[ussgeorgetown] Tentative Treaty by Darius Murgo and Elishvrachen ch'Thane
- From: TKilyle@xxxxxxx
- To: ussgeorgetown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 20:42:51 EDT
Except for his rather harsh encounter with Darius Murgo in the brig of Deep
Space Nine, Lish had never really spoken to the man. Yet he'd agreed to Mrs.
Murgo's request to help the family with Joshua and Zachary. It was purely
chance that the man walked into the mess hall as he was thinking just that.
He noted the lack of rank pips, indeed the lack of a uniform at all, and
readjusted his wording before he even spoke.
"Mr. Murgo, if you have the time, I would like to speak to you," he said
simply.
Darius looked up at the blue man and had to catch himself before he
reprimanded the boy about the lack of proper address. You're retired now.
Useless
aboard this damn ship. "You must be the shrink my wife was telling me about."
Darius replied aloud as he walked over and ordered from the replicator.
"Coffee, strong, black."
Lish, out of a habit to show respect to his elders, did stand up until
Darius was seated. When he was re-seated himself, he nodded his antennae and
head
toward him. "One of two aboard the ship, sir. I am Elishvrachen ch'Thane.
I met your wife earlier. Your daughters, as well. They are lovely."
"Thank you." Darius couldn't help but beam at the compliment to his girls,
Joanna included. Picking up his mug of coffee, or as John called it "driveway
sealant", he took a long drink before looking at the man across from him.
"What is it you want to know, Lieutenant."
"We had words earlier, sir. Harsh ones and quite a few that dealt with me
and my child, as well as Joshua," Lish began, keeping his eyes and antennae
pointed at the older man. "I do not know what has passed between you and
Captain Hale but your wife has asked me to aid you all in this situation with
Joshua and his brother. It would not be fair to either of us if there were
things hanging between us that prevented the right thing from being done."
Darius looked at the man. "I pose no threat to you and or your child and the
ones who did are no longer a threat." After taking another gulp of coffee
Darius went on. "As for the rest, at the time, the words we had fit the
moment,
and John and I will work things out, we always do. The children however will
take work."
Lish's antennae twitched toward each other, a shrug. He would take the man
at his word for now but he was no fool. He had every intention of speaking
to the captain about the matter. "Nor am I any threat to you, sir. I am like
you and want only what is best for my child. I imagine the girls are a bit
overwhelmed by the recent events."
"Abbie's confused and Frankie feels threatened." he replied before
retrieving a second cup of coffee.
"Ah, Abbie is the one I saw talking to Dr. tr'Ghaladriel. I think she
amused him greatly. She seems very bright, Mr. Murgo. Where do you suppose
the
confusion lies?" Lish asked.
Again Darius beamed. "Of all my girls Abbie is most like her mother, which
of course means she will rebel the most against Jo." That he was not looking
forward too. "Wouldn't you be confused if you were suddenly told your dead
brother isn't dead and that he doesn't even know he's your brother?"
"The truth is always best but you have to put in terms that a child her age
would understand. Children are never so innocent as they seem. I dread the
day my zhei is old enough to ask questions and I have to tell her that I
might have been wrong," he said quietly. "There is strength in admitting
weaknesses."
"Children shouldn't have to face their parents weaknesses at such young
ages," Darius replied.
"If they are old enough to ask then they are old enough for answers that
they understand, though, sir," Lish insisted. "I do not believe for one
moment
that this will lessen their feeling for you."
Darius looked into his coffee mug. "Even when they find out I tried to have
him sent back to hell."
"Even then. Mr. Murgo, I know there is an Earth religion that states that
no one can hope to reach the level of a man who is truly repentant. That is
what you need to make clear to them--that you have had the change of heart,"
Lish told him. "Yes, you will have to admit that you did some bad things but
now you know they were wrong."
Going for his third cup off sludge Darius asked, "And what of Josh? How do I
make this up to him."
"You are going to give yourself a very bad case of hypertension if you keep
drinking that stuff," Lish remarked upon seeing the third cup. Brushing back
braids from his face, he tapped his mouth with two fingers thoughtfully.
"Joshua is not like too many other people at all, sir. He speaks differently
and he certainly thinks differently than most Humans. It will take time."
Darius glanced at the cup in his hand and laughed. "My wife insists that
coffee passes through my veins more then my blood does. I've been drinking
this
stuff like this since I was sixteen, Lieutenant. I hardly think if it hasn't
killed me before now it's not likely to." Sitting down again he looked into
the depths of his coffee. "For now I guess time is all we have." He looked up
at Lish then. "As I'm sure Joanna's told, you we're staying on board. I've
requested early retirement."
Lish tilted his head curiously, white lashes blinking in surprise. "No, she
did not tell me that. That room was quite chaotic," he said softly, though
his eyes were crinkled. "What will you do? I know your girls were getting
along very well with Dr. Kaartaren's daughter."
"I'm not sure what I'll do." Darius replied honestly. "Being in Star Fleet,
being an officer is all I've ever known, but given the choice between my pips
and my family I've chosen my family."
"I cannot fault that choice. It is the reason I transferred to this ship as
the previous one made my bondmate....I believe the expression he used was
'it gives me the creeps'," Lish explained. He sat in silence a few moments,
thinking. It was not going to be easy for the man, sitting on the other side
of the force field now. Eventually, though, one white brow went up, in an
unconscious imitation of Seren. "There a number of civilians aboard now, sir.
If they have a question or problem, they often come to myself or Dr.
Kaartaren but even we are still Starfleet. Perhaps a man in such a position
as you
are now..."
Darius saw where this was going and it made him laugh. "A civilian liaison?
Doesn't a ship this size, one made for families, already have one?"
"No, sir, we do not. I have no idea why. You would have to ask Commander
Menkara about that but if you feel that it is a suitable idea, I can ask the
captain."
"Thanks for the offer, Lieutenant, but I don't need anyone going to John on
my behalf."
Lish finished his tea and his eyes crinkled. "Or you may ask him yourself
if you wish. It is merely an option. I imagine it is going to be something
of a readjustment to go from such a busy position as you had," he began. It
was as polite as he could say it without hissing. The whole thing still
rankled. "I believe Humans say idle hands are a demon's work shop..."
Darius emptied yet another cup off coffee. "In my case busy hands were the
devil's work." He looked down into the empty mug and then set it aside. "I
think I'll just spend time with my family for awhile, but I'll keep your idea
in
mind."
"As you wish, sir, though I will be seeing you more often then you think. I
will tell you the same thing I told your wife--if you prefer Dr. Kaartaren's
help rather than mine, there will be no ill will," Lish said simply, trying
not to make a face at the coffee. At least now I know where that gene came
from....
"Joanna clearly had her reasons for choosing you and I won't question her
decision." Darius answered. "Knowing her she picked you due to your connection
to Josh or to her girl."
"Most likely so since we served together on our previous posting," Lish
agreed. He stood up. It was not an Andorian gesture but he understood its
meaning amongst Humans and it had ceased to bother him a long time before
then.
He held his hand. "Mr. Murgo, I am not saying it will be easy or that things
will always be so amicable but I can say welcome aboard."
Darius stood and shook Lish's hand. "Thank you, Lieutenant."
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