Sacred Ground
Posted on Sunday 2 October 2022 @ 15:34 by
Mission:
Revelations
Location: Kailu's Quarters
2317 words - 4.6 OF Standard Post Measure
They had separated after that first initial meeting, Evelyn having been called away by someone. It was her sister but she didn't tell Kailu yet, nor had she told her sister about Kailu. It was Evelyn's secret, something precious for her to hold onto. She was still on the first steps of the path of discovery, and she didn't want anyone to know, yet. Deciding to take a chance she sent a message to Kailu, would he respond? Would he want to meet once more?
Kailu, would it be possible for us to meet once more? Do you have a place we can meet?
That sounds nice, Evelyn. My quarters are the safest place I know on this ship.
This was true. As with many of the places he'd been in his life the first thing he ever did was secure his living space from unwanted guests and their ears. His experience with Evelyn had been unique for sure and he was curious as to how it would move forward.
Evelyn was thrilled though she had a problem, she didn't have the clearance to go onto the Merlin. She could only stay on the station. She sent another message.
Kailu I am unable to come on your ship as I do not have the clearance to do so. You will have to be the one to escort me. this matter was the truth, since she wasn't Star Fleet one could not venture onto the ship.
I will meet you at the airlock and escort you personally to my quarters. We will be safe there and no-one will bother you. he replied. He would see her get on board quietly, quickly and without any problems. He had a feeling she wanted things to be kept under wraps at the moment and her movements not openly aired.
Aye I will meet you there.
She arrived, her clothing hidden beneath a floor length dark green cloak, the hood of it over her hair. When he met her, Evelyn linked her arm with his as they went to his quarters on the ship. She didn't speak until they arrived at his quarters. "Sorry to be such a bother but thank you." Evelyn replied giving Kailu a kiss on the cheek before she stepped away to remove her cloak. Her style of dress was still old fashioned but looked natural on her. With curiosity she glanced around his quarters, trying gain more insight into the man she was next to.
"You are not a bother." Kailu grumbled as he accepted the kiss on the cheek.
Kailu's quarters were not an elaborate affair. Simple, elegant in its simplicity. He had tribal art hanging on the walls, the skin of a dead animal adorning the floor where he usually contacted his spirits, even now he could hear their whispers. The animal itself was an unrecognisable creature. Kailu himself took off his coat to reveal a tank top as he did not feel the need to cover his tattoo's (see bio pic). He saw Evelyn scanning his room. "I do not allow many people in my living space." he commented.
She turned her head to look at Kailu and Evelyn gave a nod. "I do feel honored in being here." her answer quiet and in some way reverent. Evelyn stepped towards Kailu, as she noticed his tribal tattoos. "Those are beautiful, would you mind if I touch the ones that are showing?" her cheeks coloring, Evelyn had no clue as to why she was so strongly drawn to Kailu, she felt it the day before. And even now, the strength of this feeling was difficult to resist. Why was she resisting? Evelyn could only put the reasoning was, due to his spiritual nature. It beckoned her, but she was also once again not wanting to break a taboo. But they connected on such a deep level.
"As you should." Kailu said dryly. It wasn't him being rude, it was just his way. He spoke plainly and openly which was ironic for officer in Starfleet Intelligence. The energy Evelyn gave off was powerful, he felt drawn in but was hesitant. "You may touch if you wish. If that is what you want." he said taking his top off completely to reveal his chest and abdomen.
Her eyes widened with surprise, her cheeks turning an even darker red, and yet, Evelyn didn't run away. Instead, she hesitantly stepped closer, reaching out to make contact with Kailu's chest over his heart. Her hand was warm, and she felt the rhythm of his heart. Her own heart was picking up its pace, as she traced the outline of his tribal tattoos. "So beautiful."
"Yes, they are Toan'ta tribal markings. Each is a symbol in our language, a marking that shows devotion to the spirits we commune with. I hear them even now; they whisper and guide me. I hope you do not think that to be strange? I get the impression you are open to the world of spirits." Kailu said as he watched her hands trace his markings.
"I do not think that to be strange at all, and I am open to the world of spirits. Everything has a spirit, which is what I have believed for quite some time. Rocks, trees, plants just everywhere radiate an energy. All depends on what happened in a certain area." Evelyn ran her fingers along his chest, over his shoulders towards his back to look at the tattoos there.
"Then we are in agreement." Kailu nodded as he felt her fingers trace his skin. "Do you have markings?" he asked.
"Not tribal markings but a birthmark." Evelyn replied. "It is on my right hip." feeling her cheeks grow warm. "I-I could show you it, since well, you showed me your markings."
"If that is what you wish. Sometimes markings on the body are a sign from above or below. That we are tagged for things greater than we understand... and sometimes they are just genetic anomalies." he shrugged. "Faiths believe the former, as do I."
"This one, I am not certain if it is a genetic anomaly, but I do feel it has some hidden meaning. Perhaps you could figure what it might be." She moved back and turned slightly to lift up her flowing skirt of her dress on one side to show the birthmark right on her hip. it was a crescent moon with a star nestled in the curve of the moon.
When he saw the mark on Evelyn's hip he frowned slightly. Not out of anger but out of curiousity. "Some believe the moon to mean growth, a full moon means you have realised your own power and you are complete in yourself. A crescent moon such as this means, to me at least, that you are always growing and looking to improve yourself. An admirable marking if there was one. Fits you perfectly." he said tracing it a little himself before realising he was touching her without asking. "Sorry." he said going to remove his hand.
Evelyn stopped the movement of his hand with a gentle touch of hers, "You have not offended me." she murmured softly. She then took his hand that was upon her hip and intertwined his fingers with hers and moved in close for a kiss guiding his hand about her waist and her arms going about his waist. "Thank you for the meaning of the mark."
They kissed and the world faded away, much like it had done the first time they kissed in the Observation Lounge back on the station. Her words resonated with him and once their lips parted he smiled, well more of a grimace... even now a man of over 600 he still had not learned how to do it properly without looking as if it hurt. "It is but one meaning, but I am glad it has brought you comfort." he said as he stared into her eyes.
Evelyn looked deeply into his eyes, not wanting to leave his embrace. "Kailu, where would you like to go from here, this point of time, this moment. I have strong feelings for you, is it too soon? I just feel we seem to fit together."
"In this moment I am happy. I do not see the need to go anywhere else." he answered rather cryptically. For him time didn't mean an awful lot. After all, he had all the 'time' in the galaxy. He placed his hand on her face, her cheek and caressed it gently before moving up to brush his fingers through her hair. "From the moment I met you, the moment you reached out. Well... fate has a way of guiding hearts together. Time can stop and we'd still be here in each other's embrace."
Evelyn nodded. Not wanting to break the moment, and yet she felt she needed to sit down. "We can stay in each other's embrace, but I am feeling the need to sit down, almost feeling a bit tipsy mind you." a brilliant smile going from ear to ear. Her arms were bare due to the sleeveless dress she wore. "It is as if I have imbibed in a delicious strong drink."
Kailu nodded and moved them both over to the couch by the windows. It was customary for the senior staff to get nice 'quarters with a view' and it was a far cry from the days of the lower decks when they were sleeping in corridors and sharing bathrooms. It was especially hard to get a good prayer going when it was so noisy and busy with traffic.
"Do you wish a drink?" Kailu asked feeling the need to be more host like. "Water? Coffee? Maybe it'll 'sober' you up?" he half teased.
Evelyn giggled, "Coffee may be a good idea, or perhaps some tea instead. Some chamomile tea. It will have a calming effect on me, which might be a good idea?" looking at him with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Are you in a state of distress?" he asked alarmedly arching an eyebrow at her. He moved over to the replicator and asked for chamomile tea in a nice China cup and brought it over to her.
" I am not in distress, but wished to have the tea, to well settle me down before I am in your arms again and wishing to kiss you. I feel I could spend the whole evening doing such. However, would you rather ask me questions to find out who I am?" accepting the tea from Kailu.
"You are the sister of Commander McPhee, that much is clear." Kailu said as he sat down next to her and passed her the tea. He could see a similar resemblance and the sense he got around Mathias was similar, not quite the same as Evelyn but there was something there. His senses were clear on such. "I do wonder what made you reach out? Your message asking for a meeting was rather ominous and vague of detail... as any good ask for aid should be. Telling people too much straight away is how people take advantage..."
A sip of her tea then Evelyn answered. "It was maybe on a whimsical feeling. I just wanted to send out a message and didn't know if it would be answered. I've done so on other occasions. Nary a one had been answered until you did, this time. There are often times that I meet someone and there isn't that 'feeling' of connection. I have gone out and dated others but, they just weren't, they just didn't have that certain quality to them. And they were not answering the message in a bottle."
"You know old Earth messages from bottles were often distress calls?" he asked. "However, I am glad that it was nothing putting you in danger and I am quite happy the message fell on my screen." he smiled a little at her. "Are you asking me out on a date?" he said with a thinking man's frown and looked away in thought. They hadn't actually done much but meet in an Observation Lounge and now here.
"Actually, I would love to go on a date with you. I've not been to Ba'ku yet, have you? It would be nice to be on natural ground, walk barefoot in water. Go for a swim." not answering comment as of yet. "And yes, the message bottles were indeed that, but also they have been used as letters of love or of hope." Evelyn then answered.
Well, it turned out as an odd turn of events that he had asked her out by asking if she was asking him. If Kailu couldn't have planned an easier ask if he had actually planned it at all. "No, I haven't been on Ba'ku as of yet. I will admit though I have been on ships too long. I do miss solid ground and the sounds of nature."
"Then let's take the opportunity to go to Ba'ku and just enjoy real sun, hear the sounds of nature, the rustling of the wind playing in the tree tops. Sleep under the stars or in a tent. And don't worry I will dress appropriately I don't always wear dresses." giving a light laugh, then Evelyn drank of her tea.
"I like your dresses." Kailu admitted. "But I am happy to spend time in your company. I'll make arrangements for transportation to Ba'ku for us."
"Well, I do dress up like I am in a Ren Faire too. " Evelyn responded, with a smile. "However yes, off to Ba'ku and I will get myself ready to go." rising up to give him a kiss, " I am so looking forward to this."
Evelyn McPhee
NPC: Mathias McPhee
Lieutenant Kailu Grekas
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Merlin
