Meeting A New Friend

Posted on 06 Jun 2025 @ 5:24pm by Lieutenant Commander Leland Hawksley & 1st Lieutenant Cassandra Matthews

5,468 words; about a 27 minute read

Mission: General Sim Postings
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: Shoreleave

[ON]

The observation lounge hummed softly, its wide viewport. Aiden sat at a small table near the glass, a data pad in one hand and a steaming mug of black coffee in the other. His suit was a bit flight bay, and his sleeves were rolled up as he reviewed diagnostic logs from the last shift. The lounge provided a rare pocket of calm, its dim lighting contrasting with the chaos of the deck. He rubbed the back of his neck, lost in thought when footsteps approached.

He noticed a 2nd Lieutenant standing nearby with a food tray in her hands. She wore a standard duty uniform. Aiden set his datapad down and gave her a quick, friendly nod. “Kennedy, flight support,” he said, his voice invitingly. “You're Mathews, right? I haven't seen you here before.” He leaned back in his chair, his tall frame relaxed yet solid.

Cassandra had found one of those rare moments where she could slip away from her desk and find a bit of calm in the storm that was now her career. She hadn't forseen Mazals departure, nor that of Jackson neither. There was a loneliness that had crept in. Mindlessly she'd made her way to the lounge and had even grabbed a tray of food. She found herself lost though staring out the large windows to the stars wondering if she was even cut out for the position she was fulfilling. Feeling for all the world lost. That's when a voice found her.

She turned her blue eyes to the man near by. She didn't recognize him. Still she smiled taking a few tentative steps towards him. "Yes I'm Second lieutenant Mathews. What can I do for you?" She asked her eyes drinking in his appearance commiting it to memory.

Aiden’s grin widened as he caught her tentative steps, setting his coffee down with a playful flourish. "Well, Second Lieutenant Mathews, you can start by not looking at me like I’m about to assign you extra shifts in the engine bay," he teased, his tone warm and easy. "I’m Aiden Kennedy—flight support, caffeine enthusiast, and unofficial guardian of this little slice of peace." He gestured grandly to the lounge with a mock-serious nod, then patted the chair across from him.

"Grab a seat—I promise I don’t bite, though I might steal a fry if you’re not quick enough." His hazel eyes grinned with humor, inviting her to relax in his orbit.

She felt her lips twitch, then curve upward. Before she knew it she heard herself laughing softly as her feet moved her nearer to this new aquainece. "Oh I pity the fool who pulls me for anything maintenance related." She joked. As she sat down across from Aiden she turned the fry's on her try to face him. "Help yourself, defending the peace is hungry work I'm told."

Aiden’s hazel eyes sparkled with delight as laughed, the sound drawing a broader grin across his face. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table with an easy confidence. "Oh, you’re a generous one, 2nd Lieutenant Mathews—offering fries to the cause? I might just nominate you for peacemaker of the year." He plucked a fry from her tray with a theatrical flourish, popping it into his mouth before giving her an approving nod.

"Defending the peace is hungry work," he agreed, Kennedys tone light but carrying a playful edge. "Though I’ll let you in on a secret—this lounge is my fortress. No engine grease, clipboard-wielding sergeants, just good coffee and better company." Aiden tilted his head, studying the 2nd Lieutenant with mock curiosity. "So, what brings you to my kingdom? Escaping the chaos. Or just scouting for allies in the fry-sharing department?"

"Might wanna hold off on the peace prize, I am most definitely an agent of chaos. Just taking a few moments to figure out just what I want to get up to now that the mission is complete." Cassandra replied in a jovial tone. She picked up a fry of her own and grinned, "or perhaps I'm here to find some balance. Who knows." She nibbled the fry as she studied the man before her with keen interest. She wasn't lying about feeling like an agent of chaos. Her life was indeed a perfect storm of chaos. Still with the help of Mazal, Leland, Faith, Winchester and Thomas and so many others she felt like she had control of that chaos at last. That's how she could sit here so confident now with a stranger sharing fries and talking without fear. Her Tomcat family. They had given her strength and direction. She felt her smile soften as it always did when she thought of her friends. She was glad that this man, Aiden Kennedy helped remind her of them. He really was a agent of peace. "So have you been around here long?" She asked curious as to how she'd never met him before. "Your a flyboy if I understood you correctly."

Aiden eased back into his chair, a friendly, lopsided smile spreading across his face as he glanced at Cassandra. His eyes held a gentle curiosity, softened by the laid-back vibe of the lounge. "Mission complete. That would make two of us," Kennedy said. "What’s next for you, 2nd Lieutenant Mathew—besides juggling chaos? I bet you’ve got something interesting up your sleeve."

He propped his chin on his hand, his posture loose and comfortable, like he had all the time in the world to listen.

She smiled mischievously at him over the tray. "Oh, I'm always up to something. It's not always interesting, or even fun, but it's always an adventure I suppose." Cassandra chuckled taking yet another fry from the tray. "Currently I am in the midst of planning a baby shower for a friend. Thats pretty fun. I'm also doing pre-evaluations of the unit teams and getting them prepped for the SF recertification tests. Interesting... Sorta. And then I am getting ready for a 24 hr leave to spend with my daughter Martha and my brother C'tirr. I'm going to drop in on an old friend of mine Leland as well. So, adventure for sure." She tilted her head studying him as she took a casual sip of her drink. "How about you? What gets your gears in motion?"

“A baby shower, unit pre-evals, and a 24-hour whirlwind with family? Sounds like you’re juggling chaos and winning at it, Mathew,” he said, his tone teasing but warm. Aiden leaned forward a bit, snagging a fry from the tray with a playful glint in his eye. “Leland!! Hahaha.." He slapped the tabletop. "Good guy—we play hockey three times a week! If you’re dropping in on him, tell him Kennedy says he still owes me a beer for that shield relay fix I pulled off last month.”

“As for me? Gears are always turning—literally. Been tinkering with some new configs for the fighter wing’s thrusters. Trying to squeeze a little more kick without frying the pilots’ backsides. I have a side project—restoring an old Chevy IROC. Nothing fancy, just something to mess around with when I’m not elbow-deep in the Flight Bays innards.”

Cassandra tilted her head in confusion. "A Che'vee? Is that an old fighter or something?" She asked curiously.

“Nope. Not a fighter. It's a holodeck-only project. For now…” His eyes closed as he pleaded to the gods. “Please, please, please, please…” He opened his eyes and turned back to Mathews.

A moment of concern struck her as she thought of Benson and her holodeck projects. "It isn't anything naughty is it?" She asked before she could stop herself. "Nothing that might get you into trouble that is."

Aiden narrowed his furrowed brows and grinned, “Naaaaw!” He shook his head and bounced in his seat, excitedly thinking about it. “It's an old Earth relic. Have you ever watched Earth during the 20th and 21st centuries? The things they ride in, those metal boxes- I find them interesting; I get a kick out of seeing how they tick!” He extended his leg to the side, his off-duty sandals looking proud and loud. “When you're off duty, you're off duty! C’mon, Eh! Mathews!”

"Wait. You're thinking of Benson. Yeah. I heard about that one! Praise the gods she didn't get killed!" He reflected on the accident. "Benson was impacted into the conduit wall, Leland told me."

Cassandra chuckled softly, oh she had heard about it as well, as a matter of fact she knew more than most having bore witness to the event. Her mind tried to digest his explanation about the earth relics he had spoken of. "I ummm. I was raised on Cait. But I think I saw those in the old terrin movies, it's a vehicle right?" Her face scrunched into consideration.

"a.. mmm. Krawr! Er... It's a Caraw!" She said her accident stumbling a bit over the unfamiliar word. She tried once more. "A Crar I believe. They had different types made by these corporations I believe, sorta like different Feringi factions or something." Cassandra asked, she wasn't sure if she was correct. Best way to learn was to ask. She'd only gotten a 'C' in her classes about Earth history in the 20th century. Her focus had been focused more on her physical examinations for entertaining into the Marines at that time. Now she wished she'd paid better attention. She also wished she had Candice here. Ooo or Thex, better yet Leland! She bet they all of them knew something about Crars.

Aiden’s laughter bounced off the metal walls of the spaceship’s mess hall as Cassandra butchered “car” into “CAWwh.” He leaned back in his chair, grinning across the table. “That’s a wild one, Cass. The English Dictionary might feed you some line about ‘Combustion Era Automobile, Circa Ford,’ like Ford dreamed up the whole deal.” He shook his head, waving off the notion. “Pure fiction. Ford didn’t birth the Camaro.”

He sipped his coffee, the mug warm in his hands, and fixed her with a look. “My ‘CAWwh’—the real CAWwh—is the Chevrolet Camaro. Cam-er-o, not some stretched acronym.” Aiden tapped his temple, where 40 years of engineering smarts and car lore lived side by side. “I’m talking the 1987 IROC-Z. That’s the icon.”

He set the mug down, leaning forward, eyes alight. “Picture it: a 5.7-liter V-8 with tuned-port fuel injection—225 horsepower, 330 pound-feet of torque. That beast could hit 0 to 60 in 6.9 seconds flat, one of the first Camaros to break the seven-second mark. Beefy sway bars, tight shocks, and those wide Goodyears made it grip like nobody’s business.” His voice carried the weight of a man who’d memorized spec sheets between engine rebuilds.

Aiden’s fingers traced an imaginary throttle on the table. “If I were tuning one today, I’d bump the fuel mix and advance the spark—probably shave it down to 6.5 seconds, just for the thrill.” He flashed Cassandra a wink. “Keep saying ‘CAWwh,’ but when you hear a real Camaro’s growl in the sims, you’ll get why I’m obsessed.”

His passion was a nearly tangible thing. Cassandra listened politely to him absorbing his words. We're all engineers so... Invested in their projects? Well Yes. She already knew the answer to that. It always filled her with a touch of envy. "My imagination isn't what it should be. You might need to show me sometime." She said her curiosity getting the best of her. She liked learning about new things why not Camaros? Sounded like fun. Besides Cassandra was best with hands on tactile learning. It might make better since seeing it in front of her than trying to picture it in her head.

Aiden’s grin softened as he caught the spark in Cassandra’s eyes. Her curiosity pulling him in. He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand, his focus locking onto her like she was only one in the room. “Alright, Cass, enough about my Camaro obsession. I wanna hear about you,” Aiden said, a playful edge still there. “You’re living on Cait, a whole human thriving in a wild place. However, you probably never knew any difference, which I love, Caitians! Friendliest, kindest Officers and Friends. Cassandra. What’s your favorite thing about Cait? The views, the vibe… or maybe the food?”

Kennedy tilted his head, his eyes following her with sincere curiosity. “By the way, what’s your favorite dish? I have a feeling your taste is exceptional… I bet it’s something vibrant, just like you.” His tone was playful and flirty but not overly aggressive. Cassandra’s hands-on nature intrigued him, and he was eager to discover what excited her, what drove her passions.

Cassandra munched a few fries as she thought over his questions. "Well I was around five years old when I went to live on Cait. It was a difficult transition for me as I was accustomed to being on ships. Plus I was adjusting to the loss of my father as well. It took me awhile to feel like it was my home really. I loved my foster family, especially C'Tirr he was the best older brother as girl could ask for. The Kurruas caste fought hard to keep me in their home. Still I grew up afraid of the day that I would lose them too. So I... I was very angry and rebellious growing up. I was afraid they would give me away. You are correct in your assessment that Caitins are very kind, and very understanding people. For all my faults I was brought up as though I was indeed one of their own. Though starfleet insisted on me being exposed to humans as well. So, when I began schooling, I would have to go to school on the station nearby. I hated it as a youngling, as I got older though I came to embrace the possibilities that the Starfleet schools provided. I started to make friends or try too. I wasn't very good at it. That was always C'Tirrs strong point." She smiled sadly realizing that for all her talking she hadn't answered any of his questions. She sighed. "I guess my favorite thing about Cait was the freedom and the beauty of the plains where I grew up. The village was smaller than most, more traditional. Technology was available and encouraged but it didn't consume the daily lives. It was a simple way of life. It made you slow down and appreciate things like the beauty in the dawn. Or the smell of fresh meat marinading in herbs for supper. The music in the sand as it roamed through the market square. Hissing and churning as though it was some bubbling brook back on Earth. Both equally peaceful in their serenity."

Aiden leaned forward, his eyes full of understanding as he focused on Cassandra. “It sounds like you've been through so much, losing your dad and finding solace in Cait. That takes a lot of courage. Your foster family, especially C’Tirr, seems like a wonderful support for you. Those beautiful plains—the dawn breaking and the busy market—still resonate with you, don’t they? I really appreciate you opening up about that; it means a great deal.” His voice was low, warm, and sincere, filled with caring intent as he held her gaze. He then gently added, " If you ever want to talk about your PTSD, please know I'm here for you. I lost my best friend to it, so I truly understand."

She eyed him. Obviously weighing something in her mind, or maybe her heart. Mazal had encouraged her to be open with the people she met. So she took a deep breath. "My PTSD is more of a recent development. I joined the Tomcat a few years back originally as the MXO under Captain Patrick Jackson. I had only been here at that post a month before word came of my foster parents deaths. So C'Tirr and I took leave to go arrange their send off and celebration of life. When we got there we discovered that they hadn't just died. They had been murdered. Before we could connect the dots both my brother and I were abducted and taken hostage by a serial killer who I know as Teveran Antako. My brother had taken over a set of case files, his victims. One of his favorite things to d was go after investigators and their families. It was a game for him. A challenge I guess. I don't know why he didn't just kill us. Maybe he was bored? Maybe he wanted something to play with as he layed low after murdering my parents. I couldn't tell you. I'd be afraid if I actually understood him to be honest. I only know that he liked to play games. Those games were often painful. It was his arrogance and luck that allowed me to finally escape. Though for the longest time I thought I had left my brother to die. When I tried to get help I was put away in a prison, they tried to pin my foster families death on me, my brothers dissapearce. Thankfully a admiral Doe stepped in and he had me moved to a hospital. Turns out that I was pregnant by my captor. I was then moved into hiding, as the admiral was certain that my daughter was in danger as her DNA would prove I was innocent and likely revel the people who were trying to cover up the murders of not just my family, but many others." She took a sip from her drink finishing it. The continued. "They hid my daughter as a twin to Admiral Does daughters child. They were a week apart but, forged documents and such helped. So I was then asked to leave my daughter, come out of hiding and return to the Tomcat." She offered him the rest of the fries. "I had lost everything I had worked for. My position and rank. I was labeled as a deserter. Thankfully Captain Mazal and Captain Somers got that removed. When I returned, well it was a nightmare. He was here waiting. Antako. He tried to kill me and my friend Leland, and Haze...." Her voice broke a little as she said the last name. Her blue eyes growing sad. "But thankfully he failed. In the end he was killed. I finally was able to find some peace." She glanced at Aiden a sad smile. "I got my daughter back, and then my brother, with Mazals help and that of my friends I have finally been able to rebuild myself. Though sometimes, I... I am still afraid that I will wake up in that cage. That I will discover that this is a dream."

Aiden listened quietly, his eyes steady on Cassandra as she shared her harrowing story. When she finished, he leaned in, his voice low and sincere.

“Wow,” he said softly. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through. But you’re here, building something new. That takes real courage.”

He held her gaze for a moment, careful not to push too far. “I don’t know you well, but it sounds like you have people in your corner. They’re lucky to have you. I’m glad we’re talking. If you’re okay with it, I’d like to be someone you can lean on, too.” Aiden relaxed at the table.

He offered a gentle smile. “Thank you for trusting me with something so heavy. You’re stronger than you realize, Cassandra.” He gave a slow nod.

He nudged the fries back toward her. “These are yours. Consider it a welcome-to-the-table deal.” Aiden winked jokingly.

Cassadra shook her head a crooked smile blossoming on her face a cheeky look in her blue eyes. "Well I told you mine. Let's hear yours flyboy. Tell me about yourself. " She urged sliding the fries back to a place to be more open to sharing. She liked the guy. This Aiden Kennedey. He was kind. genuenily kind. She wanted to get to know him better.

Aiden chuckled at her "flyboy" jab, leaning back in his chair as the tension from her story eased. He appreciated her spunk and how she shifted from heavy truth to playful challenge. It made him want to share something real.

“Alright, you got me,” he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “My story’s not as intense as yours, but I’ll give you the real stuff, no fluff.”

Cassandra raised a curious brow at the no fluff comment. But waited patiently for him to begin.

He took a sip of his drink. “I grew up on Vela-9, a small colony—dusty fields, one market square, and lots of stars at night. My folks were dreamers, always talking about what was out there.” He gestured to the ceiling. “Dad used to say the galaxy was a puzzle, and each trip was a chance to find a new piece. That’s why I joined Starfleet, flying shuttles and chasing that next piece.”

Cassandra nodded in understanding. Her smile softened even.

His smile faded as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I had a best friend, Kael. We were inseparable—same flight academy, making goofy bets on who could perform crazy maneuvers without crashing. He struggled with things he witnessed on missions that he wouldn’t share. I wanted to help but didn’t realize how serious it was until it was too late. He didn’t make it.” Aiden looked down at the table, the weight of the memory. “That’s why I’m here, if you need to talk. I know what it’s like to lose someone to deep scars.”

'Damn that is hard.' Cassandra thought again, understanding his pain. She too had lost friends and crew to their own inner demons. Hell, she too had felt the pull of deaths embrace calling for her in her depths of despair. Despair, that Leland and Mazal had saved her from not too long ago. She raised her glass to him in salute to his generous offer but said nothing. She had already shared her pain. Something she had learned from Mazal and Leland. Sharing it made the load easier to bare. Made it easier to seek out the help you needed it, when the boogieman came to visit. Talking saves lives. "Ill hold you too that." she returned before take a sip from her glass. "Just remeber it goes both ways." She offered.

He exhaled, shaking off the heaviness, and looked at her with a genuine smile. “Anyway, that’s the tough part. The rest? I love adventure, fast ships, and vibrant food. My favorite dish is Andorian spice noodles—hot enough to make you sweat but too delicious to stop. It reminds me of home, where my mom would experiment with whatever spices we could trade.”

It was such a fast turn of subject Cassandra almost got whiplash from it. Still again she understood the need to move forward from the somber subject. Respected his ability to move forward.

Aiden leaned forward, his tone brightening. “So, what’s your favorite dish? I’m holding you to that. And…” He nudged the fries back toward her grinning. “These are officially our fries now. No more passing them back and forth like a negotiation.”
He studied her, his expression softening. “You’re easy to talk to Cassandra. I like that.”

Taking a fry with a smile. "I have had some fantastic teachers. It helps your pretty easy to talk to yourself." Cassandra stated before taking a few moments to eat her fry and think over his question. "You hopefully wont think me strange for this." She said her voice soft. "But...Synthetic Betazoid flesh rare marindaded in Hungul sauce and seasoned with R'ahi and Susu with a side of Vellah they are a type of mushroom that grow in the caves near where I lived. I guess the human equivalent would be like steak with garlic and black pepper with stewed mushrooms. Though it's not reeeally the same." She confessed. Normally she didn't share this information with people as it tended to make some a touch squeamish and understandably so. She had done her best to rid herself of the taste for Betazoid flesh synthetic or not, It was however still a delicacy occatonially eaten on Cait for some celibratons still.

Aiden smiled, but he then swallowed deeply. Catching his breath in his throat, he coughed. The Betazoids were members of the Federation. To him, they were humanoid. He was so confused! His face cocked to the left curiously looking at Cassandra. “Really.” He tried to speak without trying to illicit a vomit response, which for Aiden was always near. “That sounds…” He swallows. “Wonderful.” He pauses and pretends to look at his padd while he swallows his barf that came up his throat, back down again.

“Whew…. Wow. So what is your favorite dessert?” Aiden kept a now red, sweaty, flushed face as he faintly smiled.

His discomfort was obvious. Cassandra regretted telling him the truth immediately. She should have lied and said pizza or something. "I ... Umm.." it was her turn to swallow hard. She felt the burning in her cheeks and the heat of gathering tears in her eyes out of her mounting humiliation. "I've never hurt any Betazoids or plan too... It's just... What I..was raised on." She had barely gotten the words out when to her horror the first year trickled down her cheek. She was on her feet quickly. "I'm, I'm friends with alot of Betazoids..." She blurted out before bolting from the dining room wiping her eyes as she went.

Aiden rubbed his hands on his face. He couldn't believe he had caused a lady to cry. He had never had, not even in pre-school. He was very agreeable, he was told.

Standing up at the now faces looking at him like he was a monster.

"Yep...." He waved slowly.... As he then took to bolting over the metal table skidding to the edge on his butt droppin' to the floor and rushing through those mess hall doors after Cassandra...

"Hey Hey....... Hey Hey..... Slo.... Slowww Down Cassandra.... Cassandra...." He was jogging after a crying lady down a hallway, as he felt almost in to her, he was so confused. It wasn't the food, it was his stomach is just not open to alien foods, it never was, even hearing alien foods always got his gastric system in a mess.

Cassandra had just gathered herself together. Drawing on her military bearing the tears had stopped. Her face was a unreadable mask. She slowed at Aiden's request. Inwardly she dreaded what she would see in his face when she worked up the courage to turn and face him. She felt like a monster. Perhaps she was... She wasn't exactly an innocent angel after all. She'd killed more people than she cared to think about. It was all part of protecting the Federation after all. Though deep down she knew that wasn't the worst of her sins. Tucking that thought far back into her mind she finally allowed herself to glance at his face as he nearly fell into her in his hurry to catch up with her long strides. Instinctively her arms went out to catch and steady him with a surprising gentle hug of sorts. "You always so light on your feet?" She teased her way of hiding her fear as she moved away a moment later unsure what else to say she added. "I'm sorry for walking out like that. I... I didn't mean to..cry. I just." She didn't finish. She didn't know how. So she fell silent.

Aiden caught his breath, his face still flushed from the chase and his earlier discomfort. He steadied himself as Cassandra’s gentle hug grounded him, her teasing words cutting through the tension. He managed a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his neck. “Light on my feet? More like tripping over my own panic,” he said, his voice soft but earnest.

He looked at her, seeing the mask she’d put up, and his heart sank. He hadn’t meant to make her feel like a monster. “Cassandra, listen,” he started, his tone careful but sincere. “You don’t have to apologize. I’m the one who made it weird back there. My stomach’s just… it’s got a vendetta against anything remotely adventurous. It’s not you, or… or what you said.” He swallowed, pushing past his own embarrassment. “I’m sorry I made you feel like you had to run.”

He took a small step closer, his eyes searching hers for a moment. “You’re not a monster. You’re just… you. And I’m not judging, I swear. I mean, I’m the guy who nearly barfed over a dessert conversation.” He chuckled lightly, trying to ease the mood. “Can we… maybe start over? You know, talk about something less likely to make me green? Like… favorite holodeck program or something?” His smile was tentative but warm, hoping to bridge the gap he’d accidentally created.

Something in those blue eyes of hers softened. He was so sincere. Her hands had still been lingering at his shoulders from their previous embrace pulled him closer still to embrace him again. "Program 972 marked private- It's... It's a stage program." She leaned even closer to whisper in his ear. Anyone walking by might get the wrong impression, "I pretend to be a nineteenth century pop star, or folk singer, or a ballet soloist, just, anything I want." She moved back then an unsure smile playing at her lips. "How about you?"

Aiden’s face lit up, his grin widening as he caught the spark in Cassandra’s eyes. He laughed softly, charmed by her secret stage persona. “A nineteenth-century pop star? That’s amazing. I can picture you owning a stage or strumming a guitar like you’re about to start a revolution.” His tone was playful, but his eyes held genuine admiration, as if he were already imagining her in the spotlight. She had the light in her soul. He could feel it.

Kennedy leaned back just enough to meet her eyes relaxed. He took his hand off her shoulder which was originally placed in earnest.

“I’m happy I bumped into you, Cassandra. Seriously, you’re… a surprise I didn’t know I needed today. Makes me wonder what else you’ve got hidden up your sleeve.” His smile was all sincerity, his voice softening.

“Okay, my turn.” Aiden asserted. “My favorite holodeck program is this old-school detective noir thing—think rainy streets, fedoras, and way too much jazz. I play the cheesy private eye, obviously.” Kennedy chuckled, then tilted his head, curiosity sparking. “But I would like to know more about you. What’s the one song you’d pick to perform if you could only sing one on that stage of yours? Like, the one that feels like you?” Aiden was hopeful he was repairing the confidence he had caused in Cassandra. She didn’t deserve it, and Aiden didn’t know it was a common practice.

It was her turn to smile, her blue eyes sparked mischievously. "Oh, I can't tell you that. Tommy doesn't even know that yet. He might get jealous if I tell you first." Her tone was playful. teasing even. "I guess you will just have to keep coming to see me and keep asking." Her alarm on her wrist comm bleeped out a series of soft chirps. "I gotta go pick up my daughter from daycare. It was great to meet you Aiden. We should meet up again sometime. try and have a little fun." She suggested as she started off down the hall with a friendly wave.

Aiden chuckled, “Oh, you’re gonna make me work for the story, huh? Fair play, Cassandra. I’ll keep bugging you till I get it—Tommy or no Tommy,” he teased back, his tone light. Raising a hand in a casual wave as she headed down the hall, he felt lonely. His eyes lingered on her retreating figure for a moment, a thoughtful smile tugging at his lips, already looking forward to their next chat and the stories she might eventually share.

[OFF]



&

LT. JG. AIDEN KENNEDY
CHIEF FLIGHT DECK OFFICER
USS TOMCAT

 

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