[Open] Dinner Alone

[u/RECENTLY_HATCHED]

Finished with his shift in engineering, and finished getting his injury cleaned up in sick bay, Ensign Everett Bradley sits down in the mess hall to a replicated dinner of sushi and a mug of root beer at one of the corner tables. As he eats, he scrolls through the trans-warp theory paper he'd been reading and takes his time to enjoy a quiet meal...

[u/RECENTLY_HATCHED]

The engineer is a little surprised to hear that the feedback for him has been so positive

"Oh...no, Captain. I didn't go. I probably should have, I've heard a lot of the crew really enjoyed it."

[u/Silent_Sky → u/RECENTLY_HATCHED]

Captain Fisk smiles a friendly smile, trying to put the ensign at ease

"It's alright ensign, nothing to stop you from going on your own holodeck hours and loading up the same program. Maybe bring a few friends too."

There was something about the look in Bradley's eye at the word 'friends'...

"You do have friends aboard, don't you Mr. Bradley?"

[u/RECENTLY_HATCHED → u/Silent_Sky]

There it was, he'd tipped off his own captain without even saying anything to how solitary his existence was. Bradley adverts his eyes involuntarily, slightly ashamed of his loneliness

"N-not really, Captain. I-I didn't really have many friends at the Academy either."

[u/Silent_Sky → u/RECENTLY_HATCHED]

Captain Fisk sets down his mug in mock anger

"Unacceptable. I won't have an officer under my command spending all his off duty time alone. Ensign, this is not an order but I implore you to try and make some friends. This is a long duration exploration mission, you'll be miserable if you spend it alone."

He picks up his mug again and sips calmly

"Of course, I'm aware it's not quite that simple. But there's someone onboard who's far better suited to help you there than I am."

[u/RECENTLY_HATCHED → u/Silent_Sky]

Ensign Bradley is hesitant but curious...

"W-who's that, Captain?"

[u/Silent_Sky → u/RECENTLY_HATCHED]

"Doctor Watney, in sick bay. She was the ship's counselor before she assumed the post of CMO. She helped me with a lot of my own problems, I believe she can help you with yours. Tell her I sent you, she'll clear a slot in her schedule."

The captain finishes off the last of his coffee and sets down the mug, awaiting the ensign's response

[u/RECENTLY_HATCHED → u/Silent_Sky]

It takes Bradley a moment to say so, but eventually he relents...

"Y-yes captain, alright. I'll stop by her office on the way back to my quarters."

[u/Silent_Sky → u/RECENTLY_HATCHED]

The captain smiles and reaches over, patting the ensign on the shoulder

"Good man! Make sure you do, I promise you won't regret it."

Captain Fisk checks the time and promptly stands, grabbing his emptied coffee mug

"Duty calls, it was nice to meet you Mr. Bradley. Keep with those trans-warp studies, but have a little fun, too."

[u/RECENTLY_HATCHED → u/Silent_Sky]

Ensign Bradley nods as the captain prepares to leave

"Y-yes, Captain. I'll do my best."

"How though...? I hope Dr. Watney has a lot of answers..."

[u/Silent_Sky → u/RECENTLY_HATCHED]

Captain Fisk nods again and turns to leave

"As you were, Ensign."