Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in What If…

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in What If…

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in What If…
Posted by… suppressed (80) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Marianne chuckled lightly. “Barely known him two days and you’ve got his number. You must really like him.” She patted Rand on the arm. “Go, or he will.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand blushed furiously, “Yes ma’am, I do.” Rand bobbed what could only be a tiny curtsy and hurried back down the hallway. She slowed before she entered the room and took a deep breath to try and clear the heat on her cheeks.

“I found Clue. I always liked this one as a child.” She walked over and set the box on the bed and opened it. While she set the game up she wondered if she should sit in the chair so she could face him while they played. She would much rather sit beside him again though.

Yeoman Rand

Rand was eyeing the spot she really wanted. Roman patted next to him. “Sit here. We’ll just hide the cards from each other. I love Clue. I always win.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Her heart raced and she bit her lip just a bit when he patted the spot next to him. She slid the board to the side and sat back down. “I bet you win at everything.” She shuffled the cards in the 3 decks and had him pick one from each. Then she mixed them and dealt. She gave him a pencil and a score card.

“How do you pick the animals you study?”

Yeoman Rand

Roman laughed. “No, I most definitely do not.” He took his score card and looked at his cards. He smiled, “Well, there’s a lot of freedom in what we pick, I like to have some prey animals, some predator animals, kept separately of course.” He responded as he picked a colored player piece and set it in the starting spot.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

She glanced up and over and grinned, “I bet you won all the competitions in school.” Rand placed her piece and went through her cards. “You don’t study them together do you?” She sounded horrified at the thought. “There was a news story about a private researcher who kept their animals seperate but would put them together to observe hunting behaviors. The prey never stood a chance in the inclosed area. Those scientists should be trapped with the animals.”

Yeoman Rand

Roman looked horrified and shook his head vigorously. He rolled the single die and moved his piece. “Never. There are more than enough ways to do that without doing… that.“

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“I thought it was horrible. The report also said what the supposed scientists learned was inaccurate because they hunt was too easy.” Rand shook her head, “I mean, it’s natural, prey and predator, but messing with the balance like that.” She rolled and moved her piece. “Isn’t it more effective to study them in their natural habitat instead of a lab?”

Yeoman Rand

Roman nodded. “It is, and it would be preferable, but I am stationed on a starship. So I do what I can what with I have. Besides, there are things about serving on a ship I’d miss were I stationed at a science outpost.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Like what?” She asked glancing up at him. While he talked she took her next turn and entered the conservatory. She paired it with a weapon and suspect and waited to see what he had.

Yeoman Rand

Roman showed her a card, then took his turn, entered a room, and made his own guess. “The new planets, the alien meetings, the… adventure of it?” It would seem like the conversation would keep him awake as he was quite interested but it seemed to relax him in a way that was making him tired.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand showed him a card and then took her turn. “Have you met very many new people? That seems terribly stressful. What If you do something wrong amd don’t know until it is too late?”

Yeoman Rand

Roman shrugged, “Then you do. Things can be so different, messing up is unavoidable.” He took his turn, used the shortcut, and made a new guess.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand showed him a card and then took her turn. “I guess animals are safer. Instinct is pretty universal isn’t it?”

Yeoman Rand

“It is. Still, there are many accidents.” Roman said and pulled up a sleeve to show off a rather gnarly looking scar along his wrist. An animal scratch, no doubt.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Oh!” Her hand reached over and gently touched his arm. “What happened?”

Yeoman Rand

Roman smiled. He seemed to like her touch. “I misread the signals of a certain little critter when I first met her. A little girl called an atarivan mouse.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“A mouse?!” Rand gave him a look. “What kind of mouse leaves a scar like that?” It seemed to big for something as tiny as a mouse.

Yeoman Rand

“One with wicked hooked claws,” Roman said. He grabbed a PaDD and showed her a picture of the mouse in question. Sure enough, it had needle sharp curved claws. It was bigger than most mice with big ears but was objectively quite cute. He also took his guess for the game.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“OH MY GOSH SHE IS ADORABLE.” Rand absently handed him a card while she stared at the picture. “What kind of studies are you doing? What do you think the claws are for? Those ears are so big. What did Jay name her?”

Yeoman Rand

Roman smiled. This wasn’t working to make him tired, Rand was the only person as engaged in all this as Jay would be and it was only working him up, though still seeming to relax him. “Ugh,” he sighed a suffering sigh, “Nibbles. The claws are defense, she eats mostly berries and plants, and the occasional bug, which they probably assist in catching. We think the ears are big so she can hear predators.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“What is their skin and coat like? I imagine the babies could hurt the mother’s skin when they are young.” She looked at the photo, she thought Nibbles was a great name. “Do you call her Nibbles when Jay can’t hear?”

Yeoman Rand

“Their skin is quite think and rubbery, but their fur is soft and insulating,” Roman replied. “The babies’ claws aren’t big enough to do real damage to the mother. Sort of like when a baby teeths during breast feeding.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand hummed while she looked at her score card, “Hmmmm.” That made sense. Then she looked up and eyed him shrewdly. It was a very different look. It lacked any anxiousness, like she was comfortable with him. He hadn’t answered her last question. Her eyes danced, “You do call her Nibbles, and I bet you sneak her, her favorite treats when no one is looking.”

Yeoman Rand

Roman loved that look. He gave her a look of mock insult. “What? I would never!” He said, but his tone was light and playful.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand laughed, “Ya do! Do ya get bonus points for sneakin’ her treats when Jay is in tha room?” Her accent came out a bit heavier. “Don’ worry, I won’t tell.” She leaned in a little, “It’ll be our secret, but only if ya send me updates and pictures of her.”

Yeoman Rand

Roman eyed her as if judging how much a threat she was, but the look was playful. “Hmmm.... You have yourself a deal, m’lady.” He said. “You’ll know more about that little rodent than Jay himself.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand flushed, not from embarrassment, but from pleasure and delight. “Nibbles, her name os Nibbles.” She was teasing him, and her expression said so. “Well you can start telling Mr all about her while we play.”

Rand moved her piece making her way across the board.

Yeoman Rand

Roman started telling her everything he knew about the mouse, both as an individual and as a species as they played. It had two effects, one, it kept him droning on in the way Mrs Caliano had expected, and two, it distracted him from the game and kept him from getting the answer too quickly.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand listened attentively even as she narrowed her choices and options down. She asked more questions as he talked and she noticed him taking longer each turn. So she made sure her questions were broad and open-ended.

Yeoman Rand

Eventually his eyes were all droopy and he was taking mini naps between turns. One turn, if she just didn’t prod him into going, he’d fall fast asleep.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand noticed and started taking longer with each turn. Eventually when he did fall asleep, she just sat quietly for awhile. Then when she was sure he wouldn’t wake up, she carefully put the game away. She would have moved to the chair, but she was afraid too much movement would wake him up.

Yeoman Rand

Roman was leaned gently against her. He slept soundly the whole night… So long as she didn’t move.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Sleep was long in coming for Rand. She tried to sleep, she did, but the medication had worn off just enough. Horrible scenarios of what might happen invaded her thoughts and robbed her of her ability to sleep. Every creak, every unfamiliar foot step, muffled voice, flash of light through the window put her on edge. She would have gotten tea or walked paced or read if she dared get up. The poor man was hurt because of her and she wouldn’t dream of upsetting the sleep he needed to get better.

Yeoman Rand

When Roman woke up in the morning, he looked at her, “Did I fall asleep?” Then he woke up a little more and added, “Did you sleep? You look tired.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand nodded, “You did.” She shrugged, “I slept during the day, yesterday. It was hard to fall back asleep.” That was the truth just not the why. “How are you feeling?”

Yeoman Rand

Roman sighed softly. At least nothing had happened while he was asleep. Jay and Lori had returned last night. He shrugged. “Same really. But I’m alright. Just want to get up and moving. I hate being made to rest.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Well,” Rand smiled softly, “You are allowed to get up today. Would you like to start with having breakfast at the table?” He would need to go slow, just incase the dizziness hadn’t faded, but he was allowed to get up.

Yeoman Rand

Roman nodded. “I would like to start with anything that gets me out of this room.” He stood from the bed, wobbled a bit but kept his balance, and headed to the closet for acceptable clothing. Without thinking, he pulled off his shirt and tossed it across the room into the hamper right in front of her.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand had stood when he did. She yawned, covering it and tried to be silent. She looked down at her clothes and tried to brush the wrinkles out when his shirt sailed past her and landed in the basket. Her eyes went wide.

She shouldn’t look, she shouldn’t look, she shouldn’t look. But she did anyway, out of the corner of her eye. He was… well suffice it to say, Rand’s magnificent and eloquent vocabulary failed her. She already thought he was handsome and the most attractive man she had ever met, but now…

She stuttered something unintelligible and then hurried out of the room, almost falling as she stubbed her bare toe.

Yeoman Rand

“What? Oh,” Roman said and seemed embarrassed. At that moment, Jay walked into the room laughing. “What did you do? Rand just ran out of here, her face a tomato!” Then he saw Roman without a shirt. “Ooooh, that’s got to hurt.” He joked. “Shut up,” Roman said playfully, pulling fresh clothes from the closet.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Lori was talking to Mrs Caliano in the kitchen. Rand was too embarrassed to go see them. She was quite flustered. She needed her things, but had no idea where they were. She decided to go in search of Bys or Pater. She peeked into open doors but didn’t see them until she decided to step outside and look.

Bys appeared silently beside her. “Miss Farquharson, you shouldn’t go out alone.” He smiled brotherly at her and turned her back toward another room. “Your things are in here. Mara packed what she thought you would need.”

Rand sighed. “Thank you, Bys. You always know what I need.” Rand went into the room. Not long after there was a knock. It was Lori. “Well, if I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t believe it. Rand spent all night with a dashing young man in his home.”

Rand turned scarlet, “LORI!” It… it wasn’t like that! It’s his parents’ house! He was injured! It… it… Lori!?” Lori fought not to laugh. She hugged Rand instead to hide the grin on her face.

Yeoman Rand

Roman and Jay exited their room and went out to the kitchen - Jay behind Roman. All who knew those two knew Jay was watching Roman to make sure he wasn’t going to get dizzy or fall. When they reached the dining room, Jay pulled a chair out for both of them. “Sit.” Roman sat.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Lori teased Rand near relentlessly. By the time they entered the dinningroom her face was still bright pink. Her gaze landed on Roman’s and the scarlet returned to her face instantly. She didn’t know what to say and she couldn’t seem to look away either.

Mrs. Caliano’s arrival broke the spell. Rand was grateful because she thought she might melt from the heat in her cheeks. “May I help, Mrs. Caliano?” She barely bit back the word, ‘please’. Anything to give her something to do.

Yeoman Rand

Mrs Caliano smiled. “Of course.” She said, and she gave Rand some things to do. But when it came time to sit at the table, the only space left for Rand was the one right next to Roman.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand was all too happy to help, and she really did help. She seemed to anticipate whatever Mrs. Caliano needed done and was pleasant and energetic as she did the task quickly. She took the seat beside Roman, but one glance at Lori told her it had all been planned that way. It made her uncomfortable the way everyone seemed to be… matchmaking was the best word. Like everyone was watching what she and Roman would do. She kept her hands hidden in her lap, until she had to use them.

Yeoman Rand

Roman hadn’t noticed it. He smiled at Rand, “Hey.” And then ate breakfast with the rest of them. Jay poked fun at Roman and Lori but not so much Rand. He’d noticed it tended to make her uneasy.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Hi.” It was soft and quiet and the red soread to the tips of her ears. She just knew everyone noticed. It was awful, but then the meal started.

Rand was polite and very proper. Rather than being stuffy and uptight, it was very natural and relaxed. Having good manners was not only complimentary to her host, but it dictated how one was supposed to act. Knowing that helped ease some of her anxiety.

Yeoman Rand

The meal was soon over. Mrs Caliano let her help clean everything up. Since they weren’t allowed to go anywhere, Roman and Jay started looking at some of their work. Mr Caliano sat down with a book he’d been reading.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand sat and talked with Lori while she got ready. Lori explained the schedule for practice and rehearsals. “I hate I can’t be there.”

Lori hugged her. “I know, but it is safer for you.” Rand looked dejected. “What am I supposed to do all day Lori?”

She grinned, “Get to know Roman. You did promise to let him spend more time with you and talk to him, let him get to know you while he was healing.”

“But I need the practice,” Rand tried.

Lori laughed, “Not for this production you don’t. You will be fine. Maybe Roman will read lines with you. He seems to know the piece.”

Lori walked into the livingroom with Rand. Bys arrived with Dyla arrived just after, “Ms. Jones, this is Dyla. He will be your driver.”

Yeoman Rand

“Nice to meet you Dyla. I will be ready in just a moment,” Lori said shaking his hand.

Jay laughed. “We’ll all get in on it. Roman can be Darcy,” he grinned at that, “Mum and Dad can watch, and I’ll be every other part as needed.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

They’d heard all that? Oh no! What if Roman thought she didn’t want to be around him? What if the Calianos thought she was rude? What if they thought she was whinny and pampered? Maybe that was better than them knowing how scared and anxious she always was? Roman didn’t say anything. He probably didn’t like the idea of being voluntold to read for Darcy. Maybe he was already regretting asking her to come? And now he was stuck with her until this was over. She needed to talk to Bys. He could leave people here and take her away. This was awful.

Lori laughed and nudged Rand with an elbow. “I can’t wait to see Jay read for Lydia. That will be absolute comedy gold.” She laughed, and Rand grinned slightly because she was supposed to.

Yeoman Rand

Jay hadn’t heard all of it, just Maybe Roman will read lines with you. He grinned at Lori, “A performance I’d gladly repeat for you.”

Lori winked at him, “I’ll hold you to that.” She gave Rand a hug, “Is there anything I can bring back for you?” Rand mentioned a few personal items she needed and Lori promised to get them. “Alright, Dyla I’m ready to go. Anyone else coming?”

Roman meanwhile smiled at Rand. “I don’t mind helping you, if that’s what you want.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Thank you,” Rand said quietly. “I hate missing rehearsals. I have a copy of the script.”

Yeoman Rand

“Get Jay a copy too, please. I can’t miss this Lydia performance either.” Roman said and smiled at her. “This is going to be fun and help you prepare. Promise.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“No problem, I’ll ask for extra copies,” Lori promised and then grabbed her bag to follow Dyla out. She paused at the door, “You comin’ Casanova?”

“I’m coming, hang on a minute.” He disappeared into his and Roman’s room for a moment and then joined Lori. He pointed a finger at Roman, “You behave, or else.” Then he left with Lori and her guards

“I’m sure it will be. Thank you.” The door closed quietly behind Lori, and the Calianos were going about their usual activities. Rand stood there a moment, unsure of what to do. “I will let you finish your work. Is there anything I can get for you? I don’t mind.”

Yeoman Rand

“There’s nothing I need to finish. Jay and I were just going over some things we had our team from the ship send over. We can get back to it when he comes back,” Roman replied. “Hand me the script.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Oh. Umm…” Rand bit her lip. “I don’t know where it is. Bys said he brought it when Mara and her team,” she sighed heavily, “When they closed the house I was staying in. I haven’t found it yet though.”

Yeoman Rand

“Then I’ll call Jay and have Lori bring home extra copies,” Roman said definitively, but with a shrug. Like this is what’s happening and it’s no big deal. “In the meantime, want to see the most recent picture of Nibbles?”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Oh, you don’t need to bother Jay. It’s here, I just have to find it.” If Bys said he brought it, then he did. She just hadn’t looked through the three bags he had brought for her.

The question transformed her. “Oh yes, very much.” She hurried over and sat down next to him. She was like a kid who had just been told she was getting her first puppy.

Yeoman Rand

Roman pulled his PaDD over and opened the reports he and Jay had been discussing. He opened Nibbles’ file and showed Rand a photo of the atarivan mouse in her terrarium, peeking her head out from under one of the hiding things in there. He also dialed Jay despite her protests.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand really didn’t want him calling Jay. “Oh, please don’t. I’ll find it. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to Lori because a request on my behalf distracted him.” But Roman called him anyway. Rand simply said thank you when he got off the comm. She buried her nerves in looking at the picture. It was just the thing because Rand loved animals. “She’s adorable, and those ears! Have you tested her hearing?”

Yeoman Rand

“She could hear the beat of a bird’s wing from two miles,” Roman said happily. “I think she’s a little older, and her hearing is still that acute.” Roman was confident in Jay. He would never let something so simple as obtaining a few extra copies of a script distract him. Neither of them were security officers, but they were certainly able to act as one in a pinch.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Really? I wonder if she could hear owls flying. Their flight is almost completely silent. Is that range linear or three dimentional?” Rand asked excitedly. She was zooming in on the photo and studying the face of the small creature.

Yeoman Rand

“Three dimensional.” Roman thought about it. “Maybe a close one. Maybe I should find a way to test that one day.” Roman said.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Why not while you’re here?” The idea came to Rand suddenly. Eagerly, she set a hand on his arm. “I don’t imagine you can keep avians on a star ship, so you would have to be planetside to test it right? I know someone who has a falconry school and has a trained tawny owl.”

Yeoman Rand

Roman considered it a moment. “I’d have to get you and your friend a visitor pass and bring them on board the ship. Nibbles can’t leave the lab.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Oh,” Rand supposed that wouldn’t work then. The owl would have to be cleared and approved and it would take days or weeks to get that done. Besides if the owl couldn’t fly they couldn’t test Nibbles hearing. “I suppose there are machines that can simulate all of that.”

Yeoman Rand

“Yeah but nothing beats a real test. Though, I would want to do the test as minimal as possible. If she hears those wingbeats she’s going to think there’s a predator nearby.” Roman said.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“It wouldn’t be fair to frighten her. But if she was caught wild, wouldn’t she be used to watching out and listening for predators? Survival Instinct?” Rand asked.

Yeoman Rand

“She would, but it would stress her out. I’m willing to cause some stress, but there’s the idea of ‘necessary’ stress and ‘undue’ stress. Some activists say no stress is necessary, but my work keeps us informed before we go sending people into alien environments.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“I understand, undue stress, but stress is a part of life. It’s necessary for our biological functions. Nothing can ever be stress free.” She wished it could be, but that wasn’t how life worked.

Yeoman Rand

Roman smiled. “I agree, but wouldn’t you consider it stressful if a strange giant plucked you off your home world and put you in a big plastic box that kind of looks like earth but obviously isn’t?”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Of course I would,” Rand answered right away. “It would look like Earth but off. I wouldn’t have to hunt or forage for my food or be able to choose where my nest would be or what it would be made of. It would smell familiar, but not like home. Strange sounds would make me imagine unknown creditors, but they would never come. I imagine I would become jittery and paranoid. I would be in undue stress for the rest of my life.”

Yeoman Rand

Roman nodded. “Thankfully animals are generally incredibly adaptable and they do grow accustomed and relax into a routine. But there is always an adjustment period in which we watch them closely and release the ones that don’t seem to be adjusting.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand’s head tipped to the side as she looked up at him, “What if they can’t adjust to being released?”

Yeoman Rand

“Animal refuges for ex research animals will take them.” Roman replied. “I have a couple I work regularly with.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Do you ever wonder if they miss home? If they think about it?” How awful to never get to go home again.

Yeoman Rand

“I’m sure they do, actually,” Roman said with a sigh. “Animal perceive far more than people give them credit for.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“James Herriot said, ‘If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.’ I think it’s true. I would rather spend time with animals. They make sense.”

Yeoman Rand

Roman smiled. “They make sense and so long as you’re good to them, they’ll generally be good to you.” He laughed, “Or they’ll act on instinct. Which I can’t blame them for.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Even if you aren’t good to them, they make sense. The signs and warnings are always there, if you pay attention.” She smiled at the photo of the tiny rodent, “You always know where you stand with animals. They are honest, they don’t play tricks or deceive. If I didn’t act, I think I would have worked with animals in some way.”

Yeoman Rand

“Well, perhaps someday when I get a lab if you’ve retired you can be my lab aide,” Roman joked and smiled.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand smiled and took his hand and shook it, “Deal Commander. I won’t forget. It will be my retirement plan.” That may be sooner than she had been planning. If Bys couldn’t find whoever this was, she would have to publicly retire. She wouldn’t put the rest of the cast and crew at risk over some poor disturbed soul. “For today I am at your disposal. What would you like to do? And no, I won’t help you break doctor’s orders,” she smiled shyly at him.

Yeoman Rand

“Oh, come on, Raaaaand,” the commander complained as though he were an upset child. But then he grinned and took a hand. “Fine, fine, fine. We will think of something to do here. With just the two of us.” He gave her a look intended to make her blush.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

And it did. Rand turned redder than the most perfect apple. Her breath caught, and her eyes widened. What exactly did he mean? Her mind raced and whirled and her emotions ran the gamut, and it was all displayed for Roman to see on her face. Gone was the poised actress and just a very shy woman. Her nervousness even gave itself away in the tremble in her hand. There was no fear, but a lot of anxiety. She didn’t know what she was supposed to do or say or even what she wanted.

Yeoman Rand