Meeting the Research (Part 1)

Posted on 24 Feb 2013 @ 11:02pm by Lieutenant Jacob Pendleton & Lieutenant Kiri Cho & Crewman Athlen

3,450 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo Deck 4 - Science Labs
Timeline: MD 01 1100 hours

ON:

Jacob made his way to the fourth deck of the Galileo to take a look at the Office and Labs. His massive frame soon walked into the Office as he wanted to see that in detail first before he did anything else. He was hoping to even meet any of the rest of the Science team if possible. He wore a smile on his face and hoped the team would take a liking to him.

Kiri had been doing her normal rounds so far. Checking each department, completing a series of tests on new equipment and even fixing a problem with the software of two tricorders. It was a normal day so far other than her chat with Peers. They were having dinner that evening and already her mind was drawn to that prospect. What to do, what to say, how to act, what to wear. So it was with somewhat of a surprise that a very large shadow was cast across her in the corridor.

Jacob saw a very pretty woman milling about the area so he cleared his throat as not to frighten her, a signal to let her know he was there. "Hi there Lieutenant, I didn't mean to disturb you, I was just looking around the place getting my bearings and seeing the place, you know, doing a little research on the area of.. well.. Research." He smiled at her.

"Oh, hello," She craned her neck to look at the giant's neck, "Lieutenant Pendleton." He must be the one that was joining their department, though she hadn't see a picture of how big he was. His size was intimidating but having dealt with Cyrus and Theron she was getting used to it. Holding her hands in her lap she bobbed her head slightly, "Can I help you at all?"

He smiled, "Absolutely!" He then shook his head, "I am sorry, where are my manners? Lieutenant Junior Grade Jacob Pendleton, and I just wanted to see where everything was and start to get used to the office and labs, you know, and hopefully start meeting the Science team." He held out his large hand in greeting.

"I see," Kiri held out her own hand that was completely dwarfed by his, "Most of the labs are on this deck, can I ask what you specialise in?"

Jacob replied happily, "Xeno Culture, Xeno Studies, and Xeno Archeology, what about you?"

"I'm Lieutenant Junior Grade Cho, I specialise in Astrophysics, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Programming and Sensor Operation," Her tone was much more reserved and quite quiet. She returned the smile though, "Is that what you plan to research?"

"I will research whatever Dr. Panne and the team desires to take on." He replied, we ar, after all, a team." Jacob's voice was deep, soft and clear but filled with excitement about the new adventure they were all about to embark on.

"I see," Kiri paused in thought for a moment, "Have you worked on Stellar Nurseries before and star birth?" Her projects weren't exactly a priority but they were something at least.

He shook his head, "I went to three seminars revolving those topics and it was surely fascinating. Are those research topics you are involved in? If I can help in any way, please let me know." Alex smiled as he enjoyed the conversation with her.

"It is something that I am working on, it doesn't pertain to the current mission though," There wasn't a huge amount of science work to do right now. Almost everything on her schedule was problem solving and administration. Never the less, "It might be useful to compare the data we receive with past events and studies."

Jacob nodded, "I would thoroughly enjoy that. Let's make a date of that..." he paused realizing how that sounded and nearly blushed, "..umm I mean, lets put a meeting on the calendar... how does that sound?"

Kiri looked sceptical for a moment at his choice of words before joining him in the nearly blush, "Okay, will you be free tomorrow afternoon?" He seemed very, positive. Like her friend Trisha was, even though it wasn't that important he seemed really excited. It was different, sort of how Kohl was before he left.

Jacob still slightly blushing replied, "That.. that would be great." He smiled averting her eyes. He looked around the office and then quickly said, "So, any way you could give me a tour of the labs?"

All the new crew in their department seemed to ask her that, maybe it was an unspoken part of her job. Kiri didn't mind though, this time she'd be more careful about it. Taking a breath she nodded, "Would you like to start with your office," That used to be my office sentiment was left out of her tone.

"That would be excellent." Jacob replied ready to see everything at his disposal.

"Okay, then this way," Kiri started to lead him down the corridor, "The office is empty now, the only issue is that the rear lights can flicker when on lower settings."

Jacob grabbed his PADD, nodded and started taking notes on it as they did the tour. "Flicker at low settings? Has Engineering ever taken a look at that?"

"I notified them but I don't normally work in the dark so its not a very high priority," She had the office for a little over two weeks and given all the ship had gone through she didn't feel a need to press the issue.

He looked at her and then said, "I appreciate this very much Lieutenant. And for the record, I know Star Fleet has its protocol and all, but really, unless the 'higher ups' are around, please call me Jacob, I mean, I like having the title of CRO and all but its just sounds so... stuffy. You know what I mean?"

The way that Maenad had explained it Kiri was above him in the hierarchy so wasn't she one of those higher ups. Yes he counted as a department head but only sort of, she had also been told to be more forceful with her will. Remaining silent for a moment she took a breath before speaking, "I don't know you very well Mr Pendleton and overt familiarity could be a bad example to set while on duty." She was meant to sound cooler, to be a better officer, "If you like I can call you Jacob when we are off duty, I'd rather not until I know you better though." It was unnatural for her to call anyone other than her friends by their first names. Though most people she met didn't think so, she wasn't meant to be such a push over though.

"Mr. Pendleton is fine I guess, though you make me sound like my dad." Jacob chuckled, "I guess I've never been all big about titles and 'rank and full name' protocols. I just want everyone of the team to get along, help each other and not feel like we are running a military institution here." His voice was quiet now just inflecting his desire to be a scientist and a teammate more than anything else.

"Two and a half weeks ago Klingons boarded this ship and killed several members of the crew. I hope it doesn't happen again," She shook slightly, "But if it does you should remember that rank structures exist for a reason. You will have to act as Lieutenant Pendleton and not Jacob." Kiri took great account of rank and who was responsible for what. She was responsible for everyone in the department and she needed to seem strong. No one called the captain on duty by her first name, a mark of respect and authority. It also made it easier to give commands right? Knowing people and being nice was one thing, like giving her orders as suggestions when she could. Taking care with peoples feelings and wants and doing everything she could for them, but she was still an officer. Feeling that her words were rather heavy, "Don't you want to be like your father?" They were outside the office now, was that too much of a personal question?

"No, no, you misunderstand me," He replied with a note of regret that his words did not intone the message he wanted to send, "Rank structures are necessary indeed, what I was referring to is the fact that those structures can sometimes make relationships between people feel like hard, rigid and cold situations, that is all I was saying about that." He paused a moment and then added, "I love my father, but I am not him. I am a different man. He was a good role model and all, but I have to live my own life and take my own road." He smiled at her.

Rather unsure of herself Kiri returned the smile though it was more forced than not, "Sorry," She would really like to be like her mother and father but that would be rather hard. In a way she was more like her father that she worked a lot of the time and was quiet but he didn't seem to need much company. She did, it felt like she needed it all the time right now, "This is the office assigned to you."

He smiled gratefully, "Wow. Nice place. Somehow I envisioned it smaller somehow." He looked around the room and made notes about various items and things to make mental notes about later.

It was a bare office, smaller than Maenad's but still much bigger than Kiri ever needed it to be. A window that looked out onto space, a desk and two work stations, room for storage as well. There hadn't been time to put anything she owned in here so leaving was just a matter of updating the assignment docket and clearing her data from the terminal back to the computer. In a soft voice now she answered, "I'm glad you like it."

Jacob looked at her after hearing something in her voice that sounded like regret, "Are you ok? Did I do or say something wrong?"

"No it's fine," Forcing a smile again she bowed her head slightly, "Would you like some time here?" It didn't matter it was just an office, it wasn't like she actually needed it for anything.

"I really appreciate you spending time with me. So what projects are you working on?" Jacob said all the while hoping that perhaps he could make a new friend or at least a better acquaintance with her.

"We are calibrating the new long range sensors we installed," That I designed, "Personally I am working on scans and projections on the development of Sata Beta Three. As well as final checks and adaptations of the sensor girds power distribution and data storage capacity. Because we get more accurate readings the computer has a harder time cataloguing them. At some point it will need to be updated as well. Just about everyone else is working on different projects, we will be having a departmental meeting soon if you would like to hear more."

"I would most certainly like to hear more. It is obvious to me you and the rest of the team are awesome at what you do and I can't wait to get started in whatever and wherever I am needed." He paused for a moment to think about things and then added, "So, this office is pretty nice but I bet it gets a bit lonely in here, separated from the rest of the team and all. Was that ever a problem in the past? I ask because I am used to working side by side with my fellow scientist and am not used to personal offices."

"It is useful to store things, work on sensitive information and have private meetings with people. There isn't anything stopping you from doing everything else in the labs though, or working with people," Without thinking she let it slip, "I didn't spend much time here."

Jacob suddenly felt a little sad and guilty about displacing the Lieutenant. It was only then he realized he had been talking to Dr. Panne's right hand woman! He thought quickly and then added, "Lieutenant Cho, I didn't realize it was you I was talking to, please forgive me." His look was of a very embarrassed kind as he talked, "Look, you know this office is really quite a nice size, why don't we just share it? I mean, its not like we are going to be in the office all the time correct? Besides, it would be nice to have nice company like you.... or even aggravating company like me around."

Kiri was confused, how could he not realise, she'd introduced herself. It wasn't her office and she couldn't share it, that would defeat the point and be problematic, "I don't think that would be possible, thank you." Overall she didn't know what to make of the man, he was odd.

"I was so caught up with the excitement of everything, I guess I sometimes things slip the mind and my attention isn't always pinpoint, so again I apologize." Jacob felt really stupid but continued anyway, "Well, I want you to know that the door is always open. I really, really just want everyone to work as a great team you know?"

He had said so a few times now, "Yes, I understand," He wasn't exactly easy for her to talk to. He was new, a stranger and however overtly friendly he came across. She couldn't force herself to trust him, "Thank you, but its quite okay." If she had a problem, one she felt was valid she would have long since brought it up with Maenad already.

Jacob was disappointed but didn't let it show on his face. "Ok then Lieutenant Cho, thanks again for the tour. I do appreciate it." He looked down at his PADD as a soft reminder alarm rang alerting him to another appointment he made for himself. "Well Lieutenant Cho, I guess other matters take me elsewhere. I hope we can have a nice drink and discussion sometime. Making friends in this career in Star Fleet can be a bit tricky but worth the effort."

This was exactly how her last tour had gone, but with less talking. She had only shown him one room, the office with his name on it. Despite what he said she was getting the impression that neither of the two new personnel wanted to spend much time with her. She didn't exactly have much choice in who she could make friends with though, "Thank you, that would be nice." She hardly felt comfortable right now and didn't know what to do next, or if she had made a mistake.

He smiled at her even though her face seemed to tell a different tale, "Hey, I am a fair holodeck simulation programmer, if there is anything you'd like me to create for you, I'd be happy to do that. I may not be truly great at my creations but most people like them well enough."

"I've never really used a holodeck for anything creative," Kiri answered, thinking about it for a moment. It wasn't something she had given much thought other than visiting Trill and something for Maenad, those programs must already exist.

He replied, "You're a scientist, I am sure you could create incredible worlds or fantasies or places you've always wanted to see or people you've wanted to meet. Its all doable. Do you like music? I have a great musical 'jam session' program I created that is pretty good."

"I like some music," She tilted her head slightly as she thought, "I haven't really had much time or cause to use the holodeck yet." Then after a moment more, "What is a jam session?" Her only real thought about it was that I was some sort of musical preserves.

"A 'Jam Session' is where multiple musicians get together and just play whatever they feel like and all join in and play along. I created the program which includes literally hundreds of past musical artists so that if one wants to take their favorite instrument and play along or just sing along, they can do so. It was a huge hit at the Academy. If you'd ever like to see it, I'd gladly run it." jacob smiled and sat on the edge of the dest as he talked with her.

"I don't play a musical instrument," She also wasn't comfortable singing for anyone, "I don't really know that much about musical history either." Edging slightly towards the door she wasn't sure if the tour was going to go on. He was still talking and that was nice but didn't he want her to leave just a minute ago?

"Well, like I said, if you want me to create something I'll gladly do it." He looked at his PADD again but decided to ignore his personal stuff, he liked talking to Kiri. "So, I guess the laboratories are next on the tour?"

"Okay," She moved close to the door and it hissed open, "The computer science labs are closest."

"Excellent." He replied, he certainly wanted to see the labs in more detail.

He seemed to be a little bit scatter brained. It wasn't completely abnormal for a scientist but she hadn't really met someone like him since leaving the Academy. Except maybe Tiffany, never the less Kiri lead the way two doors down from the office, "Just through here." There was no way she was going to go in first, not after what happened to her.

Jacob stopped when she did, usually being a gentleman and letting the lady go first, but her body language seemed to want him to go in first so he took that cue and entered the lab. He smiled as he looked about the room, "Ah, now I feel at home!"

Was that an overreaction? He didn't say he worked with computers and the lab was filled with parts, flickering lights and access terminals rather than anything very scientific in the general sense. From outside the room Kiri looked in and took a breath as she saw they were the only people there, "I'm glad you like it."

"I am sorry, the old Earth term 'geeking out' applies to the feeling I am having right now." He laughed a bit at his verbiage. He walked about the room looking at monitors, over desks, and even moved a large table that was jutting out into the room for no rhyme or reason, like it weighed almost nothing, in fact, his massive muscles barely even flexed doing it. "So any projects going on in here that need some attention?"

"Not at the moment," There was nothing she could talk about at least, "There aren't too many staff other than myself that are familiar with this field and sensor upgrades have taken priority." While she couldn't remember an actual social rule about it Kiri was fairly sure that moving around furniture that you had no right to wasn't all that polite. Even if he was excited which he seemed very much to be, she expected more from a Starfleet officer.

Jacob saw the look on Kiri's face and realized his faux paux, he quickly moved the table back exactly where it was before and moved quickly on to just taking a few notes on his PADD near one of the data terminals.
"Well, this is a great space Lieutenant, shall we move on?"

"Okay. The other labs are mostly similar, would you like to see them?" She could point out where places were as they went but most of them looked the same on the inside.

"Okay, that's good to know. So, what about the rest of the team? Are any of them around? I'd like to meet them if possible."

Kiri tried to think hard about who wouldn't mind being interrupted, who was friendly. She didn't know that many people in the department socially so other than Maenad then, "I think Crewman Athlen is in multi-purpose lab 2 if you would like to meet him."

"That would be great!" Jacob replied excitedly.

"Okay, this way," It was on the same deck so it wasn't that far and soon they were in front of the door. Pausing to take a breath and make sure this was a good idea Kiri took a step forwards and entered.

TBC:

Lt. (jg) Jacob Pendleton
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Kiri Cho
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Crewman Athlen
Sociologist, SSC
USS Galileo

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