<USS Avalon> Avalon Log 040909--Encounters, Explanations, & Questions

The shelter building part of the  Survival Course was always interesting.  
Vilya liked to see what the groups  of cadets came up with within the allotted 
amount of time, using the materials  at hand.  She and the other instructors 
liked to think of it as the  Kobayashi Maru of housing.  Naturally, that day's 
exercise left most of the  cadets disgusted and grumbling and a few quiet and 
thoughtful.   She expected a few ofd them to be waiting to see her during 
office  hours.  She was, therefore, definitely not expecting the person she saw 
 
sitting outside her door.
    The man, a Human civilian, stood up as she  approached.  Even though 
she'd never met him, she knew immediately who he  was.  He was the same height, 
had the same build, and the same bright blue  eyes.  He even had the same long 
black hair except he sported a few white  hairs mixed in.
    "Reverend Kabuki?" she asked, just to be  sure.
    The smile that he offered was familiar as he held  out his hand.  "That 
means you're Ensign Li and that I have the right  office."
    "Yes, sir.  I wasn't expecting you but is  there something that I can do 
for you?" Vilya asked as she shook his hand.
    "Please--call me Daniel.  If you have the  time, I'd like to talk to 
you," he replied.
    "Of course, come inside the office and have a  seat."
 
    She felt her guards go up as she ushered Ming's  oldest brother into her 
office.  Something was definitely going on.   Ming had returned briefly to Los 
Angeles to collect some of his belongings and  to make arrangements for his 
classes at the seminary.  Since his return,  though, he'd been in something of 
a disturbed mood.  When she questioned  him about it, hew shrugged it off and 
told her not to worry about it.  Now,  a few days later, here was his brother, 
who he admittedly admired and looked up  to, waiting to talk to her.  
    "Can I get you something to drink, Daniel?" she  asked as he sat across 
from her.
    "Some tea would be fine," Daniel replied.   After Vilya set a cup on the 
desk in front of him, he looked at her with a  serious expression on his face. 
 "Ensign, I--"
    "My name is Vilya."
    "You know, I thought my mother had that wrong," he  said, almost to 
himself, as he shook his head and grinned slightly.   Sobering again, he said, 
"Vilya, the first thing I want to do is put you at  ease.  The only reason I 
came 
all the way over here is because my parents  seem to think my brother's taken 
leave of his senses.  I had to if  I wanted to get any sleep."
    "Oh?  And why is that?" she asked, already  knowing the answer.
    "Hey, now. don't get so defensive.  I know  Ming.  Aside from being level 
headed, he also has a lot of common sense,"  Daniel began.  Sipping at his 
tea, he looked her in the eye.  "He's  also a grown man who's able to make his 
own decisions.  I can't say that I  agree with how he's gone about making them 
but that has nothing to do with  you.  I would rather you were married than 
living together like you  are.  What sets me at ease, though, is that I'm told 
you value your beliefs  as much as we do."
    Vilya raised one fine auburn brow.  "Who told  you that?" she asked, even 
though she had her suspicions already as to the  answer.
    Grinning at her tone, Daniel said, "Y'know,  Saketh's very fond of you 
but he had no idea what was going on.  He  just gave me that eyebrow look and 
said that it was none of his business.   He also said that he thought it would 
be good for you both.  I just came  here to see it for myself."
    "I see."  She looked at him.  She didn't  dare touch his ear but she knew 
what she'd find.  His pagh would  be like his little brother's, though more 
careworn and layered with more life  experience.  She found herself liking him 
immensely.  "And did you see  what you thought you'd see?"
    "Yes, yes-I did.  Now, I;m wondering if you'd  do me a favor, my dear.  
I'd like to go talk to my brother.  Where is  he?" Daniel asked.
 
 
    When Vilya returned to the apartment that evening,  she walked in to see 
Daniel stretched out on the sofa, fast asleep.  Ming,  who had been working at 
the computer, got up to greet her with a kiss.
    "What's this?" she asked quietly, nodding at  Daniel.
    "He takes daily medication that knocks him  out.  I didn't think it was a 
good idea for him to be going on a two hour  trip back to Kauai when he was 
all drugged up.  I didn't think you'd mind,"  Ming explained.
    "Of course not!  He's your brother.  Did  he give you a hard time?" she 
asked as she headed into the kitchen.
    "Nothing I wasn't expecting.  He made it very  clear that while he 
doesn't approve of this," Ming replied, making a gesture  that took in the 
apartment, "he does approve of you."
    Vilya took a cup of spice tea from the replicator  then looked up at 
Ming.  "But what about your parents?  You never said  anything but I know you 
were 
upset when you came back from there."
    "Yeah, well...he had to mollify them somehow.   He's going to tell them 
that we're married," Ming told her, somewhat  deadpan.
    "I thought you had a prohibition against  lying.  'False witness' was 
it?" Vilya asked skeptically.
    "Yeah...well..." Ming began.  He looked away  from her, as if he were 
trying to gather his thoughts.
    "What my dear brother is trying to say," came  Daniel's voice from the 
sofa, "is that he wants to marry you."
 
 
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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