Capernum: Vulcan Mysticism

Posted on Sat Aug 30th, 2025 @ 4:47pm by Captain Rogue "Ro" Green {Meji Master} {Flt. Cpt.} & Lieutenant Griffon Resch & Lieutenant JG T'Pri & Ainkara "Kara" Ski'a {SIS} {SoB}

Mission: The Inner Flame
Location: USS Capernum
Timeline: Current

ON:

Resch, Kudo and Kara were still sitting at their table, after they had moved the other table back in place and put its four chairs back around it. Ken, as they sat back down in the newly arranged chairs for their table, made sure to face towards the entrance to the lounge to be able to see who came and went. Kudo was back his usual self, stoic and introverted as he thought on things. He was still listening to Kara and Resch, and would nod or give a slight grin at things they said. The server came up to the table, seeing all their empty glasses.

"Would you folks care for something?"

Resch ordered another synthale, Kara going for Aldeberan whiskey on the rocks. Ken, however, surprised them both by ordering kali-fal. However, in his own mind he was ordering a bottle of saki and a traditional cup. The server left to fill their orders, with Resch and Kara sharing a look. Out of the corner of their eyes they saw two people enter the lounge, T'Pri and Dahl. As they entered, under his breath but heard by the other two at the table, Kudo said in a faraway voice, "ah, yes, the receptacle."

"Receptacle?" Griffon asked quietly.

Ken blinked his eyes a few times as the other two approached their table, looking over at Resch. "What was that?"

T'Pri and Jynxza got to the table so Resch gave a shrug as if unconcerned. "Nothing. I thought I heard you say something."

"He did," Kara added.

"Hi guys!" Jynxza popped out there as she and her companion got to the table. "Mind if we join?"

Ken made a gesture of compliance towards the table. As he did so, Griff had leaned over into Kara's ear and said something privately, with her getting up and going to the bar like she had something to get. In a subtle move she tapped her combadge and contacted Green, telling her she should return to the lounge but it was not an emergency.

Both newcomers sat down, with Jynx immediately leaning back casually in her chair while T'Pri remained straight backed. "Thank you for allowing us to intrude." T'Pri said.

"You're not intruding," Resch informed her. "We're just relaxing and enjoying the lounge. The Captain had to see to business, Len went to the CO's quarters and Ro said something about needing a nap." That was when Griffon noticed that the lounge had emptied out while they had remained. Their table was the only one left with patrons at it. Looking at the time it was getting late in the evening. Kara returned and sat down next to him.

Jynxza saw what Ken had in front of himself, a glass of dark blue liquor. "Ken, I didn't know you drank kali-fal."

Kudo, again blinked his eyes a few times as he lifted the glass infront of his face to examine it. "I don't. I thought I ordered saki." This time it was T'Pri and Jynx who shared a look, then they met the eyes of the other two, with Griff giving a nervous shrug.

"I see," T'Pri responded. "Would you be opposed to a mind meld, Mister Kudo?"

"A mind meld?" Kudo asked, not sure what he needed that for. "May I ask why?"

Ro came in through the entry, making her way to the table with a casual yet hurried pace. "What's up?" She asked. her eyes going to Ken. His own eyes looked odd, like he was lost and trying to figure out where he was. "Husband, are you feeling okay?"

Kudo's head tilted and his face scrunched a bit, quizzical. "I'm not sure. I ordered this," he showed her the glass in his hand. "But, thought I was ordering saki."

Eyes going to T'Pri, Ro asked a query. "Taavis's katra?"

"That is the only logical conclusion, Captain." Said T'Pri. "I have asked him to mind meld but he is hesitant."

Ro went around the table and then went to a knee beside him, holding his forearm as she looked at him with pleading eyes. "Ken, please. Allow T'Pri to do this. We feel that Taavis placed her katra in you since you were the only one she could touch. If we can't confirm it we can't help you. It will eventually drive you insane."

Looking into his soon-to-be wife's eyes, Kudo could see her concern. If Taavis had a living spirit who was he to deny her further existence. It would go against everything he held dear in his own culture. His eyes went to T'Pri. "I will allow it. Does this mean we will share memories and other things?"

T'Pri nodded. "That is an unfortunate occurrence of the meld. This is why Vulcans only enter into one when the need is dire. In this case, it is. Without your commitment you will suffer greatly before you perish and Taavis is then lost forever. It is the only way. If I knew of another I would do so."

Hearing that, Kudo immediately made his decision; acceptance. Who was he to deny Taavis her future, whatever form that may take. Mysticism was unique to each culture but often times bore similarities to those around them. As a God fearing man and a practitioner of Shintoism, it would go against all he believed to not assist. Ken adjusted himself to sit up straighter and focus. "I am ready." Ro got up and grabbed a chair from another table for T'Pri to sit down in front of Ken, her legs going to the right side of his legs.

T'Pri, once sat and comfortable reached her right hand up and splayed her fingers and thumb, placing them strategically upon Ken's face. Along the temple, forehead, and coming down alongside his nose and on his cheek. "My mind to your mind, we are one. Your mind to my mind, we are one. Your thoughts to my thoughts as my thoughts join your thoughts..." Her voice trailed off as the external words were no longer spoken.

Kudo opened his eyes in his mind, standing on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The waves of the sea crashed onto the rocks and beaches below. He knew this place well, his family estate on Oahu. Feeling a presence behind him he spun around slowly, seeing T'Pri.

"The beauty of this place is exceptional. I am honored to be allowed to see it." T'Pri said, expressing her awe at the natural sights.

"My family estate," Kudo answered. "If you head that way for a few miles," he pointed off to the low mountainous hills covered in thick green foliage. "You'll find Pearl Harbor. Still quite the tourist attraction."

"It is quite beautiful, these lands." The female voice came from his right and when Kudo turned his head that way he saw Taavis, walking towards him as she appeared to step out of some sea mist.

"Taavis," Ken said, smiling at seeing her. "It is good to see you."

"And you." Taavis said even as she turned towards T'Pri, raising her right hand in the Vulcan salute. "It is agreeable to see you again, T'Pri. You are a credit to the Vulcan people."

T'Pri faced her and made the salute in return. "It is agreeable to see you all in one piece, Taavis. You are sorely missed." Both their hands dropped.

Kudo stepped closer to Taavis, as did T'Pri. Ken was glad to see her all in one piece, as well. Taavis was dressed in her Meji outfit, with the long chocolate brown cloak/robe over her shoulders. But, there were no Starfleet emblems, nor Meji. Instead, where those items should have been there were Vulcan runes.

"As serene and beautiful as this place is I would like to move on." Taavis offered. "This is your private memory, Ken, and I should leave it to you."

"I'm just pleased you had such a nice place to lay low until we found you. The honor is mine, Taavis." Kudo gave her a Japanese bow. "Perhaps I can visit you again once you're secure in your future."

"We shall see," Taavis responded, then stepped in closer to T'Pri. "Are you prepared, T'Pri?"

"I am, Taavis. Come home and pass your knowledge on to others."

Taavis gave her the salute again. "Live long and prosper." She said. To which T'Pri saluted her in return. "Peace and long life." With the salutes and salutations given Taavis stepped forward and looked to crash into T'Pri, but instead, she vaporized and seemed to meld into her. T'Pri gave a sign that she had been slightly nudged in the chest, maintaining her balance as she took in a breath and then let it out with her eyes closed. Ken watched as her eyes slowly opened and she looked to him.

"It is done," T'Pri said. "Taavis is with me now. I will back us out slowly so that you have time to return to your reality without issue."

The other three had watched for over an hour as T'Pri had maintained her pose of mind melding, never moving like a statue. Ken also had remained perfectly still, but both of them had made expressions on their faces showing that they were together within the mind meld. Just as Resch began to worry that something was amiss since it was taking so long, he saw T'Pri's eyes open and her hand move away from Ken's face. "Oh man, thank God." He let out his tense breath.

"You may all rest easy," T'Pri said. "Taavis is with me now. Ken will no longer suffer any ill effects from her katra."

"I'm so glad," said Ro. "For both Ken and Taavis. Will you need a ride to Vulcan, T'Pri?"

T'Pri gave a casual shake of her head. "There will be no need. Taavis is with me now and will remain so. That is her wish. She is safe and therefore will remain in hibernation as her katra."

"She lives on, that is what matters." Kara added. "I need to study Vulcan mysticism and culture to better understand it all since I am a Vulcanoid."

T'Pri gave her a bow/nod from the neck. "I shall instruct you if you choose to pursue such knowledge. You may find that it is stimulating for one such as yourself. Even Romulans practice self-control and discipline, although for different reasons."

"I will seek you out when I wish to begin my studies." Kara said.

"If you'll excuse me, I need to go and rest," Ken added. "That was quite a draining experience." He shook hands with everyone except T'Pri, who got a bow from the neck for thanks. He and Ro left together. The others sat and talked for a bit longer and then they too retired.

OFF: