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Captain Pike had decided to host the event in order to boost the team's morale after the unfortunate encounter with the Gorn. He had invited virtually every crew member aboard the ship and hence the mess hall was brimmed with people from all walks of life.
It was a mix of intergalactic cultures, something that as a cadet Uhura was still getting used to. But it was familiar in a way, as it reminded her of home in Kenya. Even though it was on a much smaller scale, the overall result was not much different.
The entirety of the bridge officer gang was in attendance. Even Lieutenant Noonien-Singh, the harbinger of misery, seemed to be having a blast. Even if, by her standards, a ‘blast’ was sitting alone in a corner, scrolling through the duty roster.
Scooping the last of the mashed potatoes onto her dish, Uhura started to look for a place to sit.
Had she mentioned how packed it was yet?
Really, the only open seat was next to Lieutenant Spock and Dr. M’Benga who were no doubt discussing something many, including herself, would be unable to follow. You’d think a linguist would be better at understanding complex statements, but most of the time Uhura found herself as lost as anybody else would be.
Well then, what other spots were open?
Scanning the room yet again, she noticed one more man, basking in his lonesome in the far corner. Lieutenant Hemmer sat at an abandoned table, head bowed over his plate, picking at the gruel-oatmeal mix in his plate.
“Hi Lieutenant Hemmer, do you mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is pretty much full.”
She received a grunt in reply as Hemmer got back to eating his food. Though it was more an operation of stirring the mush around rather than actually digesting it.
She sat down.
“You know, it is really nice of the Captain to be hosting this party. We need it after all that stuff with the Gorn. Speaking of which, how’s your hand now?”
Hemmer raised his head, his milky white eyes drifting just a little to the left of her location. He was so reliable that sometimes it was easy to forget that he was blind, even if it wasn’t truly an impairment for him.
“It's fine, cadet.”
“Yeah, I bet Dr. M’Benga and Nurse Chapel fixed it right up.”
“Mmm.”
Hemmer’s hand, still gripping the utensil in his hand, swirled it around the edge of the bowl, dragging with it some of the grainy, yet somehow still watery mixture. Finally, Hemmer brought the spoon to his mouth and swallowed the gruel with a grimace of distaste.
“What’re you eating over there? It doesn’t really look like you like it. We do have a spread full of other foods you could substitute that for. It is on the Captain, we might as well make use of it.”
“Feel free to do so. I, on the other hand, am quite content with this.”
“— Are you though? Really? Cause you looked pretty disgusted. You made a face and all.”
“While I appreciate your attempts at conversation, cadet, I do believe your interest in my dietary habits is not a very suitable topic.”
“I’m just asking. Out of all the people here you seem to be the most, well, disconnected.”
Hemmer just sighed softly, “Then perhaps if Starfleet took my dietary restrictions into account things may have been different. Though I do doubt it.”
Dietary Restrictions?
“But I thought Starfleet accommodated for all of the crew's dietary necessities.”
“Apparently not.”
Well, it made sense. As Hemmer was the only Aenar in all of Starfleet, there was bound to be oversights. But Uhura never thought that they would be such broad mistakes.
“Why haven’t you ever brought it up before? I’m sure Captain Pike would do something about it.”
“I am the only Aenar in the fleet. Starfleet assumed that my diet would be much like that of the Andorians. However, the Aenar require specific vitamins which are only produced in Andoria’s core and hence are distributed into the underground soils in which we grow our food. I synthesize it when my vitamin levels become too low. While it may not taste as good as it does on Andoria when mixed with other compatible foods, it is adequate.”
“But can’t you still eat the other foods?”
“Some of it. Most of the dishes are served warm. However, the Aenar palate was designed with colder foods in mind. Anything heated tends to leave injuries.”
And with Hemmer’s heightened senses, even a slight burn within the mouth would be exponentially more painful when compared with a human.
This could not be tolerated. Starfleet prided itself on creating an environment in which all species could co-exist. How they had missed such a thing was beyond what Uhura would have ever expected.
“You should tell the Captain. He could help.”
“Cadet, please, I have already reached the conclusion that I have sufficiently solved the problem. There is no need to bring any of my superiors into the matter.”
“But—”
“Stop.”
“Fine.”
Yeah, no. There was no way she was going to leave it at that.
o(0)o(0)o(0)o
The next day, Uhura found herself outside the Captain’s room.
“Come in.”
“Captain, I’m sorry to disturb you. I know that you probably have a lot to do and you don’t want to waste your time on a new cadet—”
“—Uhura. Slow down. I am the Captain, and I am busy, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear what the crew has to say.”
“Well then— erm —I recently found out some disturbing news and it hasn't left me alone all day.”
“I see, go on then.”
“Uh, so you know Lutenianant Hemmer? Of course you know him, sorry, stupid question—”
“—Keep going cadet—”
“Well I learnt that he’s had some trouble acclimating with the foods served on this ship.”
Captain Pike frowned, his forehead creasing into an odd expression.
“I’ll admit, I’ve never had anybody come to me to talk about Hemmer unless it was a complaint. But now that I think about it, it makes sense. He never did eat much at all those dinners.”
“So—Can you help?”
“Of course I can. I’ll send in a request to Starfleet. Hopefully we can get this sorted out. I never wanted any member of my crew to feel overlooked—and for him to be here so long without telling me—I thought I was more perceptive than that.”
“Well, it’s not your fault sir. Lieutenant Hemmer tends to keep to himself. I must have approached at the right time.”
At this, Pike grinned slightly, his eyes twinkling in the artificial lighting.
“I don’t think that’s quite the case. Hemmer had good instincts when it comes to cadets. I think he just might have taken a liking to you. Good luck, you’ll need it.”
“Um—Thank you sir?”
Well that wasn’t ominous at all.
o(0)o(0)o(0)o
Uhura sat in the back of the Mess Hall, as far away as possible. On the other side of the room sat Hemmer, tracing the menu out in front of him. Uhura saw the moment that what he felt registered on his face, as he looked around in confusion.
For him, having an Aenar specialty on the menu would’ve come as quite the surprise.
Uhura watched as he ordered the dish. And when it arrived, he took a weary bite.
And then he smiled.
Hemmer never smiled. He sneered or smirked. In fact, in the limited time she had known him, Uhura had never even imagined that he could look this pleased.
She was shocked out of her thoughts when Hemmer’s antennae twitched.
A moment later his creamy eyes locked onto her figure.
Slowly, he gave an imperceptible nod of thanks.
And that was all the confirmation Uhura needed.
She nodded back.
You’re welcome. After all, what’re friends for?