The Mock Turtle

Posted on Wed Aug 21, 2019 @ 6:15pm by Lieutenant Nicole Anderson

1,207 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Plaga Navis
Location: Professor's Quarters

Nicole pressed the chime on her father's quarters, her stomach in knots, gripping her tricorder and her bag strongly in each hand. She wanted Camille by her side, but when she'd gone to scan her, she realized she had to have this talk on her own. So, after a few stolen kisses and a reminder of dinner later, she tore herself away and continued on her duties.

The process had gone relatively smoothly. Everyone was conscious of the potential for the virus to infect them so they were more than willing to submit to an 'examination.' She'd cleared her medical staff first, and they had then spread out throughout the ship, efficiently going through the crew one at a time. So far, they were safe from doppelgangers.

She wanted to scan her father herself. She felt it was the proper thing to do.

As the doors opened, he gave her a warm smile and stepped aside. "Please, come in," he said gently. Nicole took a breath and stepped inside the lion's den.

There were padds everywhere, his research spread out across them. She would do the same thing when she had a particularly difficult diagnosis to render back on Rigel. She sighed at yet another reminder of what they had in common, and surrendered to the insanity.

"Please have a seat," she said, somewhat overly formally. "I need to scan you for contamination from the virus."

Thomas looked at her for a moment, then nodded and sat down. "Go ahead," he said. As she opened her tricorder and began scanning him, he sat back and smiled. "I saw Camille earlier today. She was very relieved you made it back aboard."

Nicole nodded. "Given what happened on the planet, so am I," she said. "Not sure what I'd do if the situation had been reversed."

Thomas grinned. "You'd hijack the ship and go in guns blazing, carving a path between you and her, letting nothing stand in your way," he said, somewhat dramatically.

Nicole gave a small laugh. "Probably," she said.

"You have your mother's fire," he said, smiling. He heard her close the tricorder and didn't look up. "So, am I me?"

"You...what?" she said, surprised.

"If you honestly thought there was a chance the virus was loose on board, we'd be at red alert and confined to quarters," he said. "Camille filled me in on this 'alternate universe' business. QED, you're checking to see if I'm the 'real' Thomas Reeves Anderson."

*Brilliant mind,* she reminded herself, coming around and sitting primly on the couch next to his chair. "Yes, and I'm happy to say that you are. So is Camille," she said with a touch of relief.

"Well, that's a load off my mind," he said, chuckling. "I'd hate to think I'm wearing the wrong underwear."

Nicole barked a laugh, and put her hand over her mouth to stifle herself, her posture relaxing slightly. "I suppose I get some of my humor from you as well."

"Some," he said. "The dry sarcasm comes from Mina." He smiled at her, happy that she was feeling comfortable enough to laugh with him.

Nicole looked at him and realized that this was a moment she'd dreamed about as a child, and she had no idea what to do. When she was little, she'd imagine all the things she'd tell her father about, all the questions she'd ask, and all the jokes she'd tell him. Now her brain was simultaneously trying to recall all those things at once, yet was completely blank as to what to say next.

She realized she was staring and shook herself. "I'm sorry," she said. "I just....don't know where to go from here."

"How about some tit for tat?" Thomas said. "We each ask one question at a time. I can go first if you like."

"All right..." she said, hesitantly. She wasn't sure what he'd want to know, but she braced herself for whatever she was about to confess.

"What were your first words?" he said, quietly.

Nicole felt like someone punched her. Of course he'd ask something personal, but he'd ask something that a father would want to know. "Perriment," she said. "My attempt to say 'experiment' whenever mother was working on something."

Thomas grinned ear-to-ear. "Adorable," he said.

Nicole blushed and smiled. "Do I have....relatives? I mean, other than the obvious ones."

"Quite a few," Thomas said. "My parents--your grandparents--are alive and well, living on Alpha Centauri. I have a brother who lives with his wife on Mars. They have three children and one grandchild with another on the way, if I recall. My other brother is married with two children of his own, both of whom are married, and trying for children, and my sister and her husband live on Alpha Centauri now that their three kids have moved out to seek their fortunes."

"Wow," Nicole said, trying to take that all in. Dozens of family members she'd never met. *And I can barely handle the one,* she thought.

"indeed," Thomas said. "Would you be interested in meeting them?"

"I think so," Nicole said. "I'm curious to see what we have in common." She thought for a moment. "Let's see. My turn again..."

"I believe it's my turn," Thomas said.

"You asked if I'd like to meet them," Nicole said. "Wasted a turn."

Thomas chuckled but didn't object.

"How did you know to be there....when I was sick?" she said, quietly.

"The Ommadawn told your mother, and your mother told me. I had to catch a last-minute shuttle and hitch a ride, but some strings were pulled." He sighed and stood, coming to sit next to her on the couch. She flinched a bit, but didn't move.

"I sat by your bedside for three days straight, before Cassandra pulled me away," he said. "Your mother and I were in her lab almost constantly after that, trying to work on your elixir and pull you back from the brink. I read to you, I sang to you. I was never sure if you could hear me." He wiped his eyes quickly. "As awful a time as it was...I got to hold my daughter's hand, read her a bedtime story and tuck her in. I was very grateful for that opportunity."

Nicole found herself falling. She couldn't stop herself as gravity took hold and forced her down. Like a tree being felled, she leaned, leaned and finally tipped past the point of no return and wound up lying in her father's arms as he held her, catching her fall, just as he had. "Why did no one tell me," she whispered.

"You were in a very delicate state," he said holding her tightly. "I wanted you safe above all else. I made them swear they wouldn't upset you with the news."

She nodded. "I'm stronger now," she said.

"I know," he said. "And I'm very proud of you."

She smiled and let out a quick sob. "It's your turn," she said.

"I have everything I need for now," he said, rubbing her shoulder.

She nodded and snuggled up closer, content to let a little time pass before she had to go back to her life.

 

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