Part One Of Four - Blog Posts

what things do you associate with each of your fellow teachers? like, a song or an item or something.

This took so long… pt. 1

Lately, Data had been on something of a ‘weird history’ kick. During his last shift, someone had mentioned, off hand as a ‘Fun Fact’, that Vulcans were not “technically” the first race to contact humanity. This was news to Data. He found it fascinating that no one ever spoke about this phenomenon. He spent the whole night wondered what actual merit there was to the subject while he rested. In the morning he decided to hunker down in his room with Spot and do some further research.

That morning became noon, and from noon it became evening. Spot mewed to be fed or petted, but unfortunately Data could not hear her from the bottom of his digital rabbit hole. There was too much to learn. The ship’s archives had articles on easily a thousand named species, supposedly sighted in just the mid twentieth century alone!He, of course, found that most ended up to be hoaxes as he read further into them, but a few were truly genuine.

A favorite example example of his were the Arcturians of Arcturus Four. They were quite advanced, supposedly being capable long distance space travel since some 10,500 years ago. Most of them didn’t look all that much different from standard modern humans. Give or take a post war mutant. As species they specialized in genetic engineering and production of exceptionally lifelike androids.

They had sent a ship to earth near the dawn of humanity, but other than that they weren’t really well documented by the federation until sometime within the past hundred years.

Data wanted to spent all of tomorrow and then some on the topic of Arcturians, but he quickly ran out reading material. As they were currently, the ship’s records of them had very large and crucial gaps in them. He tried to look for any other sources on subject outside of the archive, but came up empty. Well except for one result from the crew roster: supposedly there was an Arcturian who worked the night shift in the sickbay… which gave Data an idea.

“You know, Spot, I would really like to meet this ‘Dr. Morbius’.” Data absentmindedly admitted to his cat. “Mrrr-urp?” Replied Spot, perking up from her nap. “You’re correct, sick-bay is not far from here, but he might be busy…” Data reminded her. “Meow” Spot countered, walking over to sit by one of Data’s clocks. “Hmm, well, it is late. Maybe he wouldn’t be very busy after all… plus he might enjoy some company.” Data decided, getting up from his chair.

“Mew?” Asked Spot, as she determinedly trotted after Data. He paused at the door, “Oh! I almost forgot. Let me get you dinner before I go”. Spot let out a warm purr at the notion.

/|\^;;’/|\ .:@:. /|\^;;’/|\ .:@:. /|\^;;’/|\

You are at the point in the night where you are both starving and feeling nauseated at the same time. If you can wait five more minutes, for probably absolutely nothing to happen, then you can get your nightly “drink”… and leave.

Four minutes can not elapse quickly enough for you; you have keep yourself from gnawing on the inside of your cheek out of impatience. The ship’s blasted lighting isn’t Helping Either!

The only reliably dark room on this entire floor is your cabin, and only because you have control of the lighting inside of it. Everywhere else makes you want to claw your own eyes out around this time of night.

But it will be ok. Relief is only three minutes away now. Yes, sweet, salty, red relief…

You know you can’t keep doing this. You can not continue to do this every night. Eventually, someone will notice the pattern. Eventually, you will slip up… and they will catch you.

But your shift is over in two minutes, now. And you don’t give a damn at this point. You already started packing up four minutes ago… the rest of this, just starring down the clock, has been to punish yourself.

It’s time to go.

You tuck your chair in and pocket your data pad like none of that just ran through your head.

You stop at the medical replicator on the way out. You dare not use voice commands for this, instead typing out your dirty order on the ‘archaic’ psychical screen. It takes a second, and then you have your prize.

If only it had been this easy back in your day…

Your spirits are lifted quite a great deal as you walk out the door. Not even the dreadful hallway lighting can bring you down now!

A quick walk home is all that stands between you and liquid bliss…

The monotonous hallway is easily tuned out with the lovely swish of your nondescript thermos’s contents. It, sadly, doesn’t have the same effect on the nearby sound of footsteps approaching from behind.

“Hello? Oh, excuse me, but did you just come from Sick-bay? I’m looking for Dr.Morbius, do you know if he’s left yet?” Asks the cause of you disturbance.

You cringe inwardly: you were asked for by name… what could they possibly want with you right now?

You turn to face the interloper, and with your best bedside manner, reply “Yes, but I’m afraid that I am just now leaving. Did you need medical attention?” Through all but gritted teeth.

“No, I do not require medical attention currently, but do require your assistance with something else!” Enquires the sallow skinned man, expression and voice locked at neutral.

You try not to make a face, “Is that so?”. You sigh. “what exactly do you need from me at this time of night?” You ask with some trepidation.

“I would like learn more about your Home-world, Arcturus Four, what can you tell me about it?” He asks with lukewarm smile, inflection just barely reaching out of monotony and into excitement.

“Hmmm, plenty?… but I do not, exactly, have the time to-night. Maybe could this be a rain check?” You ask, in a manner you hope is casual, begging him to take a hint. “Oh, are you sure you do not have a minute?” He asks, continuing to beg the question while you start to disengage.

“I am positive, and it is nearly morning, Mr. …?” “Data” “right, καλησπέρα, Mr. Data! And Goodbye.” You tell him forcefully as you power walk away, hoping that he doesn’t pursue the matter.

“Oh… ok, sleep well doctor…” you hear as a muffled response from far behind you. You are happy to finally put some distance between yourself and him, but it rankles you that that will not fix the rapidly changing temperature of your prized treat.

“So help me, god, if there are clots in this!” You mutter to yourself as you finally approach you cabin door . Sigh, so much for your morning.

/|\^;;’/|\ .:@:. /|\^;;’/|\ .:@:. /|\^;;’/|\

Later that morning, in Ten Forward, Data saw Geordi at breakfast and decided to tell him about his conversation last night. “Hey Data, how are you this morning?” Geordi asked as the android sat down across from him. “I am fine, how are you today, Geordi?” Data replies, internally pleased with his delivery. He had been practicing!

“Doing good, doing good… but you know, I don’t think I saw you at all yesterday? Was everything alright?” Geordi asked, concern evident in the line of his mouth and the set of his brow. Data frowned, “I did not mean to alarm anyone, I merely got sidetracked with some research based on that ‘Fun Fact’ O’Brian shared with us the other day.”.

“Oh, that one, huh?” Geordi asked with a puzzled expression, and he paused a second in thought. “Well, did you find anything interesting?” He eventually asked politely.

Data thought we would never ask; delighted, he began telling Geordi about all of his findings, in Alphabetical order!

Geordi nodded along politely as he ate his breakfast, but he noticed when Data started losing steam around the ‘Ar’s. He even had a peculiar expression as he told him about ‘Arcturians’.

“Did you know we have one on broad?” He asked he friend, oddly solemn about it. “Hmm, I don’t think I did.” Geordi replied, “But why do you say it like that? Did something happen?” He added.

Data paused, trying to figure out the best place to start. “I met him last night, he works the night shift in the Sick-bay near my quarters. I went there to ask him some questions I had gleaned from gaps in my research on his people. I do not think he felt like answering questions, he asked for a ‘rain check’.” .

Data looked thoughtful, “In that context, a ‘rain check’ does not necessarily mean actually rescheduling, does it?” He asked Geordi.

Geordi looked at his friend with pity, he was impressed that he picked up on that. “No Data, it doesn’t. I’m sorry he was like that, maybe he was just busy?” Geordi offered, trying to console his friend.

“I am not sure. He was walking with urgency, but in the opposite direction of the Sick-bay.” Data replied. “He said he was on his way home, but it felt suspicious. He seemed to be hiding something while we talked…” the android said with some confusion.

“Huh, well that does seem strange…” Geordi agreed, “Do you think we should investigate it?” Data postulates with surprising firmness.

Geordi is not sure how to break it to him that that’s probably not a good idea…

“I don’t know about that, Data” he says, choosing his words carefully, “that’s not really my department. Also, whatever Dr. Morbius is doing, it’s probably none of our business”.

Data ponders his response.

“ I see, Geordi… but what if it becomes the captain’s business?” Data wonders. That isn’t what Geordi meant, that’s not what Data should take away from this…

“I mean… maybe? But do you have, any, proof?” Geordi asks, hoping to deescalate the android’s train of thought. That was the wrong question.

“You are absolutely correct, Geordi! I need proof, first.” Data declared dramatically, and he knew exactly where he was going to find it…

.:@ /|\^;;’ End Chapter 1 of 4 ‘;;^/|\ @:.