Idle Chatter

Posted on Tue Jun 28th, 2022 @ 7:00pm by
Edited on on Wed Jul 13th, 2022 @ 8:01pm

1,172 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Roll With It
Location: Haumea Colony - Ensign’s quarters
Timeline: MD One - 2100 hours

Nick walked into the common room, relieved that it was empty. After a double shift, he didn’t need his other three roommates bothering him about the newest ‘guest’ on the colony.

He sighed as he dropped onto the couch and pulled off his boots. He stretched his toes and ankles, one of which elicited a loud pop. He leaned his head back against the cushion and closed his eyes.

Just as sleep began to creep in on him, the doors parted with the sound of the pneumatic hiss. Sara and Ilendi entered the common room and found Nick nearly asleep, but it was already too late. They’d been talking, quite loudly, as they entered.

“Nick!” Ilendi greeted him loudly. “Where have you been all day? Did you know there’s a dome over half the colony?!” she asked excitedly. Clearly both women had been drinking while off duty.

“He’s been watching the new vigilante, Ilendi,” Sara answered. “I told you that hours ago!”

“Ooh!” Ilendi elongated the word. “Nurse Golbi said he’s hot! Like, unnaturally hot!” The Orion wagged her eyebrows at Nick.

One of the doors opened off the common room. Shon walked out, his face placid. “Ladies, although the time is not very late, I was practicing meditation. If you do not mind, I would like to return to meditating quietly.”

’Thank goodness for Vulcan meditation,’ Nick thought, sitting up and removing his duty jacket.

“Sorry, Shon,” Sara responded reflexively. “We were just interested in the new arrival to the colony.”

“The Fenris Ranger,” Ilendi added.

Shon’s eyebrow cocked and his hands dropped to his side. “Curious. I am also interested in learning more about the Fenris Ranger.”

Nick sighed. He wasn’t getting away from the conversation at this point. “He’s Terran. He’s about 25, according to his medical records. He’s one point eight meters tall, seventy seven kilograms. He’s been living on the colonies outside of Federation space for at least fifteen years. That’s about it.”

Ilendi blew a raspberry. “Sheri said he was annoying. Kept singing a song that repeated over and over again for hours.”

“I threatened to stun him,” Nick answered.

“Shut up!” Sara screamed as she howled with laughter.

“Lieutenant Issacks didn’t think it was that funny. I’m glad somebody got the joke.”

“But Golbi said he was hot!” Ilendi got back on track.

“If his temperature was abnormally high, why did medical release him to the brig?” Shon asked logically.

“Not his temperature, Shon,” Ilendi chided. “His looks. He’s attractive…very attractive.” Ilendi’s eyes were large and she leaned over the back of the couch.

Nick shook his head. He was tired and this felt like a girls night. What was next? The pillow fight? “He is good looking, yes.” It was as much as Nick was willing to share. Ranger was, in his mind, incredibly hot. He’d had the desire to try and kiss him during their ‘movie night’, but Ranger didn’t seem the type.

Nick could feel his face blush and he suddenly felt unusually hot.

Shon observed his roommate’s physiologic reactions and came to a conclusion. “I believe we should finish this conversation at another time. Nicholas appears tired after his double shift. We should allow him time to recover before asking him much more about our guest. Ilendi and Sara, you have had your questions answered about the Fenris Rangers’ appearance. We can discuss his nature more at an appropriate time.”

’Thank you Shon,’ Nick thought.

“Right,” he said as he grabbed his jacket and boots and headed to his room. The doors shut behind him and he dropped his boots to the right of the door. He deposited his jacket in the fresher. As he sat on the bedside, the door chime announced a request to enter. “Come in.”

Shon stepped through the doors, seeing Nick on the bed. “Am I interfering?”

“No,” Nick shook his head. “In fact, thank you for interrupting the girls. I am tired and just wanted to relax.”

“There is no shame in your homosexuality, Nicholas. The Vulcans have the understanding of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. On Vulcan, we understand that homosexuality is a normal means of species population limitation. It is logical, even among Vulcans to identify normative sexual behavior.”

“One conversation about a Fenris Ranger and you know my sexual preferences?” Nick asked.

“When you spoke about him, your pupils dilated significantly, your heart rate increased, your face blushed, a thin bead of sweat formed along your hairline, you were looking to avoid talking more about his attractiveness because you are attracted to him. A simple logical deduction.

May I assume, based on your reaction tonight, that few people know?”

Nick nodded. “My family and closest friends, all back on Earth. And now…you. It isn’t a secret, it just doesn’t define me as a person.”

“It is my understanding that Terrans took many decades to accept the concept of multiple sexual identities. Many even went so far as to protest and parade until equal rights were established. If it is not offensive, I would dare say it does define you and you have no fear of exposing your preference.”

Nick smiled at Shon, the Vulcan idealization of logic. “Of course you’re right, Shon. But when I tell Sara and Ilendi, it’ll turn into shopping trips and iced coffee runs and I’m not into being the gay best friend.”

“I understand. I would not be interested in those activities either. However, if you choose to be honest with them, then that is something you must be honest about as well.

My last advice to you is to consider this Ranger will not be here once the dome over the colony is resolved. His shuttle will have been fixed, the Pakleds will have to be dealt with and he will be on his way back to those colonies you spoke of.”

Nick nodded. “Humans aren’t like Vulcans, Shon, we can’t choose who we become attracted to.”

“I believe that was my point of IDIC. Neither can Vulcans. To ignore our sense of self is illogical. I am advising caution. As Humans say, do not get your heart broken when he leaves as soon as Starfleet allows him to go.”

“Don’t worry, Shon, he’s in the brig. It’s not an ideal dating situation. At most, it’s just a lusty infatuation. Once he’s left, everything will be back to normal.”

Shon nodded. “It is agreed then.”

Nick nodded. “It is agreed, Shon.”

The Vulcan dipped his head and exited Nick’s room. Nick pulled off his pants and t-shirt, throwing them on the floor, and covered himself with his sheets. “Lights off,” he said to the computer just before the room went dark.

Still, he couldn’t stop thinking about Ranger. His dark hair, his smoldering eyes, his lips…

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