That sounds interesting enough. [In truth, hearing anything about his life is of interest to her--it's so far removed from hers that she can hardly imagine it.] I'd like to hear it.
( he smiles, a little bit. it's easy to be proud of what the others do, because he sees himself as adjunct to them. sure, he patches them up, but it's usually the others running around doing the heavy lifting. )
I guess I should say that we're pretty new, all things considered. Most of us only graduated from the academy two or three years ago.
One of our first assignments was to survey a planet called Nibiru. It's got a tropical climate--all bright colors and not too much in the way of development. The natives are peaceful, but haven't achieved space travel yet.
( he pauses, and wonders how things ended up for them-- they'd forgotten about nibiru in the scuffle of things happening afterwards. )
So, anyway, we get there and it turns out the biggest volcano on the planet is about to erupt, and take most of the populated areas with it. We couldn't march up to the Nibirans and tell 'em to scram, so we... tricked them.
Jim-- that's our captain-- in his infinite wisdom, decides to steal some holy relic. So they go chasing after him-- and me-- and we get them out of the line of fire.
Meanwhile, our science officer, communications specialist and pilot are inside the volcano, trying to neutralize it.
The whole thing was a big mess, and we nearly lost Spock-- our first officer. But Nibiru's still standing, and so are her inhabitants.
( he shrugs a little, as he finishes. it seems like a small win, now, but it meant something. not every victory has to come after fighting a war and losing people. )
[She's smiling, if still a bit hesitantly, as he recounts the story. Close calls where everyone ends up all right--it's a perfect story, small or not.]
It sounds like quite the adventure. I'm glad everything turned out all right.
[How much of a country bumpkin, metaphorically speaking, would she sound if she voiced her amazement at the idea of going to another planet in the first place? Hopefully not too much, because when she starts talking, she continues without too much thought to the matter.]
Of course, it seems like every day would be an adventure on a spaceship. I'm a bit envious, I have to admit.
( he dips his head at that, looks a bit embarrassed. )
I hate space. ( it's a bland admission, and one he usually makes boldly. but for some reason, now, he feels ungrateful. ) The whole big black mess of it scares the life out of me.
Where I'm from, it's a normal thing. Even if you're not in the 'fleet you get out in the black at least once-- more, if you're a trader or a scientist or someone who likes exotic vacations.
But my whole life, I've been scared of it. Couldn't even really tell you why.
...but it is an adventure. I'm not sad that's where I ended up, all told.
[The idea of a space doctor who hates being in space is bemusing (and perhaps just the tiniest bit amusing)...but he seems to have done well enough for himself. Perhaps it's easy to forget one is in space once one's there, though she has difficulty imagining that.
...On the other hand, Egypt seems impossibly exotic to plenty of people she's met, both here and in England, and it felt prosaic to her on plenty of days. However unbelievable outer space seems to her, it's clearly mundane in his world.]
I suppose I can see why it'd be frightening. [Evy tips her head up a bit, looking at the sky. It's still light out right now, but the sun will set soon enough.] There's a lot of empty space between the stars, isn't there? Even if they look close together from here.
[And then she gives him a sidelong glance.] But perhaps the adventure makes up for that.
I suppose they'd have to be--I'm not sure I'd be willing to help steal a holy artifact for a captain I didn't like. [No, then she'd steal it for herself, obviously. Either way, she's just teasing.]
We "adventurous types"? [She laughs.] I'm sorry--I never really thought of myself as the adventurous type.
[She was always mousy Evelyn Carnahan, mild-mannered librarian. Jonathan might have had words about the "mild-mannered" bit, but outside him, didn't she tend to keep to herself?
All before that puzzle box. All before she came here.]
But perhaps I am. And if I am...then you can trust my expertise when I say that we need someone to be sensible about things when we're tearing off on some new adventure.
Of course, I mostly have Jonathan's word for it, and brothers are hardly reliable sources for this sort of thing, but I certainly didn't make many friends in school, talking about mummification over dinner.
Ooh, tips from the master. [He might be able to keep from smiling, but she can't--she laughs outright.] Next time we have pudding, you can tell me all about surgery.
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I guess I should say that we're pretty new, all things considered. Most of us only graduated from the academy two or three years ago.
One of our first assignments was to survey a planet called Nibiru. It's got a tropical climate--all bright colors and not too much in the way of development. The natives are peaceful, but haven't achieved space travel yet.
( he pauses, and wonders how things ended up for them-- they'd forgotten about nibiru in the scuffle of things happening afterwards. )
So, anyway, we get there and it turns out the biggest volcano on the planet is about to erupt, and take most of the populated areas with it. We couldn't march up to the Nibirans and tell 'em to scram, so we... tricked them.
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As Leonard speaks, her expression loses its morose cast, and her eyes grow bright.]
How'd you manage it?
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Meanwhile, our science officer, communications specialist and pilot are inside the volcano, trying to neutralize it.
The whole thing was a big mess, and we nearly lost Spock-- our first officer. But Nibiru's still standing, and so are her inhabitants.
( he shrugs a little, as he finishes. it seems like a small win, now, but it meant something. not every victory has to come after fighting a war and losing people. )
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It sounds like quite the adventure. I'm glad everything turned out all right.
[How much of a country bumpkin, metaphorically speaking, would she sound if she voiced her amazement at the idea of going to another planet in the first place? Hopefully not too much, because when she starts talking, she continues without too much thought to the matter.]
Of course, it seems like every day would be an adventure on a spaceship. I'm a bit envious, I have to admit.
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I hate space. ( it's a bland admission, and one he usually makes boldly. but for some reason, now, he feels ungrateful. ) The whole big black mess of it scares the life out of me.
Where I'm from, it's a normal thing. Even if you're not in the 'fleet you get out in the black at least once-- more, if you're a trader or a scientist or someone who likes exotic vacations.
But my whole life, I've been scared of it. Couldn't even really tell you why.
...but it is an adventure. I'm not sad that's where I ended up, all told.
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...On the other hand, Egypt seems impossibly exotic to plenty of people she's met, both here and in England, and it felt prosaic to her on plenty of days. However unbelievable outer space seems to her, it's clearly mundane in his world.]
I suppose I can see why it'd be frightening. [Evy tips her head up a bit, looking at the sky. It's still light out right now, but the sun will set soon enough.] There's a lot of empty space between the stars, isn't there? Even if they look close together from here.
[And then she gives him a sidelong glance.] But perhaps the adventure makes up for that.
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( he says that quietly. then, perhaps realizing he's getting a bit dark, he clears his throat. )
You do what you've gotta, though. And the people ain't half bad.
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[But she's happy to move on from that thought.]
I suppose they'd have to be--I'm not sure I'd be willing to help steal a holy artifact for a captain I didn't like. [No, then she'd steal it for herself, obviously. Either way, she's just teasing.]
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I figure you adventurous typs'll always do things like that. And the rest of us go along for the ride because... well, I don't really know why.
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[She was always mousy Evelyn Carnahan, mild-mannered librarian. Jonathan might have had words about the "mild-mannered" bit, but outside him, didn't she tend to keep to herself?
All before that puzzle box. All before she came here.]
But perhaps I am. And if I am...then you can trust my expertise when I say that we need someone to be sensible about things when we're tearing off on some new adventure.
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( then he chuckles. ) The whole thing'd work out a lot better if anyone took the sensible ones' advice.
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[She grins.]
Your captain's lucky to have you, even if he doesn't pay your advice much mind.
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Right. ( nailed it. )
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I think we're lucky, too. The more proper doctors here, the better--especially if they're good conversation.
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Most people don't have kind words for my conversation.
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I could say the same.
Of course, I mostly have Jonathan's word for it, and brothers are hardly reliable sources for this sort of thing, but I certainly didn't make many friends in school, talking about mummification over dinner.
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Suffice to say, if your conversation skills aren't widely considered up to snuff, I haven't noticed. [She winks at him.]
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( but he tilts his head again, swallows a smile by pursing his lips. )
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