InsaneJournal

Who: Diana and Uhura
What: Uhura has made friends with a very bad influence!
When: Evening time
Where: Observation Deck
Warnings: None!
Status: Closed, Complete



Diana had invited Uhura to have some drinks in the observation lounge and to practice some languages. She liked the woman, and already counted her as a new friend. But then, when Diana let herself, she made friends really easily, so it was up to Uhura if that was true or not.

She offered her a glass. “Do you have much to do, on days like this? Or is it just listening to radio chatter.”

Unlike Diana, Uhura didn't make friends quite so easily. She could be social, when it was warranted. And she was trying harder with the new arrivals than Spock, though maybe not quite so much as Kirk. But she absolutely would consider Diana a friend. Mostly because not many people would invite her much of anywhere. She had the feeling she could be a bit intimidating.

She accepted the glass with a smile, taking a sip before answering. “Sometimes I pick up some extra tasks as required. Mostly it's just listening out for threats. Which makes me sound like a horrible snoop, if I think on it.”

Lucky for Uhura, Diana wasn’t easily intimidated. Ever. Maybe that’s why she liked her so much - she didn’t seem like a woman who’d back down from anything.

It sounded like a radio operator, which Diana supposed it actually was. “Do you speak with other starships often, or bases?”

“Not too often,” Uhura replied, giving a bit of a shrug. “Typically only if we're close to others. Or if we're expecting to be and we're not.” She knew her job wasn't exciting to most. Not when compared to someone like Sulu or Scotty. But she enjoyed it. It utilized her skill set and it had, rather suddenly, gotten her a seat on the Bridge.

“It’s an important position, if it’s like what I’ve encountered before.” The radiomen in World War II, Alfred in Bruce’s ear. The person who could reach out and talk to the right person and make things happen. “What made you decide to join Starfleet?”

“Before? Like in the War?” The part of her that loved history and culture knew Diana could be a wealth of information if Uhura allowed her to be. And if she was up to sharing. The woman had led a remarkable life, but it hadn’t all been sunshine and happiness. Uhura would never force anyone to relive the worst parts of their lives.
That was an unintentionally loaded question. Most people expected a family history of Starfleet, and many did. Their own Captain, for one. But not her. “I come from a fairly small city. I was a bit of an oddball, always wanting to learn new things. I found out in our history, there were thousands of languages, before tribes started coming together to create larger villages, then cities. I wanted more of that.” It sounded ridiculous, she knew, but she simply shrugged. “Exploration created the world we live in now. I want to be a part of the next one, I suppose. To be able to actually watch as worlds meld together.”

“One of the wars,” Diana replied. “The second one, though in both I was never really part of any organized military.”

She leaned in, listening intently. “That’s beautiful though. Language is a part of human nature, as is exploration. One of the things that still gave me shreds of hope over the years.”

“I love tracing words. How they sound similar, how regions affect them. Accents are the same, how transient individuals brought different sounds and words with them.” Her head ducked, a shy smile on her face. “I know it isn't the most glamorous field of study. And I had to do plenty more training beyond that to qualify for placement. I had top marks in all of my classes.”

The idea that she might actually be closer to organized military than Diana was seemed almost laughable. But dress uniforms were a thing, after all, and she certainly had assisted with defending their planet more than once.

“I’ll just bet you love Pidgin langauges,” Diana observed, her smile widening at Uhura’s almost bashfulness. “Where many cultures meet and a new one develops among the traders, and then eventually spreads. There’s a long line on Earth, from one language to another, though many dead ones. There was a movement in my time, to try to preserve many indigenous languages that were being lost.”

Uhura’s eyes lit up as Diana perfectly described one of her favorite things. How to follow from one line of a language to another. It had been one of her independent study projects at the Academy. “I once did a project showing how, as people merged through travel, so did language. The thought of lost languages breaks my heart, though. That's one of my fears with the travel Starfleet does. We try not to interfere with primitive cultures, ones who just aren't ready for interaction from outside worlds.” She bit her lip, then, a sheepish expression beginning to form. “Sometimes we're better about that than others.”

“Surely there exist probes that can attempt to record? At least from cultures that can broadcast. I assume there needs to be hands on work with more primitive culture, even just to observe them. Though low-tech does not always equate primitive. I would not call my own that, despite lacking electricity and other conveniences.” The Amazons remained close to her heart, even a century after she’d last seen one of her people.

“I read that that was a rule, a directive. What happens if a people are about to die?”

“We've found ways to observe, usually from far enough away not to be noticed.” Usually. That was where she came in. “Sometimes the dialect is so unlike anything we currently have on file that I can't always distinguish it. That's when we try and get closer.”

The Prime Directive was still a bit of a sore subject for her. Her face darkened a bit. As much as she would never want to see a planet wiped out, she also didn't want to lose the man she loved. And she'd come far too close to that. “The Prime Directive would have us let them die. If we had to. The Enterprise, however, doesn't always follow that rule.” And how rare was it that she agreed with Kirk over Spock? That one still blew her mind a bit.

Diana nodded. While in her time such encounters were non-existent, it always seemed like the best way. It might have made things go easier if the aliens on Earth had had that approach. Instead of the whole conquering thing.

"I could not follow that directive. People are too important, lives are. I can understand not influencing a planet. But if the choice is reveal yourself, or they die? It is better to break that rule."

She'd never join Starfleet. They could keep their Directive. Diana would step out into no man's land and make a difference, always.

“The Captain and I may not have always gotten along, but that's one thing I entirely respect about him. Even when it's brought him consequences, he always thinks with his conscience.” It would be so easy to follow orders. Uhura herself often struggled with that. Doing what was commanded versus what was right. But if it was follow Starfleet orders or put everyone around them at risk, she'd follow Kirk any day.

“It goes with that being a family thing. Starfleet may have the most control, but the Enterprise crew… Well, we do what needs to be done. Given the number of people we've helped, they'd be fools to let every one of us go.” At least, she hoped. She'd be shamed if she was sent home after a dishonorable discharge.

“The right thing to do is not always the easiest,” Diana replied, voice soft. “But it is better to do the right thing and be punished for it, than to be wrong and praised. I can respect your Captain, and you for that.”

Even if she couldn’t actually look Kirk in the face without seeing a man she’d committed to memory long ago.

It was times like that when Uhura most realized how she'd let Diana become a friend. She always had the best outlook on things. Even darker things, the sorts of things that still gave Uhura nightmares after all that time. Maybe it would do her some good to let her friend in more, someday.

“I know you prefer your lone wolf ways, but I do wish we had more women like you in Starfleet. It's come so far, gender relations and all. But you're so much more level headed than most.”

"I've not worked with others in a long time, and I'm willing to try again. But perhaps only as a consultant." It wasn't just the rules and regulations, or the big one about not interfering. She was concerned she would have her hands tied when she needed them free the most. She winked at Uhura. “It would give Starfleet and this ship cover, should I break a rule if I’m not bound by your regulations.”

Okay, to that she had to grin. “Why do I see me getting reprimanded because of you, someday?” she teased, shaking her head. “And Spock will be thoroughly ashamed. Then again, he keeps Kirk around.” And everyone knew those two had had their share of issues.

“I feel like most of you we'd be able to get out of trouble just for the fact that this isn't your world. Not truly.” And though she may have wanted it to be someday, for now most of them obviously still felt like strangers here.

“You’ll love it,” Diana countered. She’d barely known them, and yet she could see the bond Kirk and Spock shared. Differences in personality aside, some friends were meant to be.

"A get out of the brig free card? Though I've seem some end up in the brig on occasion. I promise if I misbehave I'll sit quietly."

Would she? Uhura had never been the type to get into trouble before. But maybe a little mischief wouldn't hurt. It did seem to work for the Captain, after all. “Depends on the level of trouble,” she pointed out, for both of Diana's comments, really. “Mostly it's been overnight stays for you lot. Like putting giant children in timeout.” Which, to be fair, Lucifer sort of was.

“And don't you sit quietly! Raise a fuss. Whine, complain. That's half the fun, or so I'm told.”

“Some of us could use the time out on occasion.” She threw her head back and laughed. “If I was going to get in trouble, it would have to be for something worthwhile. Or something fun, like an unauthorized space walk on the hull of the ship.”

She did have a mischievous streak, after all.

Uhura brightened, her smile wide at that very idea. An unauthorized space walk indeed. “Why do I feel like you'd simply smile and charm security and end up just fine?” Somehow, if anyone on board could get away with it, it was Diana. She was beautiful, smart, and surprisingly charming.

Diana’s smile turned positively wicked. “Do you want to try?”

Uhura couldn't help herself. She burst out laughing, shaking her head. “You're welcome to! If I'm anywhere near you, I'm going down with you. And one of us gets more than a night or two in the brig!” That was all she needed on her record. Her, admittedly, currently spotless record, but that wasn't the point.

“I suppose we could ask permission, but where is the fun in that?” Diana elbowed Uhura, but she had been 100% sincere about the idea. Something mischievous and honestly harmless. Besides, the idea of seeing space with only thin glass between her and certain death? It was kind of exciting.

Harmless to her. “I'm senior staff, Diana!” Uhura protested, her face scrunched up. “You want me fired?” She wasn't a traveler, kept on board simply because there was no other safe place for her. They could send her back planetside. Possibly for good. She'd only just gotten her somewhat irritating Vulcan back. She didn't want to lose him again. To say nothing of the career she'd worked so hard for.

“If you do it, I'll play lookout. But I'm not going out there!” Just in case.

“I do not think they could fire you. Or even court-martial you if no one gave you an order not to,” Diana continued to tease. “I accept your compromise of plausible deniability.”

Oh, this woman was going to be the death of her, she somehow just knew it. Uhura had the feeling she'd taken on more than she'd planned when she'd befriended Diana Prince. “Fine. Finish your drink. If we're getting thrown into the brig, we may as well go now.”