Lance headed down to the Forecastle lounge, he could have headed to the Fantail but it seemed that most of the junior officers lurked at the Forecastle. He was still finding his feet on the ship, but he’d found this place and was quite content to stay.

He’d come of shift half an hour ago grabbed a book from his quarters and headed to the Forecastle. The other Lt. who shared the quarters with Lance complained when he sat reading so he’d found somewhere else to go. His roommate had a problem with books. Lance was old fashioned he liked paper books rather than digital pads.

He found a spot to people watch and to read.

Astrid was siting on a sofa opposite where Lance sat. She briefly looked up from her PADD to see who had sat down. Astrid appeared to be a simple and straightforward, no-nonsense type. Her appearance, with her short-cropped hair, gave the impression of someone who would not tolerate anything frivolous or trifling. But while she was firm and business-like at work, she was much softer behind that hard exterior when she was relaxing.

Lance looked over at Astrid, he’d seen her in the lounge a few times and around the ship. But he’d never really spoken to her other than work stuff where needed. He was surprised to see her sit opposite him. “Hope that’s not work stuff Lt. I hear there are sticky rules around here about work stuff.” He mused casually.

“Oh! Are there? It’s a number of brain-teasing number and word puzzles, not work-related,” Astrid replied, “I find that more relaxing that reading fiction. Each to their own, I guess?”

Lance nodded “I was warned on my first time here, I have no idea of the consequences, I’m a bit too afraid to ask what they are…” He trailed off and wondered not for the first time if the Ensign who’s warned him had been pulling his leg.

“I enjoy a good number puzzle now and then, word problems often phase me, complicated meanings and trying to find the alternative uses of a word. No thanks reminds me far too much of trying to date.” He said with a shudder. “I’m Lance by the way.”

“Astrid,” she said, “Pleased to meet you!”

Astrid then saw the Doctor enter who had caused a scene in the Dragon bar several nights ago. She put her head back down in the PADD and pretended she hadn’t seen him.

Hunter noticed a female who he had never seen before.

Astrid had seen him before.

The doctor made his way to Deck 5 and entered the Forecastle ,he looked around it seemed to be mostly empty ,that’s when he saw Lance reading ‘’ Hi Lt Malone ,long time no see ,say I have never been here before is food served?’’ Hunter asked ‘’Or the only place I can get it is from the Replicator ?’‘.

Lance nodded a help at the doctor, “Ah help doctor, no idea if food is served, I usually miss actual dining times and just snack.” He smiled “Before you lecture me on proper eating habits, I know and I’ll try harder”. It was a lie of he was focused on something he was working on he would bury himself in his work and things like food and sleep usually took a back seat to everything.

“How are you Dr? I’ve not seen you down here before.”

Hunter was dressed in casual clothes ,his blond straight hair fell onto his shoulders with hands on his hips he took another look ‘’The last place I’ll ever enter is the Dragon bar ‘’ he muttered more to himself then anyone else. Seeing the book in Lance hands he asked ‘’ What are you reading Lt?’‘.

’’ Guess I’m in the wrong place this must be a book club of some sort ,sorry to disturb you ‘’ the doctor apologized while also wondering how unfriendly the duo both were.

He was still hungry and walked over to the replicator ordering some sandwiches , chose one of the empty tables and quietly sat down .

Lance looked at his book, “It’s classic dystopian fiction from Earth, it’s from a time about 200 years ago, they were written about what they thought the future could be. It was pretty bleak, reading it makes me feel better about where we are as a human race.” He explained closing the book, it’s title showing as ‘Wool’.

Hunter nodded even though he had no idea about the title of the book ‘’To be honest I do prefer switching on the narrator’s voice while relaxing on the bed with my eyes closed ,I agree that the human race has moved on but things could change ,have you ever thought that we could be in war with another species some time in the future ? Its not far fetched you know ‘’.

Lance knew his choice of reading material was strange, his best friend used to complain he needed to read more upbeat things rather than historical musings on how awful humanity could be. “I’ve tried the narrator but I tend to stay up all night listening to it..”

Lance thought about the doctor’s words. “I didn’t join up to be a soldier, I joined up because as a scientist we were running out of new things to discover and space seemed the most likely place to find new things.” He paused “But I guess given the ever present hostilities in the galaxy it seems likely that conflict will happen, although as to who and what starts it is in flux.”

“It’s okay you weren’t disturbing me, I just can’t stop pay way through a page.” He said with a shrug. He recalled some muttering about the Dragon bar, “So you too dislike the dragon? I find it too.... pretentious, too many people trying to get noticed.” He said sharing his opinion with the other two officers.

‘’Em actually its the other way round the Dragon bar hates me!’’ the doctor exclaimed without going into details about what had transpired between him and Joe ‘’ I’m going to miss the food ‘’ he grumbled taking another bite from the sandwich ‘’This taste like paper ‘’.

Astrid wasn’t sure if Lance was talking to her or to Hunter at first, but realised he was just thinking out aloud to anyone who would listen.

“Well, I’m new on the ship. I found the Dragon Bar at the Fantail Lounge was a little rowdy, and I wanted somewhere quieter,” Astrid replied. “I think it’s nice that there is a choice on this ship.”

‘’I agree it tends to get a bit rowdy ,guess it all comes down to one’s preference ‘’ Hunter replied to Astrid.

“I agree that the dragon is a little rowdy and peopley.” He said in agreement with the others, Nila would have called him boring and had she been on this draft she would have constantly dragged him to the Dragon.

He looked over at the doctor, he was intrigued, he often claimed inanimate objects hated him, but never an entire room. “How does a room hate a person?” He enquired.

‘’Don’t waste your brain cells ..in the end nothing really matters ‘’the male doctor replied.

=/\= Lance Malone. Please Report to Captain Glen in his Ready Room =/\= Came an announcement.

As Hunter had also heard the announcement ,he gave a curt nod to the Lt before Malone left.

Lance paled at the Comms. “Oh heck what now?” He said closing his book. “Calls to the Captain’s ready room are never good, I really hope the CSO hasn’t found mine and NE Garnet’s fungus racing syndicate again.” He said pondering the most likely reason he was in trouble this time.

“Hopefully see you both later” he said leaving for his summons.

‘’Relax Lt, what’s the worst thing that could happen ? You’ll be locked up on the bridge cell ‘’ Hunter chuckled as he winked at both Astrid and Malone .

“I’m sure he’ll be okay,” said Astrid. “He was making some good suggestions while I was on the Bridge during the last mission.”

• Astrid, Science