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WHO: number one, christopher pike + the doctor
WHEN: after the events of the tower
WHERE: one of minaras's ships
WHAT: catching up, having a ride
WARNINGS: tbd

( una had kept her promise, a thing you could always count on: after the tower she'd found chris, though it hadn't been in quite the right circumstances (she'd gone back into the tower to find him, had gotten sick again but this time her immune system had taken over for her) and had gotten out with him.

once they'd gotten out, had rested up a little, she'd taken him back to where the watch ships were, using the credentials that she'd been given to get them in before sending a message over to the doctor to invite him over as promised. she'd 'give them a tour' in the ship, really just giving herself something to do by piloting, scouting the area for any changes and letting the two men talk, two people that were both important to her )

I'd hold onto something. These ships aren't exactly what we're used to.

( don't fault the pilot fault the construction )

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[At least with both of their jobs, the Doctor's crossing over to where they were was as easy as possible. Fake credentials really helped. At least he didn't have to go through any quick and dirty gene modification this time. Small favors.]

I think all those years getting thrown around the bridge and staying upright are finally coming in handy.

[He's not faulting you, Number One, he knows you're good at your job. In fact he's more concerned about what this would be like without an experienced pilot at the helm.]

[ The moment he's aboard, the Doctor realizes he's been so dreadfully remiss in not insisting on this sooner. The ache for his own ship, his beloved TARDIS, never goes away, but having the ability now to tag along thrills him beyond measure. He'd fidgeted, fussed, observed everything he possibly could before they took off. Even now, he's hardly rattled by the bumpy ride; he's absolutely elated. Admittedly, it's not terribly unlike his own adventures in the TARDIS, which he pilots perfectly well. Any bumps, of course, are simply atmospheric interference and nothing at all to do with his skill.

Elated as he is, he has the good sense to hang on to something, just as Una's advised. ]

Dreadfully boring if it was anything I was used to.

[ From a spot in the corner, he'll give her an excited thumbs up if she happens to look his way. ]

So, tell me about yourself, Captain! I've heard a bit already, of course. Number One, well, she's gone on about you, naturally.

( she does look his way, slightly raised eyebrow in wondering what he's used to before turning back to focus on piloting. and not being wildly embarrassed already (that's an exaggeration) )

I said you two would have a lot to talk about, there's not a lot if I say it all.

( maybe also downplaying the glowing praises she'd given about chris, but with their friendship it's hard to not have something good to say, especially with his recent promises )

Has she?

[Una's gone on about him? He's a little surprised and entirely too amused. He is not addressing her comment at all. He is, however, going to stick to calling her Number One. Apparently, she seems to want to keep some kind of professional atmosphere around here.]

Well, I'm from Earth. Went through all the academy training, spent some time as a test pilot then spent the next twenty or so years out in space. I'm the captain of the flagship, and wouldn't be half as good at my job if it wasn't for Number One and the rest of my crew. She's the best first officer in the fleet.

[If she can go on about him, he can throw a complement her way.]

What about you? She's told me a few tidbits here and there too.

[ It’s entirely possible that the Doctor is slightly exaggerating how much she’s gone on, exactly, but it’s only to test his own suspicions, all in the name of scientific inquiry, of course. Purely for their mutual benefit. If he’s correct (and of course he is, he always is), they just need a bit of helping along. Still, the fun is in the journey (he can recognize that, clueless as he is about these things sometimes) and he doesn’t want to get too ahead of himself. Dropping little hints along the way is just as fun for him, and of course, he won’t let a little thing like personal boundaries limit him. ]

Oh, yes, absolutely. Your Number One - she would be, wouldn’t she? The best, and a very good friend I’m glad to know.

[ He fidgets and fiddles with whatever is closest to him, anything he can get his free hand on, idly examining a toggle switch of some sort. Oh, yes, terribly interesting, that switch, lovely curves. Perfect to touch and poke and prod, and - oh, right, he's been asked a question. ]

Oh, me, well, the usual, of course. [ Of course... as if anything is usual about him... ] I’m a Time Lord, two hearts, respiratory bypass system, impeccable fashion sense - nothing to do with the first three things, just happen to be blessed with it this go 'round. [ He tugs at his bowtie for good measure. ]

I'm usually traveling about in time and space with my TARDIS. [ Brief pause while he fidgets with his own pocket watch. ] As we all know, traveling is brilliant, isn’t it? It broadens the mind, I always say.

( una may definitely be wishing that she was anywhere but here right now, tempted to give the ship a deliberate jerk at their conversation and glad when it finally moves onto something about the doctor )

His ship. And don't ask him questions about time travel.

( she doesn't need to turn around for chris to know exactly what her expression is at that, her tone conveys it enough. don't go there, chris )

The Doctor's seen a lot of Earth, several planets we've never explored before, likely different parts of the galaxy.

( or a very different universe, she knows )

[Chris isn't going to ask The Doctor about time travel yet. He has questions about those crystals and what he was told. Some part of him still wants to know if it can be changed.]

Two hearts? How does that work?

[ He may be pouting just a little, at having anything he might say about time travel squashed for now. ]

Well, okay, if you insist! Tricky business anyway, talking about time travel. What you can know, what you can't know. We'll put a pin in it.

As for my two hearts - they work quite well, actually! Last I checked. Still going. [ He does a little tap on his chest for good measure. And apparently that's all he'll offer in the way of explanation at the moment. ]

Now, tell me, how long is it you've both been together?

[ There are, perhaps, better ways he could have phrased that but to him, it sounds perfect the way it is. ]

Nine years.

( she doesn't even stop to blink about that. maybe it's una being a little dense, maybe it's a mild mistranslation of the expression to her, but either way she's taking it in a very different context to what the doctor means )

We've both served on the Enterprise longer but I've been his first office for nine years.

[Someday he'll get to those questions, Doctor, just not where Una can hear him.]

That's good. Not working wouldn't help any of us.

[Like Una, 'together' meant 'serving together' so he adds a little more background.]

And a few other ships prior to The Enterprise.

[ They haven't quite caught on, but that's okay, they'll get there. He just has to keep nudging them along a bit. ]

Nine years! Quite a commitment. Longer than some marriages. Can't possibly imagine yourselves apart now, can you?

[ Honestly, how have they not realized yet? Or perhaps they have, but they're duty bound not to pursue anything. Professionalism and all that rubbish. ]

( she turns around, eyebrow raised, and even though there are a few things una would miss when she does finally accept a promotion, even though she has turned some down for not wanting to yet break up the team... she's not entirely certain she'd say she's used exactly those words to describe it )

We're a good team with a good crew.

( and maybe she's now being a little more purposefully avoidant, keeping it neutral even if it's more obviously so. because those feelings were revealed once by an outside party that she's glad were never mentioned. and she still never will (can't, she'd argue, but truthfully won't). instead, she avoids it, pretends it's just the good friendship that they have... and never expects anything would be returned )

And Enterprise has become my home. I've got a history with her, I'm not giving her up yet.

I wouldn't be half the captain I am if it wasn't for Number One and my crew.

[And he doesn't particularly care if she doesn't believe that. As far as Pike is concerned, that's the truth. Just look at the number of times she's been more prepared for any mission than he has.]

Enterprise's a good ship, kept all of us safe for a long time. She's a good ship.

[Una is his best friend, and he's not ready to give up that relationship for something long distance just yet. Maybe when he gets promoted.]

[ A good ship; he doesn't doubt that at all and he's actually quite eager to see this Enterprise himself one day. There's the big unknown, of course, as to what happens to all of them after they leave here for good, but he's going to keep believing for now that their paths will most certainly cross beyond and he'll get to see the Enterprise himself. ]

The way you've both spoken of her, I haven't any doubt. I'll enjoy meeting her one day!

Speaking of talking about others - in that Tower, Captain, you were one of the first thoughts on Una's mind, you know. [ Back to calling her Una now. He may just flip-flop as he pleases. ] Getting to you, that's all she could think about. We could all use someone like that! It's very good you have each other.

[ Is that...less subtle? ]

( that's very much less subtle and una knows now exactly what he's hinting at, hopes chris doesn't and wonders how the hell the doctor had her sussed. another telepath, a wild guess... had she been obvious?

her eyebrows raised, more surprised, and she turns back around to look out of the viewscreen, only a lightly warning ) Doctor. ( coming from her. she is not having this conversation nor having her feelings put oh display )

[Pike wouldn't be surprised if they did meet at another time. For as big as space is, it has a way to make sure people keep running into one another.]

We've been friends a long time.

[He's picking up on what the doctor's trying to imply, and if he wasn't he knew that tone of Una's. What bothers him is that someone else is telling him about her feelings, again. He doesn't want to cause any more embarrassment.]

[ The Doctor may not always recognize when he's crossed a boundary, on his own, but he doesn't miss the tone of Una's voice and it's enough to settle him for now. He's laid the groundwork, planted a few seeds. Nothing needs to urgently happen right now. Clueless as he can be about his own love life-or lack thereof-he wouldn't expect either of them to suddenly confess here in front of him.

He can pivot! He's a master pivoter. Even if he does...smile a bit to himself. Yes, he thinks, job well done so far. There's more work to be done, but he'll just gently (or not) help things along in that regard. ]

There's nothing in the universe more important than that. My friends have always been the best of me, the best part of my life. Would have gone mad...well, madder in this place without people like Una.

( she stays quiet, listening though pretending to be fully focused on her controls, adjusting the heading of the ship slightly. she doesn't need them to know if she might be embarrassed or blushing at all )

[Pike is choosing not to notice that Una's embarrassed or blushing, but he did both of those things.]

Una's one of the best parts of my life, [which is not something he's ever said out loud, but there it was.] I'm glad she's helped you too.

And I think time travel can make anyone mad.

[ One of the best parts of my life is a start, at least. If they dally a bit too much, he's going to take further action, of course. There's no time to waste in matters of the heart, not with the fragile and all too brief lives that humans lead. ]

Well, we're all a bit mad, aren't we? Some more than others. Okay, I'll admit I'm one of the 'some,' yes.

How are you getting on here so far, Captain? Quite the world we find ourselves in, isn't it? Unlike anything I've encountered so far. Impressive in a certain way, considering all I've seen.

The monks I encountered seemed to me be more on the sane side, I guess. But then they lived in a monastery on top of a mountain, so I don't even know if that counts.

[And honestly, it didn't seem all that sane to go down there to get a time crystal but that's neither here nor there.]

So far so good, I suppose. And I have to agree with you. It's like nothing I've seen either.

That we remain ever surprised is part of the thrill in life, I'd say. Though some of the thrills here, at least, arguably aren't the sort I'd choose myself.

[ But now you've distracted him. ]

Time-traveling monks—well, there's a story!

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