[NVC Day 27] -- [Open Office] -- [Open to All]

[kirktastic]

With the sentencing over, the Enterprise would soon be leaving Sha'Kwai and returning to its original mission. By this point, Jim was ready for it. He wanted off the planet, his wanderlust getting the better of it. It was the longest stretch of time he had spent in once place minus his years at the Academy - always moving, always traveling, wanting

Comments

[rn_chapel]

Tina didn't bother to send a reply to Kirk's message. She was already dressed, and getting out of her room sounded nice. The Captain had said his door was open, and it clearly was, but she stopped and knocked on the frame anyway, to let him know that she was there.

[rn_chapel]

"I gather there's not much to check out just yet, but the basic living areas are complete, so there will be that. And I imagine that some people will be interested in seeing what a space station in construction looks like, too, really."

It would be interesting, living in a place that was slowly expanding.

[kirktastic]

"I was reading about everything they want to include there... I have to admit, I wish I could see it once they install the deep space lens. A camera that can see light years off without link up... that's pretty amazing." Sometimes, he proved that he was indeed a tiny bit of a geek. He had always been interested in the newest of technologies.

[rn_chapel]

"A lot of the specs are really exciting." Tina was more than a bit of a geek. "The designs for the labs are fantastic. And even the living areas are incorporating some new innovations that I find fascinating. The hydroponics garden, for example... It should be great."

[kirktastic]

"I'm just interested in how different it'll be from the Enterprise. She's pretty new compared to everything else in Starfleet, but the base has the benefit of not having to deal with constantly changing problems, atmospheres, pressures, and stuff like that. I've gotta admit though, I'm grateful for the less than hydroponic gardens on the 'prise. I like dirt and grass at least a little." He gave a sheepish look, grinning wide.

[rn_chapel]

Tina was nodding along with his thoughts.

"One of the things I'm looking forward to, work-wise, is that there will be more space to work with, and the medical facilities will be larger and more compartmentalized. Not that the Enterprise is cramped - sickbay is extremely well-designed to prevent that - but it'll be nice to have more room."

She smiled. "Maybe I'll even get a desk of my very own."

[kirktastic]

That made him laugh, wagging a finger. "Ha! So that's what you've been gunning for this whole time, a desk all your own!" He couldn't keep it up without laughing. Despite everything, being with his crew, being who he was today had made him feel lighter. Better.

[rn_chapel]

"That and larger quarters," Tina said. "I've often dreamed of having a couch, and maybe a table that seats more than two."

[kirktastic]

"The mystery is solved," Tina had a gorgeous smile. Jim leaned back in his seat, smiling just as much. "Why'd you end up signing up with Starfleet, or more specifically for deep space exploration?"

[rn_chapel]

"I felt a sort of pressing need to get off the planet. The deep space assignment wasn't as much a deliberate choice." Tina shrugged. "I did very well in the Starfleet Medical nursing program, and Dr. Puri offered me my position on the Enterprise. I wouldn't have turned that down even if I had something against deep space missions."

She touched her belly. "Which, at the time, I certainly didn't. Though my priorities are shifting now. Life is what happens when you're making other plans, right?"

[kirktastic]

Jim looked at her stomach, and for a moment, there was a sadness in his eyes. "...you preach to a choir." Murmured softly, so softly. "That's why I can't have any." A brief, sad smile. "Jim's a lucky man."

[rn_chapel]

"Plans?" Tina wondered. "Or children?"

[kirktastic]

"Children, because I have plans." He leaned back, closing his eyes.

[rn_chapel]

"Ah," Tina said.

She sipped at her drink for a moment, studying the Captain's face. She didn't want to say too much, give unsolicited advice or comfort.

"If you decide later that it's something you want, you have plenty of time to revise those plans. Jim is ten years older than you."

[kirktastic]

He pointed at her stomach. "The idea of something, even something I want, forcing me to do something or give up something? You're right. Jim is ten years older than me. Now he has two--"

He stopped entirely, touching his forehead. No, not two. Another universe, not Jim's universe. Spock's universe. "Now he has a kid. And he has you. Two things that tie him down. Not that it's bad for him, it's great for him."

[rn_chapel]

Tina shook her head. "I'm not tying him down. I could. He's the decent kind of man who'd stay if I asked him to, I think. But I won't. He doesn't belong here, and I know it. But at least he'll know that she exists, and we'll keep in touch if we can find any way to do it at all."

She shrugged. "As far as forcing... I didn't have to keep her. I made a choice. And giving up deep space is just part of that choice. That's all. Choosing to enter the command track at the academy made it so that you can never be the chief engineer of a starship, you know? There are always things we give up."