Otis the Pug - The Origin Story

Posted on 10/30/2020 @ 2:01pm by Lieutenant Commander Kiernan Gallagher VII & Lieutenant Oskar Ruseka MD
Edited on on 03/02/2021 @ 6:26pm

Mission: Sum of our Experiences
Location: USS Yosemite-B
Timeline: Day 1 at 1830

Three Years Prior

“He is the runt of the litter.”

Kiernan Gallagher looked at the six-week-old puppy and he fell in love instantly. The pug puppy may have only been six weeks old, but he was so small compared to his brothers and sisters. He smiled as the little pug yawned but was still playful as he came toward Kiernan. He reached out and picked up the puppy gingerly, slightly afraid he would break the little guy.

“It seems you and I have a lot in common,” Kiernan whispered to the puppy. Though Kiernan was not a ‘runt of a litter’ he certainly was one of the smallest in his family. Not only did he lack height, but he was grossly underweight. There had been many times in his short life that people questioned his true age. Even once at the Academy, his more rigorous classes in survival and in security operations, the instructors questioned if he would make it in the Fleet. He had proved them all wrong.

He also knew very few people wanted the runts of any litter. So many times, there were issues that came with dogs that were runts. Pugs especially could have a plethora of issues. But how could he not take the pug puppy and make him his own?

“I think it is a definite match,” Lt. Commander Henry Connor said. He looked down at the two and the smile he sported, broadened. “He is yours if you’d like.”

Kiernan wasn’t sure. Taking on a puppy was a big job. He had been on the Yosemite for a couple of years now and was well established. But he was always working, he took his job as lead geologist seriously and wasn’t sure if he would be able to take the time to raise a puppy. He was called on for most away missions that involved planetary exploration. Would he be able to leave the puppy for long periods? However, all of that just seemed to push to the back of his mind as he rounded back to his original question or how could he not take the pug puppy?

“I’d like to but…” he paused as he attempted to hand the puppy back to Commander Connor. Except he didn’t move, his arms never budged.

Henry Connor could see the science officer was conflicted, but he could also tell the younger man wanted to keep the puppy. “On our next shoreleave, Alice and I will have to take the puppies with us to be adopted out. We can’t keep the litter on board the Yosemite.”

The Rhode Island class vessel was just too small. Henry Connor was a senior officer so he and Alice Connor – his wife – had larger quarters than people who were junior officers like himself. In fact, he bunked with one other. Kiernan knew he should check with his bunk mate but that thought seemed to just flit away as he looked down at the puppy. The dark round eyes pulled him and tugged on his heart strings.

Kiernan looked up and nodded. “I’ll take him.”

“Great!” Henry exclaimed. “Alice will miss the little guy, but I think she will be pleased to know that the little guy is going to a good home.” He reached out and gave the puppy a soft tap on his tiny head. “What will you name him?”

Looking down at the puppy, Kiernan gave it a moment’s thought before answering. “Otis,” he said, “definitely looks like an Otis.”

“Otis,” Henry Connor repeated. “I think you found yourself a great home, little Otis.”

A few minutes later, Kiernan exited the Connor’s quarters with his new best friend, and a PaDD full of instructions. He knew this would be a challenge, and he had yet to break the news to his bunk mate, but all that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Otis and he found each other, Otis had found a new home and Kiernan found the one thing that filled the void that he so desperately wanted…

Unconditional love.

**
Lieutenant JG Kiernan M. Gallagher VII, PhD
Lead Geologist
USS Yosemite – B

&

Lt. Commander Henry Connor, PhD
Chief Science Officer
USS Yosemite – B

&

Puppy Otis the Pug