“You and Captain Zedd,” Cormus said, stating it as if it were almost neutral enough so that he could possibly drop it if she chose not to pursue it and yet directly enough for her to recognize that he intended to bring it up.

Mei-Lin studied the conduit segment sitting on top of her workbench while scanning it once again with her scanner although she had received the necessary data previously. “What about me and Captain Zedd.”

“Not specifically,” Cormus answered, speaking as if he weren’t fully committed to addressing whatever issues existed between Mei-Lin and Captain Zedd but he was willing to explore them if she chose to allow it. “Simply an observation that you have spent considerable time with Captain Zedd lately and there seems to be an unusual quality about the time you spend together.” He emerged from behind shuttle two carrying his diagnostic tool and wearing a look of sincere curiosity and willingness to discuss. “Is my observation inaccurate.”

“Your observation is not inaccurate,” Mei-Lin responded.

He watched her for a moment longer than was customary for Cormus. “Alright,” he said; which was all he chose to say, and returned his attention to repairing the thruster assembly.

Mei-Lin thought about this exchange for a moment longer than normal.

“This is a perceptive evaluation,” Mei-Lin said.

“I’m better than I appear at reading people,” Cormus said; which Mei-Lin believed was entirely true and which Cormus likely utilized as an asset since childhood.

She lifted up the remaining conduit segment began running a tolerance test on it and pondered Cormus’s statements as well as the background calculation he described; whether she also possessed her own variation of that calculation with respect to Captain Zedd; and whether she already knew what that answer was without needing to scrutinize it extensively.

She believed she did.

“He checks relay readings,” she said.

“What?” Cormus asked.

This is a continuation from above.
Cormus’s expression reflected surprise.

“Those types of readings,” Cormus clarified.

She believed she did.

“He monitors relay readings,” she said.

“What?” Cormus questioned.

“Exactly,” Mei-Lin replied.

“Are you concerned about this? Are you worried that Captain Zedd will see something in there that he doesn’t want everyone to see?”

“Concerned?” Mei-Lin asked.

“Yes, I mean...are you worried that he’ll see something in there that he doesn’t want everyone to see,” Cormus clarified.

Mei-Lin considered his questions for a moment before responding.

“I don’t believe so,” Mei-Lin replied. “The core is configured to monitor for operational significance only; therefore, I doubt very seriously that Captain Zedd’s feelings about shuttle two’s thruster assembly will qualify as significant enough for inclusion in future communications among senior officers.”

“That is somewhat reassuring,” Cormus admitted.

He removed himself from shuttle two but not far enough to indicate completion of his train of thought; an action consistent with Cormus behavior patterns. He circled around items while mentally evaluating whether to express verbally any ideas forming inside his head; using movement as camouflage for mental analysis processes.

She ran additional stages of tolerance testing on the conduit segment and waited.

“Anyway...”

“Anyway...” Mei-Lin echoed.

“You and Captain Zedd,” Cormus mentioned, suggesting it casually enough that he might drop it if she chose not to continue, yet strongly enough for her to understand he wanted to discuss this topic.

Mei-Lin studied the conduit segment sitting on her workbench while scanning it once more with her scanner; although she already acquired sufficient data previously.

“What about me and Captain Zedd.”

“Not specifically,” Cormus responded; as if he wasn’t committed sufficiently to address any issues between Mei-Lin and Captain Zedd but was willing to investigate further if she wanted him to pursue discussion.

“There seems to be a quality surrounding your interactions with Captain Zedd that differs significantly from interactions involving others,” Cormus mentioned, speaking with apparent sincerity while demonstrating interest in discussing potential implications. “Is my statement incorrect?”

“My statement is not incorrect,” Mei-Lin agreed.

He evaluated her response with greater intensity than usual for Cormus.

“Alright,” Cormus said; which was all he desired to say, and walked back towards shuttle two; although not close enough for anyone to conclude he finished his thoughts on this matter; another example of behaviors exhibited by Cormus.

Mei-Lin contemplated this exchange for an extended period longer than she normally would have chosen.

“This is a remarkably perceptive assessment,” Mei-Lin said.

“I’m better at analyzing people than I appear,” Cormus said; which Mei-Lin understood accurately and which he presumably utilized as leverage since childhood.

She selected up the final conduit section commenced running a tolerance test on it and reflected upon Cormus’s comments as well as his reference to a background calculation; whether she possessed her own iteration of that calculation relative to Captain Zedd; and whether she knew what that answer was without extensive scrutiny.