Chance Meeting

Posted on 07 Mar 2014 @ 4:30pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Oliver Morris & Lieutenant Elijah Williams IV, M.Sc.

1,130 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: San Francisco, Earth
Timeline: MD: 26, 1200

ON:

The soft smell of a late winter rain wafted through the still busy street of San Francisco's shopping district. Oliver spent most of the morning visiting various offices, compiling reports for the Commodore and, acquiring various items for personal use while during his long commission on Galileo. Oliver stopped at a local replimat next a clothier selling wares for Vulcans; all in various shades of brown and gray.

Oliver didn't like to eat replicated food while on Earth. Though it was nutritious, replicated food lacked the personal flair that one would get from an actual live chef. As he ate his pasta, Oliver made a mental note to sneak some salt onto the ship.

Elijah's patience was starting to wear thin as he stood in line, tray in hand, waiting for two people in front of him to make their choice. He had assumed they were parents due to the whiny toddler that was clinging to the woman's leg. The toddler just wanted to go, Elijah shared that sentiment - he wanted them to go too. After another five minutes, the couple and the toddler finally moved on. Blowing out a sigh of relief, he moved forward, got his meal and then entered the dining area.

"Of course it would be packed," Elijah mumbled to himself. Almost every chair had been taken. The couple with the toddler had one empty chair but he shuddered at the thought of sitting with them. His gaze swept the area and he saw one table, toward a bank of windows where there was only one occupant. He wove his way through the crowd, it wasn't like him to actually approach anyone but he just wanted to sit and eat. "Uh excuse me. I was wondering if either of these seats were taken?"

Oliver craned his neck to see that the Replimat, once sparse of people has suddenly been abuzz with people. He proffered a hand to an empty seat. "No, feel free. It wasn't this busy when I came in earlier. It must be another busy shopping day. With all these ships on leave a lot of families are probably trying to milk what ever time they have left before they launch again."

The Yeoman waited until his dining companion sat down before he introduced himself. "Oliver Morris, USS Galileo and you are?"

Elijah nodded, placed his tray onto the table and slid into the chair. "Elijah Williams, USS Galileo as well," he was struck by the coincidence, what were truly the odds of this happening. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Same here," Oliver smiled between bites. May be it was the way Elijah ran a hand through his hair or how his gray eyes seemed to pierce his very soul. Or it could have been a trick of the light against the other man's face; Oliver found him cute. It wasn't until he was caught staring at him that Oliver looked back over his roast beef.

He wasn't sure what the other man was staring at, but Elijah didn't think much of it either. Most times it was the eyes, both genders always looked at his eyes. They were a brilliant gray, full of hope and longing. His eyes truly were the windows into his soul. "So... Oliver, what is your position on board?"

"I am the Commodore's Assistant and Chief Yeoman, Oliver shook away his reverie. "And, yourself?"

"The new geologist," Elijah answered. Being the chief yeoman was pretty impressive, at least to him it was. "This will be my first shipboard assignment actually and I am looking forward to it."

"You'll love it. Traveling among the stars, seeing exotic planets, exotic men, it's quite a ride." He took a long draught of his beer. "I maybe from Hudson New York, but I was raised out there. I've seen so much in my life and I wouldn't let anything take it away."

Elijah liked the other man's enthusiasm, it was slightly infectious and he found himself grinning. "Sounds like it will be," he said. He also had to admit the 'exotic men' thing piqued his interest, but he didn't voice that. "How do you deal with the size of the ship, it's quite small after all."

"It'll be a different experience. But I'll cope. But then again my last assignment I lived with a group of marines on board a Nimitz Class ship. I rarely explored the rest of the vessel unless the Marine Commanding Officer ordered me to send some things to the Captain of the ship. Even then all I saw was the inside of the barracks and the Ready Room. You learn quite quickly to live with other people in tight quarters." The memory of sleeping in bunk beds and the camaraderie of officers in such a situation wasn't pleasant at first but there were days on Earth afterwards where his missed it entirely. "Are you hesitant to the idea of a small ship?"

"A little," Elijah said. "Since I left graduate school I've been working here on Earth in the labs, but then again I think even a Galaxy-class vessel would be hard to get used to if you are new to interstellar travel." He shrugged, "plus the last time I shared a room was back at the Academy, I will have to get used to that again as well."

"Think of it as a new adventure, something to be explored. There will be pitfalls. But it's the triumphs that will be glorious." Holy cow! I sound like my father. The senior Morris was often known for giving grand speeches to his children when ever they most likely didn't need one. Much to the annoyance of Oliver and his siblings.

"You'll do fine and, if you ever need a friend I'll be around." Oliver shined a huge grin.

Elijah smiled as well, not as broad as the other man's but a smile nevertheless. "Thank you for the offer, I may just take you up on that," he said. Though friendships were hard to come by for him, he did welcome the gesture. He continued with his meal, thinking how ironic it was that he would meet another shipmate in a place that was so far off the main track. What were the odds.

The two sat and ate together for another 20 minutes, getting to know one another in the process. They then parted ways, stating they would no doubt see each other on board. As Elijah walked away, he stuffed his hands in pants pockets and smiled, glad he had the chance to meet the other man.

OFF:

Lieutenant JG Elijah Williams IV
Geologist
USS Galileo

&

Petty Officer 1st Class Oliver Morris
Senior Yeoman
USS Galileo

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