Shock went for a late-night snack. He had not eaten all day. Anomalies had kept him busy on the Bridge and in his ready room all day. He was tired. He checked the time, 23:11 hours. He needed some food before retiring for the night. He walked to the mess hall. It was quiet. No one was there. He walked up to the replicator:

“Baked potato, no flavouring. Oil. And a pot of hot water, and a tea cup.”

Instantaneously appearing, he sprinkled the oil on the steaming baked potato. From his pocket, he took out some real loose-leaf tea – tieguanyin from Earth’s eastern Asia region, and placed the leaves his the glass pot of hot water.

He walked to a table close to the windows, seating himself to see the stars outside.

In his glass pot, he saw the leaves slowly expanding and colouring the once-clear water to a darker, more yellowish colour. He took a deep breath and began eating.

Shock, Captain
Commanding Officer