Quiet Harmony

Posted on Thu Aug 14th, 2025 @ 12:20am by Ensign Emmanuelle Larose & Ensign Dominique Blanchet
Edited on on Thu Oct 9th, 2025 @ 8:18pm

961 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: ARYL 1X03: The Listening Post
Location: Library

The ship was approaching Station Delta IV, and Ensign Emmanuelle Larose had much work to do.

A lot of it, however, was research. Getting herself fully immersed in the setting they were visiting. And where was the best place to do that kind of research?

The library, bien sûr!

She found a spot among the stacks of real books to read a volume on the history of conflict along the Klingon-Federation line when she heard the melodious sound that was Federation Standard spoken in her own French Canadian accent. She put her trusty bookmark into the book, closed it, and went in search of her countryman.

The chief science officer was totally crazy. And Dominique liked that fact very much. He enjoyed working under a weirdo, funny, unpredictable boss rather than someone strict, controlling and always punctual. He detested people like that. So, this was just the job he needed.

So far, he spent a large chunk of his free time in the library, researching old sheet music and books on music history. What a total nerdish thing to do! He was reading a book about Liszt when she heard footsteps and looked up to see who was going there.

“Salut!” said the newcomer (softly, so as to not bother the librarian), eyes bright and purple hair pulled back. “I don’t mean to be a bother, but are you from Québec?”

Dominique almost dropped the book in surprise when she suddenly heard a woman's voice addressing him. And addressing him in Quebecois French! It was such an unexpected thing, he looked puzzled for a few seconds before finally speaking up to reply to her. "Bonjour." he mumbled. "The answer to your question is... yes. I am from Quebec."

“Eeee!” Emmanuelle squealed, a bit too loudly, prompting a sharp Shh! from the librarian. “Pardon!” she whispered back toward the desk. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be bothering you, but I didn’t realize there were other Québécois on the ship. I’m Emmanuelle, but my friends call me Manu.”

"Hi." Dominique replied with a very shy wave. "I'm Dominique and my friends call me Dominique." he said, not sure if he was meant that as a joke or not. "Given that we have a crew of over 400 people, it's not that very improbable." he said. "I bet you're from Montréal. You have such a Montréal flair."

"You got it right," Emmanuelle replied. "How about you? Your accent is maybe...la Ville de Québec?"

"Oui, mademoiselle." Dominique smiled. "I guess it's not so difficult to see through me. I'm predictable."

"I wouldn't say that," Manu said with a smile. "I had friends from there, so I recognized something familiar, that's all." She looked at her new friend was holding. "What are you studying?"

"Errr... nothing really..." he glanced at the book as if it were something to hide. "Just silly stuff. Music history."

“That’s exciting!” she told him. “I’m serious, a topic like that must be fascinating.” She held up her own large volume. “The Captain has me reading about past Klingon wars. The first time a human ever met a Klingon, the human shot him in the chest! Since then it’s been about the same.”

"I remember that from history class. Back in elementary." Dominique said with a humble face. "I've never seen a Klingon in the flesh. I just heard stuff. I guess that's gonna change now." He never really understood why he accepted an assignment on a ship bound to the Klingon frontier. Way too much excitement. "Well, I'm sort of a musician myself." he glanced at his book. "I'm a huge music buff. Especially classical music."

“Do you play an instrument then?” Emmanuelle asked. “I’ve been playing the flute since I was little but there’s so little time to practice anymore.”

"Yes, I do." he said, now with a tiny bit more confidence. "I play the violin. Actually, I used to play in a quartet." he added. "You know, just the usual stuff. Mozart and that kind of stuff." When someone told him they play the flute, it always made him smile. It usually meant 'I tried music when I was 8 but I stopped it soon afterwards'. But of course, he didn't tell that to his new-found countrymate.

“There are some places on the ship with fantastic acoustics,” Emmanuelle observed. “I’ve not explored them yet, but I’ve read about them in some of the more obscure journals about these ships. Do you maybe want to check some out with me?”

Dominique's thoughts froze for a moment. A woman... a cute woman asks him to do something together? "Sure! That sounds... quite awesome!" she spoke up without thinking.

“Parfait! Tomorrow, after duty shift,” she suggested. “Meet me outside here. Bring your violin and any sheets you need. I’ll bring my flute, some sheets, and my ship schematic.”

"You mean... tomorrow??" Dominique almost fell from his chair, or at least it seemed like that to him. "Of course! I'm perfectly free tomorrow after duty!" In fact, he was perfectly free every day after duty, as he didn't have any friends on board yet. "I'll bring my flute... and everything." Did that sound weird? He hoped not.

“See you tomorrow then, Dominique,” Emmanuelle said, returning to her reading spot with her volume on military history.

"Yes, yes... Tomorrow!" Dominique smiled. He knew that he won't be able to concentrate his attention on music history anymore. And that he will have to shave and get a haircut as soon as possible.

END


Ensign Emmanuelle Larose
Homesick French Girl

Ensign Dominique Blanchet
Bedazzled music historian

 

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