Entanglements

Part 17 - A Birth and Two Rebirths

"Today, we are gathered for the wedding of Michelle and Andrew," Jonathan stood under a canopy composed of two tallit held by Karin and Josh.

The guests were all assembled in the Observation Lounge. It was a smaller wedding, and Jonathan noticed that the turnouts seemed to be changing. The married and attached people were still coming, and lending their support. But the singles were opting out, more and more often. He was still a singleton, but he didn't have the luxury of opting out.

Phlox and T'Pol stood by as attendants.

"I would like to talk today about Adam and Eve. I was reminded of this story because Andrew's Hebrew name – every Jewish person has one – well, it's Adam. But you should know that Ah'dohm, the word in Hebrew, refers to of the blood. But it also means of the soil. It doesn't mean of the Earth, though, as in of our planet, because Earth in Hebrew is eretz." He smiled at Hoshi, who gave him a thumbs-up.

"But it's an interesting concept just the same," the captain continued, "for the Hebrew Bible says that Adam was made from dirt and then the breath of life was infused into him. But that word is also blood, so he was fashioned from blood, too, or maybe he can become blood. When, later in Genesis, there is a reference to Cain spilling Abel's blood on the ground, the truth is, in Hebrew, those two things are just about the same thing."

He cleared his throat slightly. "And from Adam's rib, God made Eve. And he did so because Adam was lonely. He had all of the animals and the entire planet, but his life was missing something. And that's why Eve was created. She wasn't made in order to make Adam's babies or cook his food or clean his house or anything like that. She was made in order to keep him company, as an intellectual equal, as someone who he could care for, and be with, and partner with."

=/\=

In Sick Bay, Malcolm stood at Ethan's bedside. "Is it all right to talk to him?"

"Absolutely," Diana stated, "I'll just be feeding the animals. Let me know if he seems to be in any distress, and I'll call Phlox right away. But feel free. He'll listen." Ethan, still comatose, certainly seemed to be capable of little else.

"Well, all right then," Malcolm began as Diana busied herself with rummaging around in various jars in order to find the pellets that the Derellian bat liked to eat. "Mister Shapiro, I, uh, may I call you Ethan? I think it might be best if I were to do so. If I am out of line, you will tell me, yes?"

Ethan, impassive, did not respond.

"Right," Malcolm continued, "well, I should like to give you the news. I'm not so certain that anyone has actually kept you up to date on all of our various goings on. And it's been a few months. I know that Crewman Rosen and Crewman Bernstein-Rosen have been here several times, as has the captain and of course Mister Miller and Miss Pike and Miss Jones here and the doctor. But I'm not so sure that they let you in on the social doings."

He brought over a stool and sat down. "First off, today is August the twelfth, and it's a wedding day. Or, rather, it's yet another wedding day in a parade of weddings. There have been several since late April. There must be something in the water. First it was Bree Tanner and Connor Greer. Then it was Cecily Romano and Bruce Chalfont. And then, Emily Andreiou and Neil Kemper – he's one of the MACOs, you know. All three of those were in May."

He stopped for a second. "Is this dull? I do hope it isn't. Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes, let's move onto June. In June, it was Cassandra Lester and Victor Brown, and then Christina Parsons and Sterling Hutchinson. In July, it was Felicity Reese and Eric Forbes. Oh, and, uh, Mara Brodsky and Robert Slater. Earlier this month, Shari Jeffers and Anthony Vittorio were also wed. So this is the ninth since, well, since. Today's wedding is one that you knew about. It's Andrew Miller and Michelle Pike. She converted, you know, and embraced your faith. Hoshi taught her how to read Hebrew. And while she says she cannot speak it – I asked, you see – she does say that she can at least make it out in writing. So her home will be graced with prayers and traditions in the ancient tongue."