[USS Juno] Lunch Revelations

Posted on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 2:31am by Captain Harrold Anderson

2,320 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: [USS Shanghai] S1E2: Encounter in the Abyss
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: MD+4, 1200 Hours

Harry had just completed his meeting with T'San, she suggested that he talk with Dan about his father instability issues, and she thought he was doing fine, and it only had been a day. To give Kerja a chance. He expressed his feelings of not being up for the task. She told him, he was. If he could command a ship, he can raise a daughter. He old her that he would seek out Dan.

Commander Bers had been right, it had been a quick trip to the planet and he'd had her back when her father said to. Kerja honestly wouldn't have minded if they were a bit late, if she got to stay with Bers longer. The thought made her blush slightly. "Yes. I'm hungry," she said answering her father. "Commander Bers is quite interesting," she said, making conversation while trying not to reveal anything.

Harry was not sure how to respond to that, he just smiled. "Did you get all your personal belongings that you wanted? It's gonna be a long trip, I want make you feel as comfortable as possible, given our situation." Suggested Harry. In reality, he did not want to step foot in Tera's place. He knew Tera would never approve it, and he respected her enough not to step foot in her place.

"Yes, everything I wanted." She answered him a bit disappointed he hadn't taken her introduction on the conversation of Bers.

"Did you make it to school today?" He asked, not sure, what to say, to a girl he barely knew. He assumed this would be a father thing to do.

"No, I haven't met the teacher yet and with the trip down to the planet I thought we were waiting until tomorrow?" Kerja looked at him hoping he wouldn't be upset. She was not the kind of person to skip classes. She took her studies seriously.

"Very well, I would suggest you stop by sickbay, its protocol to have a full physical when being assigned to starfleet vessel, since you will be with us for the foreseeable future." Suggested Harry as a possible course of action.

"Yeah, I can do that." She didn't mind doctors so much and the doctor here had been nice to her.

"I don't expect you to have lunch with me every day, no doubt, when you start to make friends, you would probably want to hang out with them, also I am not sure I like this room." Said Harry referring to the captain's mess they were currently eating in.

"I don't make friends easily," she answered him looking around. "Why not?"

"It seems to be a wasted space, I rather eat with the crew, maybe the Chef can turn this into a storage room, small party room or something." He suggested, taking a few bites off of his plate.

"Well you could turn it into something else. I'm not much of a social eater, I like having a room but it's your ship. I can eat wherever you tell me to. Did you say we were going on a long trip? How long? And do you think we'll find mom soon?"

"The Juno is slated to explore sector 5 of the gamma quadrant, same quadrant the enemy was last scene heading towards, finding your mother is one of my top priorities," he said with a little compassion in his voice.

"Okay . . ." She assumed there was some reason why the adults weren't letting her in on how long they would be gone or certain details of the mission. Kerja decided to let it go. "So . . . what do you like to do? In your spare time I mean? When you aren't being the Captain?"

Harry laughed, and with a big grin. "I am or was..." He was not sure if that life was still going to be apart of his life. He went on to say, "was a night owl, party at night, work all day." He suggested, with a grin.

Kerja raised her eyebrows at this. That wasn't going to work. She couldn't have someone partying while she was trying to sleep. She needed her rest if she was supposed to fit into a new school, a new life.

"What about you?" He asked, trying to be nice, and trying to see what he needed to do, to make her more comfortable on the Juno.

"I like to read, i like to explore. Is there a holodeck?" She shrugged not sure what else she should say at the moment. "I don't really need anyone looking after me, I can take care of myself. Except when there are sacred gardens around apparently."

Harry took a few bites off his plate, not exactly sure what to say. "Yes, we have a few, your more than welcome to reserve them. I am just warning you, I have ordered Lieutenant Xalanth to create snooper programs, to see what the children are creating in the holodeck, any issues will be reported to Commander Bers, " he said, realizing that probably sounded a little like invasion of privacy, but young children unsupervised make horrible decisions. "The snooper program would only will report, questionable material or content. I don't see you having any issues with that." He said, with a nervous smile.

He could tell things were not going as well, as he would have hoped. A child did not show the respect, afforded to a captian. He needed to change his approach to dealing with them. Especially his daughter. Did he want to be the mean father persona to the children of the Juno, or did he want to be approachable? This was a decision he was struggling with. Sadly, at the moment. He was not sure what type of father he wanted to be. This was all very new to him.

"Okay," Kerja said, looking at him warily. "I just want someplace to run that doesn't have bulkheads. I like to run and listen to music, look at nice scenery." It freed her mind and she knew it was good for her body, as long as she didn't overdue it.

"The Juno, certainly has those luxuries, I know this can not be easy for you, but I hope in time, the Juno will feel like home to you. Even after we find your Mom, every chance I can, I want to stop by and visit, if I can not convince you both to join us." He said, trying to sound positive, and he wanted her to know, she was always welcome on his ship.

Kerja nodded. She wasn't entirely sure about this man yet but he was her father according to the doctor so she wanted to get to know him as much as possible. It was late in her childhood, not that Kerja would admit she was still a child, still better late than never. "I'd like that."

Harry was not sure if she meant visit or stay on the Juno, however at the minute he was not going to push the issue. He needed to win her trust. He sat in the chair, eating his lunch. He then remembered she said she liked to explore, and read. "The Juno has a computer library, and the she has 24 decks to explore, most areas are open, but some areas require clearance, feel free to explore the ship." He said, looking back to his days as a child, and exploring starfleet vessels, and always getting himself into mischief. He was happy, she was nothing like him, but she also seemed polar opposite of Tera, in a way that made him smile. She was her own lady. And he respected that.

"You might want to make me a list of places I'm not allowed to go, I always seem to end up where I shouldn't be. Mom says I'm incredibly curious." Kerja went back to eating her lunch and didn't look up at him.

"I believe your teacher has the list, and will be going over that, in class." Said Harry. He had a meeting earlier today with the education team, around 7am, he was not sure when they would announce the rules. He knew they would inform Kerja, so no reason to bore her twice with the list of locations.

"You like the holodeck huh? Any programs in particular? Myself I love the beaches of Risa, only thing better is actually being on Risa," he said, realizing that the Juno, would not see Risa in the foreseeable future. Which made him a little sad, at least he had the holodeck.

"Andoria is pretty, and Trillius Prime. I guess I like exotic locations. Though Bajor was nice too. I don't usually like being too hot though." Kerja glanced at him curiously. "So you've been to Risa in person?" She asked casually.

"Yes, but Andoria, land of the ice," he said with a shiver in his voice. That was a little to cold for his taste. "Maybe we won't we take trip together in the holodeck, but just make sure you dress warmly." He suggested, thinking she was a little different. Who in their right mind, would purposely go to Andoria. Besides the Breen and of course the Andorians.

"You don't like Trill?" Kerja asked, sensing the disappointment in his voice. "Or . . ." she tried to think of someplace that wasn't too hot but wasn't too cold either. "Deneb IV? We could go there together?"

"Denab IV?" He asked, he was curious, if she had ever been. There had been a lot of history, going back to Captain James T. Kirk time. He was curious, why his daughter chose this location?

"Yes, it's not too hot, not too cold. The scenery is pretty and though I haven't been there it looks like a nice place to go for a hike. Lots of rocks to climb on and things to explore."

"Okay, we will set it up some time," he said noticing lunch was almost over for him. "This has been very informative luncheon for me, I hope it was okay for you?" He asked, not sure how to say, hey, did I bore you?

Kerja nodded and gave him a small smile. "See you after work then? Do you mind if I go for a walk? I'll stay in the corridors and wont enter anyplace just in case I'm not allowed." She looked up at him hopefully.

"Yes please by all means, go on a walk. I'll see you tonight." Said Harry, wondering how did he end up with a well adjusted and behaved daughter?

He remembered the conversation he had with Commodore Johnson, "Kerja wait up a minute." He said.

She turned, wondering what he'd forgotten. She tucked her arms behind her back like she'd seen other Starfleet officers doing. "Yes?"

"The crew does not know this yet, but I was promoted to the rank of Commander." He said, not sure if she knew anything about Starfleet ranks.

"Oh, congratulations then." She sensed something else behind the statement, perhaps it was his nervous manner.

"It's tradition for a loved one, family, to promote an officer when no flag officers are available." He said, hoping she would say yes.

"You want me to do it?" She asked, surprised. "What would that entail?"

"Simple you take this pip off," he said pointing to the gold and black pip on his neck. "And replace it with a gold pip, but its not simple, before you say yes or no. You will be expected to give a small speech, and put the pip on my uniform. I know this is sudden and maybe a little personal for you, but it would mean a lot to me, and to the crew to follow Starfleet protocol." He said, feeling guilty for stating protocol basically demands it.

"Hmm," Kerja shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"So I hate to put you on the spot, but....What do you say?" Asked Harry. He knew he was asking a lot of her, they barely knew each other. And Starfleet protocol or not. She had the right to say no. But deep down he hoped she would say yes.

"All right," She nodded. After all he didn't have anyone else to do it. At least no one else close by that was family. Still . . . someone on his crew must know him better than her. What was she going to write a speech about?"

"I appreciate this, the ceremony will be in two hours, in Cargo Bay four on deck seven. Sorry its short notice. But I just got the orders before coming to lunch with you." He said. He knew his promotion would come in eventually, but he assumed it would have came in after their first mission.

Kerja stared at him blankly. She had to give a speech in two hours about a man she'd known for one day?!

Harry, felt bad for dropping this all on her, and so suddenly. "I need to inform the crew and tend to a couple of matters, I will see you in a couple of hours, goodbye Kerja." He said, trying to give her time to absorb it all.

"Bye da . . . Harry," Kerja corrected herself at the last second. Once he'd left she put her plate in the replicator and left to return to their quarters and try to come up with something to say in the next two hours. Then there was the matter or having nothing to wear for such a special occasion.

Harry smiled when he heard her almost say dad. Maybe it will not be difficult for either of them to adapt, maybe his meeting with Dan, would not be needed. But he had a feeling that T'San would check in on him. To see if he talked with Dan and how is adjusting to being a parent.

 

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