InsaneJournal

Barry sat next to Hoshi with a book between them. The language training was going very well. Barry picked up several Earth languages within the time the club started. His mind just worked faster, let him take on more and more than a normal person could.

On his side of the book, he had a tray with a full meal upon it. The book? Introduction to Klingon. Well, it wasn’t called that, but it was basically what the book implied. He scratched his head and mumbled, “This one is a little difficult, it’s all so guttural.”

As he reached over to turn the page, his hand knocked into his small carton of milk. Time slowed down for him, and he caught the milk before it sullied the pages of the book.

“Oops…” Barry knew he shouldn’t be using his speed powers physically. He could give off an electric shock that could fry the ship’s systems. Maybe-- he didn’t want to try it. It was a big ship, maybe it could withstand it. He caused a blackout once in his hometown, he didn’t want to make them dead in the water out in the black.

---

Hoshi found the whole future thing still so amazing, she was enjoying teaching again, and with someone like Barry it went exceedingly fast, Daniel was quick as well, but a different kind of quick in the learning of the different languages.

"Think of it as when you-" she paused, and of course the milk looked like it might spill didn't, smiling sympathetically she nodded. "Hey, at least the book is safe." She offered. "It must be really hard for you, not being able to use your speed, I imagine being couped up is starting to get difficult." She really couldn't imagine it.

---

“Books deserve to be safe at all times,” he said with a grin. “I went through life not using it before, I can deal with not running around here. I still learn and react fast, so that’s a plus.”

He shrugged and put the milk to his lips, taking a long drink. He sat it back down and turned the page in the book. “Do we have any Klingons on the ship? That I haven’t seen yet? Or have we come across any? How long have you been here?” Then he put his hands up, “Whoa, sorry, rapid fire questions.”

---

"It'd be a lot harder if you had to stop using both of those skills as well I imagine," Hoshi did wonder what it would be like to have superpowers, but she figured being just human was pretty good too.

Laughing as she opened her mouth to start to answer a question but he kept going. "It's okay. I can try and answer all of them. I haven't seen any onboard but that doesn't mean we don't have any, there are a lot of people on this ship I haven't met, so it is possible." She paused. "As long as I've been here, we have not run across any, and I've been here about four months now and still feel like there is a lot to learn about this place."

---

Barry put his chin on his hand. “Wow. Four months and you still don’t got the hang of it? Nothing against you! Just. It’s massive.” He looked concerned. “I don’t really have four months. I’m trying to do something back home and it would be better fixed sooner than later.”

---

“More about the fact that there is so much between my time, and this time and trying to learn it all, understand it, listening to stories, it takes time.” Hoshi clarified. “What’s going on back at home for you?” She asked. “Sorry, you don’t need to tell me, I’m sorry for those that want to go back to their homes but can’t given what we understand, or how little we understand about how we got here in the first place.”

---

Barry rubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t really want to get into the whole thing with Hoshi, but he could skip some facts. “There’s a case I’m working on that’s really important to me. I’m a forensics scientist. Time is of the essence.”

---


Hoshi was usually pretty good at reading people, so she didn't ask any more questions even though she was curious as to what it was. "I'm sorry we don't know a way to get you back to it," she meant it too, she didn't like people being stuck somewhere when they had things they wanted or felt they needed to be doing elsewhere.

---

Barry shook his head, “It’s not your fault, Hoshi. I know that. We’ll figure it out somehow. In the meantime, I’ll try to make the best of things.” Like distracting himself with languages.

“What exactly do you do on this ship besides teach people languages? Let me guess, you work with Uhura?” Barry was geeking out a bit.

---

“Well, I’m always here if you need to talk,” she offered. Hoshi knew sometimes just knowing people were there for you made a big difference.

Laughing she nodded. “Yes, we work together, and I also try and help out wherever I can. This ship has a lot more going on than the Enterprise I was on did, and I thought a lot of weird things happened there.”

---
Barry smiled, glad that Hoshi put up that offer. It did really mean something to him.

“Yeah, well, I knew of her before I came onto this ship. So I was just guessing you were in communication. I have yet to find a job.”

He cleared his throat. “And on that note, maybe we should end this since my tray is empty?” He shook his tiny carton of milk. “We can get into verbs tomorrow.”

---

“I’m sure you’ll find the right job for you,” she had no doubt that he would.

Nodding, she laughed just a little. “Well, until next time, and don’t forget to read over your notes again, I know, I know you learn fast, but Klingon is a complicated language.” She shut the book handing it to him while gathering her other things. “I should be getting back to work as it is.”

---

Barry nodded, taking the book under one arm. “Thanks, Hoshi.”