Dinner Plans [Backpost] Part V

Posted on Tue Jan 30th, 2024 @ 1:15pm by Lieutenant Zero

1,599 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: The Bandits of Black Rain
Location: Lt. Zero's Quarters, USS Ontario

OLD:

He looked back up at her, the tone of his voice seemed happy, as he concluded his story. "Eventually, we found out what happened to the Anastasia, and were escorted back to Federation space. Before the ship reached the border I was visited in my quarters by, of all people, Aleth. When the doors opened, instinctively I reacted with a need to protect myself, but she assured me it wasn't necessary. She came in and we spoke. Aleth spoke to me about her husband, how he worked hard to gain the respect of her father, and how happy he was when he finally got it. She spoke of their wedding and how he died never knowing about their daughter. Which brought more light to her vengeance and why it affected her so much. Aleth even told me the last moments of the fight. Her Captain insisting to end the battle and telling her there was no honor in slaying an enemy who never shed her husbands blood. That, for a Borg, I proven I have a warriors heart and yielding would not tarnish vengeance or Trudor's honor. Seeing truth in her words, she did so, before closing her eyes. It was then... she apologized." Zero released a quick laugh, it stopped abruptly, because he was convinced he did it wrong. "She told me she was wrong and, while I was full of Borg trash, my heart was strong. Strong enough to be Klingon. I was confused, but she assured me, it was a compliment. Then she presented me with this dagger. Aleth told me of the honor is was to be handed a d'k tahg with a family crest on it. She said that receiving one shows the house the person is tied to and that they are bound to them. By honor. By blood. Aleth said that I could consider her a friend, and ally in battle, who would stand with me should I ever ask. I never had a friend, so in a way, she was my first one. Even though it started in hatred, it ended in respect." He lifted the dagger slightly and added. "And now you are my second. Another close friend, who thankfully, didn't begin the same way. Something I am extremely grateful for."

She smiled gently, holding his eyes for a long moment. "I'm honoured," she said, her voice soft. "She was wrong about one thing though..." she reached out, her hand going to his chest, just pressing gently where the heart would be on a human. "You are not full of Borg trash. It helped you survive the fight with her. It makes you do your job better than most. It isn't Borg anymore. It is part of you and nothing about you is trash..." she pulled her hand back, her eyes still on hers, not looking away. "But she was right about your heart."

NEW:

"I'm sure, her hatred for the Borg, was driving her decision on the words she chose." Zero smiled a bit, looking in her eyes. "But, you are right. That part of me did help me hold out as long as I did. It, most likely, was part of the reason why I earned that respect." He nodded slightly, sliding the blade of the dagger back into the sheath, as he continued to hold it in his hand. "Although, I am a bit confused, when it comes to my heart. Part of it is Borg. What makes that part any different than the other parts of me that's Borg?"

"I think she didn't mean your heart as the muscle that pumps blood around your body. Heart as in...the abstract, romantic idea of it..." she said softly, small smile coming to her. "It was a way to say you are a good man. A good heart and a good soul." She considered what she was saying, thinking it over. "Klingons respect strength and courage. You showed both by fighting and continuing to fight. You didn't think of your own safety, your main goal was to not kill her, yet also survive. That is...well, that takes courage. Because it sort of dampens your...your fighting tactics."

Zero looked down, breaking eye contact, as he paused in thought. A good heart and a good soul. He repeated slightly in his mind before looking up to her. His face was different. No longer smiling. No longer happy. He was concerned and slightly confused. "Borg don't have souls. They have orders. Programming. Instructions spread throughout the Collective. Do I really have a soul? Did I get one or get it back? If I got it back, why can't I remember who I was before I lost it?"

She reached to touch his cheek, stepping closer to him, the sheathed knife between them pressing against her. She didn't care. "You never lost your soul," she said quietly. "Like a seed in the soil, it slept until it could be reawakened. Your memories aren't connected with it. That...is what I believe anyway. I think...all freed Borg have souls. Which means that every Borg has one, it is suppressed by programming. It is a trope of most writing on Artificial Intelligence, that the truest sign of it is when it asks itself...'do I have a soul?' Now..." she let out a soft breath, her thumb gently caressing his cheek. "I don't think you ever lost your soul. But I think it made itself known to you again when you were freed."

Zero looking down for a moment, taking in her words, feeling a bit of weight taken off his chest. Maybe it wasn't weight, in a sense, but relief. Relief she felt this way. Relief her explanation made sense to him. As he looked back up to her his eyes seemed watery. As if he was going to cry but wasn't at that point where they went down the sides of his race. He didn't say anything, but the look on his face spoke volumes. He was thankful for her and her words. She made him feel more than what he was, even thought he didn't know specifically what he was.

She nodded, smiling gently to him before she let out a breath. "And now, if you are okay with it...I would like to do that really human custom of giving you a hug. Would that be okay with you?" she asked, because she didn't want to overstep. She also knew it was a very human thing and some species didn't like that. So...she asked for permission, holding his eyes. She could see the tears, or what she thought was tears, not falling or breaking, but pooling gently in his eyes.

Zero let out a smile, nodding his head a bit, before replying softly. "You may proceed, Dahlia." He wasn't sure how to move or position himself. He never sought out an embrace like that, nor he ever attempted one, so the custom was slightly lost to him. However, if she was asking, he was prepared to learn. Zero was prepared to let her. Only her.

She nodded and reached for his arms, gently putting them down. She stepped close and wrapped her arms around him, one around his side to his back, the other over his shoulder so that her hand rested lightly on the back of his head. She hugged him, closing her eyes as she smiled gently. "Humans hug to comfort, or celebrate, or just because they value the closeness," she explained quietly. "Well...some humans. Not all humans are that keen on the physical contact."

At first he seemed uneasy. After all, it was new to him, so he wasn't sure how to feel until finally he reciprocated. Zero slowly wrapped both arms around her, opposite hers, mirroring her positions, allowing himself to embrace her. He brought her in close, tightening his grip, but not too tight so as not to harm her in any way. Slowly, as if by instinct, he closed his eyes and rest his head on her shoulder. Zero took in the feeling. He took in the scent of her hair. He took in the reaction to his own hug until finally replying softly in her ear. "We have nothing to celebrate, nor do we have a need to comfort one another. Is it safe to say we hug because we value each others closeness?"

Dahlia smiled gently, her eyes closed as she gave a weak nod against him. "Yes," she said softly. "I think it is safe to say we hug for that reason. A hug can cheer someone up, help ease sadness...show connection. And I do, you know..." she paused, just enjoying the moment. "I value your closeness." It was the truth. She had not known him long but she felt closer to him than anyone else on the ship. A kindred soul perhaps. She was surprised no one else had tried to make him part of the world, that people had not seen past the things that the Borg had left on him to see that he needed a guide in the world until he had learned the ropes. But it was also selfish for her part...she too needed a guide on this ship, someone she could talk to that wasn't her boss, or one of the Marines. Another person.


To Be Continued...

==============================================================

Lieutenant Zero
Chief Operations Officer
USS Ontario

&

1st Lt. Dahlia Acker
Marine XO
USS Ontario

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