JP: Ensigns Morton & Chen: Esteemed Colleagues
James
((Morton’s Quarters, Deck 8, USS Octavia E. Butler))
It was late, and Vala slumped in her chair, muscles aching from another long day. The computer terminal's blue glow cast harsh shadows across her face as she rubbed her bloodshot eyes. In the aftermath of her groundbreaking first mission, she found herself voluntarily stretching her days longer than she probably should.
The discoveries were simply too extraordinary to walk away from. Vala wasn't the only one trapped in this exhilarating exhaustion. Across the Materials and Elements Laboratory, fellow scientists from various departments worked well past their shifts, drawn like moths to the crystalline flame of discovery. No one had ordered these long hours. Something far more powerful than duty kept them all there: the intoxicating promise of rewriting Starfleet's understanding of crystalline lifeforms.
She could count on one hand how many species of this type that anyone, anywhere in Starfleet had ever encountered. The Crystalline Entity was probably the most well known, or the Tholians, but there were also microbrain entities from Velara III. Those microscopic crystalline life forms communicated through light patterns and formed a collective intelligence. Their team's paper would be revolutionary; career-defining presentations and accolades awaited them all.
Vala closed her eyes, letting a soothing tropical soundscape wash over her. These evening relaxation sessions had become essential. Without them, her mind would continue racing with crystalline structures and data analyses well into the night. Even now, despite her physical exhaustion, the day's discoveries flickered behind her eyelids in brilliant patterns. The gentle sounds of waves and distant bird calls gradually slowed her thoughts, easing the scientific excitement that would otherwise keep her tossing and turning for hours. The passion that energized her work made it difficult to power down. The computer's sudden chirp interrupted her calming ritual, pulling her reluctantly back from the edge of tranquility.
Computer: Incoming call for Ensign Morton.
Morton: Very well. Put it on screen.
Her eyes widened slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.
Morton: oO Bernadette! What does she want? Oo
Chen: Vala! It’s great to see you. Missed seeing my old academy friend!
A genuine smile came through in Bernadette’s voice, one so large it nearly spread across the screen. Despite the distance between them the signal was crystal clear, Bernadette was out of uniform but in fashionable clothing, with several awards, degrees, and family photos behind her in the video call.
Morton: ::Narrowing her eyes to slits:: Is it now?
Morton: oO Since when have we been friends? Oo
Chen: You don’t consider that time in our second year when we had to pull that all nighter for that project because our group had gotten the wrong directions? If you hadn't caught that, and pushed us to do it, we all would have possibly failed the entire class. We’re always great together.
That wasn’t quite the way Vala remembered things. Bernadette never struggled academically and was never at risk of failing a thing in her life. While she seemed genuine, Vala wasn’t wholly convinced that Bernadette simply missed her and wanted to chat about old times.
Morton: Well. Thanks, I guess. It’s… ::grudgingly:: …kind. Of you to call. ::Clearing her throat:: And where were you posted?
Chen was the opposite of Morton. Excited to see her friend, and full of enthusiasm. Despite her half-vulcan lineage, she presented far more human in both personality and fashion sense.
Chen: The USS Antigone! The lean mean science machine! That’s what we call it here. We’re a small crew, but we’re one of the most efficient in the fleet.
Bernadette sat there expectantly and waited for her friend to tell her all about the USS Octavia E Butler.
Vala didn’t have a mental inventory of all the fleet’s ships and wasn’t really a ship buff anyway. She imagined a great many engineers and personnel all up and down the command chair had a passion for them. Some people knew the names of every class, and could identify them by sight and list off their major features. Indeed ship spotting was even a popular civilian pastime for many. To Vala, the ship was largely just a vehicle from which she worked. She’d have been every bit as happy to be posted on a planetary installation or a station. Talk like that was blasphemy to some. So when Bernadette talked about the Antigone she had no idea what class it was, and ‘science vessel’ could include many things. Also, she didn’t care enough to inquire further.
Morton: A science vessel - sounds like the perfect match for you.
Chen: So it’s good so far? I hope you’re settling in ok. I had a rough first day after that, but on my second day we had an outbreak, I feel right at home.
Knowing how much you could and couldn’t say about missions you had participated in was something Vala was still grappling with. Since Bernadette was Starfleet too, she could probably speak about it in general terms, but couldn’t reveal too much detail. Confidentiality and all that.
Morton: We encountered a wormhole to an alternate dimension, and a new species of crystalline lifeform. I’ll be sure to send you a copy of my research findings once I’ve finished my study. Yeah, it’s been wild but pretty great.
Vala grinned. It was truly a science officer’s dream and beyond her wildest expectations, especially for a first taste of real life service.
This is the kind of thing that Chen had expected. First mission? It sounded like the OEB had not failed to deliver her friend an exciting post.
Chen: Whoa! That sounds like a lot. And kind of mysterious too! I’m glad it fits you.
Bernadette wished she could be a part of something like that. She longed for it.
Morton: Thanks. Were you able to see your family or squeeze in a visit home before you got our assignment? You may recall, my family was there for graduation but I was really hoping to see home properly before… well it wasn’t to be.
Chen: Oh speaking of home! Guess where I went recently.
Bernadette expertly dodged the question about her own parents.
Morton: Uhh home?! If it wasn’t home… Risa? I am sure you would love it there, it’s a paradise they say. And in fairness you worked pretty darn hard at the Academy - if anyone would have needed a proper break… ::She shrugged::
Bernadette laughed at that, either of them being on Risa? What would they do? Take samples of the sand?
Chen: I went to the Bloom Tide Festival on Lolagi IV!
Morton: No way! Was that your first one?
If Vala could have turned green and exploded on the spot she just might have done. It was unbelievable. She had no idea Bernadette was interested in the Bloom Tide Festival. Of course, she had never tried particularly hard to get to know Bernadette at all. Every year, Vala had attended the festival with family - until she enrolled at the Academy. She’d managed to get away during second year to attend, and had really hoped to attend this year before assignment. What rotten luck and doubly so that the harpy, Bernadette had got to go.
Chen: It was! After hearing about it from you I decided to go experience it for myself.
Chen had had a delightful time on Morton’s home planet.
Morton: ::With a poor attempt at sincerity:: Well isn’t that wonderful. I’m glad you enjoyed it. What did you enjoy most about it?
Part of Vala was mildly curious, but part of it was also a test to see whether she had in fact been or if this was just an attempt to curry favour before dropping ‘the ask’, and revealing her real purpose.
Chen: For the cultural aspects, I enjoyed the singing the most, but the science side of me really soaked in thinking of how beautiful everything looked during the Ocean offering. Knowing that the phenomenon is a naturally occurring and properly preserved part of the planet, is delightful and fascinating. That much life coming together and making something that beautiful, it really makes you consider the meaning and randomness of cosmic happenings.
Morton: Yes, I find that part of things to be very meaningful too. Aside from the family feasts, the best part for me would have to be the botanical exchange.
Chen: I had fun at those too. I’m not terribly into seafood, but I found some other dishes I quite liked. Muskan seed punch, something called bararaq, I ate a lot of that.
Vala chuckled softly at that, filled with genuine amusement. Bararaq was a cleverly disguised seafood street food that doesn't look like seafood at first glance. It resembles a savory golden-brown pastry pocket or fritter that many would mistake for a vegetable or meat snack. Consisting of white fish that's been finely minced and mixed with starchy root vegetables until the seafood is completely incorporated. This mixture is seasoned with aromatic and warm spices that mask the oceanic scent and enhance its delightful flavour. What made bararaq unique was its preparation method: the seafood-vegetable mixture is formed into small oblong shapes, then coated in a chickpea or rice flour batter before being deep-fried to a crispy golden exterior. The frying process completely transforms both the texture and aroma, making it unrecognizable as seafood. Served piping hot from street carts, often wrapped in paper with a side of tangy herb sauce for dipping.
Morton: You must have enjoyed it then, but did you know it’s actually made from assorted white fish from our local waters. It just doesn't seem like it because in our coastal traditions, we've perfected gentle cooking methods that bring out the natural sweetness of white fish without any of that strong 'fishy' flavor you normally avoid.
Bernadette wasn’t so crass as to mock a gesture of vomiting. Instead she made a face, then thought about it and corrected it to another one of her signature smiles.
Chen: I would say “gross” after learning that fact, but honestly it was quite refreshing. Guess I really do like seafood if it’s strange.
Morton: Well I’m glad it widened your culinary horizons. So, was this just a social call?
Chen: I did call to check on you. I’ve gotten to know some pretty big names within the daystrom institute and even Starfleet Research. There are some rumors about the Butler being a pretty dangerous ship.
Chen gave a look of deep concern to Morton. Vala almost burst out laughing considering the last mission, the only one she’d been on so far was the embodiment of danger. She bit the insides of her cheek and wondered - what if Bernadette was right? Had she misjudged her Academy ‘friend’ so badly? The Haliian wasn’t sure what to think, thus it seemed prudent to at least hear it out.
Morton: The last mission I was on rated pretty high on the scale for danger. What ship isn’t dangerous? Can you be more specific?
Chen: Well you’d know the people better than me now. I just wanted to check to make sure it was really you. One of the rumors was that once, everyone on the ship just disappeared, and some never returned. I don’t know what that means. There was even a rumor that the ship’s computer had gone rogue before. Someone told me about an extensive computer core rebuild that was completely ineffective.
Bernadette was now spinning this almost like it was a conspiracy or even some kind of ghost story. Her tone was a bit more hushed, and her posture changed. Vala scoffed. Ineffective computer rebuild? Come on! Supposing for a moment that a rebuild had been required, Vala didn’t believe for a moment that they would put the ship back into service if it had been ineffective.
Morton: oO Classic Bernadette Oo
Morton: Forgive me, but to put it bluntly - that sounds like the worst kind of conspiracy theory rubbish more likely to come out of the mouth of some paranoid or technophobic civilian than a Starfleet officer.
Bernadette put her hands up in mock alarm, there was a smile on her face still, but she hadn’t exactly expected this reaction.
Chen: Sorry! Sorry! No need to be defensive, I know you worked hard to make it where you are, it’s an amazing assignment! I just would hate to see a talent like yours just suddenly disappear! Or you ask the computer to delete a file, and it deletes you instead.
Bernadette wasn’t sure if she crossed a line or not, a slight bow of her head, and her expression indicated extreme apology. Vala leaned back a bit. Aside from the few assignments that had forced them to work together this was probably the most she’d ever talked to Bernadette. This caring, concerned Bernadette was at odds with Vala’s perception of the woman. Perhaps it was time for the Haliian to have a think about where this bad attitude from the woman came from and whether there was in fact a Bernadette problem at all. Her tone softened.
Morton: oO Am I the problem? Oo
Morton: I appreciate your concern, however, I’m not about to hand in my transfer papers. I think I’ll be just fine. If there’s nothing else, there’s an iceworld right outside that wants exploring.
Bernadette came up from her bow. She gave a little bit of an eyebrow raise, seemingly skeptical about Morton’s answer.
Chen: Well if you’re ever looking to transfer, you let me know. We might have had an outbreak on my second day, but for the most part the USS Antigone is safe and reliable. You’d be a shoe in to work here, and we do so much great research. We’d love to have you here.
Morton: Mmhmm. Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind. ::She would forget it immediately::
Chen: Looking forward to you sending the crystal research. I’ll send you my work I did on the brainwave parasites! It’ll be a trade. Esteemed colleagues, Chen and Morton! Until next time!
Morton: Goodbye, Bernadette.
With that Bernadette gave a short nod and enthusiastic wave, and the transmission ended.That was the strangest conversation Vala had ever had. Having now completely forgotten what it was she’d been doing prior to the call, Vala began replaying the whole thing over again in her head. By the time she’d gotten to the fifth replay, complete with alterations that included things she wished she’d said, the confused empath decided the main takeaway was that she missed home.
—
Ensign Vala Morton
Science Officer
USS Octavia E Butler NCC-82850
O240205VM3
&&
Ensign Bernadette Chen
Science officer
USS Antigone
O240106MC1