Distracting Conversations

Posted on Sun Jun 21st, 2020 @ 8:37am by Emilie Temple
Edited on on Tue Jul 7th, 2020 @ 1:50pm

Mission: Into the Wild
Location: Science Deck

A Mission Post by Emilie Temple & Lieutenant Katniss Wakefield
Mission: Into The Wild
Location: Science Deck
Timeline:
Sat Dec 16th, 2017 @ 8:45am


ON:

Emilie had ventured onto the Science Deck with a mission in mind. As the ship's school administrator, she was looking to find new ways to educate and accommodate the children of Pandora about life on a Starfleet vessel. Also, she was keen to distract herself from the news of her pregnancy. She didn't want to risk spilling the beans to anyone else, having already roped Ignatius in on her announcement plans. But while Nyx was off being Captain, Emilie needed to focus on her own work as well. Anything to get her mind off the news that she was going to have another baby.

With distraction in mind, she had hoped to find Lieutenant Brennan in the Science Labs and ventured down to Deck 7 in anticipation. She just hoped she wouldn't blurt out the news to Shae, or worse - given her morning sickness - blurt out anything else. Having never been down to the Science Deck before, Emilie wasn't quite sure where to go and ended up just chiming on the door that she believed belonged to the Chief Science Officer...

Katniss blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light, the sound of the door chime had distracted her, she had been peering into the microscope for hours, so whoever it was, was probably doing her a favour. "It's open" she yelled as she put on her glasses and turned to face the door with a smile, she certainly wasn't expecting anyone.

With a frown, Emilie entered the lab and was surprised to find Lieutenant Wakefield, though she hadn't formally met the Chief Researcher as yet. "Oh, I'm sorry. I think I have the wrong office. I was looking for Lieutenant Brennan."

"Lieutenant Brennan will probably be in Astrometrics or the main science lab" Katniss replied with a slight smile. "Unless of course, I can assist with anything?" she asked politely. Afterall she was the Assistant Chief Science Officer now as well.

"Sure." Emilie smiled, reaching out a hand. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm Emilie Temple, the new school administrator for the Pandora."

"Agh, the Captain's wife," she said shaking her hand. "He was supposed to arrange dinner for me to meet you, but I know how busy he is. Anyway, what can I do for you?"

"I've barred that man from anymore dinners." Emilie replied with a tight smile. Then she explained, "I was going to inquire about potentially bringing a class to the Astrometrics lab for a field trip. A lot of the kids would love to see the digital mapping on display."

"I can't see any problem with that, just let me know when you were thinking and I shall arrange something for you and the class," Katniss replied taking a deep breath, she would just have to ensure she was busy that day, as she couldn't cope with that many children. "I'm sure we can get a tour of one of the Science Labs and explain how they work in conjunction with each other, may as well make a morning or afternoon of it."

"Oh that would be wonderful," Emilie exclaimed, "Are you sure the little ones won't be in the way? My Katrine can be a bit of a terror when she's over excited, I don't want to interrupt ship operations."

"No it won't be a problem, we have several labs so we shall find space for the little ones," she replied slightly distracted with the memory of her own little girl, but just as quick, she shook her head and gave half a smile. "I was about to get some lunch, if you would care to join me, I've had my head in this microscope all morning."

"Sure, that sounds wonderful," Emilie replied with a smile. As the two parted into corridor, Emilie turned to the woman and frowned, "I don't see you around the recreation area very much? Do you spend most of your time in your lab?"

It was certainly a good question, Katniss had never been one for socialising, indeed she did spend alot of time in her lab, or in her quarters, she prefered to cook for her self, it's not that she didn't enjoy or understand social situations, it was just since the death of her child, she had become withdraw and she had thrown herself into her work, it was a coping stratery, that and using the holodeck with the safety protocols off, oftern with the aim of just feeling some emotion. Katniss smiled and looked at Emilie, "Only when I have to, other times I'm in my quarters, reading, cooking, I've never been that social." she said in her soft gentle voice.

"That's fair enough," Emilie replied as they boarded the turbolift. "I'm still getting used to being constantly around people too. Everything here is twenty-four seven. I'm used to living independentantly in a house, on land. Seeing the sun. Feeling the rain. Having my own space. All of this is so controlled and manufactured, you know? It seems unnatural."

"I know and no place for chi...." Katniss bit her lip, she had used the same line with Shae before, but she couldn't help it, she knew in her heart a Starship was not the place for children, she knew what it was like to lose a child and its a burden no parent should have to bear. "My apologies, but I'd rather be in a house, seeing the sun, feeling the rain, breathing clean air, I was forced on your husband by Starfleet, I was never apart of the crew manifest, not until Science stepped in, I don't know if people resent me for it, so I try and keep myself to myself."

Emilie frowned at the young woman, feeling like she was only getting the tip of the iceberg of Katniss' true story, "He's never said anything like that to me. Nyx would never see you that way and from what I know of the other crew members, they wouldn't either. If anything, I'd bet they would like to get to know you more."

It was with this reassuring message that the two ventured off to lunch.

OFF