Unexpected News

Posted on Wed Jun 8th, 2022 @ 10:04pm by Lieutenant Azusa Nakano & Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn

941 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Making for a Hostile Environment.
Location: XOs Office

Azusa had finally built up the courage to talk to the XO about her condition. As her next in line superior and the officer in charge of crew assignments, it was her that Azusa had report to. She stood nervously at the door of her office before reaching out and pressing the chime.

"Come in," Amber said, setting aside the PADD she'd been reading.

Azusa walked in and stood infront of the desk. "Erm..." she began. "Commander. There's something I need to tell you. It's about what happened on that planet a couple of weeks ago...". She wasn't sure how to tell her the truth, about how how she and Trie had got intimate on an away mission, granted they weren't themselves mentally, but it had still happened. The consequcnes of this was now she had a new life growing in her womb, the creation from both of them.

Amber raised an eyebrow. "Please, have a seat." She indicated the chair opposite her desk. "Is this while you and Jansum were in the caves?"

Azusa looked rather nervous. "Erm... well... yeah..." she said simply. "I should start Commander that we.... you know... weren't ourselves" she added rubbing her hands together as she sat down, trying not to make eye contact. Her cheeks were turning a bright shade of magenta as she sat there, clearly this wasn't easy for her.

"Yes, I know." Amber smiled. "I was on the planet and I helped identify the cause." She looked at Azusa for a moment. "So..."

"Well..." it was obvious that she was struggling to get the words out. "I'm..." she paused and took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant".

Amber was both surprised and not surprised at the news. She watched Azusa's face and body language as she asked, "How do you feel about it?"

Azusa shuffled slightly. "Well..." she started. "I'm not sure. Its not in my culture to have a child before marriage. Plus, I'm still young. I wasn't ready for this, but I can't consider aborting the baby either. I just don't believe in that" she paused for a moment. "I think I'm just... scared...".

"That's perfectly understandable," Amber said sympathetically. "It's perfectly normal to feel this way." She hesitated. "Have you spoken to the counselor about this?"

The chief engineer shook her head. "I only found out earlier today" she said. "I was worried it might affect my position here on the ship. Trei's... I mean, Lieutenant Jansums too"

"No, it won't affect either of your positions here," Amber assured her. "I'm mostly concerned with how you're doing--how you're both doing. I assume you've told Lieutenant Jansum?"

Azusa nodded simply. "Yeah I have... We're going to try and work it out" she said in response. It wasn't Trei who she was worried to tell, but her parents. She wasn't married and even today in Japanese culture having a child out of wedlock was frowned upon, however she was the first in her family to have a child with anyone else but a Japanese Human. That could send ripples through her family structure, but she didn't want that, but she also wanted to have the child.

The first officer smiled. She'd noticed the attraction between the two before the trip to the caves. "I'm glad. You both deserve that chance." She watched Azusa for a moment. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Azusa shook her head. "I don't think so. We're going to... keep it quiet. But I needed to let you know since I'm head of Engineering" she explained quietly. "Do you think the captain should know?"

"He'll need to know by the time you start showing," she admitted. "But it can wait for the two of you to figure out the details."

"That makes sense" Azusa said in response. "Whilst I'm here... you should know that the ship is working well. Engineering is running at a good pace. I would include this in my weekly report to you as well" she added.

"Thank you," Amber said. "That's good to know." She raised an eyebrow. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Azusa shook her head. "Not at the moment" she replied. "I think I have a lot to work out. I just needed to let you know... you know... as my senior officer". She knew it would be a while before she started to show signs of the pregnancy, she was only a few weeks in, but she was slim and had a tiny frame; it wouldn't be long until her belly began to stick out more and more, a dead give away.

"I appreciate it," Amber said gently. "I can't begin to understand how you feel, but you and Lieutenant Jansum have my support. I sincerely hope you will both be happy." She wondered how she'd react if she suddenly found herself pregnant with Paris' child. She imagined she'd be happy about it, but she wasn't sure how he'd feel, and really wasn't sure she wanted to find out any time soon.

Nodding Azusa gave her a nervous smile. "Thanks for understanding Commander" she rose to her feet and bowed slightly. "I have to go and tell my parents next... Can I?" She indicated to ask if she could leave. That phone call home was going to be very difficult to explain.

Amber waved a hand in hte air in the direction of the door. "Yes. Go tell them. And Lieutenant... Good luck."

Azusa nodded. "Thankyou Commander" she said before giving her a slight bow and scurrying off out the door.

Posting by

Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Azusa Nakano
Chief Engineer

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