Linguist Meets Geologist

Posted on 04 Apr 2014 @ 12:07pm by Lieutenant Elijah Williams IV, M.Sc. & Lieutenant Jared Nicholas

1,959 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Geology Lab f/b Deck 2, Mess Hall
Timeline: MD -3 - 1830 hrs

ON:

It had been a long day and Jared wanted nothing more than to go back and spend some time with Min. since they had different schedules, they only had eight hours they could spend together. That usually meant sleeping and little interaction He could not even began to imagine what it would be like after the baby arrived.

However he had promised her he would try to socialize more. Of course by socialize she did not mean flirt, but he thought he could handle that His friend Keval had mentioned something about a new scientist friend of his an Elijah Williams.

Keval often thought with his heart and not his head, which was of course better than thinking with the little head instead of the big one but nonetheless it sometimes got him him in trouble.

So he decided to kill two birds with one stone. Socialize like Min wanted and check out the new guy to see if he was someone Keval should really spend time with.

So he made his way to the geology lab, entered and started looking around.

Elijah Williams stood there, two PaDDs in one hand, a rock sample in the other, a tricorder was open and sitting on the edge of a work station. He held the piece of rock up and studied it, taking in the coloration, the jagged edges, the shape, learning each line. He was totally enthralled by it and was only acutely aware of the familiar hiss of the doors opening. The doors opened and closed a lot and so he had learned to sort of just ignore it. He was new, most people were not trying to find him personally. His attention turned to one of the PaDDs and started to read the information. Oblivious that there was someone lurking about.


Jared cleared his throat. When that didn't seem to work he tapped the other man on the shoulder, "Excuse me,"he said.

Elijah jumped slightly at the touch, but kept a firm grasp on the PaDDs and rock he was holding. He looked over his shoulder to see a man standing there. He didn't recognize the person. "Uh, hello."

'Hi," Jared returned, "sorry to interrupt,but we're both in the same department. You're new, I've seen you around a few times. I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Jared Nicholas, I'm a linguist."

"Elijah Williams, geologist," he said. "Pleased to meet you," he added as an after thought. He wasn't sure why this other man was in his lab, seemed odd but he wasn't one to press an issue and this he wouldn't press either.

"We're just going to be working together, well sort of working together anyway. And we have a mutual friend, Keval Grayson."

"Ah okay," Elijah said. So Keval had already mentioned him? Was Nichols here to check up on him? Sizing him up? He offered a small smile. "So, being a linguist sounds pretty interesting. I never had an ear for languages, I am very reliant on the UT. Though, I haven't really encountered many aliens in my time in the Fleet either." He shrugged as he put the rock down on the ledge next to the tricorder.


"I enjoy it, it just kind of comes naturally to me. Geology is interesting, but I don't think I'd have the patience for it. For me, I like interacting with people more than I do things. But that's just me.

Do you want to get get some coffee or something to drink?"

"Oh um... sure, I guess," Elijah said. For the briefest of moments he was torn, did he stay in the lab and continue to work - in his off hours - or go with a man he hardly knew to have a drink.

If Jared noticed his hesitation, he didn't say anything about it. "So what do you want? I'm buying."

Elijah thought for a moment, he had go to staples. "Vulcan spice tea," he said.

"Okay, well let's go to the mess hall. One Vulcan spice tea and and caramel latte."

The caramel latte sounded better then Vulcan spice tea but he didn't change his order. "Sure the mess hall would be fine," Elijah said. He had still wondered what the intent behind the chat was about, but he didn't push it. Science people, though mixed sometimes, rarely worked outside of their specialties. There was no reason to really. Nevertheless, Elijah did find it nice the man was reaching out. It never hurt to get to know new people.

Once at the mess hall, which again was just a short trip, the two sat, drinks in hand. "Thanks for the invite, the break is a welcomed one."

"You're welcome, I promised my, em girl friend that I'd try to get out more."

Elijah wrapped his fingers around the mug, the warmth of the mug felt nice. "Getting out is a good thing and it's good advice," he said. He brought the mug to his lips and sipped the hot liquid. It was the type of tea that always calmed his nerves. "So, I take it your girlfriend serves on board the Galileo."

"She does. Min Zhazo, just promoted. She's our boss now. Kind of funny. I never expected that to happen."

"Oh why is that?" Elijah asked. He had assumed people would pair off on a ship this small, it was bound to happen especially when people were packed in so tightly together. He had heard stories where couples and married people had been separated for months on different assignments. He had wondered how that played out in the long-term for a relationship. Starfleet life was a tough one in that regard. Though now, he was genuinely confused as to why the other man never thought his partner would be promoted. Wasn't that the goal for most officers in the fleet?

Jared looked over at the other man with an appeasing, "She was just recently reinstated to Star Fleet. She was away for awhile due to some personal issues. I just didn't expect things to happen so quickly for her."

Elijah fumbled with the handle of the mug. "That seems to be a Starfleet trait," he said. "They either move too quick or too slow, there is never a happy medium." Bring the mug to his lips again, he sipped then deftly placed the mug back down. "At least, that is what it seems. I could be wrong though, I've spent my career in classroom or in a lab."

"No, I think that's pretty accurate. In this particular case, I think we're both glad that it happened so fast. Things weren't exactly going in the right direction before this."

Elijah nodded, he wasn't looking for the man to elaborate so he hoped he wouldn't. He smiled. "Well, I am glad everything worked out for you and the lieutenant."

"So are we, thanks. Keval has mentioned your name like I said. He doesn't know I'm here and would probably be pissed if you told him. I just don't want to see him get hurt again. He says that you're just friends and barely that but I can tell he likes you., even if he doesn't know you that well.

I know this is not any of my business and awfully forward , but just do me a favor if your friendship grows into something else, please don't hurt him."

Well the man who sat across from him was right about one thing, it really wasn't any of his business. A more bolder man probably would have reminded him of that, but Elijah didn't say anything. "Alright," he said simply. It was truly just the start of a friendship, nothing more at this point and he felt uncomfortable with that being brought up to begin with. "I understand."

"So I'll drop that subject, how are things going for you otherwise? I know you've been asked this about 1,000 times but how are you adjusting to being on board?"

Elijah fought the urge to breathe a sigh of relief. He didn't want to talk about what was going on with between he and Keval. Not that there was anything but still, it made him uncomfortable enough to almost jet. "It has been a transition going from an Earth bound assignment to a ship board one. But, so far the transition has been going fine. As you know as a scientist, a lab is a lab though, one firmly planted on terra firma or one planted on a deck of a starship is a moot difference." He shrugged then continued. "The hardest thing to get used to is the confinement. You can't exactly go outside and take a walk."

"I know what you mean, but I was pretty much born in space, well aboard a ship anyway. My parents were merchants, so I am used to it. But yeah I know what you mean. It can be an adjustment. I try to spend time in the holodeck."

"I could see the benefit of that," Elijah said. "Seemingly endless possibilities." He wasn't a holodeck person, but it might be something he would end up partaking in more now that he was living on a starship. "Any specific programs you find enjoyable or recommend?"

"A few, depending on your tastes. Relaxing getaways to tropical paradises, ski trips in the mountains, Min and I went on one where we went up against some Nazi, some X rated ones, period pieces, and romantic vacations. Those are some of the ones I've done in the past."

X rated ones? Romantic vacations? Nazis? Those didn't even register as potential picks for him. Now a tropical paradise did seem nice. At least he could program something where there wouldn't be any others on the beach. He wondered if Kevel or Abbey would end up inviting him to the holodeck. "Sounds interesting," he said. "I may have to check it out sometime, I haven't used a holodeck since before graduate school."

"Well they have some standard programs you can chose from, I can help you with some of the ones I mentioned and I'm sure some engineering types could help you program one tailored just for you."

It was odd that the other man assumed he needed help in programing a holodeck program. "Alright, well I will let you know," Elijah said, "If I am in need of a selection." He tapped his foot against the deck as his knee bounced up and down. "Uh well, I should probably head back to the lab and finish up for the evening. Thank you for the drink and the chat."

"Sure," Jared said, seeing the other man seemed a bit nervous. "See you around."

Elijah stood, managed a small smile and thanked the other man once again. He pushed his chair in and then made for a hasty exit. He was glad to be getting back to the sanctuary of his lab. His lab, where he could immerse himself in his research, where rocks, samples and PaDDs didn't talk back or judge... or ask personal questions or make assumptions. His hands began to tremble ever so slightly and he was grateful the walk wasn't a long one. Once back in his lab - a lab devoid of people for the time being - he took in a deep breath and blew it out slowly to steady himself and the anxiety that was rising. He moved back to his workstation, picked up the PaDD followed by the rock and picked up where he left off. He was back in his comfort zone.

OFF:

A joint post:
Lt. Jared Nicholas
Linguist
USS Galileo

&

Lieutenant JG Elijah Williams IV
Geologist
USS Galileo

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