Almost There

Posted on 24 Jul 2014 @ 8:57pm by Lieutenant Min Zhao

1,714 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2 - Mess Hall
Timeline: MD07: 0900

ON:

[USS Galileo]
[Mess Hall]

Now on restricted duty, Min had more time to think and contemplate the future. Her fiance planet side and no word from the away team, Min found herself worrying, playing over scenarios in her head. The away mission of two days ago had come back with one man dead and no explanations as to the cause. As much as she knew risk was part of the job, going back down there had her on edge and she'd only be happy when he was back aboard and this mystery resolved.

Stepping into the mess hall, Min pulled a refill of her mug from the replicator. She was off coffee which was probably a good thing given how jittery she was feeling. The tea in her mug was some sort of herbal tea that Bajoran women drank which was supposed to help calm oneself before the birth of one's child.

Truth be told she couldn't tell if it was working, and her daughter was a bit more active then usual, probably sensing Min's stress. Taking a seat near the windows, Min sat sipping her tea, staring into the cup and watching the orb below that they were in orbit of, praying for Jared's safety.

"You look like you could use some company." Holding a steaming mug of Terran hot chocolate, T'Vanna looked down on the seated woman. She was out of uniform now, her long hair cascading freely across her shoulders, fierce blue eyes fixed on the other pregnant woman. "you look worried, what's on your mind?"

Min looked up from her mug at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. Min had met, at least in passing, almost every crew member of the ship but this women was new. Noticing the women was pregnant, almost as far along as she was Min reckoned, made the mystery all the more curious.

Min motioned to T'Vanna to join her. "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage Ms?"

"T'Vanna Murray." Though a touch telepath, T'Vanna had no qualms about shaking hands unlike most Vulcans, or halfbreed Vulcans of any mix. "I got here not that long ago, I still have to check in with the CMO."

"Lt Min Zhao. And I didn't realize there was a personnel transfer from that last transport. How I missed that I don't know as all that goes past my desk." Min looked at her half full cup. "Which is my responsibility as Chief of Operations so I missed something somewhere."

Smiling back at T'Vanna, "At least you and the baby are aboard safely." Min paused. "What department are you with?"

"Intelligence. I'm the new assistant chief of the department. And I guess I got transferred so quick the information is probably just on your desk. And from your rank, I should address you as ma'am unless you prefer otherwise. I'm but an Ensign...fresh from the academy I'm afraid."

"That would explain it. I got a file from Intel a few days ago regarding a transfer in. The usual spook stuff with a don't ask seal. Just approve it, assign the quarters, and they handle the rest." Min grinned. "Off duty you can can me Min. Somehow," Resting her hand on her stomach, "I think we are both in the same boat. You're due soon as well I'd guess."

"About two weeks, give or take," the half-Vulcan woman smiled, copying the move. "Do you know what you're having, aside from you know...a baby?"

"Same. Two to three weeks according to the doctor. I know I'm having a girl but her name I'm waiting until she's born to decide." She smiled. "Jared is really excited about her arrival. Jared is my fiance, tho not the father of the child." Min smiled. "I suppose your partner is excited?"

"I have no partner," the Vulcan replied, "I never saw the guy again
after he knocked me up. He doesn't even know. I don't know if it'll be
a boy or a girl, I told doctors not to tell me."

T'Vanna's statement about her partner, or nonexistence of one, was like a sucker punch to Min's gut. Six months ago this was her. Now here she sat opening what was probably a raw area for T'Vanna. Reaching out she touched the young lady on the arm, trying to offer some small token of comfort.

"I am so sorry dragging that one up T'Vanna. I know how raw that wound can be." Min paused. "The father of my baby knew I was pregnant but he chose to run because he didn't want his wife to know what he'd done."

"That sucks...." T'Vanna cast her a sympathetic look as she gently removed the hand from her arm. "I don't want to be rude but I really prefer not to be touched without warning. it's nothing personal trust me. As far as fathers go, I barely knew the boy. He was a classmate who charmed himself up to me, and I can't even be certain if us being together was in fact my choice. He's Betazoid you see... "

Min pulled her hand away. "Sorry T'Vanna. Won't happen again." She frowned. "I can see how he'd have an advantage on you, being able to sense your thoughts & emotions. If he did that's dirty pool."

Min took a sip from her mug. "It seems you and I have some things in common T'Vanna. To answer your original question, yes I am worried. My fiance is planetside right now and the last time they were down there, one of the team members was killed by an unknown force."

"Do you uphold any kind of religion? If yes, you could turn to your deity and pray for his safe return. Though I have no experience in this area, I am told that many put great value in this. When is he expected to return?"

"I don't. He's expected back in a few hours if all goes well." Min shrugged her shoulders. "Six months ago I was at the lowest point in my life. Now, I can't bear the thought of repeating that."

"You won't. Have you tried talking to a counselor about your worries? That's what they're here for you know...listen so that you ease your mind and your worries. Besides, being all stressed isn't good for your baby at all. What do you normally do to relax?"

"Counselors and I haven't had the best of relationships. Don't get me wrong, the Galileo has some good counselors, I just spent too many sessions with them, well Starfleet ones, dredging up my past when I reentered the service."

Min grinned. "As for relax? I'd normally be on the holodeck chasing down slopes on something Terran's call a snowboard. But this far along my balance is affected so my relaxation of late has been either a good book or a visit to the holodeck to lounge around on a beach somewhere."

"I hear you." T'Vanna sipped her herbal tea and made a face. "Oh yuck how can anyone drink this stuff. Doesn't the replicator even know how to make tea?" She shoved the mug away and made herself comfortable. "Counselors can't force you to talk about your past if you don't want to discuss it but they should listen to your concerns about your missing man."

"Respectfully Ensign, under certain circumstances they can. You'll learn soon enough that for every rule, perhaps one, there is an exception for it under certain circumstances."

Min paused as she took another sip from her mug."I'm not prepared to discuss my situation at this juncture but like it or not, Starfleet had the right to pry into my past. And while I accept they were just doing their job, it's soured me from them somewhat."

"I'm not asking," the other woman replied calmly, "your private affairs are none of my business. And as long as there's no cause for me to make them my business in terms of ship's security, you have nothing to worry about. Isn't there anyone else you could talk to? Someone you know, and trust?"

Min shook her head. "Honestly? I joined the ship 4-5 months ago and that was over a refit so I've interacted with the crew for at most 2-3 good weeks. Other then Jared, I don't really know anyone I feel comfortable confiding in. There are parents on this ship, a few others who're expecting, but nobody who really understands what it's like to face impending parenthood without the child's father at your side." Min paused. "Except you."

"I suppose," T'Vanna reluctantly agreed, "you have no friends among the crew then?" She wasn't sure she was fit to be listening to something like this, she had no counseling qualifications, only diplomatic. "What about the XO? Wouldn't she be fit to talk to if you don't trust counselors?"

Min paused. "The problem T'Vanna isn't so much that I don't trust people, I do, I just can't show weakness in front of my peers, but especially the CO and XO. The only person I'm really able to be vulnerable around right now is Jared." She grinned. "Tho I suppose admiting to you my weakness is showing weakness is being vulnerable isn't it?"

"I don't agree. It takes guts to show that you have a weakness. I just don't understand why you feel you can't show weakness, isn't that part of being human?"

"I suppose it is. And I suppose my perception on things is a bit skewed by my experiences. Can I trust you to keep what I'm about to say a secret. Jared already knows but not everyone else does and I'd rather keep it that way."

"Of course, your secret's safe with me." She finished her drink and got to her feet. "I still have a few people to meet, but maybe we can talk again later? Maybe you can come over for dinner?"

"Tommorow would work best if that's okay. I think today I'm going to be glued to Jared if he makes it back in one piece."

"Understandable. I'll see you tomorrow then." T'Vanna smiled pleasantly before walking away.

OFF:

Ensign T'Vanna Murray
Asst. Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

Lt Min Zhao
Chief Operations Officer
USS Galileo

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