Bad Dates and Bad Dates (Part 2 of 3)

Posted on 11 Nov 2017 @ 4:31pm by Lieutenant JG Gideon Nicols PhD & Ensign Miraj Derani
Edited on on 19 Nov 2017 @ 12:25pm

1,955 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Earth - San Francisco, Culinary Institute
Timeline: MD 30, 1800 Hrs

[ON]

Previously, On Bad Dates and Bad Dates (Part 1)…

Gideon barely held back from rolling his eyes. This man obviously didn't know anything about sports and how you had to be focused, and determined, and have the ability but above all else, one had to be a team player and have each other's backs. Beyond the climbing and martial arts, the rest of it seemed rather boring in his opinion. Though, a lot of people found science boring, so he wasn't one to judge. "Harmonic theory?" He had assumed it had to do with music theory, but again he didn't want to make such assumptions.

And Now, the Continuation…

[ON]

Upfront the teacher called for everyone to soak half of the dates on the tray in a mix of spices and fruit juice, and to chop the rest. Naz pushed the half for soaking to Gideon and continued to wield the knife. "It's about accepting things as they are. The idea that there is no peace, no rights, that being able to accept differences and live along side them is the real goal. Not all singing the same thing, but singing different things that make a greater whole. A harmony."

That didn't sound like a totally bogus concept, but it did sound a bit outdated in its concept. Though really, he would never judge anyone for his or her beliefs even if he did have an opinion on the matter. He scooped up half the dates and placed them gently into the strong aroma of the juice and spices. He scrunched his nose at the strong smell but kept an open mind. "Don't a lot of people strive for that? For harmony, I mean? I know it is something humans constantly strive for."

"Not as many as you'd think," Naz told, him gesturing with the knife. "But humans are particularly good at it, its part of why I came here, to study human philosophy. And it’s quite remarkable, considering how horrible and bloody human history is. The diversity of Terran culture is astonishing, unparalleled even, and it caused nothing but death and war for centuries. But now, humans are well known for their toleration and ability to embrace all the diverse voices that make them up. Something even greater than the sum of its parts, even."

"I suppose we owe that to first contact," Gideon replied. "Egocentricities tend to go out the window when you realize you aren't the only ones in the universe. It expands your mind in a way that I think humans had a hard time grasping, yet strove to do so." He stood there, not entirely sure what to do with himself as he waited for the dates to marinate.

Naz passed him the mini blender and gestured to the front. "That bowl of chickpeas, three spoons of the sesame paste, squeeze of lemon. Blitz." He whispered.

"Alright," Gideon replied simply as he did what he was told to do. He pulled the mini blender toward him and began to add the ingredients one by one. He put the top on and 'blitzed' the contents. The sound of the blender made him cringe, it was like nails on a chalkboard to him.

The job done Naz stuck a spoon in and tasted it. "Not bad, for the first time."

Gideon looked down into the contents that he just blitzed it looked like paste. He didn't even think it looked appetizing, but Naz seemed to think it was okay. "Thanks," he said. However, the whole 'not bad, for the first time' sort of left him wondering how Naz came to the conclusion. It wasn't a hard task to begin with; he had done far more complicated things in a lab.

"Haven't you had hummus before?" his partner asked. "Its one of my favourite earth foods, so easy to make." The Trill began to thread the kebabs, "So what are your plans Gideon? For the future? Jemima said you were in Starfleet?"

Ugh, question to question to question, and it annoyed him how the other man seemed to jump from one to the other without thinking. "My plans and my future are Starfleet," Gideon replied. "And no, I've never had hummus before. I suppose I never thought about having it."

"But I thought you were a scientist. Wouldn't you feel happier in a university? Not gallivanting about the galaxy?" Naz put the aubergines and the kebabs under the grill under the bench.

"What would I do at a university that I couldn't do on a starship?" Gideon asked. He knew Starfleet, or even space travel wasn't for everyone, but what did it matter what career path he chose? "Plus for me, the idea of being a geophysicist means I get a chance to study other classes of worlds besides M-class." He looked at Naz, clearly perplexed by what the Trill had just asked.

"But always at the demands of the service." Naz was watching the food cooking; he didn't see Gideon's confusion. "You just get started on the mysteries of one planet, before you're dragged off to the next. No time to think and understand and really get under the skin of one place. At least with tenure you can devote yourself to doing something thoroughly."

"Well, there is some truth to that. However, it also depends on where you are assigned. This is also why starships have labs, to study the information we gather on missions," Gideon responded. He crossed his arms over his chest, his shirt tightening around his biceps and chest. "Though, staying in one place has merit as well. I suppose that will happen once I retire."

Naz whipped the kebabs and the aubergine out from the grill and dumped the aubergine into the blender. Thirty seconds later, the teacher did the same. "Best thing about not being in Starfleet. I'm already retired. Once I've finished my studies here, I'm going to set up a meditation retreat on Tandar Prime. It’s got a wonderful climate. Perfect for helping improve their inner calm and get to know themselves."

Gideon wasn't entirely convinced the word 'retire' should have been used--more like 'aimless', seemed more appropriate. He wondered if Naz was living off some type of parental help, their wealth, or whatever. He had supposed that it didn't matter, he didn't see anything happening between the two past this date... could it even be called a date? "Sounds nice, I wish you all the best with that new endeavor."

"Thanks. I've got it all planned out."

"How is it going?" The class teacher arrived at their station. Samia looked over their work. "Those kebabs look good. Any issues?" She picked up a spoon and tried the Hummus that Gideon had made. "Mmm, that’s delicious, well done."

Gideon smiled. "Thank you, but really my table partner here really should be thanked. I was pretty inept with all of this." He wasn't one to take credit for something he had no hand in, if it wasn't for Naz, everything would have been a disaster. However with that said, Naz presumed he would take charge, without any thought to ask.

"Well then, you make a good team. I'm going to check on everyone else, then we'll move on to the Baklava." Samia gave him another encouraging smile, and went to the next table.

"You shouldn't be so self-effacing," Naz said, finishing up the baba ganoush. "People will think you lack dynamism, vigour and effectiveness."

Gideon shrugged at the comment. "If you say so," he replied simply. He wasn't sure why admitting one is inept in something constituted in 'lack of dynamism, vigor, and effectiveness,’ but it was what it was, right? Clearly, Naz was the more superior cook, what was wrong with giving accolades? Whatever, after this evening he wouldn't be seeing the man, so it was no skin off his back on what Naz thought.

"I do say so. You only have to look around. Confident people are so much more successful and interesting, don't you think."

Gideon furrowed his brow at that statement. Now the other man was just being insulting. What did this Naz person know anyway? The Trill didn't seem to have any stability in his life, bouncing around to the next best thing until he got bored with it. Gideon had a good career, he had worked hard to get where he was. He wasn't just a Starfleet officer, but he was a highly educated one as well. He rose up in positions over the years, and though his rank stayed steady, that didn't bother him. What mattered was the science, the exploration, and the discovery. He was also a successful author, a fourth book coming out, and a fifth one in the works. Of course, he wouldn't say any of this since he wrote under a pseudonym but he wouldn't say it anyway because he didn't feel the need to brag.

"Confidence doesn't always equate to interesting, sometimes confidence is just a mask for an inflated ego, a know-it-all, or a braggart," he finally said after a few beats. "Interesting people come in all different shapes, sizes, and intellect." He kept his gaze forward, watching the instructor. "Also, for what it's worth, I believe in giving credit where credit is due. You clearly are better than I at this cooking stuff, if I would have known a compliment to your skill was going to be offensive to you, I wouldn't have said anything."

Naz made no reaction to the insult thrown his way. If he'd even realised Gideon was making reference to him. Before he could respond, the teacher clapped her hands and drew everyone's attention to the front.

"Time to make the Baklava." She picked up a box, and opened, revealing a roll of filo pastry wrapped in damp muslin. "Take your filo pastry, and you want to lay out a sheet, brush it with butter, then repeat till you have a stack about eight sheets high." She demonstrated, laying the parchment thin pastry out carefully.

After the fourth sheet, Naz took the box, and brought out their portion of filo. "Heat up that butter," he whispered to Gideon, and grab a pastry brush." He began to peel off a layer of filo, and pull it out into a rough rectangle.

Gideon nodded. "Certainly," he said, he went about completing the instruction. It wasn't hard to place a stick of butter into a saucepan and get it heated up.

"Now, take the pistachios and dates we marinated earlier, and put them in the blender to chop them up nice and small." Samia said from the front. Once you've done that, spread a thin layer on the filo. We're going to put two layers of the pistachio and date mixture, so you need to use about half." She demonstrated then moved off to check on her students.

Again, this was another easy task. He carefully poured the pistachios and dates into the blender and covered the top. He pulsed the contents, turning the whole contents into chopped up bits. It was pretty interesting to use a blender; it was something he had never really had the privilege to use before today.

Naz laid out the last layer of filo pastry, brushing it thickly with the last of the melted butter. He watched as Gideon spooned out the filling. "Are you sure you did the marinade right? It looks a bit...funky."

To be continued…

[OFF]

--

Lieutenant JG Gideon Nicols, PhD
Chief Research Officer

Amaran Naz
Auteur, Critic, Foodie, Zen-Master, Life Coach, Guru, and GIANT Egotist
[NPC Derani]

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