The doors to his quarters slid open and Grayson Paul walked in and looked around. It was dark, conditions set to an empty cabin to conserve power. Of course, as soon as the computer noted he was home it brought full lighting up and began heating the space again. At least, for the moment, his roommate wasn’t home.

Not that Grayson minded Thorel, the extremely talkative Bolian security NC, but after a day of recalibrating the internal sensors and the incessant interruptions - Cadet Paul, go repair the sonic shower in NE Wood’s quarters… Cadet Paul, go check the phase coupling ok Deck 6… Cadet Paul, report to shuttle maintenance to assist… - he just wanted to sit back in the quiet and relax.

“Computer, dim lights 50%,” Grayson nodded satisfactorily as the computer reduced the brightness in the room, “Thank you. Now, can you find music featuring Spanish guitar, light drums, no vocals?”

“Affirmative,” the computer responded in her matter-of-fact tone, “there are over 2000 musical selections matching designated parameters.”

“Wonderful, queue them all up, label the search results ‘Grayson Chill 1’ and save playback when paused or interrupted.”

“Acknowledged,” the computer responded as the soothing strumming of a guitar coupled with snare drums began streaming through the cabin. Grayson walked into his sleeping area and came back a few minutes later wearing shorts and a comfortable shirt, carrying a candle in each hand.

He sat down on the carpeted deck between the sofa and coffee table, setting the candles down. “Computer, activate meditation candle protocol.”

The computer chimed and whirred as the oxygen content of the cabin was reduced to minimize the chances that the fire he was about to light would cause an explosion. The heat of the flames, inconsequential but as close as he sat he could feel it upon his face. He’d always loved the beauty of the red flower, as Kipling described it, the way it danced, it’s crackle and popping as it consumed it’s fuel. The campfire was always his favorite part of camping, the taste of food cooked with it, the time with his family spent around it sharing stories, his father seeming to find a life lesson in just about anything they could talk about.

Before he knew it, Grayson was gazing at a point on the wall beyond and between the two lit candles, a curious mix of absent-minded focus as he passed through time and thought and memory.

The doors to the quarters opened and a short, squatty man with blue skin and a ridge of cartilaginous flesh bisecting his head and, Grayson was aware, the rest of his body. Thorel stepped in, calling out, “Computer, restore normal light levels. Oh! Computer, extinguish those fires before our cabin explodes!”

The computer acknowledged the NC’s comands and tiny forcefields smothered the candle flames. Thorel smiled as he walked in further, “Much better!”

“Thorel,” Grayson tried to keep annoyance out of his voice, “You did know I had all that set up so I could meditate, right?”

“You’re not a Vulcan,” was the blue man’s retort, “why do you need real fire when you could use the holodeck?”

“It’s not the same thing,” Grayson smirked, “Don’t you have camping on Bolarus?”

“Oh yes,” he chortled, “but we don’t need fire. We have Mobile Outdoor Vehicle Excursioners. We call them MOVERS. Isn’t that clever?”

“Not particularly, I’m assuming MOVERS provide you with air conditioning and electricity?

“Why would we need air conditioning? Bolarus is frozen.”

“I forgot. I suppose the blue skin should be a dead giveaway. In any case, if you’re going to be here, I’m going somewhere else to meditate.”

“You don’t like being around me?” The Bolian’s face appeared genuinely hurt.

“It’s got nothing to do with you,” Grayson stood and scooped up his candles, then made his way to the door where he is sandals set aside. He put them on his feet, then turned to his roommate, “I was looking for dark, some light music, the smoke of a real fire. Since I can’t get that here without disturbing you, I’ll find a different spot.”

Thorel waved at him as he stepped out into the corridor. He stood still for a moment after the door closed, considering where he would go. He thought the aft of the ship should provide some interesting locations. He turned right and moseyed off, the sound of his flip flops flip flopping as he turned a bend.
Cadet Paul, Engineer

OOC: feel free anyone to jump in if you wish.