Lt Drex & Lt Jg Araxxu Vahin - A visit with a friend

[Alora DeVeau]

((Drex’s Quarter - 38th Floor - Soldotna - Denali Station))

 As he moved from Anchorage tower to Soldotna tower Vahin was once again taken aback by how similar the towers were to the ones they had raced through on Melale. He wondered how much of that water-logged city matched the one he now called home. What strange parts of Denali could be found mirrored in that other city?
In his hand he carried a bottle of Bolian wine his brother had sent him as a gift a few months ago. He had never gotten around to drinking it and hoped it would make up for a mistake he had made a few months ago.
He approached Drex’s apartment’s door and pressed the PADD next to it in order to alert the occupant inside. 
Like almost every time he was at home off-duty, Drex found himself in the small room he had transformed into his art studio. Standing in front of a medium-sized canvas, he delighted in experimenting with a new painting style after seeing the picture of a work by a French artist sent to him by Dominique.
The painting was far from finished, as a large part of the upper area was still missing, but through the many dots, some humanoid figures near a lake with turquoise waters were unidentifiable.
Drex took a step back, observing the effect of the last brushstrokes applied and at that moment he heard the doorknob ring. He put the brush on the nearby table and grabbed the rag he used to clean his hands before reaching the living room and the entrance door.
As the door slid open to reveal the friendly Denobulan scientist ,Vahin smiled and waved with his free hand.
Drex was not expecting any visitors and his clothes were a mess of colors and stains, but it was with pleasant surprise that he smiled at the guest he found in front of him.
Vahin: I’m sorry to disturb you Lieutenant Drex but I just wanted to give this to you.
He held the bottle of wine out for Drex to take.
Drex: You never disturb me Doctor and, please, stop calling me that. I’m Drex and that’s enough. To what do I owe the pleasure of having you here?
Drex lowered his eyes on the bottle offered and took it before moving from the door allowing the Bolian to enter the apartment. 
Vahin: It’s for two reasons. One to congratulate you for your promotion and, two, because I forgot to bring it to the wonderful potluck you held. ::lowers his head in shame:: I hope you can forgive me for the second one.
Drex: There’s nothing to be forgiven for, Araxxu. Please come in.
Vahin raises his head and smiles at Drex’s response.
Vahin: Thank you for saying that. So… ::he cranes his neck to try and see past Drex:: how are your paintings coming along? I remember that one you had made of the girl from the story book your mother used to read to you. 
Drex moved into the living room and put the bottle on the table. 
Drex: The one behind you… :: He nodded as he took a couple of glasses from the cupboard ::  My painting activity is going well, I’m experimenting with new techniques. Do you paint or maybe are you a sculptor?
Vahin turned to look back at the entrance he had come through and saw the beautiful mural painted around the door. More seemed to have been done on it since he was last in Drex’s apartment and it had only enhanced the painting.
Vahin: Beautiful. ::turns back to Drex:: I’m afraid the Vahin family isn’t known for its artistic ability. One of my older brothers sings a bit but that’s as close as we’ve come to having an artist in the family.

While listening to the Doctor, he left the glasses near the bottle and walked to the kitchen area, from where he could still see and talk with Vahin.

Drex: We’re better off eating something, what do you prefer? Salted or sweet? Maybe both…
Vahin gave the question more thought than it was probably needed, both sounded good, so he said so.
Vahin: I’m happy with either though salted probably wins out by a hair. Like they say back home, “You can take the Bolian out of the ocean but you can’t take the ocean out of the Bolian.” In other words, salt is in our blood. ::he chuckles:: I mean obviously sodium is in our blood and in higher levels than a lot of species but I think we’re meant to take in a more metaphorical sense.

The Denobulan smiled at Vahin’s explanation. 

Drex: Please, have a seat :: Pointing to the sofa and armchairs near the large glass wall. :: And let’s get all the time we need to enjoy this bottle in good company. 
He gave Drex a large smile as he watched the friendly Denobulan place food down on the table. He took the offered seat and relaxed back into one of the comfortable armchairs.
Vahin: Once again you’re an excellent host. You and my sister would get along well. She throws the most amazing parties, every guest leaves with a smile on their face and a full belly.
Vahin patted his belly as he spoke. 
Vahin: It probably came from having a twin who loves to eat. What about you Drex, what’s your family like?
Drex uncorked the bottle and poured a generous amount of the Bolian wine in each glass, before  taking a seat on the other side of the low table, facing the Bolian. 
Drex: My family… is a large family, not as big as many on Denobula. I have a twin sister and four, well almost five, half siblings and two official step mothers and I think three step fathers. I’m not sure if my mother is married or not at the moment. 
As Drex spoke about his family Vahin’s mind drifted to his mother, she had spent a few days in bed recently as her sickness flared up. When not in the clinic Vahin had spent as much time speaking to her over the vid-screen as possible. It had been hard seeing his one strong and energetic mother looking frail and bedridden. But he had come to visit Drex, in part, to get his mind off of things back home and he decided then he needed to push away some of the darker thoughts that crowded his mind and focus on the conversation at hand.
Vahin: It can be hard being away from family, can’t it. But I can never seem to find the time to get back home to visit.
The Denobulan pushed one of the glasses towards Vahin.
Vahin takes the offered glass with a thankful nod and holds it in his hand.
Drex: I didn’t go home this shore leave, but it’s not the time that I’m missing. Yet I know doctors duties are way heavier than mine.  Unfortunately the moment we choose to serve in Starfleet changed our priorities and our responsibilities.
Vahin: ::sighs:: So true Mr Drex. We did sign up for this life and I don’t regret it most days.
Drex lifted his glass, studying the liquid against the light. Its color was dark ruby red with garnet reflection. Even though he was not a connoisseur, he was able to recognize it as an aged bottle.
Drex: But some days you do… What's going on, Araxxu? Do you have a fiancé who is tired of waiting for you?
Vahin: ::chuckles but then frowns:: If only it was that.
Drex: I can be a good listener, if you need, and I'm good at keeping a secret.
The science officer raised the glass to his nose: it smelled of red fruits and pepper and tomato leaves.
Vahin watches as Drex smells the newly poured glass of wine. His uncorked thoughts float through his mind, his issues back home, his issues on Denali. He tries to put them into words but finds it so difficult.
Vahin: Things back home aren’t good…they are…my mother is..I’m sorry. I’m not usually at such a loss for words. ::he takes a moment then just blurts it out:: My mother is dying.
As he said the words it’s as if a damn breaks in his mind. For so long he had been trying to keep his personal and work life separate. As much as he knew the issues back home were affecting his work on Denali he had been trying to compartmentalise everything. But now, he had finally told someone and he could feel some of the stress he had been holding wash away. A few tears begin to pool at the corner of his eyes and he tries to blink them away.
Vahin: I’m sorry. I shouldn’t bother you with this. I’ve been trying not to let things back home carry over to Denali. But I think I’m failing in that. 
He takes a deep breath before he continues and tries to settle himself before continuing.
Vahin: She…my mother..she’s always been the one who ran the family. I don’t know what will happen when she’s gone. ::frowns:: And knowing she won’t be..won’t be here much longer. ::another deep breath:: I just wish I could spend more time with her now.
Drex listened in silence. Those were no news people like to hear. Vahin was a good doctor, so it did not seem respectful to Drex to reassure the Bolian with probably false hopes. Words could be useful, but Vahin needed something else.
Drex: On Denobula we said that wine makes everything better. Let's drink to our friendship, then. :: He lifted his glass a little while looking at Vahin :: And if you agree, I will accompany you home, when the times require it. I will make sure you'll find the time.
Drex’s kind words begin to lift Vahin from some of the dark thoughts he was lost in. It felt good not to have to go through this alone.
Vahin: ::tries to smile:: I hope the wine is to your liking. My brother sent it to me from Bolarus and he knows more about these things than I do.
Drex: I am not an expert :: He smiled :: But it tastes good.
Vahin takes a long sniff of the wine inside the glass, at first it smells much like any wine, but there are some lingering notes that for a brief moment remind him of happier days on Bolarus; of he and his family sharing a bottle over dinner, and nights staring up at the starry sky surrounded by loved ones. 
Vahin: Are you close with your family?
Drex: Yes, I am. To my sister and one of my half brothers, mainly. We grew up together. And I worked several years with my brother and his father.
He took another sip of his wine as Drex talked about his family. It felt nice to sit back and talk with one of his Denali crewmates. So often their interactions were during the hectic moments of a mission, and although he knew Drex had formidable science skills, he knew little of him personally. 
Vahin: Ah, the family business. Most of my family works together as well. I’m..what’s that human expression, the black sheep of the family. ::chuckles:: What is it you did with your father?
Drex: My step father has an architecture studio. We did design together. I’m older than I looked!
Vahin’s eyes move to look at the painting Drex has done in his apartment.
Vahin: Well that explains your artistic nature.
Drex nodded and smiled, then I took another sip from his glass.
Drex: Tell me about your experience with the sea on Bolarus. I wasn't kidding about taking a boat and explore this Ocean
Vahin smiles at the mention of the waters of his homeworld. It had been quite some time since he’d last been out on the open seas of Bolarus but the memories of a youth spent enjoying them were always close at hand.
Vahin: Well! As I’m sure you’re aware, Bolarus is more sea than land. I grew up in an undersea mining colony and was swimming before I could even walk. Once I got older I had my own catamaran. Nothing too fancy of course but I sailed it everywhere I could, I was braver back then of course, now I can’t imagine sailing rough seas in a cabinless boat.
He took a long deep drink from his glass and let the Bolian wine warm his stomach.
Drex: A catamaran! Cool! :: He did not have much experience in such a boat, as he always preferred to sail on single hulls, but he remembered trying them a couple of times when he was a teenager :: You must promise me we’ll go sailing on Bolarus sooner or later.
Vahin: And yourself? You mentioned this boat was a gift.
Drex: At home I have a skiff for fun and a small cabin cruiser for exploration. I haven’t seen the boat my father sent me yet. But if I know him well enough :: A sly smile appeared on his face :: And trust me, I know him enough… The boat will be beautiful outside and totally uncomfortable inside.
The Denobulan reached out and grabbed some pretzels. He chewed slowly, thinking of his father and the events that had led the old man to his generous gesture.
Drex: He knows how much I love to sail, but I’m quite sure I’ll find some unexpected surprise in that boat.
Vahin: ::raises his glass:: Well here’s to good surprises.
Drex: Well :: He finished chewing another snack :: The last boat he took was completely without bunks and a kitchen. He had everything emptied and installed holographic projectors that rendered the seabed detected by the sensors.
Vahin: ::laughs:: I think I enjoy sleeping and eating too much to go without bunks and a kitchen. I hope we find both in your new ship.
Drex: If it’s the case, I’ll ask Kettick for some to reprogram the projectors and have them render the inside of a luxury yacht :: He chuckled :: Would it work?
Vahin: ::chuckles along with Drex:: Knowing Kettick, I’m sure they could make it work. 
He takes another long sip of the wine and leans back in his chair. It felt good to be relaxed, laughing with a friend, he needed to get out of the clinic and do this more often.
Vahin: Have I ever told you about the time I took my catamaran out and got caught in a storm? No? Well it all started on what seemed like a calm, sunny day, I had heard that a storm front was coming but thought I had more time….
And with that Vahin and Drex drank wine and shared stories of their past adventures. By the time Vahin stumbled home a few hours later he was happy in the knowledge that he found a friend.

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Lieutenant Drex
Science Officer
Denali Station
D240011D14

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Lt Jg Araxxu Vahin   
Medical   
Denali Station   
D240006AV3