What To Talk About While the Search Runs

Posted on Sat Sep 27th, 2025 @ 4:35am by Commander Thomas Johnson & Lieutenant Nezuko

2,756 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Preserving The Past
Location: Nezuko’s Office
Timeline: En Route to Amerind

Thomas was going through some of the information that was uploaded to the computer, but he wanted more, something told him there was more to it than he was seeing. Walking up to Nezukos office he rang the chime, awaiting her answer.

Busy with tedious paperwork, mostly manifests of everything loaded into their cargo bay since getting to the Starbase, the door’s chime meant Nezuko could take a short break. She pushed a button to open the door.

She smiled and signed {Hello!} to Thomas.

Returning her smile, {Hey, am I interrupting?} He signed as he walked up to the desk. Looking around. It had been a while since he was last in here, and he still remembered the first time he had introduced himself to her.

She shook her head. {Nothing that can't wait. What can I assist with?}

{The Iconian data, was wondering if you could narrow something down for me. When I was being interrogated, they were very interested with our transphasic torpedoes, and somewhat concerned with the borg... I highly doubt they would show some interest in those, if it wasn't of some concern.} Thomas replied as he looked. {I still remember the first time I came here, who knew it would change as much as it did.}

{I've made it my own.} She was proud of the way she had the office set up now. In the year since coming aboard, she had moved furniture, added shelves, enhanced the desk and wall screens, and even had a fully isolated computer where she could examine and access tech that should not be networked. The splashes of colour came from a few art pieces, some from home, others from other places she had visited. Plus a gift or two from Thomas and Talia. She had debated setting up an isolation area where she could work without the respirator but had postponed that for the moment. {But perhaps it is not only the room that has changed,} she added with a spark of mischief in her eye.

{Iconian interest in the Borg and transphasic torpedoes, you say?} she continued. {The Iconian database is still being translated and indexed, but we have access to portions. Let's look closer.} On the wall behind her desk was a larger screen, which both could read from comfortably. Using her PADD as a remote, she logged into the partitioned portion of the computer core where the Iconian information resided and tried searching for certain terminology. "*borg" was a good one, and would hopefully capture "cyborg" in case they did not use the Borg's name. In another tab were searches related to transphasic torpedo technology; terms related to what made those weapons unique.

While the computer did its search, and he was going through it himself manually, the iconian language was difficult, but it was something he figured was a good challenge. {I have sent out an inquiry about an update or upgrade to your breathing apparatus, apparently there is a few prototypes, something that is smaller, and can be not as noticable. But it hasn't been field tested yet. The battery pack does use similar bioneural tech as some of our intrepid class, similar to the intrepid, just on a smaller scale.}

{I read about those prototypes. Thank you for looking out for me like that.} A few hits started coming up and were sent to a side column for Thomas to review.

"I have one of their latest on the way here for you to try." Smiling at her, he placed a hand on her shoulder, "That is a lot of information." He replied as he watched more and more information pop up, "This is going to take a while."

{I can bring you a report,} she signed to him. {This may take hours, and you don’t need to stay. After dinner, I will come by. Does that work?}

"At the moment I don't have anywhere to be, two heads are better than one." Thomas replied as he watched as another large file appeared. "Talia is getting some rest, and until we get to where we are going. There really isn't much to do."

Nezuko nodded. {I'll keep searching the database and put files I identify here, and you can read them as they come up?}

{That definitely isn't the only thing that changed.} he replied as he watched her. {You know, when I was being so graciously treated as a guest, one of the things they did to the room I was in, they used to fill it with some sort of Gas, to make us sleep and give us visuals of the things that means the most to me. For me, thats Talia, the baby and you. What the three of us, is definitely not conventional. But I am beginning to think its more than we discussed at the beginning. I am sure Talia would agree.}

She turned from her computer, looked at him, and thought about it a moment. After a few seconds, she nodded. {Hybrid between traditional human, Betazoid, and Amphea relationships. You usually pair long term. Monogamy common, intense love for one. For us, we pair for family bonds but play among friends. Many types of love. Betazoids, somewhere in the middle. Deeply loving but open with feelings. This has bits of everything.}

She smiled behind her mouthpiece. {You love your wife, with your whole being. You love me too. Differently, but no less truthfully. And I love you, Thomas. And I love Talia. My family aboard this ship. And she loves us both. Differently, of course, but all love is different. Her love for me she did not expect, but it arrived all the same. And now here we are. An unusual family, but family all the same.}

"What you have is a society of polygamy, its more common amongst humans that one might think, we are not as open. You are right, differently. But no two people in love are the same. The feels are just as strong, just was wanting and needing, but different. If everyone loved everyone else the same... that would be pretty boring." He paused. "Have you eaten yet?"

She shook her head.

"I haven't eaten, I am famished, there is a small Cafe a few decks up. Care for a bite to eat."

Nezuko nodded. {Computer will take time. We can check progress in an hour.} She took a moment to lock the system and then gestured for the door.

{So, how is your family doing? You talk about them often, I hope they are doing well.}

{They are well. We correspond by writing every few days. Tanjiro is trying to find time to meet us next time we’re in port.} She smiled behind her breather. {I can’t wait for you and Talia to meet him.}

{I can't wait to meet your family as well.} He replied as they walked into the turbolift. {So what have you told them about us?}

{The truth,} she signed. {That I’ve made many friends, and I’ve made a particularly strong connection with the First Officer and Chief Counselor, who are married and have a baby on the way.} She smirked and continued on. {They don’t need the details. No sane parent from any culture wants to know the specifics of their daughter’s sex life. But from what I’ve said, they’ll assume we’re together.}

{True enough} Thomas smiled as he took her hand kissing it before letting it go. {I heard from my brother, hes being sent to patrol the Iconian border along with several other ships. He can't wait to meet you.}

{And what have you told him about me? she asked as the turbolift door opened.

{It was a brief talk, he called for info on the Iconians. I told him I was the happiest I have ever been. Said I was always into exotic women. He said I should be up for a forth pip soon.}

{Thomas, I really like that you sign with me,} Nezuko told him as they walked toward the cafe. {You could speak out loud, but you don’t. Not unless Talia is with us, but she is getting better at understanding the signing too.}

{I enjoy it, first it was to assist you with communicating with the rest of the crew, now, its gotten to a deeper more... intimate, and I am not just talking the sexual aspect of our relationship.} Walking through the cafes doors he found an empty table and walked over to it.

{But that too,} she teased. {But yes I agree. This has helped us connect in a way I have not, and cannot, with others.} As they sat down, she continued. {Could you order me their breakfast sausage plate and an iced coffee please?} In a world where computer input was verbal and human waitstaff needed words, it was sometimes easiest to ask him to vocalize.

{Absolutely.} He replied going over, getting two orders, extra everything. Coming back and sitting down. {I've talked to the Captain about having the senior officers take lessons on Amphea sign. Its an honour that I can be that for you, but there will be times when I am not around, and what if you are out of reach of your padd.}

{That's very thoughtful, and very practical.} She gently tapped his hand, letting her claws press just enough to let him know she was there, but not enough to even scratch. {I have managed to teach to my Ops team and some of the other senior staff a few of the basic signs, such as please, thank-you, asking how they are or what they need. And I have been using human body language for things like yes, no, good, or bad. But if the Captain and a few others learned a little more sign, it would be very helpful indeed.}

{You shouldn't have to have a limitation just because you are from a certain world. Its why I think most species that require special communication instruments, tend to request a more planetary posting. Its easier to find someone that is able to communicate.}

A waiter came with their food, and Nezuko gave him a thumbs-up. {I'm very happy that Captain Aisaka let me modify my quarters back when we were crashed, so I can easily have my own atmosphere. I have tentative approval to make the same changes to my office. As for communication, I have not felt unfairly limited.} She took a deep breath, took out her respirator, and before taking a bite of sausage, she gave him a wide grin, showing off her sharp teeth. {Major Shimada sure understood me in that one staff meeting, am I right?} she joked before chomping down onto her food.

{You are right.} He chuckled before eating a bite of his own. {Do you have the padd for the tentative approval?}

After swallowing her mouthful, she put her breather back in for a moment. {It’s back in the office. I will show it to you when we go back.} Breath caught, the device came back out for her to eat a bit more.

{When we get back to your office, it won't be tentative any more. I have authorization to officially approve it.} He took a bite of the food. {So tell me... how was it like on Amphea, and why did you choose starfleet.}

{Home is lovely. Fresh air. Open fields and deep woods. Tanjiro and I could lose ourselves for hours in the forest near our neighbourhood, playing and hunting.} Another quick breath before eating again. {Our parents were part of efforts to integrate Amphei Prime into the Federation, so we were always seeing the Starfleet visitors, hearing their stories, learning to understand and write in Standard. I wanted to see all that the Federation had to offer, and Starfleet seemed like an excellent way to do that. I miss Amphei Prime, but I love everything I do here more.}

{Perhaps next time we are in the area, you could show us around.} Thomas replied, {Sounds almost as tranquil as Earth}

{We never had the same scale of industrial revolution,} Nezuko observed. {Or agricultural revolution. We’ve always been hunters and gatherers, even as an advanced society. There are a few ranchers but most households still go into the woods and bring home fresh kills and enough herbs and fruits to make delicious meals for the neighbourhood. Some of my best memories were hunting with a parent, or Tanjiro, or my sisters.}

{Its good to know you have a strong bond with your family. The idea of hunter gatherer, ended on Earth thousands of years ago to that scale. However there have been groups to depart earth and relocate just to get back to basics. Most of them are happier.} He took another bite then a drink.

{Most cultures I've read about abandon hunting and gathering,} Nezuko observed. {It permits people to devote less time toward feeding each other and more toward other pursuits, like the building of civilization. But Amphea are hardy and efficient, and our prey foods calorie rich. We managed to develop tribes and then cities and nations without altering swaths of land for crops. When we industrialized, it was small and the technology clean and quiet. Turbines are loud and scare the prey, and fossil fuels smell horrid and pollute the landscape. We perfected solar power early on, which brought us to space in time to meet the Federation.}

{If only Earth was in the same mindset, but we all have our own time frame, and lessons to learn.} THomas replied finishing his plate.

{Earth learned the lesson hard, but learned it well,} Nezuko replied. {Came out of darkness stronger for it. Amphei Prime has always been pristine, never suffered global wars or climate change, but also could never have led the formation of the Federation.}

{I suppose you are right on that aspect I suppose.} Thomas agreed. He set his plate aside drinking the remainder of his drink. {How long do you think the computer search will need.}

Nezuko's speedy way of eating meat -- some might say with gusto, others might call it impolite (though neither Thomas nor Talia seemed to mind), while those in know recognized it as typical for many sentient predators -- offset the fact that she had to take breaks to take a breath, so she finished at the same time as Thomas.

She looked at a chronometer on the wall. {For full results, not for many hours. I had suggested we check after an hour but realistically it will be two or three before I have enough meaningful results for you to start reading.} She smiled, her eyes alight with mischief. {You have an idea to pass the time?}

{I might,} he replied {Lets go back to your office}

They brought their dishes to be recycled and hurried back to the Ops Chief's office. The computer was still working, having found a few useful files but not enough to put together for either of them to read yet.

Nezuko passed Thomas the PADD he'd previously asked for, with the form for him to approve for refitting the life support system in her office.

Then she sat down on her desk and looked him in the eye. {So what was your idea for spending the time?}

Tapping a few buttons on the padd. {Now we get out of your office as the work starts in 20 minutes, transfer the search results to your quarters. I am sure we can find something to do while there}

{You read my mind.} Nezuko entered some commands into her computer system, transferring everything to her quarters, and then locked the terminal. The office wouldn't be usable for at least a day.

Some time remaining until they had anything from the computer they could use, they did indeed find a few most pleasant ways of passing the time...

END


Lieutenant Nezuko
Chief Operations Officer

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