:00hrs |
"You don't have to do this. It's just a suggestion. I can call it all off whenever you want."
Dominic sighed and turned to the tall Deltan next to him. The man looked back at him with those big blue eyes. Even if Dominic couldn't read his father's emotions the way he could read his, and even if he couldn't decipher pheromones, those eyes always seemed just as readable. "Dad...I'm fine. I know how much you want to go on this trip. And no..." he stopped the Deltan from speaking, cutting him off.
"No, you're not staying. I'll be perfectly fine. Now before you go quoting that therapist we saw about how I need to stop doing things to make you happy, I'm going to tell you that yes, I am doing this because you want to go. I'm not particularly pleased that we'll be apart for so long, but I do like that I can do this and that because of it, you'll go and do something that makes you happy. Because I like making you happy. It's what we do." That was the motto Dominic had grown up with. He'd been surrounded by Deltans his entire life and, with that, learned that one of the best ways to really feel happy and fulfilled was to do things that made those around you satisfied. It was how they lived and even though he knew that, being human, he could never really be a part of that, he still found himself feeling more connected to that view on life that any other.
Ai'lani looked at him for a moment before pulling him into a hug. Giving him an affectionate squeeze, he finally let the teen go. "Thanks, Domy," he told him, grinning brightly at him. Putting an arm around his shoulder, he led him down the promenade and towards the Arboretum where Gregori had agreed to meet with them.
Gregori instantly recognized Ai'lani from Rianni's description, leaving little doubt as to who the boy might be, "You must be Dominic." Gregori smiled, clapping the boy on his shoulder, "I am Gregori Monteros, it is my pleasure to be your host while your father keeps my granddaughter out of trouble, my boy."
The boy was unprepared for the clap on the shoulder and held onto the man's arm to keep from losing balance. He looked up at Gregori but before he could say anything Ai'lani spoke first. "Mr. Monteros, you have no idea how much I appreciate this."
"Yeah," Dominic added in agreement, pulling at his shirt.
"It will be good to have him!" Gregori laughed, "I am about to set off an a grand adventure, my boy, and I am thrilled to have you along for help. My boy," He smiled broadly, wrapping an arm around Dominic, "you and I are going treasure hunting!"
"Whoa, one moment. Treasure hunting?" Ai'lani asked, not really liking the sound of that.
'Oh, yes." Gregori nodded eagerly, "I have reliable information that there is a trove of ancient Iconian treasures somewhere not far from here, I have the general location but we'll have to search and dig a bit. Just imagine the stories you'll have to tell your schoolmates, no? And the story your father will have to put in his newspaper, all about his boy, the great explorer!"
"Isn't that dangerous? And risky?" Ai'lani asked in concern, looking down at Dominic, then at Gregori again.
"Do not worry, my boy." Gregori reassured Ai'lani, "I will not let your son get into harm's way, even if it means we leave empty handed. And the place we are going is remote, very quiet, the whole time we're there we might only see each other."
"I don't know..." Ai'lani said unsure, looking back at Dominic. "Please, dad!" the boy begged, knowing his father couldn't really refuse him anything. Ai'lani sighed. "Alright. But please, please, please, keep him safe," the Deltan begged of Gregori.
"Trust me, my boy, he will be as safe as if he were with you." Gregori laughed, "I've not lost one yet, you know."
"Well please don't start now," Ai'lani told him, the worry practically seeping off him. Dominic walked over, putting his hand on his father's arm. "Dad, relax. We'll be fine. Besides, I'll be worried about you too. This will help me take my mind off."
"Well, you are both in good Greek hands, so fear not." Gregori laughed, "When this is over I will return your son to you here as my granddaughter returns you to him, both with many stories to tell!"
"Okay," Ai'lani nodded. "Well, I suppose I should go and let the two of you get better acquainted. I'll be back in about an hour."
"Dad, I can walk back," Dominic pointed out. Ai'lani smiled nervously. "Right. Heh, sorry," he muttered. "Have fun!"
"Your father us a good man, my boy, very loving and involved." Gregori nodded approvingly, "You are lucky to have such a man in your life."
"Yeah, dad is...something, alright," Dominic nodded, watching his father stop with someone for a chat.
"He is a good man." Gregori nodded, "I am seldom wrong about people, my boy. I know he is a good man, just as I know you and I will be good friends for the rest of this old man's life after this great adventure we're embarking upon. So, have you eaten, Dominick?"
"Not yet," Dominic shook his head. "But, I'm not really hungry, thank you," he declined politely. "Maybe just some tea?" he suggested.
"Yes, tea, I enjoy a good tea." Gregori smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder gregariously, "We should go to the Romulan Cafe my granddaughter speaks of so fondly, she says they serve a very good tea."
"I haven't been there. My dad is insisting I spend as much time around Humans as possible. He's apparently hoping their habits will eventually rub off and he won't mess me up too bad," Dominic revealed with a small laugh.
"It's harder than you think." Gregori nodded with a small laugh, "I've been there, trust me, it is not easy. Well, come, let me get you some tea and maybe you can learn some human habits from an old man who managed not to screw up anyone's life too badly."
Dominic smiled with a nod. "Alright. I don't really know much about humans anyway," he said, as if he weren't one of them. "Only the history and some that I've met," he admitted.
"Well, you can learn much history from Gregori." The old man laughed, "I saw most of it firsthand."
"I've been interesting in how many wars you've had," Dominic told him with a nearly accusatory frown pointed at the man.
"Hey, don't look at me." Gregori playfully protested, his hands up in a gesture of mock surrender, "They weren't my idea."
"Deltans never had a war," he said, in an almost bragging tone.
"Well my boy, since joining the Federation many Deltans have had many wars." Gregori replied, "But war is a funny thing, it is when you see nations at their very worst and people at their very best. You will make bonds with people in war that you would never even meet in peace time, but the horror that builds these bonds, that inescapable horror, never leaves your mind."
"There is only a handful of Deltans in Starfleet, Mr. Monteros. Those who are not stay on Delta for the most part. It is one thing to be attacked. Another to bear arms and go into battle," Dominic told the older man, looking up at him with dark eyes.
"Sometimes though, we must go to war if we have any hope for peace, my boy." Gregori sighed, "It is a sad truth of our existence."
"Fighting a war for peace," Dominic said simply. "That's the most hypocritical thing I've ever heard." There was no ill intent in his words. They were just the words of a young man raised with a very fine, idealistic set of principles and Gregori could notice that right away.
"It certainly seems that way, doesn't it?" Gregori agreed, "But, the truth of the matter is sometimes things arise that become such a threat to peace that the only solution is to go to war with them to restore our peace, lest the destroy it."
Dominic shook his head. "I don't understand," he just said, moving to sit down at the nearby empty table.
"Take the Borg for instance." Gregori offered, "They have no interest in peace, no concept of it, the only way that other species can over hope for peace is to stand and fight against them, because you can't negotiate with them and even in space there is only so much room to run from them. The same with the Dominion, they had no interest in peace and, let run unchecked, they would have enslaved the entire quadrant, we were left with no choice but to stand our ground and fight them. Peace is the most beautiful thing man can ever achieve, but there come times when we must draw the line and say 'This far and no further.' or we will be destroyed. To enjoy peace, Dominick, we must first survive to see it, and sometimes that means fighting."
Dominic sighed. "Let's talk about something else," he decided, not wanting to dwell on such an ugly subject as war.
"A good choice." Gregori nodded, he'd seen plenty of wars, that didn't mean he necessarily wanted to discuss them, though, "So, do you like art, Dominic? Or perhaps architecture? We have so many beautiful ancient things to see in Greece, I would like to have you and your father there one day, maybe he can do a story about the crazy, old, retired executive who became an explorer or something."
"He would probably enjoy that," Dominic smiled. "I've never been much of an artist. I suppose I don't have an eye for it. I know I have no talent," he chuckled. "I've always been more interested in people."
"Then you do have an eye for art." Gregori smiled, "It has always been my thought that people are the highest form of art."
"How do you figure that?"
"Oh, my boy, it's so plain to see!" Gregori replied with gusto, "What have you seen more beautiful than people? Not just humans, but Deltans, Klingons, Romulans, Vulcans, all of them. We are the pinnacle of the creation of the Divine Artist, sculpted in their own image, simple in our complexity, wonderful in our design."
"You're very enthusiastic about everything," Dominic told him, noting the excited way Gregori spoke of most things.
"And you should be too, my boy!" Gregori laughed heartily, "Life is an adventure, meant to be shared with family and friends and lovers and even enemies. You will never see any man's tombstone say 'I wish I had enjoyed life less.'"
"I guess you're right," Dominic nodded. "So, what's this expedition you're taking me to?" he asked.
"We're going after a treasure of an ancient civilization, the Iconians, I'm sure you've read about them in school." Gregori replied, happily flopping out an old paper star chart to show Dominic, "They had their empire not far from here, and had outposts all over the region. This place we're going is rumored to have been one of these outposts, and the things we might find there are the stuff dreams are made of, my boy!"
"And what do we do when we find the things?" Dominic asked, looking down at the old paper chart.
"Well, these things, they're best put on display for others to enjoy and learn from." Gregori said, "I think it would be best to present them to museums across the galaxy, maybe even a Deltan museum among them, let generations yet to come enjoy the fruits of our labors. What do you think, Dominic?"
"I think that's a good idea. I might suggest the 'Laraiah' museum on Delta. It's furthest from the coast so that, should the weather turn nasty during the changing seasons it'll be safe."
"A good idea, Dominic." Gregori nodded enthusiastically, "In fact, I will let you make the arrangements for whatever artifacts we choose to send there. Yes, that is very good! The plaque will read 'Donated by Dominic Ai'lani and Gregori Monteros.' I like that!"
"Dominic Poulsen," the teen corrected. "My dad thought it was good that I keep my mother's last name. And if I'd taken dad's last name it would be Elley. Ai'lani is a first name," he corrected further.
"Well, it is good we have that straightened out before they made the plaque isn't it?" Gregori laughed, he hadn't been too sure about the naming arrangement with Dominic and had been further confused by one of his clerks referring to 'Mr. Ai'lani.'
Dominic smiled. "Yeah. My dad thought it would be best if I kept a least some of my mother with me. Since I don't remember her," he shrugged.
"That is a pity." Gregori nodded sadly, "Some of my best memories are of my mother, and my wife, Eleni's mother, taken from me so long ago. But, you must remember that everything happens for a reason, and though it seems harsh, sometimes the worst things you'll ever experience lead directly into the best things."
"You don't need to comfort me. I'm over it. I mean, I never knew her so..." Dominic shrugged.
"Comfort? There is no comforting, and you never get over it." Gregori shook his head, this Dominic sure wanted to prove himself, not just to him but to everybody, "But you move on, you do good things, and you hope you make those you lost proud. At least, that's how I do it."
"It's hard to comfort someone who doesn't know what they lost in the first place," Dominic said quietly. His father was all he had. He had absolutely no memory of his mother's appearance, let alone anything she may have provided.
"That is both a blessing and a curse, my boy." Gregori said, "And it's all a part of being human."
"Everything bad seems to be a part of being human," Dominic commented. "So far I've heard it's part of being human to get hurt, to lose people, to go to war, to go through an ugly puberty..."
"Puberty seems ugly when you're going through it." Gregori nodded, "But trust me, it's all beautiful when you come out on the other side."
"We'll see," Dominic smirked, sipping his tea.
"Oh, yes, you will." Gregori smiled, finishing his own tea and motioning to the waitress for a refill, envying his new young friend the wonders he was about to experience.
-Off
Dominic Poulsen
Confused teenager (NPC by t'Merek)
Gregori Monteros
Wise Old Man (NPC by Rianni)