Bumping Into A Stranger

Posted on Sun May 3rd, 2026 @ 12:14am by Lieutenant Stormy Knight & Lieutenant Daltom Vesper

1,294 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Friends and Traitors
Location: Corridor Near Science

Stormy was done for the day and looking forward to a relaxing evening with a book. She was half way out of the main science lab when one of the junior officers asked her a question. Instead of going back in, she paused in the doorway and turned around. It was a short answer and, once given, she started to turn and took a step. Then she paused to give one more quick instruction.

She turned again, eager to get away, and wasn't paying enough attention to whether or not there was someone in the corridor. Not until she bumped into him. She immediately stepped back. "Oh! I'm sorry."

Daltom, on the other hand, had been trying to get a feel for the ship. There was something about walking the corridors that made him feel more at home and more secure in his environment. Shore leave was not long, so this was the time to accomplish these tasks. He would have done more until a blonde woman bumped into him. He looked at her pips. She was a lieutenant just like him. In blues and they were near science. Perhaps she was. He gave her a bemused smile and said, "I thought that scientists were supposed to be more observant."

Stormy chuckled. "Sometimes. But we can also be absentminded." She didn't recognize him, but he acted like he belonged on the ship. "I'm Stormy Knight. Are you new here?"

"Ah, there's the observation," Daltom responded blandly. "I am the new counselor. Daltom Vesper is my name." He paused for a moment when he realized the name that Knight gave and continued, "Your parents really named you 'Stormy Knight'? This is not some sort of joke that I am not privy to, is it?"

"No. It's no joke. All my siblings have puns for names. My father loves puns. We've heard all the jokes."

"I wonder if I should work on finding a new one," Daltom mused at the potential challenge. "I am surprised that it does not bother you." So, what drives this woman? He then inquired, "So, where were you off to and what were you thinking about when you were walking into me?"

"Two very disparate questions," Stormy began, smiling. "For the first, a different name or a different pun? I have no problem with the name I have. For the second, I just finished my shift and was thinking about going back to my quarters to read a book."

"It must be quite the book," Daltom replied smoothly. "You were rather engrossed in the thoughts. What book could absorb you so? Is it something that I should read?"

"I don't know. Do you like fantasy?" she asked.

"Sometimes," Daltom hedged. "It can be relieving to get away from reality at times and into a place that is a bit more predictable."

"Predictable by who's rules?" Stormy raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Fantasy has its own rules and some don't make sense outside that world, but then, you can sometimes say that here."

That earned Stormy a small grin. "Indeed, whose rules? However, to be believable, generally there has to be some sort of parameters that are conveyed to the readers by the author so that they can somewhat know how the world works. No? However, when you are the character, or as we are in our own worlds, then things might make less sense because we do not have the eagle eye view, would you not say?"

"That would depend on if we're talking fact or fiction. As a scientist, I believe in proven rules--and unproven theory. But in fiction, the rules can be what you make them, as long as they make sense." Stormy enjoyed reading about fantasy and history--and sometimes a blending of both.

"Agreed. If the rules do not apply equally to everyone, or there are no rules, then fantasy feels fake. I think it is a flaw. There has to be a sense of believability."

Stormy nodded. "I agree. So, counselor, what brings you to the Thunderbird?"

"There was an opening," Daltom replied honestly. "It is a chief counselor position without any staff, so it is the next logical step careerwise. How about you? Why did you come here and why did you stay after the recent incidents?"

"I was transferred here," she replied with a shrug. "I'm still here because, in spite of recent events, it's still a great ship." And Tyler was here, which was another reason to stay.

"Could you tell me more about those events and the ship, please? Anything at all would be helpful. I have a lot to catch up on.

She shook her head. "You should ask the captain--or first officer--about that. We've seen everything from an ancient civilization to murder."

"I've talked to the Captain about it. I know the basics. However, I always find that different perspectives are helpful. Don't you?"

"Of course. Science is often about looking at things from different perspectives." She smiled. "Sometimes we go a little too in depth, but it's usually interesting. I take it you just arrived?"

"I did, but as you know, the previous counselor was a spy and killed herself, which potentially means that you did not want to answer my question regarding your thoughts on the recent events."

Stormy shook her head. "We thought we knew her. We liked her. It was...quite a shock." But they would move on and life would get back to normal. "But we've had our share of...unusual events here."

"What else?" Daltom inquired, not knowing anything more than the basics of the incident with the counselor. The Captain had not been here for much else but Stormy apparently had been. "It would be nice to know what I'm getting myself into."

"We had a first contact--of sorts. That is...complicated. I'll just say that we shuttled scientists to a planet that once held an ancient civilization and found that it wasn't quite abandoned. I found it fascinating." She shrugged. "That was under the former captain."

"What was fascinating about it?" Did she have some Vulcan training. Nobody seems to use the word 'fascinating,' except Vulcans. "

She laughed. "That is...complicated. The people. The world. The culture. The way the whole thing evolved." Then she shook her head. "It was also tragic. Complicated." She paused, then sighed. "And a long story. Sorry. So, what brings you to the Thunderbird?"

"It was an open counselor position and being the sole counselor, it is technically the Chief Counselor position. So, it is a decent stepping stone," Daltom answered simply. "Besides, there's nothing like stepping into a job where there is a lot of PTSD and other maladies to be treated," he replied somewhat wryly.

Stormy wasn't sure she'd categorize PTSD as a malady, but it wasn't an argument she wanted to have. "This crew has definitely been through a lot. I hope your time here will be all you hope for."

Daltom shrugged. "I'm here for the crew. As long as I can leave people here better than when I found them, I will consider my time here a success."

"Good. You are definitely needed here. But, if you will excuse me, I'll let you go on your way." Stormy smiled politely. "It was nice bumping into you, counselor."

"Literally or figuratively?" Daltom asked with a smirk, as he moved aside to allow Stormy room to go by.

"Both," she replied as she passed him, grinning. "Have a good day, lieutenant."

"And you," Daltom replied with an interested grin. Well, can't say that I expected that. We'll have to explore that "literally" later.

---

Lieutenant Daltom Vesper
Counselor
USS Thunderbird

Lieutenant Stormy Knight
Chief Science Officer
USS Thunderbird

 

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