Life Finds A Way
Posted on Fri Mar 27th, 2026 @ 11:00pm by Lieutenant Addison Talbert & Captain Thorrin
Edited on on Sat Apr 4th, 2026 @ 4:48pm
2,157 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
In The Nick Of Time
Location: Captain’s Ready Room – Deck 1 - USS Herodotus
Timeline: MD005 1500 hrs
In Addison's quarters, soft gentle music of Bach Concerto No.5 played in the background. It made things an oasis of calmness. Her mind drifted, with questions and with thoughts bubbling to the surface.
The CMO was in a contemplative mood, thinking of this new life of hers. Life, well Addison could call it her second life, living upon a timeship. She thought of the adjustments she's had to make. In the short time she's been here, Addison had observed things. She'd seen signs of connections being made, some for friendships, perhaps even the blossoming of a romance for some.
That brought up the questions about relationships. The term relationship in her mind, included friendships, besides romance.
Going from her position of reclining, to sitting cross-legged upon her bed. Addison watched the paraffin wax, in its blue colored water filled container. The blobs slowly rose up and down, something in the way they moved fascinated her, finding it soothing.
What would Thorrin's viewpoint be on relationship both friendship and romance? He was the captain of the ship was there any sort of rules regarding things of that nature?
She rose from her bed, walking barefooted to the computer and sent a message to Thorrin.
"Captain Thorrin, may I have a meeting with you?"
"Of course Doctor. In my Ready Room if you please." Thorrin closed the channel and poured two glasses of wine. It was interesting that the Doctor would have requested a meeting. He leaned back in his chair and sipped his wine. There was nothing more he could do save to wait for her arrival.
A few minutes later, the Ready Room door opened, Addison stepped inside. She came in uniform as this wasn't a social call, then again, was there ever a social call where the captain was concerned? A mental shrug swept that question aside as that wasn't necessarily important.
She noticed the two glasses of wine, something she catalogued as one of the things he liked to do. Having a glass of wine, in different situations.
"Good afternoon, Captain." Addison gently lowering herself into the chair across from Thorrin. "Thank you for this meeting." she picked up the glass of wine, having a sip before she brought up the reason as to this meeting.
Addison found that having the glass in her hand it centered her mind and found it strangely comforting.
"I wanted to talk to you about relationships on the Herodotus." she stopped there, drawing her mind back into focus. "What is your take on it? What are the protocols where relationships are concerned?"
"This ship functions differently than any other ship anywhere. We are all consenting adults, and we will not be returning to our normal lives. At least not anytime soon. That said nature will be nature as the saying goes. Is there a coupling at large that I should know about?" Thorrin sipped his wine and set it on his desk. His mind washed with a number of thoughts. The least of which was the Doctor would be barking up the wrong tree if she sought a relationship with him.
"Coupling at large, I have seen signs of attraction between a couple of people. Though I am not certain if there is actual coupling involved as it were." moving her free hand to one side Addison giving a shrug of one shoulder.
"This though, made me wonder, just how a budding relationship would or even could evolve here, if someone were to become an actual couple."
A sip of her wine, before Addison continued. "As you had said, this isn't a normal ship. Therefore, this means I need to know the ground rules. What can happen, what can't happen. Information is important in case questions or concerns come up."
"As I say people can couple and do what they please. However, they should be made to understand a great number of things. Now that we are speaking about this, these things are yours to relay should it come up. Children can never be born on this vessel without the following knowledge. When they are born they can never leave the ship until they are of adult age. If they decide to leave their memories will be wiped and they will have no memory of their parents or this place. If one gets married aboard this vessel they can never return to their previous lives. So, full romantic pairings should not be taken lightly. That said I will not outright forbid it. That said, if the crew needs to sow some wild oats who am I to step in the way of their fun. So long as it does not impede the mission of this vessel."
Calmly taking a sip from her glass once more, Addison didn't feel any dismay, didn't feel upset or hurt. In fact she felt relieved, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
"Thank you for your straightforward and candid answer Captain. I like the fact that you were direct and it is a relief." her body language conveyed the truth of her sentence. " I have had to deal with several who just seemed to want to dance around information instead of being upfront. Especially when time is of the essence."
"My dear doctor I do feel as if you are concealing something at the moment. Could this be about Marisa and Hastios?" Thorrin paused to sip his wine and smile. He raised a hand as if to stop Addison from interjecting before he could finish. "Now, do not feel bad. You have betrayed no confidences. Let's say you do not live as long as I without becoming observant."
Addison was rather glad she wasn't taking a drink of her wine, she would have inhaled and possibly done a spit take.
She chuckled softly. "Of course you are right. And yes it is concerning Hastios and Marisa. That did bring forth my needing to know the information." this time taking a sip of her wine which was getting low. "Children on this ship, which truly isn't created to have families, living on it. If that occurs."
"You have to pardon the pun. But we will address all of that in due time. If and/or when it happens. Suffice to say that for now make sure that everyone is aware that they should make sure proper precautions are taken before they engage in extracurricular activities." Thorrin sipped his wine and set the glass down perfectly in front of him. "There is one more thing about this topic. Now, this is a rule that is non negotiable, and if broken will be grounds for dismissal from the Thucydides Program. Romantic entanglements, which include but are not limited to sexual encounters with people from other universes, or timelines is forbidden. There is no proverbial wiggle room here." All jocularity was removed from his voice when he spoke this new rule. Thorrin had to make sure that the doctor understood the severity should this be broken.
The brief smile from Addison at the pun of Thorrin, soon gave way to a more serious expression.
"Are you saying that there will be temptations of people wanting a tryst with a historical figure? Or from another timeline" it boggled her mind at that thought. "Have you ever been tempted? That sort of thought has never crossed my mind."
Her face went pale as she thought of something else, Addison's widening in horror.
"Oh gosh, does this mean I might run into another version of my dead husband from another timeline?" Addison exclaimed.
"Historical figures, yes, but that is not the only person that I am referencing. I speak of literally anyone. Historically known or unknown it does not matter. If anyone breaks this rule I will wipe their memory, I will wipe the memory of the other party. Additionally if there are offspring from just such a union, an abortion will be performed. There will be no requesting permission to do these measures, it will simply be done." Thorrin spoke with a tone that would not be argued with. He paused to sip his wine before continuing. "As to your dead husband, I can assure you that there is a timeline somewhere out there where he lives. There is a timeline for every possibility. As a matter of fact there is only one historical figure I have ever found to be attractive for my liking. Chancellor Asatbur of the Klingon Empire. She was the daughter of Chancellor Gorkon. Of course I would never follow through, suffice to say she has an admirer through the timelines."
"Chancellor Asatbur" Addison's eyes lit up recognizing the name. "She was impressive, make that still impressive even though she is a part of history. Amazing woman. I would have loved to have met her."
Her mind drifted back to the other subject, as to the worry about messing with timelines, relationship wise.
"I need to know something else" Addison needed to find out about a possible neutral zone as it were. And that was the station where she had joined the crew of the Herodotus.
"Is Kok Station a place that is okay to, lets say, indulge oneself. Without worrying about running into a historical figure, or even running into someone from another timeline?"
Addison was now thinking about, the fact of being on the Herodotus, with the same crew. And worrying about Cabin fever. Being in close quarters can wear upon a person. Much like being on a submarine.
"Will we be able to go there for some RnR to have interaction away from the crew. I do know that there will be restrictions, where that is concerned. To make certain that nothing is leaked out about the Herodotus. I am fully aware that the mind would be wiped if such secrets would come out." picking up her glass once more to take a small sip of it.
"Indeed my dear doctor, indeed you will. You are not a prisoner here, and this is not a prison. It is why you were issued a cover identity. When aboard a locale like Kok Station you should be wearing a blue uniform, and operating under your identity as the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Herodotus a science vessel." Thorrin raised his glass in toast and took a sip. It was a gesture he did often, which simply gave the idea that he did not like to drink alone.
"Mind if I have a little bit more of this delicious wine." Addison requested before going on. "I am grateful for the information you are giving me, and looks like I have a bit to convey when the time comes.
The blonde doctor holding out her glass in hopes for a little bit more.
"Speaking of the wine, do you have any recommendations for spirits of certain types?" Addison asked.
Thorrin poured each of them a refill. "Truly great wine is meant to be shared, just like the journey." He sipped and simply enjoyed the moment. When he set his glass back down he continued. "I am partial to Amontillado, and Calvados. The Spanish do so know how to make sipping wines. However, a wine is like a mate. It is unique and catered to one's liking. So, you must ask yourself what flavors do you like best." It had been some time since someone asked Thorrin about wines. He seemed to rather enjoy being asked.
A sip of her newly filled glass, "This is very good." Addison giving a smile.
Pondering over the rest of what Thorrin had said, the doctor looked at the wine, then back at Thorrin.
"I will have to take some time to figure that out as to what I like. Before this new assignment, I had been rather busy, keeping myself busy. So much that I hadn't even explored the finer things of life. Now though, I will have to do so."
Addison giving a slight one shouldered shrug.
"For now, I will enjoy this glass of wine, then, I will go make some notes as to the protocols. Here's to your good health." Addison raising her glass towards Thorrin once more.
"Thank you Doctor, and here is to life finding a way." Thorrin raised his glass and sipped. "Now, since we have nothing, but time allow me to begin your education on the finer things. Starting of course with wine, the drink of true civility. That my dear doctor is five hundred years of study." The two sat for hours and discussed the finer things in life as the ship made its way through time.
A Joint Post By
Captain Thorrin
Commanding Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
Lieutenant Addison Talbert
Chief Medical Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
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