[snip]

Joe then went over for a moment to get a drink quickly for another crewman before returning to Ade. “The thing about Cross,” Joe began is that she’s like a lot of storm clouds on the horizon. She might turn into a much-needed summer shower or a hurricane there’s no telling!”

“Well, I like her straight-talking,” Ade replied. “She says things the way they are, without sugar-coating them, and you do know that dentists have a problem with sugar coating don’t you!”

‘’You got some nerve Milligan talking about me while in my presence !’’ she got closer to the bar ‘’ A double shot of vodka, I am on my break besides there isn’t much going in sickbay.....say does your nemesis Hunter know you’re here ? .

Joe went to get Cross’s drink and came back with it promptly. “There you go doctor hopefully the medicine you need. And then smiling just a bit he said ,”And you should know I’ve never taken Hunter too seriously. He takes himself serious enough for three people.

Kate did her best to hide her anxiety knowing that the male doctor had no idea of what awaited him during his free time ‘’I..I best be going goodbye ‘’ and with that she disappeared .

‘’Say Joe, Kate could do with some counseling she has this obsession and is passionate about Hunter who in turn has no idea of how much the N.O gets excited when ever he as much look her way ‘’ Cross picked up her shot and drowned it ‘’ I use to think he was not attracted to women or maybe he has some physical problem but seeing him gong with that dark skinned bombshell I realized I was dead wrong .....fill my glass counselor ‘’ .

It seemed Cross was on the edge of the Hurricane ,she had already disrespected Ade ,Kate and Joe.... she had been idle for quite sometime.

Joe shrugged and said, “And maybe the things he was doing on the station was just a show. Maybe he needs to convince others and himself on occasion. I mean Kate is a fine young girl. For companionship and friendship if nothing else. “

‘’Joe , Kate is in her late 40’s and though she is emphatic compassionate, kind-hearted and caring, she’s not the kind of women Hunter will go for ‘’ Cross wondered if she should tell them and why not .After all It was not some thing that confidential and they all had came to the wrong conclusion with their assumption and wrong judgement.

‘’Guys , Hunter had told me he flirts with female crew while at the bar simple to amuse them.He does not want a relationship and the drama that comes with it ‘’ at this point she stopped and gave a quick glance at Joe ‘’He picked that women cause she was not a crew member from our ship ,just a one night stand if the female agree .If you ask him about Sara he most probably has already forgotten about her ‘’.

“I always thought Hunter was in love with himself,” Ade advanced. “If he felt anything for Kate, he’d be cheating on himself!”

Cross burst out laughing ‘’I’ll give a toast to that!’’ she took another drink after which the female doctor excused herself ‘’ I’m heading to the bridge and check where we are ,from the sound of the engines the ship seem to have stopped or moving at a slow warp and while I’m there I’ll Irk Glen …em I mean the Captain’‘

“Why do you want to annoy the Captain?” Ade asked. “I honestly don’t know why he puts up with it. I’m not the only one who’s said that either.”

Cross shrugged her shoulders ‘’ Guess he’s so cute when he’s annoyed ‘’ she was about to exit the Dragon Bar but stopped and turned round ‘’And who else , may I ask say that ?’’ the doctor asked Ade.

“Confidentiality!” Ade said, touching his nose with his right forefinger, and laughing. “No, I don’t think she’d mind as she said it out loud, but the Captain’s Yeoman… what’s her name, Faith… she said the Captain ties himself up in knots sometimes at the things you say to him. Personally speaking, I think someone needs to keep him on his toes, and you’re doing a great job at it!”

Cross seemed to accept what the dentist had just told her.
Not so far away someone was whistling and with each step it was getting nearer. Cross’s eyes were wide open ‘’Oh dear me ‘’ was all she could say and at that moment doctor Hunter entered the bar .

He gave the CMO a cold stare ‘’ So how many shots eh?’’ Hunter did not wait for a response he knew Cross all too well ‘’Ah Ade how are you ?’’ he asked in a jolly manner then turned to face the barman. He stared at Joe for a good five minutes giving him a steady intent look ‘’Someone tell me I’m hallucinating ‘’ he managed to whisper.

“Hi! I think that depends upon what you can see,” Ade told Hunter. “One Joe the barman, or two of them?”

Cross thought it was both amusing and hilarious ‘’Ade, if he is seeing two Joe’s he ain’t hallucinating…see one is Joe the barman ,the other is Joe the counselor ‘’.

Hunter did not move a muscle only his eyes shifted in a manner that was both freakish and impenetrable which confused Cross ‘’Em I need to check if the Captain’s …’’ the rest of the sentence was lost to the others as the female doctor practically ran out of the bar.

Joe just kept silent. He smiled casually as he found a cloth to wipe off the top of the bar with. It wasn’t as if the bar needed wiped it was just a tool, he used to pass the time and listen. He looked up at Hunter then and smiled broadly asking him. “More of the same you had on the station doctor? You seemed to handle that pretty well.”

His eyes ever left Joe’s and when he smiled Hunter returned the smile, ‘’Sure why not, after all if I die there is my dear friend Ade who’ll witness my demise,’’ he replied unfazed.

“That’s a little bit of a morbid sentiment, Doctor, isn’t it?” Ade asked. “But as I’m sure you’ll agree, in life, it’s not the dead people you need to worry about!”

“I guess I’ll have what he’s having too then,” Ade told Joe.

‘’Say Joe pour one for yourself the drinks are on me ,so shall we toast for the dead or the living? ‘’ and that small smile of his crept back at the corner of his mouth.

“Okay then, a toast To Lives Well Lived! ” Ade replied, holding up his shot glass, “It matters little if they are dead or alive, just as long as they spread love wherever they went, and improved the lives of others. Sometimes you will never know the true value of someone, until they become a memory.”

Jaris is an average build, long dirty blonde hair that’s kept tightly wound in a knot, walked in after an arduous first shift. He then sat down at the farthest end of the bar and signaled to the bartender to take his beverage order.

Jaris Andor, Navigator

“Hey! My Friend!” Ade called down to the officer at the other end of the bar, “Come and join us! We don’t bite! …Well, I don’t! Troy, here… Troy is part Gorn!”

• Ade, dentist