While the others were talking about themselves, Carver was listening fully.  It was a trait he'd had to cultivate for his own recreational needs.  Well, the ones that had to do with being outdoors, of course.  He sipped his drink and smiled with the group when each of them made a joke.<br/><br/>Brook's interest in helping him with the greenhouse was met with an affirmative nod.  He was open to allowing any who were interested in helping him.  Establishing arbitrary boundaries between them wouldn't help anything and only serve to cause gulfs between them to form.<br/><br/>Jenna's history of herself earned his full attention.  He listened and watched as she spoke of her father with affection.  It made him smile, his own memories of his unconventional family history.  Her words about her marriage and her life leading her to project caused sympathy and understanding to bloom in his mind.<br/><br/>Brook's history was, in some ways, fairly traditional.  Work lead her around the world and she sought fulfillment there.  But then, when it didn't turn out to be quite as she wanted, she came back and now had chosen this project to seek what she wanted.  It made him hope they were able to give her something at least, if not fully what she wanted.<br/><br/>The history that Brett related to the rest of the group was a little more unconventional.  He admitted that the concerns outlined in his life summary had been true.  Well, somewhat true.  It seemed to hint at a bit of a predatory outlook that made Carver frown for a moment.  However, there was something to be said about the man being completely honest.  Carver had to admit he liked that, even if the subject was a bit concerning to Carver.  Brett seemed to know what he wanted.  That was, in a way, refreshing and honest.  It reminded Carver of the way he was raised, in some ways.  His parents were very honest about what they were to each other, no matter.  He decided he'd give Brett the benefit of the doubt.<br/><br/>When Brett called him 'Captain Ranger', Carver gave him a wry smile and inclined his head toward the man.  The more he considered Brett, the more he felt that there was an element to the man that seemed odd to Carver.  Carver hoped that the researchers hadn't attempted some sort of Reality TV casting stunt with Brett's inclusion.  He had to just take it on faith that the man fit in with them.  Otherwise, this would be short experiment.<br/><br/>When Brett finished and the group turned toward him, he met each of their eyes for a moment.<br/><br/>"What?" he said after a moment.<br/><br/>He gave them a brief smile and shook his head.<br/><br/>"Sorry, my own sense of humor isn't very expressive."<br/><br/>He leaned back in his chair and sighed briefly.  He guessed it was his turn.<br/><br/>"Well, I grew up in a rural part of Oklahoma.  Lived on a stretch of land outside a small town.  It was a family farm, though things weren't very easy for a long stretch of time.  I basically learned the basics of raising animals and crops from that.  Getting up before dawn, working on what needed to be done, going to school, getting home, getting back into chores, eating dinner and then sleeping the sleep of the dead.  Rince, repeat, over and over."<br/><br/>He chuckled and gave a soft smile.  "But I loved it.  My dads and mom raised me and my sister in a house full of love and respect.  There was nothing they wouldn't do for us.  And all of them had their specialty.  We all did, actually.  So, it was a good time.  Daddy Rick taught me to shoot and hunt and we bonded over that a fair amount."<br/><br/>He paused and lifted his drink.  He took a slightly larger sip than he had been.<br/><br/>"Going to college took some...convincing.  Of me.  I wanted to stay with the family and help them keep going, but they insisted my sister and I have a shot outside of that.  I knew it would take a lot of work.  Fortunately, that was something I had been raised on.  I had found in high school that I seemed to have a head for science, the life sciences, so I turned toward that."<br/><br/>He fell silent, then continued.<br/><br/>"Well, the family told me to continue with it and keep at it and I did.  OSU lead to U of Hawai'i and then University of Cal at Berkeley.  Then, after it was all said and done, school wise, I decided to just go..."<br/><br/>He raised his hand in front of him and just pushed it outward, as if it was taking off.<br/><br/>"I kinda...dropped out of polite society for a year or so.  Some things I had to get straight in my head.  Suffice to say I've never been married.  Being a modern day wanderer/vagabond doesn't leave you much opportunities for long term relationships.  Well, not any that last.<br/><br/>He smiled and sipped, before continuing.<br/><br/>"And then, one day, I just woke up and was done with it.  Went home, cleaned up, said my goodbyes to them, and went and applied for the Department of the Interior.  Over the past several years now, I've worked with them and the USDA Forest Service."<br/><br/>He shrugged.  "Again, I seemed to have developed a head for practical application of botanical sciences.  I became the guy that the researchers would send their theories to test in the field."<br/><br/>He smiled briefly.   "I think that's why they sent me out here, honestly.  Well, maybe more than just that.  I'm sure my family history helped, as well as my having a slightly old fashioned sense of loyalty toward family.  Plus I have worked with researchers in the past.  I know they want results and ones that can be replicated."<br/><br/>He shrugged and finished his wine.  "So, that's that.  Small town boy, grows up hunting and farming, goes to school, and then wanders before going home and deciding to grow up and be a man.  And that lead me here."<br/><br/>He set his glass down and leaned forward.  "So, I have to ask.  We all know the stated reason why we're out here.  But, there's also that...other reason they gave."<br/><br/>Carver could feel the alcohol in his system, though he wasn't drunk.  It was more that he was feeling comfortable and a little more relaxed.  He probably never would have brought up this subject if not for that.<br/><br/>"I mean, yeah, I don't hold to traditional social setups for marriage and what a family is, no way I could...but still..."<br/><br/>He paused and chewed his lip for a moment.<br/><br/>"I guess what I'm getting at is that I am pretty sure that I'm all in.  I mean, I may have still volunteered to come back to Alaska if I hadn't been selected for this, but I was and I am here...and that means something to me."<br/><br/>He glanced between all of them.<br/><br/>"I'm not the only that that applies to...right?"<br/>