Escape Pod

Posted on Sat Sep 21st, 2019 @ 2:58pm by Lieutenant Commander Nicholas Kincaid & Lieutenant JG Jennifer Bullock
Edited on on Sat Sep 21st, 2019 @ 8:45pm

1,376 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 0 - Pre-Sigma Iotia II
Location: Turbolift
Timeline: 2167/07/11 0900

Jenn had just left the Captains ready room and was on her way to sickbay. She crossed the bridge and signaled for the turbolift. Quietly she waited for the door to open.

From the engineering station, Nick saw the new face leave the Captain’s office. He recognized her from her personnel file; she was the new Armoury Officer. Thinking it a good time to introduce herself, and being finished on the bridge for now anyway, he pushed away from the console and met her at the lift door. “Lieutenant Bullock? I’m Lieutenant Commander Nick Kincaid, XO and Chief Engineer.”

Bullock looked at the man carefully. She wanted to pierce his mind with her eyes to know what he was thinking. She couldn't help but wonder if he was going to start hitting on her too. The Captain, the Executive Officer, what was this a ship of frat boys trying to fill up a score card. Despite trying to hide her defensive tone it still snuck out in her reply.

"Yes sir, nice to meet you sir", Jenn answered, "I was just on my way to sick bay, Commander. Is there something I can do for you?"

Nick caught the defensiveness in her tone, and was taken aback. She had just come out of a meeting with the Captain. He was curious but wouldn’t push her. “No, Lieutenant. I just wanted to introduce myself. I need to head to the hydroponics bay, a few decks down from sickbay. Mind if we share a lift? If you’re in a rush, we can talk later; there’s no hurry.” He was doing his best to be non confrontational and sincere, and if she said she was in a rush he wouldn’t press matters.

As the lift arrived Jenn walked in and held the door for the Executive officer. She waited for the door to close before tapping the button for the deck sickbay was on. Then she tapped the button for the deck the hydroponics bay was on. Then she tapped the button to halt the lift and turned to look at the Xo.

"May I speak freely, sir... Sorry, I don't know why I am asking, I'm going to any way. Punish me if you want, but our captain is a sexist pig. I mean, first he makes a backwards insult about my abilities because I was caught off guard by his showing up in front of me while I was on the bridge. Then in his office he hit on me. He's... a PIG... a dirty disgusting pig", Jenn said. She was furious but part of her was also curious about the man. More to the point, he sparked a curiosity in her about all men. It was as new to her as deep space.

Nick stayed silent as he listened to Jenn’s statement. He wasn’t happy to hear such a complaint, mostly because of what it said about the Captain, not about what it said about her. What had he done to create such a bad first impression? He knew the Captain had a non-exclusive relationship with the Chief Science Officer. Did he pursue women more broadly? He would need to pay close attention.

“I see,” Nick finally said. “Well, first, know that I’m taking what you said very seriously. I don’t know the Captain very well yet. I only met him yesterday. But I’m not a woman and so he obviously wouldn’t have spoken to me the same way.” He paused again to consider his words. “Lieutenant, my job is to keep this crew safe as we undertake our mission. If you ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe because of any crewmember, including the Captain, know that my door is always open, to report wrongdoing, to seek counsel, or even just to vent. Okay?”

Jenn felt a wave of relief wash over her. The XO wasn't just another 'guy'. He actually gave a shit about her. She nodded looking at him with relief, "Thank you sir. I really appreciate it."

“In the meantime,” Nick continued, “I’m going to keep my eyes open, to see if this is a larger problem. If we have someone problematic on our ship, I will need time to deal with it properly. Especially if it’s our superior.”

"Of course, and thank you for not just throwing me in the brig. Also, I hope you will keep this in mind if one day you hear I knocked our captain on his ass. I'm not violent, but we all have limits. Oh and I'm sorry I... was so aggressive. I just wasn't ready for the captain when I came on board."

"I understand," Nick said with a warm smile. "We do all have our limits. I don't want to see you get thrown in the brig for knocking him on his ass, so as I said, my door is always open. Now, you need to get to sickbay and I need to fix some problems in the hydroponics bay. Unless you want to help me with the heating lamps and dew collectors before going to sickbay?"

"Actually, I'd be happy to, Commander. My leg is only a little sore. Its not like I hit it as hard as I made it seem to the Captain. I just... wanted a reason to get out of his office. I mean, can I tell you something personal, and it stays between us", Jenn asked feeling more comfortable and at ease with the Xo? He was much less... forward or aggressive than the captain if he had some sort of romantic interest in her, he was much more polite about it.

“It will stay between us,” Nick assured her. “I promise.”

She took a deep breath as if mustering up the courage to speak despite having already decided she was going to tell him. She looked to the Xo feeling more comfortable around him than the Captain.

"I... have only ever been with a woman. I wont say I'm gay... per-say but I am un-experienced and that made me more uncomfortable when the captain... came on to me."

Nick couldn't help but nod in acknowledgement. "If he is as you say, then he probably picked up on your inexperience. There's a power dynamic between a sexually experienced mentor and someone who's only just exploring that aspect of life that can be appealing. But it's absolutely inappropriate in this case, especially if it made you uncomfortable."

"I don't think I'm able to talk to him right away," Nick continued, "but like I said, I'll watch, and if I need to confront him, I will."

"Thank you commander. Its nice to see this isn't going to be a norm, the way the captain was that is. So, what brought you to the Horizion", Jenn asked seeing the current conversation starting to wrap up?

Nick reactivated the turbolift. "The engine, mostly. One of the most advanced pieces of technology that exists! And using it to visit incredible new planets." The turbolift stopped at Deck 8 for sickbay, but neither got off. The door closed and it continued. "I've been working on matter/antimatter reactors since midway through the war, and I've been watching them get smaller and more powerful. Getting to serve on something like a Daedalus-class is a dream come true. How about you?" The door opened on Deck 11, and he gestured for Jenn to exit first.

Jenn walked out quietly before looking to Nick again, "Please don't tell the captain I didn't go to sickbay. I mean, I only bumped my leg, at worse it might bruise. Sickbay was just my escape pod from that awkward situation."

Nick followed her out. “Of course. I won’t say a word. After all, I saw you get off the turbolift on Deck 8, didn’t I?” He gave her a smile. “Come on, let’s get to hydroponics and do that work. And I still want to hear about what brought you to Horizon.”

"It would be my pleasure", Jenn said as she followed the XO. She admired the bulkheads and deck as they traveled. It was beautifully clean and majestic looking. She was thrilled to be aboard her.

 

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