The doors to the Observation Lounge opened, Joshua looked around. The crowd was small enough to not get lost in, but large enough to lose yourself in. He navigated his way through the crowd, to the bar in the center. Joshua ordered an Acamarian brandy and sat at one of the viewing benches. He’d opted for a casual look, khaki pants and a dark green button up shirt. His undershirt peeked out from the top three unbuttoned buttons.

Minh had been in the Obs Lounge for a little bit, she was wearing her off-duty attire, a knee high skirt, white in colour with a button up shirt with a purple shawl that her grandmother had made her, reminiscent of something from her childhood favorite movie, Grease.  She felt the need to dress up, as it was the second attempt to mingle with the other members of the Starbase. Hopefully it goes well.

A ship passing by caught Joshua’s attention. He followed it until it disappeared out of view. Looking off to his left, he noticed someone sitting sitting near him. Had he been so far in his thoughts that he didn’t notice? Or maybe they appeared out of nowhere. Joshua chuckled at this thought. “That’s the great thing about being in space,” Joshua said to her, “you don’t need a clear night to see all the stars. Joshua Bryant,” he offered his hand.

Raising her eyebrow, and taking a sip from her drink, “U.S.S. Horatio Nelson, on her way to the Klingon Border to deliver supplies to border stations. I am so glad I am here. On a base, secure, in the central Federation, Sorry, Minh Nao, Staff Psychologist, stargazer, some call me a wayfarer.” she offered her hand in a opulent way.

Joshua nodded and took a sip from his glass. He’d seen the mission briefing on the Horatio Nelson. Joshua had signed up for the assignment, but it went to a colleague. He figured it would do him good to stay on the base for a while. “We have that in common, although I seem to be assigned to humanitarian missions.” He frowned and shrugged, “It scratches the itch at least.” Joshua motioned out into the vastness of space. “Have you had the chance to go anywhere interesting?”

“Not really, what about you?” She pushed out the chair with the heel of her shoe, she wasn’t trying to be flirtatious, she was just curious. She had try to make friends but 90% of the other officers of here were a patient or too busy to make friends.

“I should’ve been on that,” he pointed out in space, where the Horatio Nelson had disappeared into warp. “But I guess there isn’t much need for a botanist on a space station.” Joshua thought a moment, “I’ve been a few places, mostly in the Paulson Nebula. There’s a lot of rebuilding from the Century Storm that most probably don’t think about.” He shrugged, “Helped solve a water crisis, that was kind of cool.”

Joshua thought a moment, “I’ve been down to Mellstoxx III a few times, mostly to help with identifying and maintenance of plant species.” He chuckled, “I’m not sure that counts though. It’s like saying you took a far away trip… to the end of the block.”

“Joshua, it is not about where you have been, it is about what you have done and experienced.” Minh took a sip of her Mint Chocolate Martini, savouring the mint and it cooled her throat, “For people in Medical, you ask them, it is saving lives, helping the injured. Security, it is protecting the civilians, what is the love for you? What is it that you love the most. Me, it is exploring the inner workings and psyche’s of people. The mind is just so wonderful and beautiful. Everyone has a journey, don’t look at it like you have missed an opportunity, look at it as you are meant for something bigger.”

Her eyes grew in amazement as she watched another ship leave dock, “USS Pugsly, going to the badlands.”

Joshua chuckled, “I don’t feel like I’ve missed something, I just want to share my skills with everyone. I guess that makes me miss the forest for the trees a bit. I get so absorbed in sharing my gifts, I miss the gifts I get in return.” He took a sip of his drink in contemplation, “Huh… I never thought of it that way.” Joshua sat quietly for a moment and then stretched. “It’s not to say I don’t have fun and enjoy my adventures, because man do I. Getting out and seeing other cultures and learning about their biodiversity.” He paused, “Who knew I’d end up in a session?” Joshua teased. “I just came to have a nice drink, gaze into the stars, and watch the ships go by. But life is full of surprises.”

“I am sorry, I can’t turn it off. Always analysing people.” she let out a sigh, “Listen, I just… I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

Joshua laughed hardily, “There’s no need to feel down on yourself, I was only joking.” He took a sip of his drink. “I understand the compulsion though; if there was a rare or interesting plant, I’d get up and leave. And it’s not that I would prefer the plant over you, or you’re boring company, it’s who I am. It’s a reflex you can’t control.” Joshua waved away Minh’s comment. “I’m not uncomfortable,” he thought. “I don’t know if it’s possible to make me uncomfortable. Maybe it’s you who doesn’t want to be uncomfortable.”

He let out a long breath, “Let’s switch gears a bit. You say you’re a traveler, but you never mentioned where you traveled. Nowhere interesting you say, but it might be interesting to me.”

She smiled, being the daughter of two diplomats, she had travelled quite a bit, to warzones, to peaceful worlds, it was all boring to her… but he was right it may be of interest to him. “Right, well tell me have you ever been inside Kzinti Space? The Planet Kzin is said to be beautiful, but no one has ever been there… my parents took me there as a child to participate in the resigning of the Treaty of Sirius… though it hasn’t done much as of late.”

Joshua shook his head as the server refreshed his drink. “I’ve heard of them, of course, but I’ve never been there.” He thought a minute, “There’s a fern that grows on Kzin, the name of it fails me at the moment. The Kzinti consider it a weed and actively demolish it.” Joshua took a sip of his drink, “The treaty that’s meant to disarm them? I heard they work around it. Did you parents try to close the loopholes?”

“Unfortunately, not. I was quite young and know there was a large team there. It was quite hectic, too many people in the kitchen. I think thats how the saying goes.” She smiled.

He took a drink and smiled, “It’s something like that.” Joshua leaned towards her in interest, “If you yearn to be out there,” he pointed to the blackness of space, “why not join the family business? Why contain yourself to a starbase?” Joshua thought a moment, “I guess you are an explorer of sorts. You explore people’s minds and emotions. The true undiscovered frontier.”

“I don’t want to be out there, I want to be in here, I enjoy the life in here. I enjoy the helping of other people, I don’t enjoy what my parents do, cowboying around.” She took another sip of her martini.

Joshua held up his hands in defense. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. When you said you were a traveler, I didn’t know you meant you were forced to be.” He paused, still leaning forward, “Do you talk to your parents much? I imagine they’re proud of the own unique diplomacy you practice.”

“You’d think? No, I don’t they actually wanted me to follow in their footsteps. They said I had a gift, who knows, maybe when the time is right, but it isn’t right now.” she smiled.

He shrugged, “I don’t know, it seems like you have a gift to me. It may not be the one your parents wanted, but it’s yours.” Joshua smiled, “Some of the best officers I’ve met were disappointments to their parents, in the best way.”

“Thank you Joshua, that is very nice of you to say.” Minh said, “I do have to call it though, it is an early night for me this week, I have several meetings to get to in the morning.” She smiled innocently.

“Ah, ‘Parting with friends is a sadness. A place is only a place.’,” Joshua said, raising his glass. “Until we meet again Commander. Hopefully the next time the conversation is just as enjoyable.”

“Definitely.” She said getting up and tucking in her chair. She moved through the audience.