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“Yes, Captain?”
“Where is Watson?”
“Watson is currently in your quarters, Captain.”
Quinn stayed as she approached the door. It opened for her without a word. There were many things he was willing to do, but keeping someone imprisoned wasn’t on that list.
Because her door didn’t shut right away and his just barely closed when her voice raised, he heard her say, “What in the world were you thinking?!”
The next part became unintelligible as both doors finally made it all the way closed. He wouldn’t be privy to what happened down the hall unless he spied through the ship, or stars forbid Watson.
His general malaise cracked enough to be curious about why she yelled at Watson. He’d figured that this would be where she and the AI laughed. After a moment’s hesitation, he sent a drone to her door to open up an audio feed for him to listen in on the conversation. He’d been respectful of privacy and he hadn’t put microphones or cameras in anyone’s rooms.
Re-accessing his network, it came across with audio and a visual written log, like a screenplay that crossed his mind, the translation of emotions or lack thereof put with every line:
Kira: (exasperated) What were you thinking?
Watson: (emotionless) That he needed to see the truth of what was going to happen. He’s going to leave, and it’s not just his feelings that are going to be involved.
Kira: (anger) So what? You thought you would just run him off early? My relationships are my business.
Watson: (emotionless) Your relationships are also the business of this entire crew. What will happen when he leaves Kira? Will you ignore your post for a time? Will you be a functional captain?
Kira: (anger) I will be what I have always been. Dedicated to this ship and the people on it. If you think I cannot see past my own emotions, you’re wrong.
Watson: (emotionless) I think you cannot see past a pale-faced kid who will drag you down with him while he tries to make it to the surface to breathe. He can barely function around other people. I can.
Kira: (anger) This isn’t about you.
Watson: But it is, (concern). Because when he leaves, I will be here to pick up those pieces, Kira, and you will see what you should have seen all along. That even if I’m not what I used to be, that having someone who truly knows you, who truly cares for you, and this ship, is the only way you could be happy.
. . .
Watson: (concern) I know what you were trying to do, and don’t tell me it was only for our friendship that you would give up everything to see me whole again.
Kira: (neutral) It was.
Watson: (disbelief) Even you do not believe yourself.
Kira: (neutral) Things are different now, Watson.
Watson: (concern) Things are different now.
. . .
Kira: (neutral) I think you should leave.
Watson: (emotionless) Of course, Captain.
Kira: (neutral) Watson? Do you ever keep my correspondence from me?
Watson: (emotionless) I am not here to monitor your mail.
Kira: (defeated) Just go, please.
The drone shot back and a visual feed revealed Watson leaving.
The quiet returned. His feeds jammed to prevent another overload. His mind still churned, the conversation solidifying a few things within his mind. Watson was manipulative, overly so, but… he was correct. He’d watched her interact with the crew, they were her family and he… he could barely bring himself to speak to any of them.
