<USS Avalon> Avalon Log 040902--Things in Common

 
As they walked through the park’s  gardens, Vilya realized that her new 
acquaintance hadn’t been exaggerating.  His family history was not only very  
involved, it was also very long. 
“That’s a  little over four hundred years,” she exclaimed after Ming told 
her how far back  his family tree could be traced. 
“Exactly.  We’ve managed to keep track of it all—the descendants of those 
five  brothers.  Not that we’ve sprouted  anybody truly famous or important 
to 
anyone outside of our family,” Ming said  with a dismissive shrug. 
“But it’s  the ordinary people, the every day families, who are the 
backbone 
of a people,”  Vilya told him, thinking of all the ‘ordinary’ Bajoran 
families who fought the  Cardassians and the Dominion. 
They walked in silence for a while,  enjoying the planned gardens and each 
other’s company.  Vilya found her new friend to be rather  thoughtful and a 
deep 
thinker yet he exhibited a sense of humor that was, in her  opinion, usually 
lacking in such intellectuals. 
“So,” she  began as they stopped to admire one of the towering old trees, 
“
if you’re from  Los Angeles, what are you doing here in San Francisco?” 
“Call this something else we have in  common,” Ming said as he leapt to 
catch a branch overhead.  He pulled himself up onto the branch and  let his 
legs 
dangle.  He leaned  forward carefully to look down at her.  “Come on up, the 
air
’s fine.” 
Vilya followed his example easily,  eliciting an impressed look from Ming, 
then turned to look at him.  “So what’s this thing we have in common,  
Ming?” 
“You’re a teacher and I’m a  student.  I’m in my last year of  seminary 
studies.  Saketh let me  know about a lecture at Starfleet Academy was giving 
on 
the religions of the  galaxy.  He knew I wouldn’t pass up  such an 
opportunity 
so…here I am,” he replied. 
“So you’re going to be a priest…or  whatever it is?” Vilya asked 
curiously. 
 “I don’t mean to sound disrespectful but most Humans I’ve met don’t 
seem  
to be religious enough to do something like that.” 
To her delight, he threw back his  head and laughed.  It was a deep,  
heartfelt, laugh, one that seemed to emanate from his pagh.  “Not a 
priest—no, 
though my parents  would have liked that better.  Even  after all these 
centuries, 
the Church still has that celibacy edict and I don’t  like that idea.  I 
enjoy 
the company  of a pretty lady too much for that.” 
Vilya felt her finely shaped auburn  brows rise at such blatant flattery then 
grinned.  She wondered if the attraction she felt  was mutual. 
Ming seemed to ignore her look as he  added, “It is true what you say about 
most Earth Humans, though.  Beliefs have changed over the years and  so have 
followers but we aren’t all gone.  My beliefs are as much a part of me as  
yours 
are of you.” 
The smile was still on his face but  his eyes were like his laugh.  They  
were telling Vilya that what he was saying came straight from his pagh.  
Reaching 
to touch the crucifix he wore,  she said, “Except you wear this instead of an 
earring.” 
“Exactly.  See?  I told you I liked Bajorans,” Ming  agreed with a grin. 
The chirp of her comm badge seemed  out of place up there in the tree’s 
leaves.  It startled Vilya so badly that she lost  her balance and let out a 
yelp 
as she felt herself pitch forward.  Ming’s hands shot out to steady  her. 
“You okay?” he asked. 
“I’m fine—thank you,” she said, a  bit breathless.  She tapped the comm 
 
badge.  “Ensign Li.” 
“Commander Kabuki, Ensign.  My apologies, Vilya, but my daughter is  not 
well. My wife would like to reschedule.  Does that pose a  problem?” 
“No, sir, not at all.  I hope T’Seyra feels better,” she  replied. 
“Thank you, Vilya.  Kabuki out.” 
Vilya turned to see Ming  grinning at her.  “So you were going  to ditch me 
for my cousin?  Tsk  tsk.  Does this mean you’ll go out  to dinner with me 
now?”
  
Li Vilya, Ensign
Starfleet Academy-Engineering  and Survival Education
 
"As I make my slow pilgrimage through the  world, a certain sense of 
beautiful mystery seems to gather and grow." 
-_A. C.  Benson_ (http://www.quoteland.com/qldb/author/531)

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