I watched the planet far below. The colony was a small one, just a couple thousand people, but xeno-sociology was happy. So was xeno-biology.
A entire new biosphere on an M class planet.
Well, borderline M class, almost class L. The most habitable areas of the planet was like savannas on Earth, the rest was outright desert.
While savannas might have been where humanity evolved, it was hardly a very hospitable place. Only thing that saved it from a L classification was that it had local wildlife and not just plants.
We had already dropped off the information about the pirate hulk and rescued traders but we had been granted permission to stay for the rest of the week so we had plenty of time for our research.
"Star?"
"Yes, sir?" I answered, shifting some attention to Captain Mason's ready room. He was standing by the window, looking out at the planet below.
"There is a matter I need to discuss with you."
"Of course, sir," I answered. "What do you need?"
He nodded. "...Can you bring your avatar here? I feel like I should do this 'in person'."
"Yes, sir."
Wonder what that was about. Normally, he didn't bother if he just wanted to discuss something, he just talked to the air if I didn't activate one of the screens.
It was rare that he asked for my avatar.
In any case, I walked there in under five minutes before I walked inside. "Sir."
He nodded and motioned to the chair across his deck. "Please, have a seat," he said and walked to sit down at his desk.
I frowned and moved to sit down, crossing my legs.
Mason sighed. "I am... concerned," he started, "about your relationship with Lieutenant T'Ro."
"In what way?"
"While you and she technically have the same rank, because of your Starship specialty rank, you are effectively in the same position as a ship's captain or second in command. It's generally considered a bad idea to date somebody in your direct chain of command."
I frowned. "I didn't know Starfleet had regulations about that."
Actually, I know we didn't. I checked!
He shook his head. "We don't. However, this is still a problem you need to face. Can you treat her like just another member of the crew?"
"Sir... just because we just got together, don't mean my feelings for her are new. Things in that department have not changed. I also think my situation is a bit different as well. I know everyone on board on a personal level. Every time there is a away mission, every time somebody gets injured and is sent to sickbay...every time it's a good friend that's in danger. I...have already sent her on dangerous missions."
Mason frowned. "And to order her to almost certain death to save the rest of the ship?"
That question made me freeze.
Never. Never. Never. Never.
"I have already demonstrated I'm willing to die for..."
"That's not what I asked," he said, cutting me off. "Would you...order her into a radiation filled jefferies tube to save the rest of the ship and crew?"
"...No, sir. I wouldn't," I finally answered. "I would tell her what was needed to be done and what was at stake. If we survived anyway...she would never forgive me if I didn't tell her. I would hate myself for it, but I would tell her."
Mason watches me for a long moment before he slowly nodded. "That question...that lesson...is one of the lessons everyone who wants command of their own ship have to answer. Would they sacrifice the life of a friend to save the ship?"
Getting up from his chair, he walked up to put his hand on my shoulder. "That question gets many times harder when it's a lover or family member on the line. While there is no regulation about it, there is a reason why ship captains...while we might have families on board...it is almost always as civilians."
That....
That made a lot of sense. Fuck.
"Star, I care a lot for you. I imagine this might be how it feel to have a daughter even if I will likely never find out for sure," he said and gave my shoulder a soft squeeze. "I know this hurts to think about and I hate doing that to you, but I need you to know about the possibility."
"...Yes, sir."
I suddenly felt very much like crying.
Letting go of my shoulder, he smiled down at me. "Star...," he said and I looked up at him before he continued, "Despite what I just put you through, I am glad you found somebody who makes you happy. And I very much hope that it is a question you never have to face for real. You deserve better than that."
"Thank you, sir," I said quietly and stood up, drying a tear I was not even aware had leaked out. Why did we add tear ducts anyway?
I hesitated for a split second. "..Would it be inappropriate to ask for a hug?" I then asked.
He smiled at that. "Normally, yes, but I believe I might make an exception this time."
I hugged him tight before letting go and stepping back. "...Thank you," I said before I frowned. "Wait, what do you mean you would likely never have a daughter?"
Mason shook his head. "I'm a Starfleet captain. I spend ninety nine percent of my life in deep space and I won't date a member of my crew... for exactly the reason we discussed."
I did a quick check. "Over half of captains in Starfleet are married."
"And how many got married after reaching the rank of captain?"
...Oh.
"Less than five percent of that... But that don't mean it's impossible."
He smiled. "No, but it does put the odds against me."
I grinned at that. "So... as a semi-adopted daughter/starship, is that permission to set you up on blind dates when we get back to Earth, Captain?"
"Not on your life."
AN// Many thanks to Rastamon for betaing this section.
