Posted by Lieutenant Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in side - sim: Social Experimentation at its Finest (Tag Kane)

Posted by Lieutenant Dr. Solomon Kane (Chief Science Officer/Research & Development) in side - sim: Social Experimentation at its Finest (Tag Kane)

Posted by Lieutenant Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in side - sim: Social Experimentation at its Finest (Tag Kane)
Posted by… suppressed (15) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>

“Alexis what do you think of this ‘toy’ Kane has created?”

Alexis leaned back some, scratching Frigga’s ears. “Honestly, it’s brilliant. I’m not sure why something like that hasn’t been worked on before. It would seem obvious. Even if it had come from the cultures it’s intended to be used on, but there aren’t. Not like this anyway. I haven’t seen it past the initial sketches. It will take a subtle hand to control it I think, but it’s going to make a huge difference in surgical results.”

Bonner

“I’m thinking of adding an ocular interface with it.” Kane said. “That would allow for more precision. On the other hand, the surgeon might rely too much on it and get complacent. Then if the interface failed, the surgeon is screwed… and so is the patient. So I’m still on the fence about that.”

Kane

“Possibly. We use the microtome images on the surgical support unit for the same thing. And the wearable tricorders have a visual interface. What if you designed it to work with those existing systems? More precision would be great, but complacency is a huge problem in the field. Doctors rely too much on the tech and not on the foundational theories and practices. Talk to Dr Drake Marshall, the head surgeon. He’s overly sure of himself, but critical of younger and less experienced doctors. I have not decided if he’s justified in that or not, BUT his insight could be valuable.” She tapped her fingers against her leg, no stylus at hand, “Oh I wonder…could we add something similar to the tritanium slips we’ve been working on? Get them to heat or ice the area based on input physiology?” It was work, a problem, and her mind was jumping around quite happily.

Bonner

Kane leaned over and kissed her, then pulled back just enough so he could say “Work later, doll. We have company that have missed you terribly.”, kissed her again, and then leaned back and scratched Frigga to give Lex time to reset

Kane

After he kissed the first time she looked a little bemused and dazed. After the second time she nodded. Right, her parents. Frigga leaned heavily into the scratches perfectly content.

Anthony nudged his wife with a grin. Alisson was struck by the contrast and the seeming chaos of the heavily tattooed hand holding her daughters own pale hand. It wasn’t judgement just a noticing of details. Given Anthony’s description of Kane in the lab she had to wonder how Alexis dealt with all that sarcasm and domineering personality. He certainly didn’t seem that way to her though. Maybe Anthony caught him at the wrong time? Or her husband was really good at pushing students’ buttons, maybe he has done that to Kane.

Anthony did not wonder at all. Kane probably kept Alexis so confused she didn’t know which way was up half the time. He thought that was the best thing for her.

After a moment Alexis seemed to reset, but before she had to figure out what to talk about her father spoke up. “How do you like having Frigga? I remember you were quite resistant to the idea.”

Alexis ran her hand over Frigga’s back. She glanced over at her father and nodded. “I was.”

“But you always liked animals,” her mother said never having understood why Alexis hadn’t wanted a pet.

It was true Alexis had liked animals…to study them, to learn about them, but she had never really wanted a pet. She had found them fascinating. “I still like them, but I was always busy. I thought it was irresponsible to have something totally dependent on me when I wasn’t there.” It was a distraction to her work, which had been the point. “I can’t imagine not having her now. She’s done wonders for my bedside manner.”

Bonner

“And when Alexis is down one of her rabbit holes, Figga works with the Counselors as well.” Kane said and rubbed the top of Frigga’s head vigorously, just how she smiled it. “So they both have something to focus on if the other is busy. And when we are all watching vids, those two are usually cuddled up.” and Kane chuckled. “I’ve introduced Lex to an old Earth television show, mid-twentieth century. Its called ‘I Love Lucy’. We’re plowing through it right now.”

Kane

Frigga let out a sigh, shook all over, and then leaned back into his leg. “She likes people. Actually her recertifications are coming due in a month.”

Alissa looked skeptical about the vids. Alexis never watched anything unless it was a recorded lecture. “You watch TV now?”

Alexis shrugged. “Yes. He likes it.” She glanced at Solomon out of the corner of her eye a resigned smile on her face. He says I’m like Lucy. I don’t see it.”

Anthony’s brows rose as he considered then looked at Kane began to laugh, “I do, and I have to agree with Mr Stark over there.”

“Don’t let her fool you. She turns it on herself without asking if I want to watch it.” Kane said with a wink to Alexis.

Alexis blushed and stammered something about Solomon was just going to turn it on anyway. Anthony was enjoying watching the younger more than he probably should.

Her mother looked from Alexis and then gave Kane a long hard once over and then back at Alexis. Finally seeing what her husband saw. She got up and walked away laughing.

“I am not…” Alexis gave up with a sigh. Her mother stuck her head back in. “Who’s ready to eat?” Frigga barked. She was.

Bonner

“I echo the dog.” Kane said, and barked. Frigga’s head jerked towards him and her eyes went wide. “Yes, I speak Frigga. Didn’t you know?” he said as he rubbed her cheek.

Kane

Alexis shook her head and stood up. She patted her leg for Frigga to follow but the pup was too enamored at the moment. “He stole my dog.” She moved into the other room, helping her mother out of long habit. Alisson laughed, “I would say your dog has excellent taste. Kane what do you want to drink?”

Bonner

Kane looked at Anthony and nodded. Quietly, he said “I don’t say this to many people. But… thanks. Whatever you said to your wife, I appreciate.” and then he stood up and said towards the kitchen “Beer would be great. Darker the better.”

Kane

Anthony nodded, acknowledging his thanks quietly. “Apparently we’re going to be family, so we do what we can. It’s a matter of knowing my girls, Kane. I simply told her that I knew she was eager to get to know you. She also knew very well that if she kept pushing Alexis and making her uncomfortable, Alexis would run away to her labs and experiments. My wife wants to spend time with her daughter, so she will try to be patient.”

In the kitchen, Alisson harrumphed. “I don’t have beer and this thing won’t give me real beer.” Alexis shook her head and walked over to the replicator. A few quick taps bypassed the default for synthehol and a deep rich Guinness materialized. “You just have to tell the computer to bypass the synthehol settings.”

Alisson grinned, patted her check and then kissed the other one. “You are so smart, Alexis.” Then she gleefully ordered drinks for herself and Anthony. Alexis rolled her eyes hard and subvocalized, “Oh yeah I’m a freaking programming genius, I can order beer.” She sat down at the table. Frigga trotted along loyally next to Kane and slipped under the table.

Bonner

Kane pulled Alexis’s chair out and then took a seat and said “Smells great. Lex talks about your baking a lot. And she’s made some stuff that is better than anything else Ive tried. But the mess… its like a flour grenade went off and killed a bunch of eggs.”

Kane

Alexis tried not to look at him funny when he pulled her chair out. It was weird, but she was absolutely not complaining either. Absolutely no one would believe her if she told them.

Anthony nodded and pointed at the other side of the kitchen and the volcano that has erupted, “Uh huh. Every. Single. Time. It’s why I bought her the bakery, to contain the mess outside of our kitchen.”

“Maybe Lex needs her own ship, then…” Kane said and squeezed her knee under the table.

Alisson eyed him, “If I had dough…”

Alexis grinned watching, “She would throw it at him and then remind him to never trust anyone who didn’t make a mess in the kitchen. If the kitchen is clean, then some horrible cooking disaster has been hidden. Don’t trust them.” By the end Alisson was speaking in tandem with Alexis, unaware of or not caring that her daughter was explaining. Alexis just nodded her head toward her mother, see?

Kane smiled… and it had a kind of melancholy hint to it. It was a look she hadn’t seen on him before.

Whatever her parents were saying was lost to her, as her attention focused completely on him. It wouldn’t be the first time he had her total attention. She reached for his hand under the table and squeezed it. Her thumb rubbing over his palm, tracing the compass rose tattooed there. She could speculate on what was wrong, but if she was wrong, whatever it was, like he’d told her, they were in it together.

The pies were not near burnt, but excellent as always. For Alexis it tasted like home, if home could be said to have a flavor.

Alisson was rather pleased to hear that Alexis was cooking. “It’s the only scientific thing I can claim to have taught her. What have you made?”

Alexis had to pause and think back. She was actually cooking a lot now. She enjoyed it and it was chemistry and not in the lab. It was normal and it felt good. “The new bun recipe you sent me, Monte Cristos, and a failed attempt at biscuits. I got called for an emergency and the dough went bad before I got back.”

Bonner

Kane was eating and listening. He face was passive, with only a hint of a scowl. “She also made some amazing cookies. Oh, and the pancakes the other morning were worth waking up for.” A piece of steak disappeared from his plate and found it’s way to Frigga… not for the first time.

Kane

Conversation lulled for a few minutes as the meal was eaten. Alisson had to ask though. She was trying to take Anthony’s advice, but surely she could ask some things. “How early did you get up to make pancakes? Or does she not get up at 0400 to go to work anymore?”

Bonner

Kane chuckled and said “We both work some weird hours, but we try to keep them generally the same. It also helps that when she gets lost in a problem and is trying to figure it out, I can lock down the lab and make her leave. Which I have done more than once.” He took a drink and then said “The pancakes were a late morning for us. Like 0900 or something.”

Kane

That one embarrassed Alexis no end. Especially when her dad stopped, fork half way to his mouth, and began to laugh till he cried. “You are a braver man than me, Kane. I’m sure that went over like a basket of puppies.”

“Oh, I scanned her for weapons when she got to the door, for sure.” Kane said and looked at Lex and smiled.

Alexis looked at Solomon, “Why do you think I went back to medical. He can’t lock me out of Sickbay.” Actually she had no idea if that was actually true. He had some pretty impressive by pass codes for GALEN. She teased him anyway…or was attempting to.

“Haven’t had to, yet… but I could try.” Kane replied, only half-joking.

A quick and emphatic, “No,” was her answer. She liked to work, she needed to work. At least he did not tell them that Frigga woke him up to tattle on her.

Alisson washed down her food and then set her napkin down. “0900 sounds great. I have to be at the bakery by 3:30 a.m. Also why I hired someone. I’m too old to get up that early.”

Bonner

Kane snorted. “At least you get to choose who works for you. I’ve got a guy I’d happily trade for a moldy piece of bread.” He looked at Lex and said “And yes, I mean Borchek.”

Kane

“Borcheck would eat the equipment instead of the baked goods, and then mix the batter with nitro or something and blow the bldg to pieces when he put it in the oven.” Alexis set her glass down, “Oh! Send him to security. Send him to enemy ships..accidents will happen, he will walk away fine.” She looked at her dad, “I’m serious, Day one he caused a chemical biohazard and I had to quarantine him. Melted a hole in the floor of the lab. He didn’t even mean to mix them, he was just talking away, arms waving, test tubes in hand and they spilled.”

Bonner

Kane’s jaw flexed like it always did when Borchek’s name was mentioned. “I don’t know who he has watching his back, but it’s someone with clout and who isn’t on this ship. Because if they were, there is no way they’d allow him access to a lab. And everything I try to lock him out… his credentials are reinstated in minutes. Security doesn’t even know how it happens.” Kane took a bite, but the fork paused halfway to his mouth and his eyes narrowed and locked on Anthony. “I think I may transfer him back to the Academy. Maybe the ecology tract would be better for him.” he said with a slight grin.

Kane

Without missing a beat, Anthony flexed and cracked his knuckles. “You said he’d eat the bakery equipment, right? So he’s Bolian?” Alexis nodded. “Oh please send him to me. I need a lab rat. I can feed him any plant, fungus, bacteria, whatever and see what it does with minimal risk to him.”

Alexis opened her mouth to protest, that was medically unethical and dangerous and bad science! It took her a minute to switch gears - her dad was joking…she hoped.

Bonner

Kane looked at him and said “Well, you do outrank me… sir.” and he stood up and went to Lex’s bag, retrieved the PaDD, and tapped quickly, and then dropped the PaDD back in the bag and sat back down.

“Transfer orders sent.” and he grinned cheerily at the elder Bonner.

Kane

Anthony looked positively gleeful. Alexis knew that look. Her father enjoyed ‘problem students.’ Then there was a ping from the computer, the transfer orders. Anthony stood went to the computer, “And accepted.” He sat down rubbing his hands together. “You know we’re going to be here 2 weeks. You could always let me in the lab and assign him to me. I would love to get an early crack at this guy. And if it helps clear out some lab work, all the benefit for you.”

2 weeks?! Her mother looked…happy and so did her dad. She would be working most of it though. Maybe she could adjust her shifts? Take Frigga with her, she was better than an alarm clock. Alexis stacked the dishes and stood walking to the other side of the room and began moving things to the reclimator. Thank goodness for the cleaning cycle. How did her mother get dough at the top of the window? (All of which had the blinds closed).

Bonner

Kane’s eyes narrowed and he looked at Anthony. “Listen…” and he sighed heavily. “I’m trying really hard to be good tonight. For Alexis. I’m not, and she will totally back me up here, I’m not normally like this. See… I don’t really like people. I mean, you two are nice enough. And its not that… its just…” and he sighed again. He hated talking about stuff like this. But a glance at Alexis and he steeled himself. “I hate almost everyone. Its just who I am, how I came to be. Its not personal… I just… I tend to expect the worst from people and I rarely get disappointed. Alexis, though…” and he looked at her in the kitchen, “… she’s different. She drove me nuts the first few times we dealt with one another. But she has… something… something that makes me want to make her happy.” He turned his attention back to Alisson and Anthony. “You are her parents, so I’m trying my best not to be a dick. But if you want to be in the lab? Well… you might not want me around your daughter after that. I’m not apologizing for who I am… Im just letting you know that one dinner doesn’t mean you know me. And Borchek is a goddamn safety risk and I want him out of my department and off this ship. I’m not doing you any favors.”

Kane

Anthony started right back at him. “Yeah I got a taste in the lab. That’s why I was there, to see if I could help out as a lab tech or something. I did not know you were the CSO at the time. For Alexis’ sake I wouldn’t do that. But she gets her work ethic from me. We don’t like to be idle.”

He crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair. The words might have been aggressive if just read, but Anthony was calm and rather matter-of-fact. “I didn’t think you were doing me favors. This guy is dangerous, the fact Alexis spoke poorly of him is a red flag. But that means we, the Academy, failed. I am more than happy to have him transfer back and fix this. That’s part of my job. I am also happy to babysit him while I’m here. I’m not doing it as a favor to you, and certainly not because you’re dating my daughter, or because I want you to like me. But because for some reason attempts to curb him don’t work. I’m doing it to for this ship because I have the time when others can’t babysit him.”

Before he could say more, Alisson couldn’t stand it anymore. “Of course we don’t know you. We’d like to fix that, but for some reason we can’t because my daughter will choose to avoid it and go bury herself in work. But SERIOUSLY. An engagement ring? Some mystery man? You hate people? You know she’s never going to stop driving you nuts? It’s just who she is. If you’re going to marry my daughter then we should at least know each other, even if you hate us in the end. And don’t think I didn’t see that tattoo peeking out the back of your neck, Alexis?!
WHAT. IS. GOING. ON. WITH. YOU?!?! Why didn’t you tell us?”

Alexis stood in the door way staring at her mother. Looking as defeated as she was that first meal in the lounge. “我不知道如何告诉他们这是一个假戒指。他们不会明白的。(Wǒ bù zhīdào rúhé gàosù tāmen zhè shì yīgè jiǎ jièzhǐ. Tāmen bù huì míngbái de.)”

Bonner

Kane stood up and walked over to her and put an arm around her. “沒有告訴他們關於最後一個人的事 關於他出現之前做了什麼” he said and then took a breath. “們知道在某個時候我們將不得不談論我。 還不如早點做.”

Alexis shook her head. “不，只是我在和某人约会。一切都发生得太快了。当我再次与他们交谈时，一切都结束了.” She’d been too devistated, too ashamed to tell her parents how stupid she’d been. She grabbed his hand, “Solomon, 不.” She was putting them all at risk because she couldn’t play the game. People often thought because she was smart she didn’t understand feelings, relationships. To an extent she guesses that was true. That had never mattered much when she was little, but then one day…she closed her eyes for a very brief moment. He had asked her if she wanted more and she did, maybe she just wasn’t meant to. This whole situation was insane.

He looked back at Alisson and Anthony. “Be right back.” He looked at Alexis and said “Gonna go grab something from my bag. Don’t leave… and everything is fine. Breathe.” He kissed her cheek and then walked out the door after pointing to Frigga and then to Alexis. Frigga loved immediately to Alexis’s side and sat, pushing her head under Lex’s hand.

Kane

Always with the dog guarding her. She thought Solomon might have been putting Frigga through extra training, but she hadn’t asked,not wanting to consider the why’s. She caught the laughter before it escaped. It might sound a little hysterical. She tried to breathe and figure out where everything went crazy.

“Alexis what are you speaking?” Her mother’s sails weren’t quite deflated but she was almost stunned to stillness. “And what about those tattoos? When did…” Alisson didn’t have anything against them, but her daughter had never seemed the type. Did she get it because of Kane? Did she feel she had too?

Alexis interrupted her, “Mandarin. You want a fairy tale, mom. I love you for it, but I’m not the princess of the story. At best I’m the weird wizard everyone is afraid of,” her weight shifted and Frigga pressed harder keeping her in place, “that has just the right magic tool for the hero. And she’s forgotten and a hermit when no longer needed. I got the tattoos when I was 22. To remind me of what I am.”

She sighed, “You and dad had a fairy tale, but that’s not my story. We all knew I would never be normal. He makes me feel normal, and it’s okay when I’m not. That’s all that should matter.” Her fingers tunneled into Frigga’s fur. Why did they have to surprise her?

Her dad put a hand on his wife’s arm. “Of course that’s all that matters. You used to tell us everything, but I suppose it’s normal, you grew up. Whether we all get along or not, he’s important to you. That’s all that matters. We’re just curious, Nugget.”

Bonner

It was less then three minutes for Kane to return. When he walked in, he simply came in and sat down. In the middle of the table, he set a small black pyramid; each face only fifteen or twenty centimeters. He pressed one face, and the top moist point began glowing red. Kane held his finger up for silence before anyone started talking. Seconds passed, then slowly each point began to glow a soft green… one at a time… until finally all were green. Kane leaned back and said “Ok. We’re good.” He looked at Alisson first and said “Ask what you want. But I’m going to tell you… the answers you get will not be all pleasant. And… they can get you both in a great deal of trouble for just knowing it, regardless if you talk about it or not. There are a lot of very paranoid and powerful people who want what you want to know to be kept very quiet. But I’ll answer anything you want to know.”

Kane

With Solomon’s return Frigga had stayed with her but released the pressure against her legs. Alexis stood stock still in the doorway until the lights turned green. Then she returned to her chair beside him, Frigga on her opposite side, boxing her in.

Alisson looked at the strange little piece with total confusion. “Put simply, it blocks transmissions and recordings, mom.”

“I know what it is Nugget.” Alisson swallowed really hard and her father turned in his seat to look at his wife, obvious surprise. “When you were serving on the Hathaway, a man came to the house, asking all kinds of questions about you. He had one of those. He said I would be seeing a lot of him, had a heavy Irish accent.”

“Alisson why didn’t you tell me.” Anthony slipped an arm around her.

“He described in very great detail what would happen to Alexis if I said anything.” She swallowed and looked at Kane. “Your marrying my daughter, I guess I just wanted to get to know you, but I suppose that’s a complicated question. So why don’t we start with why your story needs one of those,” she pointed at the pyramid. “Because ai don’t know where else to start.”

Frigga barked, Alexis saw black, and was going to be very very sick.

Bonner

Kane put an arm around Alexis and said “Easy… you already how all this ended. The past is the past and there is nothing to do but move ahead.”

He then looked at Alisson and said “And that brings us to me. So why my story needs that is… well…” and he took a breath.

“I’m around 162 years old, and I am not from this universe or reality.”

Kane