Lieutenant JG Varek - Leisure time
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((Duplicated OPS workstation, USS Ronin, The Reef))
With the press of a button, he sent the latest report on the Ronin’s checked systems to Command, Engineering and Science. The living elements detected in some systems would most likely keep several departments busy for some time to come. But that was no longer his responsibility.
He then called up the list of tasks still to be completed. All the entries were lit up in green. Clearly, he had finished everything. Nor was there another PADD lying on his desk awaiting his attention. Most other Starfleet officers would probably have been thrilled by this situation. Varek merely took note of it.
He considered taking out the PADD he’d just put away. But, despite that brief inner impulse, he didn’t do so. It seemed pointless to him to go back and check tasks he’d already completed, simply because the alternative was having nothing to do. Besides, he could see that he’d already gone two hours over his standard shift anyway.
For a moment, Varek remained seated at his desk, as if secretly hoping that another task might materialise out of thin air. But as this did not happen, he stood up.
On his way to the turbo-lift, Varek went through the activities he could now turn his attention to. It was still too early for his daily meditation, and certainly too early to go to sleep. He’d already completed his physical training that morning before starting his shift. Then he decided to review some recent operational reports to stay up to date.
For a moment, the Vulcan stood in front of the open turbo-lift.
Varek: Deck 4.
Many crew members spent their free time in The 47 Lounge, so it made sense to go there too.
((Duplicated The 47 Lounge, Deck 4, USS Ronin, The Reef))
After entering the lounge, he took a seat right at the bar. It was busier than usual for that time of day, but that was surely because it was shore leave. Many crew members were making the most of the time to relax. Varek ordered a redcurrant spritzer and took out his PADD.
When the barman brought his drink shortly afterwards, he was already engrossed in a report. While Varek was reading, he suddenly felt watched. And when he looked up, he realised his intuition hadn’t failed him, for the barman was still standing there, watching him.
Barman: Still got work to do?
Varek paused briefly and looked at the barman.
Varek: No. I’ve finished my shift and I’m now ::beat:: off duty.
The barman began to nod and then pointed at the PADD.
Barman: I see. But you do realise that reading reports isn’t usually considered a leisure activity, do you?
Varek tilted his head slightly to one side, as if he were reassessing the comment. The barman continued.
Barman: Have a look around, Lieutenant. People sit here and chat. Or they enjoy the incredible view here at the Reef. Or they just enjoy a drink. But I'll bet nobody’s reading… erm
With a brief nod, he pointed at the PADD.
Varek: OPS reports
Barman: Nobody else here reads OPS reports.
Varek thought for a moment.
Varek: I don’t quite understand. I’m off duty at the moment. So, by definition, reading these reports is a leisure activity.
The barman tilted his head slightly from side to side.
Barman: Well, by definition, perhaps. That's not quite the point of it, I think. But if you're having fun. Enjoy your drink. And your reports.
With these words and a friendly nod, the barman turned away, leaving Varek behind, who now gazed thoughtfully at his PADD.
Fun? ‘Pleasure’ wasn’t a category to which Varek attached any particular significance. But he knew exactly what the barman meant. He’d lived amongst such emotional beings long enough to understand this.
His gaze wandered once more over the other crew members in the bar. Four of them were sitting at a table, chatting lively and laughing. An ensign a few tables away was sitting on his own, his gaze fixed out of the window on a group of Cosmozoans passing by.
Varek took a sip of his drink and thought for a moment. Was there anything he did in his spare time that served no particular purpose?
Did he have a hobby?
Off the top of his head, only two things came to mind that came close to the definition of a hobby. Firstly, there was meditation. He knew that many other crew members practised it too. For him, as a Vulcan, however, it served an important purpose, for without this mental exercise it would have been very difficult for him to keep his intense Vulcan emotions in check.
Secondly, there was his physical training. But even this wasn’t simply done for pleasure; rather, it was intended to keep him fit as a Starfleet officer.
Apparently, almost every activity he regularly engaged in had a clear purpose. Did a hobby even have to be without purpose?
He took another sip of his spritzer before reaching for the PADD again. He closed the OPS reports and opened a new note instead, which he titled ‘Possible leisure activities’.
Just a few moments later, he had already drawn up a short list of criteria to evaluate potential activities: feasible on board, can be done regularly, time required, risk of injury.
Varek read through his list once more. At the item ‘risk of injury’, one eyebrow rose slightly. Apparently, he was in the process of organising his leisure time according to efficiency criteria.
He closed the list again and put the PADD aside. The barman was just walking past him again and nodded at him with a smile.
Perhaps the most logical approach was to speak to people who were more experienced in this area.
Varek deleted the criteria he’d entered so far and changed the title of the note to ‘Evaluation of suitable leisure activities’. Beneath that, he added a first point: ‘Seek recommendations.’
He kept the ‘risk of injury’ point, however.
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submitted by
Lieutenant JG Varek
Operations Officer
USS Ronin
D239009VD0