Common Grounds

Kaiel's smile warmed significantly at Avi's response.  Everyone had so far been uncommonly nice.  But, with this Avi, he found many similarities in their persons or backgrounds, which intrigued him immediately.

"Your naming is splendid," he said, quite taken by the symbology worked into it.  Very different from the earlier Bartokian style, but, it had meaning, and that appealed to him.  He idly wondered how she might react if he told her that names were a totally new concept for the Sirenn.  "If I were to render my own designation in your manner, I believe I would be Kaiel na-Sirenn, is that so?"

Avi smiled and agreed this would be true, but asked why he would include the 'na' in his own name.

"I left Sirenn many years ago," Kaiel answered.  "I have not deliberately separated myself from them; I simply have been so caught up in so many interesting places, and people," he said, inclining his head to indicate her among them, "that I have never found my way back.  Some day, I will set aside time, or take some opportunity, to go there once more."

He pondered that decision a moment, then brought his full attention back to Avi.

"You are more unique than I," he said.  "About one percent of my people enter Federation services of one sort or another.  Most of those who seek out Starfleet do so in the technical areas.  I have not met another Sirenn in the sciences, since I left home.  But, what you say of the Ki'tiki – I do hope I'm not butchering the pronunciation – about all being scientists, is similar to my people's philosophy.  We have few professions, per se.  Sirenn who seek knowledge do so without dividing sciences into little boxes, the way it seems done in the Federation.  It was not until I left Sirenn that I discovered Federation sciences were cut into specialties.  You can imagine how limiting I found my schooling," he said, trying not to blush at the recollection of arguments with instructors, who could not believe he had so wide a background in sciences.  "I have earned a few degrees, and the Federation graciously permits me to pursue scientific studies and programs."

He took a sip of his drink, and felt himself blushing for an altogether different reason than old memories.  He was certain that the tips of his hairs were flashing biological "yellow alerts".  He needed to distract himself, and this Avi, before he got himself into murky waters.

"I am pleased to learn I am not the only newcomer to the Arcadia, too," he said, trying to change the topic of conversation.  "You are a lieutenant, are you not?  Congratulations on your prestigious post.  And, if there was any, er, drama associated with the former officer in that position, I trust you will not be caught in any fallout," he added, raising his glass slightly, to privately toast her good fortune.  "I am a civilian, if that is not a nasty word to use in such august company as the crew of the finest ship in Starfleet, to hear the captain tell it.  I have had the honor of serving two other ships, prior to being assigned here, so evidently I am doing my job well enough to keep from being lynched.  I have taken to wearing the uniform, so as not to stand out too much.  I like being part of the crew, even if I hold no rank."

Kaiel noticed that Avi kept glancing at his amberlike vipai.  She did so on the sly, obviously too concerned with giving offense to say anything.  Kaiel's smile did not falter.  He was intrigued that she wanted to look at all.  Most people found the amberlike "windows to the soul" to be disconcerting.  Avi did not seem typical in that sense, or in any other. Perhaps, with the mobile masses of nanotech beneath her skin, she was sensitive to clumsy or impertinent questions?  Kaiel was not one to leave questions unasked – hence, his passion for the sciences – and he was not one to see a question in another, without trying to resolve it.  How could he arrange a diplomatic opening?  Ah...