[snip]

Then finally, with the same, emotionless tone, she replied, “How is Tel’eck, Ma’am? Do you choose to lock her in the cargo bay when she would prefer to investigate her home?”

• Eve (Eng)

Drudoc carefully considered how to reply to the question. It was clearly not the response of any sort she expected. But her reasoning told her there was a point to the android’s query, Drudoc had to just drag it out she supposed. Taking a sip of her spiced herbal tea for a second she soon replied. “..Not the cargo bay no, but when Tel’eck misbehaves, is unruly or fails to meet the expected standards of her teachers or myself then she is punished in some form, up to if needed grounding in her room in our quarters..” She answered. Then the comparison to the query came to her, “..Lieutenant, the ‘dragon’ we found was not trying to explore the ship, in fact all evidence pointed to it being a quite self reliant creature once it had been fed soon after hatching. Jaberwock as you called it was following its instincts of life. While obviously having some level of intellect given it could speak words so quickly, it never intended to remain ‘in the nest’ for long..” She said sipping her tea again before setting it down, then decided to change the tracks of approach to this matter. “..I understand this creature imprinted on you and Ensign Kala as parental figures. This can bring.....shall we say a confusing range of emotions and needs to any creature, living or synthetic like yourself. Speaking as a parent myself for a moment and not your commanding officer, I will say I know in my heart one day will come where Tel’eck will want to ‘leave the nest’ and strike out on her own. While another part of me doesn’t want that to happen the logical part knows it will happen sooner or later and I can only prepare Tel’eck for that time she chooses to do so to the best of my ability..” She said letting this sink in and seeing how Eve would reply.

Drudoc Andone CO

CockRoach

“It would also have been my wish to prepare Jaberwock for the lifetime ahead of him.” Eve replied. “But myself and Ensign Gorvel were denied the opportunity. Instead, our baby stepped out into the world, alone, without saying goodbye. And now I must acknowledge that I will probably never see him again.”

She lowered her head, as if unable or unwilling, in that moment, to reveal her features to her Commanding Officer, although Drudoc might notice a single drop of what appeared to be oil or lubricant landing on the surface of her desk.

• Eve (Eng)

”..That was not a choice you could control though, Eve..” Drudoc said dropping the formal rank for a moment. “..Jaberwock for whatever its reasons was following its instincts for life. This was not a fault of yours or Ensign Gorvel. It was just how this creature lives. While it is true you may not see Jaberwock again. We did launch some observation probes to follow it for a time. You are welcome to review that information at your leisure. I also am given to understand that Starfleet plans to follow up with further observation probes in the future to study this new species in its natural habitat..” She explained she she held sympathy for the android as a parent.

Drudoc Andone CO