Connections (Pt. 1)

Posted on Sun Aug 22nd, 2021 @ 6:29am by Lieutenant Zero & 1st Lieutenant Dahlia Acker

1,498 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Out of Time
Location: Lounge: The Maple Leaf
Timeline: [Backpost]

ON:

Zero sat at a table by one of the view ports, away from everyone else. He held a PADD with an ungloved hand while the other rested on a glass of an unusual liquid. His eyes were focused on the PADD as the information on the screen constantly moving with him needed to hit the usual button to trigger it.

Dahlia Acker had been watching the man for the last...twenty-four seconds. He stood out. He also looked lonely. She glanced down at her own PaDD, where she had been doing requisition forms on. Yeah, and she hadn't looked much better than him she suspected. She took her glass filled with what she would call 'faux scotch' and walked over, a small smile coming to her. For once she had come her in her on duty clothes...usually she made a point of changing, as if compartmentalizing that part of herself. But she had come here straight from being on duty. So her hair was today in a tight bun and she wore no make-up, nothing to hide her age or wear and tear of a life spent in all sort of environments. "Hi. Dahlia Acker, SFMC. Mind if I join you?"

He looked up at her, the information on the PADD coming to a complete stop, as his eyes focused on her. Another member of Species 56-. It was as if his brain immediately stopped. Zero needed to remember to stop using Borg designations, even though it was in his own mind, he might slip as say it allowed. He found most species don't like being referred to in that manner. "You may, 1st Lieutenant Acker." He motioned to the chair across from him.

"Thank you," she sat down, placing her PaDD down but still holding her drink. She watched him, studying his eyes. Freed Borg she noticed now. Strange, she hadn't noticed that when looking from afar. It didn't unsettle her though. "I don't mean to be rude...I just thought you might want a break from work so thought I'd join you."

Zero raised a brow slightly. "A break is not required." He said as he placed his PADD down on the table. "As a former Borg drone, I can function for a far greater amount of time than most officers do. I only require 6 hours of regeneration in my alcove. It will be a great deal of time until I am required to return to it." He tilted his head slightly to her as he eased against the back of his seat. "You desire to join me is not considered rude. You do not need to feel like that on my account." He paused a bit, before adding. "Normally, Lieutenant Acker, people avoid me because of my previous existence as a Borg. Because of this, I focus my attention on more work. In doing so, I have excelled in my studies in Operations and Engineering. As a result, I added Security classes to my education." He looked down slightly before adding as he looked back up at her, as he spoke softly, almost like he was a bit ashamed. "As most of my classmates would say: 'The drone has way too much time on his hands'."

Dahlia raised an eyebrow in return before she smiled. Yes, outsider vibe. As a Marine on a ship, she knew the feeling. "Well, normally, people are arseholes," she said softly and sipped her drink. "I mean, if we paint everyone with the same brush. Now I am no former Borg drone, so I...don't have your experiences or faced the same prejudice you have. But as a Marine on a Starfleet vessel...I hate seeing people sit in a nice lounge alone because usually, I am that person. In fact I was until I spotted you..." she put her glass on the table. "So what do I call you, officer who has excelled in Operations and Engineering and added Security to it all?" she winked, showing she had been listening and was impressed. She might even make a joke about it later, if she thought he would appreciate it as just that.

People are arseholes? Zero thought to himself curiously. He did not know that word. Perhaps he would inquire about it later. "My former designation is One of Ten, Tertiary Adjunct Of Unimatrix 07." He said as he looked back up to her and focused his eyes on her. "However, since my disconnection from the Collective I was encouraged to choose a new name since my original name and species is still unknown to me. I selected the new designation of Zero." He took a moment to himself before adding. "Many at the Academy, and on the Merlin, referred to me as 'Z'. So, I grew a custom to that name as well. You, Lieutenant Acker, may refer to me by either. Should you desire."

"I do," Dahlia said softy, holding his eyes for a moment before she smiled. "Zero then...if you call me Dahlia since I suspect we are both off duty," she added as she tilted her head a little to the side. "You chose an interesting name. An even number that isn't always recognized as a number."

"It appeared to be sufficient." Zero replied, taking his hand off his glass, as he continued. "To my knowledge, I had no name to my assimilation. My species of origin is unknown to me. Therefore, I have neither a home nor family, that I am aware of. I have nothing. Zero." He paused slightly as his eye brows raised slightly, the blue mechanism that surrounded his pupil seemed to shift slightly. "However, your description also has merit. I should be even, like everyone else in a Starfleet Uniform, but I am not always recognized as a person because of my implants and former Borg life. It is safe to assume, your view while not considered in my decision, does seem to fit my current status. You are very observant, Dahlia."

Dahlia watched him before she let out a breath. "Well, I used to be a Force Recon Marine. Observing was about 40% of my workload," she said lightly and sipped her drink. "And I can identify, being a Marine on a Starfleet vessel. We're seen as the naughty step-child, a reminder that the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet can't always have their hands clean." She stopped and looked into her glass, giving a small smile. When she continued, her voice was both teasing and warm, matching the smile she gave him as she met his eyes. "You don't have nothing though. At least not now. You have an identity, a job that it sounds like you are excelling at based on the numerous extra studies you did...a very clean and nice uniform...and you can never be accused of having a forgettable face, which is also good. And good or bad, you have a history that made you the person you are right in this moment."

Zero looked at her, his lips moved slightly as if to smile, but stopped as if he didn't know how. He nodded his head as he replied. "Earth's history is proof enough that in order to obtain something grand, one must be prepared to fight for it and lose in the process. Starfleet, while their mandate is to explore, was formed on the bases of a military organization. It has ranks and requirements for combat. Starfleet Officers are prepared to jump into battle, and are properly trained, should the need occur. Marines are not a reminder, but a simple requirement when dealing with ground and much more aggressive species." He paused for a moment, looking at her a bit intently, before continuing. "My knowledge of Security grants me training for dealing with situations that entail onboard combat and conflict resolution between a Starfleet Officer and another officer or civilian species. Marines are trained for ground combat and use tactics and weapons far superior to Starfleet Security because they are required to. Their division is centered around such combat and tactics. Just because war time is where your division gets the most use it doesn't mean you serve no purpose. If it weren't for Marines, Starfleet Officers and Federation civilians can not enjoy the freedoms they enjoy today." Zero paused for a moment, as if hesitant to talk, but he seemed to feel a bit more comfortable to continue. "The Borg ran into Starfleet Marines on many occasions and those encounters proved to be far more difficult to adapt to than traditional encounters." He stopped again before concluding with. "You may take from that what you will, Dahlia. I will never see, your unit, as anything but another useful tool to use in this ships defense."

To be continue...

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Lieutenant Zero
Chief Operations Officer

&

1st Lt. Dahlia Acker
Marine Executive Officer

 

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