Date 3: First Holiday - In Transit & Lost in Translation

Posted on Wednesday, 22 July 2020 - 5:33pm by Crewman Leopold Eberhardt & Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt

Mission: Operation: Jabberwocky
Location: In Transit to Ba'ku

Adrianna watched Nick leave. She felt relieved and somewhat at peace about life in general now. Her eyes caught sight of Leopold and she waved, picking up her small duffle. The woman walked to him quickly, now very excited to be taking a trip with him, hell everyone was for it. Adrianna kissed him softly, "ready?"

Leopold was delighted with the kiss and felt a warm sensation come over him. "Three dates and a not date prelude" he commented recapping their experiences as of late. "Now this? A kiss so naturally upon seeing me. I suspect this makes us a bit more official" he teased and smiled. "I am ready and a bit excited. I've been reading up on the planet. It has a lot to offer" he added.

Adrianna couldn't help but chuckle at his narration. He was right about where they may be heading though. She couldn't help but tease back, "well you said we'd be married by the fifth." She then continued the conversation, "I read up a little too. It really looks great. Exactly what I need, don't know about you."

"I like being in nature and honestly, some time away from the ship will do me good" he replied with a small smile. "I have settled in nicely and I enjoy the crew albeit I mostly work alone. I get to work with personnel from different departments, but the majority of my work aboard is done in somewhat isolation on the lower decks, not like we have that many decks though" he explained with a chuckle. "Married by the fifth...at the rate, we are going I would not be surprised, not that I am complaining about it, but just to reassure you, I am in no rush. Let's enjoy Ba'Ku together."

Adrianna couldn't help but chuckle, "I think I could use it as a means to relax. No technology to actively distract me. Promise I won't propose too soon." She added, teasing him. She liked this ongoing joke. The Italian took his hand ad wandered down to the shuttle with him.

Leopold nodded "At least no technology in the modern sense, I know we can still count a wheel as technology" he replied teasingly. "Maybe even a brick oven or a fire pit. Which makes me wonder something...how are your cooking skills? Because my hunting skills are not very good" he added. "I'm sure they will feed us if we ask kindly, but I wouldn't mind making something just the two of us."

Adrianna looked mock offended, "I'm Italian, I could cook before I could walk." She thought a moment, "I haven't cooked for you, have I? Prepare to get fat."

"I look forward to you plumping me up," he replied delighted by her enthusiasm. "I have done some reading about Italy and Italian heritage and food did come up, but I did not want to make any assumptions, especially in the time that we live in. A lot of the 'ancient' ways died among the Federation worlds. Even on my own world technology replaced a lot of the old ways, and we have lost the skillsets needed among the commonplace ways."

"Italy hasn't changed," she replied," it's a culture built on family heritage. I love to cook too. My mother would give us such a dirty look if we tried to encourage modern stuff like replicators. She was such a traditionalist."

"All worlds and cultures will certainly have their traditionalist," Leopold replied. "I get kind of bored with work sometimes, don't tell anyone, but I sometimes study when I am there alone and running analyses on stuff. I have been reading about Earth history, the different cultures, but also expanded out a bit about other worlds. Ferenginar for example, they really have not changed much over the years."

"Places with rich heritage tend to have more wealth," Adrianna replied, "whether that be in knowledge, art, happiness or money." She stroked her thumb on his hand, "it's good to learn and keep learning. It keeps people's brains young."

"Today is a good day to learn," he replied teasingly. "I am sure the Klingons would enjoy that one" he said as he watched a holographic signage display appear nearby and it gave information about some of the transports. "Our transport has arrived. Time to board and settle in for a bit. Fortunately, the starbase is not very far from Ba'Ku unlike some of the other places people have gone off to. I heard a few people mentioning Risa, Earth, and even Vulcan."

Adrianna nodded," maybe we could go to Earth soon. My brother seems to think I'll be welcomed soon." She followed him the the transport and took a seat next to him.

He took her hand in his as they sat together. "Have you had some change in familial relations or status? Last time I mentioned Earth it felt like you wanted to be far away from it and your family as you could be" he noted with a small smile. "I suppose we can only keep us from them for so long. It would get pretty awkward if I had to hide from view if you get a subspace message from home or anything."

Adrianna squeezed his hand, "I'm not keeping you from them. I wouldn't. I just don't come from a well put together background. I came to Starfleet as an escape--one hell of a plea deal if you will. I check in on my family, without them knowing. My brother, Giovanni, he got me my position with Starfleet to protect me. He managed to get a message to me. He seems relieved I'm happy and well. He's trying to ensure I can come back and visit. But it's a long process. Forgiveness doesn't come overnight."


There was perhaps nobody aboard the Starship Standing Bear who understood where Adriana was coming from more than Leopold did. He was also somebody who was escaping their home in order to find a new place a new hole a fresh start. He took her hand and squeezed it then looked into her eyes and smiled as he said “I know all too well about joining Starfleet as an escape, after all, I do come from a world that has chosen to follow in the footsteps of one of the darkest periods and tyrannical regimes of Earth’s history” he said alluding to the of Earth’s 1930s and 1940s. “My world… my home,” he continued “It is not the most inviting place and it is no wonder why it is not part of the Federation. It is not like the Federation would take too kindly to a world having secret police and the ongoing invasion of rights nor disrespect for privacy.”

"Home is where the heart is," she kissed his cheek, "earth phrase. One I like but have not worked out what it means yet." The pair were similar enough to just understand what would normally be an off the table conversation. She understood the bizarre love-hate nature and temperament of original an 'home'.

"Home is important," he said but what followed was the universal translator being too literal. In a dialect of old German that had rooted itself on his world, Leopold said: "Da liegt der Hund begraben" which came out as: That is where the dog is buried."

Adrianna bit her lips in an attempt to mask her amusement at the translation,"I'm not sure I understand."

He paused for a moment. Then reworded what he was saying. "What you said is true. It is the heart of the matter. Home is where the heart is."

"Maybe we'll both find home one day then," She relaxed and genuinely smiled before teasing, "it's funny how languages differ. We went from a serious conversation to me genuinely thinking you had killed a dog."

"Expression from Earth that my people have used" he said. "We also have a lot about pig and sausage" he added with a shrug. "I know these things. Languages are weird, I can only imagine what the first model of UT was like."

Adrianna chuckled, "I struggle with the languages I know. My heart goes out to the poor computer."

"Mine too," he replied. "Also, for the manual translators and linguists over the years prior."