Captain Ceix had been right to call a break to the talks, Brennan thought. After all, they hadn’t gone anywhere and as much as she had tried to keep a straight face, she had been getting a little frustrated with how little the Elders had wanted to share. Now, she and Keller were wandering across the market that stretched across the plaza in front of the government building. 

It was a vibrant, sprawling affair that allowed her to temporarily forget that she was here on business, and not for shore leave. Stalls lined the streets, their canopies a patchwork of fabric in shades of colors that stood out against the pinkish glow of the Liraxian sky. From what Alcyone could see, the vendors sold everything from intricately woven textiles to gleaming metal trinkets, the latter polished so perfectly they caught the light like shards of glass. 

A group of children ran by, chasing one another between stalls, and their laughter echoed off the stone walls of the surrounding buildings. Despite the simmering conflict and lingering tension, the market had a warm, lively energy. But as Brennan and Keller moved through the crowd, their focus wasn’t on the wares or the people.

Kellers his eyes scanned the market stalls without much interest. His jaw clenched slightly as the cheerful sounds, and as he finally spoke, his voice low was and tense.

“This… isn’t getting us anywhere. The Elders are stonewalling, and we’re wasting time pretending this,” he gestured vaguely at the market around them, “is normal. We should be back in that room, pushing harder.”

Alcyone gave a small nod. She agreed, but she also understood that there was only so much pushing they could do. It was, she had once heard, madness to attempt the same thing over and over, and expect a different outcome. “I half agree.”, she relented eventually. “It’s odd that the Elders requested our aid, and are now not doing anything to resolve the issue they want us to fix. I wonder if they expected help to win the war, rather than bring a peaceful resolution.”

Keller allowed a humorless chuckle to escape. “Wouldn’t be the first time someone used Starfleet to tip the scales.” He glanced at her, the tension in his eyes barely masked by the professionalism he clung to. “If they think we’re here to pick a side, they’re going to be sorely disappointed.”

“I agree.”

He paused, his gaze drifting back toward the government building as if he could see the Elders through the walls. “I don’t like it. Too many secrets. They’re holding back for a reason, and I’ve got a bad feeling we’re walking straight into the middle of something bigger than a land dispute.”

“That might very well be the case.”, she sighed. “Wouldn’t be the first time either. The thing is… wars are profitable. Especially if they have been going on for so long. I imagine they build infrastructure to try and keep the upper hand. Businesses. I don’t know.”

Keller’s expression darkened, his mouth tightening into a thin line. “War breeds industry, and industry doesn’t like peace. Especially when there’s money to be made.” He shook his head. “I’ve seen it before. Everyone’s got something to lose if this ends too soon, and it’s always the ones sitting comfortably behind the lines who pull the strings.”

He turned his gaze toward Brennan, his voice lowering. “You think that’s what we’re dealing with? Some power behind the curtain keeping this whole thing running for their own gain?”

Brennan considered her words carefully before she answered. “I don’t think so, no.” There was a pause, then she added “I think they called us because they are scared. If it escalated to assassinations, they are next on the list, and they know that. I also think… or at least could imagine… that it’s the only reason they now want peace.”

Keller was silent for a moment, processing her words. There was a begrudging acceptance in his tone as he spoke. “Fear makes people do desperate things. And stupid ones.” 

Brennan nodded, unsure what to add to it. Instead, she cleared towards a stall with different herbs and tinctures that had attracted her with their scent lingering in the air. Her gaze drifted over the rows of neatly arranged plants and small glass bottles filled with colorful liquids. Then she glanced at Keller, and for a moment, she was almost certain to see the tension in his features ease.

He picked up a small vial, turning it over in his hand. “What do you think this is?” he asked, his tone almost casual, though there was still a trace of that frustration lingering. “Some kind of local remedy? It’s not the usual trinkets or food stalls. Looks… medicinal.” He raised an eyebrow, glancing at Brennan, then the merchant. 

The merchant, a man so old he could qualify as Elder, if it wasn’t for his simply robes that marked him as belonging to a lower class. “I’m sorry, we don’t often see outsiders here.”, he smiled in a manner that was both professional and kind. “This is Veliun. I doubt you have any use for it.”

Keller’s grip on the vial tightened slightly as the merchant spoke, his curiosity piqued.  “Veliun, huh?” Keller echoed, rolling the name over in his mind. “And why’s that? What does it do?” He glanced at Brennan, then back at the merchant. 

“It’s a substance that stimulates the mind to allow for rest.”

“Like a sleep remedy?”, asked Brennan.

“It has those properties, yes, but the focus is on the dreams. They are happy ones – happy memories.”

Keller raised an eyebrow. He seemed intrigued. “Happy memories, huh?” He held the vial up to the light, watching the liquid shimmer within. He turned to Brennan, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Maybe we should stock up before heading back to the Elders. Could use a little happy memory boost right about now.” 

“Maybe another time, hm?”, smiled Brennan. 

Keller chuckled softly, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction. “Fair enough.” 

He set the vial back down, but there… seemed to be some reluctance in the gesture. And then he glanced around, before offering a shrug. 

As they stepped away from the stall, he let out a sigh, and the moment of levity faded. 

Brennan looked at him, her own expression softening. And she was about to talk to Keller, let him know that happy memories were truly only that – memories. But she never got to that point.