Posted by Ensign Tom Little (Engineer) in From Nothing to More - The Metamorphosis of Saoir

Posted by Lieutenant Than Osedi (Chief Engineer) in From Nothing to More - The Metamorphosis of Saoir

Posted by Lieutenant Than Osedi (Chief Engineer) in From Nothing to More - The Metamorphosis of Saoir
Posted by… suppressed (19) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Saoir sat alone at a table with three extra empty seats. Today he was going to do something out of the norm. He was going to try something different for lunch. His usual, seaweed salad with rice stuffed with grape leaves on the side, was his favorite and he had eaten it every day since he first enrolled at the Academy. He held the tablet which displayed daily menu specials and of course the usual a la carte dishes. There were so many choices. Saoir was a vegan, so he started narrowing down the variety by excluding all dishes that had meat or anything made from animal products. Chickpea Salad Sandwich. He thought as he read the ingredients out loud, A creamy, briny chickpea salad on vegan French pan bagnat topped with fresh veggies, including cucumbers, radishes, and green beans.
This was the first step in his transformation, the first step in turning himself into the new Saoir. New crew was boarding the Leviathan and he wanted to be a part of it more than ever.

Saoir, Transporter Op./Security

“Hey buddy,” Than called out lightly as he neared the table where Saoir was sitting. “Hows things? Waiting for someone? Sounds like you’re getting adventurous with something new from the menu. They sound terrible by the way, even for vegan food.” He paused at the table and grinned. “Ever tried a Not Dog? It’s like a hotdog in a bun that they serve on Earth but this one is made from carrot instead of meat. Well, ‘made’ is an understatement, it is literally a carrot with vegan flavourings in vegan bread with vegan sauces.” Finally pausing in his speech, he drank from the long, tall glass in his hand. Whatever it was looked tropical and fruity, and thick.

Than Osedi

Saoir quickly looked up from the menu. “Lieutenant Osedi!” he said as a smile came across his face. “Please join me. If you can.”
Saoir was not familiar with hot dogs. The only dog he was aware of was an earth animal by the same name. “I have not heard of the term hot dog, sir.” He said confused. Not even aware Earthlings ate those poor creatures! It made his stomach turn. The thought of eating any creature did and also his species were bred to be vegetarians and vegans. “So this particular version is made out of a carrot?” He asked “I guess I could try it.” he said feeling a little nervous about the dish.

Saoir, Transporter Op./Security

“Sure, I can join you, as long as I’m not interrupting you or you are waiting for someone?” As he spoke, he pulled out a chair and sat down, placing the drink on the table and leaning back.

“So they marinate the carrot in flavour to make it taste, well, less boring. Then they fry it on a grill so that it kind of looks like a Frankfurter sausage. Goes in a bun of your choice, usually with mayonnaise, mustard and a tomato relish, all of which can be vegan I think, fried onions and cheese, and Bam. You got a Not Dog. Goes great with onion rings or a side salad too, or broccoli fries.”

Than Osedi, CE

Saoir placed the tablet on the table and said, “Then I shall try this Not Dog. It sounds like…an interesting meal. However, I do not think I will add all the extra toppings. Just the carrot and the bun will do just fine.” Saoir had to take baby steps. Eating was about nourishment not really about flavor to him. He only ate what he needed for energy. His 6”10” lanky appearance and his low weight for his height could back this up. One of the issues with his diet and his eating habits was that it was difficult to bulk up so he could be more muscular and stronger. He was aware of this and hoped he could find a solution to it. The CE seemed to have a solid weight in comparison to his height and looked strong. “Lieutenant Osedi, I did not know you were interested in vegan foods. Are you a full-time vegan or just eat it occasionally?”

Saoir, Transporter Op./Security

“Excuse me, gentlemen. Did some ordered… Sparkling water?” Tom showed up from behind the two with a plate of 4 glasses. He was wearing an off-duty uniform but behaved like a civilian servant of the night. He could probably tie a bow tie but that’s not the occasion, yet. Leviathan sparkling water, as itself explanatory, was a drink with a lime taste. It was well consumed in North America at once.

Little, Eng

Saoir raised his eyes as Tom approached them with the tray of sparkling water. “Ensign Little, I am surprised to see you here, as a server. Are you doing this for merits?” Saoir asked as he accepted one of the glasses. “Please join us, if you are able to.”

Saoir, Transporter Op./Security

“No sparkling water for me thanks,” Than grinned. “I’m off duty.”

Larz drifted through the lounge and headed for Saoir’s table. He looked at Tom and snickered as he brazenly took one of the glasses from the tray. “So, what’s going on here?” He asked as he loudly slurped the sparking water. “Saoir why you looking all…weird and Tom why are you in that uniform serving drinks in the lounge?”
Ensign Jackson, Security

Than leaned back and raised one eyebrow ever so slightly. He was off duty and not in uniform, but most people knew the Department Heads without meeting them. The corner of his mouth raised slightly as he took note of the newcomer, but he didn’t say anything.

“Glad you asked that.” He turned to both and said, “I ordered 1 glass of sparkling water, but it replicated 4 instead, with a tray. I was looking around to see if anyone was about to order the same thing. He said to Saoir while scratching his right cheek. “Merit? Nah, I’m on off duty.” After saluting Osedi and offering the drink, he whispered to Jackson. “What’s weird? I see nothing but Not Dogs.”

Little, Eng

“What is a Not Dog?” Jackson said with a scowl. “I am not eating those.” He said with a snicker. “Little, I will have a steak. Rare. With potatoes and beef gravy.” He motioned for another glass of sparking water from the tray he was holding.
“You know Saoir. You are always going to be skinny if you don’t start transitioning some meat into your body.” He flexed the bicep on his right arm. “Meat is the fasted and best way to build muscle. Your body don’t have anything to build on if keep eating the vegan crap.”

Ensign Jackson, Security

Than still said nothing, but he was pretty sure there were a bunch of Vulcans that might disagree with this mans statement. He spent this part of the conversation looking between the other three like a three-way game of tennis.

“Well, why don’t you try this then?” Tom smiled at Jackson with his eyes closed. “A moment, please. How would you like your steak?” He meant well done or ‘not.’ He wasn’t going to agree or disagree about the comment about building meat faster. Because security folks would need it, obviously. “And you? Can I bring something for you?” He said to Osedi and Saoir. After that, he went to the replicator, but not the one he used for the sparklings.

Little, Eng

“I would like my steak rare. Very rare. I mean barely cooked.” Said Larz with an mischievous smile on his face as he looked at Saoir.

Saoir looked at Jackson with a bemused expression, contemplating how to respond. “Well, Jackson,” he briefly looked at Lieutenant Osedi for assurance, “a ‘Not Dog’ is apparently a clever play on words for a vegan alternative to a hot dog. I am sure its made from plant-based ingredients and is designed to mimic the taste and texture of a traditional hot dog.”

He took a moment to tell Tom what he wanted. “I will try one of the Not Dogs, Tom as well as another sparking water.”

“I’ll take a couple of the Not Dogs as well, please Tom,” Than added. “But I’ll take a whiskey with mine, Lagavulin, 16 year aged, and a bowl of Jalapeno poppers.”

Saoir, taking a sip of his sparkling water continued. “As for my dietary choices, I appreciate your concern, but I actually find it quite fulfilling and nourishing to follow a vegan lifestyle. There are plenty of plant-based protein sources available that help me maintain a healthy and balanced diet. While it’s true that meat contains protein, it’s certainly not the only way to build muscle. There are numerous vegan athletes and bodybuilders who have achieved impressive physiques without consuming animal products.”

He paused for a moment, looking at Jackson’s flexed bicep. “Of course, building muscle is a combination of factors, including exercise, rest, and a well-rounded diet. So, rest assured, I’m taking care of myself in a way that aligns with my values and keeps me healthy. But thank you for your concern and the suggestion.”

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security

Jackson scowled as he listened to Saoir’s explanation. “Well. Whatever.” he said dismissively, “I doubt you’re getting what you need whether or not you feel good about it. Anyway I am not here to judge. I am not eating one of those ‘Not Dogs’ hot dog things.”

Ensign Jackson,Security

“Here you are.” Tom with 2 rounded trays came a few moments later. “A very rare steak, potatoes, and beef gravy. Another round of sparkling water.” He placed those to Jackson as if he was serving the Klingon friend. “Not dog and sparkling water for you.” He said to Saoir as if this scene from a cafeteria. While Briefly sensed some unexplained tension between the two, he went for his plate momentarily.

Little, Eng

Than had sensed the tension as well and decided it was about time to make sure that, while not on duty, the correct respect was shown to everyone at the table and there were subtle ways to do that. One way was a careful word that revealed a higher ranked officer who wasn’t playing ‘casual friends’ was present. Of course, some people were too thick headed to recognize subtle, but to Than, that was a them problem, not his problem.

“Ensign,” he said then obviously paused as he leaned forward and looked at the steak that Jackson had been served, before his eyes rose to look at the man directly. “You are aware that you are eating replicated food, right? Not real meat from a slaughtered animal? Federation replicators are programmed to provide medically correct servings of vitamins, minerals, proteins and fibers to name just a few, according to the Officer ordering that food and regardless of what is actually ordered. That includes food served by someone because they have to register the ordered food alongside the person ordering it. Thus dietary requirements can be met for any species and any medically ordered prescriptions.” Now Than pointed at the steak, then the not dog.

“These two products are replicated with the correct nutrient values for each of you, no matter what you order and this steak isn’t real meat. I can order a plate of lettuce leaves and get the same nutritional value out of that as you are with that steak. A bowl of Ktarian chocolate pudding tastes like Ktarian chocolate pudding, but has nutritionally correct amounts of nutrients and all that in it. Not the same as the real thing. It’s one reason why people claim they can taste the difference between replicated and real foods. The taste is close but because of those differences in real ingredients vs replicated atoms providing a medically approved ration of nutrients, they taste a little different.”

Now Than leaned back in his chair and finished off the drink in the long tall glass he had sat down with. “Modern science is amazing and doesn’t discriminate our nutritional requirements no matter if our preference is vegetables, meats or anything else. Technically everything you order from our replicators, even that steak, is vegan. Because none of it came from a slaughtered animal or animal product and all of it is simply recycled atoms made into a meat substitute, even the vegetables are replicated. If you doubt me I’d be happy to arrange a basic engineering course for you in your own time as part of my department? It looks like one of the replicators in here is going to need some work done, a perfect opportunity for you to learn more about the science behind your food.”

Than Osedi, CE

Saoir glanced at Ensign Jackson with a raised eyebrow, clearly surprised by Than’s intervention. He then turned his attention back to Than and listened attentively to his explanation.

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security

After Than finished speaking, Jackson smiled and replied sarcastically, “Well, thank you for enlightening me, Lieutenant. I wasn’t aware of all the intricacies of our replicator system. I suppose I’ve been enjoying my ‘steak’ without realizing its true nature. It’s fascinating to know that the replicated food can meet our nutritional requirements so precisely. Maybe I like it so much because it repulses Saoir here to see being devour even replicated meat.” Then he held the steak toward Saoir, took a large bite of it and made a yummy, noise.

Jackson, Security

“Well, maybe with the knowledge that the meat you’re waving around isn’t actually meat and nothing died for it, our buddy will be less repulsed. That’s the thing about learning knew things, knowledge expands the mind and makes for better people.” Than looked at Jackson and then casually over at Saoir and smiled, then shrugged. “Sometimes.”

Saoir, frowned at Jackson, Utterly Annoying he thought, then addressed Lieutenant Osedi, “I must admit, Lieutenant, your knowledge is impressive. I’ve always wondered about the science behind replicators. It’s remarkable how technology can simulate the taste and texture of various foods while maintaining the necessary nutrients. I’d be interested in learning more as well, if you’re open to it.”

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security

“You’d be more than welcome. I think there was talk of cross department trainings coming up anyway, seeing as out here we need to rely on each other and know that support from HQ might not be coming when we need it.” Than emphasized the when.

“Am I missing something?” Tom Smiley showed up from the back of the DH with a larger-sized tray. “Lagavulin, 16 year aged, Jalapeno poppers, and more not dogs!” He also placed napkins, a bucket of dining tools, and 4 more cups in case anyone wanted to try that. “I don’t know why but as you can see, every time I order a drink, it comes with 4. I got to find someone else who is interested in taking the hooch.” He also made a mental note to check that replicator later.

Little, Eng

“But that’s another interesting thing about the science in our systems,” Than now leaned in and put his elbows on the table, looking at Saoir and Tom. “So Saoir you are a Transporter Op, the Transporter Op, right? So the transporter uses a very similar system as the replicator when it comes to taking us apart and putting us together, extremely similar tech in fact, and so does the holodeck when it creates real food when we are in there.”

“When we get disassembled by the Transporter, we get broken down to our base atoms and then reassembled somewhere else. Atoms are neither meat nor vegetable, they’re just matter like we hold in the replicator storage vats, so when we get put back together it’s exactly like being replicated. You could say that were all all meat substitutes, even Jackson here. Those muscles aren’t technically meat, he’s just vegan.”

“It’s also possible to reassemble someone back into an earlier or modified form, just by editing the storage buffer information we hold when someone is disassembled. Those muscles could come out bigger, or just like regular ones. Transporter accidents happen when that information gets scrambled somehow and we lose people completely. It’s a big job you have Saoir, choosing who to save first when a group of people runs into Transporter issues. I don’t envy that job at all. I mean the likelihood of encountering an issue like that on this ship is magnified exponentially, with all these unexplained anomalies we face.”

Than Osedi, CE

OOC: Just pasting in a split in the thread

(OOC: Thanks! No idea how that happened.)

Tom was impressed that the Lt remembered the basics and broke down those into understandable words. He almost thought he was back to school time and having a lecture again. “If I may add to that, resolution matters. As the Chief explained, you’re using a high-resolution replicator to take us from A to B. So, I’m counting on you, Chef!” He said to Saoir. “Matter to energy and vice versa sounds simple, but couldn’t have done it without experiments and failures.” He almost presented a toast. “Salute to the pioneers!” He said it with a tray of drinks.

Little, Eng

Saoir was intrigued by the lively discussion unfolding before him, appreciating the camaraderie among their fellow crewmates. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before replying to Tom and Than.

“Thank you both for shedding some light on the intricacies of our advanced systems. It’s fascinating to see how interconnected everything is, from replicators to transporters and even the holodeck. The resolution aspect is indeed crucial in maintaining the integrity of the replication process. And Tom, you can count on me to whip up some delicious dishes with the high-resolution replicator. I’ll make sure to explore the full potential of matter-to-energy conversion.”

Raising his cup, Saoir joined in the toast. “Here’s to embracing the unknown and forging ahead together!”

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security