"Junior Hopes and Conversations"

[Bruce Tuttle 0]

"This seat taken?"

 

"Not at all." Bruce Tuttle looked up from his porridge and padd, nodding at the science officer. "Have a seat, Lieutenant."

 

"Still a junior," she added, peering intently at the collar of his uniform. "They promoted you, I see," she commented. "I feel insulted."

 

"Yes, I'm an ensign now." The heavily-British-accented came out a little smug. "Still waiting for a jump to Full Lieutenant Quade?"

 

"I'll never get it. I'm too mild-mannered and unassuming." Diane smirked over at him. "I heard a rumor floating that Commander Kitten had promoted some dashing British midshipman because she liked his accent."

 

"Oh, shut the bloody 'ell up."

 

"Yes, Ensign Tuttle. Just think, if you keep talking with that lovely brogue, I'll be calling you 'Sir' soon."

 

He glared at her. "Not bloody likely. Besides, it's not a brogue."

 

Diane laughed. "Only an accent? My apologies."

 

"Right. Brogues are Scottish." His handsome features darkened at that, and he turned back to his porridge, suddenly finding breakfast... unappetizing.

 

"Did they... ever hear anything about your cousin in Edinburgh?" Quade asked, gently, and he nodded, still silent. "Bad?" she continued softly, reaching over to give his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

 

"Yeah. They found her... or what was left of the house. At least we know for sure..." He gave Quade a skeptical look. "What about your family?"

 

Her expressions went to a cross between blank and sad. "Nothing. Gods, I should have made them all move out of San Fran years ago..."

 

"Nobody could have known," he comforted. "And if you start on the 'Science could have done more in their off-hours to study the Soltan' again..."

 

"Well, we could have," Quade answered, bitterly. "If we'd ever even thought..."

 

"Stop," he interrupted. "Just... keep looking through the injurees and coma victims every day -- who knows, maybe your whole family is off sleeping somewhere. They could have been lucky. You must be lucky, after all -- you serve on this ship and you're still alive."

 

In spite of herself, Diane smiled. "I'll keep hoping, then."