Chance Encounter

Posted on Mon May 21st, 2018 @ 9:45am by Lieutenant JG Braden Masters
Edited on on Mon May 21st, 2018 @ 9:45am

Mission: Season 2: Mission 2: Just Breath
Location: DS9
Timeline: MD0
1464 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Braden woke up with a start as his communicator went off. Reaching over he tapped it where it was on the nightstand, sitting up in bed as he did. "This is Masters." he said, and rubbed his face to try to wake up. He felt the stubble of his beard scratching against his hand and wondered if he should shave for his upcoming meeting.

=/\= "Lieutenant Master, this is Ensign T'Ral, you requested to be alerted when the Elysium arrived in the Bajor system. The ship just entered sensor range, and will be docking with DS9 shortly." =/\=, the clipped, stoic voice of one of the ship's ops officers said.

"Thank you, Ensign. Masters out.", Braden replied. He knew when the ship first arrived it would be an ant hill of confusion, and barely contained chaos, so he figured he'd get ready, go to the promenade, and get himself something to eat before he transported aboard for his first meeting with his new crew. Five minutes later he'd gotten into his uniform, and made sure all of his stuff was ready to go, and headed out.

Having dropped off his personal effects with the transporter chief on duty, he had quickly found his way to the bustling promenade. It was busy as usual, and he was glad to see it. Crowds of people, so long as he wasn't having to interact with them, allowed him to move freely and observe, getting lost in the confusion, and just seeing the various people, and how they interacted. He was an avid people watcher, and a bustling space station was just perfect for that.

Just as he was about to enter the utilitarian officers mess his eye was caught by a warm glow from a nearby dining establishment, and he decided to forgo the replicated fare for something potentially more intriguing. As he passed through the doorway, walking underneath the glowing amber sign in flowing Vulcan script, into the restaurant he was quickly sure that had been a great choice. Not only was it elegant, and beautiful to look at, but the smells of the food around him were intoxicating. A stately Vulcan woman stood behind the small desk to his left, and she inclined her head in greeting, and offered him a discreet smile. "Greetings, Lieutenant. Do you wish to be seated?", she asked. Braden nodded that he would, and followed her to a table where she left him with a menu padd, and a glass of ice, with a pitcher of water. Looking over the offerings on the menu Braden was surprised, it seemed to be some sort of fusion restaurant, mixing Japanese cuisine with that of Vulcan, and all of it vegetarian.

He was studying his menu so intently that he didn't even notice that someone had walked over to him until he heard a voice speaking directly to his right. "Lieutenant Masters?", he heard, in a deep voice. Looking up he was perplexed. Standing beside him was a man he'd definitely never seen before. He would have remembered. He was about average height, if not a little shorter, with caramel skin, almost every exposed inch of which was covered in tattoos, and he was so muscular his clothing seemed to be stretching to its limits. He was not in a uniform, which was not surprising, based on the fact that no officer would ever have so much body art, but was instead dressed in a pair of nice jeans, and a cream sweater, with two small white stone studs in his ears, and a single angel wing necklace. He was incredibly handsome, but something about him screamed straight, and so Braden put that thought out of his head immediately.

"Yes, I am Braden Masters. Do I know you?", Braden replied with a smile, standing and holding out his hand.

The man took his own, and shook vigorously. "No, Lieutenant, you don't. My name is Carlos Martinez, but everyone calls me Los. I apologize for the ambush, but I recognized you from your personnel file and had to introduce myself. I am coming aboard the Elysium as a private researcher for the Daystrom Institute. I felt it would be beneficial to make your acquaintance, as we will be working together. You are the first of the crew I've come across since I arrived last night.", he replied.

Braden smiled again, "Well, it's nice to meet you Los, since when did the institute start putting their own researchers on Starfleet vessels?" he asked, indicating that the other man should take the seat across from him. As they sat the Vulcan woman approached and placed a second glass in front of him and handed him a padd as well. With a smile and a nod he accepted them and then turned his attention back to Braden.

"I'm one of the first, actually. It's a new program. We are going to be working alongside the sociology department aboard larger starships to gather, and analyze data on the species the ships come in contact with." he said, scrolling through the menu until he found something he felt he'd like and tapped his order in on the screen. He watched as Braden did the same, and then leaned forward, steepling his hands on the table in front of him. "I actually can't wait to get started. I feel like it is going to be a very fulfilling project." he added.

Braden nodded, placing the padd down to the side. "That sounds fascinating. I don't get to study the people we come in contact with much, unless they are involved in some kind of accident. But we all have our roles to fill I suppose. My work is incredibly fulfilling to me, though I doubt some would find it any more than harrowing, and incredibly stressful." he replied, wondering how much about him this other man knew.

"I couldn't do it, that's for sure. I'm not terrible in an emergency, but the level of calm you have to maintain to be an EMT has to be incredibly difficult to do." Los replied, pouring himself some water and taking a sip.

Braden smiled, "It looks like you have me at a distinct disadvantage. It seems you know quite a lot about me, but I don't know a thing about you.", he said, hoping his tone was still friendly, even though it was a bit unnerving to meet someone who already seems to know you, but who you've never even seen before.

Los smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, I hope that wasn't weird. I was required to get to know all of the key players files before coming aboard so that my integration into the crew would be easier. But, I'm an open book, so ask away if you want to know anything about me.", he replied.

By the time Braden had gotten over his unease, and started getting to know the man sitting across from him he felt like they might become friends. He also felt like he'd lost track of the time, and discreetly checked the chronometer on the padd. "Oh crap.", he said, his eyes going wide.

Los looked up from his plate, a look of worry on his face. "Is something wrong?", he asked.

"I was supposed to transport aboard the Elysium more than half an hour ago. I'm going to be lucky to make my meeting now, and I'd hoped to freshen up a bit first.", he replied, standing up and tossing his napkin down on his empty plate. "I'm sorry to eat and run, but I'm sure I'll see you around on the ship.", he added, and went to the desk to pay his tab, and the tab for Los's plate as well, wanting to repay his rudeness in some way. Los watched him with a bemused smirk on his face, and then returned to his own meal, which was nearly finished. It had been an interesting meeting, and he felt like he had gotten a good feel for the younger man. He seemed like someone he could get to be friends with, but also someone who would be an interesting addition to the study he'd be doing in the days going forward.

Taking his last bite he wiped his mouth, placed his napkin to the side of the plate and stood, making his way to the entrance and nodding to the proprietress as he went. He flipped her a small slip of gold-pressed latinum, and a quick wink as well, as he left. it never hurt to give a bit of flirting along with a tip when it came to restaurants not operated by Starfleet. It'd saved his butt more than once in the past when he was working freelance, and he figured it couldn't hurt here either.