Well He Was Not Expecting That

Posted on Thu Dec 16th, 2021 @ 6:23am by Lieutenant Darru & Commander William Gerhard
Edited on on Thu Dec 16th, 2021 @ 6:24am

Mission: Mission 5 - Babel
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: Day 273 07:00
1840 words - 3.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Darru watched the man across the mess for a long moment before he decided to just sit in front of him to talk. It was easy to see he was just keeping the crew at arms length as much as he was to the crew.

“Good morning Lieutenant.” The Vulcan said almost pleasantly as he knew after many months of conversations with human crew members he needed to be careful with how he ventured with the type of conversation he wanted to have with some crew members. Not everyone was willing to know the match or cared about it but the man wanted to ensure the future if he could with the skill set he had.

William had been so involved in reading the novel on the PADD he held, that he did not notice the Vulcan approaching until the man had sat down and greeted him. He looked up slightly startled and nodded a greeting as he took another sip of his tea from his mug. "Good morning to you as well Lieutenant," he said as he placed the mug back on the table between them. In his career, William had interacted with a fair bit of Vulcans and they had always been pleasant. There was the occasional Vulcan that could get under his skin, but Darru was not like that. He generally kept to himself and his and William's professional relationship had been good.

"Too what do I owe the pleasure," he asked as his eyes subconsciously drifted back down to his PADD.

Darru quirked an eyebrow but nodded neither less at him. He was not sure it would be pleasure after the conversation but he wanted to catch up with him. “It is not a pleasure. I wanted to see how you were getting on.” The Vulcan ventured.

William glanced back up at the Vulcan with an upraised eyebrow of his own. While he was still struggling with the events from their encounter with the Caelestis, he had kept this out of his professional work. He shrugged and motioned at his fellow crewmates around him. "I suppose I'm getting on the same as everyone else," he said as he took a sip of his tea. He nodded back to the Vulcan officer, "What about yourself? Scuttlebutt is your keeping to your science lab a good bit."

Darru would have laughed if he was accustomed to it but it was just a sound to him. It was wonderful from some people lights and airy or loud and infectious but to him it was nothing. “Well, some people do not like a logical approach to their futures.” He said with a shrug. It was not like he forced the subject just offered it to people.

William nodded slightly and took another sip of his tea. He was not a scientist himself, so he wasn't sure what Darru was working on in his lab. "And what is the logical approach to our future," he asked with an upraised eyebrow.

"Having strong genetics for the next generation," Darru explained seeing the man asking plainly. It was logical that the crew that might get them home if luck was not on their side that could find some type of reverse of what had brought there to far reaches of the galaxy needed to be stronger than them. That crew would have fewer resources and ship stability unless something was done about it.

William thought for a moment before looking back at the Vulcan. "So, your assuming we won't be able to find a faster route home with that thinking then," he asked before continuing, "I thought with your long life span you wouldn't be worried about the next generation yet." William reached for his mug and took another sip of his tea.

“I am assuming the worst case scenario as it is better to be prepared for what potentially could come than not be at all.” Darru just stared at the man patiently as if he was explaining things to a child. “I am not worried about myself. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one. I have been looking at the crews genetics. I was not aware nordic genes would make such an excellent specimen for future off spring.” Darru said casually.

William coughed slightly back into his mug as the Vulcan's response took him by surprise. He set the mug down and wiped his mouth with a napkin before looking back up at Darru. "Excuse me?! I'm not sure I heard you right," he said as he cleared his throat.

“I said I was not aware nordic genes would make such an excellent specimen for future off spring.” Darru repeated in the same tone.

"'Nordic' genes? Your research involves probing into my genetic makeup to see how any potential children will come out," he asked the Vulcan. His mind flashed to his relationship with Lexi. While they had been intimate, there had been no discussion of children. "Isn't it a bit soon to be talking about turning this into a generational ship," he questioned Darru.

“No time like the present Lieutenant.” Darru commented. “If we are to have crew for the future humans need to procreate mostly before they are 40. Most of the crew is 30 - 35 already. For heathy offspring it needs to happen soon.” Darru commented without hesitation to his question.

William looked back at the Vulcan with an upraised brow, "I don't think that the ship is the right environment to raise children. Besides, we haven't exhausted every avenue for a return home yet."

“The crew balance is out with less females than male so there is already limited genes onboard.” Darru pointed out as an after thought.

William nodded and took another sip from his mug. He decided to indulge Darru in his theory. "So who have you matched me with," he asked. He noticed Darru had given him a quizzical look so he proffered, "Scuttlebutt is your playing matchmaker."

Darru raised an eyebrow at the man’s quickness to discuss his match. It seemed his attempted months back were still fresh in the crews mind. He quickly held out his PADD with all the details. “Look for yourself, Lieutenant.”

William took the PADD warily. He was surprised that Darru had offered it so quickly. The fact Darru had not corrected William on his assumption told him he had been correct. He had prepared for a long explanation about the logic behind Darru's role. William took a sip from his mug as he scanned the PADD's screen looking for his name. He stopped when he saw his name paired with another familiar looking name. "Warrant Officer Walker," he said softly with a questioning tone. He looked back at Darru and offered the PADD back. "She is one of my people, and I don't need to remind you that fraternizing with subordinates is prohibited by regulations."

Darru just stared back. “There are rules but we are far from home. My studies of Earth and Starfleet have found that Starfleet has always been hesitant to regulate such matters further than having it as a reminder in the rules.” He said simply. He was just giving the information. The geneticist had paired Walker up before but she had steadfast refused maybe the armoury chief would have better luck.

William wished he hadn't drunk the final bit of his tea, and instead, he fiddled with the mug. He was happy with the relationship he had with Lexi, and he was certain Darru would approve if he knew. He sighed before looking back at the Vulcan, "While I appreciate the suggestion, I don't think that match would work seeing as how I would still be her superior."

"Well, I will put her back on the list. I am sure there is someone on board." Darru nodded to himself. Though he realised how cold and aloof his statement sounded he had an alternative rationale as well. "I am sure Ensign O'Connery would be glad to hear that if she knew I knew about your liaisons." The Vulcan said without a hint of teasing or even acknowledgement around the surprise it might cause for the man. It had been obvious to the Vulcan that someone had caught the young comms officers eye but he had not been able to pin it down until recently.

William slowly looked back at Darru as he narrowed his eyes. He realized that Darru's initial question on how he was getting on had a double meaning. He looked around before lowering his voice, "How long have you known?"

"I did not know it was you until last week. I saw the interactions between you in the gym. Just the subtle smile as you got distracted from teaching the self-defence class and the way she smiled back. I knew she had someone but I respect her enough to have not pried." Lexi was one of the few people at the beginning who had treated him with any kindness and had bothered to try and get to know him and the dialect that he spoke of Vulcan.

He listened to Darru and pictured the moments that the Vulcan was describing. Lexi and William had wanted to keep their relationship a secret, but given their current situation, the had both realized that they would not be able to keep it secret for much longer. "Well, I would appreciate your discretion," he said.

Darru looked around and nodded. He was the higher of discretion. “That goes without saying Lieutenant. I have not revealed to even Ensign O’Connery that I know.” Darru assured as he started to gather his PADDS together. “You are heading down to the planet today?” He questioned as he rose from the chair his business completed.

William rose as well and nodded as he collected his empty mug. "Since the science teams have set up the base camp, Captain Leroux wants to go down and see what they've found. I'm surprised you didn't go down with the initial survey teams," he said as he walked with Darru to the mess hall exit.

“Someone had to stay up here and run what is left of science whilst the chief science officer is down on the planet.” Darru said without a hint of gloating that he was the person that was trusted to run things whilst people were on the planet below.

"Well, don't let Elegy keep you up here. From what I've heard about that tower down there, it's a science officers dream," William said as he pressed the button to open the hatch. He nodded goodbye to the Vulcan, "Well I've got the next watch in the Armory. I appreciated the company Darru," he said before lowering his voice, "And thank you for being discrete about Lexi and I."

Darru inclined his head in his own version of good bye and went the opposite way from the mess hall. He did not have dreams but maybe he needed to get some.