Gravity - Chapter 3, Part 2
Tramordian Spire Construction Zone
Yenesh-Itsich Provincial Habitation
Bolarus IX
Circa 2357
Ashok stood fast against the bracing, blustering winds that seemed determined to scour every last grain of silt from the once fertile alluvial plain that surrounded the gargantuan construction rig. He stood apart from his father, who was surrounded by a gaggle of fellow engineers, as well as various government and corporate representatives, all clamoring for a moment of the great Hakaseus’ time.
At fourteen years, Ashok already towered over his father, a fact that the famed architect had claimed was a favorable omen for a man laboring to build the planet’s first transatmospheric structure.
The young man quietly observed the noisy throng of sycophants surrounding his father, all the while rehearsing how he might go about telling the man that he had failed his entrance exams to the prestigious Daystrom affiliated prep-school on Alpha Centauri. Ashok’s father had attended that very school, crediting it as the first stepping stone to his admission to the Vulcan Science Academy’s elite School of Architectural Studies.
Ashok had been groomed since birth to follow in his father’s footsteps. It was his destiny to assume the mantle of his family’s long service to the state, the builders of temples, palaces, universities and now, this latest triumph, the embodimenet of the Bolian peoples’ collective will and fortitude. Hakaseus knew that he would never live to see the completion of the spire, but his only son would stand in his stead, finishing the project and forever inscribing their family’s name in the annals of history.
His father’s flock eventually dispersed, and Hakaseus moved towards him as he sealed the neckline of his greatcoat against the persistant wind. “I hired an army of functionaries to keep these jackals from me, and what good has it done?” His broad smile belied the statement; Ashok knew his father reveled in the attention, in the celebrity of his accomplishments.
Ashok fell into step alongside the man, careful not to outpace him. “Father... I have news.” He’d blurted it unexpectedly, so anxious to be done with the inevitable confrontation.
“And...” Hakaseus prompted, “speak.”
The young man blew out a frustrated breath, “And... I was not accepted at the Vadran School. I failed the entrance exam by twenty-seven points.”
That stopped his father in his tracks. The man said nothing for a long moment and merely stared at the parched earth beneath his feet. “Unacceptable,” he said finally.
“I would agree,” Ashok offered, “but I must wait another half-cycle before reapplying.”
Hakaseus turned on him, “How could you allow this to happen? How could you let yourself become so sidetracked that you could upset your schedule?”
“My schedule,” Ashok echoed. That was what his father called it. Ashok was expected to attend the same schools in the same succession in the same timeframe as his father had. It was ‘their’ schedule.
“I will redouble my efforts, Father. I will study harder...”
Hakaseus waved the notion away with an impatient hand. “That will set you back another two semesters prior to your graduation, which fouls your start date for your internship with the Construction Fellowship...”
“Father, forgive me, I--”
“No,” Hakaseus hissed with exasperation, “enough. If I didn’t know better, I would think this was a deliberate tactic by you to re-examine that ridiculous notion of yours about Starfleet.”
Ashok winced as if physically pained. His father had already made his opinions on Starfleet service crystal clear. “I would never go against your wishes, Father. You know this.”
Hakaseus pointed an accusatory finger at his son. “I will not suffer to see you in a military uniform, Ashok. Even working for their design corps is unthinkable. We are as much artists as engineers, and the thought of you slaving away as a journeyman tinkerer on their utilitarian, pedantic designs is simply too awful to consider!"
“Of course, Father,” Ashok sighed dejectedly.
His father’s querulous response was drown out by a persistent chime that grew more troubling until it had intruded completely into the dream.
Ashok found himself staring up at the ceiling from his bed, his eyes fixed to the luminous hologram of the Tramordian Spire that he’d placed directly above his sleeping alcove. He reached out and silenced the alarm, prepared to meet another day where no matter what he accomplished he would be just good enough.
Only just.
*****
Juneau stepped through the door at Sandhurst's invitation and moved to place the padd atop his ready room desk. "Another new possibility, sir."
Sandhurst pushed away the computer terminal and looked over the padd. "T'Ser," he said, pronouncing each syllable distinctly. He appeared intrigued, and bade Juneau to take a seat as he scrolled through the padd's contents. "Ah, she's one of Akinola's. I think I remember her vaguely from my brief time aboard the Bluefin."
Juneau leaned forward, her expression expectant. "She's a catch by anyone's definition, sir. Scuttlebutt has it that a number of captains are already interested, which is unusual considering that she's spent most of her career in the Border Service."
"Yes," Sandhurst nodded slowly, but appeared reluctant. "T'Ser's got the chops for command, that's not in question."
"Problem, sir?"
He smiled thinly as he set the padd down and turned his expression towards his acting exec. "Akinola's not exactly my biggest fan. This could cause some bad blood. If I offer and he objects, I could inadvertently create a rift between T'Ser and her captain."
"That's her choice to make, isn't it? And with respect to your standing with other captains, well, technically speaking, Picard isn't crazy about you either." Juneau raised a hand, ticking off fingers as she counted, "Or Glover, or Littlefoot, though Aubrey and Shelby sort of tolerate you..."
Sandhurst smirked, "Okay, okay, I take your point."
"You've never cared before, Captain. Why start now?"
He favored her with a genuine smile, a rarity of late. "I'll take it under consideration, Lieutenant. Thank you for your diligence in this task."
"Happy to help, sir."
The captain inclined his head towards the bridge, "What do you make of our new security chief?"
She shrugged, "He's your typical Vulcan on the surface. I've found that with their species, you really have to serve with them awhile to get a grasp of their underlying personality. As for what's going on in his head," she said with a wry smile, "I have no idea."
"That's pretty much my assessment as well," Sandhurst confirmed. "ETA to the Barisa system?"
"Another three days," she relayed, a hint of weariness in her voice.
"Updates?" he queried.
"Their engineering teams are continuing to put the finishing touches on the particle fountain, but there's been some kind of labor slowdown. The company’s representatives are being very cagy about the particulars, though."
Sandhurst pursed his lips thoughtfully, "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that we might be walking into a situation that's not exactly as Command had advertised."
Juneau grinned broadly, "Who, us?"
He pulled the computer terminal back to him as he chuckled, "Dismissed."
*****
