Relaxing on Maui

Posted on Sat Jul 1, 2017 @ 10:51pm by Lieutenant Commander Kelani Tetanal & Commodore Michael Aravan

Mission: History
Location: Hawaiian island of Maui
Timeline: MD 14 || 1500 Hours

Kelani stood on the porch of her bungalow, admiring the view, which was as beautiful as she had been told. She had arrived the previous day to begin her shore leave.

As she sat in the peace and beauty, Kelani sighed, remembering recent events. Even though the peace and tranquility was beginning to soothe her nerves, there were times when memories caught her unaware....

Shaking off the mood, Kelani moved back into her bungalow and changed into her swimsuit. Picking up her towel and coverup, she headed for the beach.

Once there, Kelani found a quiet spot and spread her towel, settling on it to watch the waves and the people she saw there.

Gulls flew overhead crying out to each other and the gentle surf crept up on the beach before it retreated again. Young families and single beings moved about the beach, laying on towels or swimming in the water. As Kelani settled down, a shadow darted across her followed by a cry.

"Look out!" a male voice called before a strong, tanned body wearing only shorts flew over her and landed hard in the sand on the other side of her.

Kelani gasped and flattened herself as the man sailed over her, landing hard on the sand near her. Concerned, she moved to him.

"Are you all right?"

The man, a Betazoid by the look of his black eyes, smiled when he looked up. "I'm fine, but are you okay, Miss?" he asked. "I'm afraid my friend threw the disc a little too hard and it missed me."

Kelani smiled, saying, "I'm fine--incredibly surprised and a little startled, but otherwise good." She paused for a moment then extended her hand saying, "I'm Kelani Tetanal."

He took her hand and sat up. "Aadran Iranax, at your service, Ms. Tetanal," he said with a smile. "Let me just get my disk and I'll leave you to your peace and sunshine."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Aadran," Kelani said with a smile. She continued hesitantly, "May I watch you and your friend with the disk?"

"Sure," Aadran said as he got up and retrieved the disk. He moved a little distance away from her so she wouldn't get hit and tossed the silver disk to another guy about fifty feet away. It zipped through the air and his friend ran to catch it before flinging it back.

Kelani watched, smiling. The happy demeanor, the enthusiasm was infectious. She found their happy abandon was a tonic to her and she found herself wanting to see Aadran again.

Meanwhile, Aadran continued to play frisbee with his friend, sAmen ometimes getting closer to her, sometimes farther away as the two continued to toss it back and forth.

Kelani watched, delighted. ~I must learn how to do that!~. she thought. ~I looks like fun.~

She continued to watch, smiling.

Kelani hesitated a moment, then rose and moved closer.

"Aadran, may I try?" She asked as she moved closer

"Sure," he said with a smile after he caught the latest disk and waved to his friend. He demonstrated how to hold it, drew his arm back and mimed tossing it in a sideways manner. "Just like that," he said. "Let me get back some and then you throw it to me. Sound good?"

"Sounds perfect," Kelani replied with a smile. She waited until Aadran signaled his readiness, then threw the disk. It flew erratically, forcing Aadran to chase it.

She blushed, calling, "I'm sorry. I will do better."

"You're fine," Aadran said after he ran to get it. He judged her distance, then gave a smooth toss of the disc towards her.

Kelani moved quickly and managed to catch the disk and threw it again. This time it's flight was smoother and flew true.
I
She laughed in delight.

"This is wonderful!" She called to Aadran.

Aadran laughed. "There you go!" he called as he caught it and launched it back to her with a little upward bounce which caused the disk to curve outwards before it came back towards her.

Kelani moved back and forth, watching the disk, then caught it again and sent it flying back smiling hugely.

"I understand why you enjoy this so much," she told Aadran as they continued the play. "It is so wonderfully relaxing." She hesitated a moment, then asked shyly, "Would you consider having dinner with me sometime?" She blushed as she waited for his answer.

He smiled at her blush. "I'd love to, Kelani," he said. "What time should I pick up up this evening and where?"

"My bungalow is there,". Kelani replied, pointing to it. "Perhaps around 7? As to where, I'm uncertain--would you be willing to choose the that?"

"I can do that," Aadran said. "I know a great little place that isn't well known by the tourist crowd. The food is native and the people are friendly."

"That sounds wonderful, Aadran,". Kelani said with a smile. "I am looking forward to it." Again she smiled, saying, "This has been a wonderful time for me." The smile turned mischievous as she said, "It was lucky that your friend's throw was too hard--otherwise we would not have met."

He didn't need to be an empath or a telepath to see she was happy and that made him smile. "Fate has a strange way of bringing people together. Where are you from, Kelani?"

"I left my home world quite some time ago. My home since then has been Starfleet--most recently Triumphant." She gave him a wry smile, saying, "I have lived both on Betazed and the Cairn home world....."

"I'm from Betazed, but I've lived there, Earth, Risa, and Pacifica at different times," Aadran said. "Pacifica was a bit hard to get used to, though. I ended up seasick half the time, so I came back here."

"I'm glad you did,". Kelani said quietly. "It must have been miserable being seasick so much." She continued with a twinkle in her eye, "I don't think I could handle something like that--I look like a crone when I'm that kind of sick...." Her lips twitched as she tried not to giggle.

"I highly doubt that," he said. "Besides, beauty is in the mind, not the features."

Kelani smiled, but there was a wistful quality to it as she said, "That is what I was taught...but it is amazing how many judge by physical beauty." She chuckled then, trying to downplay what she had just said. "You would be amazed at the number of men who were put off by intelligence." She looked at Aadran, gazing deeply into his eyes as she said, "The fact that you can see past the physical makes you someone very special."

~That probably scared him off,~ she thought dejectedly .

Aadran couldn't help but be drawn in through her intense eyes and found himself in her mind suddenly. He heard her last thought and shook his head. No, Kelani he thought to her. If anything, it gives me an even deeper appreciation of you.

Kelani's eyes widened at Aadran's gentle thought. ~Truly?~ she thought back to him. ~I have never experienced such acceptance. ~. She smiled softly, ~We will spend time together?~

We will, he promised her. And we shall commune in the true way. Your mind is exquisite, Kelani. Never have I experienced such unique....flavor.

Kelani smiled in delight, ~Thank you, Aadran. It must be my Cairn heritage....~ Suddenly uneasy, she thought, ~My mixed heritage does not trouble you? It has put off many others....~

No, Aadran thought to her. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Every thought in your mind is worth a thousand of those pictures. It is incredible and like I am surrounded by your thoughts and every word and meaning is crystal clear.

~I believe that is the nicest thing ever told to me,~. Kelani responded. ~There is a purity to your thoughts that I haven't experienced in a quite some time~

He laughed. You have not been in many minds, have you? he teased her.

She laughed along with him, replying,~Truthfully, no--at least not many like yours.~. She attempted a lighthearted jibe, ~Most have been alien minds--strange images and proclivities.~.

She watched him with twinkling eyes.

The minds of those who are not telepaths... Aadran sighed. They are always shouting and their thoughts are often conflicting with what they are saying or meaning. It would be so much simpler if we all communicated this way.

~Indeed!~ Kelani replied. ~This way of communication is the purest form that there is. There is no deception, just pure thought.~ She moved slowly closer. ~It is most refreshing...~

She gazed up at him....

I know we just met, he began. But I have a question, if I may be so bold. May I kiss you, Kelani?

She smiled up at him, moving closer, her eyes now warm and soft, ~I would like that very much Aadran.~ she replied, moving into his embrace.

Aadran smiled and wrapped his arms around her and gave her a soft kiss. When two minds touch, it is one thing, but when bodies touch, it is so much more.

~It is indeed,~ Kelani replied as she responded to Aadran's gentle kiss, her fingers twined in his hair. ~It is so very much more...~

Finally he pulled back That was very nice he responded after a moment and meant every word of it.

Kelani smiled and loosened her arms until her hands rested on his shoulders. Her eyes glowed as she responded, ~It was very nice, Aadran~. Her smile deepened as she continued, a blush creeping into her cheeks. ~It makes me wish to be with you more....~

There will be plenty of time after dinner, Aadran responded. Have patience, Kelani.

Kelani's blush deepened as she responded,~I fear I was too forward, but it has been a long time since I met someone as--as intuitive and caring as you...~

You were not too forward, he reassured her. After all, I am the one who asked if I could kiss you after just meeting you.

~You have a point,~ Kelani responded with a smile. ~It is just so good to find someone who is in tune with me.~

It has been my pleasure, Kelani Aadran said with a smile of his own. So seven pm at your bungalow?

~Thank you, Aadran,~ Kelani responded with another smile. ~And yes, seven pm at my bungalow.~ She leaned in and gave Aadran a soft kiss.

~Until tonight~