Chance encounters Part 1

Posted on Wednesday November 18th, 2020 @ 10:48pm by Captain Tobias Bishop III

Mission: The Forgotten Outpost
Location: Promenade of the Starbase 3
Timeline: Current

Cassi walked the wide walk ways. She'd been looking for a place to shop and maybe grab a bite. Yet she had found herself distracted by the sight of the ships docking and taking off from the port side large bay windows. Their easy transitions, gliding movements. For a moment nothing else but the beauty of their dance was all she could think about. Entranced, bewitched, it was like a ballet.

"Beautiful are they not?" Tobias asked, walking quietly up beside the young lady.

"Indeed they are. Reminds me of watching birds back on Earth." Cassi replied turning with a smile to the new comer.

"I always thought they looked more like some sort of giant fish, or a whale." he said with a smile. "What finds you being so contemplative this evening?"

"Home sick I guess. I gave up shore leave to help the Major with his Jag papers and getting the transfers sorted out. He didn't want any of the old team left behind. Kai was .. well she wasn't in any condition to help him so I stepped in." She sighed and looked back out the window to the colorful starlit sky beyond. "My dad works on the station that orbits earth. The view is similar. I guess it just reminds me of that.. makes me feel closer to my parents."

"Thoughts of home often invade my thoughts as well. Occupational hazard I would presume." the Colonel answered softly, watching vessels great and small move in their amazing ballet.

"It is indeed. But more so when you nearly get killed. It made me realize I haven't seen them physically looked at them in over nine years." She shook her head. "Anther occupational hazard sadly."

"Aye. You are correct on both counts." he said, mind drifting away in memories of his own. "The life of a Federation officer, Starfleet or Marine, tends to be a solitary one. Can you not place a subspace call?"

"Yeah, not as often as I should though. . But its not a hug. Or the smell of the pine trees in the wind, or even the sound of the rivers bubbling by the house. Yanna is lucky. A few more months and she and Tommy are going to go to Earth and raise a family. I keep waiting ya know. For that desire. Its just not there. I mean I miss home yes. But I don't want to go back, It's just never feels like the right time. I know they know about the last mission I was on.. That I nearly died a long with a great deal of my friends and colleges. I know they are worried. The Major would grant me the leave. I just.... I know they will want me to stay. I think part of me worries that I might just give in. It feels too much like giving up. I can face the Borg, and the Dominion, But I can't face them. Besides regardless to what he thinks the Major needs me."

"We do have many several holodecks on the station. Have you given those a try? It might help."

"Probably. DO you have a family stranger?' Cassi asked.

"No, I am afraid my quest for the big chair confirmed me as a bachelor many moons ago."

"That's a shame." Cassi said looking back over at him she noted finally the rank insignia and the uniform... "I.... Ummm.... well... That is of course your prerogative s..sir"

"Oh, come now, do not ruin a perfectly lovely conversation with formalities now. We are just too lost souls having a chat. No need to stand on ceremony." Tobias said, genuinely mourning the loss of comradery that came with her noticing his rank.

Cassi nodded and let herself relax again. "Lost souls eh? Its not the only time Ihave ever been called that." She mused offering him anther friendly smile.

"Well, I guess I should be going. Enjoy the rest of your evening." he said, and turned to leave.

"So soon?" Cassi asked turning to watch him now. "I was working up the nerve to fraternize a cup of coffee or two out of you."

The older man stopped and turned back, "That would be....acceptable." Tobias said with a slight smile.

"I was hoping you'd accept." Cassi said as she moved forward to close the distance now between them. "You know any good places to go for Coffee? I am new here and I figure if anyone can get a decent cup of coffee around here it would be you right?" She teased playfully. She enjoyed his company. He had a gentle presence about him that drew her in and held her almost spell bound. No wonder he is in command, he has some serious charisma working on his side.

"I am sure there is a coffee café around here somewhere." he said, begin to stroll toward the promenade.

Cassi walked beside him silently at first then asked. "So, tell me more about yourself. I mean I know I could run off and read about you in some archives somewhere. But I rather take full advantage of this opportunity and hear it from you."

"There is not a lot to tell. I am a career officer, assigned to run a Starbase in the middle of literally nowhere. I had a relatively happy childhood, join the Corps young, and just made it my life."

"Yes well. You had to have either impressed the heck out of some one or pissed them off to get this assignment.. Which was it??" Cassi asked her face never losing that smile. He blue eyes studied him with open curiosity.

"I would wager it is probably six to one, half dozen to the other." he agreed. "It has not been all bad, but I do wish I was back out there. Now, do not get me wrong, I do not miss the combat, but I do often wonder what being on a first contact mission might have been like."

:: To Be Continued ::

Colonel Tobias Bishop III
Commanding Officer
Deep Space Three

AND

2nd Lieutenant Cassandra Mathews
Played By
Major Delhashi DarkShadow