<snip>

She watched him enter, taking in his pace and general demeanor as he approached her. Sienna automatically reached up a hand to give him the firm handshake he was requesting with the extension of his own. “The pleasure is mine Lieutenant Commander Stous. I am often in the Arboretum of the Europa on my day off. It is a very peaceful space and a great place to people watch. Won’t you join me for lunch? The lounge is a very nice place to, and I am there for meals a lot but we are passing by a binary star today and it is giving off a beautiful light through the windows I wish to take advantage of.”

Nox, CNS

Stephen’s eyes widened slightly as Nox spoke. “Oh, I - I’m sorry to disturb you on your day off, I hadn’t noticed on the duty schedule. But yes, I’d love to join if it’s no trouble.” He sat down beside her, eyes moving to the windows across from them. “What star system are we passing? I’m not up-to-date on our heading just yet.”

~ Stephen Stous - XO

She smiled warmly. “It is no trouble. When you said you were on your way, I made sure to accommodate another person’s appetite. I enjoy company.”

Sienna turned and looked at the view of space offered by the windows. “I believe this is System 500227886Beta. The stars are quite dim compared to say… the Earth’s sun so the light is just very pleasant. I do love traveling through the stars. My parent’s think I am rather crazy. They much prefer their feet on solid ground with an atmosphere over their heads.”

Nox, CNS

“My parents were…” he hesitated, picking his words carefully, “…of a similar vein. But I’ve always enjoyed the variety out here. Keeps the boring times tolerable.”

He squinted out the window, reaching down to retrieve an apple slice as he did so. “That system, the name suggests it’s a dual-M-class. Any idea if there’re any planets?” He stuck the apple slice into his mouth, quickly realized it was too big to take in one bite, and slid it partway back out of his mouth as he bit it in half, trying to keep his face from turning red as he did so.

~ Stephen Stous - XO

She nibbled on a sandwich triangle and pretended not to notice his too big bite. Used to giving people the space to feel their feelings while not looking like she was watching, she simply ate and tried to remember what was in this system. “I think there are, but I am not an astrophysicist. Give me biological life forms or mysterious ailments either physical or psychological and I am your girl… planets… not so much. This is your first time as an XO?”

Nox, CNS

“Yep. First time in a command position, actually. It was quite a surprise to get the assignment, but the change is more than welcome.” He finished the apple slice and reached for a piece of cheese. “Weird to be delegating the busywork, though. Busywork was always my specialty.”

Stous took a short pause, allowing himself to gaze out the window. He would have to study the local stellar landscape later that night in preparation for his morning shift. He hoped the system before them did indeed contain a planet or two - something unique in the otherwise typical star system. “Not to be forward, but I know this is far from your first assignment. Anything you’d care to share from your… travels?”

~ Stephen Stous - XO

She smiled though there was an edge of sadness to it. “Well I started out as a medical doctor. A battle doctor. Ran a field hospital during the Dominion War. After that, I saw the mental stress of those who had fought in those battles and decided to change to Psychology and Psychiatry. I have seen many people with many scars. Then I got ripped from my home and my husband so here I am in this place doing what I can to find a sort of life here.”

Nox, CNS