Apple Pie

Posted on Mon Oct 12, 2020 @ 6:53pm by Lieutenant Commander Dr. Elisabet Intarrah Ph.D MD & Lieutenant John Stoneman

Mission: Episode 1: On Stranger Tides
Location: Lounge/Mess Hall
1587 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Lise used the apple cutter again on something she was preparing. Real Apples, Cinnamon, and a flaky crust. She was fortunate the CO on this ship liked real food, and she managed to get the Eagle fully stocked. How long that would last while the ship was on duty would depend on the duty rotation. It took some time, but she managed to slip the large pie into the oven. She just hoped the crew wouldn't eat it all, but get it while it's hot.

Lise always did things when she felt like it. Especially cooking.

Stoneman needed a break. As he stepped into the dining facility the scent of Apple Pie came to him. Mug in hand, the smell of fresh baked goods inspired his Norse looting skills...

John moved to recharge his mug at the replicator. However the aroma hit him once more. With a smile and narrowed vision he passed into a small kitchen area observing a young officer working at a prep table.

"Would you be responsible for the odors I'm currently experiencing?" He stood facing her cup in hand, a somewhat serious look on his face.

"Yes, do you want a slice?" She always communicated simply. Her eyes began to evaluate him. "He is gorgeous." Her internal voice always had more to say.

"Excellent suggestion Lieutenant." John moved forward placing his cup on the countertop. "Did you design this divine sorcery from scratch?"

"It took me some time to find the perfect recipe. The perfect apples. Food is a science." She noted. "Coffee?"

"Yes, thank you." He slid his mug forward as she poured. Despite the distraction of that wonderful pie, he searched his memory back several years. He remembered her from the Academy. She was Two years behind him. Yes... John had never met her however she was a special Cadet indeed. Very few knew her well but her academic standing right from the start was off the charts. There were many rumors from her classmates mostly jealous ones.

"Dr. Elisabet Granger." She introduced herself simply.

"Hmm. Dormitory 3A, Level 3, Pike Dormitories." She just remembered his dormitory from the Academy. "I was in 7A. That particular level was full of hormonal lunatics." She mentioned.

John laughed. He wasn't surprised at all that Granger would recall the facts from several years back. He had to think about it but she was indeed correct. "I do recall a few of those dorms being occupied by many confused and unstable cadets. Those were great times."

"And a few were hormonal. Cadet David Riley... Eight PM, Dinner with Cadet Jennifer Taylor. Ten PM, Dinner with Cadet T'Va. Midnight, Makes out with Instructor Carson. So much noise I had to establish a dampening field on the wall to buffer noises I didn't want to hear at midnight." Elisabet mentioned. "After the second year I found a house in Montana and decided to Commute. People were bothering me for study sessions. I said no." She began cleaning up the cooking instruments. "I never do anything against my will, but I do follow orders well."

"I see, it sounds like you managed your schedule very well to meet your needs. Did you like Montana?" John was curious but thought to leave the rest of the lady's noisy living conditions to the side of the conversation. Her style of conversation was rapid at directly to her point. John could see that very few social filters may apply to her responses. That suited him fine really.

"It was beautiful. Trees, Wildlife, Mountains, Lakes, they did not judge me. To a deer or a bear; a human is a human." Lise checked the pie. She was not cooking it too quickly. It had to have the right temperature and time. "People say to much when they should be silent. I prefer minimal communication Lieutenant, and my own thoughts."+

John drank his coffee and nodded in agreement. He was much of the same belief to a certain extent. "I'm John Stoneman. New around here yet. It's nice to meet you."

"Chief Science Officer." Lise noted.

"So would Apple Pie be a hobby for the Chief Science Officer? Perhaps another tasty experiment?"

"It depends on the day, Lieutenant, and how much of a mood I'm in. One day it will be Betazoid Seafood. Next it will be Joseph Sisko's Shrimp Creole, don't ask for the recipe, as I had to shell thousands of shrimp to get the old man to give me the recipe. Or one day I might not be up to boiling water." Lise noted.

Stoneman nodded. All of her creations sounded good. He made a mental note to keep a close eye on this place so he wouldn't miss any of her culinary delights. He was eager to take a bite out of slice of that pie...

"To be honest I can't wait to see how that Apple Pie is going to turn out." John was prepared to wait all shift if necessary. It smelled that good.

Lise turned to the Oven and opened it, examining it with a tricorder. "Ready..." She pulled it out and placed it on the range for it to cool. "No... Let it cool, Don't want a burned mouth?"

"No, don't need that! But is a wonderful creation..."

"Soon, Lieutenant." A hologram suddenly appeared.

"Elisabet, there's some things you need to do today, mainly second officer matters. First, you need to review the incoming crew's service records with the executive officer. An engineering inspection needs to be done. Also, there's a matter involving our torpedo supply. You may have to get firm on this one. The transport from Deep Space Nine was delayed because of security concerns."

"Thank you Gregory." The hologram vanished.

John witnessed the apparition named Gregory, he wondered if anyone else could interact with it. It clearly focused on nagging the Lieutenant in a strange sort of way. A misty sort of living planner stalking about. There must be some sort of need for the program he wasn't aware of. But if it kept her focused and on track with things it was valuable. Stoneman was impressed that a hologram actually knew the current status of the weapons system. He didn't even know about any issue in the torpedo inventory. Some information should be carefully guarded. He needed to find out more about Gregory.

"Your assistant Gregory seems quite proficient Lieutenant. Is Gregory a independent program or a symbiotic being? very useful I would think."

"He's a repurposed EMH. You're welcome to use him. my brain is structured differently. I could remember the smell of a rose my mother handed me as a child, but I may not even remember baking this pie later today. Gregory is my short term memory." Lise noted. "Strong people, adapt to their circumstances, he has two forms. His holographic form and he's linked to a PADD I carry when he cannot take holographic form. Other times, I count on my crew. We all have strengths and weaknesses." Lise mentioned as she checked the pie and cut a slice. She put it perfectly on a plate with a fork and placed it in front of the XO. "I'm constantly working on meditations to improve my short term, but I may still loose track of things."

John was quite fascinated. The EMH or Gregory as she called him was a communications tool to supplement her memory. "Thank you." He admired the flaky crust as he took his first bite. As he finished he loaded up his fork again.

"Can Gregory assist you in complex tasks? Let say you were working on a complex assembly or something, and you got out of sequence. Would he step in and remind you?"

"Did you see what I did when I took the pie out?" She smiled. "I was unsure i added Cinnamon. So I verified with that tricorder. Complex tasks. I use verification and mental discipline i learned from the vulcans. Situation; I have a test at the academy. Particularly I am given only one evening. I apply important thouhts to logical chants used to give symbolism meaning and create mental triggers. And there i knew I had all the ingredients perfect. My life has been hard, and I asked for no favors from the Academy. I wanted more than a education. That I would have got from those Academic Stuffs from Cambridge. Eager to say... 'i am leaned, obey.' No. Knowledge is learned by challenges."

Stoneman finished his plate quickly. "Knowledge is learned by Challenges, That is quite brilliant indeed. I shall remember that . And this wonderful pie too." He bowed his arms outstretched. "You and Gregory can stop by my office and work on those crew reviews anytime you wish."

Lise smiled at Stoneman. "I will bring dinner." She noted. Hoping it would be professional. Internally, she thought he was cute.

"An excellent Idea Lieutenant. But for now I need to get back to the office. Thank you again for the snack." Stoneman smiled and left the room.

Lise smiled as she left. She was quite pleased on the inside. "Oh, I've totally scored a date with him, even though it's work." Her internal voice stated.

Stoneman returned to the temporary office area set up on the station. The Apple pie sent lingered on him. He was certain if she was serious about making a dinner it would be impressive considering her culinary skills. And Gregory really didn't require a chair at the table...