Curiosities

Posted on Thu Jan 18th, 2024 @ 2:18am by Ensign Willa Baker & Zirvell Khen

1,628 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: To Catch a Thief
Location: Mess Hall

It was lunch time. Ensign Willa Baker wanted to work through, but Faith ordered her to take a break. Maybe she was enjoying her job too much. The mess hall beckoned for Willa. There was a queue for fresh food, the replicator, not so much. Willa decided the replicator would do, she wanted to get back to engineering. A baked potato with tuna was her choice. A glass of water to one side, with a ramekin containing parmesan cheese.

She chose a table, away from the crowd. Faith had told her to take one hour away, no work related activities. Instead, Willa brought some reading with her. She'd brought a brought a PADD, containing Faith's thesis on artificial life forms. Seemed pretty interesting so far.

"Don't like crowds either huh?" Zirvell stood with a plate in one hand and a glass of juice in another as he waited for the young woman to acknowledge him. "Or don't they want you to join them?"

The Cardassian teenager cast her a hopeful smile. "Can I sit here?"

Willa looked up from her PADD. A Cardassian boy, perhaps sixteen or seventeen years old. Normally crowds didn't bother Willa. But today, Faith's thesis trumped sharing her break with colleagues. She had hoped to read, but Willa considered the Cardassian probably needed a friendly face more than she needed to read. She could do that later. "Yes, if you like." replied Willa. She marked her place in the thesis, then turned off the PADD.

"Thank you." He cast her a grateful smile as he sat. "What were you reading?" His eyes traveled to the PADD then back up to her. "You were so engrossed, it must've been interesting?"

"It's my head of department's thesis." began Willa, before sprinkling some parmesan on her food. "Artificial life forms. Fascinating, really." In a way, Willa wanted to impress Faith, gain her approval. Maybe reading and asking her about her thesis would impress her. Or maybe it wouldn't.


"Artificial as in robots?" the teenager queried curiously, "or holograms? Maybe you should see the EMH and get some insights?"

"Robots," began Willa. "well, to be precise, androids. Like Commander Data. It's been an interesting read so far, actually. Insightful." she concluded, picking up her fork and beginning to eat. Willa had a habit of getting distracted at meal times, her food ending up cold. Happily, this was a meal she'd actually get to enjoy while warm.

"A thesis about androids?" The boy leaned forward, eyes bright. "I've never seen an android, have you? I mean...I heard of them, but I've never seen one. What's the thesis about then? In regards to androids that is..."

Willa had not seen an android. Faith's thesis suggested she had, once. If she was honest, androids weren't something that Willa had a passion for. She was reading the thesis to try and open meaningful dialogue with Faith. "I've never seen one." she began. A sip of her drink was taken. "In a nutshell, the thesis discusses whether widespread replication and adoption of androids, despite their immense and positive aspects, is moral." Willa had her own view, but wondered if Faith's was the same.

"Depends on the level of sentience right?" The boy asked curiously. "I mean they need programming right, so they can be made as smart as needed?"

"Well...." replied Willa. "That's one way of looking at it." This lunch break was turning interesting. Like the lunch time debate clubs she attended at high school. "But, if we're talking about the same level of sentience and intelligence as Commander Data, then you're basically creating a sentient race whose main purpose would be to serve the needs of others. That's the primary point Lieutenant Hawkins is making. For me, it's a compelling one." she finished. Willa then ate some more of her food.

"Sentience isn't equal to service," Zirvell argued, "even if some species considers themselves superior, that doesn't give them the right to press others into their service. Take the Bajorans and Cardassians.... What gave one the right to suppress the other?"

"You can use that argument to ask," began Willa, thinking yes, this was definitely turning into a lunch time debate club, "what right would the Federation have to reverse engineer sentient androids, in order to benefit Starfleet and the billions of Federation citizens? The answer is, in my mind, none." she concluded.

"None," Zirvell agreed with a nod. "No sentient has a right to put another into service. So....what are you going to tell your...boss?"

"Lieutenant Hawkins hasn't created me in order to carry out her instructions, Master..." replied Willa, putting down her fork.

"Created?" The boy blinked in surprise then seemed flustered at her address. "I'm not a master ma'am...I'm only fifteen." But part of him was triggered by her pause, making him realize he never shared his name even though he was pretty sure she knew who he was. After all, how many Cardassian minors were there on the ship? "I'm Zirvell," he added, opting to omit his last name.

"On Earth," began Willa. "male children are known as Master and then their surname in certain circumstances. As I don't know your surname, I'll stick to Zirvell." she concluded, opting to keep her name to herself for the time being. Willa didn't want Faith finding out she'd been reading her thesis from someone else. No. That had to be from her. It was her conversation starter, once she'd built up the courage.

"You said 'Lieutenant Hawkins hasn't created me in order to carry out her instructions.' What do you mean by that?" He seemed a little flustered by being given a very archaic title. "I'm not human ma'am," he objected, "I've never heard of a situation where Cardassian children are granted a title. And I sure don't warrant one, as far as I am concerned, I'm an orphan. I don't have a family."

Willa took the opportunity to eat some more of her meal while it was still reasonably warm. "You asked me what I was going to tell my boss. I presumed you were still talking about what we'd been discussing." she began, pausing again to eat. "And yes Zirvell, I know you're not human. I just like to be respectful to people, whatever their species." she concluded, feeling saddened by the Cardassian's revelation, unsure what to say. A sympathetic, compassionate look was what Willa mustered.

"You said she created you," Zirvell persisted, "what did you mean by that?

Willa shook her head. "I said she didn't create me, Zirvell." she replied. Yep, she'd confused both herself and Zirvell. That was a good start. "Sorry, I think I've confused myself as well. Shall we press the reset button?" she offered a smile. "What is it you've got there? It looks nice."

"It's just a cheese sandwich and orange juice," the boy replied, "nothing elaborate and this is something I like eating. It's simple and it tastes good." He studied the slices of bread, then held it up. "There was nothing like cheese where I lived. We did have a sort of bread but it was denser. This is very....floppy?"

Willa nodded. "Sandwiches are good." she replied. "You should try a grilled sandwich, the cheese melts and it's..." she paused, gave an 'OK' gesture with her right hand, "...amazing. They're super nice with tuna, too." Willa finished her food, placed her cutlery down. Although full, she wouldn't say no to that grilled cheese sandwich...

"What is tuna?" The teenager asked curiously, "and I don't know what grilled means. I'm still discovering different foods and trying them out." The boy seemed to blush, his grey complexion darkening a fraction. "I've never had this much food at my disposal before and I don't want to seem greedy or waste anything."

"Tuna is a type of fish from Earth's oceans." replied Willa, taking a sip of her water. "A grilled sandwich is one you make normally, like that cheese one, then heat it up in a sandwich grill. The bread becomes crunchy and the cheese melts." she explained. Making herself hungry again. "I think Keira has one in Ten Forward. If you like, I can ask her if I can show you how to make one?"

The teenager nodded eagerly. "Noone has ever shown me anything like that. I don't know what a grill is.... Or a fish...." it made him feel really stupid for not knowing things. "Can you show me?"

Willa nodded. "Of course. What day and time is best for you?" she asked. "It's okay if you don't know now, you can come and tell me tomorrow. Or another time."

"I think it's better if you call me when you have time ma'am," Zirvell offered as he gathered his now empty plate. "I have time anytime unless I'm in school, you're bound to be on shift." He stood and smiled uncomfortably. "I've bothered you long enough..."

"You haven't bothered me, Zirvell." replied Willa, attempting to reassure the boy. If anything, she'd enjoyed his company. "I will let you know when I'm free. Would some time in the next few days be okay?" she asked, Willa preparing for her own departure. The long way round back to engineering would do. She still had some time before she was due back on shift.

"Yes ma'am," the boy answered happily, "just let me know when and where and I'll be there. Thank you ma'am, for making time for me." Another grateful smile before the severely traumatized child departed.

Willa watched as Zirvell left. Yes, this particular lunch break had not gone as expected. But, Willa was glad of it. She looked forward to seeing Zirvell again. Her used crockery and cutlery discarded, Willa too departed.

 

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