by Jariel Camen
80614.2300
...continued
-=Aboard the USS Savior=-
80614.2300
...continued
-=Aboard the USS Savior=-
Fleur rematerialized aboard the Federation ship, and looked back and forth around the transporter room. She had never been on a military vessel, and if nothing else it was at least clean.
A Vulcan woman wearing a gold uniform entered the room, along with a human male wearing a blue uniform. Without pomp or circumstance she stepped up to the transporter pad, and issued her decree.
“I am Lieutenant T’Fla. I am the assistant operations officer of this vessel. I have been asked by the Captain to tell you that you will be brought to Bajor where those of you whom are injured will be further cared for. The rest will be brought to a monastery where sleeping arrangements can be made. We will arrive at Bajor in 113 minutes and 14 seconds.”
The male in the blue uniform asked Josh to follow him to sickbay, as Fleur and the rest of the group were shown to temporary quarters for the rest of their trip.
Before T’Fla could return to her duties, Fleur waylaid the woman.
“What about all my things? My recipe book iz over there.”
“You will have to arrange a salvage mission with the Bajorans.” T’Fla nodded curtly, and departed.
“Thank you for NOTHING!” Fleur shouted down the empty corridor after the Vulcan disappeared from site. She thought about demanding her money back but doubted Wells even had it to give to her. She had planned on using the prize money from the cooking contest to fund the equipment for her own patisserie, but even that was looking impossible now.
Fleur had desired to someday set up a humble shop somewhere far off the beaten path, as far away from Earth as was possible and relatively safe. Everything was planned out perfectly. Win the contest, hide the money in a Ferengi account so no one would know, return to Earth and secure the supplies she needed, search for just the right place, and when the time was right strike out on her own.
All that was lost now. She sighed heavily, as she stared up at the ceiling of the room.
What in the world was she supposed to do with herself on Bajor?
-=Two Hours Later, Altaan Province, Bajor=-
“Good evening. I am Jariel Camen.” The man in the long flowing orange robes smiled brightly as he approached the group of refugees from the Savior. He nearly tripped as the children of the Orphanage ran circles around him playfully. “Come now, I told you Vedek Timal has the evening meal prepared. Go on.”
The young boy and girl laughed as each playfully swatted and Vedek Jariel Camen’s long dangling earring, and then ran off back towards the main building where the evening meal awaited.
“My apologies. We don’t usually have adults from starships here.” Camen squinted against the setting sun to make out their faces.
Fleur Le Marc could not help but notice the way the setting sun made each curl on his head shine. For just a moment she wondered if he was spoken for, but quickly reminded herself that she needed to get off this planet as soon as possible.
Each member of the Swift crew introduced themselves to the Vedek, before Wells stepped forward to speak.
“I appreciate any help you can offer us. Who can I speak to about retrieving my vessel?” Wells asked.
“I can put you in touch with the government and they can assist you in acquiring a ship. If you would all like to follow me to the monastery, we have arranged some clothing for you. I hope you don’t mind sharing a meal with the children, this is their home.”
Camen lead the way down the cobblestone path towards the main building. On either side of them were rows upon rows of flowering plants and the entire area was covered in a canopy of shade cast by the tall trees that surrounded this sacred place. Camen counted off the names of each species of flower as he walked.
Fleur sped up enough to walk beside the Vedek. "This is such a beautiful grounds. Who maintains all these?" Fleur motioned to the flora surrounding them.
"The Prophets have smiled on us. We are able to provide a great deal for the children here. All the members of the religious order contribute to keeping this place beautiful."
"But mostly you I am guessing? No?" Fleur asked, knowingly.
"I contribute in my way, just like everyone else." Camen replied. In reality he personally attended to almost all the landscaping duties, but he was not the type to take credit for it. Everyone here had their own duties from cooking to cleaning and laundry. They all worked long hours, and Camen was not going to take any more credit than anyone else for the work he put in.
"Please, be seated." He asked the group, upon entering the dining hall. The children each sat in neat rows, reciting a blessing of the Prophets before being served a bowl of hot soup by Vedek Timal. An extra table had been left empty for the crew of the Swift.
Timal greeted them politely as he set a bowl down before each of them. One of the Prylars provided a glass of ice water to each and Timal ladled out a bowl for each person.
Fleur suspiciously poked at what she believed was some sort of root vegetable in her soup. It smelled decent enough but she expected it to taste wretched. Not that she doubted the ability of the Vedeks to provide a good meal, just that she had already made so many pots of soup in her young life that she could simply not used to eating soup she did not prepare herself.
She lifted the spoon to her lips and sipped a bit off broth off the end. Her eyebrows raised in surprise. It was actually quite good. That being established her body reminded her just how famished she was, and she quickly ate the rest of the bowl.
"Are you enjoying your meal?" Camen returned to the table to check on their guests.
"Yes, we appreciate your hospitality." Graham said.
"Excuse me Vedek." One of the children interrupted Camen. "May we play before darkness?"
"Of course, just be back before dark to wash up before sleep. You know the rules."
"Yes Vedek, blessed be the Prophets!" The girl shouted the benefaction while waving to the other children that they were free to go. The room emptied in a matter of moments, as the children left to play, Wells and his men went to the communications room to speak with the governments, and the other two passengers from the Swift turned in for the night.
Camen and Timal surveyed the aftermath of evening meal. Normally the children were required to clean their bowl from the table and assist in preparing the dining hall for breakfast the following day. It was a beautiful night however and Camen felt they needed a break.
"May I assist you?" Fleur offered.
"No that's quite all right, Vedek Timal and I can handle things from here."
"Please, I insist. I have been around a kitchen or two in my day, I know how to clean."
Camen normally would have had none of it, but the woman clearly wanted to help, so he relented.
Fleur leapt into action, stacking dirty bowls in each other until the stack was nearly taller than her. She pitched each spoon into a wash bin and arranged the glasses onto a tray all while cradling the bowls against her body with her left hand.
By the time Jariel and Timal had cleared five settings each, Fleur was already bustling her way back into the kitchen with a mass of dirty dishes. Camen wondered how she could even carry the stack given that it appeared to outweigh her by at least two to one.
Timal and Camen followed her into the kitchen, where already she was at work over the washbasin.
"You, more soap.... please." She requested of Timal.
"Now wait just a minute. I offered you a hot meal and a bed for the night, I never expected you to take over our kitchen."
"So, Vedek Jariel Camen, what is it you do in this place, besides care for the children."
Camen gathered up his robes, and hoisted himself up onto a stool, as it appeared Fleur had the dishes more than under control. "We keep this monastery as a haven for the people of Bajor. When they are lost or stray from the path of the Prophets, they can come to this place. The Vedeks and monks provide them guidance and help them find whatever it is they are missing. The Vedeks also hold services for the public each afternoon."
"You do the will of the Prophets, to care for the people of Bajor?"
"To put it succinctly, yes."
"What of your future Jariel Camen, will you stay here with the children?"
Before Camen could answer, Timal returned with the soap and fielded the question on his behalf. "He's going to be the next Kai, this one. Of that I have no doubt. The new elections are in a year and Camen is going to run."
"I am too young to be Kai." Camen said modestly.
"Nonsense." Timal chided him. "Camen has a pure heart and devotion to the people and the Prophets like I've never seen, and the rest of the Vedek Assembly sees it as well."
"He is a man of God and the people. The Vedek is to be praised." Fleur said. "Prophets. Excuse me," she continued, correcting herself.
Fleur continued talking with the two men, learning more about Camen and his place on Bajor, and sharing her own story as to how she ended up on the Swift. As they dried the last of the dishes, Camen declared that she had done more than her fair share of work.
Timal departed to see to setting the children to bed, and Camen escorted Fleur to her room for the night.
"In the morning, can I help you prepare breakfast for the children?" She offered.
"I don't see why not, but you are supposed to be our guest, not our assistant."
"The Vedek is too kind. It would be my pleasure." She said. Her eyes hovered on his for a moment, before she closed the door.
Fleur bathed and changed into the change of clothes the Bajorans had left for her in the room. She lay on the bed, not sure why she felt so comfortable here in the place that hours before she was so desperate to be gone from. She took in her surroundings and noted how this place was free of the distractions of modern technology. The bed was simple and hand carved, the window frames and walls were all constructed of wood, likely centuries old. There were no replicators, no computer terminals or comm units to be seen.
The only decoration was a small candle lit shrine with the symbol of Bajor, where, she imagined, those who stayed here said their prayers to the Prophets.
This place was simple, quiet, out of the way... Exactly the sort of place she had hoped to find and move to, to start her life someday. Perhaps fate had dropped this opportunity in her lap, perhaps God, perhaps even the Prophets of Bajor.
All she knew was in the short time she had spent on this planet and with Jariel Camen, she felt completely at peace.
-=The following morning=-
The first beam of the new day's sun hit Fleur square in the eye. She winced at first, wanting it to simply go away and let her sleep. She cracked her eye open and saw the wooden post of the bed she was sleeping in, and suddenly it all rushed back to her. She had promised the Vedeks her help in preparing the meal for the children this morning.
Fleur scrambled from beneath the covers and to her feet. Quickly she matted down her frazzled hair and looked around for clothing. She realized all she had was her dirty clothing from the day before. As she went to gather them up, she saw a hand written note had been slipped under the door.
"Clean clothes hanging on outside of door."
Fleur cracked the door open and saw the fresh clothing dangling from the door handle in the hall. It was a simple white top with a long orange skirt that dropped to her ankles, similar in color to what the Vedeks wore. Apparently one of them had even taken the time to make sure it was sized properly for her petite frame. The Bajorans certainly knew how to make a woman feel welcome.
She dressed and left her room, making her way back down to the kitchen. The Bajorans were already bustling about, getting bowls and ovens prepared to make first meal for the children. Jariel Camen was among them.
"You told me you can cook, shall I assume that's how you would like to help?" He asked her. Fleur smiled and nodded.
"I would like that, Monsieur Le Vedek."
Camen indicated the ingredients laid out in preparation for the meal. Flour, eggs, sugar... Fleur set to work preparing a batter for the hotcakes.
"Vedek Jariel?" She asked, as she whisked the mixture together.
"Yes, Ms. Le Marc?"
"I was wondering if I might stay here at the monastery with you and the children for a time? I promise I can earn my keep by cooking, no? I would even be willing to learn the teachings of your Prophets if you will allow it."
Camen looked sideways at Timal. The older Vedek shrugged.
"Your call Camen, I have no objection."
Camen looked back at Fleur. She was waiting for his reply with an ever so hopeful look in her eye. She had told him of her dreams of striking out on her own and off the beaten path someday. Perhaps the Prophets had hastened her journey away from Earth by bringing her here to Bajor. Camen was not going to disappoint her, or the Prophets if that was the case. Besides, an extra pair of skilled hands was always needed here.
"I see no reason why not."
Vedek Jariel Camen
Ship's Chaplain
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Ship's Chaplain
USS Serendipity NCC-2012