Lowered Expectations

Posted on Wed Jul 13th, 2022 @ 2:49pm by Lieutenant Darru & Ensign Vincent Marlow

Mission: Mission 6 - Memory
Location: Science Lab
Timeline: Day 299 18:00
Tags: Missing the Match - Side Mission Challenge
1254 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Today was the day. Vince had heard about Darru's experiments through the grapevine of the science crew, and he rushed to sign up for the matchmaking program. It was only at the time when he had asked did Vince realize that it was not a program that one could needed to consent to participate. Everyone aboard was already part of the process. However, he had gotten Darru to agree to parse through the female crew and update Vince on the best match. He had been lonely for the duration of the journey and it was finally nice to have hope again. Taking a moment to straighten his uniform, Marlow pressed the door chime to Darru's lab.

Darru looked up from looking over some data from the bable planet and its genetic make-up that would allow telepathy he wondered who would be pressing the chime. No one bothered to, they just came in. "Come in." He called loud enough for the person outside of the compartment to be able to hear.

Walking through the door with a gigantic smile spread across his face, Vincent greeted the Vulcan, "Good day Mr. Darru." Casting his gaze around the lab to see if he could get any hints as to who the lucky crewmate would be, the science officer was almost rubbing his hands together. "I've been looking forward to this meeting since we set it up a week ago," Marlow stated expectantly.

“Lieutenant Darru.” The Vulcan corrected as he realised it was Ensign Marlowe. “You have been?” The man was not used to someone approaching or being so eager for the match up. Most people so far had been negative or put off by his idea but not the science Ensign. It was another thing that was odd about the strange man but who was Darru to judge when all humans were odd to him at points.

"Of course," Marlow replied. "As a man of science, I want to be part of the solution to help make this little ship of ours return home with the crew in good health," Vincent added, making himself sound more selfless and caring than he really was. In reality, all he cared about was the match. "Have you had much luck with the crew?" he asked, trying his best not to just outwardly demand to know which crewmember he would be taking to dinner tonight.

“I did warn you Ensign that there might not be any genetic matches with the miss match of men vs women onboard.” Darru reminded. “And whilst you are matched people have choice.” He added that point as he saw something strange in the man’s gaze. People spoke about him often and how uncomfortable that he made female crew members.

"Of course," Vince replied, not really thinking about the implications of what Darru was telling him. He just went along with the idea that it was part of his opening to cover himself and the research in case a person was not happy with their match. However, with his degrees and career up to this point, he was sure that he would have a match. Nodding his agreement, Marlow asked, "I suppose we should get to the business at hand? I know Vulcans aren't know for small talk."

“Small talk is not always logical but in this case it is to soften the blow as you human put it. I am afraid there was no match for you.” Darru explained as he started to search for the PADD that held all the information on and held it out it to him.

Not able to hide his confusion, Vincent let out a, "What do you mean?" Shaking his head he continued, "I'm a Human with nothing wrong with me. I have degrees, even got to study with the Vulcan Science Academy. What makes me less of a match than some muscle head armory officer or kitchen staff?"

“Ensign you are carrier for a genetic defect that has a rare chance of getting passed down to any offspring. That is what makes you different from some other crew members.” The man replied seeing the mask slip on his fellow science officer revealing what was lurking underneath.

"This is the first I've ever heard of any defects," Vincent shot back, his face turning red. Nodding to the console beside the Vulcan and pointing at it, Marlow said, "Let me see the data. Has it been verified with Dr. zh'Kenarh?" He was trying his best to keep his anger in check. He would normally not be very imposing to a Human crewmate, let alone a Vulcan who was more than a match. it almost felt like his life was falling apart.

“I do not need to have it confirmed. I am a geneticist by profession.” The Vulcan explained just how in-depth he had gone and how much more experienced he would be that the Andorion doctor would be. “It is rare and not something that I imagine would be looked for in the run of the mill genetic checks.” Darru explained trying to explain it the way another scientist would understand.

"Well, what is it?" Vincent asked again, hands out in an exaggerated expression that said what. Shooting another question towards the Vulcan, he asked, "And what are the odds of whatever it is being passed down? Better than 10 percent?"

"Hawkin's Syndrome of the heart," Darru said before continuing on to explain how it affect heart and brain of a child. "The chances are high that you would pass it on." He finalized quietly. He felt for the man, but he had come to the Vulcan not the other way around to force the subject.

"So you're telling me everything I am and everything that I'll do will die with me?" Vincent replied, his anger and rage subsiding into something more like defeat. The day had started off so well, but was quickly becoming one of the worst he remembered. This was a large blow to Marlow's already shaky confidence in himself.

“No. There is more to us that what we can create genetically. You can still make a mark on the world without children.” Darru said finally it strange that he had said that. No all Vulcans had children as not all pon farr cycles created a child but it did not take anything away from someone. Darru knew that if he never had a child that his work would pass on.

"What work?" Marlow asked point blank. "We have yet to engage in an archeological projects since we've been out here," he spat out trying to calm himself down. All of this was just too much to take in at the moment. This Vulcan had the audacity to claim that having a name written in the research citation page was an equal trade to being forever alone. Some people craved power, others love. For one with neither, Vincent was getting hungry for both. Tapping his fingers on his desk and moving to get up, Marlow said, "It's time I head back to all that my life is."

Darru wished he could offer some type of solace or something more for the man but there was nothing to say from him. He had given him the science and the maths as requested. Anything more would just upset him and cause more friction between them.

As he started the walk to the corridor, Marlow spoke mostly to himself as he muttered, "This was a huge waste of time."