[snip}

Joe just shook his head and chuckled at such a thing. ” I’ve known many a people who blame their problems on their parents. The thing is why do you let your parents bother you once you’ve become an adult? Put it behind you and move on I always say. You wouldn’t leave an open would untreated, would you?” Joe sighed then and said,” My family will love the boy. And I suspect that growing up in that family he’ll grow to be rowdy by nature and loveable by choice. “

Kate said nothing more after all Joe had limited knowledge of psychology , Cross’s lack of maternal instincts could very well be the result of how her own mother hated the child and never showed any love towards her . It was her grandfather who worked so hard to give Cross an education ..as in her own words ‘’ If it wasn’t for my grandfather who knows what would have happened to me ‘’.

The nursing officer finished her meal and bid Joe farewell ,as she headed back to sickbay.

Astrid had walked into the bar at that moment and only heard the end of the previous conversation. “If wasn’t for my grandfather I’d still be working as a Trainee AI Ethicist!” said Astrid. “And I know that wouldn’t have worked out for the best!”

“Could I have today’s special please? The chicken and rice thing, not the beef steak.” Astrid asked Joe. “And can I have two portions of it, please? I missed lunch earlier. And also a very large beer!”

“We’ve been mapping the Expanse all day and from an astro-navigational standpoint, it’s the most complex region of space that I’ve ever encountered. I don’t know how we’ll be able to keep doing this for weeks or months!” Astrid added by way of explanation, “....How’s your day so far?”

Almost as soon as Astrid had finished her first sentence than Joe was starting the heat in a pot for the water to boil the rice. In another place he was pulling out bits of chicken and putting them in an oven . Next was the sauce that would coat the chicken. He looked up over the counter at Astrid and said, AI Ethics? When did anyone get that to work? I was told that as long as you had humans doing the programming you’d have machines with odd quirks.”

Joe paused in his preparing of the food and said , ” Sure thing two portions. And a very large lager. ” From out of nowhere D’Nesh showed up with a large stein of beer which she set in front of Astrid before she disappeared quickly. ” So they working you people hard then? I hope they have a good handle on things . ” Only a few minutes later Joe placed a huge platter stacked high with the chicken in front of Astrid. ” .There you are dear enjoy it. It sounds like you will need the fuel.”

Joe Milligan Barman

“Yeah! That’s just what I needed, thanks!” replied Astrid. “I don’t think I’ve worked such long hours before on this ship.”

• Astrid, Science