So Much To Learn

Posted on Tue Sep 1st, 2020 @ 9:53pm by Lieutenant Darru & Lieutenant JG Mattias Constantine

Mission: Mission 3 - 100
Location: Deck E - Mess Hall
Timeline: Day 40, Month 2, Year 0 18:00
1394 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Darru had been watching the crew, watching them far too much if anyone had noticed him. But he would not have cared if they had. What mattered is he had an idea and it was brilliant, it would eventually get them home intact unless they decided to find a nice warm planet to settle down on. It made sense but he was starting to realise that humans liked what they knew and the ship was their home. He looked around the mess hall and spotted his first target.

“I believe you are looking for a long term mate,” Darru said simply as he sat down in front of the chief communication officer without hesitation.

Having seen the Vulcan coming out of the corner of his eye, Lieutenant Constantine truly had no clue what to expect, so he had prepared himself for anything. He finished taking a bite of algae, calmly placed his spoon down on the tray in front of him, and smiled at his compatriot whose question had admittedly caught him off guard, He was thankful to have the extra time to prepare his response, which admittedly would not have been nearly as well thought out had he replied off the cuff.

"Well good evening to you too, lieutenant," Matt began. "It would appear you have a hypothesis. Please, explain your observations and proposed solution."

Darru was surprised when the human reacted calmly and almost spoke like a scientist. Observations and proposed solutions were a language that the man spoke and spoke well in many languages. “It is becoming clear that we are going to become a generational ship and we will need to create the next generation, to get the ship home. I have been observing people among other things to make sure that people do not create children on sentiments. We need strong genetics.” He said as if that obvious to him and should be obvious to everyone else.

Finally, the ridiculousness of the situation cracked Constantine's visage and he broke into a chuckle as he absorbed the impact of what Darru was saying. As a result of their devotion to logic, the Vulcans certainly pulled no punches when it came to addressing something they saw as a need, and it was clear that Darru had spent too much time thinking about the subject for Matt to just dismiss it as another "Vulcanism". The communications officer took a sip of water as he thought about where to enter the quagmire of a topic that had just been broached.

"Yes, I suppose you are correct. A reasonable line of thinking inevitably ends in a generational ship or a colonization project at some point if we do not make it home," he nodded, only now realizing that studying the Vulcan's face for any indication of how the conversation was going was mostly in vain. "Some human cultures have a long history of arranged marriages, but those have usually been done for social-economic reasons. When you start talking about genetics, that's a more taboo discriminator to select partners by."

“You humans have far too many taboos.” The Vulcan commented on with a shake of his head. Vulcan’s had been matching with genetically matching mates for generations. It was valuable to their gene pool and how far they had come compared to humans. It was not in his remit really to push their development but seeing he would be on the ship for a very long time he wanted to provide the best for his future as well. “The insights gained from my analysis of the data will develop safe and effective future offspring. It will predict, pre-empted and stop in its tracks to help generations of live your healthiest lives. You and Ensign Blair are very compatible if you are concerned about that type of thing.”

"I wasn't, but that's noted and filed under 'things I never wondered about' sir," Matt's eyes widened. This recital had been too practiced, too precise for him to have been the first person that Lieutenant Darru had broached the subject with. "Sir, how many people have you brought this up with? I don't suppose you're going around playing matchmaker with everyone?"

Darru picked up the PaDD he has been using to keep track of people and looked over it. “I have spoken to approximately 45% of the human crew onboard that will be able to participate. Not everyone will be lucky I am afraid to experience parenthood.” Matchmaker was that the human term for what he was doing? So they did use this type of science after all just under a different name. He started listening off the crew members he had, had the best experience with. “Jenkins, Thakuri, Harper, Haladjian, O’Connery. They all seemed confused that it was me suggesting but it is just the surprise talking.” He carried on as if the man was not looking at him wide eyed.

"Well, I must admit your project has piqued my curiosity and my confusion. It sort of reminds me of being back at school and having friends push you towards a relationship, except those were usually guided by the fact that the two individuals liked each other but were too afraid to say anything," Constantine explained, recalling his own journey through college. "I don't suppose you're algorithm takes any chemistry or, silly as it is to suggest it to a Vulcan, emotional feelings or anything? Love?"

Darru looked at Mattias before looking at the PaDD. Were Vulcans going to have to provide a constant corrective to the Earthling point of view for the next 150 years of the journey? “Why would strong off spring require that?” Darru wondered.

"Oh boy, where to begin with that one," Constantine subconsciously rubbed his temples as he contemplated which bite of the apple to take first. "I suppose if you're looking at it purely through genetics, then sure, it wouldn't be necessary. There are cases of surrogacy in humans, but even then, the cause for that isn't genetic supremacy or anything like that. But humans include other things when it comes to choosing a mate beyond the physical attributes of their partner. Humans have debated nature and nurture for centuries and as emotional creatures, I'm afraid there's no single correct answer. But for me, personally, I wouldn't have a child with somebody that I couldn't see myself raising said child with. Does that make sense?"

Darru cocked his head to one side, then the other as if he was trying to make sense of the question. He finally stopped and just looked at his PaDD. "The thing about such ideals though is that it's generally understood that it's an abstract concept that no one ever actually achieves." But it would be illogical to carry on this conversation when Mattias was not willing to pursue. "But I see that you are not open to the idea and I will remove you from the project."

"Actually wait, before you go," curiosity had gotten the better of the communications officer, "did you say Ensign O'Connery was participating?"

“Your junior officer was spoken to when she was in sickbay. I took to visiting sickbay after the Vrav boarding as I have medical skills that were required.” Darru raised an eyebrow at the mention of the Ensign.

"And she agreed to meet with her prospective partner?"

"I took her lack of argument on the subject as participating. She was willing to listen to me before she fell asleep." Darru commented scratching the man's name off his list on his PaDD. "It will be easy to rematch Ensign Blair so thank you for your honesty in unwilling to become a parent." He said rising from the seat to talk to Ensign Blair.

Matt remained speechless from the nonsensical nature of the entire conversation he had just been a part of. Part of his mind wondered if the stress from being under constant attack had finally created a psychotic break and he had imagined the entire thing. But as he finished eating, he watched as Darru went from table to table and approached his other "subjects" with the same indifferent dispersal of information as he had just done with him. Constantine chuckled to himself, realizing his Vulcan brethren had just as much to learn about humanity as they did about the Vulcans.

 

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