Forget-Me-Not: Passing By

Posted on Thu May 8th, 2025 @ 2:23am by Lieutenant Percival Bálor Ph.D & Lieutenant Xavier

1,231 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: USS Ontario | Deck 02 | Crew Quarters
Timeline: Shortly After Xavier arrived

ON:

Lieutenant Percival Bálor, Chief Science Officer and proud son of Tellarite pragmatism, stood conspicuously still outside crew quarters 5-Gamma. In his broad, calloused hands—more often wrapped around tricorders than tokens of sentiment—rested a modest bouquet of Forget-Me-Nots, their blue petals trembling slightly in the recycled breeze.

Percy cleared his throat, annoyed with the way his fingers kept adjusting the bouquet’s positioning. Flowers were illogical, sentimental gestures—at least, that’s what he told himself. But something about the new arrival, Lieutenant Xavier, stirred the characteristic curiosity in him.

A half-Vulcan helmsman with a record as clean as a sterile biobed and a reputation for navigational precision that bordered on obsessive. Percy had glimpsed him briefly in passing, there was something about the Vulcan with eyeliner. Who is this guy had been Percy's thought at the time. Now, here was there outside the man's quarters.

"Ugh, you overthought this, Bálor," he muttered to himself, glancing down at the delicate blooms with a snort of self-derision. He intended to simply greet the new member of the crew and bring a house warming gift, but now Percy felt like he was standing there waiting to go to prom. He raised his hand toward the door chime and hesitated, his finger hovering. This was a bad idea he thought to himself.

Space might be cold and vast, but aboard the Ontario strange new worlds weren’t the only frontiers waiting to be explored. Sometimes the strangest encounters caused the weirdest friendships.

Xavier looked around his quarters. It had been a day. First the encounter with the demon Vulcan next door, then a run in with Zero, run to the station to complete final checks to see if his pets would be allowed to board with him, then the counseling appointment, and now he stood looking at the crates of stuff. There were not many but a few and unpacking seemed difficult. He decided to take another walk maybe to engineering but just as he was about to head out he pressed the door button and it swished open; and there stood an unknown entity with .... flowers? Xavier's emerald eyes widened.

His mouth worked quicker then his mind, partially from the shock seeing someone standing outside his quarters with flowers. "Myosotis also know as Forget-me-Nots...in ancient Greece the were called Myosotis ... I believe it is translated as mouse ear...or a mouse's ear...I'm rusty on my Ancient Greek."

"Not entirely rusty," Percy replied and smiled. "You're Lieutenant Xavier, right? New Chief Flight Control Officer?"

Percy presented the flowers to him. "Just a house warming gift. I'm Doctor Percival Bálor, but you may call me Percy. I'm the Chief Science Officer...well, usually. I'm on a leave of absence, and need to disembark onto the Starbase before Ontario leaves."

Xavier's mouth opened in an oh..."These flowers are for me?"

"They are," Percy stated. "I haven't gotten to know you yet to get a sense of what you'd like but, Forget-Me-Nots are pretty, and aside from that they can also symbolize a long enduring bond. Ontario is a family and we're all close, especially the Senior Staff. You're part of this family now."

"Are you sure? I have never...gotten flowers...I can take them?"

"Lieutenant, I study botany. I grow a lot of flowers, some of them have even tried to eat people on this starship. They are yours."

He gingerly took him. "I...have never received a gift I am unfamiliar with the protocol." He paused. "Thank you." He thought again. "Do I place them in water?" He stepped aside letting Percy come in.

"Put them in a vase with water. They will last a while. I figured I'd help you out, show you around, let you pick my brain. I have been here awhile, and I know who's who and what's what."

"Please come inside I can replicate a vase do you know what specifications would best suit the flowers?"

Percy spread his arms to a little shorter than the height of the flowers. "That tall. Glass, some sort of shape. A vase is a vase to me I'm afraid."

Xavier was able to measure with his eyes so he knew approximately how many inches and replicate the vase. He set the flowers in them and placed them on the dinning table. "They are striking flowers." He looked at Percy. "I am afraid I do not have a gift for you."

"Thats alright, Lieutenant. Most of my things are packed away and in storage. I'm leaving the Ontario for a while."

His eyes slightly widened. "I do have something." He walked over to one of the chests and opening it he came back with a round rock like model of a planet. "This is Pluto!" There was an enthusiasm making his green eyes shine. "It is what the humans call the holy grail of planets. I have one wherever I am as it is very significant for me and a good luck charm. This one is for you." He presented it to Percy as a child would present a crayon drawing.

Percy liked this peculiar man. "Thank you, Xavier, I shall keep this Pluto with me for good luck. I'll need it while I'm away" commented the half-Tellarite. He had a journey ahead of him.

He gave a nod. "Perhaps you can tell me of your journey while we tour?"

Percy looked at Xavier. "I need to go to Folnar III," replied the Chief Science Officer. It was a dangerous planet, and that was a bit of an understatement. "I'm hoping to avoid any run-ins with the Orion Syndicate, or any of the other unsavory folk that call the planet their home port for criminal activities. I know..why?"

He smiled. "Love. I recently got engaged and I didn't have a ring. I want one that's special and meaningful, and simply purchasing something won't do. Folnar III is home to a very rare plant that is native there, the Folnarian jewel plant."

"I see." They had left his quarters and were starting the tour. "Folnar III...that is near Tyrax Moon Colony right? Orions have a base there."

"I believe it is. Not really a region I'm all that familiar with, but the Folnarian jewel plant is an incredible specimen. It has exactly what I'm looking for."

"Perhaps...security would be warranted." He paused. "If you pass by Tyrax ask for Captain KolFen Tell him Xavier has asked him to look after you on your journey."

Percy continued onward with Xavier. "A kind offer, but I think I'll have enough people watching over my shoulder if Lieutenant Commander Chernova has anything to say about it. Then my parents. I'm not all that worried. "

"The offer is there none the less." He paused. "Thank you Lieutenant Balor." He paused. "I am... a bit taken aback by your gift and your offer to show me around. It is unusual and I am afraid I am not used to responding to either...I apologize if I offend you in any way with my response."

Percy snorted. "Nah, we're fine. You'll get used to me and my flowers. When I return at least."

"I look forward to it."

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Lieutenant Percival Bálor
Chief Science Officer
USS Ontario

&

Lieutenant Xavier
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Ontario

 

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