Posted Feb. 12, 2021, 5:22 p.m. by Ensign Matthew Riley (Science Officer) (Nathan Miller)
<snip>
“I had seen that in your file. We’re lucky to have you here. Now, with all that expertise, instead of research you’ll get to have hands on trial and error of your theories and hypotheses. Applied skills. I understand. It’s why I became a practicing doctor instead of working in a lab.” She laughs, but there is no joy in it. “Ironic though, it was my research skills that landed me here and in science instead of medical. I won’t lie, I dreaded coming to Ark Angel. Giving up being a practicing doctor, but you know what, despite this detour, it’s the best thing that happened for me. And we may find, that this trip is the best thing that ever happened to us.” She looks out the window again. “Sorry, I’m not usually the philosophical type. But throughout my life I found it’s better to focus on the good that comes, than the negative.”
“As for food in a pill. It was something about a show called ‘The Jetsons.’ I’m not really clear on how it works. I’m not sure it would work. They may have just been blowing off steam, but I suppose crazier ideas have worked. Maybe protein powder in a capsule? I’m really not sure. Seems like a lot of work for something that would probably not be feasible, but they may surprise us.”
Lt. jg Fayth, CSORiley mulled over her words, rolling his head from side to side. He stopped suddenly, his brow furrowing.
“Wait. You’re a doctor?” He opened and closed his mouth, then again. “Huh.” He shook his head and waved his hand. “No. Not important. Yes it is.” He tilted his head and looked at her. “No, never mind.” He slumped against the railing. “Normally, I’m pretty optimistic. But there’s just… so much to overcome here. It’s like… trying to put out a fire with a kiss.”
Sharah did laugh, “I though everyone knew that. Medical and botanical sciences are my specialty. Go ahead, you’ve got a question, ask it. It’s okay.” Put out a fire with a kiss? Yeah that would be pretty useless. “You don’t put a fire out at the top, but at the base where the fuel is. We focus there and then slowly the fire comes under control.”
He put the empty glass on the tray of a passing server. “I’ll be fine,” he said. He half laughed. “I’ll be fine,” he repeated, coaching himself. He looked at her again. “Never take the easy path. Always strive for better. I’ll keep repeating that. It’s what I told myself at the Academy.”
“You didn’t by chance know a Cmdr Ballaris at the Academy did you?” Ballaris had always said something similar to her during their counseling sessions, oh that was personal....”Wait never mind, don’t answer that question. I’m not allowed to ask that as your DH. But it’s a very good mantra to remember.”
He straightened, now only a hand on the railing. “You seem to know more than I do about old Earth. Who are the Jetsons?”
- Ensign Riley, Science
Sharah shook her head, “Actually I don’t know much at all about old Earth. Just a few things I picked up here and there while I was doing research there. As for the Jetsons, I have absolutely no idea.” She finished her drink, and looked around. “I think half the crew is in here tonight.”
Lt. jg Fayth, CSO“Ballaris?” Riley screwed up his face, eyes swishing from side to side, then shrugged. “Can’t say as I have. But yeah. It was a good mantra. Simple, to the point, makes you think of broader ideals.”
He glanced around the room. “I spotted Claude with the XO. He would be the kind to hob-knob,” he laughed. “I think everyone needs… a break. A getaway, just for a moment.” He stared out the window. “Stop thinking about what’s there for just a bit.” He shrugged and looked back at her. “Should we go crash their table?”
- Ensign Riley, Science
“That it does, and some times, we do need the reminder.” She glanced around the room, the people, their relationships, their dreams, their goals, the people they were missing. Oh it wasn’t her telepathy, just a mutual understanding amoung those who shared in a common event. “And time to find what joy we can, when we can, right?”
She glanced back at Riley, “Genard likes to hob-knob? Really? Now that surprises me. How are you two managing working the same department and roomed together?” She’d made her way through most of the room. She supposed it would be bad form to avoid saying hello to the XO, though her purpose in coming had been to check on her staff and friends. Of course she hadn’t spoken to Genard yet. Rainns wasn’t here yet, she’d know without seeing him, so she had the time. “I suppose we should.” She motioned toward the stairs and followed Riley down and toward Genard and the XO.
Lt. jg Fayth, CSO
Riley paused on his way to the stairs, looking back at Sharah. “You know… I don’t know.” He shrugged. “It just seemed like something he’d do.” He continued walking. “We get along well. I tend to stick to my side of the room, though I was taking up a bit more space for a little while with the planetarium plans. Still working on those.”
He hopped down the stairs, from one foot to the other, then practically ran the last three steps. He looked around while waiting for her to descend, spotting Claude again; the XO seemed to have left. “He’s alone now, so we should definitely join him.” He slithered through the crowd, again noticing just how many people were here, and the phrase “drowning their sorrows” popped into his head. Just like me.
“Heya Claude,” he greeted, stepping over the pulled-out chair where the XO had been sitting. He pointed to Sharah. “Mind if we join you?”
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