A second opinion

Posted on Thu Apr 14th, 2022 @ 11:00am by Lieutenant JG Stan More & Lieutenant Cor Cordale

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Science Lab

:: ON ::

-Science Lab-

Throughout Earth’s history there was always some new food fad. From blobs of beef called burgers and potatoes cut into small strips. That in England were called chips but in other countries were known as fries. Although in his native Scotland were also known as Tattys. To today's craze for eating kelp.

Although nowadays most of the meat and fish products. Consumed on most Starships via the magis food slot. Were made from simulated food stuffs made to taste and look like the real thing.

That had been until today.

A recent survey of a planet had yielded , according to the away team. The next solution to simulated beef. A kind of green moss that according to the planet's resident population. Tasted just as good as it looked.

Being on quarantine duty it had fallen to Stan to make sure. The moss was not dangerous to the ship and crew. Plus he needed to examine the moss closely. Just to see if the claims were true.

He went to cut a piece of moss so he could run some chemical tests. When the plant seemed to physically flinch! Had it been a trick of the light?

He needed a second opinion.

Around that time, the doors to the science lab swished open and the resident Thux padded in. "Hello?" he called out. "Hey, ummm, I was wondering if you, oh hey." he noticed Stan, "Oh hey, didn't see you there. Hey, so ummm, I have a project running on the industrial replicator and I kinda need a replacement part for the internals of the Arctile." he motioned to his prosthetic limb. "Someone on the Maker board mentioned there's a way to upgrade the power capacity of the internals by improving power efficiency and ... w... oh damn, I caught you at lunch. Shhh, I'm sorry, should I come back?"

More gave Thux a cheerful smile.

“Nay. Don’t fret this wee plant is not my lunch. Lieutenant Cordale is the person to see really.But I do have some knowledge of prosthetic limbs and their internal workings. If you like I could give it the once over.” Stan said

"Oh good, cause not going to lie it, doesn't look too appetizing. Gimme a cheeseburger muffin any day, really." the Thux snickered, though at the offer for aid, he got a bit quiet. He got a bit lost. He got a bit...

CAVE IN!
No no, look at me. Look. At. Me.
Yeah, it's medicine. The kind that comes in a bottle.
You're going to be fine, Cor. Just fine.
Hand me the shovel.
Don't look.


"Nahh, upkeep and such is a personal project. Cause..." he gave the forearm of that ancient prosthetic limb soft pat, ".... It's personal."

Stan gave Thux a sideways glance. Slowly he took a step away from his visitor.

“ Are you feeling alright?” Stan asked.

"Just... memories have a funny way of creeping back when you don't want them to." he shook his head a hit, "I appreciate the help, I do. Just, I'm a stubborn Thux who has to deal with his ghosts. And this...: he clenched the fist of his prosthetic limb, "This is a lot of ghosts. I'm sorry, I'm being a mopeyThux. Didn't mean to spoil your... not meal there."

Stan looked at the sample and shook his head.

“ No this is sample of a possible new foodstuff. But I think this wee pant maybe be sentient. I need a second opinion. But about that thing you mentioned about memories. Being ghosts in your head. I had the same problem after a very bad situation with a fiancé. Who was not as honourable as she should of been.Triggered an old childhood brain injury. Cost me a lot until I finally got medical help. Almost cost me my Starfleet career. Anyway all over now.” He told Thux.

"I chat with a doc every Thursday, sometimes sooner if I need it.' He admitted. The fingers of his prosthetic flexed again. The forearm plate itched. He shook his head, idly satisfying the mental need by scratching the durasteel plate. Scratches and thin carved lines marred the surface of the yellow plate. The design was older than either of them, in theory.

"Sentient? Well I mean, did it tell you?" he asked. This was way out of his paygrade. Though what wasn't above his paygrade was, if this WAS a sentient creature, it deserved to be free. "What makes you think it's aware?" he approached, now vested in the conversation.

Stan pointed a pencil at the moss. As if it had been listening the moss gave another flinch.

“ That.” Stan said pointing

He then took a look at Thux’s prosthetic.

“ You say this wee thing itches you? How old is this thing?” Stan asked

Cor didn't even hear the question. He just saw the flinch. "Okay, you can knock it off. That's a fear response." he pointed towards the sample. "Where did we pick it up, and when are we sending it back home?" Cordale's tone was not one to be taken lightly. The time for humor and jokes apparently had passed.

“ It was collected from the last away mission. The locals eat this moss like it was fried chicken. Apparently it’s a major food source. I very fear even if they know this plant has feelings. Their still be eating this poor wee thing.” Stan said.

"OK well then, we gotta start the paperwork. Someone has to let them know, that they're eating something that might object." Cordale had a tone, a posture, that spoke of the gravity of the situation.

Stan gave a sad sigh.

“ Unfortunately there is three words that will stop us doing that. The prime directive. We can’t interfere in the planets development. This moss sadly is a part of their staple diet. It’s like on Earth way back before synthetic meat alternatives were discovered. The population needed meat and it’s vitamins to survive. We would have to run this through the top brass first and I know what they would say. The Fedaration science council would be called in. You know how long they take to find a solution. We have to find the solution ourselves.” Stan advised

"Okay, okay... so if it's capable of thought, but not actually sentient, I... I dunno." the Thux was silent for a moment. "But, I mean hey, yeah I know, paperwork. Everyone drags their feet unless it's something that makes them famous. So, I guess just, ahhh wallet sharks I dunno. Just, stop poking it." he motioned to the sample.

After taking a breath to bring himself back to the here and now. "So, anyway what brought me here was I needed to borrow a replicator in science because they're slightly more precise than standard replicator units. I need to replicate some replacement parts I got off the Maker net. Some polymolecule fiber cables, some high gain graphine pathways, and some phytokine flow regulators." he rattled off some parts. "I have the specs on system, just need to borrow the replicator if I may?"

Stan nodded.

“ Yes of course. But use that one over there. It’s more accurate then the others.” Stan advised.

He went back to examining the moss again. It gave a shudder and spat some fluid at him. Stan managed to duck and it hit a work bench. A rather fowl smell came from fluid. Stan ran a tricorder over it and made a face.

“ Nasty. They consider this goo a delicacy on the planet….. eech” Stan said

"Guess it didn't like you poking it." Cordale commented from the peanut gallery, feeding in the requirements for the pieces he needed. One or two of them set off the science terminal's request for authorization, which Cordale accommodated. "Yes, yes I'm the chief of engineering, I'm allowed to build pieces of a thing." he snickered, before gathering up his components. "Thanks again."

Stan looked up.

“ If ye have some spare time how about a coffee? The real thing from Earth , not that Klingon muck everyone raves about.” Stan asked

"Sounds like a plan. I hate Klingon coffee." the Thux snickered. "I'll keep you posted."

Stan looked crestfallen.

“ Oh I was thinking of now not later.” He replied

Cordale gave a moment's thought, and then gave a nod, "Well, I can work on the ole' left hook after. Nothing pressing, so sure, pour me a cuppa."

Stan nodded.

“ A cuppa. Do you mean tea rather then coffee? Only I have some real tea leaves that I grew here on the Wellington. There all processes and ready for the pot. Then again if ye prefer coffee I have the real stuff to.” Stan informed him

"Huh? Oh, oh, no no no I meant coffee. Joe. Java." Cordale gave a chuckle. "I don't do tea, but yeah I always heard it as coffee. A cuppa coffee." he explained with a nod. "But yeah, coffee please. Some cream, a little sugar, and a lot of cinnamon."

Cinnamon! Stan grew his own because somehow the replicated version did not have that sugary kick you get from the real stuff.

“ Great. Yer love the cinnamon we have. Grown fresh here on the Wellington. Although with coffee I prefer a wee drop of ginger. My grandmother always referred to coffee as a cuppa by the way. Used to really annoy my Aunty. She was nay good at brewing tea. Boy the arguments they had.” Stan recalled

"I get my grounds from local markets whenever I can, but the only thing I make fresh here on the ship is root beer." the Thux admitted, "But yeah, my first posting out, we called it a cuppa, so it stuck since then. Anywho, yeah. I didn't bring my mug, so I'll just have an actual cup then." he motioned for Stan to lead the way.

They walked over to the front end of the science lab. Where Stan had set up a small kitchen area. He placed some of the ground beans into a machine. Soon it began to gurgle and hiss. Liquid flowed into a cup which he handed to Thux.

“ There ye go. There’s milk or cream in the cooler. Sweeteners are in that green wee box.” Stan said as he picked up his own cup.

“ Ye canna beat the smell of the real thing.” He said sniffing the air.

Cordale seasoned his coffee to his liking, and took a sip to ensure perfection was achieved. "Ehh, real or not, it's really all the same to me. I just enjoy coffee. It's been with me every step of the way. From my academy days, to my time before the academy, even back before then when I.." he paused, "When I worked in the mines. Well, 'Worked' is a subjective word but... but I'm not that Thux anymore. I'm better, I'm wiser..."

He paused for a moment to regard his coffee, "I'm free. Free enough for all of them." he muttered, mostly to his coffee, but still within earshot.

Stan could sense a change in his new friend.

“ Believe me my friend I have dark places in my past. That I would never wish to visit again.I almost lost everything to bad memories. But we are both here now. Survivors enjoying a good cup of coffee. Ooh I have some chocolate biscuits if you’d like one!” Stan said.

He shook his head, "Nahhh, the coffee is all I need right now." he took a sip. "Survivors." he repeated, and gave a nod. It was hard to believe that anyone suffered like he did, but he had no right to challenge the obstacles that others had overcome. No one did. Everyone, everyday, was fighting a battle only they could see.

"It's good to be here. Good to have you here. Two survivors, making it day by day."

“ Aye my friend aye.” Stan said.