Nature/Nurture: Part 2/3

Posted on 11 Jan 2018 @ 3:31am by Commander Scarlet Blake & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen
Edited on on 11 Jan 2018 @ 7:41am

3,465 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Earth: Starfleet Academy
Timeline: MD 30: 2330

Previously…

"Pride is good," Acer said firmly. Nothing had managed to convince him otherwise. No amount of digging at how pride was one of the worst traits of cardassians had knocked that belief out of him. "It gives one focus. Meaning."

"Self-worth," Zoie added in, leading him to the communal area that had the cooking station. She moved to the replicator, getting what she needed to make pasta and a decent sauce.

Now, the conclusion…


"You know…” Zoie glanced over to Acer as she measured ingredients, “…back in the day they called Martians prideful. Stubborn. 'Nothing can grow there, something tried and it died. How can you do different?' Well...people did. Terraforming, changing the very air to make it breathable...and before you know it, a second M-class planet was born. Of course, Luna will argue that they did it first, but they are a glorified rock. And they never managed to get the atmosphere right. All...clean glass domes and that lot."

Acer watched her talk and move around with amusement, settling on a stool next to the counter she was using. "Not that there's any rivalry of course...."

"Of course not..." she said lightly before she chuckled. She moved to make the dough for the pasta, considering it. "The Sol system is tiny. And we enjoy the rivalry. Competing against other humans used to be what we were all about back in the day."

"So I've read," Acer said with a wry smile, glancing down as he shook his head. "Human nature, perhaps?"

"I suppose so," she said and glanced at him, a weak smile coming to her. "Although I think I find it more being...nature. Regardless of species."

Acer was silent for a long moment, watching his hands before finally nodding. "I think you are right," he admitted quietly. "I think we are all more alike than we realise."

"It's why we are so quick to dislike each other too," she said after a moment before looking back at what she was doing. "If it wasn't for a common goal, everyone would still be warring with each other. Earth was like that. Global Warming changed it all, forced humans to stick together. Then there was the First Contact with the Vulcans and from there on in...humanity wanted a place among the stars. The fact we reproduce quickly just means there's more of us to force into uniforms."

He laughed warmly at her words, shaking his head as he lifted a brow sceptically. "As if anyone forced you into the uniform...you jumped into it..."

Zoie smiled warmly, looking over at him as she rolled the dough into a ball and wrapped it before chilling it. "Of course I did, only way I could escape my mother was by getting the perfect excuse to leave Mars. If I just wanted to serve, I would have joined the Marines...Starfleet allows me to escape the planet completely."

Acer watched her carefully for a long moment, a small, thoughtful smile playing on his lips. "You are certainly a fascinating woman. You speak of your home with pride...yet...you jumped at the chance of 'escape'."

"I jumped at the chance of escaping my mother," she corrected with a smile, washing her hands. "I need to be outside of transporter range or else she will hound me as the disappointment that I am for not becoming a scientist and marrying that nice boy next door."

He gave a soft chuckle at that, watching her for a long moment, silent as he held his breath. "She loves you," he said softly. "And wants the best for you....you just...disagree what that is."

She paused and looked at him, studying him closely before she nodded. "I know," she said softly. "And I love her too. Dearly. But if I was on Mars, she would try to make me into what she thinks is best for me. But it isn't...being apart, she will see that this is my path. And that I will benefit from it." She looked at the tomatoes before she started to chop them. "Why did you end up joining Starfleet?"

Acer watched her with surprise at the question, holding his breath as he considered what he should say. He bit on the inside of his lip with it, thinking hard on what his answer should be. "I thought I would be good at it?"

She chuckled softly, raising an eyebrow. "I am not the interviewer..." she said and looked down at what she was doing. "What does your heart say? What made you...fill the application in?"

Acer's jaw jutted to one side in thought for a moment, falling silent as he rolled over the question in his mind. He frowned, finally just shaking his head as he looked away.

She stopped and turned to face him. Her eyes studied him before she wiped her hands and moved to him, gently touching his cheek. "It's okay to want to find a place to belong as well," she whispered softly.

He just held her eyes, his brow furrowed in a deep frown. He looked at the paler eye. He liked it a lot. "You never did change your eye."

"Why would I? It works and it is in all my childhood holographs from when I was three. Wouldn't be right to change it unless it broke..." she said softly and smiled gently, unable to stop herself. She hugged him, because she saw the look on his face. Knew his mind was bouncing the question around in his mind.

He held onto her, sighing as he closed his eyes, his hands resting on her back. "Never change it," he said firmly.

"Not planning to," she said softly before she pressed a kiss to his temple. "You belong in Starfleet, Acer. You are one of us. Remember that. You can do so much good here."

He searched her eyes for a long moment before relenting and giving her a small smile in return. "Being sneaky..."

"Being very sneaky for the good of the Federation," she said and touched his cheek fondly. She pulled back and moved to add the chopped vegetables to a saucepan, turning on the heat. "Don't...ever change either, Acer."

He laughed softly at that, shaking his head with a long, deep sigh. "You don't have to worry, Zoie. I really don't think I can..."

"Good," she said with a small smirk, unable to stop herself. She took her time to season the sauce, making sure it was just right before adding a handful of capers. "Because I like you the way you are."

"Are you sure you passed your psych?" he teased on a monotone voice, watching her with mock scepticism.

"I did what any Intelligence Cadet would do. Lied my way through it," she joked, eyes shining as she got the boiling water replicated for the pasta before getting the pasta. She shaped it, humming softly.

He grinned at that, leaning in to take a deep smell of the aroma with a sigh. "Doesn't everyone?" he said softly. "I mean, really. Whether we realise it or not."

"We're all so nervous that we will say anything to come off as normal," she said softly, her eyes gentle as she formed the pasta. "I suppose they know it and take it into account. I don't even remember what I said in my first evaluation."

"Well it must have been good enough," he chuckled, reaching to pull a small piece of the dough free, enough to roll it between his fingers and feel the texture. "You're a tough woman, I would want you on my team."

Zoie smiled at the words, nodding. "And I'd want you to be on my team. Once we graduated...I'd very much like the chance to work with you."

"Oh that's easy....we'll just hack into the assignment files," he gave her a grin, forming the pasta into a twirl shape.

She laughed warmly, nodding at the words. "Yes, we could do that...or blackmail someone..." she said, handing him more dough to shape, happy for him to help.

Acer started to shape more, not really paying attention to it, watching her instead. "Do you think that's cheating?" he asked lightly.

"What?" she asked softly, her eyes gentle. "Making sure we'd be on the same ship? I'd say we work well together. And that it would be an asset to wherever we end up."

"What do you want?" he suddenly asked with a grin, leaning in closer. "A ship? A base? A planet?"

Zoie blinked, watching him for a long moment. She wanted to say it didn't matter if she served alongside him. But instead she shrugged. "Bases tend to be fun, all those people in and out."

"Yeah, I agree," he nodded with a smile, throwing a couple more shapes into the pile. "More settled too. Like...a real place. A real group."

"A community," she said and smiled, waiting until he had finished before adding the pasta to the boiling water. "Acer...can...I ask you something?"

"Whatever you like," he said lightly, forming the last few pieces. "I can't promise to answer though," he replied honestly.

She nodded in acceptance of the conditions, stirring the sauce. "How did you come to be on this side of the DMZ?" it was something she had never asked before. She had just accepted the cardassian being in Starfleet without those questions and he had never volunteered information on it. But now it felt more...like the right time to ask.

Acer fell silent at the question. It wasn't something he spoke about often. Usually he told people who asked that it wasn't their business. "Our ship was captured in the war," he said quietly, shrugging. "It was on a mission, in Federation space."

She nodded gently, watching him for a long moment. "You must have been very young," she said softly before taking the spoon and getting some sauce on it, offering it to him. "Does it need anything?"

He tasted it, shaking his head firmly as he smiled. "It's perfect. Unlike my pasta..." he looked at his effort with scorn. "I think an Italian somewhere is waiting to punish me..."

"They're the same size so they will cook at the same time. And taste delicious," she said and smiled, nodding as she looked at the pan. "And they look ready as well. You get the bowls, I will drain it."

He moved to do as he was told, casting a glance her way as he set the bowls down for her. He frowned as he considered what she’d said though, letting out a soft breath. "My parents fought in the war."

She nodded gently, watching him before she gave a small smile. "So did my father," she said softly. "Marines. Because if you are born on Mars it increases the risks of you being blinded by their shiny shoes and well-fitted uniforms."

He gave a gruff sound of laughter at that, shaking his head as he watched her. "Those well-fitted uniforms never tempted you?"

"Hell no," she said and smiled, draining the water. "I had spent enough time around them by the time I was 18. I take it that the crew of the ship you were on were taken as POWs?"

"Those who were still alive," he said quietly, avoiding her gaze as he watched what she did instead. "Cardassians don't go easily."

"Can't blame them," she said after a moment's silence. "It was war." She put the drained pasta by the bowls and turned off the heat under the saucepan for the sauce, starting to dish up. "How old were you?"

"4 or 5?" he shook his head with a frown, letting out a long breath, shrugging it away, his jaw tense. "I didn't live on the ship."

She watched his face, seeing the tension before she nodded. She added two forks and moved to him with the bowls, offering one. "Well, selfishly, I am glad. Because it means I get to work with you and know you."

Acer watched her with surprise at the response, shaking his head with a weak smile, sighing. "Perhaps I have been...lucky."

"In a weird, messed up way that caused you a lot of pain," she said and touched his arm. "Where should we go and hide so I can escape putting the pans for recycling?"

He looked both ways, lifting his brows for a long moment. "My place, come on..." he grabbed a bowl, leading her away before they could get caught.

Zoie grinned as she followed, quickly, her eyes shining. She giggled when they entered his room, glancing around. Two beds. But she knew he had no room mate.

He patted the bed for her to sit with him, smiling as he curled up against the headboard. He tucked in, moaning at the taste of it. "You are a wizard..."

She smiled gently as she sat with him, eating slowly. "No, just someone who taught me a few recipes."

He nodded at that, stealing a glance of her as he ate, considering for a long moment, schooling his features. "Do you...think....you could...teach me...?" he said, as casually as possible.

Zoie met his eyes for a long moment before she nodded, eyes shining. "Yes, happily. I will teach you all I know." She nudged him playfully. "Even baking."

"Well, hang on, let's not go mad..." he tutted, but there was a playful glint in his eye as he shook his head.

"Oh please, you'd love the list of things and when to add it," she said and smiled, leaning against him as she ate, happy to be in his company.

"Are you saying I have issues with OCD?" he said with a serious tone, but his eyes made it clear he was teasing her.

She gave a small shrug, her green eye sparkling playfully. "I wouldn't dare to call you that to your face..."

"No, just between the lines," he chuckled, shaking his head as he let out a long breath. "At least I know where I stand with you."

"And you always know where I stand," Zoie said softly before finishing her food, putting her bowl down.

Acer sat back with a sigh, stretching as he enjoyed it with warmth. "I am told it took a long time to get me to eat, back when I was a kid, when I was taken to live with humans."

She watched him for a long moment, her hand going to his knee, just resting there. "Do you remember what you had when you did eat?"

"An egg," he looked to her, his eyes distant as a weak smile came to him. "I was disappointed. It wasn't like the eggs I knew. It took over an hour to convince me to try it."

Zoie watched him for a long moment before she leant close, resting against him as she put her head on his shoulder. "You like eggs now?"

"Yes," he admitted with a soft laugh, resting his arm easily around her. "I like many earth foods now. Pasta was one of the first. I refused anything on it. Stubborn, foolish child."

Zoie smiled at the words, shaking her head. "No, I understand," she said softly. "Anything that tasted different could have been...poisoned."

"I certainly didn't trust it," he agreed with a soft chuckle, letting out a soft breath. "You...didn't poison me...right?"

"I didn't," she said with a warm smile, her eyes gentle. "We ate the same food. I would have contaminated your bedding instead if I was going to...off you."

He laughed warmly at that, shaking his head fondly. "Oh, how charming you are...."

She smiled warmly, looking at him for a long moment. She reached out, gently touching his forehead with a careful finger. "You must have been so scared."

"Terrified," he whispered, the only way he would or could admit it. "Confused. Angry. Humans were the enemy. Now they were my family."

She nodded gently, watching him for a long moment. She looked down, smiling weakly. "Can't even imagine it."

"Neither can I," he chuckled softly, tilting his head to look at her. "It all seems so surreal at times."

She met his eyes, holding them for a long moment before she smiled. "I bet it does."

Acer let out a long sigh, lost in thought for a long moment before pulling himself out of it. "You can stay the night if you want?" he offered, patting the bed. "This one is free."

She met his eyes before she nodded gently, smiling as she took the now empty bowls. "I'd like that," she said and moved to recycle the bowls and forks, glancing at him. "I'd like to talk some more."

"I must be boring you to tears," he shook his head with a tut, moving to tidy the bed for her.

"Never," she said softly, removing her boots before moving close to him, eyes gentle and warm.

"You're a good liar," he whispered, but with humour in his eyes as he shook his head. "Your skills are numerous."

"I am a woman of many talents," she said with a smile and moved to sit next to him, looking at him with a fond smile. "And I enjoy surprising you."

"You do it often," he admitted with a soft laugh, shaking his head as he watched. "Most days in fact. I enjoy it."

"Well, you are a good man. A good friend," she said as she got comfortable, curling up and resting against him. "And comfy too."

"Comfy?" he repeated with surprise, shifting a little so she could lie down a little more. "I can safely say I've not been accused of that before..."

Zoie sighed, glancing at him with a small smile. "Trust me. Comfy. Take the compliment..." she stroked his arm for a moment. "What happened to your parents?"

Acer was silent, remaining still in her arms for a long moment, unsure whether he wanted to answer or not. "They were killed in the attack," he said quietly.

She frowned, looking at him before she gently pressed her forehead against his shoulder. "I'm so sorry."

"It's alright," he said quietly, shaking his head as he swallowed hard. "They told me they died quickly in the attack on the ship."

She lifted her head to watch him before she took his hand, holding it gently. "Still hurts though."

He was silent for a long moment, just holding onto her hand as he frowned, confused by her sympathy. "They were your father's enemy."

She watched him for a long moment before she leant close to press a kiss to his temple. "My Dad was a soldier. And the way he sees it...so were the cardassians. Soldiers are soldiers."

"And what do you think?" he asked softly, turning his head so he could watch her intently, holding her eyes.

Zoie held his eyes for a long moment before she smiled gently. "You are not my enemy. And I don't think cardassians are my enemy either. The war's over. And just like after any war, we have to move on. Live together again."

"I suppose I am a good experiment for that," he laughed warmly, shaking his head as he gave her shoulder a squeeze.

She smiled warmly, nodding as she watched him. "Not only that, but I enjoy us spending time together. And...you are never my enemy."

"I should hope not," he said quietly, shaking his head, the laugh fading as a frown took over. "I wouldn't want that, Zoie. Ever."

Zoie watched him closely before she smiled, wrapping her arms around him to hug him. "You know it won't happen."

"Of course not," he chuckled, resting comfortably with her, pulling her arm tighter around him. "Wouldn't let anyone hurt you."

She smiled at the words, stroking his side. "Yeah? Well...I'd never let anyone hurt you either. Which is why I want to punch Anderson's face in."

"No!" he laughed all the same though, shaking his head with a tut. "You'd only get into trouble."

"Only if I get caught," she said before she tilted her head to watch him. "I have a temper. You know I do. But I've gotten better here. Calmer. More...calculated. But you got a plan...so I will be true to my promise."

Acer leant close to her ear, smiling before whispering. "I always have a plan."

Zoie smiled at the words, closing her eyes as she let out a soft breath. "Good," she said softly.

TBC:

Cadet Zoie Herianto
Intelligence Cadet
[NPC Vansen]

Cadet Acer Vito
Intelligence Cadet
[NPC Blake]

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