"In the Land of Shiva"

[Fleet Captain Brock Dantara]

This thread is a storyline for Amir Khambatti and Mellisari. Only they may post here.

[Lt. Amir Khambatti]

Amir Khambatti: ::Amir got out of the shuttle and waited for Mellisari. He hadn't been back to the academy in while. He wasn't really the military type, which was why he gave up his officers commission to be a master versatile specialist. He liked getting his hands dirty. Th thought of command was not his ambition.::

Mellisari : ::Continuing from earlier:: To Amir> so... after the remdial... the Academy... not all cadets were kind though. ::Following along::

Amir Khambatti : Hazing, you mean? I got that, too. Everyone gets that. It's a natural part of things at schools. People on Earth hazed at schools long before we ever met your people.

Mellisari : Yes, Hazing... some things were.... very hurtful... but the instructors saw me through Once I got on my first ship, Farragut, there seemed to be no more time for nonsense: ::She looks around at the brightly dressed people on the landing area::

Amir Khambatti : That's how it usually is, on a ship. ::They headed for the transport station to get a site to site to New Delhi.:: I think you'll like India. It's a very old country, as I said. You'll find the architecture interesting. ::As they walked, they passed a group of Starfleet ambassadors talking in a courtyard. There was an Orion Ambassador with several women with him, who looked curiously at Mel, As they had never seen a woman of their kind In a uniform.::

Mellisari: I find the variation in ethnicities on this planet facscinating... other planets cultures are so homogeneous ::Looks back at the Orion and his crowd Ignores the stares::

Amir Khambatti : ::Hopes that she is not upset by seeing them.::

Mellisari : To Amir> See... still they stare...

Amir Khambatti : Mel, I'm sorry if that brings back bad memories, but think of the opportunity this is for you right now. Mel, Hold your head up proudly. you're a Starfleet officer. You're one of the best of the best. you earned what you got. Think of how what you are now is influencing those other women

Mellisari : The memories are like my scars... they are there, but they are of the past... Star Fleet is the best thing since I got rescued
The Federation Marines have taken a shine to me... I came up hard... ::Grins:: and I am green!

Amir Khambatti : ::Nods:: And you must never forget what you were and where you came from. But just Remember, You are lighting a candle for others of your world to follow you.

Mellisari : ::Looks confused a moment:: Oh.... yes... candles... lighting implements!

Amir Khambatti : It's an expression. You will influence others to join starfleet. You are a symbol to your people that you have choices ::They enter the transport area and get their passes for their destination.::

Mellisari: ::Looks serious:: I just wish the other slaves could have my chance. ::Takes her pass and walks to the transporter Pad::

Amir Khambatti : They will, Mel. But they have to want it. Not all of your people do, Unfortunately. Did you know the Captain once rescued an Orion woman?

Mellisari : I did not know... that is wonderful! ::Serious again:: As long as the Masters have the control collars... as long as parents sell their daughters...

Amir Khambatti : Why don't you ask him to tell you the story sometime? Not all of it is pleasant, so he may have been refraining. ::They enter the transport area:: Mel whether it's collars or not, that's been going on everywhere.

Mellisari : He has shown me his scars... we share scars... he was indentured too...

Amir Khambatti : The place we're going for example, India. Centuries ago they were occupied by another country. Our own citizens had no rights on our own homeland.

Mellisari: ::Listens:: I... Understand

Amir Khambatti: There was time here on Earth, where the dark brown skinned humans were slaves to light skinned humans. The dark skinned ones were considered animals back then.
Until a man named Abraham Lincoln changed things. He was killed for it.

Mellisari: ::She shakes a little:: I.. was an animal woman... some still think of me as such

Amir Khambatti : Well, I don't. No one on the ship does. The Captain certainly doesn't. But what's important is what you think of yourself.

Mellisari: ::Holds up her head:: I am a Star Fleet Officer!.

"Prepare for transport" Came the voice over the speakers.

Amir Khambatti: Yes you are! And only a select few get to do what you do!

Mellisari : ::Makes sure she is centered on the TR pad::

***Transport commences***

Mellisari: ::Shimmers out::

Amir Khambatti: ::They appear at New Delhi SF HQ.::

Mellisari: ::As she shimmers back in... she looks around.. on Transporter station is much like another::

[Fleet Captain Brock Dantara]

Mellisari: ::Looks at the two people meeting Mr Khambatti::
Amir Khambatti: ::They had left the transport area and were greeted by a Couple. Amir greeted and hugged them.:: Avita! Mahendra! It's great to see you two! COme meet my firend and Crewmate.
Amir Khambatti: ::Motioned for Mel to come over.::
Mellisari: ::Goes over to Mr Amir and smiles at his friends::
Amir Khambatti: This is my good friend, Mellisari. She's our chief science officer. Mel, These are my cousins, Avita, and Mahendra Samaroo.
Mellisari: I am pleased to meet you, Avita and Mahendra... good to be in your country
Amir Khambatti: AVITA:>::SMiles:: It is a pleasure to make your aquaintance, Mellisari. Welcome to India.
Mellisari: To Avita> This is my first time Traveling on Earth, iahve only seen the Academy campus
Amir Khambatti: MAHENDRA:> ::extends his hand,:: Welcome, Mellisarri. I am glas to see that Amir has good friends on his ship.
Amir Khambatti: Mel is a good, Friend. I knew she'd love to se aliitle of our country. We'll have to make it the fast tour, since we need to get back to Headquarters beofre long.
Mellisari: ::Takes the hand:: Mr Khambatti has been a good shipmate, sir::
Mellisari: ::gives a good firm grip::
Amir Khambatti: AVITA:> The why don;t we go eat, and the you can show mellisarri the Taj mahal. That is, of course a must see!
Amir Khambatti: Works for me. I could go for some soul food. Up for some spice food, Mel?
Amir Khambatti: *spicy
Mellisari: to Amir> I love spicy food... one of my academy mates was Viet Namese...
Amir Khambatti: They make great food, too. Well, Let's get going!
Mellisari: Lead on sir!
Mellisari: ::Shoulders her small travel bag and follows along::
Amir Khambatti: ::The head over to a restaurant in the center of town. As they walk along the streets, ther are Brahma bulls walking freely, just as they have for centuries.::
Mellisari: ::Mellisari decides she will not comment on the bulls, but watches where her feet are being placed::
Amir Khambatti: ::Only nowadays, they are followed by clean-up bots who clean after them, and disinfect the areas as they alk along.::
Amir Khambatti: *walk
Mellisari: ::her head turns side to side as she looks at the picuresque locale::
Amir Khambatti: MAHENDRA:> Mellisari, you may be curious as to why we allow our bovine creatures to roam freely.
Amir Khambatti: It is a tradition that goes back many centuries. You see, many of us still believe in reincarnation. It is a part of Indian religion. Called Hindu.
Mellisari: To Mahendra> I did not know if it was polite to ask...
Mellisari: To Mahendra> We had many gods and spirits in my culture...
Amir Khambatti: It is believed that the highest level in the physical plane you can attain, is to become a Brahma. After that, One's soul leaves the wheel of reincarnation and then reaches Nirvana.
Amir Khambatti: MAHENDRA:> I know that your cultures have rich traditions. ::Smiles as he notices passers by smilng at mel, Some coming up to her.::
Mellisari: ::She follows along, concious of the stares but keeping a cool head::
Amir Khambatti: AVITA:> There is no need to be afraid, mellisari. We do not get many Orions in india. they are curious about you, is all. There is no disrespect intended.
Amir Khambatti: They only wish to know you.
Amir Khambatti: That's right, Mel. They're actually happy to see you. Our people love meeting others from different places.
Mellisari: To Avita> I have learned not all people think of us as Animals...
Mellisari: ::Forces herself to meet the strangers eyes::
Amir Khambatti: AVITA:> Mellisari, there was a time when people thought of our people as such. We were occupied by another country.
Mellisari: ::Does NOT go into Pen life:: To Avita> It is best when people are equals
Amir Khambatti: MAHENDRA:> Yes, that is correct. We were once persecuted for our religion and ways. We would never do such a thing to anyone else.
Amir Khambatti: ::They enter the restaurant and are seated.::
Mellisari: ::She slides the bag off her shoulder and under the chair::
Mellisari: ::Sits and pulls up to the table::
Mellisari: To Avita an Mahendra> I am glad of that...
Mellisari: To all at table> Now... as long as we do not order Gahhk
Amir Khambatti: AVITA:> I'm afraid no one knows more about opression than our people. We know how many Orion women live. Our people smile at you because they are happy to see an Orion women who is her own person.
Mellisari: To Avita> I do not like to complain, since my rescue, life has been very good
Amir Khambatti: No Gagh here, Mel. Do you want something vegetarian, or meat? either is ok. Many of our people are vegetarians.
Mellisari: ::Laughs:: Order what ever does not offend... one of the first things I experienced was the wide variety of food here on Earth,.. I can eat almost anything and LIKE it
Mellisari: ::Decides she will actually sit back and Relax among these people::
Amir Khambatti: Ok, then. ::The waiter comes up:: We'll have some Tandoori, curry rice, and some Punjabi Aloo Amritsari.
Mellisari: I am looking forward to this ::Grins toothily::
Mellisari: To Aavita and Mahendra> If it is not ipolite, may I ask what you do?
Amir Khambatti: MAHENDRA:> I am a professor of anthropology at the University of New Delhi. And it is not impolite at all to ask.
Amir Khambatti: AVITA:> And I am Public health inspector.
Mellisari: And you know I am a science officer... Trying to find time for my own projects during off duty hours
Amir Khambatti: MAHENDRA:> Nothing so exciting as working on a Starship. ::Chuckles::
Amir Khambatti: What kind of projects, Mel?
Mellisari: Right now I am researching the posibility of mining exhaust jets from bck holes for antimatter, and searching for white holes Hawking radiation...
Amir Khambatti: AVITA:> ::Grins:: It sounds to me like you should visit Amir's home.
Amir Khambatti: Actually, Avita's right, Mel. You'd love Delta Maxia. It's one of the most advanced planets in the alpha quadrant. My great Grandfather founded the institute of science there.
Amir Khambatti: Sclotty met him once, back in the day.
Amir Khambatti: *Scotty
Mellisari: I would love to visit... you must have great facilities
Mellisari: I was fortuante enough to meet Mr Scott... quite a nice man...
Amir Khambatti: Not just great facilities, mel. the best. Starfleet gets a lot of technology from us. Not only that, it;s a great vacation spot. You can go to the beach one day,
Amir Khambatti: and snow skiing the next.
Mellisari: I do no know how to ski... but I like beaches
Amir Khambatti: Me too.
Amir Khambatti: ::AMir's commbadge goes off. he takes the call::
Mellisari: ::WOnders who would be calling Amir::
Amir Khambatti: It's the Commander. We need to be back in San Fran in 3 hours.
Mellisari: ::Grins again:: time to eat and transport back... I would hate to miss your food...
Amir Khambatti: I hope they got their business taken care of. ut we have enough time to eat and see the Taj. You can't leave India without seeing that!
Mellisari: I look forward to it... I look forward to seeing things on many worlds!
Amir Khambatti: AVITA:> Then it seems you have made the right career choice. ::Laughs::
Amir Khambatti: *****To be continued******

[Lt. Amir Khambatti]

Mellisari: ::Smiles at Avita and waits for the food to come:: To Avita> I was lucky being accepted to Star Fleet Academy... I could only do my best and repay Reverend Wagner....
::The waiter brings the trays of food and places them on the table.::


Mellisari: ::The Green woman's nostrils dilate as she sniffs the aroma rising from the food:: This smells so good... ::Politely she waits for her hosts to begin eating::


Amir Khambatti: You bet it does! I'm starved! ::Puts a few items on the plate for Mel, then makes himself one,:: So tell us about this Rev. Wagner, Mel. How did you meet him?

Mellisari: ::Takes a bite of the food... the spices burn a little, she approves:: To Amir> Reverend Wagner was the leader of the Interstellar Church of the Helping Hand, he was with a trade deletation to Orion prime... he saw me being... disciplined... by Master ZirVan, and bought me... he took me back to Earth... taught me polite behavior, manners... got me into school, and got me enrolled in SF Academy He died not long ago... he was my family in UFP space::She stirs her food and looks down:: My own family sold me into the pens....

Amir Khambatti: I'm sorry to hear that. He sounds like a good man. He must have seen your potential even before you realized how smart you were.

Mellisari: ::She looks up... laughs:: He was labled a meddler, a "do gooder" and some hated him... but all respected him

AVITA:> Unfortunately, things like that happen in many cultures. It went on here on Earth for centuries.

Amir Khambatti: The world Needs more do-gooders.

Mellisari: Thankfully, I need never go back... never again.... ::Takes another bite of the good food:: You eat well in India... ::Chews her food carefully, savoring the flavors::

MAHENDRA:> I am glad you like our cuisine. many find it very picante. Food is part of the many ancient traditions of India.
We may not practice things as literally as they once did, but our culture is personality of our people. Our identity.

Mellisari: ::Chews and swallows:: It must be quite a culture! ::Grins::

Amir Khambatti: It is, Mel. India is Thousands of years old. To this day, many come here seeking spiritual enlightenment.

Mellisari: In my world, spirituality among the slaves was limited to Kluu-mar, a combination of dance, meditation, pantheism and martial arts...

Amir Khambatti: Now you don't have to be limited anymore.

Mellisari: I still dance... and I still practice... If I am to eat such food I must pay for it in exercise! ::takes another bite of the good food... not knowing what is what but it is all good::

Amir Khambatti: Do you ever dance any Earth styles? On Delta maxia, they have a big retro dance music movement. They listen to a lot of 20th and 21st century music I'm a pretty good dancer myself. Or so I've been told ::Smirks::

Mellisari: I can learn to dance your style... we were required to learn many planets styles... to please the men that... rented us... ::Eyes cloud up:: I would like to learn

Amir Khambatti: ::Squeezes Mel's hand::

Mellisari: ::Takes comfort in the squeeze::
Amir Khambatti: ::After a wonderful meal, and aerial tour of the Taj Mahal, They arrive once again at SFC HQ::

Mellisari: ::As she follows Amir, she chatters happily about the wonderful people and sights::

Amir Khambatti: I had a great time too, Mel. Thanks for sharing it with me. It's great to see something familiar through new eyes.

Mellisari: Thank you for taking me... so few of us ever travel like this... it was wonderful!

Amir Khambatti: We're gonna be doing a lot of traveling with our job! ::Laughs:: We're supposed to meet around here. Let's go sit in the lounge until they call us.

Mellisari: ::Follows him to a comfortable padded row of seats, sets her shoulder bag on the floor between her feet::

ChristinaRRivers: :: Walks into the lounge and takes a seat. ::

Mellisari: ::Looks up:: Commander Rivers is here!

Amir Khambatti: Look! there's the Commander! ::waves to her:: Over here Commander, join us

ChristinaRRivers: :: She waves at them both and walks over to them before responding. :: I heard there was a new entertainer here thought I would check him out.

Mellisari: ::Stands politely for the Exec::

Amir Khambatti: Really? sounds great. Oh, and Congratulations again on your promotion Commander. you earned it.

ChristinaRRivers: Thank you Amir :: notices Mellisari :: It's alright Mel we're off duty.

Mellisari: Thank you Commander... good to see you ::Sits again::

ChristinaRRivers: Good to see you too :: takes a seat next to them ::

Amir Khambatti: Did you have any Family to visit, Commander?

ChristinaRRivers: No I didn't. My mother and father were both killed in the line of duty when I was a teenager. Other then that the only family I have are those on the Vulcan ship that I keep regular letters with.

Amir Khambatti: ::Nods:: I understand. Sorry if I opened any old wounds bringing that up.

ChristinaRRivers: No wounds were open in the innocent line of questioning Amir.

::An announcer comes to the stage::
ANNOUNCER:> And now, for your entertainment, Direct from DS9's Holo suites, SFC is proud to present:
Vic Fontaine! Let's give him a warm welcome!

Mellisari: ::Applauds politely in the Human style::

Vic Fonteyn: ::Enters the Stage:: Hi everybody I'm Vic Fontaine! It's great to be here!

Amir Khambatti: ::Applauds::

ChristinaRRivers: :: applauds with a quirked brow fascinated by everything. :

Vic Fonteyn: You know, it's always great to see so many different kinds of people in one place having a good time together, 'cause that's what music's all about. This is a little number that's so old, even the T'kon Empire knew it! Hit it boys! ::The music begins to play as Vic does his thing::



Vic Fonteyn: Say, its only a paper moon Sailing over a cardboard sea But it wouldn't be make-believe If you believed in me

Mellisari: ::Watches, interested in the new form of entertainment (to Her) ::

Vic Fonteyn: Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Hanging over a muslin tree
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me
Vic Fonteyn: ::Walks over to the table and sings to Mel and Christina::
Without your love It's a honky-tonk parade Without your love It's a melody played in a penny arcade

Mellisari: ::IS flattered by the entertainer's attention::

Vic Fonteyn: It's a Barnum and Bailey world Just as phony as it can be But it wouldn't be make-believe If you believed in me
::The band begins the instrumental part as Vic pulls Mel and Amir up and makes them dance together. Whispers:: I know 2 budding lovebirds when I see 'em Smiles and walks back to the stage to take his cue::
Vic Fonteyn: Without your love It's a honky-tonk parade Without your love It's a melody played in a penny arcade

Amir Khambatti: ::Takes Mel and begins dancing, letting her follow his feet.::

Vic Fonteyn: It's a Barnum and Bailey world Just as phony as it can be But it wouldn't be make-believe If you believed in me

Mellisari: ::Dose her best to follow Mr Khambatti's steps::

ChristinaRRivers: ::smiles seeing the two together. ::

Vic Fonteyn: If you.....Believed......In Meeeeeeeee!
Thank you, thank you very much! I just couldn't help embarrassing a couple Starfleet officers. ::laughs::

Amir Khambatti: ::Claps, and Bows politely to Mel:: You dance dewinely, madame!

Mellisari: ::Applauds and murmurs:: Thank you Mr Khambatti.. I am NOT embarassed!

ChristinaRRivers: :: claps at the performance and the dancing both were good to her. ::

Vic Fonteyn: Let's hear it for our officers here! ::comes back to the table:: Hey everybody, thanks for stopping in. Good to see you all. What ship you guys from?

Mellisari: ::is escorted back to the table::

Amir Khambatti: The Polaris. I'm Chief Khambatti, This is Lt Mellisari, And our Exec, Commander Rivers.

Vic Fonteyn: Well, I hope to see all of you again real soon.

ChristinaRRivers: ::nods ::

Mellisari: ::Forgetting it is a Holographic person, she smiles pleasantly at Vic::

Amir Khambatti: Thanks, Vic. Great job. Nice Song.

ChristinaRRivers: :: She then hears her comm go off. :: Well you two love birds you know what that means


Amir Khambatti: Yep, Shore leave's over. But there will be others. ::Gets ready to stand::

Mellisari: ::bends over and picks up her travel bag::

ChristinaRRivers: :: gets up and brushes off her lap out of habit more then anything. ::

Amir Khambatti: ::They wave goodbye to Vic as they head for the door.::

Mellisari: ::Stands and says:: Thank you Mr Fonteyn ::Follows along::

Amir Khambatti: ::Takes Me's Hand as they walk. ::Smiles, Humming the song::

ChristinaRRivers: :: follows the happy couple out ::

Mellisari: ::She is surprised, but allows him to hold her hand::