Riker, Troi, Dr. Crusher, and Data all entered ten forward. Riker motioned to Guinan that they would be needing drinks before he took a seat with the others. They sat down and three out of four of them began idle conversation. Data attempted to mimic this as best he could, and was actually improving compared to when he first came aboard the Enterprise, but has still yet to master the skill. Ben came over to deliver the drinks to the group of starfleet officers. When Riker looked up to grab his drink something caught his eye. It was a young man with mid-length brown hair, wearing a red starfleet uniform. He recognized the man as ensign Erik Vasiliev. He had been training the ensign to work in ops the past few days.
"Hey have you guys met the new guy, ensign Vasiliev?" He asked.
Data answered with a no fairly quickly, while the two woman racked their memories for any sign of the man. Beverly soon shook her head no, but Deanna perked up when she responded, "Wait I think I have. Yeah, I bumped into him on my way to the bridge this morning, I remember because I couldn't sense anything from him. Why do you ask?"
"Well I've only known him a few days now, but something seems odd about him.I don't know what it is, but he seems like he's done everything before. When I'm teaching him how to do things it almost feels like he knows more than even I do about how the ship works. It could just be me over thinking things, but he doesn't seem to have that newness that others tend to have." Riker explained.
"Are you sure it's not just that he isn't intimidated by you like the other new officers are?" Beverly joked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Riker exclaimed while laughing at the statement.
"Oh nothing." Crusher responded.
"What did you mean when you said you could not sense anything from him, counselor?" Data asked.
"Well when I bumped into him, I couldn't really feel his presence like I can with other people. I assume that he probably just wasn't feeling any strong emotions at the moment. I'm sure it's nothing." She answered.
Data and the others seemed t accept this explanation seeing as they don't really have a point of reference fo what empathic abilities feel like.
It didn't take long for the conversation to return to idle banter. The friends spent a few minutes eating and drinking before each either went off to be or to their night duties.
The man from their conversation earlier showed up to the bridge for the night duty. Data decided to pay attention to the man tonight. He was curious as to what Riker meant when he was talking about the ensign earlier. As the night went on Data did notice that he did have quite a bit more confidence than the other new offices on the ship. Confidence alone wasn't strange, but the fact that this man truly did seem to know how being on a ship worked. Things on th night shift were usually very quiet compared to the day. It made it incredibly easy for Data to split his focus between, doing his job and finding out what he could about Erik Vasiliev.
Data decided to scan the ensign to see if he were a Betazed or some other telepathic species, which would explain his knowledge of how the ship works, for if he were confused he could simply eat the mind of one of the more experienced officers. The scan came back and it raised more suspicion about the man. It showed that he was half human half something else. His scan could not determine the other species. Data knew of every species discovered by the federation, whether they joined or not. The fact that this species was not in his database was very surprising. It would mean that a human has discovered an entirely new species and has kept it hidden for at least twenty four years.
The next morning, when Data was relieved of duty, he searched for the file on ensign Vasiliev. The file read that he was entirely human. Data decided that he should bring this to the captain's attention.
When he reached the bridge he noticed that the ensign was no longer there. He approached the captain and explained what he had found. "Sir, I have discovered something odd about ensign Vasiliev."
"Yes, what is it?" Captain Picard said half paying attention.
"I do not believe his file is accurate. It says that he is fully human, but I have reason to believe that he is not."
Riker, Troi, and Crusher also began to listen at this point.
"How so?" Asked the captain.
"Well Riker had mentioned that he seemed odd before at diner last night so out of curiosity I scanned him to see if there was anything that could explain the oddities, and discovered that he is only half human. The other half, however I could not identify."
This seemed to finally peak Picard's interest, as he just now turned to completely face the android. "And what were these oddities?" He asked.
"Riker had mentioned that he seemed far too experienced to be new to the ship, and Counsler Troi said that she could not sense him." Data explained.
Picard sighed, "You may investigate as much as you like without invading his privacy, but I don't think there's much any of us can or should do as long as he does his job efficiently."
"Understood sir." Data said before walking to his station. Everyone else soon returned their attention to flying the ship and filling out whatever orders they have been given. The mystery as to what their new ensign was, would have to be pushed aside for the time being.
As the weeks continued the mystery about Erik Vasiliev was were more pressing matter to concern themselves with. Life went on and the oddities about Vasiliev became less noticeable, as all the new officers understood the ship now. It wasn't until th Enterprise's next encounter with Q that the questions about that ensign appeared again.
Q had been walking in the halls of the Enterprise, following Amanda Rogers, and teaching her about her powers. He looked up when he felt something odd. Something he hadn't felt in a very long time. He looked up and noticed that Erik had waved at Amanda when they walked past. Amanda waved back thinking nothing of the gesture, but Q glared at the man. Erik smiled in return. However, the smile was different from the kind one he had given Amanda. This one was mischievous, Erik knew why Q glared and seemed to get some form of enjoyment out of it.
"Excuse me." He whispered in Amanda's ear before teleporting to the captain's ready room.
"What is it Q?" Picard asked clearly annoyed by the other man's presence. His expression quickly changed when he noticed how serious Q appeared to be. He was apprehensive, of course, but it was still odd to see this being so serious, and if he didn't know any better, he might even say scared.
"I know you like to keep dangerous company aboard this vessel Picard, but you've let your death in through the front door." Q stated.
"What do you mean?" Picard asked cautiously.
"That thing I saw down there. You have him aboard as an officer." Q said as though the idea were completely preposterous.
"I have no idea who you are talking about, so unless you're inclined to tell me I suggest you leave." Picard threatened.
"Oh that ensign, Erik something. I didn't exactly stick around long enough to figure out his full name." Q explained.
Picard thought on the name for awhile before he realized who Q was referring to. "What do you mean when you say that I've let my death in through the front door?"
"Nothing good ever come from being around him. He couldn't care less what happens to you or anyone for that matter."
"From my understanding neither do you." Picard retorted.
"You'd be surprised." Q responded quietly.
Picard decided to table that comment for another time. "What is he?"
"A monster." Q answered before disappearing from the room.
From that point forward, Picard decided to continue the investigation of who and what this person might be. He tried to look into it in the spare time he did get, and asked his other officers to look into it as well. It was while they were sharing the little they had discovered that Geordi came up with a brilliant idea.
"Why doesn't one of us just go talk to him?"
The others went silent when they realized that there's been a much simpler way of getting information. For some reason talking to him just didn't seem like an option.
"Don't you actually have to work with him Riker?" Dr. Crusher pointed out.
"Uh, yeah, actually here in a few hours I'll be working with I'm and a few others to take them on their first away mission." Riker said.
"Perfect, then try a start a conversation with the man figure out what you can." Picard concluded before they all left.
Riker lead Erik and a few of the other newer officers to the transporter platform. The mission they were on was small and not too important, but still needed to be done. When the reached the surface of the planet they were currently orbiting, Riker gave out the orders to the others. They were supposed to be looking for samples of a plant that only grows here.
Riker paired everyone in groups of two and told them to split up. He made sure that him and Erik were together.
"So Vasiliev, where are you from?" He asked, trying his best to make it seem like normal conversation.
Erik seemed amused by this and answered, "Samara Russia, Earth."
"Alaska." Riker responded. "You don't sound Russian."
"I didn't stay there very long." He explained.
"Were your parents Russian?" Riker asked. "My mom was, but my dad was American."
Riker nodded in understanding, "What did your parents do?"
Erik stopped for a moment. He seemed to be contemplating whether or not he wanted to tell Riker. "You'll make fun of me."
"No I promise I won't." Riker said.
"My mom was a pornstar, and my dad was unemployed." He said.
Riker was shocked at the revelation but decided not to dwell on it. Instead he focused on a different part of that statement. "Was?" He asked.
"Yeah, my mom died shortly after giving birth, and my dad left when I was twelve." He explained.
"I'm sorry." Riker stated.
"Why? It's not your fault." He assured. "Is it?" Erik added on jokingly.
Riker laughed, "I don't think so."
Soon everyone collected enough of everything they needed and beamed back aboard the Enterprise.