Posted by Lieutenant Dr. Solomon Kane (Medical Research & Development) in Peace Offerings

(snip)

Kane paused. The last answer was certainly curious. But he had to push on, so he did. “What do you mean, you don’t want to be the common denominator again? And do you like the hot or cold better… like beach or snow? And have you had any dealings with Deltans? Their cities are amazing, too. And will you make a Monte Cristo for me sometime? And is the food good? And did you know that I hate asking questions of people but somehow I really dig asking you questions… and answering them. Go figure.”

Kane

“I like snow, the cold, better to visit. Probably because I grew up near San Francisco and saw the beach and the heat all the time. But I don’t like being in the cold for more than a few days. Not used to it I guess. I met several Deltans when I did a residency at Star Fleet Medical. I’ve never been to their home world. Yes I’ll make it for you. Dinner is very good. I’m sorry if I asked too many questions.” She’d totally skipped over his first question, on purpose. She didn’t really want to answer it. She was quiet long enough to make him think she wouldn’t answer. When she does speak it’s very soft and though she’s looking at him she’s not quite meeting his gaze. “I ask too many questions, I analyze everything, I respond too late to innuendo, I make connections between topics that people find strange and weird, my mind goes in 10 different directions, I’m paying attention, but to them I don’t appear to be,” and Alexis just shrugs, but it’s a self-judgmental motion. “So there is no second date. When the pattern repeats…” she held her hands palms up in front of her as if to say ‘and there you have it.’
Bonner

Kane looked at her, his green eyes narrowed and his gaze intense as he leaned forward. “But Alexis…” and he paused and reached out and took her hand again…

He surprised her, taking her hand, but it created a pleasant sensation up her arm. Her fingers curled around his and she smiled. She liked the way he said her name, there was no irritation when he said it.

“We already have our second date, right? Observation Deck? Seven o’clock? Night after tomorrow? So that pattern is done. Chuck it in the bin.” and he gave her hand a squeeze. “Besides… I think I’ve done a pretty good job of distracting you. And I’m gonna keep trying.” His eyes stayed locked on her and he kept her hand even as he leaned back. “So what else you want to know?”

Kane

She met his gaze and smiled. “Okay, Solomon. I’ll be there if you are.” It wasn’t a question or a challenge, just confirming his words. For whatever reason she believed he wouldn’t back out. “I think I’d like that.” She paid attention to people, but no one ever distracted her, and she realized he was right. Normally she’d be running computations and scenarios in the back of her head. She hadn’t since he asked her to pay attention to him and let him try. “What’s your favorite food? How did you get away from the syndicate? If you can tell me. Why did you learn Mandarin?”
Bonner

Kane shrugged and said “I dunno… probably cheeseburgers. I got away when another syndicate assassinated my owners by blowing up the building we lived in. I crawled out… they didn’t. Mandarin was what all the street kids and such spoke. Most people don’t know it, so it made it a safe way to talk when outsiders were listening. Do you like your job, or do you do it just to do it? Do you have any phobias? What about your family? Do you have brothers or sisters? Where near San Francisco? Do you like to swim? What is your favorite kind of music? Do you want more tattoos? When we leave tonight can I walk with you to your quarters and kiss you in the passageway? Why do you think Bolchek talks so much? If you were an element, what would you be? What is your favorite part of medicine?”

Kane

“Okay but how do you like your cheeseburgers?” So Alexis was right, she didn’t want to know the answer to that question. “Is that where the scar came from? The explosion? Did it heal right? The scar line is long enough and wide enough still that I know it was deep, and would have damaged the muscle on a bilateral cut making healing difficult.” She knew people could be proud of a skill but not how or why they had the skill. “Will it bother you to teach me Mandarin? Is it too personal? I love my job. I like helping people, making them better, but I’m bad with people so I’m happy to be in the lab helping that way now. Nyctophobia (Fear of the dark). My parents still live near San Francisco. My father teaches science at the Academy and my mother owns her own bakery shop. I’m an only child. Walnut Creek. I love to swim, but I’m only average at it. I like to listen to epic ballads from all over the quadrant. Yes if there was something that was meaningful to me. Yes.” there is a second pause, then another she turned bright red, she squeezed his hand without realizing it. “Umm, I…I don’t know.” Frigga lifted her head and stuck her nose onto Alexis’s lap. She made a small distressed sound and glared accusingly at Kane. “He’s Bolian it’s part of their culture to be jovial and talkative. Copernicium 112. Helping the body do what it’s supposed to do so people get better.”
Bonner

Kate picked up a piece of his steak and held out to Frigga.

He looked down and said “She said yes and then caught herself. But she said yes!” and he scratched her ears. Looking back up, he smiled and said “Rare, with mustard, pickle, lettuce, onion. No. That scar is from the receiver on a Naussican fully automatic projectile rifle biting me when I tried to reload too fast. Cut through the muscle and stopped at the bone. Took a few months to heal and a s%$# ton of Physical Therapy. I’m really looking forward to teaching you Mandarin. It means more time to spend with you, and that is the perfect amount of personal. What’s it like having family? Did you move around a lot? What kind of stuff does she bake? What kind of science does he teach? Did you want siblings? If you couldn’t be a doctor what would you be? Do you bake too? Did you like growing up there? You know I’m going to kiss you, right? Why only average? Do you speak any other languages? What do you think would be meaningful enough to get a tattoo of? Why Copernicium 112? Why green? What do you want for dessert? Do you want to go for a walk? Are you worried about the Observation Deck? Do we need to change the location? Will you let me cook for you? Why do you like me? What do you think of the new ship? Where do you want to retire to? What is your least favorite smell?”

Kane

Kane could almost hear the chant of ‘steak, steak, steak, steak’ coming from Frigga as she gently took the bite. Her tail thumped loudly as he spoke and she leaned into the ear scratches. She was perfectly happy to keep him around if the was the keeper of the steak, and if he could make Alexis eat, that was even better.

Alexis turned redder as he talked to Frigga and without seemingly any effort her dog was now conspiring with the man sitting across from her. Her mind filled away how he liked his hamburgers. She blinked trying to figure out…”Why or maybe where did you need to use a Naussican rile?” She couldn’t place any recent events in the last years where the Naussican’s were invovled in any violent acts. They were violent but where Star Fleet was involved. Oh, right probably with the Syndicate, or on New Detroit, but that was 150 years ago. He wasn’t going to answer that though, and in the lounge wasn’t the place if he would. “But more importantly it healed but did it heal completely?” Oh yes she was planning on fixing it if it wasn’t. A scar was one thing but deep scaring inside was another. “I’ve been told Mandarin is really hard to learn, so that would like what…a week for me?” She grinned, she was teasing, picking fun at herself and him, just a little. “It was nice. It was always lonely when I was a kid, but I always had my parents so I wasn’t really alone. They fought for me when the teachers thought I was a problem child. When the local schools couldn’t keep up with me, my dad took me with him to work and I got to study whatever I could get my hands on. No we didn’t move around a lot. My mom travelled with my dad wherever he went, but when she got pregnant with me my dad took a job at the Academy. He knew she didn’t want to raise her children on a star ship. She bakes everything: bread, pastries, meat pies, pastas, if you want it she’ll find a way to bake it. Dad teaches exobiology and ecology. I did want siblings. The other kids didn’t understand me and I didn’t understand them, and I had this fantasy in my head that if I had siblings they would understand me and I wouldn’t be lonely. A veterinarian. I like animals, but I guess that’s a non-answer since I have that degree too. I got it so I could take care of Frigga, most ships don’t have a vet on board. I do bake though I haven’t in a long time. It’s my favorite way to practice chemistry. Tell me what you like and I’ll make it. I did like growing up there. When I was young it was frustrating because there was a lot of focus on leisure and I just wanted to learn more and more, but my parents insisted I had to take breaks.” Her hand jerked in his, and she looked away and then back at him, “Why?” She sipped her wine for something to do, finding the flow of the conversation again. “Because I preferred to be inside reading than outside. A little Catian, Spanish, sign language, Vulcan, and a little Klingon. Something that would represent a defining moment in my life or expressed who I am. Because Copernicium is considered the strangest of the elements. Green is the color of life. If a planet is green it can support life. Carbon based life anyway. Strawberry Shortcake. We can, but Frigga will be mad if we go before she gets her food. No, the lounge is lit and I don’t have to look out the window. Where would we change it to if we did? Yes, but only if I get to cook for you. You let me ask questions and you questioned me. You thought I was wrong in the lab with Borchek and you questioned me. Most people see it’s me and assume I can’t make mistakes. It doesn’t happen often thought,” She smiled a little. “You answer my questions and don’t roll your eyes. You know things I don’t, you ask questions about me and not what I am. And the more you tell me about you the more incredible I think you are. I think the new ship is a doctors dream, but I wish it was bigger to allow us to provide more sustained and long term care, but that isn’t the mission of the ship. I guess I would go back to Earth I’ve never considered it, not having work to do. Chocolate. I hate the smell of it.” And then what she said caught up with her…
Bonner