Kaia sat in the lounge, staring quietly at the display on her U.R.I. with a look of dejection on her face. A large mug of something frothy and vaguely smelling like alcohol sat, untouched, on the table beside her. “You promised you’d try to get a transfer,” she sighed, speaking in a quiet, purring language that the Universal Translator refused to translate.

=^=I know, but this opportunity came up and I really couldn’t refuse it. I’m sure you’ll understand, I just had to pursue… other things.=^= The chirps and purrs of the same soft language came back through the device. Kaia put her head down on the table, giving a quiet grunt that almost anyone could interpret as frustration.

“I know, Vito. I suppose I was just really excited to have someone from home join me on the Manhattan,” she replied, sitting up straight. “I’m allowed to be upset, even if I understand your reasoning.“

=^=I know, I know. I haven’t been alone aboard a Federation Ship. I don’t know what it feels like to be isolated.=^= Vito replied, making Kaia sit up slightly. She was still for several minutes, then finally let out a long sigh.

“I’m going to go. I’ll… talk to you later, I guess.” She pressed on the holographic screen, and it blipped away, not even giving her friend time to respond.

Kaia, Eng