Tea for Two

Posted on Sun Sep 21, 2025 @ 3:38pm by Ensign T'Vren

999 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Chicken Run
Location: Replimat

The Vulcan Spice tea at the Replimat was mediocre, but so was the tea produced by the replicator in her quarters and the blends offered by the establishments on the station. The Replimat was an acceptable compromise between wanting to be in public, listening to the various languages around her, and not wanting to have to face questions about what she thought of the tea.

On her PADD, she drafted a letter.

Sokar,

I have arrived at DS5, settled into my quarters and begun my work. There are an above average number of those of Vulcan heritage stationed here. Many are of mixed heritage, including the Commodore in charge of the station. For those of full Vulcan heritage, I have only so far met the chief counselor. She is unusually concerned with my ability to interact with other species and their emotions. As I managed with minimal issues during the Academy and my previous posting, I do not share her concerns. Certainly there are species who are driven primarily by their emotions, but their conduct is their own.

Of those personnel I have interacted with so far, the only one who gives me significant concern is my fellow Assistant Chief of Operations. Ace Cannon, who manages system operations, is… There is a Betazoid word that means someone with whom mental contact leaves an unpleasant residue. I would not willingly allow him such contact, but that is the closest I can come to describing him without spending more time than he is worth.

There is archeological research being done on planet, and I have been invited to potentially participate in the future. Should I see anythi-

The table shifted under her hand. T’Vren looked up from her letter. There was a small creature sitting on her table. It regarded her and she looked back at it. It was a bird, of the Terran type. Fluffy with black and white feathers. There were small red, fleshy protrusions on its cheeks and the top of its head, and its beak was yellow. She was not familiar enough with Terran fauna to identify the species, but it was not a large bird. She could easily lift it with two hands, though she made no attempt to do so. She could not remember if Terran birds carried any toxins on their feathers.

The creature settled itself on her table. T’Vren took a sip of her tea and waited to see what it would do. After several minutes, she came to the conclusion that it was going to do no more than what it had done so far, of which the most vigorous action had been when it poked the corner of her PADD with its beak. She set down her tea and returned to her letter.

Should I see anything unique in the construction and architecture, I will make note of it for you. In the area of construction, when last we spoke, you were working on the new bridge over the Kadon River. Please provide an update on your progress. Have you determined a solution to the question of the stability issues on the far bank? Please provide an update on your progress.

I recen

The creature made a noise. T’Vren looked up as it shifted into what it apparently found to be a more comfortable position. She looked around the Replimat. Others were either very carefully not noticing the creature, likely out of concern that doing so would require some action from them, or they were carefully removing themselves from the area. The latter did not strike her as a logical choice. The creature had done nothing threatening, so the logical thing to do was not to disturb it, making it most likely that it would continue to do nothing threatening.

I recently spoke with my family. My father informs me you have been of assistance in repairing the irrigation system. I thank you for your assistance. It is reassuring that you are available to support them when I am not there. Stovan as well tells me that you have spoken with him about your work. Your contribution to his education is appreciated. While I suspect he will not pursue the field of construction engineering, not all are lucky enough to find a field that suits their natural aptitude or interest. Perhaps he shall follow in our mother’s footsteps and become a teacher.

It has been some time since we last saw each other in person. Perhaps now that I have settled into my new posting you will have a chance to visit. Please inform me if you are able to do so. There are always topics that are better discussed in person, rather than by letter or by call.

Your Shi’masu,
T’Vren

She contemplated the letter, looking to see if there was any wording she wished to change, until she was interrupted by a clearing throat. She looked up to see an enlisted in yellow standing awkwardly by her table. “Um, Ma’am, the chicken?”

Chicken. T’Vren regarded the bird and mouthed the word, considering the feel of it in her mouth. “It is not mine.”

“No, ma’am. One of the ships in dock had some issues with its cargo. We’re trying to gather it up?”

The intonation was that of a question, in contradiction to the way it was phrased. But the crewman was human, and it was a common linguistic quirk of the species. “As I said, the… chicken is not mine.”

The word moved abruptly from the front to the back of the mouth. She would need to look up the etymology of it later. As the crewman gathered up the chicken, she sipped the last of her tea. Cooling had done nothing for the flavor. If her bondmate came to visit, he would bring tea of acceptable quality from home.

OFF:
Ens. T’Vren
Assistant Chief of Operations — Communications
Deep Space Five

 

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