NEW ACQUAINTANCES,
written by Whipper

"So... that's the kid," Krieg said while staring at the blonde teenager that stood in line to get some food. The boy looked tense and uncomfortable, something that Ben could identify with easily. Even though he himself had been in the military for years he still sometimes felt very out of place.

"No, that's the new Captain," O'Neill muttered sarcastically as he pushed at a piece of his stew with small frown. "What is this supposed to be anyway?"

Krieg carefully avoided looking too closely at the food on his plate and just shrugged his shoulders. The less they knew about the military food the better. Or to be correct; the military food-substitute since nothing they were served in the messhall had actually ever grown in a field or walked the earth. Vegans, vegetarians, Muslims... they all ate the same food since no real ingredients were ever used. Some called it a miracle, Krieg found it disgusting. Usually he could go on and on about the lack of real food, but right now his attention was caught by the kid standing a couple of feet away, wisely loading his tray with 'vegetables' instead of the stew.

"He looks normal enough," he muttered.

"What did you expect?" The linguist looked at him with a raised eye-brow. "A two-headed creature with fins?"

"No... but I thought for sure he'd look a bit more nerdy. Or at least have glasses."

There was a long pause as O'Neill put down his fork and glared at the Morale Officer.

"What's wrong with glasses?"

"Nothing," Krieg quickly said as he realized his mistake. "It makes people look intelligent."

"Well, if you are to believe rumors this kid doesn't need any glasses to be intelligent," a feminine voice announced as Katie Hitchcock sat down beside them. A cup of coffee and a sandwich was what she had chosen to eat. Lunch wasn't her favorite meal, Krieg thought to himself as he pulled out the chair for his ex-wife with, what he hoped was, a charming smile.

"Hi, Katie."

"Ben, Tim."

She sneaked a look at the teenager who was now choosing what to drink. Milk, juice, water, coffee or tea. As the kid settled for water she returned her attention to the group around the table.

"I think he looks lonely," she commented.

"Yeah, well, he better get used to it if he's going to be here for the entire tour."

"Poor kid," she muttered. "What kind of parents send their teenage son to live on a military submarine anyway?"

Krieg kept his eye on the kid as Lucas began to look around in the messhall, probably looking for an empty table for him to eat at. Poor kid, indeed. With a muttered excuse, he stood up ignoring Katie's questions as he walked up to the kid.

"Lucas, right?"

"Why?"

Defiant, almost angry, blue eyes meet his but Krieg just smiled crockedly, recognizing that the kid was just protecting himself.

"You might want to remove that chip from your shoulder or you're not gonna enjoy this tour that much," he advised.

"And what are you supposed to be? The welcoming committee?"

"Listen to me, kid, I'm just trying to be friendly here. As I see it you have two options, either you go find yourself an empty table or you'll take a chance and come with me and I'll introduce you to some people. Now, a lot of people are watching us... so make up your mind. You wanna be known as the prissy kid who's too good to eat with the rest of the crew or as the one who made three new friends the first day onboard?"

The kid genius looked at him for what seemed like an eternity before he slowly freed his right hand by balancing the tray against his hip and then reached out to shake Krieg's hand.

"Lucas Wolenczak."

"Ben Krieg. Pleased to meet you."